The two turned and left.

Lu Chang’sheng set up two more warning spirit arrays, then finally felt relieved.

"He’s watching you from the bridge, and you’re watching him too. Hard to say who’s the prey here."

Everything in Lu Chang’sheng’s mind became even clearer.

Zhang Yu already had a Foundation Establishment Pill. By her logic, she absolutely didn’t need to meddle in this, so why come to me for help to get another Foundation Establishment Pill?

She must be scheming to deflect trouble onto someone else.

Lu Chang’sheng naturally had no intention to agree.

Besides, he already had a Foundation Establishment Pill in hand—no reason to take such a risk.

In the blink of an eye, a few more days passed. News arrived from a Luo Mansion servant: the Foundation Establishment Pill was ready for pick-up.

Lu Chang’sheng was overjoyed and hurried to the mansion, soon obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Just a mid-grade pill costs this much—if it were top-grade, wouldn’t it be even harder to get?"

Lu Chang’sheng opened the jade vial and took a sniff, confirming without a doubt it was a Foundation Establishment Pill. This mid-grade pill was stunningly well-made.

Crystal clear; just one whiff brought an inexplicable sense of comfort and relief.

Lu Chang’sheng was about to take his leave from Alchemist Luo, but was told Luo was busy and he’d have to leave on his own.

Back at his place, Lu Chang’sheng suddenly caught sight of Zhang Yu’s figure flashing by and disappearing.

"Doesn’t look like she’s spying on me, but I’d better be cautious anyway."

In Lu Chang’sheng’s treasure vault immortal insect was the hard-won Foundation Establishment Pill—no way would he be careless.

"Now that I’ve got the Foundation Establishment Pill, I can finally begin my advancement."

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t rush; he took out the alchemy furnace and started refining Cyan Spirit Pills.

He’d accumulated all the right herbs over the years, spending almost all his savings, and now after buying a mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill from Luo Manor, he was practically broke.

Still, he hadn’t sold the herbs for Cyan Spirit Pills; those were for his own alchemy and couldn’t be sold off so casually.

After a month, Lu Chang’sheng’s courtyard was filled with the scent and smoke of alchemy.

As a qualified grade-two alchemist, Lu Chang’sheng could fully utilize his alchemy Dao strength without needing earth fire for perfect results.

Of course, that only applied for grade-one pills.

For grade-two, he still needed earth fire.

All his Cyan Spirit Pill ingredients had turned into finished pills.

He’d produced five Perfect Pills among them.

Compared to the number of perfect pills he got refining other recipes, this was obviously less, but Lu Chang’sheng was more than content.

Next, Lu Chang’sheng used the perfect Cyan Spirit Pills to cultivate the Cyan Spirit Technique.

Soon he noticed a difference—the time needed to train Cyan Spirit Technique, as shown on the light curtain panel, had dropped greatly.

He was less than half a year away from Great Success.

But the variable here was due to using perfect Cyan Spirit Pills; if he couldn’t keep up with the pills, the time needed would definitely bounce back up.

"The supreme-grade Cyan Spirit Pill works great too. Seems like I’ll be able to refine my Cyan Spirit Body to Great Success in no more than two years."

Lu Chang’sheng planned to meditate in peace for several years until he achieved Foundation Establishment.

Just to be safe.

Time slipped by, day after day.

Lu Chang’sheng lived in seclusion, spending hours every day cultivating the Cyan Spirit Technique.

Every so often, when he strolled through the market, he’d run into Zhang Yu.

Whenever she saw him, Zhang Yu tried talking him into it, but each time Lu Chang’sheng turned her down.

Before long, he saw a cultivator show up outside Zhang Yu’s courtyard—seems she switched tactics after Lu Chang’sheng didn’t budge.

The next day, while Lu Chang’sheng was refining pills, a series of violent explosions rang out from outside. As he walked out, he spotted several streaks of light in the distant sky.

With one look, Lu Chang’sheng saw Zhang Yu, hair in disarray, fleeing desperately alongside a burly tower-like man, both riding spiritual light.

Chasing them were at least four or five Qi Cultivation ninth layer cultivators.

Lu Chang’sheng recognized a few of them from the day of the auction.

"This Black Water Flame Domain is way wilder than Guangnan Domain."

Lu Chang’sheng stood on his rooftop and watched as several people battled fiercely in the distance.

Zhang Yu and the burly giant couldn’t escape; their pursuers cut them off early. With no choice, the big man turned to fight for his life—a Ghost Head Saber magical artifact burst into powerful spiritual light, blocking two attacks.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t stop the third strike. His protective shield was shattered, and another attacker finished him off.

"Li Jun! You’ll die a horrible death!"

Zhang Yu ended up within the market bounds, hair wild, screaming at Li Jun.

Li Jun hovered in midair, controlling his sword, and gave a sinister chuckle, "If not for Alchemist Luo’s rules, you’d be dead too!"

"That’s evil cultivator behavior!"

Zhang Yu shouted furiously.

Li Jun’s face hardened. "What evil cultivator? Even if someone from the Immortal Sect showed up, I wouldn’t care. You ambushed my friend before, now I’m getting revenge. Why not?"

Zhang Yu wouldn’t admit it—she kept hurling insults, while Li Jun waited outside, like he was trying to goad her out.

After a while, seeing Zhang Yu wasn’t taking the bait, he left. Who knows if he’s lying in wait somewhere else.

Finding it dull, Lu Chang’sheng returned to his courtyard to cultivate. Within a year his Cyan Spirit Body progressed rapidly—Great Success was just around the corner.

"Once my Spirit Root Talent hits high-grade D, I can try Foundation Establishment."

Lu Chang’sheng wasn’t bothered about the fight earlier; he believed that as long as he stayed put, no one could touch him.

That night, a knock sounded on the door.

"Is Fellow Daoist Lu at home?"

Zhang Yu’s voice came, faintly tinged with emotion.

"Daoist, it’s pretty late—what brings you here?"

"I’d like to ask if you’ll join me against that evil cultivator Li Jun."

Zhang Yu spoke and produced an item. "Li Jun and his cronies ambushed us and killed two Daoists—he’s despicable!"

"If you agree, I’ll give you this grade-one Crystal Marrow as payment."

Lu Chang’sheng felt a slight stir inside.

Crystal Marrow was a rare and valuable resource, chief ingredient for refining the Concentration Pill.

To an alchemist, it was worth a fortune.

The Concentration Pill was extremely precious—even rarer than the Cyan Spirit Pill.

From what Lu Chang’sheng knew, Immortal Sects in Guangnan Domain didn’t possess such pill formulas.

Even the ingredients for the Concentration Pill were rarely seen.

"You must be joking; I’m just not good at fighting. Thanks for thinking of me!"

Lu Chang’sheng had a gut feeling Zhang Yu was especially fixated on him.

Zhang Yu left, looking frustrated.

Lu Chang’sheng returned to his chambers and resumed cultivation. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Time flashed by like a galloping steed.

One day, Lu Chang’sheng suddenly felt a tremor through his body—a surge of cyan energy flooded outward.

Cyan Spirit Body—achieved!

Layers of cyan energy rolled across Lu Chang’sheng’s body, making him seem almost ethereal.

With Cyan Spirit Body at Great Success, his Spirit Root Talent advanced to high-grade D.

Next up: Foundation Establishment!

Lu Chang’sheng thought to himself.

This was the moment he’d waited for—and now, finally, success was within reach.