Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 228: Chapter 181: Qingqing’s Devotion, Chang’an’s Foundation Establishment

“Alright, I understand.”

Li Chang’an smiled but didn’t tell him the whole truth.

He then found Hu Yu, the Elder Cultivator who had first led him into Withered Wood Cliff, and asked him about the Withered Wood Cliff Master’s situation.

The news Hu Yu gave him was more or less the same as what Luo Baitong had said.

The Withered Wood Cliff Master had indeed entered the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

But as for his specific whereabouts, Hu Yu had no idea.

…

After a while, Li Chang’an left the Black Market.

He reverted to his original aura and appearance, then returned to Yellow Crane Immortal City with Zheng Qingqing.

The two parted ways in front of Zheng Qingqing’s residence.

Before they parted, Zheng Qingqing made a solemn promise.

“Chang’an, give me three days. In three days, I’ll be fully recovered.”

“Alright!”

Li Chang’an was very calm and told her not to rush either.

When it came to Foundation Establishment, the more one rushed, the more likely they were to make mistakes.

He returned to his residence and set up the Array again.

After that, Li Chang’an stopped cultivating. He didn’t go out to visit friends and refused all visitors, hanging a sign indicating he was in seclusion.

He cast aside all trivial matters and quietly read through the various notes on Foundation Establishment he had found in Miao Qianshui’s Storage Pouch.

「Three days passed in a flash.」

「Early that morning.」

Zheng Qingqing came to visit, her injuries now completely healed.

“Chang’an, I’m going to start refining the pill today. Would you like to watch?”

“That was my intention!”

Observing a senior’s Alchemy process was a great help to one’s own Alchemy Skill.

Naturally, Li Chang’an wasn’t going to pass up this opportunity.

The reason Zheng Qingqing had invited him to watch was to put his mind at ease, showing that she wouldn’t embezzle any of his excellent-quality Spirit Medicines.

Before long, the two arrived at Zheng Qingqing’s residence.

Her residence had a dedicated Alchemy Room.

A grand, ancient, fiery red Pill Furnace stood in the very center of the Alchemy Room.

“Chang’an, watch closely!”

Zheng Qingqing’s expression was grave as she approached the Pill Furnace.

With a wave of her fair hand, a large quantity of materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill flew out of her Storage Pouch, hovering to one side of the Pill Furnace.

Immediately after, a roaring Pill Fire ignited.

When the time was right, Zheng Qingqing immediately manipulated the Tier Two Demon Core, slowly placing it in the very center of the Pill Furnace.

Not long after, under Li Chang’an’s watchful gaze, the Tier Two Demon Core began to slowly melt, turning into a fist-sized ball of shimmering white liquid.

During this process, a faint gray-white mist rose, which were the impurities from within the Demon Core.

A moment later, the Blood Dragon Vine, one of the three main ingredients, was tossed into the Pill Furnace.

In just an instant, it was refined into a thumb-sized glob of blood-red medicinal liquid.

Under Zheng Qingqing’s control, the two liquids slowly drew closer and merged, forming a single ball of pale red medicinal liquid.

Next, the other main ingredient, the Purple Jade Ginseng, was also tossed into the Pill Furnace.

After repeating the previous process, a hint of purple was added to the ball of medicinal liquid.

’Zheng Qingqing’s refining technique is consistent with what’s recorded in the legacy texts. She seems fairly relaxed right now, so there probably won’t be any accidents.’

Li Chang’an watched with rapt attention, occasionally pausing to ponder.

After all three main ingredients were refined, Zheng Qingqing began to refine the numerous Auxiliary Medicines, turning them into droplets of medicinal liquid that merged together.

Finally, a ball of dark brown medicinal liquid appeared inside the Pill Furnace.

With a thought, she split it into three parts.

The three portions of liquid boiled continuously within the Pill Furnace, bubbles forming on their surfaces. They gradually shrank and finally solidified, turning into three round Elixir Pills.

In an instant, a rich Pill Fragrance wafted out.

A look of delight appeared on Li Chang’an’s face.

’The pills are a success!’

Zheng Qingqing also smiled, slowly letting out a breath of relief.

“Chang’an, I have fulfilled my duty!”

With a beckoning motion of her fair hand, the three Foundation Establishment Pills flew out of the Pill Furnace, each landing in a translucent Small Jade Bottle.

Among them was one High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill.

It could increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by twenty-five percent!

The quality of the other two was also quite impressive, better than ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills.

“Chang’an, with three chances, are you confident?”

“One will be enough!”

Li Chang’an said with a smile.

The High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, plus his Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object…

The total increase in success rate was already over fifty-five percent!

Moreover, he already possessed a Tier Two Physique, and his Divine Sense had long since reached the Foundation Establishment level. He had no need to worry about the Essence and Divine aspects of the breakthrough.

Under these circumstances, he couldn’t imagine any possibility of failure.

’If I’m really that unlucky and fail unexpectedly, I’ll just try again. I have extra Foundation Establishment Pills and more Tier Two Demon Cores anyway.’

Li Chang’an was very confident.

Even if he failed three times in a row, it wouldn’t matter.

Zheng Qingqing chuckled. “Chang’an, if you really succeed on the first try, would you be willing to sell one of the remaining two Foundation Establishment Pills to me?”

“Of course!”

Li Chang’an promised immediately.

He had no descendants and had taken no apprentices; he was all alone.

His two good brothers, Xu Fugui and Chu Daniu, both had their own opportunities and didn’t need to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill from him.

Selling the extra Foundation Establishment Pill to Zheng Qingqing was the perfect solution.

…

Not long after, Li Chang’an returned to his residence and began his final preparations.

Zheng Qingqing came as well to act as his Protector, ensuring no accidents occurred before his Foundation Establishment.

「As evening approached.」

Su Yuyan suddenly came to visit.

“Brother Li, are you home?”

Her voice was filled with joy, as if something wonderful had happened.

Not long after she spoke, the courtyard gate slowly swung open.

Su Yuyan was taken aback.

It wasn’t Li Chang’an who appeared behind the gate, but Zheng Qingqing.

Zheng Qingqing smiled. “Daoist Su, please come in.”

“Oh, alright.”

Su Yuyan entered the courtyard with a puzzled expression.

Li Chang’an put down the Foundation Establishment notes in his hand and looked up at her.

“Yuyan, what is it?”

“Brother Li, I have a way to get an Inferior Grade Foundation Establishment Pill. It can increase the success rate by about fifteen percent. Do you need it?”