Immortality begins with equipping a worn-out talisman pen.

Chapter 89 A Heartbreaking Departure [Seeking First Subscription]

Master Sun gently placed three pills of different qualities on the jade plate, sighed deeply, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Li Mufeng and Ling Zixuan.

"What a pity."

"Originally, I had a fairly good grasp of the heat control for this batch of pills, but unexpectedly, just as the pills were nearing completion, the medicinal energy was suddenly disturbed by the weather, and much of the medicinal power dissipated. In my haste to complete the process, I failed to stabilize the medicinal properties in time, which led to this mishap. It is truly a disaster!"

After saying this, he looked somber, as if he felt extremely guilty about the matter.

Just then, Yang Tianzhen had entered the alchemy room at some point. Her gaze fell on the jade plate, and instead of blaming her, she showed a hint of admiration.

"Why blame yourself, Master Sun? Refining Foundation Establishment Pills is a battle against fate, and success or failure is unpredictable. Over the years, I have invited several second-level alchemists to refine pills, and I have seen broken furnaces and exploding furnaces. Compared to those, this batch is already considered excellent."

As he spoke, he picked up the Foundation Establishment Pill that shone the brightest and examined it closely.

"Truly a top-quality Foundation Building Pill!"

A look of surprise immediately appeared in Yang Tianzhen's eyes.

"Master Sun's alchemy skills have truly improved even further. Looking across the entire Heavenly Immortal City, there are only a handful of second-tier alchemists who can refine high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills."

After praising them a few times, he turned to look at Li Mufeng and Ling Zixuan.

"In that case, I, Yang, will distribute them according to the spirit contract. The main ingredient I provided is the most precious, so this fine Foundation Establishment Pill will belong to me. I believe you two fellow Daoists have no objections?"

Although it was a question, Yang Tianzhen's tone showed no intention of discussing it.

After saying that, he picked up another inferior Foundation Establishment Pill and handed it to Li Mufeng.

"Fellow Daoist Li, this is yours."

His gaze then fell on the last discarded pill, and a hint of regret finally appeared on his face.

"As for Fairy Ling, according to the Spirit Contract, if the pills are insufficient, Fellow Daoist Li and I should make up the difference according to our share. However, Fellow Daoist Li only obtained inferior products this time, so he has already suffered a loss. I, Yang, will bear this part alone."

As he spoke, he took out a storage bag and handed it over.

Ling Zixuan silently accepted the storage bag, her pretty face slightly darkened, but her eyes were full of doubt.

Master Sun was known for his steady approach to alchemy, so it was extremely rare for him to experience such a large fluctuation.

If you say he messed it up, he still managed to refine a high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill; if you say he refined it extremely well, he only succeeded in making two pills, one of which was of inferior quality.

No matter how you look at it, it has an indescribable strangeness.

Li Mufeng, however, had seen everything from beginning to end. With his mastery of alchemy, he naturally understood that this was by no means a change in the "timing".

It was clearly Master Sun who forcibly restrained the medicinal energy at the last moment, concentrating all the medicinal power that was originally enough to condense into three genuine Foundation Establishment Pills into one, thus forcibly refining a fine pill.

As for the price, it would naturally be the quality of the other two pills. He had used such despicable methods countless times before.

Now that Yang Tianzhen has taken the initiative to smooth things over, Master Sun has also seized the opportunity to blame everything on timing and fate. This back-and-forth is seamless. If Li Mufeng's alchemy skills hadn't already reached the second level, he probably would have been fooled by the two of them.

"Fellow Daoists."

Master Sun bowed to the two of them again, his tone sincere.

"In the end, I have failed to live up to your expectations. Here's what we'll do: if you two ever need alchemy again in the future, feel free to come to me. I'll only charge half the alchemy fee as an apology."

Li Mufeng sneered inwardly.

Next time? He spent more than ten years gathering just enough spiritual materials for this batch of Foundation Establishment Pills.

If it were an ordinary rogue cultivator, this might be their only chance to establish their foundation in their entire life, with no chance of a next time.

However, he suppressed these thoughts deep in his heart, and instead showed a sense of relief on his face, solemnly clasping his hands in greeting to Master Sun.

