When Du Youqian heard that the woman no longer dared to put on her squeaky, cutesy voice, he knew the ti was right. He had her exactly where he wanted her.
So, Du Youqian sat down comfortably and, at his leisure, took out three copper coins and tossed them.
After looking at the result, his smile beca even more sincere. "So, tell , what treasures has your lineage prepared for ? I just cast a divination. The hexagram says today is my lucky day, destined for a bountiful harvest."
No longer daring to play any tricks, Chen Yingzhi obediently said, "First, a Foundation Establishnt Pill. Second, my master has decided to offer half of the Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique and one complete Evergreen Master’s Immortal Sword Scripture Record as Fellow Daoist Qiu’s reward."
"The forr was once the Zhongxuan Sect’s Foundation Technique back when it was one of the Second-class Sects. It is the superior version of the Purple Qi Jade Essence Technique."
"But as Fellow Daoist Qiu surely understands, after the Zhongxuan Sect fell from its standing, the Upper Sect no longer permitted them to retain this technique. It was... acquired by our Sect at that ti."
"This ti, it is my master who has made the decision to bestow upon you this first half of the Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique. It can support your Cultivation all the way to Core Formation. As for the part after Core Formation, Fellow Daoist Qiu will need to perform a few more great deeds for us before it can be bestowed. At the sa ti, Fellow Daoist Qiu must also make a Heart Demon Vow not to pass this Cultivation Technique on to others."
Du Youqian nodded. "Acceptable. As for the Evergreen Master’s Immortal Sword Scripture Record, I’ve seen it ntioned by a senior in the Sect’s archives. It’s said to be the culmination of the life’s Sword Dao experience of Evergreen Master from the Second-class Sect Baisha Sword Pavilion two thousand years ago. Extrely precious. Since you’re offering these two items, plus the Foundation Establishnt Pill, I suppose I’ll agree."
Only then did a look of joy appear on Chen Yingzhi’s face. "When does Fellow Daoist Qiu plan to make his move?"
Of course, Du Youqian had no intention of telling her the truth. "Within a year, I will arrange for Lin Sha’s Foundation Establishnt. If that Helan Ruojin dares to show up, I will ensure he dies on the spot."
"Fellow Daoist Qiu is a man of his word and will certainly not go back on it. I will return today to report this joyous news to my master." Chen Yingzhi stood up and, with a graceful posture, began to disrobe.
Seeing Chen Yingzhi’s actions, Du Youqian frowned. "What are you doing?"
Chen Yingzhi was stunned for a mont, then her eyes welled up as if she were about to cry. "Fellow Daoist Qiu, why do you hold such hostility toward ? My actions are not of my own volition. My master ordered to use my virginal essence to help you break through to Qi Cultivation Perfection. Still, Fellow Daoist Qiu is a true cultivator of the Dao, so it would be no disgrace for ..."
In truth, she was sowhat repulsed by the idea.
In her eyes, this Qiu Yuanqing was just a reckless youth who had stumbled into good fortune. Though he had a handso face, he was an empty-headed fool on the inside.
But there was nothing she could do. The cold smile of her master, i Shuyu, often appeared in her nightmares, making her tremble with fear.
She couldn’t possibly resist her master’s commands, no matter how unreasonable or humiliating they were.
But what she hadn’t expected was this.
Du Youqian scoffed. "To be frank, I have a certain weakness... for true beauty, and I’d rather not subject myself to anything less. Fellow Daoist, please see yourself out. As for breaking through to Qi Cultivation Perfection, I’ll handle it myself."
With that, he left Chen Yingzhi standing there and walked back into his private chamber without a second glance.
Chen Yingzhi’s face went pale and flushed in turns, and she nearly ground her teeth to dust.
’He must be a eunuch! He must be!!!’
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the letter Lin Sha had sent, there was no sense of urgency. On the contrary, she strongly advised Du Youqian to prioritize his own path of the Dao and not worry about protecting her during her advancent.
Du Youqian simply smiled and thought nothing of it.
’The arrow is already nocked; how could he not let it fly?’
