I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Song Rou was almost stunned on the spot.

What Xu Zhou wanted were not ordinary items for cultivators.

If the characteristics of a skill or the level of cultivation are revealed and become known to those with ulterior motives, they can devise countermeasures, making it impossible to defend against such underhanded tactics.

If one's essence and magical energy fall into the hands of others, one may be plotted against at best, or even killed remotely at worst.

For a cultivator, this is tantamount to handing over one's life.

Xu Zhou had expected this when he saw her in a daze.

This is also why medicine is difficult to popularize; if you want to seek medical help, you often have to give up your life first.

Many cultivators would rather die on the spot than hand these over.

"Junior sister, now you understand why no one came to me despite the extraordinary power of the Clearing Pill."

Xu Zhou shook his head: "I'm really sorry, my junior sister has gone to great lengths to come and ask for my help, but I'm afraid I can't be of much assistance."

Song Rou did not reply.

Her fingers tightened slightly, and she hesitated.

A moment later, she let out a soft breath.

"I see."

As if she had let go of some expectations, her tone even carried a hint of self-deprecation.

At this moment, she looked at Xu Zhou and suddenly asked, "If it were Senior Brother choosing, what would you do?"

Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback.

He immediately gave his instinctive answer: "I won't give it."

Song Rou nodded, as if she had expected it.

"I think so too, no normal person would give it."

She was silent for a moment before whispering, "But if I don't take this chance, my life might end here."

"Senior brother, could you give me three days?"

Xu Zhou frowned immediately: "You really want to try? You should think carefully, as matters related to essence and blood are of great importance."

Song Rou nodded: "Of course I know."

However, I've known my senior for many years. If I had to say who I trust the most, it would be him.

She gave a slight wry smile: "Besides, with my spiritual root aptitude, I didn't have many choices to begin with. Now that I can give it my all with my talent in alchemy, I will naturally go all out."

Seeing her reaction, Xu Zhou could only reply, "Fine."

"As long as my junior sister has thought it through, I will naturally give it a try."

After chatting for a few more minutes, Song Rou got up to say goodbye.

Watching her hurried departure, Xu Zhou suddenly felt an increased pressure.

To be fair, if the roles were reversed, he would never entrust his life essence to someone else, not even someone with whom he had a life-or-death friendship like Li Zelei.

But Song Rou really didn't have many choices.

Unlike me, she doesn't have any special methods to prolong her life. At this age, she's almost at the end of the time limit for establishing a foundation.

If one cannot do everything in their power to increase the probability of foundation building, they will only return to dust within a few decades.

Even now, Xu Zhou still felt that Song Rou would ultimately reject the proposal after careful consideration.

But when he thought about how hard the other party had worked over the past ten years to achieve Foundation Establishment, he became uncertain again.

We can only wait and see what choice the other party makes in three days.

...

Song Rou's visit this time served as a reminder to Xu Zhou.

He has now reached the late stage of Qi Refining, and given time, he will also reach the peak of Qi Refining, and will begin to prepare for Foundation Establishment in the future.

Xu Zhou had no prior knowledge of this matter, and now that he wanted to inquire, he should ask Li Zelei.

Coincidentally, the next evening, Li Zelei had a small celebration at his house, which Xu Zhou had already invited.

Xiaoqing's main character is the Li family's daughter, who was born two years ago and has just turned one year old. So, she invited close friends and relatives to have a meal together.

Because the baby girl was born at one month old, she was given a common name, Wangshu.

After they had finished their meal and drinks, Yue Niang took Wang Shu to bed, and her three sons went to cultivate. Only Li Zelei and Xu Zhou remained in the small house to continue their conversation.

From a distant house, the faint sound of a child turning over could be heard. Yue Niang whispered a few words of comfort, and soon things quieted down again.

Li Zelei leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh.

He suddenly sighed, "Raising a daughter is definitely less of a worry."

Xu Zhou was taken aback: "Huh?"

"At least I won't be like those three kids, always looking for trouble."

Li Zelei said nostalgically, "I still remember when Po Jing and the others had just learned to run, the house was in complete chaos. Even Yue Niang, with her cultivation, almost couldn't keep an eye on them."

He lowered his voice as he said this.

"Now things are peaceful."

Xu Zhou glanced at him but didn't reply.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke up, "Senior Brother Li, do you know how to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Why are you asking this?

Li Zelei was immediately puzzled: "Do you also want to establish your foundation?"

Xu Zhou frowned and said, "Immortality is the lifelong wish of cultivators, and I am naturally no exception."

Li Zelei was speechless for a moment, and could only repeatedly agree.

He had never imagined that Xu Zhou would also want to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

After all, the other party gave up cultivation from the very beginning and devoted himself to alchemy, showing no interest in it.

I didn't expect you to suddenly ask about Foundation Establishment Pills.

However, when Li Zelei thought about Xu Zhou's age, he felt a pang of reluctance.

In Li Zelei's memory, the two entered the sect in the same year. Xu Zhou's age was measured to be fourteen, a few years younger than him, and he should be nearly sixty years old now.

At this age, he has only just broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining, and it is almost impossible for him to reach Foundation Establishment in the future.

