100: seclusion

Moreover, there were no longer any particularly Heaven-Defying spirit plants in his spirit field.

The third batch of earth treasure had just been harvested, and a new crop of Spirit Potato had just been planted.

He planned to harvest that stalk of Second-Turn Sword Grass and store it away; it would be refined soon anyway.

As for the remaining seven stalks of Sword Grass that were just lying fallow, it wouldn't matter if they were seen by others.

Besides that, there were three stalks of Dragon Blood Grass in the spirit field.

These were a gift from Su Wan Yue, so there was nothing to say about them.

As for the Mutated Rice, Lin Yan had long since taken advantage of his position as Chief Disciple to sell it all off.

Over these two and a half years, the Mutated Rice had brought him a profit of over ten thousand Spirit Stones.

Added to the income from selling spirit wine and his share of Spirit Stones as Chief Disciple, Lin Yan's current holdings had reached nearly twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

If it weren't for the massive consumption required to cultivate the earth vein potato and other spirit plants, the Spirit Stones in his hands would have reached thirty thousand.

Lin Yan did not intend to deliberately hide the most precious Azure Blade Willow anymore.

With his current status, what was wrong with obtaining a little Opportunity?

He was not only the current Chief Disciple of the Spirit Herb Hall but also the Personal Disciple of Bai He!

Over the years, Lin Yan had often gone to the Lingxu Pavilion to browse through historical records and ancient texts.

He was surprised to discover that half of the past Pavilion Masters of the Sword Pavilion were surnamed Bai!

Even more frightening was that in the Sword Pavilion, which was filled with influential clans, one rarely heard news about the Bai clan.

Combined with the Grand Elder's previous hints, he knew that he had inadvertently latched onto a very powerful figure.

By comparison, obtaining a predecessor's Legacy was hardly worth mentioning.

After bidding farewell to the Grand Elder, the Little Crane flew with Lin Yan toward the mountain range where the Spirit Pill Hall was located.

The Jian Ge Mountain Range was vast, filled with wild, towering peaks; even when flying at a high altitude, one could not see the edge at a single glance.

The flying boat and the crane streaked across the mountains at great speed.

Before long, the crane landed in front of a cluster of fire-red mountains.

Unlike the lush greenery of the Spirit Herb Hall, this place was filled with the scent of fire.

The rocks were crimson red, the air was filled with a faint smell of sulfur, and clouds of crimson Spiritual Qi rolled through the sky from time to time.

"The crimson Immortal Cave ahead is where Elder Ge resides; let's go," the crane said.

A female Disciple dressed in a pink dress stood in front of the Immortal Cave, and upon seeing the crane arrive, she immediately greeted it.

The two addressed each other as sisters, and it seemed their relationship was quite good.

The young woman bowed slightly to Lin Yan: "Is this Senior Brother here to see my master?"

"I am Lin Yan, and I have come specifically to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill on the recommendation of the Grand Elder," Lin Yan replied with a bow.

Upon hearing this, the female Disciple looked Lin Yan up and down, a complex expression appearing on her face as if she were confirming something.

Lin Yan was a bit puzzled by her gaze but did not think much of it: "May I ask what to call you, Miss?"

"I am Disciple Zhao Xuaner. My master is currently practicing Alchemy inside the Immortal Cave and will come out to see guests shortly," the female Disciple replied in a calm tone, but Lin Yan clearly caught a trace of something unusual in her eyes.

"Zhao Xuaner…" Lin Yan's heart stirred; why was this name so familiar?

He studied the female Disciple before him carefully, and suddenly remembering something, he slapped his forehead: "Are you… Zhao Qiyan's cousin?"

Zhao Xuaner was slightly taken aback, then smiled: "Senior Brother has a good memory."

Lin Yan suddenly realized.

Two years ago, Zhao Qiyan had intended to play matchmaker and have him become a Dao Companion with this Zhao Xuaner, even showing him a recording stone of Zhao Xuaner.

At the time, Lin Yan had politely declined the kind gesture, firstly because he felt that those who cultivate should not be trapped by romantic entanglements too early, and secondly, because he had no particular feelings for Zhao Xuaner, whom he had never met.

"So it was you," Lin Yan smiled slightly. "I didn't expect to meet you here."

Zhao Xuaner's expression was calm, showing no resentment at all. She bowed slightly and said: "Senior Brother need not worry about the previous matter. Xuaner has long admired Senior Brother Lin's reputation, and I am very happy to be able to see Senior Brother Lin here today."

