I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

Ophelia practically jogged through the corridor until she turned the corner and the alchemy room was completely out of sight. Only then did she stop, leaning against the cold stone wall, holding the jade bottle in her hands, her pert chest heaving violently.

"What...what did I just say?"

She closed her eyes, wishing she could erase those few breaths from her memory.

"Sect Master, release that junior sister and let me handle this!"

Is this even human language?

Oh right, she's a half-elf, that's alright then.

No wonder!

Ophelia buried her face in her palms, her ears burning hot.

She didn't even dare to think about what Ji Tian would think of her—a disciple with a head full of filthy thoughts? A second senior sister who had been completely corrupted by her third junior sister?

She stood under the corridor for a while before she could finally catch her breath and looked down at the jade bottle in her hand.

The bottle was warm and smooth, and one could vaguely feel the faint heat emanating from the pill inside.

"Foundation Establishment Pills... are best used on suitable disciples, but besides Junior Sister Lilith, who else hasn't reached Foundation Establishment?"

She tucked the jade bottle into her sleeve, straightened her back, and regained her usual composure, though a lingering blush remained on her cheeks.

She lifted her leg and walked back the way she came.

……

In the alchemy room, Lilith sat cross-legged on a futon, her eyes closed, her breathing gradually becoming rapid as the medicinal effects took hold.

The bodies of high-ranking demons are very similar to those of humans, but Ji Tian dared not be careless. He stood beside her with his hands behind his back, constantly monitoring the changes within her body with his divine sense.

As expected, the spiritual energy flowed along the magical pathways, gradually widening and nourishing those originally narrow and dry passages.

"When the spiritual energy reaches the lower dantian, let it settle naturally."

Lilith's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the spiritual energy within her body indeed slowed down, flowing slowly downwards like a stream merging into a deep pool.

"Yes, that's it. Foundation building will then proceed naturally."

Lilith couldn't answer, but her brows relaxed a little, clearly indicating that she had taken it to heart.

As Ji Tian watched her gradually enter a state of high concentration, he couldn't help but recall the scene many years ago when he first stepped into the "Pretending to Establish Foundation" realm. At that time, he only had those vague descriptions in online novels, and he only relied on a fierce determination to make the fake real and thus entered the path of cultivation.

Now, standing beside the alchemy furnace, using the "Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill" to help his disciple establish his foundation, his spiritual energy flows smoothly and gently, making him feel as if he had been in another world.

In the art of alchemy, he was originally just a novice. The embarrassing situation of turning even the Bigu Pill into dry rations is finally over. Given time, he may be able to refine a higher-grade [Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pill], become a grandmaster of alchemy, and carry forward the art of alchemy!

"Indeed, the Great Dao lies within me!"

Thinking of this, even Ji Tiandao, with his usually calm and collected demeanor, couldn't help but let out a soft hum.

Time passed slowly, the residual heat in the alchemy furnace gradually dissipated, and the sun blazed high outside the window. Lilith finally opened her eyes, her purple pupils brighter than before.

She cracked her neck, making a "crackling" sound. "Master, thanks to you, my stomach feels warm now."

That's what I'm saying, but something still feels off.

"...That is the manifestation of abundant spiritual energy. In my case, the essence of Foundation Establishment is to condense liquid spiritual energy in the lower dantian and build a 'Dao Foundation'. The spiritual energy here will be refined into liquid storage."

"You have just taken the Foundation Establishment Pill, and its effects have not yet been fully refined. For the next three days, meditate for four hours each day without interruption."

Upon hearing this, Lilith's face fell like a kitten's. "Four hours? Three more days? Won't I get hemorrhoids from sitting so long?"

"Who taught him such a powerful language system?" Ji Tian thought to himself, somewhat helplessly. "Stop talking nonsense and practice more."

Lilith pretended not to hear, clenched her fist, and touched her face. "I feel like I'm much lighter all over. And also, has my skin improved after my breakthrough?"

Ji Tian glanced at her. "Hmm, you've expelled quite a bit of impurities. Remember to take a shower when you get back."

Lilith quickly looked down and sniffed her sleeves, her expression changed, and she jumped up. "Quack! I've become smelly! I'm going to take a shower!"

After saying that, she ran outside, but turned back at the door and asked, "Master, can I still take that pill tomorrow?"

"The Foundation Establishment Pill can only be taken once in a lifetime; taking it again will have no effect."

"Oh~" She was a little disappointed, but quickly smiled foolishly again, and her silver-white figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.

After Lilith ran away, Ji Tian stood alone in the alchemy room, his gaze falling on the still-warm alchemy furnace. He felt that his hands were burning hot, and it was the perfect time to refine pills. So he restarted the alchemy furnace and began to refine other pills.

Meanwhile, Alex and Mason returned to the disciples' quarters on the west side and began packing their belongings.

Mason entered Alex's room, wiped the sweat from his brow, and asked, "Is everything packed?"

"Hmm, a few changes of clothes, some dry food, and the token and communication talisman my master gave me. What about you?"

Mason raised his chin. "Me? I've been prepared for this for a while now. I can leave anytime."

Alex smiled.

The two started walking again and stopped by the training field. Shirley was sitting on the ground, holding a carrot in her hand and crunching it.

"Senior Sister." Alex bowed slightly.

Shirley looked up, her orange-gold eyes shining brightly in the twilight. "Oh, you're going down the mountain tomorrow? Be careful on the road. If you encounter anything you can't fight, just say my name."

"Does the title of 'Senior Sister' carry any weight in the outside world?" Mason asked tentatively.

"I don't know if it will work, but you can run away after you report it, and they won't be able to catch you anyway."

Mason: "..."

Alex suppressed a laugh and turned to Mason, "Let's go, and say goodbye to Senior Sister Jenny while we're at it."

The two walked along the stone path toward the medicinal herb garden on the back mountain, and from afar they saw Jenny squatting by the herb garden, weeding the herbs as usual.

She heard footsteps, looked up, and saw that her face was still covered in mud.

"Seventh Junior Brother, Eighth Junior Sister." She stood up, brushing the dirt off her knees. "Are you going down the mountain?"

Mason nodded and said, "Yes. Is there anything you need us to bring, Senior Sister? Or... is there anything you want to tell the people outside?"

Jenny thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don't have anything to bring. Please be careful."

Alex didn't say anything more, but simply bowed slightly and turned to leave with Mason.

The third senior sister, Alice, was unpredictable, while the second senior sister, who could divine, would take the initiative to see off the disciples who were going down the mountain. When they returned to the accommodation area, Mason stood at the door of Alex's room.

"We'll set off early tomorrow morning. Get some sleep, or you might fall asleep halfway through your flight on your sword."

"Won't."

"Then I'll go back." Mason turned and took two steps, then stopped, tilting his head to look at him. "Alex."

"Um?"

"……Good night."

"Good night."

Mason pushed open the door to his room, and Alex stood at the door for a while, looking up at the starry sky.

Three months ago, he was still the brave warrior who wielded the holy sword and fought for the kingdom.

Now, the holy sword is broken, the hero's party has disbanded, he has a new master, new fellow disciples, and the red-haired girl by his side.

He looked down at his hands.

The hand that's used to holding a sword now has to learn to hold something else.