Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 137: Chapter 135 No Fortune to Enjoy

At dawn, Qiongbi Peak was enveloped in a mist of clouds, resembling a fairyland.

In the lush greenery, dewdrops were on the verge of falling.

Ning Daoran, clad in a deep azure robe, strolled with one hand behind his back, accompanied by Big Stupid Deer as they inspected the domains within the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven.

The Mystic Frost Tree thrived splendidly, radiating a silvery glow.

As the age of the Mystic Frost Tree increased day by day, the spirit paper produced from its sap also rose in quality, and thus the inherited strength of the Class A and Second-class Paperfolk that were crafted from it grew stronger and stronger.

Nichang Flowers were in full bloom, creating an enchanting sound.

Row upon row of Dust-Falling Grass swayed in the wind, creating an extremely pleasant scene.

Beyond that, a large number of aged Spiritual Medicines fluttered in the breeze. In fact, the sparsest concentration of Spiritual Energy within the entire Spirit Garden Cave Heaven was actually within the Purple Jade Spirit Rice.

“Alas, a vast family empire indeed…”

Ning Daoran looked at Big Stupid Deer and exchanged a smile, the corners of his mouth gradually curving into a “heh heh heh” laugh.

Outside, at the fish pond.

When Ning Daoran arrived at the pond, the Ink Jiao Dragon with golden patterns on its head immediately tumbled and surfaced.

“Squeak Squeak~~~”

It dared not growl, only squeak once, to welcome Big Brother and Brother Lu.

The six Shadowless Needles were still embedded in the Ink Jiao Dragon’s head, like a treasure sword hanging overhead.

With the slightest hint of betrayal, it would be immediately killed by the Shadowless Needles.

Thus, at this moment, the Ink Jiao Dragon could be said to be utterly loyal.

“Not bad, cultivate well.”

Ning Daoran nodded and rewarded it with a few top-quality Blood Strengthening Pills.

“Uncle!”

Just then, Chen Weimo walked in gracefully, saying, “Lin Yun is outside, seeking an audience.”

…

In the courtyard, in the living room.

Ning Daoran and Lin Yun sat opposite each other. At this moment, although Ning Daoran’s outward cultivation aura was still at the early stage of the Foundation Establishment, his cultivation of the Evergreen Technique was profoundly deep, making him seem unfathomable to Lin Yun, who was at the Perfect Qi Refining level.

“Uncle Ning.”

Lin Yun furrowed his brow slightly and said softly, “The reason I’ve come this time… is to ask a favor of you, Uncle Ning…”

“Go ahead.”

Ning Daoran said, “I’ll first listen to what it is.”

“Okay.”

Lin Yun took out a brocade box from his Storage Bag, revealing an intense fragrance of medicine; inside were ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills.

Among them was even a more than two-hundred-year-old Purple Blood Ginseng, along with dozens of other auxiliary medicines.

But far from the complete set of materials for Foundation Establishment Pills, he lacked the other two primary ingredients and several key auxiliary ones.

He then took out another Storage Bag and poured out a large pile of spirit stones.

“Uncle Ning,”

Lin Yun said respectfully, “Over the years, I’ve collected these medicinal ingredients through various channels, but it’s still not enough. Thus I’ve borrowed a bit from friends as well, amassing 2,500 Spirit Stones.

I would like to ask you for help, Uncle Ning, to turn these Spirit Stones into medicinal ingredients and then to have a high-level Pill Master concoct pills. If the pills are successfully made, I only need one Foundation Establishment Pill. Should pill-making fail, I will have no complaints either.”

“I see.”

Ning Daoran nodded, realizing Lin Yun had been planning for the Foundation Establishment Pill for ten years.

The value of the medicinal ingredients he presented was roughly equivalent to over 2,000 Spirit Stones, and adding the 2,500 Spirit Stones, it was worth nearly 5,000 Spirit Stones in total.

In recent years, the price of Foundation Establishment Pills was around 6,000 Spirit Stones, slightly more than what Lin Yun had. It must have been that Lin Yun had no other options left; otherwise, he would not have made this request.

This year he was fifty-four years old, and these next two years would be his last opportunity for Foundation Establishment.

“Understood.”

Ning Daoran nodded, “I’ll take care of your items, and I’ll get that Foundation Establishment Pill for you.”

“Yes, thank you, Uncle Ning!”

Lin Yun bowed repeatedly.

“There’s no need, go back and wait for news.”

“Yes, Uncle Ning!”

