Chapter 62: Backup Plan (Please Subscribe! Please Vote for Monthly Ticket!)

The summit of Qingshan.

The conference hall of the Qingzong Sect.

"Although such and such monster disasters tend to break out in Heaven Ridge Mountain every so often due to food shortages, this time it has been less than five years since the last one."

An old man in luxurious robes frowned tightly.

"I recall saying three years ago that the monsters inside Heaven Ridge Mountain have been acting unusually active."

The speaker this time was a middle-aged cultivator in coarse hemp clothes, with a hawk-like monster perched on his shoulder.

"Actually, ever since the Wang Clan was wiped out at Hejian Market, things have started to go awry."

The elderly woman sitting in the corner wore a hint of worry.

Upon hearing this, several cultivators present fell into silence.

But everyone unconsciously turned their gaze to the middle-aged cultivator standing with hands behind his back, wearing a light cyan robe.

This person is none other than the current Sect Leader of the Qingzong Sect, Kong Zhibai.

He is over a hundred years old, yet retains the appearance of a middle-aged man with three long whiskers; his cultivation has reached late Foundation Establishment, he is steady and wise, skilled at organization, enjoys immense prestige within the sect, and both elders and disciples hold him in high regard.

But this usually composed Grand Sect Leader Kong now furrowed his brow, gazing at the rows of ancestral tablets before him, lost in thought.

After a long while, his warm voice finally sounded in the hall.

"Any signs of activity from the Spirit Beast Sect to the north?"

At this, an old man in black Daoist robes, with two wisps of white beard, stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Report to Sect Leader Senior Brother, the Spirit Beast Sect has always had friction with the Return to Origin Sect, and its active areas are not at the border between our two sects."

Kong Zhibai gave a noncommittal response upon hearing this and turned around.

His gaze swept over all the Foundation Establishment cultivators present, and he said with a gentle smile:

"If that's the case, then let the disciples decide for themselves; we can disperse."

"Yes, Sect Leader Senior Brother."

Everyone performed the salute together and then left.

The richly dressed old man who spoke first opened his mouth as if he wanted to say more, but ultimately just let out a soft sigh, shook his head, and also left the hall.

After everyone had left, Kong Zhibai's smile gradually faded, and a black jade piece appeared in his hand at some point.

After lightly rubbing it for a moment, he flicked his sleeve.

Two talismans flew out from his sleeve and vanished in the blink of an eye.

"It's not just Foundation Establishment Pills; hunting rat monsters also counts as sect contributions, and even if you can't exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, you can still trade for some elixirs, magical artifacts, cultivation methods, and the like."

"The Qingzong Sect has long had a so‑called contribution system for its disciples; for example, Yunhe's beekeeping, which regularly turns in spirit honey, also counts as a contribution, though it is a relatively slow way to earn contribution points."

"Actually, most sects more or less have such a system; they may just call it something different."

"Even some cultivation families do the same."

"There's no helping it; once numbers grow, a suitable management system becomes necessary, and this kind of system is best for motivating disciples' enthusiasm."

"Just like this time."

"Just the time it took Qian Dajiang and him to finish talking, he already noticed several disciples departing the sect on their respective flying magical artifacts."

"I see." Yunhe nodded.

Qian Dajiang looked at him, waiting for his next words.

However, after a long while...

"That's it?"

"Huh?"

"That's a Foundation Establishment Pill! Who knows how many people rack their brains trying to get one; if I hadn't even reached late Qi Refining, I would have left Qingshan City long ago." Qian Dajiang said.

"Actually, he originally came just to watch the excitement and inform Yunhe, because in his view Yunhe, at Qi Refining Layer 7, hasn't yet reached the point where he needs a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"But when he saw that Yunhe's cultivation had already reached Qi Refining Layer 8, he felt a stir of excitement on his behalf."

Yunhe rolled his eyes in annoyance.

"How many disciples does the sect have? At least three thousand, maybe more. How many will take part in this mission? At the low end, two or three hundred; at the high end, perhaps seven or eight hundred or more. What makes you think you could snag a top‑three spot?"

