After several days of cultivation, Zhou Chen’s cultivation had quietly reached the peak of the eighth layer of Qi Refining.
"The favorability points provided by Ronger came at just the right time."
It was perfect for preparing for the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Only when breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage would one need to consume a Foundation Establishment Pill.
A Foundation Establishment Pill was a second rank pill. Although the refining process was not complicated, many of the ingredients were scarce, and their growth environments were too demanding.
Those with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, due to having a single spiritual root, had a seventy to eighty percent chance of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage without needing to swallow a Foundation Establishment Pill.
On the other hand, the worse a cultivator’s spiritual root talent, the more they needed the help of a Foundation Establishment Pill to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Unfortunately, the price was incredibly high, with each one selling for over a hundred spirit stones, and even then, they were often unavailable despite the price.
Only disciples of great sects could occasionally receive them as rewards from the sect.
This was also one of the reasons why rogue cultivators all wanted to join a sect.
"Well, to be safe, I should refine at least ten Foundation Establishment Pills."
One or two Foundation Establishment Pills were enough for a talented cultivator to establish their foundation.
For a cultivator with poor talent, three or four Foundation Establishment Pills could force an advancement in realm.
But Zhou Chen had the worst talent. For a hundred percent certainty, it was better to consume a few more.
"I should also find a way to test Nan Qiao’s spiritual root while I am at it."
But there was no rush. Nan Qiao was still young, and there was plenty of time.
Zhou Chen gently shook his body.
Soon, a layer of pale green light shield gushed out from the surface of his body.
"Qingyuan Shield."
This was considered a divine ability technique that came with the Qingyuan Sword Art.
Its defensive power was not too strong, but fortunately, it was an instantaneous shield and did not consume much magical power.
So he spent another two days refining all the spirit herbs he had into medicinal pills.
He spent another half day refining hundreds of first rank talisman papers.
After everything was prepared, Zhou Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief.
During these two days, Bai Xue had obtained the resources she wanted and had not come to see him again.
Bai Xue was a clever woman and knew that Zhou Chen was an old cultivator at the Qi Refining Stage.
Even with decades of accumulation, his family assets would not be too much.
If she came too frequently and asked for medicinal pills every time, would it not easily cause Zhou Chen’s resentment?
On the contrary, Li Ronger would come to accompany Zhou Chen every night without ever asking for any benefits.
The only thing Zhou Chen did not expect was that Tang San, whom he had not seen for a long time, would take the initiative to visit him in high spirits.
"Junior Brother Zhou, what have you been busy with lately?"
Zhou Chen pushed open the door with a weary expression.
He did not care about how the other party addressed him and said with a smile, "I am still the same. Senior Brother Tang, what brings you here?"
The spirit herbs in the medicine garden were collected by inner sect disciples at a fixed time every year.
So generally speaking, this job was quite leisurely.
But for a newcomer, they might accidentally kill the spirit herbs.
Then, not only would they fail to complete the sect mission, but they would also have to pay a large amount of spirit stones in compensation.
Since Zhou Chen had been cultivating spirit herbs for a long time, he gradually became familiar with it.
The job of looking after the medicine garden gradually became his by default.
Looking at the senile Zhou Chen with his hunched back, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and a flash of joy appeared in his eyes. "I heard from other junior brothers that Junior Brother Zhou’s lifespan is near, and I am afraid there is no hope of breaking through to Foundation Establishment."
Zhou Chen coughed twice and said freely, "At the end of a hundred years of life, it is just a handful of yellow earth. Senior Brother Tang, do not worry about me either."
The other party’s words sounded nice, but he did not take them to heart at all.
Because several years ago, the junior brothers and junior sisters of the outer sect had already seen that his lifespan was exhausted.
Those junior brothers who had received favors from him and still had some conscience would come over to offer a few words of comfort.
Tang San, who had known for a long time that Zhou Chen’s lifespan was running out, only now came over.
Tang San’s gaze fell on the bulging storage pouch at his waist.
"Junior Brother Zhou, you are old. Do you still have descendants down the mountain? After you pass away, I can help look after them for you."
Even the lowest level storage pouch had one cubic meter of storage space.
This guy’s storage pouch was actually packed full.
Just how much wealth did he have?
Zhou Chen said casually, "Since I began cultivating immortality, I have long since severed ties with mortal affairs."
Besides, he was an orphan and did not have any family at all.
When one person eats their fill, the whole family is not hungry.
In the past few days, Li Ronger had not exchanged cultivation methods with him.
Tang San was in no hurry to go back and started chatting idly with Zhou Chen.
It was nothing more than saying what he could do for Zhou Chen after Zhou Chen died.
And what wishes he could help Zhou Chen fulfill.
After the two had chatted for half a day, Tang San finally mentioned the main business.
"In a few days, I plan to go to the Xue Jin Secret Realm to search for treasures. As long as I can come back alive this time, I will propose to Junior Sister Li to become dual cultivation dao companions."
Zhou Chen nodded with a smile. "Is that so? The Xue Jin Secret Realm is extremely dangerous. Senior Brother Tang should be careful."
Tang San looked composed and confident as he said, "Not long ago, I found a stalk of Blue Silver Grass. In the next few days, I plan to refine it into a Blue Silver Pill. At that time, no one in the Qi Refining Stage will be my match."
Speaking of this, he paused, rubbed his fingers, and said embarrassedly, "However, I am short on spirit stones. Junior Brother Zhou, can you lend me some for an emergency? When I return from the secret realm, I will definitely pay you back double."
Zhou Chen sighed and said quite helplessly, "Senior Brother Tang, I am not very well off either. My spirit stones were lent out long ago."
If it were someone else borrowing spirit stones, he would believe they would pay them back.
But as for Tang San, he did not expect the other party to return any spirit stones.
Tang San glanced at the storage pouch imperceptibly, his brows furrowed tightly, and his voice became cold.
"Since it is inconvenient for Junior Brother Zhou, then forget it."
After saying that, without waiting for Zhou Chen to speak, he flew away on his sword in a huff.
Zhou Chen smiled and waved his hand.
After Tang San left the courtyard, he immediately activated the formation.
"Trash. What a wishful thinking thing."
Judging solely from the return on befriending him, Tang San was a very qualified exploiter.
This guy had good cultivation talent, was insidious and cunning, and had no bottom line in his actions. He also had the hope of Foundation Establishment in the future.
This was also the reason why Zhou Chen would form a good karma with him.
But to expect Tang San to help him with anything was out of the question.
Once there was one thing you could not help him with, he would immediately hold a grudge against you.
"Sigh. Being targeted by this guy is really a hassle."
Fortunately, he had purchased the formation in advance and hidden Nan Qiao early on.
The Yin Yang Sect allowed mortals to stay, but having a mortal accompany one up the mountain meant having a blatant weakness.
Just as he closed the courtyard door, someone knocked again.
The person who came was Junior Brother Li Yan from the outer sect.
He was holding an unconscious young girl in his arms.
Upon seeing Zhou Chen, he tightened his grip slightly and said quite apologetically.
"Senior Brother Zhou, I have a favor to ask."