Lang Zhongping was lounging on a recliner, a pleasant expression on his face as he spoke with the female cultivator from the Xuu Family. He held her small, fair, and bonelessly soft hand, imparting his insights on cultivation.

’A Discarded Spiritual Root with all Five Elements... Without my, Grand Steward Lang’s, concern, she’d be stuck at the Early-Stage Qi Refining for the rest of her life.’

’Such a waste of this delicate beauty.’

"Lord Steward, Bai Zhenchuan has arrived."

A steward strode over, reporting from outside the door.

"Oh? Please, show him in!"

Lang Zhongping immediately dropped the delicate white hand. He ignored the resentful look on the Xuu Family female cultivator’s face, pushed her aside, stood up, and straightened his Daoist Robe.

"Junior Brother Bai, what a rare guest! I’ve been waiting and waiting, and now you’re finally here."

Lang Zhongping took two steps forward, greeting his guest enthusiastically.

"I was fortunate to become a True Disciple, so I dare not slack off. I can only make up for my shortcomings with diligence."

Bai Zichen glanced at the beautiful young woman who ran out, covering her beet-red face with her sleeve. ’Looks like this Grand Steward Lang has a wide range of hobbies.’

"Junior Brother Bai, could it be you’ve already reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer?"

Lang Zhongping asked this tentatively, feeling waves of pressure coming from Bai Zichen.

"I’ve just broken through, so I came to pay a visit to Brother Lang."

Bai Zichen had no intention of hiding his realm during the Qi Refining Stage. Even if he cultivated a Concealing Qi Technique, he could at most fool other Qi Refining Cultivators.

There were so many Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Qingfeng Sect that any one of them could see his true cultivation at a glance.

Besides, he had already established his image as a prodigy. People would be shocked by his rapid cultivation speed, but they would ultimately accept it.

"Junior Brother Bai, your cultivation speed puts the rest of us to shame. I estimate it won’t be long before we have to address you as Junior Martial Uncle."

Lang Zhongping inwardly celebrated. His decision to get on Bai Zichen’s good side ahead of time had been absolutely brilliant.

"Brother Lang, aside from visiting you, I’m also here to purchase some Body Refining Elixirs... Do you know if the shops in the Market have any Dragon Power Pills?"

"Dragon Power Pills... I’ll have someone check in the shop. Not many people buy such a high-grade Body Refining Elixir, so we keep a limited stock."

An awkward look crossed Lang Zhongping’s face. He quickly rang a small bronze bell beside his desk, summoned a steward, and gave him some instructions.

"Since you’re buying Body Refining Elixirs, Junior Brother Bai, it seems you’re already preparing for Foundation Establishment. I heard the Sect has gathered enough materials for a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, and Hall Master Tan will begin the refining process after the new year."

"You should inquire about it when you get back to the Sect, Junior Brother Bai. With your status as a True Disciple, your priority will certainly be very high."

Lang Zhongping himself was at the Qi Refining Great Perfection Cultivation level. Given his age, his hope for reaching Foundation Establishment hadn’t been completely extinguished, so he naturally paid extremely close attention to these matters.

’Foundation Establishment Pills!’

Bai Zichen was taken aback. The information network of a veteran steward was truly impressive.

He hadn’t heard anyone in the Sect mention this news. No one had tipped him off.

He couldn’t blame Su Lie and Cai Heng; as servant disciples, it was asking too much of them to get information on the activities of the Alchemy Hall Master.

But none of the Elders who had shown him goodwill had breathed a word of it either. The meaning behind their silence was worth mulling over.

’Does someone not want me to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill so quickly?’

’Or have the pills in this batch already been promised to someone, and that’s why they wanted me to learn of it as late as possible?’

Within the Qingfeng Sect, the process for redeeming a Foundation Establishment Pill followed an unwritten rule.

True Disciples had priority. Only they could redeem a Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as the Alchemy Hall produced one, provided they had sufficient Sect Contribution.

Everyone else, even with enough Sect Contribution, still had to get in line and wait their turn; they couldn’t just redeem one whenever they pleased.

The right to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill, granted to the Bai Family by the Guardian Dao Sect Leader years ago... Clan Leader Bai Xianzhong had said he would hold that spot for two years to give him time to gather enough Spirit Stones.

