Chapter 23: Foundation Establishment

"Again!"

[... You failed to reach Foundation Establishment and died!]

...

[... At the age of 20, you forcibly attempted to break through to Foundation Establishment in the secret chamber of Hundred Herb Pavilion. You successfully entered the Foundation Establishment stage!]

[... At the age of 110, the Devil Desire Sect attacked Tunmen Marketplace. You tried to escape but were discovered by a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Devil Desire Sect. After a chase, you were killed outside Tunmen Marketplace.]

[You died!]

[The simulation has ended. You may retain one of the following:]

[1. The cultivation level at the age of 110.]

[2. The combat experience at the age of 110.]

"Finally!"

A look of joy appeared on Li Changsheng's face. It seemed his luck wasn't too bad—he had only used five simulations to successfully reach Foundation Establishment!

"Choose the first option!"

Without hesitation.

As Li Changsheng made his choice, a rumbling surge of true energy erupted within his body, rapidly coursing through his meridians and then compressing. The mist-like true energy gradually condensed into drops of liquid true energy!

More and more of the mist-like true energy liquefied, quickly filling his meridians.

The Foundation Establishment stage had been reached!

...

"The true energy in my body is at least ten times stronger now. Even ten peak Qi Refining cultivators wouldn't be able to withstand a single strike from me!"

Li Changsheng felt the immense true energy within him, and a smile spread across his face.

"I've finally become a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"Now, in the Qi Kingdom's cultivation world, I'm someone of importance, right? Even in the strongest Sunset Sect, there are only a little over ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. As for the Wan Family, which manages Tunmen Marketplace, they only have three Foundation Establishment cultivators overseeing it, though one of them is at the peak of Foundation Establishment!"

"Now, I'm qualified to occupy a small spiritual vein and establish my own family!"

"However, that doesn't mean much to me. My greatest wish is immortality. Sadly, even though I now have a lifespan of two hundred years, true immortality is still a distant dream."

The cultivation chamber Li Changsheng had secluded himself in was equipped with a small defensive array he had purchased. Before beginning the simulation, he had activated the array, so no one had noticed the commotion caused by his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

"If Shopkeeper Song chose to act against me after the auction, it must have been because I displayed my financial resources there, which caught his attention!"

"Since that's the case, I'll give him a chance to see my wealth!"

Li Changsheng's gaze deepened as he muttered to himself.

...

The next day.

Early in the morning, Li Changsheng emerged from his cultivation chamber.

The shop was empty at this hour. Wu Yuan, who had been sitting cross-legged in cultivation, opened his eyes upon hearing the noise. Seeing that it was Li Changsheng coming out of seclusion, he showed a look of surprise.

"Manager, it's not yet time to restock the pills. Why have you come out?"

Li Changsheng usually emerged once a month to replenish the pills, and he was always punctual. This time, only four days had passed since the last restocking.

"I just came out for a walk. Hand over the spirit stones from the past two months' sales. I need to buy some things."

Li Changsheng nodded slightly and spoke directly.

"Understood!"

Wu Yuan quickly took out a storage pouch and respectfully handed it to Li Changsheng.

After scanning the pouch with his divine sense, Li Changsheng stored it away and walked out the door.

Li Changsheng left Hundred Herb Pavilion and headed straight for the Heavenly Armory Pavilion not far away.

It was still early, and the Heavenly Armory Pavilion was empty. Only two employees were maintaining the magical artifacts on the counter.

Seeing Li Changsheng walk in, the two employees were slightly stunned.

The manager of Hundred Herb Pavilion had gained some reputation in Tunmen Marketplace over the past year. When the shop first opened, it had affected the business of two other pill shops, leading to a joint effort to suppress it. Fortunately, Manager Li had revealed his peak Qi Refining cultivation, which intimidated the competitors and allowed Hundred Herb Pavilion to continue operating.

However, this was the first time Manager Li had visited their Heavenly Armory Pavilion.

"Oh, Manager Li, welcome! What are you here to buy? Anything you fancy, I'll give you a 10% discount!"

Shopkeeper Song came downstairs, his face beaming with a friendly smile.

"To be honest, Shopkeeper Song, I came to Heavenly Armory Pavilion to buy a high-quality pill furnace," Li Changsheng said with a smile. "It's said that Heavenly Armory Pavilion has the best magical artifacts in all of Tunmen Marketplace. Do you have any top-grade artifact-level pill furnaces?"

"Shopkeeper Song, as someone in the same industry, you know that having a good pill furnace can significantly improve efficiency."

A top-grade artifact!

Are alchemists really this wealthy?

The two employees were shocked, wondering if they had misheard.

Even Shopkeeper Song's heart skipped a beat. Generally, Qi Refining cultivators would only have one personal magical artifact, usually of low-grade quality, and some didn't even have that.

Even most Foundation Establishment cultivators only used mid-grade artifacts.

A top-grade artifact typically cost around eight thousand spirit stones—enough to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill and create a Foundation Establishment expert!

Shopkeeper Song smiled wryly and said, "Manager Li, you're overestimating my little Heavenly Armory Pavilion. The best pill furnace I have here is only of low-grade artifact quality."

"I understand..."

Before Shopkeeper Song could finish, Li Changsheng shook his head directly. "The one I'm using now is a low-grade artifact. If you don't have a top-grade one, a mid-grade one will do."

Shopkeeper Song's expression remained unchanged. He smiled and walked over, saying, "Pill furnaces aren't in high demand, but I know of a place where you can find one of mid-grade or higher quality."

"Oh?"

Li Changsheng deliberately showed a surprised expression. "Please enlighten me."

"Follow me."

Shopkeeper Song's face took on a mysterious look as he led Li Changsheng to a VIP room.

He took out a map from his storage pouch and handed it to Li Changsheng, saying, "This is half of a treasure map. It marks the location of a treasure left by the ancient sect, the Vajra Sect."

"In ancient times, the southern region's cultivation world was prosperous, and the Vajra Sect was the number one sect in the southern region. However, for some unknown reason, it perished."

"I obtained this map by chance, and the other half is in the hands of another fellow Daoist. We've been looking for suitable companions to explore the ruins together. Manager Li, since you're also at the peak of Qi Refining, I won't beat around the bush with you."

"If the map truly marks the ruins of the Vajra Sect, it's certain to have the pill furnace you need. As long as you join us in exploring the ruins, any pill furnace we find, regardless of its quality, will belong to you."

The ruins of the Vajra Sect!

Li Changsheng's heart shook. Now he finally understood why he had chosen to agree during the simulation in the mortal world.

The first inheritance he had obtained in the mortal world was the Vajra Sect's Golden Body Technique. Moreover, after cultivating the Golden Body Technique to the fifth layer, it had the effect of increasing lifespan—something no mortal technique could compare to!

Now, out of the blue, an ancient Vajra Sect had appeared. What was its connection to the Vajra Sect from the mortal world?

Additionally, he had been in Tunmen Marketplace for over a year but had heard nothing about the Medicine King Sect.

The southern region's cultivation world was far more complex than it appeared!