Chapter 26: Wanted: Han Li

The world of The Legend of Cultivation of the Common Man.

In Yue Country, within Huangfeng Valley.

Han Li, having finally reached the thirteenth level of his cultivation technique with the aid of the thousand-year spirit marrow and numerous spirit herbs bestowed by Lu Qingshan, ceased his cultivation.

“Finally reached the thirteenth level of the technique!”

Han Li felt the powerful surge of magic power within his body and thought to himself: “If I wish to continue cultivating, I must first find a way to achieve Foundation Establishment!”

Although he had advanced his technique from the ninth to the thirteenth level in just over two months, Han Li was not worried about being discovered by others.

After obtaining the thousand-year spirit marrow from Lu Qingshan and realizing its profound benefit to his cultivation, he had already used spirit stones acquired from the Ye-cultivator who had taken his Foundation Establishment Pill to purchase a powerful concealment technique in the Huangfeng Valley marketplace.

Of course, given Han Li’s caution, even after mastering that concealment technique, he had stopped cultivating at the tenth level, relying solely on the thousand-year spirit marrow.

For some time afterward, Han Li frequently appeared before Ma Shu-shu, the current caretaker of this herb garden and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, until he was certain the man had not noticed his breakthrough—only then did he resume cultivation.

Yet as Han Li continued cultivating, the thousand-year spirit marrow’s efficacy gradually diminished; fortunately, at this point he received numerous spirit herbs from Lu Qingshan.

Although he lacked a suitable pill formula, the herbs Lu Qingshan gave him were of such extraordinary age that even using just a small portion in the simplest manner had already propelled his technique to the thirteenth level!

“Though I have no Foundation Establishment Pill, the spirit energy within these herbs given by the group owner is abundant—perhaps I can attempt Foundation Establishment directly using these herbs!”

Thinking this, Han Li immediately took action.

He first used a single drop of diluted Celestial Creation Dew to accelerate the growth of part of the herb garden’s plants, then gave a portion to Ma Shu-shu, who was highly satisfied; Han Li then casually requested leave.

Foundation Establishment certainly could not be accomplished in a day or two—should he wish to attempt it, he must take leave.

Though he could simply quit this job, as a Huangfeng Valley disciple, he was required to perform miscellaneous duties; even if he resigned, he would still need to take on other tasks.

Moreover, this job was ideal for Han Li, who possessed the Sky-Palm Vial—after all, just one diluted drop of Celestial Creation Dew was enough to complete his duties while allowing him to secretly withhold some spirit herbs.

After Han Li requested leave, Ma Shu-shu, though displeased, acknowledged Han Li’s diligent care of the herb garden and the extra two-tenths of herbs he had submitted, and finally grudgingly granted his request.

After securing leave, Han Li quickly proceeded to Yuelu Hall to rent a ground-fire chamber for his breakthrough attempt.

Although the cultivator guarding the ground-fire chamber had initially been impatient with Han Li, his attitude changed instantly upon seeing a mid-grade spirit stone.

After all, though one mid-grade spirit stone equaled one hundred low-grade ones, cultivators willing to trade mid-grade for low-grade were exceedingly rare.

This man could resell the mid-grade spirit stone Han Li gave him for at least several spirit stones in profit!

After renting the ground-fire chamber, Han Li swiftly retrieved a ten-thousand-year ginseng from his red packet space and, along with other spirit herbs in his possession, began boiling them together.

Since he lacked a suitable pill formula, this was the most effective method he knew to extract the ginseng’s full potency.

After preparing the decoction with the ten-thousand-year ginseng as the main ingredient, Han Li swiftly swallowed it and began attempting Foundation Establishment.

Yet despite the ginseng’s astonishing medicinal power, he still failed to break through to Foundation Establishment.

“Must I rely solely on a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through?”

After his failed attempt, Han Li thought to himself: “Fine—I’ll ask the group owner if he has any suggestions.”

…

Within the chat group.

【System Prompt: Han Li uploaded a designated red packet: thirty drops of Celestial Creation Dew.】

【Han Li: @Lu Qingshan, Group Owner, these are the drops of Celestial Creation Dew I’ve accumulated—hope they help you!】

On the other side, after over a decade of cultivation, Lu Qingshan’s supply of Celestial Creation Dew was nearly exhausted.

At that moment, Lu Qingshan saw Han Li’s @ message.

“Thirty drops?”

Lu Qingshan, who had already used the Celestial Creation Dew to elevate his understanding of the Time Primordial Law to match the fifth level of the Heaven-Piercing Bridge, felt a surge of joy.

He had previously worried that the time-flow disparity might cause Han Li’s Celestial Creation Dew to fall behind his consumption—but clearly, his concerns were unfounded.

【System Prompt: Lu Qingshan claimed Han Li’s red packet.】

Lu Qingshan: Hahaha, thank you, Han Daoist! How did the spirit herbs I sent you turn out? If you need anything else, just let me know!

Clearly, Lu Qingshan was delighted to receive thirty drops of Celestial Creation Dew at once.

【Han Li: Group Owner, the spirit herbs you gave me worked very well—I’ve already reached the thirteenth level of my technique! But now, to continue cultivating, I must break through to Foundation Establishment!】

【Han Li: You know, in our world, achieving Foundation Establishment requires a Foundation Establishment Pill. I’ve already tried using the herbs you gave me to break through, but it had no effect—do you have any suggestions?】

“Foundation Establishment Pill?”

On Thunder Star, seated in meditation within his cultivation chamber, Lu Qingshan paused at Han Li’s words.

The ten-thousand-year spirit herbs he had sent Han Li contained far more energy than a Foundation Establishment Pill—yet they still failed to trigger the breakthrough?

“Could the Foundation Establishment Pill have some unique property? Or is it due to world differences?” Lu Qingshan wondered inwardly.

【Lu Qingshan: @Han Li, I can’t answer this right now! Perhaps the Foundation Establishment Pill has a marrow-washing and sinew-reforming effect—or something else entirely!】

【Lu Qingshan: How about this—get yourself a Foundation Establishment Pill and send it to me. I’ll see if I can refine some for you!】

【Lu Qingshan: I recall many Huangfeng Valley disciples hoard their Foundation Establishment Pills until their condition peaks—there are likely still many in circulation; it shouldn’t be hard to obtain one!】

After all, in the original novel, Han Li once killed a Wind-element cultivator and took two Foundation Establishment Pills from him.

Had Han Li’s talent not been so abysmal, those two pills alone might have sufficed for his Foundation Establishment—he wouldn’t have needed to join the Blood Prohibition Trial at all.

The Han Li in Huangfeng Valley, upon reading Lu Qingshan’s message, felt a sudden spark of thought.

The Foundation Establishment Pill originally meant for him had been taken by the Ye-cultivator and given to his nephew’s grandson.

If the Ye Shu-shu had merely handed over the item he received in exchange, that would have been fair—but instead, he had outright stolen most of it, leaving Han Li deeply furious.

Now, to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, confronting the Ye Shu-shu’s nephew’s grandson would be a good option.

【Han Li: Thank you for the reminder, Group Owner! I’ll do my best to get a Foundation Establishment Pill!】

(End of Chapter)