Mo Tiange stood in the great hall, carefully observing this cave abode that more closely resembled a palace.
Jade formed the steps, strange stones served as pillars, with dragons and phoenixes carved into them, all wreathed in immortal qi. She marveled inwardly; compared to this cave abode, the main hall of the Hu family, the foremost clan of the Tiandao Sect, was nothing more than a vulgar, wealthy mortal landlord, utterly unworthy of the stage.
But what surprised her most was not this palace, but the person sitting—or rather, reclining—upon the dragon throne.
This was a middle-aged man who appeared even younger than Senior Uncle Xuanyin, with black hair and a short beard, gentle and refined features, wearing a yellow crown and brocade robes, his noble aura overwhelming. His face bore a five or six out of ten resemblance to Qin Xi, yet the aura of lazy indulgence that enveloped him was completely different.
At this moment, he leaned against the dragon throne, surrounded by two Foundation Establishment maidservants. One held tea, the other massaged his shoulders, both quiet and utterly submissive.
Mo Tiange wondered inwardly, why didn't this Patriarch Jinghe seem like a Nascent Soul cultivator at all? Moreover, the Xuanqing Sect was a Daoist sect; where was the purity and self-discipline of a Daoist cultivator in him?
Mid-thought, she felt a gaze sweep over from the dragon throne. Mo Tiange hurriedly lowered her head, eyes fixed on her nose, nose fixed on her heart, and properly smoothed her robes before kneeling: "Disciple Mo Tiange pays respects to Patriarch."
Qin Jinghe did not respond, taking the tea from the maidservant's hand and waving them away.
Mo Tiange sensed him examining her at a leisurely pace. She took a deep breath, somewhat worried that this Patriarch would be dissatisfied with her recent Foundation Establishment failure—if Patriarch Jinghe no longer acknowledged her as his named disciple, her status would become awkward.
Her heart was in turmoil. After a long while, she finally heard Patriarch Jinghe speak in a bland tone: "You failed your Foundation Establishment. What are your thoughts?"
Mo Tiange paused. Although she had just considered this question, she hadn't expected Patriarch Jinghe to ask so directly. How should she answer?
She pondered for a moment before replying: "This disciple has no particular thoughts."
"Oh?" Qin Jinghe was somewhat surprised, unable to help but frown. "No particular thoughts? Does that mean you have no plans?"
As he frowned, the imposing aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator emanated from him. Even if it was unintentional, how could a mere Qi Refining disciple withstand it? Mo Tiange used all her strength to steady her mind and said, "This disciple's Foundation Establishment process had no errors; what was lacking was only talent. The matter of talent is truly beyond this disciple's control. Therefore, I have no thoughts, only the resolve to persist."
As she finished speaking, she felt the pressure lift from her body.
Qin Jinghe pondered for a moment, finding this rather intriguing. This girl was quite interesting. For such a young Qi Refining cultivator to remain so unflustered and calm, and to answer steadily under his pressure—it seemed her will was quite firm. That kid's judgment of people was quite accurate. If not for her aptitude holding her back, this child would surely achieve something.
Thinking this, he smiled slightly and said gently, "Rise."
The breath Mo Tiange had been holding finally released. She respectfully kowtowed: "Thank you, Patriarch."
Qin Jinghe still looked at her with an air of indifference, while Mo Tiange kept her head properly lowered. This was her first time meeting a Nascent Soul cultivator. Only now did she realize how terrifying a Nascent Soul cultivator's pressure could be; under such pressure, even speaking was so difficult.
As her thoughts wandered, she suddenly heard Qin Jinghe ask: "What pills did you take during your Foundation Establishment?"
The question was simple, but Mo Tiange's heart immediately jumped. During her Foundation Establishment, besides the Dingxin Pill bestowed by this Patriarch, she had also taken the Foundation-Solidifying Pill and the Foundation Establishment Pill. For this Patriarch to ask such a question meant he must have sensed something.
Her mind raced. She immediately answered: "Reporting to Patriarch, this disciple took the Foundation Establishment Pill and the Foundation-Solidifying Pill."
Qin Jinghe, who had been drinking tea, paused his hand, his gaze turning toward her: "The Foundation Establishment Pill and... the Foundation-Solidifying Pill?"
