22: Chapter 0022 Inquiring about Foundation Establishment Pills

"It's full, it's full, I can't fit any more."

"Let's switch to another bottle!"

Three days later, Gu Huan and Liu Zhu were getting along harmoniously, gathering around a table to categorize Medicinal Pills. They were all basic pills suitable for Qi Refining Cultivators.

"Master, Senior Sister Qin is so good to you, sending you pills again. Zhu'er is so useless; my Spirit Stones are only enough for my own expenses, I can't help you at all."

Liu Zhu felt ashamed.

Compared to Qin Yao, she had no advantages to speak of.

Her figure couldn't compare, her charm couldn't compare, her wealth couldn't compare, and even her care for him couldn't compare.

"You shouldn't say that. I am your master, so it is only right that I look after you."

"By the same logic, Qin Yao is my master, so it is normal for her to look after me."

At that moment,

the categorization of the pills was complete.

They had obtained one and a half bottles each of Qi Gathering Pills and Yuan-Nurturing Pills, while the Virility Pills had all been consumed.

Gu Huan only took the two full bottles of Qi Gathering and Yuan-Nurturing Pills, leaving the half-bottles behind.

Liu Zhu guessed his intention.

She lowered her head in shame.

"Take them!"

"What's there to be embarrassed about?"

Gu Huan chuckled, picking up the remaining pills and stuffing them into Liu Zhu's hands.

Her hands tightened around the medicine bottles. She hesitated for a moment before nodding and carefully putting them away.

"Don't worry, Master."

"Zhu'er will definitely Cultivate diligently and strive to break into the top thirty-two in the Sect Competition."

At the mention of the Sect Competition,

Gu Huan suddenly felt worried.

Without the help of a foundation establishment pill, the difficulty of Foundation Establishment was too great.

But he was a Cauldron of lowly status and lacked the qualifications to compete. How was he supposed to get a foundation establishment pill?

Once the Sect Competition ended, Qin Yao would surely attempt Foundation Establishment, and her probability of success was extremely high. When that time came, the gap between their Realms would mean his Extreme Concealment Technique would lose its effect, and his secrets would be completely exposed.

Hide it?

Or not hide it?

This question didn't matter much, because the truth would come out sooner or later.

The key was how to obtain a foundation establishment pill. Gu Huan did not want to stay stuck in the Qi Refining Realm for his entire life.

"Is Master thinking about Foundation Establishment?" Liu Zhu suddenly asked, her beautiful eyes shining with an indescribable clarity.

"How did you know?"

Gu Huan was quite surprised and responded with a smile.

After all, Liu Zhu often seemed dazed and didn't appear very bright.

"You are at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and I am also at the ninth level of Qi Refining. Of course I would care about Foundation Establishment."

"Please rest assured, Master. Zhu'er will go all out to win a foundation establishment pill and bring it back to offer to you."

Hearing this,

Gu Huan looked at Liu Zhu silently for a long time. To say he wasn't moved would definitely be a lie.

When he was in the Righteous Path,

he often heard his Senior Brothers mention the enchantresses of the Hehuan Sect, saying they were born lewd and mercenary, demons who sucked the Yang Qi out of men, and that not a single one was a good person.

Whether those words were right or wrong,

Gu Huan didn't care.

He only believed what he saw with his own eyes.

Whether it was Qin Yao or Liu Zhu, after getting to know them deeply, he found that they were actually normal most of the time.

Gu Huan leaned close to Liu Zhu and suddenly flicked his finger, immediately leaving a red mark on her forehead.

"Ouch! Why did you flick me?"

"I'm reminding you not to make promises lightly. Instead of fantasizing before the Sect Competition has even begun, you should Cultivate diligently to raise your cultivation level."

Liu Zhu nodded obediently.

In her heart, she had already made a secret resolution.

Suddenly, her delicate lips curled up as she complained with a mischievous look.

"Master, don't always say such grand words. How about a little more practical action? Every time you remind me to work hard on my cultivation, you don't move a muscle yourself."

"Hahaha!"

Gu Huan laughed, a helpless sort of laugh. There wasn't a single word of truth in this Hehuan Enchantress's mouth.

"What do you mean I don't move! My waist is almost broken from exhaustion, and you don't even know to give me a massage."

"If you don't say anything, how would I know? Come, come, let's go to the room, Zhu'er will help rub it for you."

Soon,

supported by Liu Zhu,

Gu Huan was forced into her room, where he stayed for another three days.

...

Auction Hall.

An exquisitely decorated pavilion.

Hall Master Su Hongyun looked at Gu Huan, who had arrived unexpectedly, and was stunned for a long while, her heart filled with doubt.

"Ninth level of Qi Refining? You aren't using some Spell to deceive me, are you?"

"Hall Master Su must be joking. My cultivation is the real deal, not an illusion."

