Chapter 66: Master’s Beloved Disciple (Please Add to Favorites)

It is well known that the typical success rate of the Foundation Establishment Pill hovers around twenty percent. For those of inferior quality, it drops to just ten percent. Yet the Foundation Establishment Pill crafted by Li Guanxuan, boasting a thirty percent success rate, is certain to cause a storm in the marketplace…

Liu Xiaoxian once witnessed a Foundation Establishment Pill of third-tier quality, with a success rate as high as fifty percent, refined by a top-ranking third-tier alchemist. To this day, she remembers vividly how the entire cultivation world was shaken when that pill appeared; countless cultivators at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages sought to win over that alchemist, promising exalted status and lavish rewards. Some even declared they would marshal all available resources to assist him in ascending to the fourth-tier of alchemy.

With these memories, Liu Xiaoxian gazed at Li Guanxuan with burning eyes. Her beloved disciple could already raise the Foundation Establishment Pill’s success rate to thirty percent. With a little time and careful cultivation, could he not also craft a pill with a fifty percent chance of success?

What would this mean? It would mean that countless cultivators stuck at the peak of Qi Refinement would suddenly have a fifty-fifty chance to break their shackles and become Foundation Establishment cultivators— the backbone of every faction.

Liu Xiaoxian scrutinized Li Guanxuan from head to toe. Her treasured disciple was modest and reserved, steady in his actions, never ostentatious, and deeply shrewd—sometimes even she could not discern his true intentions.

Hidden talents, cautious wisdom, self-restraint, measured speech, pragmatic action… In her disciple, Liu Xiaoxian saw all the qualities of steadfastness. Such a prudent man, armed with superb alchemy and talisman skills, would surely have no trouble reaching Foundation Establishment before sixty. He might even aspire to Golden Core.

“Little Zheng truly has a discerning eye; this young man is indeed worth investing in. He’s truly encountered a benefactor…” Liu Xiaoxian mused.

As a merchant, investment is an art. Zheng Huangjin’s performance and aptitude had once been unremarkable—mediocre in all respects. But after he acquired a few high-quality protective talismans, his achievements soared, gradually earning him the master’s favor. He was granted a Foundation Establishment Pill, and at seventy-four, broke through his limitations to become a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Before that, everyone believed Zheng Huangjin had no hope of ever reaching Foundation Establishment; who would have thought that a handful of fine talismans would turn his fate around?

Liu Xiaoxian gathered her thoughts and asked, “Only four pills?”

“There are four more, but they’re reserved for Elder Zheng. I hope Master will forgive me,” Li Guanxuan replied with a respectful salute.

Song Zhiqiao, who was brewing tea, was already numb with shock. A thirty percent chance of Foundation Establishment… Brother Li is about to soar!

At that moment, Song Zhiqiao genuinely envied Wen Rongxin and Qin Jiyue. To have a peerless alchemist like Brother Li as a companion—such a future could never be poor.

With a quiet sigh, she changed the tea set and leaves.

With her mood as it was, any tea she brewed would only taste more bitter, causing nothing but displeasure for Manager Liu and Brother Li. She could only adjust her state of mind and start anew.

“Ahem…” Liu Xiaoxian coughed lightly and said offhandedly, “I’m Little Zheng’s boss. Hand over the remaining four Foundation Establishment Pills to me, and I’ll pass them to him for you.”

Li Guanxuan looked at her oddly—did he look like a fool?

Liu Xiaoxian read his thoughts, and though a little annoyed, her irritation vanished at the thought of her remarkable disciple.

Still, Liu Xiaoxian sensed something amiss and narrowed her eyes. “Did you run into trouble outside? Is that why you’ve taken refuge in Shanggu City?”

“Master is truly perceptive,” Li Guanxuan answered with another bow.

He hadn’t planned to hide this—after all, he couldn’t yet contend with the Yu family of Beast Tamers. Without a powerful benefactor to mask his aura, they would inevitably catch up with him.

