Chapter 103: Foundation Establishment Favor

「A few days later.」

The auction was held as scheduled.

Li Chang’an didn’t manage to find any hidden gems this time; after all, he had already scooped up anything worth finding before the auction even started.

So, he simply bid on and won the last two Treasures he needed for the Eighth Stage of Body Refinement.

"I’ve finally gathered them all!"

He let out a long sigh of relief.

He had spent a great deal of effort gathering these Treasures recently.

「For a time after that.」

Li Chang’an’s life returned to its usual routine, alternating between Qi Refining, Body Refinement, and Alchemy.

Just nine short months later, he successfully refined a Tier One Top Grade Elixir.

If word of this breakthrough speed got out, it would shock countless people.

This was because the leap from Middle Grade to Top Grade skill was a process that usually took years.

’If only my cultivation talent was this strong,’ Li Chang’an lamented to himself.

He had been keeping an eye on news about various Secret Realms for a long time, but still hadn’t heard of any way to improve one’s Spiritual Root.

Over in Yellow Crane Immortal City, Xu Fugui and Chu Daniu were also helping him gather information, as they too wished to improve their own Spiritual Roots.

’Forget it. I’ll focus on consolidating my Alchemy Skill for now and take it one step at a time.’

Li Chang’an ignited his Pill Fire and began refining other Elixir Pills.

Although he was talented in the Alchemy Dao, he wasn’t complacent; he knew he couldn’t compare to the true top-tier geniuses.

Throughout the long river of history, there had been countless prodigies of the Alchemy Dao whose talent far surpassed his own.

For example, according to the records in his alchemy inheritance, there was a senior known as Master Dancheng who could achieve the legendary "One Thought Becomes a Pill."

However, that senior was a figure from Ancient Times and had likely long since passed on.

The Talisman and Puppetry inheritances Li Chang’an had obtained also recorded some Celestial Prides, but they were all from Ancient Times as well.

The current Cultivation Immortality Realm seemed to have regressed, as no such Celestial Prides had appeared since.

...

Time flew by.

Another three months passed.

During this period, Li Chang’an frequently visited the Black Market, selling Talismans, Puppets, and various Elixir Pills he had refined, steadily filling his Storage Pouch.

With the help of his Divination, he encountered almost no problems in the Black Market.

Until one day.

Just after Midnight, a golden light appeared before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[You go to the Black Market to sell Elixir Pills and are targeted by a Tribulation Cultivator. The other party tails you all the way out of the Black Market and attacks in a remote area, but you easily kill them in a counter-attack. Not only will you obtain their personal Treasures, but you will also receive a Foundation Establishment Favor.]

"A Foundation Establishment Favor?"

Li Chang’an was stunned.

’How can killing a Tribulation Cultivator earn me a Foundation Establishment Favor?’

’Could it be that the Tribulation Cultivator targeting me is wanted by a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse?’

Li Chang’an was secretly delighted.

The more Foundation Establishment Favors, the better.

He currently only had one: the favor from Mo Qingxue, the Celestial Pride of the Puppetry Mo Family.

That Celestial Pride with the Ice Spirit Root had already achieved Foundation Establishment Success back in Yellow Crane Immortal City.

’Before I reach Foundation Establishment myself, having another Foundation Establishment Favor will give me an extra layer of security.’

Li Chang’an immediately began his preparations.

A Foundation Establishment Favor was on the line.

There was no room for carelessness!

...

「The next morning.」

He altered his aura, disguising himself as a Fire Element Cultivator, and hurried to the Black Market.

After arriving near the Black Market, he sent his Speed Puppet in his place to sell Elixir Pills, just as usual.

Before long, the sales were complete.

He bought some necessary materials for Alchemy and Puppetry, then left the Black Market.

Just then, a figure completely shrouded in a black robe quickly fell in behind him, following closely from a short distance.

’I’ve been targeted, just as expected.’

Li Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief.