"Exactly so," Mo Tiange replied calmly. In that instant just now, she had decided to come clean. Before a Nascent Soul cultivator, she couldn't hide anything. If she foolishly tried to conceal this and angered this Patriarch, he might directly take her life. It was better to be honest. At the very least, she was now this Patriarch Jinghe's named disciple. If she proactively offered up the Foundation-Solidifying Pill recipe, he would have no reason to be angry with her.
"Foundation-Solidifying Pill..." Qin Jinghe repeated, his voice deepening as he asked, "What are the effects of this Foundation Establishment Pill and Foundation-Solidifying Pill you speak of? Where did you obtain them?"
Mo Tiange lowered her gaze and answered honestly: "This disciple was previously at the Yunwu Sect in Eastern Kunwu. Within that Yunwu Sect, there was a family surnamed Jiang. This Foundation Establishment Pill is a hereditary pill of that Jiang family, said to increase the chances of Foundation Establishment. As for this Foundation-Solidifying Pill... this disciple once encountered a Qi Refining cultivator who possessed this recipe. He got into a dispute with two other cultivators. By chance, they injured each other, allowing this disciple to obtain the recipe. This pill is used to enhance the effects of other pills, so this disciple took it together with the Foundation Establishment Pill, hoping to increase the Foundation Establishment Pill's efficacy."
After patiently listening to her explanation, a gleam flashed in Qin Jinghe's eyes. That's right, it was the Foundation-Solidifying Pill! Two hundred years ago, when the Foundation-Solidifying Pill recipe emerged, he had heard of it. But at that time, he was only at the early Nascent Soul stage, powerless to participate in the final struggle for it. Later, the recipe lost all trace and never appeared again—how could this child be so lucky, obtaining the recipe so easily?
His gaze fell upon Mo Tiange again, as if considering the truth of her words.
Mo Tiange's expression remained calm. What she said was the truth; even if truth-detecting techniques were used, she had nothing to fear.
Qin Jinghe finally withdrew his scrutiny and asked blandly, "Where is the recipe in your possession?"
Mo Tiange immediately took out a jade slip and offered it up: "Reporting to Patriarch, this is the Foundation-Solidifying Pill recipe."
Qin Jinghe merely waved his hand. The jade slip in her hand flew toward him through the air, landing in his grasp.
A moment later, a look of joy appeared on his face. "The Foundation-Solidifying Pill, it truly is the Foundation-Solidifying Pill! Heaven aids me!" He stood up, paced back and forth a couple of steps, then turned to look at Mo Tiange, his tone gentle. "Mo Tiange, you have rendered meritorious service by presenting the Foundation-Solidifying Pill. What reward do you want?"
Hearing this, Mo Tiange breathed an inward sigh of relief. She had gambled correctly. Although this Patriarch had domineeringly taken the recipe for himself, he still intended to give her benefits. In that case...
Mo Tiange looked up, her eyes showing just the right amount of surprise, as if she didn't understand why this recipe was so important, but immediately said respectfully: "This recipe was obtained by this disciple unintentionally. If the Patriarch needs it, this disciple naturally offers it with both hands. The Patriarch is benevolent, wishing to reward this disciple. This disciple will be bold and speak plainly. I wonder if this disciple could request Foundation Establishment Pills?"
Qin Jinghe was taken aback, then burst into loud laughter. "Good, good, good! You are straightforward!" Her reply both demonstrated her respectful heart and unabashedly asked for a reward, which truly suited his taste. After all, if you clearly want something, why put on an act?
He pondered for a moment and said, "You want Foundation Establishment Pills? That can be arranged. The sect already has rules: those who make significant contributions can be bestowed with Foundation Establishment Pills. This Foundation-Solidifying Pill is a rare, marvelous medicinal pill. I will take it upon myself to bestow upon you three Foundation Establishment Pills."
Upon hearing this, Mo Tiange was overjoyed. Although she knew it was likely to succeed, she hadn't expected this Patriarch to be so generous, directly bestowing three Foundation Establishment Pills! She immediately kowtowed in thanks: "Many thanks, Patriarch."
"Mhm, mhm," Qin Jinghe, holding the recipe, was clearly already distracted and had no mind to deal with her further. "You may go now. Later, someone will be sent to deliver the rewards to you."
"Yes. This disciple takes her leave."