So Li Guanxuan told the whole story of his feud with the Yu family, explaining that it was all to avenge his old friend Chen Yinshan.

“You’re a man of loyalty and honor…” Liu Xiaoxian nodded approvingly.

Most itinerant cultivators in the world of cultivation are wary and solitary, unable to form true bonds. Yet someone like Li Guanxuan, who didn’t forget his old friends even after rising to success, was a rare sight.

“Very well, your master will help you with this.”

With that, Liu Xiaoxian cast a surge of Foundation Establishment-level mana and spiritual sense, cloaking Li Guanxuan’s aura completely.

At last, Li Guanxuan’s worries eased a little.

His thoughts then drifted to Fang Xingzhi, the demonic cultivator—who knew whether that man was alive or dead…

“And who is this Fang Xingzhi?” Liu Xiaoxian asked casually. Her precious disciple had gotten tangled up with a demonic cultivator? His social circle was quite wide, it seemed.

“He’s a demonic cultivator at the peak of Qi Refinement. I once told him that if he could gather the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, I’d refine one for him… Over the past six months, I’ve crafted ten Foundation Establishment Pills, and gave him two…” Li Guanxuan hadn’t finished before Liu Xiaoxian’s alluring golden eyes widened. She pointed a delicate finger at Li Guanxuan, trembling with rage.

“You… you… you’re going to be the death of me!”

At first, Liu Xiaoxian hadn’t cared about this demonic cultivator, but upon hearing that Li Guanxuan had given him two Foundation Establishment Pills, she instantly sensed trouble.

“What’s wrong?” Li Guanxuan asked in bewilderment.

Then realization dawned—his heart skipped a beat, and he blurted, “Damn, this is bad!”

If Fang Xingzhi were killed, the Foundation Establishment Pills would certainly fall into the Yu family’s hands. Once Wanxiang Pavilion of Shanggu City released Foundation Establishment Pills with a thirty percent success rate, the Yu family would inevitably connect the dots to Fang Xingzhi’s mysterious backer… and eventually to him.

“That troublesome brat!” Liu Xiaoxian cursed, vanishing in a flash, leaving only a message behind in the room.

“I’ll auction off your thirty-percent Foundation Establishment Pills to attract cultivators. The final price should be just over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones per pill, so I’ll give you ten thousand per pill. Go find Manager Dong for your payment. I have to go clean up your mess now!”

Hearing this, Li Guanxuan made a deep, formal bow and called out, “Thank you, Master. In all the world, there’s no one better than you—a child with a master is like a precious jewel!”

Not until he received no response did Li Guanxuan slowly let out a long breath…

It really isn’t easy to outmaneuver Master.

With his meticulous mind, of course he’d foreseen the issue of Fang Xingzhi possessing Foundation Establishment Pills. But his shrewd master was inherently rebellious—if he’d said it outright, Liu Xiaoxian might not have cared about Fang Xingzhi’s fate at all. Only by letting her come to the realization herself would she feel it was her own discovery; otherwise, he would have never mentioned it, and she’d have rushed off to clean up after her foolish disciple…

In this way, by displaying his own “cluelessness,” he highlighted his master’s wisdom, preserving Fang Xingzhi’s life.

“Brother Li…” Song Zhiqiao, having finished brewing tea, was left dazed.

The skilled tea-brewing sister was no fool. Seeing the trace of a smile on Li Guanxuan’s lips, she guessed his thoughts and intentions.

To manipulate a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator… If Manager Liu ever discovered the truth, her brother would be in real trouble.

Had he forgotten that there was still a sister here who cared for him… Li Guanxuan immediately put on a stern face and threatened, “Remember to keep your lips sealed, or I’ll deal with you within three days.”

Song Zhiqiao feigned fear, then smiled sweetly, “Yes, brother~”

For Brother Li to joke with her like this showed that their relationship had taken another step forward.

…

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