209: It’s hard to practice!

Nether Fire Sect.

Three Poisons Peak.

Above the main hall, after listening to Wang Weilong's report, Zi Ling fell into silence, slowly sipping from a small wine pot.

The wine pot did not contain ordinary Spirit Wine, but rather poisonous wine containing deadly toxins. For a normal Cultivator, a single sip would be fatal, but for her, it was the best supplement.

'The fact that Zi Lan was able to achieve a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough really was because of Liu Xuan!'

Zi Lan had followed her for decades, and she knew exactly what her situation was. Even with an Epiphany to break through a Bottleneck, without enough foundation, it wouldn't be so easy to achieve a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.

After receiving news of Zi Lan's Foundation Establishment Breakthrough and connecting it with the unusual behavior of several other Disciples, she guessed right then that Zi Lan's Breakthrough wasn't a coincidence, but rather obtained with Liu Xuan's help.

'To be able to help a Cultivator with a shallow foundation who couldn't even sense her Bottleneck achieve Foundation Establishment, no wonder they betrayed me one after another!'

Guesses were just guesses, after all, and it was possible Zi Lan had accidentally encountered some Opportunity.

Therefore, she had dispatched Wang Weilong to White Crane Lake. On the surface, it was targeting Liu Xuan, but in reality, it was just a test.

The result was clear: Zi Lan still voluntarily became a Concubine for Liu Xuan after her Foundation Establishment Breakthrough. She certainly didn't believe it was because of any affection.

'To be able to make a dignified Foundation Establishment Cultivator willingly become a Concubine, Liu Xuan... wait until my techniques reach Major Achievement, I will have to go see for myself exactly what is so special about you!'

Stopping her racing thoughts, the Three Poisons Ancestor instructed a woman beside her: "Bing'er, go to the clan and select a batch of young women with outstanding appearances to send to Laner."

"Although she has left the Sect, she is still a member of my Zi Family. It's quite lonely for her to be alone in the Liu Family. Having some of her own people to serve her will make her life more comfortable."

As Zi Ling spoke, she took out a jade box and handed it to her, "This is a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast core. You deliver it to the Head of the Liu Family, Liu Xuan, for me, and tell him it is an apology."

A dignified Foundation Establishment Ancestor apologizing to a Qi Refining Cultivator—Zi Ling didn't think anything of it. Just from the Merchant Alliance business alone, she could earn a lot of Spirit Stones; what was Face worth?

"Understood, Old Ancestor!"

Zi Ningbing nodded in agreement. She was quick-witted and knew what the Old Ancestor meant, so she turned around to prepare to carry it out.

"Wait!"

Zi Ling suddenly called her back. After thinking for a moment, she instructed: "After you finish the task, return immediately. You are not allowed to linger at the Liu Family!"

"??"

Zi Ningbing didn't understand why, but she still respectfully said: "Bing'er understands!"

Zi Ling then waved her hand, signaling for Zi Ningbing to go and handle the matter.

Bing'er was the confidante she had re-selected after Zi Lan left; she better not get snatched away too!

...

Three days later.

White Crane Lake, Lake Heart Island.

Liu Xuan held a dark red bead in front of his eyes to examine it. The bead was not a solid object, but a concentration of Essence Blood and Demonic Qi, containing terrifying energy.

A Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast core!

This item was the most valuable thing on a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast, and it was the first time Liu Xuan had seen what it looked like when taken out.

"The Head of the Liu Family has been purchasing monster beast flesh and blood, and my Old Ancestor guessed that this item might be useful to you, so she sent me to deliver it."

As Zi Ningbing spoke, she curiously sized up Liu Xuan. She also wanted to know why Zi Lan was willing to be his Concubine even after her Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.

'Setting aside his cultivation, his appearance is indeed exceptionally handsome...'

"An Early Foundation Establishment Stage Demonic Beast core is worth about 30,000 Spirit Stones. Your Old Ancestor is quite generous!"

Liu Xuan put away the Demonic Beast core and looked at Zi Ningbing, "Does your Old Ancestor have any more Demonic Beast cores? I want as many as she has; the price is negotiable."

When he received the Demonic Beast core, Liu Xuan felt a sense of hunger from his body and really wanted to eat it in one bite.