"Wait!"
Mo Tiange stopped, her heart pounding with fear. "Does the Patriarch have further instructions?"
Qin Jinghe waved his hand. "This matter is significant. Do not mention it to others."
"Yes."
Exiting the cave abode, Mo Tiange touched her forehead and found it covered in fine sweat.
This Patriarch Jinghe was rumored to be quite fond of killing. If she had hesitated and tried to conceal it, she probably wouldn't have been able to walk out of this cave abode alive. However, he was also a very generous person. If you gained his favor, there were great benefits. Fortunately, she had gambled correctly.
With three more Foundation Establishment Pills, and having already attempted Foundation Establishment once, her chances of success were now very high. As for the Foundation-Solidifying Pill recipe, although she had handed it over, she had long since learned how to refine it. It could be said that today she not only suffered no loss but also gained Patriarch Jinghe's favor, coming out greatly ahead.
As soon as Mo Tiange left, Qin Jinghe in the great hall, without any regard for decorum, laughed heartily, looking at the jade slip in his hand with extreme satisfaction. "The Foundation-Solidifying Pill, the Foundation-Solidifying Pill! With this thing, the late Nascent Soul stage is no longer a pipe dream!"
The importance of medicinal pills to cultivators was clear to any cultivator in the immortal cultivation world. Even a person with the worst aptitude, if they could eat pills like meals, their cultivation progress wouldn't be much worse than someone with extremely high aptitude who didn't take pills. Unfortunately, the cost of pills was not something everyone could afford. For Qi Refining cultivators, it wasn't too bad; pills weren't too expensive. The most ordinary Qi Nourishing Pill for Qi Refining cultivators cost only two spirit stones. Therefore, Qi Refining cultivators, if they could cultivate with a tranquil mind and had some financial resources, could mostly cultivate to the tenth level of Qi Refining. However, once cultivation advanced a major stage, the cost of pills increased almost a hundredfold. A basic Foundation Establishment stage pill like the Essence Cultivation Pill cost three hundred spirit stones! Thus, most Foundation Establishment cultivators were stuck at the early Foundation Establishment stage.
As for the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages, it became even more awkward. Spiritual herbs were hard to find, pills were hard to refine. They often went an entire year without being able to take more than a few pills. Relying solely on absorbing spiritual energy, how difficult cultivation became!
This Foundation-Solidifying Pill wasn't very useful for Qi Refining cultivators because they took basic pills like Qi Nourishing Pills and Qi Gathering Pills. Taking a Foundation-Solidifying Pill with each one would be utterly unaffordable. But for Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators, it was greatly useful. They couldn't take more than a few pills a year anyway, and the materials for the Foundation-Solidifying Pill weren't difficult for them. If every pill they took was enhanced by a Foundation-Solidifying Pill, the effect would be equivalent to having many more pills—and the pills Nascent Soul cultivators took were all rare, marvelous medicinal pills.
Qin Jinghe quickly calmed down and sent out a communication talisman.
A moment later, Qin Xi hurried over. As soon as he entered, he caught the jade slip Qin Jinghe tossed to him, momentarily confused. "Master, why did you summon me?"
Qin Jinghe raised his chin, looking extremely pleased with himself. "Take a look at this pill recipe."
Qin Xi, puzzled, probed it with his spiritual sense. The next moment, he was greatly surprised. "This... where did it come from?"
Qin Jinghe finally laughed out loud. "It was presented by that newly accepted named disciple of mine. What do you think?"
"How could that be? She... how did I not know?"
Sitting back on the dragon throne, Qin Jinghe said nonchalantly, "Perhaps she simply doesn't know how important this thing is—alright, quickly refine this Foundation-Solidifying Pill. I'll be going into seclusion soon."
Qin Xi thought for a moment but said nothing. He didn't believe for a second that Mo Tiange didn't know the importance of the Foundation-Solidifying Pill. She probably knew exactly how important it was, which was why she had never mentioned it.
"Master," he thought and asked, "what benefits did you give her?"
Qin Jinghe held up three fingers. "Three Foundation Establishment Pills. How about it? A good deal, right?" Foundation Establishment Pills were of immeasurable value to others, but to a Nascent Soul cultivator, they were worth nothing.
"I understand." Qin Xi put away the recipe, lost in thought.