’Fighting and killing a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator—a forr prodigy from a Second-class Major Sect, no less—is a battle that crosses a Great Tier. If that doesn’t raise my evaluation by two levels, then... I guess next ti I’ll just have to go kill a Golden Core cultivator.’
Besides, he had already accepted paynt. And while Du Youqian was thick-skinned, he wouldn’t go back on his word—mainly because the reward wasn’t valuable enough to be worth the trouble of breaking his promise.
The Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique and the Evergreen Master’s Immortal Sword Scripture Record were both excellent, but he certainly wouldn’t have ti to learn them in this lifeti. He could only commit them to rote mory for now.
They would just have to wait for a ti when he could grace them with his attention, much like the sixteen Cultivation Technique Inheritances he had acquired from the Zhongxuan Sect.
After more than a month, Du Youqian’s Cultivation finally broke through to Qi Cultivation Perfection.
He spent another month refining the Lower Grade Spirit Weapon Level Flying Sword and the Top Grade Defense Spiritual Artifact that Chen Yingzhi had delivered, further boosting his combat strength.
Since his potential was completely spent, he naturally had no need to stabilize his new Realm or adjust his body and mind to attempt the breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt.
He just had to wait to take the Celestial Demon Sacrifice Pill, which would give him a temporary explosive boost into the Foundation Establishnt Realm.
As for the Celestial Demon Sacrifice Pill, he had been gathering the materials for a year, and after receiving the fruit of the Large-leafed Cyan Dragon Tree from Chen Yingzhi, he had finally succeeded in refining it.
In total, he attempted four batches and succeeded with two, yielding four pills.
This gave Du Youqian another reason to feel a little smug.
For an Elixir with a refining difficulty comparable to a Tier Two Upper Grade one, he had actually achieved a fifty percent success rate. Even compared to his master, Ma Chongyu, the veteran Vice Hall Master of the Pill Furnace Hall, he was only slightly inferior.
If he could break through to Foundation Establishnt, his Magical Power would beco stronger, purer, and more stable. He was confident that the small gap in skill could be closed in an instant.
Thinking of inviting the monkey to lend a hand, he knew he couldn’t do so without preparing an offensive Magical Artifact for it.
As for what type of Magical Artifact...
Du Youqian didn’t think too much about it. A monkey wearing a Phoenix Wing Purple Gold Crown and wielding a Golden Cudgel—wasn’t that just a matter of course?
Alright then. As long as the materials were good and it was easy to wield, it didn’t need any flashy functions.
And so, a very simple but high-quality, Top Grade Magic Artifact Level club was quickly forged.
Finally, he forged a pair of Magical Artifact shoes for the monkey, modeled after the "Lotus Silk Cloud-Stepping Shoes." Their only function was to allow flight, compensating for the monkey’s inability to fly on its own.
At this point, Du Youqian’s preparations were more or less complete.
He just needed to settle the three little ones by his side, deposit the things he was leaving for his next life into his treasury, and then he could go and rendezvous with Lin Sha to protect her.
Before leaving the Marketplace, Du Youqian browsed the shop where he had purchased the Blood Burning Art in his previous life.
It was the sa shop, and a Kun Cultivator was still the one attending to custors, but things were not as he rembered.
This Kun Cultivator, whom Du Youqian had never t before, was extrely enthusiastic—far more so than the one from his mories of his past life. She even kept brushing up against him.
If she weren’t holding back what little restraint she had, she might have offered to share his bed.
’Looks like this shop has been focusing on employee training recently. Of course, it could also be because my appearance is much younger and more handso than when I was here in my last life. On top of that, decked out in Top Grade Magical Artifacts and Spiritual Artifacts, I look like a rich second-generation heir draped in luxury brands visiting a departnt store. At the sa ti, my status is far more distinguished than in my previous life. To ordinary Cultivators, a Fourth-class Sect is already considered a Major Sect, and I’m a True Disciple, no less. During the year or so I’ve lived in the Marketplace, even the Foundation Establishnt Clan that runs it from behind the scenes has treated with the utmost respect. Considering all that, this Kun Cultivator’s enthusiasm is perfectly understandable.’
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