"Uh."

Qian Dajiang stared.

"Besides, I just broke through to Qi Refining Layer 8; I need to consolidate my cultivation and get familiar with the realm, right?"

"That makes sense."

Three days later.

Steward Pavilion.

"Could you two senior brothers help me register and take on the rat‑extermination task?"

"Sure."

In the Steward Pavilion, a low‑head attendant took Yunhe's identity jade token, then smoothly handed him a special metal plate and explained:

"This is the Monster Token forged by the Artifact Pavilion brothers; it can capture a wisp of monster qi when you slay rat monsters, for later tallying. Yunhe, Menial Affairs disciple?"

As he spoke, the attendant unexpectedly lifted his head and met Yunhe's calm gaze.

"Thank you, senior brother."

Yunhe bowed with clasped hands, receiving the Monster Token and his own disciple identity token.

He said nothing more, turned, and walked toward the sect's exit.

"What's wrong?" another busy steward disciple lifted his head.

"Senior brother, does our sect's Menial Affairs Pavilion now have a disciple with late Qi Refining cultivation?"

"I suspect the main purpose of this Monster Token is to prevent sect members from killing each other."

"If they were to collect monster body parts or something else as proof, some extremist disciples might very well abandon hunting rat monsters and turn their blades against fellow sect members."

After all, this is the fastest and also the most effective way, and it can also reduce competitors.

But with this Demon Beast Token, anyone who wants to secure a ranking must kill rat-type demon beasts, greatly lowering the possibility of infighting among fellow disciples.

"Moreover."

"His divine sense swept over the Demon Beast Token, feeling a trace of qi hidden within."

"Disciples carrying the token can be sensed by the sect at any time."

This is the sect's protection of its disciples.

Actually, Yunhe had hesitated over whether to participate in this mission.

No, it should be said he was extremely torn.

After all, this mission requires leaving the sect, leaving the safe haven of Qingshan City, to face demon beasts.

He, who came from River Creek Market, knew all too well how dangerous demon beasts in the wild could be.

But if he didn't seize this opportunity, he would truly not know where to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

From when he entered Qingshan City and joined the Qingzong Sect until now, almost a year has passed, yet he has heard no news at all about Foundation Establishment Pills.

After frequently inquiring at the market, he learned that the auction house auctions a Foundation Establishment Pill roughly every five to ten years, and the price is outrageously high.

Five to ten years?

Such a vague time concept made him wonder just how long he would have to wait if he really had to wait.

Moreover, with so many cultivators in Qingshan City and the Five Great Families, they surely also crave Foundation Establishment Pills.

Then, would he definitely be able to win it with his financial resources?

Of course, there is still the most important point.

Yunhe seriously doubts whether, with his aptitude, a single Foundation Establishment Pill could enable him to achieve Foundation Establishment in one go.

After asking himself, the answer he got was—it is highly unlikely.

"The recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill, however, is easy to obtain."

Yunhe on the Ink Cloud Boat gave a helpless smile.

When he went to the market to inquire about the Foundation Establishment Pill, he couldn't find any information about the pill itself, but he did learn its recipe.

Moreover, this recipe turned out to be unexpectedly cheap.

Of course, this 'cheapness' is based on the price level of Foundation Establishment Pills as elixirs.

Until Yunhe couldn't resist his curiosity and learned the main ingredient of the Foundation Establishment Pill through Qian Dajiang's channels did he understand the reason.

There are two ways to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.

One relies purely on spiritual plants, its main ingredient being a spiritual plant called Jade‑flesh Lingzhi, which is extremely rare; reportedly only a few sects know how to obtain it.

The other's main ingredient is a second-tier beast's inner dan!

Know that demon beasts capable of condensing an inner dan are almost all third-stage or higher great demons, roughly equivalent to human cultivators' golden cores.

Only some demon beasts with extraordinary talent or special encounters can possibly condense an inner dan at the second tier, their value being self-evident.