Su Hongyun naturally knew that.

It was just that Gu Huan's cultivation had improved so quickly that anyone would be shocked.

"Speak, what brings you to see me today?"

Su Hongyun was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Furthermore, she was the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator Gu Huan knew in the Hehuan Sect.

Dressed in a purple palace gown, her figure was plump and graceful, even more rounded and impressive than Qin Yao's. With her curvaceous and enchanting silhouette, she exuded an intellectual and mature beauty—a true peerless beauty.

"It's like this: I want to know where I can obtain a foundation establishment pill."

"You haven't even reached the tenth level of Qi Refining, what's the rush?"

"Besides, even if you break through to the tenth level, the possibility of success is very low."

Su Hongyun didn't even look up.

The Qi Refining Realm had a total of thirteen levels.

From the tenth level onwards, one could take a foundation establishment pill to attempt Foundation Establishment, but the chance of success was infinitesimal.

Unless one had a wealthy background and wasn't afraid of losses, they wouldn't try to break through at that point. Ordinary Cultivators lacked such resources and foundation, and often waited until the twelfth level of Qi Refining or higher before attempting Foundation Establishment.

Gu Huan naturally knew this.

He was just planning ahead and preparing in advance.

"Hall Master Su misunderstands. I only want to learn the methods for obtaining a foundation establishment pill; I'm not in a hurry to establish my foundation."

"So that's how it is."

Su Hongyun raised her head, revealing her elegant features.

She suddenly broke into a sweet smile, like a blooming peony, vivid and exceptionally beautiful.

"If you want to get a foundation establishment pill, it couldn't be simpler. Just work for us, and we'll provide one immediately."

Su Hongyun was not stupid.

How could she not see that Gu Huan was a Genius of the Demonic Path?

If she could recruit him, he would surely become a reliable aid in time.

If he wasn't considering it for now, she wouldn't offend him or push too hard, lest she drive him into an enemy camp.

"Hall Master Su, I am of low status and just a lowly Cauldron; I really wouldn't be fit for such high circles."

"Fine, fine, I understand. You still don't want to agree!"

Su Hongyun sighed.

Her bright red lips parted slightly.

"Every Sect has very strict control over foundation establishment pills. As for the reasons, you can investigate that yourself."

"The higher-ups control them strictly, but those below don't have so many scruples. Once it's in my hands, it's my property, and I can dispose of it however I wish."

"foundation establishment pills occasionally flow into the underground black market, but the price is also ridiculously high. Don't even think about it without eight or ten thousand Spirit Stones."

Gu Huan sucked in a cold breath.

One couldn't even bid for a foundation establishment pill without eight or ten thousand Spirit Stones. That was way too expensive!

Seeing Gu Huan's distressed expression, Su Hongyun was delighted.

"Seeing your empty pockets, you probably can't afford it, right? Do you want to reconsider us?"

Su Hongyun seized the opportunity.

Gu Huan responded calmly.

"Thank you for your high regard, Hall Master Su. I'll save the answer to that question for later."

"Farewell."

Gu Huan reserved his answer.

If he couldn't obtain a foundation establishment pill later on, he would have no choice but to work for them.

Walking out of the Auction Hall, he found Liu Zhu had already been waiting for a long time. They looked at each other without a word and silently returned to the Immortal Cave.

"Master, the batch of resources you asked me to handle has all been sold. We got a total of about one thousand four hundred Spirit Stones."

The resources Liu Zhu handled

were mainly looted from Sister Liu and the others.

Except for keeping two brand-new High Grade Magical Artifacts, the rest of the stolen goods had been offloaded.

Gu Huan nodded and took the Spirit Stones from Liu Zhu. Adding them to what he already had, he now had three thousand. He still needed to keep working hard to reach eight or ten thousand.

"This is for you, the High Grade Magical Artifact, Weak Water Bell."

"High Grade! Magical Artifact!"

Liu Zhu's delicate body swayed slightly, her eyes filled with shock.

High Grade Magical Artifacts were not cheap; even the cheapest ones cost several hundred Spirit Stones.

"Master, this..."

"Take it. It will help you in the Sect Competition."

After a moment of hesitation, Liu Zhu nodded slightly and accepted the Weak Water Bell, her clear, beautiful eyes shimmering like autumn waters.

"Cultivate well. I'm going back to the other side first and will come to see you again in a few days."

"Zhu'er won't let you down, don't worry!"

Gu Huan smiled.

He turned and left, rushing all the way back to Qin Yao's Immortal Cave.

Just as he was opening the stone door, two Enforcement Hall Disciples rushed out from outside and blocked his retreat.

A man with a contemptuous expression stepped out of the Immortal Cave ahead of Qin Yao.

"Cauldron Gu Huan."

"Have you seen the woman in this painting? Did you ever leave the Sect with her?"