Immortality and cultivation begin at age forty, starting with Foundation Establishment.

"Junior Sister Yu, I think we can put the matter of finding a Daoist partner on hold for now."

"But cooperation can continue as before."

"After all, once the sect war begins in the future, no one knows how things will develop."

"Even you and I may not be without the danger of losing our lives. If our Dao heart is not clear at that time, it will also affect our path of cultivation."

"You gave me a mid-grade defensive magic weapon, so I will give you a Foundation Establishment Pill as a token of my sincerity."

The Foundation Establishment Pill that Chen An mentioned was not his own, but a Foundation Establishment Pill provided by the Yu family. By becoming a guest of the Yu family, he could gain their identity and background, and incidentally receive a Foundation Establishment Pill to give as a favor, thus initially establishing a friendly cooperation. For Chen An, it was a win-win situation.

Hearing Chen An speak slowly and deliberately, Yu Peiyao couldn't help but chuckle. She said calmly, "Don't worry, Senior Brother Chen. I, Yu Peiyao, am different from other women. Even if I am rejected after confessing my feelings, I won't hold a grudge."

"Besides, this is our first meeting, and I was the one who lied to you first."

"Even if you're not a Daoist couple, you can still cooperate."

"War is a disaster for others."

"For people like us, it's an opportunity."

"Uncle Lu has a good eye for people. We are all people who pursue the Tao and will not be swayed by worldly desires."

"Without this war, I might never have had any hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in my entire life."

"And you, you may also remain stuck in the early stages of Foundation Establishment for a very long time."

Chen An breathed a sigh of relief. Yu Peiyao's favorability rating rose to fifty. Her words and actions were consistent with what she said, and she did not harbor any resentment. On the contrary, it increased Chen An's favorability rating for rationality.

On the surface, exchanging a mid-grade defensive magic weapon for a Foundation Establishment Pill seems like a loss for Chen An, but in reality, he also has the privilege of opening a cave dwelling near a second-tier spiritual vein.

This is definitely not something that one or two Foundation Establishment Pills can compare to. Ordinary Foundation Establishment families in the outside world can only occupy one first-order spiritual vein at most, and they are always at risk of being plundered.

In the Xuan Yang Sect, there would be no such concerns. Even if war were to break out, the enemy might not be able to reach the heart of the sect.

Near a second-tier spiritual vein, one can not only increase the speed of cultivation, but also cultivate immature spiritual herbs, and mature spiritual herbs can maintain their medicinal properties as a result.

Chen An even suspected that if he had been willing to become Yu Peiyao's Daoist partner from the beginning because of her beauty, Yu Peiyao probably wouldn't have compromised for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

I fear that one more corpse will be added to the battlefield in the future.

The next day.

Near the secluded valley of Bailian Peak, a foundation-building training ground was established.

Chen An's Taoist temple.

A girl with a bun hairstyle walked out of the cave and looked at Chen An with a surprised expression.

"Senior brother, the spiritual energy here is so rich! The success rate of pill formation has increased significantly. I can earn more spirit stones for you in the future."

Chen An reached out and patted the bun on the girl's head, smiling as he said, "This is a second-tier spiritual vein. In the past, it would have cost at least a hundred spirit stones a month to cultivate in a place like this. Now, this place belongs to us."

"Senior brother, you touched my head again. I've told you I'm not a child anymore," Shi Ying protested, pouting.

Chen An said in a nonchalant tone, "Yes, Shi Ying is a grown girl now."

Shi Ying raised her head, stared into Chen An's eyes, and said earnestly, "Senior brother, I'm serious. My father said that I'm going to be your concubine in the future. It's not good for you to always treat me like a child."

Seeing the determination in Shi Ying's eyes, Chen An joked, "You're dreaming, girl. I think you just want me to take care of you forever."

Taking advantage of Chen An's momentary lapse in attention, Shi Ying grabbed him and said seductively, "I've heard that other Foundation Establishment seniors have many concubines, and that you're quite lecherous, Senior Brother. Every time Sister Wang finishes her bath, the way you look at her is different."

"Anyway, my senior brother will have other concubines in the future, so one more of me won't take up any space."

