40: Meet the Foundation Building Monk

"You're much better than me. It took me over a year to learn the Pi Gu Pill, and I only succeeded in refining one after three months of continuous Alchemy."

"From the time you first started with Alchemy to successfully refining your first Pi Gu Pill, it's only been less than half a year."

"You just need to practice more, identify problems, and both your success rate and quality will improve."

Zhang Qingxiao comforted her.

"En, I will work hard to improve my Alchemy skills."

Liang Qiaoer had never heard Fellow Cultivator Zhang talk about his Alchemy before. She had originally thought Fellow Cultivator Zhang was an Alchemy Genius, but now she realized it was all due to his hard work.

This also strengthened her resolve to study Alchemy even harder.

After lunch, Zhang Qingxiao was about to refine two batches of Medicinal Pills when Zhou Yun came to his side. "Husband, Luo Fei came looking for you these past two days. You were in seclusion, so I sent him back."

"Why don't you go ask him what it is about?"

"Okay, I'll go ask Luo Fei."

Zhang Qingxiao put down the medicinal ingredients in his hand and walked out.

In the past two months, Luo Fei had rarely sought him out, except to deliver Spirit Stones.

He must have something important now.

"Brother Zhang, you've finally come out of seclusion!"

When Luo Fei saw Fellow Cultivator Zhang approaching, he quickly came out to greet him. After entering the room, he first dismissed his subordinates and carefully closed the door.

"The Chang Sheng Sect Master has discovered that Disciples from Xiaoyao Sect, Guiyuan Sect, and Wind and Thunder Sect have infiltrated the Sect."

"They are now secretly sending people to investigate."

"The person in charge of the investigation is a Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Sun Yao is still in our territory. If he is discovered, it could be very disadvantageous to us..."

Luo Fei didn't dare to make a decision on this matter by himself, so he had delayed it until now.

He had been tied up with other things today; otherwise, he would have gone to Fellow Cultivator Zhang's house.

"Don't panic."

"How many infiltrating Cultivators have the Li family Foundation Establishment Elder found so far?"

"How were they handled after being discovered?"

"Have you contacted Sun Yao these past two days? What is his attitude towards this matter?"

Zhang Qingxiao quickly calmed down and calmly asked the crucial questions.

"I'm not very clear about the exact number of people found."

"I only know that all the Cultivators who were found have been imprisoned."

"Sun Yao did contact me. He hopes we can help him conceal his identity."

Luo Fei dared not hide anything about this matter and recounted all the information he knew in detail.

"Good, I understand."

"Find a trustworthy subordinate to go to the Li Family Pill Shop and deliver a message to Immortal Li."

"Tell him that the person who sent the letter half a year ago wants to meet the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Then, immediately send people to find out how many foreign Sect Disciples were caught this time and which Sects they belong to."

"Before I meet the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator, this must be thoroughly investigated to confirm the accuracy of the intelligence."

"At the same time, keep an eye on Sun Yao."

Zhang Qingxiao had to prepare for both eventualities. If he could persuade the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator to join the Xiaoyao Sect, that would naturally be for the best.

If not, then he must immediately sever ties with Sun Yao.

He knew that during this time, Luo Fei had not helped Sun Yao with any actual concrete matters.

The involvement wasn't deep, so there was still a lot of room for maneuver.

Moreover, he had some favor with the Li family. Therefore, no matter how he looked at it, dealing with this matter should not be a big problem.

"Brother Zhang, I'll go do it now."

Luo Fei hadn't expected Fellow Cultivator Zhang to have a connection with the Li family, and his worried heart eased slightly.

That evening, Luo Fei's subordinate brought back good news, having found out the exact number of foreign Sect Disciples caught this time and their respective Schools.

The Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator had caught a total of seventeen foreign Sect Disciples this time: seven from Guiyuan Sect, eight from Wind and Thunder Sect, and only two from Xiaoyao Sect.

After capturing these foreign Sect Disciples, they were not subjected to torture or forced confessions, but merely imprisoned individually.

Upon learning this information, Zhang Qingxiao had some guesses in his heart.

Based on the intelligence he possessed, the Xiaoyao Sect had the most people infiltrating Chang Sheng Sect, yet the fewest were caught. It was highly probable that the Li family had secretly defected to the Xiaoyao Sect.

Or perhaps the Li family's Foundation Establishment Cultivator was deliberately showing favor to the Xiaoyao Sect through this.

Regardless of which it was, this news was good for him.

That night, he found Sun Yao, and the two chatted until late into the night, with Zhang Qingxiao finally leaving satisfied.

The next day, Luo Fei arrived at Fellow Cultivator Zhang's house early in the morning with good news.

"Brother Zhang, the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator wants to see you."

Entering the courtyard, Luo Fei said impatiently.

"En, when and where is the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator planning to meet me?" Zhang Qingxiao asked.

"Tonight, at the Li Family Pill Shop."

"Brother Zhang, are you going to meet the Li family Foundation Establishment cultivator?"

Luo Fei suddenly felt something was amiss. Meeting on their territory would not be advantageous for Fellow Cultivator Zhang.

"Go!"

"Meeting a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it's the same no matter where."

"Asking me to go to the Li Family Pill Shop is also a test for me."

Zhang Qingxiao saw Luo Fei's concern, patted his shoulder, and said with a relaxed expression.

Meeting at the Li Family Pill Shop, the meaning was self-evident.

It clearly told him that they wouldn't make things difficult for him and that he could go with confidence.

"Brother Zhang, do you need me to send someone with you?" Luo Fei was still a bit worried.

"Can the people you send defeat a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?"

"This time I will disguise myself and meet him under another identity. You don't need to worry."

"Recently, tell everyone to be quiet. Xiaoyao Sect, Guiyuan Sect, and Wind and Thunder Sect may soon attack Chang Sheng Sect."

Zhang Qingxiao said grumpily.

"Brother Zhang, don't worry, I will restrain my subordinates and not let them cause trouble."

Luo Fei had originally wanted to expand his territory during this chaotic period, but after hearing Fellow Cultivator Zhang's words, that idea was immediately dispelled.

Now, besides the more than one hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones he handed over to Fellow Cultivator Zhang each month, he could also keep fifty or sixty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones for himself, making his life increasingly comfortable.

As his subordinates continuously increased, he naturally became a bit overconfident.

In the evening, Zhang Qingxiao left his home, circled a few times, found an unoccupied courtyard, changed into a new Magic Robe, altered his appearance, and returned to the market.

He wandered until late at night when the streets were deserted before stepping into the Li Family Pill Shop.

"Fellow Daoist, please come in."

"It's you. The Old Ancestor is waiting for you in the backyard. Please follow me."

At first, Immortal Li didn't recognize the disguised Zhang Qingxiao. It wasn't until a moment after he entered the shop that he remembered this was the Cultivator who had secretly informed their Li family half a year ago.

His attitude towards the visitor instantly became much more polite.

...