Chapter 283

What on earth is going on?

Wang Yu has become a formal alchemist at such a young age, clearly showing exceptional talent in the art of alchemy; it's not impossible he'll advance to a second-rank alchemist in the future. I merely wish to cultivate a bit of goodwill.

If that's truly the case, then Wang Shixiong's fortune has truly arrived.

Wang Yu, these are the complete set of small Spirit Gathering Array plates you requested.

These two vials contain one Pill of Foundation Establishment and one Pill of Calming Breath.

"Thank you, Senior Brother and Elder," Wang Yu said, naturally overjoyed.

"This small Spirit Gathering Array is no trivial matter. Open it and inspect the contents. Once you step outside this door, if anything is amiss, I bear no responsibility. By the way, I've also brought your second-place reward."

Wang Yu replied and first opened the square wooden box, inside which lay a stack of white array plates. He took them out and counted—there were seven in total.

The surfaces of these plates were engraved with dense, intricate spirit patterns, unmistakably extraordinary.

The vials bore labels written in black ink: "Pill of Foundation Establishment," "Pill of Calming Breath," and others.

Wang Yu did not open any of the vials; he simply stored everything into his storage pouch, bowed respectfully, and left the wooden hut.

"I hear this boy has only four elemental roots. What a pity."

"Indeed, it's not that one with four elemental roots has no chance of Foundation Establishment, but the probability is low. Most will only reach Qi Condensation peak and be forced to attempt the breakthrough. For him, reaching Qi Condensation peak will waste far too much time and resources."

"Not necessarily. Given the strength this boy has shown, he'll likely secure a True Disciple position upon returning. If he becomes a True Disciple, the resources available to him will be vastly different. And as a formal alchemist, his ability to earn spirit stones is no small matter—he might just gather enough to break through to Foundation Establishment from Qi Condensation peak."

"Oh? It seems Brother Meng truly has high hopes for Wang Shixiong. No wonder he willingly offered to guide him in alchemy. I also hope Wang Shixiong succeeds in Foundation Establishment. After all, with his combat prowess already displayed at Qi Condensation, once he breaks through, his battle capabilities will surely be remarkable."

…

Wang Yu was unaware of the four Foundation Establishment cultivators' discussion in the pavilion. He hurried back to his quarters, slammed the wooden door shut, pasted several yellow talismans around the hut, then laid out each item he had received on the table before him.

He did not reopen the wooden box containing the small Spirit Gathering Array plates. Instead, he began carefully inspecting each of the vials.

The vials were clearly labeled in black ink: "Pill of Foundation Establishment," "Pill of Calming Breath," and so on.

He first opened the black vial containing the Pill of Foundation Establishment. A pink pill, the size of a thumb, with a faint silver vein running across its surface, rolled out, its medicinal fragrance filling the air.

Merely inhaling the scent made him feel a deep sense of comfort.

This was the Pill of Foundation Establishment—what countless Qi Condensation cultivators dreamed of!

Wang Yu held the pill between his fingers, turning it over and over, examining it repeatedly, his heart swelling with quiet excitement.

According to what he knew, although the Pill of Foundation Establishment slightly increased the chance of success, its primary function was to stimulate the liquefaction of spiritual energy and serve as the catalyst to initiate Foundation Establishment.

That is, only by consuming the Pill of Foundation Establishment could one begin the Foundation Establishment process; otherwise, Qi Condensation peak and even Qi Condensation great peak cultivators would remain trapped in Qi Condensation forever, with no chance of breakthrough.

Wang Yu carefully returned the Pill of Foundation Establishment to its vial, then examined the Pill of Cleansing Yuan and the Pill of Grass Spirit.

The former could expel internal poison and purify spiritual energy—its value ranked only below the small Spirit Gathering Array plates and the Pill of Foundation Establishment. Even within the General Affairs Hall of the Four Symbols Sect, it was scarce and unobtainable for ordinary Qi Condensation disciples.

The latter was a miraculous healing pill for external injuries; even severed limbs could regrow after ingestion. Its rarity was self-evident.

As for the other two pills: Soul-Returning Elixir rapidly restored spiritual energy and could even save lives in critical moments; the Pill of Calming Breath was a first-rank pill for treating spiritual energy chaos, also highly valuable in the General Affairs Hall.

After confirming all the pills were normal, Wang Yu stored them away and sat beside his bed, pondering why the elder from the Sunset Sect had voluntarily offered to guide him in alchemy.

He was a genuine second-rank alchemist. The entire Four Symbols Sect had only one second-rank alchemist—and he was ancient, nearing the end of his lifespan.

With his talent in alchemy under Overdrive Mode, if he could truly receive guidance from a second-rank alchemist, becoming one himself was no longer a dream.

But the only problem: this elder had no blood ties to him, nor was he from the same sect. Why would he offer guidance to an outsider?

The only person from the Sunset Sect connected to him was Gu Lian. Could Gu Lian be related to this second-rank alchemist?

Wang Yu was utterly baffled.

Yet he soon set the matter aside, released the green juvenile wolf from his spirit pouch, fed it several chunks of demon serpent flesh, and resumed his meditation.

He still lacked several layers to reach Qi Condensation great peak. He must seize every moment of cultivation—no slack, no pause.

Three days later.

The encampments of the four sects collapsed with thunderous crashes, then slowly sank into the earth, buried beneath rolling earth and soil.

One by one, massive spiritual vessels rose into the sky and flew toward the four sects' directions.

On the stern of a Four Symbols Sect spiritual vessel, Wang Yu looked at the lone blue-clad woman and sighed:

"Senior Sister Li, I never imagined that after this Jialan Secret Realm journey, only you and I remain. Senior Brother Huang, Junior Sister Liu—they all perished inside the realm."

The blue-clad woman was Li Tianqi.

But now her face was haggard, her spiritual energy faint, clearly still severely wounded. Her gaze at Wang Yu was complex; after a bitter smile, she said:

"It's simply that Senior Brother Huang and the others had terrible luck. With your strength, if we had all been teleported together, none of us would have fallen so easily."

"Still, Wang Shidi, you hid your true power from us well. With such strength, why conceal it? Had you revealed even a fraction, we would have followed you without question."