"A fight over the Foundation Establishment Elixir?" Luo Qingjun sounded confused.
"The Shu Family may have risen in recent years, but surely that wouldn't affect the main sect's distribution of the Foundation Establishment Elixirs?"
"Our Donglong the Luo Clan has paid tribute to the main sect for over three hundred years. Don't they value that relationship at all?"
At his words, Luo Qing'e placed a delicate hand on her forehead and sighed softly. She gave her not-so-bright cousin a weary look.
"This has nothing to do with the Shu Family."
"Of course, the main sect's distribution of the Foundation Establishment Elixirs won't be affected..."
"But whether those elixirs actually end up in the hands of the direct line... that's a different story!"
Worry filled Luo Qing'e's beautiful eyes.
"The 'Qing' generation of the direct line is small. Among us, only you and I even have a Spiritual Root."
"As for the 'Guang' generation, there are a few uncles at Late-stage Qi Refining."
"But in a few years, by the time the main sect distributes the Foundation Establishment Elixirs, those uncles will all be over sixty years old..."
After the age of fifty, a cultivator's vitality begins to gradually decline.
Sixty is the critical point when that vitality declines sharply!
That's why they say sixty is the age limit for Foundation Establishment.
"In contrast... the branch families have produced quite a few outstanding prospects in recent years."
"Besides, the Matriarch... she has a cold, detached personality and is solely focused on her cultivation. In her eyes, there is only the family, with no favoritism shown between close and distant relations."
"I suspect the Matriarch will choose the most suitable person to take the Foundation Establishment Elixir..."
Luo Qing'e gently brushed back her long hair as she spoke softly.
Luo Qingjun's eyes widened. He finally understood what Luo Qing'e was getting at!
The Luo Family Patriarch was originally in the prime of his life—forty years old and at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
In terms of both age and Cultivation Realm, he was the most suitable candidate to take the Foundation Establishment Elixir.
But... he was dying!
With the Patriarch's death, the direct line was left with few members and no successors ready to take over, while the branch families were thriving!
The sovereign is weak while the subjects are strong!
Even the Foundation Establishment Elixir, and indeed the very status of the direct line, might fall into the hands of others!
Luo Qingjun's heart trembled. He opened his mouth but was speechless, clearly unable to accept this reality.
Seeing his reaction, Luo Qing'e secretly shook her head.
Her starry eyes narrowed slightly. She lifted her teacup and took a delicate sip.
CLINK.
The teacup met the wooden table.
Luo Qing'e spoke with cool decisiveness.
"We must approach this situation from two angles."
"First, the 'Qing' generation of the direct line must have someone at Late-stage Qi Refining. I will take on that responsibility!"
Luo Qingjun had no objection. His physical disability was irreparable, and his cultivation path was bound to be arduous.
He could only rely on Luo Qing'e to carry the banner for the direct line!
"Second, we must promote outsiders!"
"Is... is that wise?" Luo Qingjun asked, startled.
Luo Qing'e shook her head, her eyes deep and dark.
"Even if the outsiders become powerful and difficult to control, they can't make any real trouble with a Foundation Establishment Matriarch keeping them in check."
"On the contrary... these outsiders, who lack a power base of their own, can be used to counterbalance the branch families!"
After a moment of thought, Luo Qing'e added pensively.
"For the first batch of outsiders we promote... let's start with... Su Ye."
"Cultivators with such outstanding combat talent can often defeat stronger opponents. With a little nurturing, he'll become a valuable asset."
...
「The next day.」
In Moon Creek Town, Su Ye was still unaware that the powers that be on Luoyue Mountain had decided to invest heavily in his training.
He was currently inside the Luo Family's shop in Moon Creek Town.
A Luo Family cultivator had told him he could trade in his Gray Ridge Whale meat here.
The Shopkeeper inspected the claim voucher, and after confirming it was in order, greeted him with a broad smile.
"Please wait just a moment, fellow Daoist. The Gray Ridge Whale meat you requested will be here shortly."
While he waited, Su Ye glanced over the counter.
He noticed several white porcelain bottles containing various types of pills, and an idea came to him.
"By the way, Shopkeeper, I'd like to buy some pills to increase my Magical Power. Do you have any recommendations?"
"Fellow Daoist, you've come to the right person," the Shopkeeper said with a laugh.
