Chapter 68: Wang Yulou, Do You Think I Still Have a Chance?

"The Nine Orifices Sect is too far. Besides, this disciple's cultivation depends on the clan's arrangements."

In fact, Wang Yulou had already decided to cultivate in the Dripping Cave in the future.

True Person Danri had tested his spiritual roots for him and given the judgment of six Fire and four Water.

To harmonize the root qi and establish the Foundation early, he needed to supplement his Water Technique.

And the Gui Water Qi of the Dripping Cave's Reverse Pulse, recommended by True Person Danri, could both help Wang Yulou supplement his Water Technique and was first-class for magical duels.

Therefore, Wang Yulou would definitely join the Dripping Cave to cultivate in the future.

For the Wang Shi of the Anbei Kingdom, arranging for a dual-spirit-root disciple to enter a Purple Mansion Sect was as simple as eating and drinking.

But these matters, Wang Yulou saw no need to explain so much to Hong Mei, so he only said he would listen to the clan's arrangements.

"The clan's arrangements... Wang Yulou... good disciple, you, no, our Wang Family.

How our Wang Family intends to deal with me, the Clan Leader hasn't even given a definite answer.

Today, with a cultivation of Qi Refining Level Seven, you were able to refine a Mid-Quality Crafted artifact with thirteen layers of prohibitions; in fact, you are already qualified to graduate."

Hong Mei tentatively asked, stumbling over his words.

The condition Wang Xianmou gave was to let him teach the two of them the Art of Refining well first, and then discuss his Foundation Establishment.

Back then, for the sake of Foundation Establishment, Hong Mei had taken desperate risks and endured humiliation.

But seven years had passed, and the resources needed for Foundation Establishment had risen from forty thousand spirit stones to eighty thousand spirit stones, yet Wang Xianmou had never once discussed his Foundation Establishment with him.

How could Hong Mei not worry in his heart?

"Master, today I fell into a state of sudden enlightenment during the refining process, which is why I produced the Purple Copper Technique Sword with thirteen layers of prohibitions.

As a disciple, there is still much I need to learn from you; it is still far from the time for me to graduate," Wang Yulou answered modestly.

Under the support of an entire tube of Jin Guang, his level in the Art of Refining temporarily increased by a great deal, jumping directly from the level of ten layers of prohibitions to thirteen layers of prohibitions.

This was not a thirty percent increase, but at least a fifty percent increase, because the difficulty gets higher the further along you go.

But he voluntarily refined one more layer at the end, causing the Purple Copper Technique Sword to explode, so now he could claim he had merely fallen into a state of sudden enlightenment.

Hong Mei was not concerned with Wang Yulou's attainment in the Art of Refining; he nodded and said.

"Sudden enlightenment can temporarily raise one's level in the Art of Refining, but Wang Yulou, your ability to achieve sudden enlightenment further proves that your previous accumulation was sufficient.

I wish to find an opportunity to visit our family to pay respects to the Clan Leader; I wonder if you or Daoist Rong Sheng could help me request an audience?"

Child, stop talking; your level in the Art of Refining is truly sufficient.

I have taught you all the prohibitions I master, and you have also mastered all other corresponding techniques.

It is merely that your cultivation is a bit low; as long as you have the cultivation of the Qi Refining Period, refining a High-Quality artifact would not be difficult.

"Master, you know the situation of our Wang Family; Uncle Rong Jiang is currently in his second seclusion, attempting to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Ancestor Tie Qinhe established his Foundation long ago, but Uncles Rong Yuan and Rong Wen might still be a few years away.

If Uncle Rong Jiang's promotion this time proceeds smoothly, the Wang Shi will have four Foundation Establishments.

Ancestor Jingyi and Ancestor Tie are both of outside surnames, while the Clan Leader and Uncle Rong Jiang are of the direct bloodline; two against two.

If you wish to establish your Foundation, I am afraid you will have to wait until Uncle Rong Yuan or Uncle Rong Wen establishes his Foundation before you have a chance."

Although Wang Yulou was clearly not giving good news, Hong Mei's heart instead became greatly settled.

With expectation, he spoke anxiously.

"So, the clan will still give me a chance to establish my Foundation, is that right?"

In his view, he had merely made a small mistake back then, but after enduring humiliation for so many years and pretending so well,

therefore, in the case of him atoning for his crimes with merit, it was still possible for the Wang Shi to give him a chance to establish his Foundation.

