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

The Nine Apertures Sect is too far away, and my cultivation depends on the clan’s arrangements.

In truth, Yulou has already been assigned to cultivate in the Dropping Water Cave.

True Person Danri tested his spiritual roots and judged them to be six parts fire, four parts water.

To harmonize his root energy and achieve Foundation Establishment sooner, he needs to supplement his water methods.

The Dropping Water Cave’s Inverted Vein Gui Water Qi, recommended by True Person Danri, can both supplement Yulou’s water methods and excel in combat.

Therefore, Yulou will definitely join the Dropping Water Cave for cultivation.

For the Wang clan of Anbei State, placing a dual-spirit-root disciple into a Purple Mansion sect is as simple as eating and drinking.

But Yulou had no need to explain all this to Hongmei, so he merely said he would follow the clan’s arrangements.

“Clan arrangements, Yulou... good disciple, you, no—our Wang family.

Our Wang family hasn’t given me any clear word on how they plan to handle me.”

“Today, with your Qi Refining seventh-layer cultivation base, you forged a mid-grade magic treasure with thirteen sealing layers—you’re already ready to graduate.”

Hongmei probed hesitantly.

Wang Xianmao’s condition was that Yulou must first teach both of them the art of forging before discussing his own Foundation Establishment.

Originally, Hongmei had taken desperate risks and endured humiliation to achieve Foundation Establishment.

But seven years have passed; the cost of Foundation Establishment materials has risen from forty thousand spirit stones to eighty thousand, yet Wang Xianmao has never once spoken to him about his Foundation Establishment.

How could Hongmei not be anxious?

“Master, today I entered a state of sudden enlightenment during the forging process, which allowed me to forge the thirteen-layer sealing on the purple copper magic sword.”

“As your disciple, I still have much to learn from you—I’m far from ready to graduate,” Yulou replied humbly.

Under the full power of the Ruyi Golden Light, his forging skill temporarily surged—jumping directly from the thirteenth-layer seal to the thirteenth-layer seal.

This wasn’t a thirty-percent increase, but at least fifty percent, since difficulty rises exponentially with each additional layer.

Yet he deliberately forged one extra layer, triggering the explosion of the purple copper sword, allowing him now to claim he had merely entered a state of sudden enlightenment.

Hongmei didn’t care about Yulou’s forging mastery; he nodded and said:

“Sudden enlightenment can temporarily boost forging skill, but Yulou, your ability to enter such a state proves you’ve accumulated enough groundwork.”

“I’d like to find an opportunity to visit the clan chief—could you or Rongsheng help me request an audience?”

“Son, don’t say more—your forging skill is truly sufficient.”

“I’ve taught you every sealing technique I know, and you’ve mastered all corresponding methods.”

“You’re only low in cultivation—once you reach Qi Refining, forging a high-grade magic treasure won’t be difficult.”

“Master, you know our Wang clan’s situation—Uncle Rongjiang is currently in his second closed-door attempt to reach Foundation Establishment.”

Iron Qinhao, the Iron Ancestor, achieved Foundation Establishment long ago, but Uncles Rongyuan and Rongwen may still need more years.”

If Uncle Rongjiang succeeds this time, the Wang clan will have four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Grandmother Jingyi and the Iron Ancestor are outsiders; the clan chief and Uncle Rongjiang are direct-line heirs—two to two.”

If you wish to achieve Foundation Establishment, you’ll likely have to wait until Uncle Rongyuan or Uncle Rongwen succeed.”

Yulou’s words were not good news, yet Hongmei felt suddenly reassured.

With hopeful trepidation, he spoke:

“So the clan still intends to give me a chance at Foundation Establishment, right?”

In his view, he had merely committed a small mistake, yet endured years of humiliation and played his part well.

Therefore, under the circumstances of his redemption through service, it was still possible the Wang clan would grant him a Foundation Establishment opportunity.

“That was merely my analysis—ask the clan chief yourself what he intends. I’ll request an audience on your behalf.”

“Also, whether my and Yu’an’s forging training is sufficient must be judged by the clan chief or other elders.”

Yulou’s words doused Hongmei’s rising hopes.

He stood frozen for a long while, then spoke calmly:

“I don’t need the clan’s support. All the resources and spirit stones I received back then, I’ll consider repayment for my sins.”

“Yulou, you know well—I’ve given you and Yu’an everything I had, without reservation, these past years.”

He laid his cards on the table—playing the emotional blackmail card.

He accepted his past mistakes; now he wanted to speak of his future.

Yulou, I was wrong—but I’ve treated you well since then!

The forging chamber of Huafeng House fell utterly silent; the cooling water dripped from the furnace, each drop striking heavy on both their hearts.

Hongmei watched Yulou anxiously, his mind in turmoil.

Yulou, do you think I still have a chance?

“Master, how old are you?”

Yulou’s question was clever—very clever. Hongmei understood his meaning, at least partially.

His longing for Foundation Establishment stirred again; the cold, extinguished hopes flared back to life, filling Hongmei’s eyes.

He feigned disappointment, trying to win Yulou’s sympathy.

“Eighty-nine. Sounds young, but Foundation Establishment isn’t guaranteed on the first try.”

“If I fail, I’ll need three to five years to recover—time I can’t afford to waste.”

Yulou and Hongmei were shifting from mutual probing toward a shared understanding.

Among the Wang clan’s Rong generation, there were three Foundation Establishment seeds: Wang Rongjiang led the pack, followed by Rongyuan and Rongwen as planned by the clan chief.

All three have strong talent and sufficient accumulation; with adequate resources, at least two will succeed.