"Observing your aura, fellow Daoist, I'd say you've just entered the third level of Qi Refining. Your qi circulation is steady, pure, and condensed. You must be practicing a high-grade water-element technique, correct?"
"You have a sharp eye, Shopkeeper," Su Ye nodded.
He wasn't concerned that the details of his cultivation had been exposed.
He wasn't practicing a Breath Concealment Skill, nor did he have a Magical Artifact to hide his presence. Any cultivator with a bit of perception and experience could easily gauge his level.
Besides, shopkeepers prided themselves on their keen judgment and vast experience.
'Still, if he really thinks this is the full extent of my strength, he's dead wrong...'
Su Ye thought with a hint of malice.
With his status panel and exclusive skills,
Su Ye's actual combat prowess was far greater than his Cultivation Realm suggested!
He could run a Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator through with his spear, clean and simple!
'Of course... a normal transaction would be best...'
Su Ye calmed down, dismissing the fantasy of deliberately flashing his wealth to attract greedy eyes, then playing the pig to eat the tiger.
Real life wasn't a novel, after all.
Every fight carried unpredictable risks.
Even if he could successfully "fish" a few times, what if he hooked the wrong one?
What if he hooked a "big fish" like a 'reincarnated Dao Ancestor,' a 'Fake Core master who stole a body,' or a 'hero reborn from five hundred years in the past'...
Wouldn't that be digging his own grave?
'Stay calm, be cautious!' Su Ye warned himself again.
'When you have a cheat ability, the most important thing is to avoid arrogance and impatience. Steady development is key!'
Just then, after a moment of thought, the Shopkeeper spoke with a smile.
"In that case, fellow Daoist, please take a look!"
The Shopkeeper took out a white jade porcelain bottle, removed the stopper, and a fresh, medicinal fragrance drifted out.
"This is the Qi Replenishing Pill. It contains rich Spiritual Qi, but its effects are gentle, making it extremely suitable for Early-stage Qi Refining cultivators looking to increase their Magical Power."
"How much do they cost?" Su ye asked.
"Ten Spirit Stones a bottle. Each bottle contains fifteen Qi Replenishing Pills, and we don't sell them individually," the Shopkeeper said, smiling at Su Ye.
"I'll take a bottle."
Su Ye was a cautious shopper. He didn't buy too many at once, intending to test the Qi Replenishing Pills' effects first.
The Shopkeeper beamed, personally wrapping the porcelain bottle in silk for Su Ye. "Fellow Daoist," he said enthusiastically,
"I recommend taking one pill every two days to achieve maximum absorption of its medicinal power..."
"If you have any problems with the pills, feel free to come back anytime..."
With his Gray Ridge Whale meat and Qi Replenishing Pills in hand, Su Ye left the shop.
He then spent some time in Moon Creek Town, carefully comparing prices at several shops before he purchased some high-quality Spirit Rice and other ingredients.
Since it was his first time shopping out on his own, Su Ye was relatively conservative with his spending.
He didn't spend extravagantly, nor did he plan on selling the [Shimmering Gold Flying Saber].
He knew very little about Moon Creek Town and was unfamiliar with the market rates.
A shopping spree would not only attract unwanted attention but could also cost him a good number of Spirit Stones...
'In any case, there's usually a break of several months after a hunt.'
'There's no rush,' Su Ye thought.
...
「Nightfall.」
Dressed in black, Su Ye sat cross-legged within the small Gathering Spirit Array in his courtyard.
A trace of anticipation shone in his eyes.
POP.
He opened the white jade porcelain bottle and tipped out a Qi Replenishing Pill.
The pill was perfectly round, as white as snow, and gave off a rich, medicinal fragrance.
Su Ye popped it into his mouth and swallowed. The Qi Replenishing Pill was slightly sweet and instantly melted, filling his mouth with a cool, refreshing sensation.
A few breaths later, a stream of pure medicinal energy surged from his Dantian, driving the circulation of his Ghost Water Skill!
A long while later, Su Ye emerged from his meditative state. He looked inward at his own condition, and his eyes lit up with delight.
'As expected... popping pills is the way to go!'
Under the triple-layered benefits of the Qi Replenishing Pill, the tier-one mid-grade Spirit Vein, and the Gray Ridge Whale meat,
after just a single session of cultivation, Su Ye's Magical Power had increased by a visible margin!
'Is this what it feels like to be a genius?!'
Su Ye felt incredible.
...