3: Chapter 3: Foundation Establishment Completed Within Ten Days?

[Outside the cave, the cold wind howled and wailed in gusts.]

[You struggled through the night. Fortunately, your body is quite robust; even freezing for an entire night had no effect on you.]

[The next day, you heard the coughing of that Senior from inside the cave again.]

[She seemed to have coughed up blood again...]

[However, you dared not ask too much. After all, considering that Senior's temper and strength, it was best to avoid offending her if possible.]

[You glanced at the surroundings of the cave entrance and found only craggy, bare stone walls, as steep as if carved by a knife or axe. Even with climbing, it was impossible to ascend...]

"Sigh, I have to figure out a way to get up there."

Su Fan took out his Storage Pouch and emptied its contents: two foundation establishment pills, a green steel sword, an iron medicine furnace, a dagger, and some alchemy Materials. Aside from these, there was nothing else.

Su Fan used the dagger to cut a vine from the cliffside, tied it to a large rock, and tried to throw it upward, but it was futile; the vine quickly plunged into the bottomless abyss...

"Hey, is anyone up there?"

Su Fan cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted upward as loudly as he could.

"Hey—"

Just as he was about to shout a second time, without him noticing when, the woman in purple flashed out like lightning in the blink of an eye. Soon, a fair, jade-like hand gripped his throat:

"Do not shout! If you shout again, I will kill you!!!"

She only lightly pinched Su Fan's throat, yet his entire body hunched over and collapsed to his knees. He felt as if a weight of ten million catties was pressing down on him, making it impossible to breathe, as if he were about to suffocate...

"Senior... I know... I was wrong..."

"I will never dare to do it again... Please... spare me..."

In front of an absolute powerhouse, Su Fan could only beg for mercy.

He was certain that this Senior's cultivation base absolutely exceeded anyone in the Jianren Sect, including the Sect Master at the Nascent Soul Stage.

The woman did not release her grip immediately but glanced at the items he had taken out of his Storage Pouch. Her beautiful eyes fell upon the iron medicine furnace, and she stared at it intently, as if pondering something...

When Su Fan's face had already flushed red, his breathing had nearly stopped, and his eyes were rolling back, she finally slowly released her hand.

"You can practice alchemy?"

Su Fan started taking deep breaths before nodding in reply.

"Yes, I will not hide it from you, Senior. Although I am only an alchemy Disciple, and my Revered Master has never taught me alchemy, I have secretly practiced refining some myself..."

She did not seem to care much about what he said, instead asking:

"What grade of Medicinal Pill can you refine?"

"I can refine first grade Medicinal Pills, and occasionally I attempt second grade, but... I failed them all!"

Medicinal Pills are categorized by grade. As far as Su Fan knew, there were nine grades in total; the best was the ninth grade, and the lowest was the first grade.

However, a first grade Medicinal Pill does not mean it is trash.

Anything that can be labeled with a "grade" signifies that the medicine has great efficacy. For example, the foundation establishment pill belongs to the first grade Medicinal Pill and can ensure a Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage has a 99% probability of a successful Breakthrough during the Foundation Establishment ceremony.

Su Fan being able to refine first grade Medicinal Pills was actually quite good. With this ability, it would be no problem for him to go to a second-rate Sect and secure a position as a Guest Elder.

However, the Jianren Sect was, after all, a top-tier Sect in the Liuyun Kingdom. Moreover, although his Revered Master did not teach him alchemy and only made him do odd jobs, his Revered Master was still a third-grade Alchemist. Through constant exposure, Su Fan was able to learn quite a lot of real knowledge.

"..."

After hearing Su Fan's answer, Ji Yao pondered slowly for a moment, then her beautiful eyes fell upon Su Fan.

"You cannot refine second grade Medicinal Pills because your Mental Energy is not strong enough. You only have the cultivation of Qi Refining Stage 3; with your current Mental Energy, it is not yet enough to control the heat..."

Ji Yao seemed to have figured something out; her tone was not as cold, and she even began to guide the youth before her.

Su Fan was pleasantly surprised upon hearing this, as if he had suddenly understood the key point!

After a brief moment of surprise, he cupped his hands and said, "So that is how it is. Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"

At the thought of that matter, Ji Yao waved her hand lightly and continued, "No need to thank me. This is common knowledge that an Alchemist should know. Your Revered Master... did not teach you?"

"My Revered Master only makes me do odd jobs. For three years, he has not taught me anything..."

Su Fan told the truth about his situation.

He had not expected that this beautiful Senior, who wanted to kill him just a moment ago, would not only become polite in her speech after seeing his medicine furnace and learning he could practice alchemy, but would even casually guide him...

It seems that this talent for alchemy is indeed a hot commodity; it can even save one's life at critical moments, hehe!

However... wait!

Could she have spared my life for some purpose?

Thinking of this, Su Fan raised his head slightly and asked cautiously, "Senior... do you need me to practice alchemy for you?"

"You are not too stupid."

Ji Yao said indifferently, then patted the white jade-like ring on her hand, took out a golden medicine furnace from it, and tossed it to Su Fan...

Wow! Golden Legendary!

Su Fan held the medicine furnace carefully, stroking it gently, unable to put it down, his saliva almost drooling out.

The medicine furnace before him was a top-tier Spiritual Artifact of legendary grade!

His Revered Master used a copper Spiritual Artifact furnace. Iron, copper, silver, and gold correspond to Common, Rare, Excellent, and Legendary grades respectively. He did not expect that this Senior, who was not an Alchemist, could casually take out a golden legendary-grade Spiritual Artifact. It was truly an eye-opener!

While Su Fan was still immersed in the surprise of the golden legendary item before him, Ji Yao tossed a Cultivation Technique manual and a Pill Formula to him, instructing, "I need you to refine a fourth grade Medicinal Pill. With your current Mental Energy, you cannot do it yet. Therefore, you must first practice this Cultivation Technique, and within ten days, you must complete the Foundation Establishment."

"Within ten days... complete Foundation Establishment?"

Su Fan almost doubted his own ears. Within the Sect, those who could complete Foundation Establishment within ten years were already considered to have excellent talent. From Qi Refining Stage 3 to completing Foundation Establishment in ten days—not to mention he had never seen it, he had never even heard of it!

"If you follow this Cultivation Technique to practice, you will naturally be able to do it..."

The beautiful Senior said calmly, then her tone turned cold: "If you cannot do it, you are of no use to me. Keeping you would be better than..."

"Senior! I will definitely do it!!!"

"Thank you for the reward, Senior!!!"

Su Fan kowtowed repeatedly like pounding garlic. By the time he stood up, cold sweat had already soaked the clothes on his back.

And that beautiful Senior walked back into the cave and sat cross-legged, clearly healing her wounds...

After glancing at the Cultivation Technique, Su Fan's eyes suddenly widened in astonishment!!!

"Heaven Rank Low Grade Cultivation Technique: Qiankun Spirit Gathering Art!"

Oh my goodness!

This is a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique; the entire Jianren Sect cannot even produce one!