However, Bai Zichen’s original plan was to find another way to acquire a second Foundation Establishment Pill using his status as a True Disciple, leaving the first one for the Clan.

Once a suitable candidate used it to successfully reach Foundation Establishment, they could ensure another century of peace for the Bai Family.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Lang. I’ll go ask about it after I return to the Sect."

Bai Zichen thanked him with genuine sincerity.

If multiple True Disciples put in a request for a pill, the order was typically determined by seniority, based on who had been a True Disciple the longest.

If he had waited until next year, when the Foundation Establishment Pills were being refined, to hear this news, it would have been too late for him to make any plans.

"Steward Lang, Bai Zhenchuan, our shop doesn’t have a single bottle of Dragon Power Pills in stock... Also, a Daoist Child from Elder Jin came by with a message. He said Elder Jin knows you are here, Bai Zhenchuan, and invites you to meet on the top floor of Langhuan Pavilion."

The steward stood below, trembling, terrified of leaving a bad impression on Bai Zichen for failing to carry out his task properly.

"Junior Brother Bai, ever since he witnessed your performance at the True Inheritance Trial, Junior Martial Uncle Jin has mentioned you to me many times... I’ll go with you, Junior Brother. We can also see if Junior Martial Uncle Jin has any Body Refining Elixirs."

Langhuan Pavilion was the largest shop the Qingfeng Sect had in the Market, and it occupied the most central location.

The first floor was for casual customers, the second had private rooms, the third offered lodging, the fourth contained secret rooms protected by arrays, and the fifth was generally closed to the public, as it was where the two elders overseeing the Market usually rested.

As soon as they entered, Elder Jin came to greet them, his round belly jutting out.

"At last, I get to meet Nephew Bai! Even though I stay in the Market, I’ve heard all about your great deeds... Already at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer! After another two years, once you reach Qi Refining Perfection and attempt Foundation Establishment, you and I will be peers."

Elder Jin had none of the arrogance one might expect from a Foundation Establishment Elder; his attitude was completely down-to-earth.

"Allow me to congratulate you in advance, Nephew Bai. You might even set a new record as the youngest to reach Foundation Establishment since Ancestor Ge!"

"You praise me too highly, Junior Martial Uncle Jin. How could I dare to compare myself to Ancestor Ge? Several of my senior brothers among the True Disciples have deeper cultivation and foundations than I. They should be the ones to reach Foundation Establishment first."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, they sat down and began to chat amiably.

"I heard from my Daoist Child that you came to the Market to buy some Dragon Power Pills, Nephew Bai?"

"That is correct."

Bai Zichen nodded and continued to speak.

"It’s still early to be thinking about Foundation Establishment, but I wanted to temper my physique and strengthen my body in advance, so I was hoping to stock up on a few bottles of Dragon Power Pills. Our own sect’s shop said they were out of stock, so I was preparing to go check the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion."

"Why go to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion! I don’t have any Dragon Power Pills here, but I do have some Jade Flame Ice Flower Wine left over from when I was preparing for my own Foundation Establishment. Its effects are even stronger than the Dragon Power Pill’s. I’ll gift it to you, Nephew Bai!"

With a wave of his hand, Elder Jin made a golden ewer appear. The vessel opened, revealing the jade-green Spirit Wine inside, which bubbled like a flame and emanated wisps of Cold Qi.

"This is too precious... How could I possibly accept such a gift?"

Bai Zichen glanced over and confirmed that the Spirit Wine was authentic. It was one of the Body Refining Elixirs he had been trying to find ever since he had cultivated the first layer of the Five Crystal Glaze Body.

Unfortunately, even the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had none in stock.

The Jade Flame Ice Flower Wine was far from being merely "not weaker" than the Dragon Power Pill. In terms of pure Body Refining effects, it was a cut above. Moreover, Spirit Wine was different from an Elixir; as long as it was thoroughly refined after consumption, it would leave no residual Erysipelas.

The amount of Jade Flame Ice Flower Wine in this single ewer was enough to equal five or six bottles of Dragon Power Pills.

If sold in the Market, it would fetch a handsome sum of Spirit Stones. Bai Zichen didn’t think his reputation was so great that a Foundation Establishment Elder would condescend to lavish such a gift upon him.