As for senior direct-line Qi Refining cultivators like Wang Rongsheng, who struggle but still have some chance, the Wang clan has seven or eight.

If even one of them succeeds, the direct line will have four Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But Hongmei is eighty-nine—this is an awkward age. He can wait, but he can’t afford to wait.

“Master, you must have noticed.”

“These past years, Hongdengzhao has sold many techniques to free cultivators, and Miaofeng Mountain and Gushen Sect have clashed fiercely.”

Powerful free cultivators have been hopping between both sides, earning bounty fees, driving up the price of Foundation Establishment materials.”

I remember, during the Qingxi Fair, forty thousand spirit stones were enough to secure a full set of Foundation Establishment materials.”

Now, the same set costs eighty thousand.”

I can’t give you a definite timeline for when the clan will approve your Foundation Establishment.”

But I suggest you start accumulating the materials now.”

Yulou hadn’t mentioned this before, but now that he had, Hongmei’s heart grew even heavier.

How had he ever been so foolish as to want to kill these two disciples?

If he had simply joined the Wang clan as a guest master, his hard-earned materials would never have been seized by Wang Xianmao.

He might have achieved Foundation Establishment long ago.

Now, one misstep led to another, and another.

“Moreover, Master, you can still attempt Foundation Establishment without full materials—it’s just riskier and less likely to succeed.”

“You could follow the Iron Ancestor’s strategy: buy only half the pills needed to preserve your life and foundation, then attempt it.”

“Even if you fail, you won’t waste time—without backlash or injury, each attempt increases your chance of success.”

Hongmei stared at Yulou, uncertain if this was another trap.

Does the Wang clan want me to keep grinding, hoard pills and spirit herbs, then steal them from me?

Is he just pretending?

Yes, that’s exactly it.

“Time doesn’t wait—it’s true. Over these years, everything related to Foundation Establishment has doubled in price, some have become unobtainable even at any cost.”

Who knows when prices will drop again? Sigh.”

Hongmei didn’t believe Yulou’s nonsense—he changed the subject.

“They won’t drop. Five years ago, many still transported goods from afar to sell at Hongdengzhao.”

Later, cultivators nearing Foundation Establishment began traveling outside the region to buy their materials.”

Now, prices are sky-high throughout Wunan.”

Major sects keep their systems closed to small clans and free cultivators, so the circulation of Foundation Establishment materials keeps shrinking—and prices keep soaring.”

Once this trend starts, it’s nearly impossible to stop—everyone wants to make more profit.”

Yulou finished speaking and prepared to leave.

He still had to visit the Baibao Pavilion to reprice the complex inventory.

With the fighting along Wolong River intensifying, war supplies were rising in price daily.

“Yulou, do you want me to achieve Foundation Establishment?”

Hongmei finally called out to stop Yulou, voicing his deepest doubt.

Because Yulou’s words had clearly implied it.

“Our Wang clan has always been kind to others.”

“But when facing enemies, we believe: if we don’t act, we don’t act at all; if we act, we eradicate completely.”

“Master, I believe you’re intelligent—you won’t give us cause to eradicate you.”

“Besides, Yu’an likes his sister—he is, after all, my younger brother.”

Yulou’s stance wasn’t strange—he believed Hongmei could achieve Foundation Establishment, but only under many preconditions.

Those preconditions include the clan chief’s limits and Yulou’s own demands—now it was up to Hongmei whether he would accept them.

The timing must wait until enough Wang clan direct-line members have achieved Foundation Establishment—that is the clan chief’s bottom line; otherwise, control would be difficult.

Yu’an and Ningyao must become dao companions; this is one of Yulou’s demands, for Yu’an is his own blood brother whom he raised—he cannot allow this to fail.

Now that Yu’an and Ningyao have become dao companions, Hongmei will naturally draw closer to the Wang clan; in the future, this convenient master could, in a sense, become Yulou’s ally—that is Yulou’s unspoken demand.

Qi-refining cultivators generally know full well whether they have any chance of attaining the Purple Mansion.

Under the Wang clan’s suppression, Hongmei has no chance of attaining the Purple Mansion—even if he tries to stir trouble, it would only be a gamble with his life.

Under these circumstances, drawing close to the Wang clan becomes Hongmei’s only option in the short term.

Yulou’s display of initiative and closeness is actually about gathering momentum for himself.

With the advantage of rules and power, high-level cultivators can easily seize the output of low-level cultivators and even families like the Wangs.

If Yulou wishes to go far, he must learn to band together with others for mutual support.

Just as he told Yu’an, even if reality is cruel, one must begin by accepting it—accepting at least part of it—before seeking a way to break the deadlock.

As for whether Hongmei will cause trouble in the future, Yulou is not the least bit afraid.

Because the Wang clan’s Foundation Establishment cultivators will emerge like bamboo shoots after spring rain.

This family is entering a new era.

“These matters are all manageable, but my Black Vine Spirit-Binding Technique...”

His daughter, Hongmei truly does not care about—he once even intended to use her to win over Yu’an and Wang Rongwen and others.

But the Black Vine Spirit-Binding Technique on his body is different; unless it is removed, he will never have a chance at Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.

“Master, my stance doesn’t matter—you must convince the clan chief.”

Yulou smiled, saying he was merely playing the good cop—he had done his part; now it was Wang Xianmao’s turn to name his price.

With that, he left Huafeng Residence; Hongmei did not stop him.

Yulou painted a beautiful pie and walked away lightly.

Yet this illusory pie, like a flower in the mirror or the moon in the water, had genuinely 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 Master sat in the empty alchemy chamber, summoned a chair, and slumped wearily against it.

How had he, step by step, sealed off every path before him?