Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

Time flies. Half a year has passed since Wang Xuan became a guest advisor to the Han family.

In the blink of an eye, almost a year has passed since the great upheaval in the Nanhua Sect.

Having spent his twenty-second birthday unnoticed, Wang Xuan is one step closer to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

In the quiet room, he finished his practice and stood up.

He took out a jade slip from his storage bag; it was a first-order body cultivation technique that he had once borrowed from the sect.

Wang Xuan ran his fingertip across the jade slip, hesitated for a moment, and then put it back.

Logically speaking, cultivating both body and spirit was a decision he made long ago, and he shouldn't have been so hesitant to actually get involved until now.

However, things were not that simple. When Wang Xuan decided to cultivate his body, he did not know what the "disaster" facing the sect was, whether it was a severe blow or something else.

But after learning the truth, he decisively abandoned the plan.

After all, Wang Xuan knew very well that if cultivating both body and mind were really that simple, then such cultivators wouldn't be so rare in the Qi Refining stage.

Therefore, it's best to put this matter on hold until a stable source of income is found.

"Thinking about it, it seems that the jade slip Chen Yao left me back then didn't contain any body cultivation methods, but only a Qi refining technique and a spirit refining technique that I couldn't use."

"Clearly, even from her perspective, cultivating the body while refining the Qi is actually more harmful than beneficial for most rogue cultivators."

"As long as I don't deal with Core Formation cultivators, it doesn't really matter."

After thinking it over silently, I was sure there wouldn't be any problems.

After leaving Dan Pavilion, Wang Xuan strolled through Baihe Market.

Six months later, many tenants and independent cultivators in the vicinity knew that a new alchemist had arrived at Han's Alchemy Pavilion.

After greeting the neighbors who came to offer their regards, we strolled along the bank of the Bailan River, which was covered by the market area.

In the path of cultivation, there is a balance between tension and relaxation, and Wang Xuan did not intend to be too tense.

Along the Bailan River, a row of weeping willows blocks the sunlight from the sky.

A gentle breeze swept by, making everyone feel much more relaxed.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Wang Xuan looked at the sky and prepared to return home.

Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from afar, as if someone was arguing about something.

"...But I..."

"...Otherwise...don't even think about it..."

"Um?"

His expression shifted slightly as he searched his memory for the identity of the speaker.

However, perhaps the impression wasn't deep enough, and Wang Xuan couldn't recall it for a moment.

They paused briefly, then continued forward.

He didn't feel there was any danger in the market.

At least below the Core Formation stage, no one dares to cause trouble in the Xuanfu Lu Clan's market.

As I continued my stroll, sounds from afar gradually reached my ears.

"...Senior Lu, no matter what, I do possess a high-grade spiritual root, so there's a very high probability that I can successfully establish my foundation..."

"Isn't what you're doing a bit too much...?"

"Heh, too much?"

As a disdainful laugh rang out, Wang Xuan could roughly make out the speaker's appearance.

"Is it too unfair to your earth spirit root, which is just barely on the edge of being a top-grade one, or is it unfair to your status as a 'former' inner disciple?"

"Sorry, your bargaining chips are nothing to the Lu family."

They didn't try to conceal their identity, or perhaps they never expected to be found here.

Under the willow trees beside the Bailan River, an arrogant-looking old man with white hair sat fishing.

Beside him was Yang Yunzhi, a fellow villager whom Wang Xuan had not seen for a long time and who possessed a superior spiritual root.

Unlike his previous high spirits, this time when they met again, his former classmate looked haggard.

Despite the old man's mockery, he suppressed his anger and continued to try to reason with him.

"Senior Lu... what you say may be true, but haven't I already agreed to sign a legal contract to serve the Lu family for life?"

"As long as the contract states that I will receive a Foundation Establishment Pill after I complete my Qi Refining process—"

"Hmph, Foundation Establishment Pill?"

"Times have changed."

"If you're unwilling, you can always go to a family that can give you Foundation Establishment Pills."

With a cold laugh, the old man's eyes were full of mockery.

Who do you think you are, daring to ask for Foundation Establishment Pills now?

When the Nanhua Sect was first destroyed, the family approached you, the inner disciples with exceptional talent.

If you had agreed then, the Lu family wouldn't be some kind of heretical sect.

Paying this price for a future Foundation Establishment cultivator is acceptable.

As it turned out, everyone who came with you resigned themselves to their fate. Those who were unwilling found other places to stay, or simply became independent practitioners.

Only you, Yang Yunzhi, and the others have been hesitant to confirm, choosing instead to wait for a higher price.

Now that almost a year has passed, you've found that no one is willing to offer a higher price, but you've suddenly remembered my Lu family.

The old man shook the fishing rod in his hand and couldn't help but chuckle.

You think you're the only smart one in the world, but you're actually incredibly stupid.

The old man shook his head slightly, not wanting to waste any more time.

However, considering that this kid still had some value, he softened his tone slightly.

"Yang Yunzhi, is it? Don't even think about getting a Foundation Establishment Pill from me."

"Although my Lu family has its own second-tier alchemists, excluding the direct descendants, the remaining pills are limited."

"If it were before, you might have been able to get one, but in the past year, the family has recruited more than a dozen geniuses from outside the family... You should know where they all come from, right?"

"..."

Yang Yunzhi knew perfectly well that his expression was bitter.

Those were all geniuses left behind after the fall of the three clans of Chen, just like him.

As a Core Formation family, the Lu family has no shortage of ordinary family members. At least a high-grade spiritual root is required to be qualified for training, and a strict contract must be signed.

Thinking you can use the Lu family's resources and environment to build your foundation for free, and then escape to a distant land? You're dreaming.

If this happens, to prevent others from following suit, even a Core Formation cultivator might personally pursue and kill them across thousands of miles, determined to bring them to justice and show no leniency.

"Since you know, then I'll just say it directly."

The old man nodded slightly and continued:

"Considering your talent, when you reach the Foundation Establishment stage in the future, we can consider giving you a Meridian Protection Pill or a Purple Sun Pill."

"As for Foundation Establishment Pills, unless you can make contributions to the Lu family, don't even think about it."

"Think it over carefully. Although my cultivation is mediocre, I still have some influence in the clan. This is your last chance."

"Looking across the Chen Kingdom, apart from the eight great families of us—now the remaining six—no Foundation Establishment family would want to see a member of an outsider successfully establish their foundation."

"You should know that the story of the Baishan Li family, which is on par with my Lu family, whose ancestor, a mere son-in-law, took the place of the master and became the host, is still fresh in our minds. You should think about it yourself."

"Alright, it's about time. I should head back... Damn fish, do you all look down on this old man like that?!"

The old man cursed angrily and then put away his fishing rod.

After glancing at the empty wooden barrel, the old man with a dark face strode away, leaving Yang Yunzhi with a face full of resentment and inner turmoil.

He could accept marrying a woman with a low-grade spiritual root from the Lu family and having children, even having his descendants bear the surname Lu; he could also accept serving the direct descendants of the Lu family for life.

However, without the Foundation Establishment Pill, even if he has a superior spiritual root, the probability of establishing a foundation will not exceed one or two out of ten. This is a major event that will affect his entire life.

As for resorting to the Ziyang Pill in a desperate attempt... he doesn't have that courage yet.

Although this kind of pill that stimulates the body's potential and forcibly breaks through the cultivation level has more than 70% of the efficacy of the Foundation Establishment Pill, and is much easier to refine, using it will shorten one's lifespan.

It's one thing for cultivators with low to medium-grade spiritual roots to risk their lives, but with his talent, he couldn't bear to give up his promising future.