Chapter 276: False Golden Core Cultivator

In just two short days, He Pingsheng's alchemy shop was rebuilt.

It was actually very simple!

The city lord's mansion provided some spirit wood and spirit materials, assembled them together, and the building was done.

He Pingsheng's shelves were also reinstalled.

As for the elixirs:

None were lost.

Not a single vial was missing.

But many had been crushed.

He Pingsheng gathered all the crushed elixirs, counted them, and submitted a detailed list to the city lord's mansion.

The alchemy shop resumed normal operations.

"Xu Daoist, how did this happen?" Elder Ling Zhiwang from the neighboring merchant guild came to inquire.

He Pingsheng said: "A bunch of idiots came to cause trouble—just mindless fools!"

"Ignore them!"

"No major losses, right?" Ling Zhiwang asked.

He Pingsheng replied: "Losses weren't significant—just a few vials of top-grade 【Juyuan Elixir】. But it doesn't matter; the culprit is the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect—they're wealthy and can afford to pay."

"Oh, good, good…"

Ling Zhiwang chuckled: "Ahem… Xu Daoist, I've got some good news!"

"Our guild is auctioning a rare treasure to break through a bottleneck!"

"Really?" He Pingsheng's heart leapt: Finally, news arrived.

"Don't get too excited!" Ling Zhiwang said. "I didn't make myself clear—it's not for Foundation Establishment, but for Qi Refining!"

He Pingsheng's face darkened: "Old brother, next time, can you just finish your sentence?"

"Hehehe…" Ling Zhiwang chuckled: "My bad, my bad…"

"By the way, isn't your old man about to break through?"

"And your disciple will face a bottleneck in a few years—buy it, you won't regret it!"

He Pingsheng nodded.

He'd buy it, strengthen it into two, and give one each to Old Cheng and Xiaohe.

"Alright," He Pingsheng thought a moment. "When exactly?"

Ling Zhiwang said: "In half a month!"

"Actually, I'm telling you this so you can approach Elder Hongyue."

"The auction hasn't been publicly announced yet."

"If possible, privately negotiate with Elder Hongyue."

"Perhaps…"

He Pingsheng immediately understood Ling Zhiwang's meaning.

Don't put it on the auction—cut in front and secure it directly from Elder Hongyue.

That's a good idea.

After all, He Pingsheng was already a supplier to the Hongyue Guild, and his relationship with Elder Hongyue was decent.

"But remember one thing—don't say I told you this, or I'm done for!"

With that, Ling Zhiwang left.

He Pingsheng sat down, sipping spirit tea as he pondered.

After night fell, he went straight to the Hongyue Guild; as a familiar face, he easily gained an audience with the guild's senior elder.

"Sit down," Hongyue invited him warmly.

They faced each other.

He Pingsheng smiled broadly: "Elder Hongyue, I've come with a request."

Pah…

He Pingsheng placed a jade vial before Elder Hongyue: "What kind of buzz would this generate if auctioned?"

Hongyue didn't open the vial—she scanned it with her spiritual sense and was stunned: "This… is a top-grade 【Foundation Establishment Elixir】?"

"This is a precious item!"

"The guild hasn't had a top-grade Foundation Establishment Elixir in years!"

"And there are two of them!"

"Xu Daoist, are you auctioning this?"

"Yes," He Pingsheng said. "Actually… I heard your auction will feature a 【Red Essence Ginseng】. My disciple is nearing a bottleneck—I'd like to trade these two elixirs for that ginseng. Is that possible?"

"Is that so?" Hongyue's expression turned serious. She sipped spirit tea. "We've kept the Red Essence Ginseng under strict secrecy—how did you find out?"

He Pingsheng said: "Elder Hongyue, all things in the world are matters of fate."

"If you dig too deep, no cultivator in this realm is truly pure."

"If you refuse, I'll leave immediately."

"Fine," Hongyue nodded. "You're right—I won't ask for details."

"Deal."

"Two top-grade Foundation Establishment Elixirs for one Red Essence Ginseng."

From He Pingsheng's perspective, he clearly gained.

After all, Foundation Establishment Elixirs were easy for him to produce anytime, while the Red Essence Ginseng was rare and unobtainable by mere effort.

Wasn't that the principle of scarcity?

And the Hongyue Guild also gained.

Why?

The Hongyue Guild existed to auction—auctioning was how they earned spirit stones.

Clearly, auctioning two top-grade Foundation Establishment Elixirs would bring in substantial spirit stones.

Plus, they'd owe He Pingsheng a favor.

Why not?

After obtaining the Red Essence Ginseng, He Pingsheng returned to his courtyard immediately.

Under cover of night, he strengthened it.

By morning, he had turned it into two.

"Old Cheng," He Pingsheng handed one Red Essence Ginseng to him. "Take it. Eat this, and your bottleneck will break."

"Once you reach Qi Refining Level Twelve, I'll give you a Foundation Establishment Elixir—you'll enter Foundation Establishment for sure."

"Almost guaranteed."

Plop…

Old Cheng knelt before He Pingsheng, tears streaming: "Thank you, Young Master! Thank you, Young Master!"

Old Cheng had walked the immortal path for over a decade—he was no longer the country bumpkin he once was.

He understood cultivation. He understood lifespan.

Entering Foundation Establishment meant gaining a hundred years of life.

Just thinking about it was thrilling.

"Enough," He Pingsheng helped him up. "Don't kneel to me. Go into seclusion. I'll handle the shop's chores."

There was no choice—Xiaohe was also in seclusion.

Fortunately, He Pingsheng had nothing else to do.

Every day, he either studied the 【Hehuan Jiji Scripture】 or idled.

"Very well, this old man takes his leave," Old Cheng bowed respectfully, took the Red Essence Ginseng, and retreated to his private courtyard.

In the courtyard stood his own small house.

No sooner had Old Cheng left than a visitor entered the alchemy shop.

He wore a white Daoist robe, elegant and refined, radiating an imposing aura.

And he was strikingly handsome.

Crucially, his cultivation base had reached Foundation Establishment Level Twelve, perfect.

He Pingsheng extended his spiritual sense and was slightly startled.

"Greetings," He Pingsheng rose. "Here for 【Chaoyuan Elixir】?"

"We have low-grade, mid-grade, and top-grade 【Chaoyuan Elixir】…"

Foundation Establishment Level Twelve meant one sought 【Chaoyuan Elixir】 to break into Golden Core.

Other elixirs held no meaning for him.

The cultivator smiled calmly: "No… I've already entered the False Golden Core realm—I don't need 【Chaoyuan Elixir】 to reach Golden Core."

He Pingsheng sucked in a sharp breath: Damn, a False Golden Core cultivator?