Like the second-tier Red-backed Arrow-wing Falcon Yunhe previously slew, it had no inner dan.

Heaven knows how many second-tier demon beasts one must hunt to possibly obtain a second-tier inner dan.

It is precisely for this reason that Foundation Establishment Pills are so scarce.

Actually, after learning the main ingredient in the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill, Yunhe has long harbored a rather bold idea.

That is to refine it himself!

He cannot obtain Jade‑flesh Lingzhi.

But there is still a slight chance of obtaining a second-tier beast's inner dan.

After all, the demon beast body has nothing else but a multitude of demon beasts.

If.

The demon beast body's cultivation base rises to the First Stage Late Great Perfection.

Furthermore, with several magical artifacts, a large number of spiritual talismans, and formations, setting a trap to await the enemy, there is still a certain chance to slay a second-tier demon beast.

"In fact, it can be spiritual artifacts plus several magical artifacts, along with a second-tier Golden Yuan Protective Talisman; if combined with a second-tier formation, it would be the safest."

As for spiritual artifacts, he has the body of the Red-backed Arrow-wing Falcon and most of the Qian Xu Yin, which should be able to have someone craft them into spiritual artifacts.

He has already been studying the second-tier Golden Yuan Protective Talisman; possessing divine sense, he believes it won't take too much time.

As for second-tier formations, he can simply buy formation plates and flags.

And if he could obtain a second-tier inner dan, the other auxiliary materials would be relatively easy to acquire in large quantities.

However, the precondition for all this is that he reach the level of a second-tier alchemist on the path of alchemy.

Then, what level is Yunhe's alchemy skill at?

First Stage Low Grade!

Yes, Yunhe can do alchemy.

All this, he has to thank Qian Dajiang for the constant nagging in his ear for over half a year.

It let him acquire considerable knowledge about alchemy, medicinal materials, and pharmacology.

Yunhe, unable to restrain himself, also tried alchemy, but his main focus at the time was still on talismancraft.

Only after learning the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill did he allocate some effort to alchemy, and now he barely reaches First Stage Low Grade.

Being able to reach First Stage Low Grade this quickly is also thanks to the aid of his divine sense.

"No, in fact, I don't need to reach the second tier; for me, reaching the level of a first-tier high-grade alchemist should be enough."

What is the difference between a second-tier alchemist and a first-tier high-grade alchemist, besides experience?

Divine sense, mana, and innate true fire!

Mana is easiest to solve; at worst, one can just take more qi‑supplementing elixirs while refining pills.

And the innate true fire is a flame that can only be condensed upon reaching Foundation Establishment, but in fact, people long ago had thought of a substitute: using earth fire, or condensing a special fire with a special formation.

The real biggest difference between a first‑tier top‑grade alchemist and a second‑tier alchemist lies in——divine sense!

But divine sense—he had already condensed it long ago!

Although it's not as strong as Foundation Establishment, it's enough for alchemy.

But upon careful thought, the preparations required and the cost involved are just too great.

"But this can also be considered a backup plan. If this mission is truly impossible, or too dangerous, one can choose to give up."

Thinking of this, Yunhe's originally heavy pressure on his heart eased considerably.

"Even if he can't exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, using contributions to trade for formations, magical artifacts, and talismans is also not bad."

Yunhe, having left Qingshan City, did not go directly to the place overrun by rats.

Instead, he headed to the east side of Qingshan City.

Actually, whether going into the mountains to exterminate the rat plague, or letting his Demon Beast Body try to deal with a second‑tier beast, both are extremely dangerous.

So before doing that, enhancing his own combat ability is never a mistake.

Sorry, I'm a bit late, because I saw a fellow cultivator raise a question earlier, and I, the poor daoist, also thought it made some sense, so I made some minor changes to the previous chapter (adding preventive measures), but it doesn't affect overall reading.

I bow again in apology; this chapter counts as Sunday's, sorry~~

(End of chapter)