"Just now was merely my analysis; ask the Clan Leader yourself about his intentions. I will request an audience with the Clan Leader on your behalf.

Additionally, whether my and Wang Yuan's cultivation in the Art of Refining is sufficient must be reviewed by the Clan Leader or other elders."

Wang Yulou's words cooled the thoughts that had just grown hot in Hong Mei's heart.

He stood stunned for a long time, then spoke calmly.

"I do not need the clan's support; those resources and spirit stones from back then, I can treat entirely as a gift of atonement.

Wang Yulou, you also know clearly that these years I have done my utmost, teaching you and Wang Yuan everything I know."

He had laid his cards on the table, playing the card of emotional blackmail.

Regarding the past, Hong Mei accepted it; he wanted to discuss his future.

Wang Yulou, I was wrong, but I have treated you well since then!

Inside the Refining Chamber of Huafeng Residence, it was utterly silent; cooling water dripped drop by drop from the refining furnace, each sound falling heavily upon both their hearts.

Looking uneasily at Wang Yulou, Hong Mei's heart was in great turmoil.

Wang Yulou, do you think I still have a chance?

"Master, how old are you this year?"

This question from Wang Yulou was interesting, very interesting; Hong Mei understood his meaning, or at least part of it.

The heart yearning for Foundation Establishment began to beat again; those expectations that had cooled down time and time again rose once more, filling Hong Mei's eyes.

He pretended to look disappointed, trying to win Wang Yulou's sympathy.

"Eighty-nine; it sounds young, but establishing the Foundation is not necessarily successful on the first try.

If it fails, it will take at least three or five years to recuperate; time is wasted, and I cannot wait."

Wang Yulou and Hong Mei were transitioning from mutual probing to a communication with some shared intent.

As for Foundation Establishment seeds like Wang Rongwen and Wang Rongyuan, the Wang Shi had three in the Rong generation; Wang Rongjiang was leading the way, and in the Clan Leader's arrangement, Rongyuan and Rongwen were to follow closely behind.

These three had talent and accumulation all in place; with sufficient resources, at least two could succeed.

As for the likes of Wang Rongsheng, whose Foundation Establishment was difficult but still had some chance, the Wang Shi had seven or eight senior direct-bloodline Qi Refiners.

If even one of them could succeed, then the direct bloodline would have four Foundation Establishments.

Ke Hongmei is eighty-nine years old — an awkward age. He could afford to wait, but not really afford to wait.

"Master, you must have noticed.

These past years, Red Lantern Zhao sold a pile of dharma methods to loose cultivators, and Miao Feng Mountain and Gu Shen Zong have been fighting fiercely.

Those formidable loose cultivators didn't miss their chance to jump between both sides earning commission fees, and the resources for Foundation Establishment have been bid up higher and higher.

I remember, during the Qingxi Gathering, forty thousand spirit stones could secure a set of Foundation Establishment resources.

Now, the same set of resources costs eighty thousand spirit stones.

I can't give you a definite reference for when the clan will agree to let you attempt Foundation Establishment.

But I suggest you start stockpiling Foundation Establishment resources first."

Yulou was better off not bringing this up — the moment he did, Hongmei felt even more bitter inside.

Back then, how had he been so bewitched as to want to kill these two disciples?

If he had simply entered the Wang Shi as a guest elder, then the resources he'd painstakingly accumulated back then wouldn't have been plundered clean by Wang Xianmao.

He might well have already succeeded at Foundation Establishment.

As a result, now — one wrong step, every step wrong.

"Also, Master, it's actually possible to attempt Foundation Establishment without the full resources; it's just that the risk is greater and the success rate lower.

You could adopt the same strategy as Old Ancestor Tie — buy only half a portion of life-preserving and Dao-base-protecting pills, and then you can attempt Foundation Establishment.

That way, even if you fail, the time won't be wasted in vain. Without backlash or injury, the more times you attempt Foundation Establishment, the higher your success rate."

Hongmei looked at Yulou with some disbelief, unsure whether this was a new trap.

The Wang Shi wants me to grind away, stockpile more precious pills and spiritual medicines for Foundation Establishment, so they can snatch them away?

He's just acting me, isn't he?

Right, that's exactly it.