…

Half a month later, Ning Daoran converted all the medicinal ingredients prepared by Lin Yun into cash at Xiyu Pavilion.

Then he took a Standard Foundation Establishment Pill from his own Storage Bag and had Chen Weimo deliver it to Lin Yun.

A few days later, Lin Yun visited to express his gratitude, and subsequently began preparations for Foundation Establishment.

Meanwhile, Chen Weimo had also advanced to the Perfect Qi Refining level, fulfilling the requirements for Foundation Establishment.

This year, Chen Weimo was sixty-two years old. Although she still looked like a young girl, even if she succeeded in Foundation Establishment, she would still be considered an older Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Ning Daoran began to plan for her Foundation Establishment.

He prepared five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

These Mid-Grade Spirit Stones were excellent treasures, containing Spiritual Energy far superior to Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Moreover, all Second-tier and Third-tier Array Plates had Mid-Grade Spirit Stones embedded within them, for only Mid-Grade Spirit Stones could supply high-level arrays with an unending source of energy.

Ning Daoran’s Storage Bag contained an abundance of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, all reserved for emergencies.

Afterward, Ning Daoran sought the eldest apprentice sister and applied for a Third-tier Lower-Grade Spiritual Energy Cave Mansion.

Strictly speaking, Chen Weimo, not being a Chaotic Sect disciple, was not qualified to use the sect’s Foundation Establishment Cave Mansion.

It was only granted as an exception on behalf of Ning Daoran.

A few days later.

Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer saw Chen Weimo off into the Cave Mansion, ready to signal the start of Foundation Establishment.

“Hiss Hiss~~”

A dark green snake on his shoulder flicked its tongue, looking longingly at Chen Weimo’s departing figure.

This little snake was none other than Little Blackie transformed; the Ink Jiao Dragon’s form was too terrifying, so Ning Daoran naturally brought it out in the shape of a little snake.

Little Blackie had a very good relationship with Chen Weimo, who had stood on Little Blackie’s forehead to patrol the fish pond since she was very young; their affection was deep.

“Aooo~~”

Big Stupid Deer gently rubbed Ning Daoran’s arm; it was a bit worried and didn’t know whether Chen Weimo would be successful in Foundation Establishment.

“Leave it to fate,”

Ning Daoran furrowed his brows and said, “We’ve done all we could; the rest depends on Chen Weimo’s fate. Old Lu, we shouldn’t put too much pressure on her. Just treat it as an ordinary matter.”

Big Stupid Deer nodded, the Big Brother’s words were indeed reasonable.

Several days later.

A spirit fog with the diameter of about half a mile rose.

The spirit fog induced by Chen Weimo after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill could be called the smallest in the history of the Chaotic Sect.

Many Inner Sect Disciples could hardly restrain their laughter, but seeing the solemn expressions on Ning Daoran, White Deer, and Ink Jiao Dragon, no one dared to laugh out loud.

Qiongbi Peak was as terrifying as ever.

It was one thing to have a Foundation Establishment Ning Daoran stationed there, but excessively, his two Spiritual Beasts had successively entered the ranks of Second-Order Spiritual Beasts, their strength comparable to the Foundation Establishment Stage!

There were actually three strong Foundation Establishment presences sitting on this insignificant Outer Mountain peak, someone no one dared to offend.

And those who were familiar with Qiongbi Peak knew that although Chen Weimo’s cultivation was weak, her status on the peak was quite high.

She was the person most trusted by Ning Daoran and also the manager of all the Spirit fields on Qiongbi Peak.

Despite her appearance as a young girl, she was the true powerholder on Qiongbi Peak.

Half a month later.

Chen Weimo began to try to absorb the spirit fog, which slowly became smaller.

But soon after that, the spirit fog suddenly churned and then slowly dispersed.

‘It’s over…’

Ning Daoran’s heart felt as if violently squeezed by a large hand.

Chen Weimo’s attempt at Foundation Establishment had failed.

Even a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill could not change her innate aptitude.

“Hum~~”

The Cave Mansion slowly opened.

With a pale face, Chen Weimo walked out, very weak. She had been too eager in her attempt at Foundation Establishment, leading to her failure.

However, she no longer had any chances.

Even if Ning Daoran was willing to give out a second Foundation Establishment Pill, Chen Weimo’s mental state, Blood Qi, mana, and other aspects would surely be far worse than before.

What’s more, although the Foundation Establishment Pill had protected her heart meridian during the failure, her Primordial Qi had still been greatly damaged.

“Uncle…”

Her face ashen, she said, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault for not having this fortune…”

“It’s okay.”

