The first pill cost 450 Spirit Stones, and each subsequent pill cost 400 Spirit Stones.
They were all middle grade.
In other words, over the years, Dong Qian has given Ji Yuan a total of 3250 Mid-grade Spirit Stones... such an amount is quite extravagant even for a Qi Cultivation Cultivator.
Even for a late-stage Foundation Establishnt Cultivator... it’s quite extravagant.
Thinking back, if Wu Nanchun had possessed these Spirit Stones, she wouldn’t have been forced to battle Isle Master Qing Han. Recently she communicated with Senior Sister Wu once.
Her injuries have already healed.
The sect has also issued her the rewards for slaying Isle Master Qing Han, so next, she’s going to close-door cultivate to reach the Peak of Foundation Establishnt.
Ji Yuan didn’t ask if she found Isle Master Qing Han’s hidden treasures; such matters shouldn’t be questioned even amongst close friends, let alone their relationship which was just ordinary.
Between Dong Qian and Ji Yuan, both agreed repeatedly to keep secrets.
Dong Qian wants Ji Yuan to keep the secret of her having so many Spirit Stones.
As for Ji Yuan... as long as Dong Qian doesn’t reveal the matter of collecting Foundation Establishnt Pills.
Because Ji Yuan has promised to help Dong Qian collect Foundation Establishnt Pills and also to help Du Wanyi collect them, and coincidentally the two have a good relationship.
If they talk it over, Ji Yuan won’t be able to handle it.
Currently, giving each of them a few pills is manageable.
They both know Ji Yuan has reached Foundation Establishnt and has apprenticed under a Golden Core Zhenren, so they don’t suspect him for having found several Foundation Establishnt Pills.
But if they discuss it and realize Ji Yuan gave away more than a dozen Foundation Establishnt Pills, it would be suspicious.
"Alright, I’m coming over now."
Ji Yuan spends his days in cultivation, and with nothing much to do, he said he was on Wuyou Island.
After responding to the ssage, Ji Yuan took half a day to get from Mist Island to Wuyou Island. After waiting a day, Dong Qian arrived.
"It’s rare to see Senior Sister Dong out and about."
Ji Yuan said with a smile.
Which was true, usually for their transactions, Ji Yuan would go to Chulong Island.
In Dong Qian’s case, if she occasionally went out, it was mostly to Sifang Island for Alchemy, and other tis, even if she took on tasks, they were generally within the sect.
Such as planting herbs on dicine Island, or taking shifts on Sifang Island.
But if she’s so reclusive, where did she get so many Spirit Stones?
Ji Yuan grew increasingly curious about this, but he didn’t feel it right to ask.
"Junior Martial Uncle Ji is just babbling."
Dong Qian could tell Ji Yuan was joking, so she returned the joke, giving Ji Yuan a vexed look in the process.
The mature woman’s enchanting deanor made Ji Yuan calm down a lot.
"Senior Sister Dong, please sit."
Ji Yuan brewed her so Spirit Tea.
After so polite exchanges, Dong Qian said she wanted to tour Ji Yuan’s Wuyou Island.
Ji Yuan saw no reason to refuse such a small request. His island was open and honest, with no secrets, and after a casual tour, Dong Qian ended up before the peach grove.
It was deep autumn, and peach leaves were scattered all over the ground.
"Junior Brother likes peaches?"
"They’re okay, the peach blossoms look nice when they bloom."
Ji Yuan didn’t ntion that these peach trees were planted from Phoenix Peach seeds, to avoid needing to explain further.
Dong Qian, in a black long dress that accentuated her full figure, remained silent for a while before suddenly speaking, "Actually, the reason I ca today was to ask Junior Brother to help buy a Foundation Establishnt Pill."
"Oh?"
Ji Yuan said sowhat surprised, "For such matters, a ssage would’ve sufficed. Why visit personally?"
"No, this ti I need a Two-striped Foundation Establishnt Pill."
Dong Qian’s voice held so hesitance, but ultimately she spoke up.
The hesitance was due to feeling it was asking too much, as Ji Yuan had already helped her collect so many One-Stripe Foundation Establishnt Pills, and now she needed a Two-striped one...
For her, it felt like Ji Yuan had already helped imnsely.
But she still brought it up, because besides Ji Yuan, she didn’t know who else to turn to.
Han Feiyu could’ve helped too, but after succeeding in Foundation Establishnt and apprenticing under Master Xuan Shui, he beca distant from people like Dong Qian, interacting mostly with other Foundation Establishnt Cultivators.
Dong Qian tried to inquire subtly a few tis, casual talks went fine, but whenever the talk turned to Foundation Establishnt Pills, Han Feiyu would deflect.
Not responding in itself is a response.
"Is Senior Sister going to reach Foundation Establishnt?!"
Upon hearing Dong Qian’s request for a Two-striped Foundation Establishnt Pill, Ji Yuan guessed her intention.
"Yes."
Dong Qian nodded slightly, "Yes," she murmured, "Junior Brother helped acquire so many Foundation Establishnt Pills; I’ve prepared for a long ti, and it’s ti to attempt Foundation Establishnt."
"Indeed."
"I’m already 41 this year, and in a few months, I’ll be 42... Though the last age for Foundation Establishnt is sixty, I can’t truly wait until that age to attempt it, and I’ve read enough material; those who succeed in Foundation Establishnt after 45 are few."
Ji Yuan recalled Dong Qian joining the Water Dragon Sect at about thirty-five or thirty-six, when she was in her full youthful pri.
"Rest assured, Senior Sister. I’ll do my utmost to find you a Two-striped Foundation Establishnt Pill before the year’s end!"
"No need to rush."
Dong Qian hurriedly said, feeling deeply grateful that Ji Yuan was willing to help, let alone urging him to do so quickly.
"Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I won’t do anything unsafe."
Ji Yuan chuckled.
Indeed, Ji Yuan currently only had two One-Stripe Foundation Establishnt Pills left, and the rest... so he sold at auction when guarding Lishui City, exchanging them for Spirit Stones to purchase Spiritual Artifacts and other trump cards.
Additionally, he traded 8 One-Stripe Foundation Establishnt Pills just with Dong Qian.
And traded a few to Du Wanyi as well.
There really weren’t many left in his possession.
Thus, he planned to gather so Qinghui Grass and refine two batches of Foundation Establishnt Pills at Sifang Island; it was a simple task for him now.
"Alright, then my thanks to Junior Brother."
Dong Qian responded, slightly bowing to Ji Yuan.
This was indeed quite a favor for her.
"No need for formality, Senior Sister."
After the discussion, Dong Qian gave Ji Yuan 400 Mid-grade Spirit Stones in advance, worrying it might not be enough for purchasing a Two-striped Foundation Establishnt Pill.
Ji Yuan accepted them without refusal.
Normally, Two-striped Foundation Establishnt Pills are found in auctions, so having extra Spirit Stones is reasonable.
Before the year’s end, two months later.
Ji Yuan found Dong Qian and traded her a Two-striped Foundation Establishnt Pill.
Dong Qian then went into seclusion on Sifang Island.
In the following April, Dong Qian erged from seclusion.
Finally achieving Foundation Establishnt.
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