23: Chapter 23 Foundation Building Pill Recipe

"One hundred pills," Su Chengyuan said calmly.

Upon hearing this, the Fat Shopkeeper frantically wiped his mouth, repeatedly apologizing.

When he personally confirmed the one hundred top-grade qi gathering pills, even with his extensive experience, he couldn't help but gasp.

"Fellow Daoist, forgive my presumption, but may I ask which Great Master of Alchemy crafted this batch of Medicinal Pills?" The Fat Shopkeeper bowed respectfully, his posture very humble.

"No comment," Su Chengyuan replied, sparing his words like gold.

Seeing this, the Fat Shopkeeper did not press further. He pondered for a moment and said, "Fellow Daoist, one hundred top-grade qi gathering pills are worth a fortune. If they are released all at once, it might cause market instability, which would be bad for both you and our Treasure Gathering Tower. I have a suggestion; I wonder if I should speak it?"

"Speak."

"In one month, our Treasure Gathering Tower in Qinghe Prefecture City will host a grand auction, held once every ten years.

At that time, Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Immortal Masters from the entire Qinghe Prefecture and even several surrounding Prefecture Cities will come to participate.

If this batch of Medicinal Pills is offered in separate lots at the auction, not only will they fetch sky-high prices far exceeding market value, but your privacy will also be maximally protected.

All transactions will be guaranteed by our Treasure Gathering Tower, and no one will be able to trace your identity."

"An auction?" Su Chengyuan frowned. This would expose him to too many eyes, which went against his principle of keeping a low profile.

"Fellow Daoist, please let me finish," the Fat Shopkeeper said, seeing his concerns, and quickly explained, "Our Treasure Gathering Tower's auction prioritizes reputation and absolutely keeps clients' identities confidential.

Moreover, dividing these one hundred Medicinal Pills into ten groups, with ten pills per group for auction, will surely maximize their value and attract countless Families and Sects to fiercely compete for them.

By then, the Spirit Stones you receive will definitely far exceed the price we would offer for a private acquisition."

Su Chengyuan remained silent, weighing the pros and cons in his heart.

Seeing this, the Fat Shopkeeper threw out another bombshell.

"And, to be frank with you, Fellow Daoist, we have already confirmed one of the highlight items for this auction," he said in a hushed, mysterious tone, "That item is very likely to be of interest to you, Fellow Daoist."

"Oh?"

"A complete... foundation establishment pill recipe!"

Su Chengyuan's pupils suddenly contracted, and a monstrous wave surged in his heart, but his face remained expressionless.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Since there's a Pill Formula, why doesn't your esteemed tower sell it directly to me?"

The Fat Shopkeeper gave a wry smile upon hearing this: "Fellow Daoist, you jest. How precious is this foundation establishment pill recipe? Our Treasure Gathering Tower has a grand enterprise, and we also have Alchemy Great Masters enshrined within. How could such a strategic item be sold externally?"

He paused, then lowered his voice: "Fellow Daoist, you may not know, but looking across the entire Qinghe Prefecture, and even wider regions, which of those so-called Foundation Establishment Families has a foundation establishment pill recipe in their hands?

This item has long been firmly held by the Golden Core Sects, treated as their exclusive possession, never to be passed on. Why? Is it not to solidify their dominant position, suppressing all potential Families and ensuring they never rise!"

"This time is a special case. It's from a declining Alchemy Sect, who, to ensure their Legacy continues, reluctantly brought it out in exchange for resources," the Fat Shopkeeper continued. "Once this item appears, it will surely attract countless forces to contend for it. If Fellow Daoist wishes to acquire it, you will need a massive amount of Spirit Stones. And your one hundred top-grade qi gathering pills are your biggest bargaining chip!"

Su Chengyuan's heart, uncooperatively, began to beat faster.

He searched high and low for it, only to find it effortlessly.

His biggest purpose in coming to the Prefecture City this time was to find a foundation establishment pill recipe, and he never expected it to appear so easily before him.

Risks and opportunities coexist.

Going to the auction meant he would be at the center of attention, watched by countless eyes.