"Besides, I'm much more useful than them. I can even refine pills to support my senior brother."

Chen An casually hugged Shi Ying, kissed her forehead, and said earnestly, "Your senior brother will always take care of you."

Favorability ratings don't lie. Shi Ying and Wang Qian's favorability ratings have consistently fluctuated between 80 and 90, which is definitely a sign that their trust in Chen An has reached its peak.

Even with significant emotional fluctuations, it won't decrease much.

After a long while, Shi Ying's face turned red, she loosened her grip on Chen An's arm, and fled back into the cave as if escaping.

Refine pills, refine more pills...

Like Wang Qian before her, Shi Ying was a tool chosen by Chen An.

Wang Qian is the cauldron, the elixir for Chen An to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Shi Ying is an alchemist, an extension of Chen An's alchemy skills.

Human energy is limited. Chen An has some knowledge of alchemy, but he is not proficient in it. Forcing himself to learn alchemy will only slow down his cultivation progress. It is easier to plunder than to learn it by force.

Shi Ying was compared with dozens of teenagers, who spent the same amount of time and resources researching and refining first-grade low-level pills together.

In the end, Shi Ying was the winner. She did not disappoint Chen An and made particularly good progress in alchemy.

Wang Qian has returned.

She looked somewhat haggard. Her long, jet-black hair was now streaked with white specks behind her ears. It wasn't the frost-white that comes with age, but rather the withered, decaying state that result from the backlash of a loss of spiritual energy. The hair was a mix of dark blue and silvery white.

Seeing this, Chen An felt a pang of pity.

"Senior brother, I've thought it through. I'll choose the Blood Refining Scripture to start over with."

Chen An hesitated for a moment, then said slowly, "Alright, I will provide you with plenty of demon beast blood and pills."

Wang Qian forced a smile and said, "Senior brother, I will succeed. Even if I have to start over with my cultivation techniques, I will be able to stand before you again."

Cultivation depends not only on spiritual roots and aptitude, but also on the cultivator's foundation. Those whose origins are damaged will find it several times more difficult to embark on cultivation again than ordinary cultivators.

The Blood Refining Scripture is a demonic scripture that can quickly break through cultivation levels, which can just make up for the slow progress of cultivation after the source is damaged.

Because for cultivators who wish to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, it is best to do so before the age of fifty.

Cultivators who practice the Blood Refining Scripture must fight against evil thoughts in their hearts and take corresponding pills to alleviate symptoms every time they break through their cultivation level.

Those who lack mental fortitude or have not consumed enough elixirs will eventually become idiots if they force themselves to practice this technique.

Legend has it that the Blood Refining Scripture was created by a prominent figure in the Netherworld Sect to hone the will of low-level cultivators, increasing their chances of overcoming the Nascent Soul Heart Demon tribulation in the future.

Unfortunately, the effect was not very significant, and it could only increase the cultivation level of low-level cultivators in the short term, resulting in a large number of mindless individuals being born into the Netherworld Sect.

Some say it was a high-ranking figure from the Netherworld Cult who deliberately passed on the technique to his disciples for experimentation in order to improve it.

The specifics are impossible to verify.

However, the Blood Refining Scripture spread throughout the surrounding countries. After repeated improvements, the cost of cultivation increased, but the side effects were greatly reduced.

Indeed, some people in the Xuan Yang Sect have broken through to the Foundation Establishment realm by using this technique.

Wang Qian had cultivated the Yin Refining Manual to the peak of Qi Refining, and had experience in breaking through cultivation levels, so cultivating the Blood Refining Scripture shouldn't be a problem for her.

"Don't worry, Qian'er. The promise we made still stands. When you reach the peak of Qi Refining, you won't only have one Foundation Establishment Pill. If you have extra Foundation Establishment Pills, we will definitely prioritize helping you establish your foundation."

"I trust my senior brother." Wang Qian forced a smile and added, "Can I stay with him for a month? I mean, wherever he goes, I'll follow him."

"Okay." Chen An agreed without hesitation.

Wang Qian never made any demands in front of Chen An, but this time it must be because she was losing her life and felt insecure.

Wang Qian's condition was worse than originally expected.