Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

"You flatter me, young friend."

Shi Guantao's smile remained unchanged as he said loudly, "As an inner sect elder of the Glazed Tile Sect and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I would never stoop to such a blatant act of robbery."

Lu Yuan didn't believe him at all, even though he spoke with such righteous indignation.

Jiang Zhi is very shrewd in front of outsiders, and she is not naive or innocent. She simply did not respond to his words.

Instead, he put the three Foundation Establishment Pills in his hand into his storage bag.

Seeing that the two juniors in front of him didn't respond at all, Shi Guantao coughed twice and continued:

"In fact, I have a disciple who has just reached the ninth level of Qi Refining and is in need of a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through the bottleneck. If you are willing to part with a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, I am willing to buy it for five thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Is the map of the Yan state really that short...?

Lu Yuan, Jiang Zhi, and even Master Mo were not surprised at all. From the moment Shi Guantao stepped into this place, everyone knew that his purpose was to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Master Mo stood with his hands behind his back at the entrance of the alchemy room. Seeing Shi Guantao's gaze sweeping over from time to time, he said calmly, "Shi Guantao, our friendship is one thing, but I have no say in the affairs of these two juniors. If you want to buy pills, you need to talk to them yourself."

Shi Guantao laughed heartily: "That's for sure."

As he spoke, he looked at Jiang Zhi, completely ignoring Lu Yuan beside her, and his tone became even more amiable: "What do you think, young friend? If this transaction is successful, I, Shi, can represent the Liuli Sect to owe you a favor."

The price of a high-quality Foundation Building Pill is naturally much higher than five thousand low-grade spirit stones.

However, the favors of the Glazed Tile School are enough to make up for the price difference, provided that the person making the promise has the integrity to keep it.

Shi Guantao clearly did not have that.

Jiang Zhi's eyes flickered, as if she was weighing the pros and cons.

She subconsciously looked at Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan remained calm, neither nodding nor shaking his head. He simply picked up the spirit tea and took a sip, as if all of this had nothing to do with him.

However, Shi Guantao clearly noticed Jiang Zhi's insignificant little movement, and then feigned surprise, saying:

"Isn't this Master Lu? My eyesight is failing me; I didn't recognize you just now. I wonder how you've been lately; Manager Luo has been mentioning you to me quite often."

Lu Yuan put down his teacup and said in a calm tone, "Elder Shi, you didn't have this attitude back at the Treasure Pavilion."

Shi Guantao's smile froze.

He seemed to want to get angry, but held back because of the situation.

Jiang Zhi also spoke up at this moment: "I'm sorry, Elder Shi... we don't sell these Foundation Establishment Pills."

Upon hearing this, Shi Guantao's face instantly turned ashen, his sleeves billowing even without wind, giving off an aggressive and intimidating aura.

Seeing this, Master Mo Dan slowly stepped forward and said softly, "Old Shi, since the child won't sell, you go and find another set of materials, and I will start refining it again."

Shi Guantao's expression changed several times, but he finally managed to suppress his anger, cupped his hands, and said, "Since that's the case, then so be it. Farewell."

That's all.

He turned and walked away, but when he reached the courtyard gate, he suddenly turned back and said, "Young friend Jiang, I wish you success in establishing your foundation."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already disappeared.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Jiang Zhi snorted coldly: "Uncle Mo, where did you get to know this person?"

"Back when we were all at the ninth level of Qi Refining, we went into the Nine Ridges Mountains with several other cultivators to search for Foundation Establishment materials..."

"At that time, everyone in our group except for him and me died in the mountains..."

"When I first refined the Foundation Establishment Pill, I made two pills. I consumed one myself and gave the other to him."

As he spoke, Master Mo sighed, "Shi Guantao is petty. Now that you have offended him, you will have to be more careful when you are out in the future."

Jiang Zhiruo nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Lu Yuan and glared at him, saying, "I remember you weren't usually this assertive when you spoke."

Lu Yuan shrugged and laughed, "I guess I've been soft for decades and want to stay hard forever."

Jiang Zhi didn't ask any more questions, but looked at Lu Yuan in front of her, and a strange pity suddenly rose in her heart.

"it is good."

"Once I've established my foundation, I won't be afraid of him making things difficult for me."

……

Obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lu Yuan and Jiang Zhi didn't stop for a moment and headed straight for the market management office.

Since Gu Qingyao attacked Sun Qi, the law enforcement team has increased the frequency of patrols, and even the outer city is now safer than before.

And when moving around in the inner city of Jiulingfang, there is no need to worry about personal safety.

Jiang Zhi registered at the market management office, and then the two entered the five-story pavilion located next to Dengxian Square.

In Jiuling Market, any cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining who wants to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage will choose this place.

Without him.

This is because the attic here is located in the very center of the entire market.

Below is the core of the third-order Spirit Gathering Array, which is full of spiritual energy. There is no need to worry about failing to establish the foundation due to the lack of spiritual energy in the world during the breakthrough.

"I'm going in."

Jiang Zhi said a few more words, and then went into the attic.

Lu Yuan claimed to be protecting him, but in reality, he was just waiting in the square.

He didn't regret provoking Shi Guantao at all.

On the contrary, he was even considering whether to imitate his previous collaboration with Gu Qingyao, luring Shi Guantao out of the market and joining forces with Jiang Zhi, who had successfully established her foundation, to ambush and kill him.

However, all of this is predicated on Jiang Zhi successfully establishing her foundation.

Lu Yuan was sitting cross-legged in the square, feeling bored, so he began to meditate and regulate his breathing, waiting quietly.

Two days later.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth above the pavilion suddenly accelerated, as if an invisible hand was stirring up the energy of the entire world.

The cultivators in the Ascension Square stopped and looked up at the five-story pavilion, their eyes filled with either envy or感慨.

"Is someone attempting to reach the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Judging by the speed at which the spiritual energy is gathering, it's probably going to be successful soon."

"I wonder which fellow cultivator is so lucky to have managed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Whispers rose and fell, but no one dared to approach the attic.

This place is not like the Jiuling Mountains.

Even cultivators with wicked intentions wouldn't dare to act recklessly.

Lu Yuan sat cross-legged beside a stone pillar at the edge of the square, slowly opened his eyes, and looked up at the top of the pavilion.

There, spiritual energy swirled like a vortex, constantly pouring downwards.

"what?"

"A land-based formation master?"

Lu Yuanzheng was observing carefully when he suddenly heard a voice behind him.

He turned his head and saw that it was Zhu Meng, who was with several members of the law enforcement team.

"Brother Zhu."

Lu Yuan stood up and bowed.

"I heard you left the Treasure Pavilion, and I was wondering where to look for you."

Zhu Meng had a big smile on his face.

When Lu Yuan saw him coming, his heart skipped a beat. He thought to himself, "Could it be that Elder Shi's disciple is you?"

A look of wariness involuntarily appeared on his face.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Meng seemed to have realized something as well, and scolded, "Brother Lu, please don't misunderstand. My master and Shi Guantao are not on good terms either. He learned about your ordeal from Manager Luo and was indignant on your behalf."

Although they belong to the same sect, they are divided into different factions.

Zhu Meng's master and Shi Guantao were not exactly sworn enemies, but they disliked each other and often secretly sabotaged each other.

Lu Yuan laughed upon hearing this, "Then you'd better not go looking for trouble. Your Elder Shi hasn't been in a good mood lately."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Meng, with a look of schadenfreude, leaned closer and said, "Tell me, how did he get the short end of the stick?"