If achieving Foundation Establishment was a near-certain death for him, it was absolutely impossible for Xu Zhou.

Unless a miracle occurs.

He felt a pang of sadness, but not wanting to discourage his friend, he answered the question directly: "This Foundation Establishment Pill is indeed not easy to obtain. If you want to know more, Junior Brother, I can enlighten you."

Xu Zhou looked over, his face showing anticipation.

Li Zelei slowly said, "First, let me share some good news. Although Foundation Establishment Pills are rare, sects also have stable channels to obtain them, so if we want them, there are still quite a few methods."

While Foundation Establishment Pills are available, there are also many disciples waiting in line. With too many wolves and too little meat, whether one can secure one depends entirely on luck.

There are three main methods of acquisition.

Li Zelei pointed to himself: "The first and most drastic method is to win first place in the annual Inner Sect Competition."

If that year happens to be the year the sect successfully refines a Foundation Establishment Pill, then that pill will be awarded as a reward to the disciple who achieves this feat first.

He then pointed to Xu Zhou: "Secondly, there are the internally determined quotas within each hall."

Any disciple with exceptional talent who has achieved something in a particular skill may receive this Foundation Establishment Pill.

He paused, then added, "As for the third one, it all depends on the elders' mood."

Ultimately, the sect's resources are all controlled by these elders. Whoever they want to get their hands on the Foundation Establishment Pill can obtain it.

Xu Zhou fell silent for a moment.

"So, the only way to truly not have to worry about the elders' opinions is winning the grand competition?"

"really."

Li Zelei said, "I remember that many years ago, the Xiao family patriarch successfully established his foundation using this method."

He sought an opportunity to befriend the disciples of Baicaotang and obtained the specific time when the Foundation Establishment Pill was produced. He won first place in the competition that year, which gave him the opportunity to take the Foundation Establishment Pill and thus become the Foundation Establishment Elder he is today.

However, such occurrences became rare after that. Most of the tournament winners were descendants of certain elders.

Xu Zhou was actually quite familiar with this matter; he even knew several of the people involved.

Li Zelei then sighed, "Of course, there is a fourth way. That is to find a second-tier alchemist outside the sect to provide the raw materials for refining Foundation Establishment Pills."

Xu Zhou shook his head.

This path is practically a pipe dream, as the main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely scarce and cannot be obtained without the help of a sect.

Moreover, most second-tier alchemists are Foundation Establishment cultivators. Where can these Qi Refining minor cultivators find such a place?

That being said, the Foundation Establishment Pill is still indispensable.

Before questioning Li Zelei, he had already consulted relevant texts. Without Foundation Establishment Pills, the probability of a cultivator achieving Foundation Establishment is almost zero out of ten, making it extremely dangerous.

Anyway, he has plenty of time; he can prepare for such an important event slowly.

After pondering for a long time, Xu Zhou suddenly asked, "So, what does Senior Brother think? Do you want to reach Foundation Establishment?"

Li Zelei was taken aback, as if he had been stumped by the question.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead lowered his head, poured himself a glass of wine, and slowly took a sip.

"I've considered it."

He smiled, but the smile was not deep.

"Who didn't think about that when they were young?"

He counted on his fingers, his tone calm to the point of being almost aloof: "But Foundation Establishment is just too difficult."

To establish a foundation, one must first cultivate to the peak of Qi Refining, but I am only at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

It's best to start building your foundation before your Qi and blood decline. At my age, it's actually a bit late.

As for Foundation Establishment Pills, that's not my turn either.

not to mention..."

At this point, he suddenly turned back to look at the inner room, a kind expression appearing on his face.

He then shook his head and sighed, "Forget it, let's not talk about it anymore."

He paused, as if realizing something, and turned to look at Xu Zhou: "Why are you suddenly saying so much today?"

Xu Zhou hesitated for a while before briefly explaining Song Rou's visit that day.

It's just that the details are a bit vague when it comes to specific people; it only mentions an ordinary alchemist from Baicaotang.

After saying that, Li Zelei frowned: "Is there really such a thing as a Clearing Pill?"

"have."

Xu Zhou looked at him: "You want it? I can give it a try. Of course, you know the conditions."

Li Zelei shook his head almost without hesitation: "No."

He paused for a moment, then quickly said, "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just that giving away my essence blood sounds too creepy."

Xu Zhou nodded.

This is the normal reaction of a cultivator.

He and Li Zelei have known each other for decades, from the beginning of their cultivation journey to where they are today, and their friendship is a rare and profound bond in the cultivation world.

Li Zelei was not, as he appeared, completely without any desire to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

His physical body, comparable to the peak of Qi Refining, was enough to offset much of the decline in Qi and blood caused by age and greatly increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment. Clearly, he had his sights set on Foundation Establishment.

Even so, he was still unwilling.

However, just as he was thinking this, Li Zelei suddenly spoke again.

"However, I still want to keep this opportunity."

Xu Zhou was taken aback.

Li Zelei smiled helplessly: "It's never a bad thing to leave yourself an out when it comes to these things."

...

Through this conversation, Xu Zhou also deeply realized the desire of normal cultivators for Foundation Establishment.

When Song Rou visited again, claiming she was willing to give him her essence and blood, he wasn't so surprised.