Ning Daoran stepped forward and gently touched her head, “Go home first, we’ll talk about this later.”

“Okay, Uncle…”

Chen Weimo’s spirit, heart, and mind seemed to collapse all at once.

…

Qiongbi Peak.

Chen Weimo went upstairs to rest and seldom came down again.

Ning Daoran picked two Heavenly Yuan Fruits from the Spirit Garden Cave Heaven and had Old Lu take them up for her consumption, to repair the damage to her lifespan.

Even if she could not reach Foundation Establishment, Ning Daoran did not want Chen Weimo’s life span to be affected.

Besides, he calculated that Little Hehua and Zhou Tiezhu were not young either, and as mortals, their age could not be as prolonged as those in the Qi Refinement Realm.

Thus, Ning Daoran planned to refine Lifespan Extension Pills.

However, the Elixir Recipe for Lifespan Extension Pills was an absolute secret – controlled only by a few major powers, to the extent that even Danxia Peak of the Chaotic Sect did not have it.

From information obtained through Chen Ping’er, a half-month later Qingfu Square in Qingzhou City would hold an auction, where Lifespan Extension Pills and their Elixir Recipes, as well as the main ingredients, would be auctioned off.

Therefore, although knowing full well that the “provincial capital” was extremely dangerous, Ning Daoran still decided to take a trip to Qingzhou City, to aim for the legendary Lifespan Extension Pills.

…

Half a month later.

Qingzhou City.

Ning Daoran, once again as “Independent Practitioner Jianjia,” with a vine ball swaying at his waist and a Magic Sword on his back, appeared in Qingzhou City wearing a green Daoist robe.

On this day, Qingfu Square was as crowded as ever.

Ning Daoran spent twenty spirit stones to reserve a private room, not too secluded.

A maid named “Tao Hua” attended to him.

Tao Hua, eighteen years of age, with sparkling eyes and white teeth, displayed her broad and rounded hips while kneeling to serve tea, which was extremely seductive.

It was no wonder those old Cultivators liked this kind of thing.

Ning Daoran unconsciously recalled the vulgar phrases he had heard in his previous life, like ‘over-the-shoulder boulder holders’ or ‘better than a living immortals,’ and could not help feeling slightly stirred.

But upon another thought, he gave himself a mental scolding.

‘I’m cultivating Pure Yang, why think of such things, they disturb my Daoist heart!’

He had Tao Hua turn around to face him properly.

Turning around, Tao Hua revealed a virtuous face that astonishingly possessed the loveliness of a perfect wife.

Ning Daoran frowned slightly, but then let it go – he decided to endure it.

He planned to create a persona of “Hundred-Tolerance True Monarch” for himself after elevating to Nascent Soul.

“Young Master.”

Tao Hua spoke softly, “The auction is about to begin. Here is your jade talisman. Should there be anything you like, just input the numbers into the talisman to participate in the auction. And this act is confidential; even if you win a treasure, it will not bring you trouble.”

“Um, I know.”

Ning Daoran had already witnessed such grandeur before and remained composed.

Soon after, the auction began.

Initially, there were top-grade magic artifacts, Spiritual Artifacts, and the like. Later, three Standard Foundation Establishment Pills were on offer, followed by seeds of the Nirvana Grass.

The Nirvana Grass required a thousand years to be used in a Lifespan Extension Pill, but Ning Daoran could wait.

Thus, after spending over a thousand spirit stones, he purchased quite a few lively seeds of the Nirvana Grass.

Following that, there were a few First-tier Lifespan Extension Pills.

The going rate was about 2,000 spirit stones per pill.

A First-tier Lifespan Extension Pill could extend one’s lifespan by five to ten years, depending on individual circumstances.

And a Cultivator could only take three First-tier Lifespan Extension Pills in their lifetime; any more would be ineffective.

As for Second-order Lifespan Extension Pills, they were extremely potent and only Foundation Establishment and Condensed Liquid Realm Cultivators and Martial Artists could consume them.

Ning Daoran aimed for the Elixir Recipe, so he did not compete for these First-tier Lifespan Extension Pills.

Shortly thereafter, the final treasure of the auction, a Lifespan Extension Pill Elixir Recipe copied onto a jade talisman, began.

…

“Ten thousand spirit stones!”

The auctioneer announced with a hearty laugh, “A Fellow Daoist has bid ten thousand spirit stones, are there any higher offers?”

Ning Daoran immediately entered a bid of eleven thousand spirit stones into the jade talisman.