Chapter 278: Lao Cheng Establishes Foundation

Not long after the Infinite Daoist departed, a talisman in He Pingsheng's storage pouch began to glow.

He pulled out the talisman.

Upon opening it, a voice floated forth: "Husband, are you at the elixir shop? If so, I'm coming right now!"

It was Qiao Huizhu's voice.

Twinheart Talisman!

Twinheart Talismans usually have very short communication ranges.

But this Twinheart Talisman in He Pingsheng's possession was a second-rank one.

Its communication range was long—barely enough to stretch from Hongshi City to Xiaoyao Immortal Sect.

He Pingsheng picked up the Twinheart Talisman and said: "Alright, Senior Sister, I'm at the elixir shop!"

Immediately after speaking, a wisp of flame ignited on the talisman, and within a single breath, it turned to ash.

It was a single-use item.

Only usable once.

It could receive one message and send one message, then destroy itself.

Qiao Huizhu had not yet arrived, but the door to a room in the back courtyard opened.

Lao Cheng stepped out, ran up to He Pingsheng with a beaming face, and said: "Young Master, I've broken through!"

"I'm now at Level Twelve!"

Qi Refining Level Twelve.

"Just now?" He Pingsheng asked.

Lao Cheng shook his head. "No, I actually broke through several days ago, but felt my foundation was unstable, so I stayed inside to stabilize it!"

"Now my realm is firmly settled!"

"Solidly Level Twelve!"

As he spoke, Lao Cheng patted his chest.

He Pingsheng keenly noticed that as Lao Cheng's cultivation advanced, the old man's face appeared slightly younger.

Cultivation is truly a wonderful thing.

Can it even reverse aging?

"Good!" He Pingsheng said. "Since you've stabilized your realm, you may now attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment!"

"Once you reach Foundation Establishment, your spiritual sense will expand beyond a hundred zhang—you'll be able to ride your sword through the air, and your lifespan will double!"

He pulled a Foundation Establishment Elixir from his storage pouch and handed it to Lao Cheng.

Lao Cheng took the elixir and examined it.

Three patterns adorned its surface.

Top-grade!

"It's a top-grade elixir?" Lao Cheng exclaimed. "Young Master, isn't this too valuable? Why not give me a mid-grade one to try first? Save this top-grade one to sell in the shop!"

He Pingsheng laughed bitterly. "No—if I give you a mid-grade and you fail to break through, I'll have to give you a top-grade anyway!"

He Pingsheng laughed and groaned, saying, "No, if I give you a mid-grade one and you still can't break through, I'll have to give you a high-grade one next!"

He did not give Lao Cheng a supreme elixir.

He felt it unnecessary.

Despite appearances, Lao Cheng was a genuine single Fire Spirit Root.

That alone outclassed over ninety percent of cultivators.

With such a spirit root and talent, He Pingsheng believed even a mid-grade elixir would suffice.

"Alright, alright…" Lao Cheng tucked the elixir away. "Young Master, shall I try now?"

"Go ahead!" He Pingsheng nodded. "Try it!"

"Come find me once you've reached Foundation Establishment!"

Lao Cheng received the Foundation Establishment Elixir and returned to his private room to attempt the breakthrough.

Soon, within half a day, Lao Cheng broke through.

Successful Foundation Establishment.

The speed left He Pingsheng awestruck.

He had expected Lao Cheng to calm his mind for days, adjust his state, then consume the elixir.

Instead, the old man simply swallowed it outright.

And he succeeded.

"You…" He Pingsheng stared at Lao Cheng before him, for the first time feeling the urge to ask his name: "Lao Cheng… what's your real name?"

"You…" He Pingsheng looked at Old Cheng before him and for the first time felt an urge to ask his name: "Old Cheng… what's your name?"

Because previously, he had always called him Cheng Laobai or Lao Cheng.

But now, it felt inappropriate.

Having reached Foundation Establishment, Lao Cheng's lifespan had increased.

If he avoided fatal dangers, he could easily live to nearly two hundred.

Yet his true age was only slightly over seventy.

Compared to a two-hundred-year lifespan, seventy was barely middle-aged.

Thus, Lao Cheng's hair had turned completely black.

His wrinkles had mostly vanished.

If anything, he now resembled a man in his forties.

He radiated vigor, his blood and qi surging visibly.

A true strongman.

Under these circumstances, calling him Lao Cheng or Cheng Laobai felt awkward.

"Young Master!" Lao Cheng bowed. "My name is Cheng Dao Cai. When my father was alive, he always said, 'A gentleman loves wealth, but acquires it through the Dao,' so he named me Dao Cai!"

"Alright," He Pingsheng nodded. "From now on, I'll call you Brother Dao."

"That… that's not right…" Cheng Dao Cai shrank back. "I… I don't deserve it, Young Master. Why not just keep calling me Lao Cheng?"

"This…" Cheng Daocai shrank back, saying, "I… it's not appropriate, Young Master… why not just keep calling me Old Cheng?"

"I was just a common man of the mountains and wilds. Without you, Young Master, how could I have gained such a divine fortune?"

"Everything I have comes from you. How could I ever stand equal to you?"

He Pingsheng said: "Now that you've reached Foundation Establishment, you may travel freely."

"What are your plans?"

"Will you stay in my shop, or venture out?"

"I won't go anywhere," Cheng Dao Cai said. "I'll spend my life serving you, Young Master—even as your old servant."

"How far my cultivation goes is how far my fortune extends. I don't want to be separated from my granddaughter."

He Pingsheng said: "Do as you wish. Stay or leave—it's up to you."

"Just let me know."

He then pulled out another book and tossed it to Cheng Dao Cai. "Lao Cheng, here are the final two sections of the 【True Fire Method】: the 【Foundation Establishment Section】 and the 【Golden Core Section】. Beyond that, I don't have them."

"Study these first—they'll sustain your cultivation for a long time."

Originally, the 【True Fire Method】 had been strengthened from Hao Yun's 【Basic Breathing and Qi Circulation Method】.

Because the base was so low, even after strengthening, the technique remained limited.

Only three sections: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core.

"More than enough…" Cheng Dao Cai accepted the book, bowing and thanking profusely.

He Pingsheng pulled out another book. "I have few fire-affinity techniques—only two. One is the 【Fire Crow Technique】, which I've already taught you."

"The other is this 【Fire Shield Technique】. When perfected, it forms a fire-based protective shield to defend against attacks."

"There's one more—the 【Fire Shield Art】. Once cultivated, it lets you form a fire-elemental shield to defend against an opponent's attacks!"

"More than enough!" Cheng Dao Cai said. "Young Master, I actually have several fire-affinity techniques myself!"

"More than enough!" Cheng Daocai said. "Young Master, I actually have several fire-elemental spells myself!"

Earlier, He Pingsheng had given the grandfather and granddaughter all the spoils he'd collected, and among the fire-affinity techniques recovered, he had granted them to Cheng Dao Cai and Xiao He.

Not just techniques—he had also given them weapons, spirit artifacts, and other items for protection.

One could say Cheng Dao Cai and Xiao He had received more than their share of resources.

You could say that Lao Cheng and Xiaohe's resources are certainly plentiful.