"It's true that time waits for no one. These past years, everything related to Foundation Establishment has more than doubled in price, and some have even started becoming unavailable at any price.

Who knows when it'll come down in the future. Sigh."

Hongmei didn't buy Yulou's nonsense and chose to change the subject.

"It won't come down. Five years ago, there were still plenty of people sourcing goods from different places to sell over at Red Lantern Zhao's side.

Later on, it developed into cultivators on the verge of Foundation Establishment traveling out of the area and buying the resources they needed along the way.

Now it's gotten so that everywhere within Wunan's range is terribly expensive.

The major sects' closed systems don't open up to small clans and loose cultivators, so the circulation of Foundation Establishment resources keeps shrinking — that's why the prices have risen so sharply.

Once this kind of trend starts, it's very hard to stop. After all, everyone wants to earn a bit more."

Once Yulou finished speaking, he prepared to leave.

He still needed to go to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion to reprice the jumbled goods.

With the fierce fighting along the Wolong River line, recently hot wartime supplies change price day by day.

"Yulou, are you willing to let me attempt Foundation Establishment?"

Hongmei finally called out to Yulou, voicing the doubt in his heart.

Because just now, everything Yulou said carried that implication.

"Our Wang Shi has always been kind to people.

But when facing an enemy, we believe in not striking until we strike to the root.

Master, I trust you're a smart man and won't give us an excuse to cut you off at the root.

Besides, Wang Yuan likes his senior sister — he is my brother after all."

Yulou's attitude was actually not strange. In his view, Hongmei could attempt Foundation Establishment, but there were many preconditions.

Among those preconditions were the clan leader's bottom line and Yulou's own demands — it all depended on whether Hongmei was willing to accept them.

The timing had to come after enough of the Wang Shi's direct bloodline had achieved Foundation Establishment — that was the clan leader's bottom line, otherwise it would be hard to control.

Wang Yuan and Zhong Ningyao had to become Dao companions — that was one of Yulou's demands. Wang Yuan was, after all, the younger brother he'd watched grow up; he couldn't just ignore it.

And once Wang Yuan and Zhong Ningyao became Dao companions, Hongmei would naturally draw closer to the Wang Shi. In the future, this cheap master could in some sense become an arm of support for Yulou — that was the demand Yulou never voiced aloud.

Cultivators capable of Foundation Establishment mostly know perfectly well in their hearts whether they have a chance to prove the Purple Mansion.

Under the Wang Shi's suppression, Hongmei could never prove the Purple Mansion. Even if he wanted to cause trouble, it would only be a gamble with his life.

Under such circumstances, for Hongmei, drawing close to the Wang Shi became his only choice in the short term.

Yulou's display of active goodwill was actually gathering momentum for himself.

By leveraging the advantages of rules and strength, greater cultivators can easily plunder the output of bottom-tier cultivators and even clans like the Wang Shi.

If Yulou wanted to go further, he had to learn to huddle together for warmth with others.

Just as he'd told Wang Yuan — no matter how cruel reality is, one must always start by accepting it, accepting part of it, before seeking a way to break through.

As for whether Hongmei would cause trouble in the future, Yulou wasn't afraid in the slightest.

Because the Wang Shi's Foundation Establishments would emerge one after another like bamboo shoots after spring rain.

This clan was heading into a new era.

"All these matters are easy to discuss, but the Black Vine Spirit-Locking Art on my body..."

A daughter — Hongmei actually didn't care much about that. He'd once meant to use his daughter to win over Wang Yuan and Wang Rongwen and the others.

But the Black Vine Spirit-Locking Art on his body was different. If that thing wasn't removed, he'd never have any chance at Foundation Establishment in this life.

"Master, my attitude doesn't count. You need to convince the clan leader."

Yulou smiled and indicated that he was merely the one playing the good cop; he'd played his part about enough, and the rest required Wang Xianmao to name his price.

With that, he left the Huafeng Residence. This time Hongmei didn't stop him.

Yulou had painted a pretty picture and then drifted away.

But this cake, like a flower in the mirror or the moon in the water, had truly captivated Hongmei.

He understood—he had feared for so many years, worried for so many years; how could he not understand?

Hongmei understood everything.

The three-hundred-jin Hongmei Hermit looked at the empty alchemy chamber, summoned a chair, and slumped wearily against it.

How had he, step by step, brought himself to a dead end?