"Master Sun, you flatter me. Foundation Establishment is a struggle against the heavens and defying fate. To obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill is already an immense opportunity for me. As for the quality of the pill, that is beyond human control."

"Li is of mediocre talent and has only done his best and left the rest to fate."

"Now that I have obtained this pill, I am already content, so how could I dare to harbor any resentment?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Tianzhen finally took a serious look at Li Mufeng.

This person was more composed than he had imagined.

Before he arrived, he had already had someone investigate the two men's backgrounds.

Li Mufeng is nearly fifty years old and is just a rogue cultivator with no background. He has stumbled and fallen his way to the ninth level of Qi Refining. Being able to gather this batch of Foundation Establishment materials is already considered quite fortunate.

Having only obtained a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, he felt that he was essentially destined to never achieve Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.

However, this person's character is not bad.

To remain calm and composed under such circumstances, this ability to cultivate inner strength alone surpasses that of many cultivators of the same level.

I heard he's a top-tier first-level talisman master. If he were twenty years younger, he might be worth recruiting.

What a pity.

Thinking of this, Yang Tianzhen turned his gaze to Ling Zixuan and said with a faint smile, "If you have figured it out, you can come to Tianque Mountain to find me in the future."

After saying that, he turned around and went back behind the screen, poured himself a cup of spiritual tea, and gently stroked the crystal-clear and round high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill with his fingertips, his eyes full of appreciation.

A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips, his mind clearly wandering off to the farthest reaches of the world.

"What position should we use tonight?"

Seeing this, Li Mufeng also bowed deeply to Master Sun.

"Thank you for your help today, Senior Sun."

"Regardless of the outcome, it was ultimately your painstaking effort to refine this batch of Foundation Establishment Pills for me. I will remember this kindness. If I am fortunate enough to successfully establish my foundation in the future, I will definitely visit you in person to express my gratitude."

Upon hearing this, Master Sun smiled and waved his hand gently.

"Fellow Daoist Li, you flatter me."

But he didn't take it to heart.

He knew better than anyone how difficult it was for a lone cultivator to establish their foundation.

Moreover, what the other party received was only a low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

In his view, this parting between the two today was most likely a final farewell.

Despite the surging anger in his heart, Li Mufeng remained completely expressionless on his face.

Because he knows very well that he is not yet in a position to overturn the table.

Even with his many trump cards, he already had the power to fight against ordinary early Foundation Establishment cultivators, but he was still far from enough to face Yang Tianzhen and Alchemist Sun.

Yang Tianzhen has the entire Tianque Mountain behind her, and even a Golden Core cultivator is in charge.

Master Sun himself is a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his alchemy skills and connections are unfathomable.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, each level becomes like an insurmountable chasm. Before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, the opponent could still easily crush him with a single finger.

As Li Mufeng left the Sun residence, he looked back one last time.

Through the screen, one could vaguely see Yang Tianzhen playing with elixirs and Master Sun bowing as they sat and drank tea.

Li Mufeng silently kept it in his heart.

The entire journey was speechless.

Only when they were almost back at Fu Yuan Residence did Ling Zixuan gently bite her lip and muster her courage to speak: "Fellow Daoist Li, I wonder if you could transfer that inferior Foundation Establishment Pill to me?"

"I am willing to offer 15,000 low-grade spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Li Mufeng paused slightly, then clasped his hands in apology.

"I'm sorry, Fellow Daoist Ling, but even if there's only a sliver of hope, I, Li, would like to give it a try myself."

Upon hearing this, Ling Zixuan sighed softly and did not continue to persuade her.

She knew in her heart that if she were in her shoes, she would never sell this Foundation Establishment Pill either.

Li Mufeng stared calmly at the inferior Foundation Establishment Pill in his storage bag.

Fifteen thousand low-grade spirit stones are indeed more than their intrinsic value.

But he won't sell this pill.

Not only because it still has a chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, but also because this is a Foundation Establishment Pill that he rightfully obtained.

If he successfully establishes his foundation in the future, when others ask him questions, they will only think that he is very fortunate and that he entered the foundation stage by luck with a low-quality foundation-establishing pill.

As for the real secret, naturally no one can know it.

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