’So far, so good. If no one had taken the bait this time, I would have had to go back with a different identity and try again.’

The two of them, one in front and one behind, moved at a considerable speed, swiftly crossing mountain range after mountain range until they were far from the Black Market.

At that very moment, the black-robed man behind him suddenly accelerated.

His voice followed.

"Friend up ahead, I felt a sense of kinship the moment I saw you. It’s clear you have an affinity with my Black Wind Mountain. Why not come up the mountain and be our guest?"

"Black Wind Mountain?"

Li Chang’an’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t expected it to be someone from that Tribulation Cultivator organization again.

In that case, he really did have an affinity with Black Wind Mountain.

So, he came to a halt, turned around, and spoke to the Tribulation Cultivator.

"Friend, Black Wind Mountain and I do indeed have an affinity. I know your Big Master."

"Oh?"

The man froze, a look of surprise on his face.

He hadn’t expected Li Chang’an to say that at all.

’Could it be? Did I try to rob one of my own?’

He hesitated, then spoke again, "Friend, might you tell me your name? If..."

Before he could finish, his heart suddenly clenched. His expression changed drastically as he instantly dodged to the side.

SWISH!

The Ghost Soul Needle pierced through the spot where he had just been standing.

At the same time, roiling yellow sand came howling forth, blanketing the area. A massive dog’s head was faintly visible within it.

"A Yellow Sand Dog! One that’s about to advance to Tier Two!"

The Tribulation Cultivator was horrified. He didn’t dare to fight and immediately turned to flee.

But in the next instant, a heavy Puppet blocked his path.

"A Tier One Peak Puppet?"

His face fell again, a sliver of despair creeping into his heart.

Just then, the Li Chang’an in front of him—the Speed Puppet—stopped concealing its power and unreservedly unleashed the aura of a Tier One Peak Cultivator.

Feeling this aura, the Tribulation Cultivator fell into complete despair.

He couldn’t even win a one-on-one fight, let alone face three opponents at once.

The battle was over remarkably quickly.

It took just over a dozen breaths.

The Tribulation Cultivator was trapped in the Shadowless Net, unable to move, like a lamb to the slaughter.

"Spare me, friend! I’m Second-in-command of Black Wind Mountain! Since you know our Big Master, maybe we’ve met before!"

His face was pale as he pleaded for his life.

Li Chang’an was a little surprised.

"Second-in-command? You’re the Second Master, Liu Lu?"

"That’s me, yes, that’s me!"

Liu Lu nodded immediately, a flicker of hope rising in his heart.

’Since he recognizes me, maybe he really is an acquaintance of Black Wind Mountain.’

Hearing this, Li Chang’an couldn’t help but smile.

"What a coincidence."

He had already killed every one of Black Wind Mountain’s masters from the third to the seventh.

And now he’d run into the Second Master.

"Liu Lu, you should recognize me."

Li Chang’an’s real body appeared. With a wave of his hand, he took Liu Lu’s Storage Pouch.

Seeing his face, Liu Lu’s complexion instantly turned deathly white.

"It’s you, Li Chang’an!"

"So you do recognize me."

"You..."

Liu Lu felt a chill run through him, as if he had been plunged into an abyss.

Black Wind Mountain had lost several good men trying to deal with Li Chang’an. Of course he recognized him.

"By the way, where is your Big Master?" Li Chang’an asked.

If the Big Master was nearby, he wouldn’t mind taking care of him at the same time.

Liu Lu didn’t dare to hide anything. "The boss has already gone to Yellow Crane Immortal City," he answered directly. "He’s planning to attempt Foundation Establishment."

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an frowned, a sense of foreboding washing over him.

If that man truly succeeded in Foundation Establishment, he would have a new enemy at the Foundation Establishment level.

Just then, a cold, female voice suddenly spoke from nearby.

"Where in Yellow Crane Immortal City is he?"

Hearing this voice, both Li Chang’an and Liu Lu froze.

Because neither of them had noticed when this woman had appeared.