But giving up meant missing out on the foundation establishment pill recipe.

He had to take this risk!

"Alright," Su Chengyuan said in a deep voice, "I'll do as you say. I'll hand over the Medicinal Pills for you to auction."

"Fellow Daoist is wise!" The Fat Shopkeeper was overjoyed and quickly took out a purple-gold token. "This is our auction's VIP token. With this token, Fellow Daoist can enter the highest-grade private room. For all auction proceeds, we only take a half-percent commission."

After completing all the procedures, Su Chengyuan walked out of Treasure Gathering Tower.

He looked up at the sky of the Prefecture City; it was still clear, but he smelled an impending storm.

For the next month, Su Chengyuan did not leave Qinghe Prefecture City.

With the few dozen Spirit Stones he had left, he rented an inconspicuous courtyard in the bustling outer city and completely disappeared.

The waters of the Prefecture City were deeper than he had imagined.

Ever since he handed over the one hundred top-grade qi gathering pills to Treasure Gathering Tower, he had keenly sensed several faint Divine Senses secretly probing.

Although Treasure Gathering Tower promised confidentiality, such a large transaction could not be completely watertight.

Those forces with informants outside Treasure Gathering Tower must have already caught wind of it, and he was certainly not the only one being probed.

Su Chengyuan remembered his son's advice to prioritize "stability."

He did not engage in any further activities, meditating daily in his courtyard, concealing his aura, and acting like an ordinary Loose Cultivator.

He repeatedly refined the 'Water Severing' sword and the black tortoise shield, and he mentally rehearsed the three new Spells he had learned—Sharp Gold Finger, Profound Ice Thorns, and Wind Riding Steps—not aiming for a great increase in power, but only for smoother and more flawless execution.

Time quietly slipped away in this peaceful waiting.

However, the Cultivation world of Qinghe Prefecture City was abuzz due to the news released by Treasure Gathering Tower.

"Have you heard? Treasure Gathering Tower's auction this time will be auctioning one hundred top-grade qi gathering pills!"

"One hundred? You're joking, right? supreme-grade pills are already rare, and qi gathering pills are low-grade Medicinal Pills. Who would put in so much effort to refine supreme-grade ones? And then bring out one hundred at once?"

"Absolutely true! The news was personally released by Treasure Gathering Tower's Second Shopkeeper! It's said to be consigned by a mysterious Alchemy Great Master, and the pills are of flawless quality!"

"My heavens, this is going to be insane! A single top-grade qi gathering pill can save a Qi Refining Middle Stage Cultivator several years of arduous cultivation, and without any pill toxins. One hundred pills... this is enough to mass-produce an elite team of Late Qi Refining Stage Cultivators!"

"It's not just qi gathering pills! One of the highlight treasures this time is said to be... the foundation establishment pill Formula!"

"What?!"

This news was like pouring cold water into boiling oil, causing the entire Prefecture City's Cultivation forces to erupt.

Whether it was the old Foundation Establishment Families established in the Prefecture City for many years or the second-rate Sects from the surrounding areas who heard the news and stirred, everyone's attention was focused on this upcoming auction.

For a time, undercurrents surged within the Prefecture City, and countless Cultivators rushed from all directions, just to witness this rare event that occurred once every ten years.

And the instigator of all this, Su Chengyuan, was leisurely drinking coarse tea in his small courtyard, as if everything outside had nothing to do with him.

Finally, the day of the auction arrived.

Su Chengyuan changed into the plainest black robe and put on a bamboo hat, wrapping himself completely.

With the purple-gold token, he did not use the main entrance but instead entered the top-tier VIP private room on the third floor directly through Treasure Gathering Tower's secret passage.

The private room was elegantly decorated, and through a special one-way crystal wall, he could clearly see the bustling auction hall downstairs, while those outside could not see anything inside the private room.

Su Chengyuan sat down in a corner. With a slight movement of his mind, he discovered that the entire auction hall was enveloped by a powerful Formation, isolating any prying, which somewhat put his mind at ease.

"Dong—"

With a crisp chime of a bell, the auction officially began.