This thing was very likely beneficial for the improvement of his Body Refining Realm, and it would be best if he could buy some.

Liu Xuan had many Spirit Stones; excluding the converted Spirit Jade, he had hundreds of thousands. Leaving them in his Storage Pouch was a waste. If he could trade them for resources to improve his cultivation, it didn't matter if the price was a bit high.

"This..."

"I am only a subordinate of the Old Ancestor. For such a valuable item, I must go back and ask her personally to know."

Zi Ningbing guessed that the Old Ancestor probably didn't have any other Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast cores on hand.

Although the Nether Fire Sect was chaotic and had many Yao Beasts, Foundation Establishment Demonic Beasts were no less intelligent than normal people and were powerful, so they were not easy to kill.

Some great Yao Beasts had close relationships with the Yao Race in the Endless Mountains, and they also had collusion and cooperation with the Sect. To obtain a large number of cores, one would have to risk hunting them in the Endless Mountains.

The Endless Mountains were the territory of the Yao Race; even Golden Core Ancestors would have to stay there forever if they were unlucky.

"Head of the Liu Family, if there is nothing else, I will return to report to the Old Ancestor. Farewell!"

Zi Ningbing remembered the Old Ancestor's instructions from before. Once the matter was done, she was anxious to leave.

After she left, Liu Xuan transformed into a yellow mist and merged into the ground, entering the Star Space.

Taking out the Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast core, Liu Xuan swallowed it in one gulp.

"Hiss~"

The core entered his stomach and suddenly became hot. The internal Essence Blood and Demonic Qi were ignited, as if they were about to explode!

A Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast core—even a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast would not dare to swallow it directly. The different demon power and Essence Blood repelled one's own Essence Blood; if one was not careful, one would really explode.

"Hum~"

The Blood Core in his chest vibrated, and a vast amount of Essence Blood surged out, suppressing the riotous energy of the Demonic Beast core.

The dark red Demonic Beast core turned blood-red, wrapped in the energy of Liu Xuan's Essence Blood, and was slowly refined.

An hour later.

The state in his body stabilized, and Liu Xuan's complexion returned to normal, looking no different from before.

The Demonic Beast core had not been completely digested, but remained in his stomach to be slowly refined. It was estimated that it would take at least half a month to be completely devoured.

"In the future, I can try to use Alchemy to refine it into a Medicinal Pill before eating it. The effect should be better."

A Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast core contained the Essence Blood and demon power of a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast's entire life. Swallowing and refining it directly was still a bit strenuous. If he used some auxiliary materials to refine it into a Medicinal Pill, the absorption effect should be much higher.

It was a pity! Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast cores were not easy to obtain. Liu Xuan estimated that even if the Three Poisons Ancestor had them, she wouldn't have many.

He asked Zi Ningbing to go back and ask, not because he expected the Three Poisons Ancestor to have many, but because he wanted her to help him purchase them within the Nether Fire Sect, and let her earn a little price difference.

Gong Wang of the Bone Fiend Sect had been purchasing various materials for Liu Xuan, and he could also let him see if there was a chance to buy some.

Inside the Red Pine Sect, Liu Xuan was the master of the outer hall of the Dual Cultivation Hall, so he could purchase many internal Sect resources at low prices.

Over at the Nether Fire Sect, he had Elder Three Poisons as a partner, so he could trade for various resources through the Merchant Alliance.

The Bone Fiend Sect had Gong Wang, a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Puppet, who could secretly purchase various Advanced resources.

It seemed like Liu Xuan stayed at White Crane Lake every day and went nowhere, but in reality, the Liu Family's foundation was increasing every moment.

With Zi Lan's Foundation Establishment Breakthrough, the Liu Family nominally had a real Foundation Establishment Ancestor sitting in charge, making them a bit bolder in their actions.

Everything went very smoothly, only one thing made Liu Xuan feel not so smooth: for a whole month, Zi Lan had been inseparable from him, together every day, yet she had never become pregnant!

The higher the cultivation, the higher the talent of the offspring. What kind of Spiritual Root would a child born to Zi Lan, who had Foundation Establishment cultivation, have? Liu Xuan was looking forward to it.

It was a pity!

The higher the cultivation, the smaller the chance of conceiving offspring. He didn't know how much effort it would take.

"Cultivation is hard work!" Liu Xuan sighed.