Lin Yan nodded, looking at the young woman with a new level of respect.

He then moved on to the main topic: "Junior Sister Zhao, do you know when Elder Ge will be able to come out of seclusion? I am indeed in urgent need of a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"My master should be coming out of seclusion very soon," Zhao Xuaner smiled. "Senior Brother has come at just the right time; my master just happened to refine a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills."

As she spoke, she led Lin Yan into the waiting area in front of the Immortal Cave and served him a cup of spirit tea: "Please wait a moment, Senior Brother; I will go inform my master."

Before long, the Immortal Cave door opened, and an Elder with graying hair but a vigorous spirit walked out: "Is this the young friend Lin Yan recommended by old man Ji from the Spirit Herb Hall?"

"Junior Lin Yan pays his respects to Senior," Lin Yan quickly stood up and bowed.

"No need for such formalities," Elder Ge waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yan, and nodded slightly: "Old Ghost Ji often mentions you, and seeing you today, you are indeed a talent! I heard you came to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Lin Yan nodded: "Yes, Senior."

Upon hearing this, Elder Ge took out a jade box, and after opening it, five Foundation Establishment Pills were neatly arranged inside, each exuding a dense fluctuation of Spiritual Qi, their quality clearly much higher than the one in the Treasure Pavilion.

"These are five High Grade Foundation Establishment Pills, refined by my own hand," Elder Ge continued: "Since you were introduced by old man Ji, I will sell them to you for a little cheaper. Each costs six hundred Spirit Stones. How many do you want?"

"I'll take them all!" Lin Yan said decisively.

Upon hearing this, Elder Ge looked at Lin Yan with some surprise.

Are young people these days this rich?

Wasn't it said that Cultivators from the Spirit Herb Hall were very poor?

Under Elder Ge's surprised gaze, Lin Yan took out a pile of gleaming Spirit Stones and purchased the Foundation Establishment Pills on the spot.

Exchanging for this Foundation Establishment Pill at the Treasure Pavilion only cost 300 contribution points each.

In reality, the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill was worth much more than that.

Loose Cultivators outside would pay over a thousand Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and they might not even be able to buy one.

At six hundred Spirit Stones per Foundation Establishment Pill, buying them was a bargain.

"You kid…" Elder Ge shook his head and chuckled.

He put away the Spirit Stones and completed the transaction.

"Thank you, Senior," Lin Yan bowed respectfully and took his leave.

"Go now. When undergoing Foundation Establishment, remember to keep your state of mind peaceful. If there are any accidents, you may come to the Spirit Pill Hall to find me," Elder Ge urged.

In the cultivation world, Alchemists basically also acted in the role of mortal physicians.

After leaving the Spirit Pill Hall, Lin Yan instructed the crane: "Little Crane, after you go back, tell the Grand Elder that I will begin my seclusion tomorrow, and I may have a Breakthrough at any time after three days."

"Understood," the crane replied, flapping its wings and leaving.

Lin Yan smiled upon hearing this.

Although this crane was tsundere, it was actually very reliable, and everything he entrusted to it would be done with its best effort.

He steered the flying boat straight to his Small Valley.

After resting well for a day, Lin Yan told Little Fatty about his intention to enter seclusion, and then walked alone into the Light Spirit Concealment Formation.

"It is time." Lin Yan took a deep breath, sat cross-legged under the Azure Blade Willow, and began making final preparations for the Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.

He checked the prepared Medicinal Pill, Spirit Stones, and the two pine nuts of the needle sword pine once more.

Lin Yan closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, feeling the flow of Spiritual Qi within his body, waiting for that critical moment to arrive.

He sat like this for three days.

During these three days, Lin Yan did not rush to Breakthrough, but instead used meditation to regulate his breathing and nourish the Sword Intent within his body.

"The time has come." At dusk on the third day, Lin Yan slowly opened his eyes, a flash of cyan light flickering in his pupils.

He took a deep breath, picked up a Foundation Establishment Pill, and swallowed it without hesitation.

The Foundation Establishment Pill melted upon entering his mouth, turning into a massive surge of spiritual power that rushed into his body.

Lin Yan immediately circulated the Azure Emperor Longevity Art, guiding this spiritual power to circulate through his Meridians and finally converge within his Dantian.

One, two, three…

For the sake of safety, Lin Yan swallowed three Foundation Establishment Pills in succession, each one turning into a surging torrent of spiritual power, forming a vortex within his Dantian and crashing against the barrier of spiritual power.