Foundation Establishment Pill

However.

Ye Xuan kept his eyes tightly closed, dark red blood already beginning to seep from his seven orifices.

Yet he remained as still as a boulder, not moving an inch.

He was using his willpower to fight against his body's instincts, against Xia Lengyue's temptation, and against his damned fate.

He opened his mouth with great difficulty, his voice hoarse. Every word was like blood froth squeezed through his teeth:

"Senior Sister... please conduct yourself with dignity."

"I, Ye Xuan... although of lowly status..."

"Will... never take advantage of someone's peril..."

"If... this poison cannot be cured..."

"Then I will... explode and die... to prove my resolve!"

The last few words were spoken with resounding force, carrying a tragic sense of absolute determination.

Xia Lengyue froze in place.

Looking at the man before her who was bleeding from his seven orifices, who would rather die than touch her, her mind went completely blank.

Why?

I have humbled myself so much, I have offered myself to him so willingly!

You would rather die?

You would rather die than want me?

An unprecedented sense of defeat and grievance, mixed with an inexplicable shock, surged into her heart.

Looking at the bleeding, unyielding Ye Xuan, Xia Lengyue ultimately... lost.

Her hand, suspended in mid-air, trembled as she pulled it back.

The madness and lust in her eyes shattered bit by bit under Ye Xuan's resolute gaze, turning into a deeper, more complex pain.

"Do you really... hate me that much?"

She murmured softly, her voice so light it seemed it would dissipate in the wind at any moment.

Ye Xuan did not answer. He had reached his limit, his consciousness blurring, relying entirely on a single breath to keep from collapsing.

"Fine... fine..."

Xia Lengyue took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened them again, the touch of tenderness in her eyes had been sealed away by a thick layer of solid ice.

She returned to her appearance as the aloof, high-ranking core disciple, only her face was terrifyingly pale.

"Since you don't want to, I will grant your wish."

She raised her hand, sending a vast yet gentle stream of spiritual energy into Ye Xuan's body.

Ye Xuan's expression finally ceased to be so pained, and his body slowly slumped down.

For the next half day, the cave was terrifyingly quiet.

When Ye Xuan woke up, he found that his injuries were completely healed, and even the aftereffects of forcibly reversing his cultivation method had been smoothed away.

As for Xia Lengyue, she was standing at the cave entrance with her back to him. Her white clothes were like snow, her silhouette cold and desolate.

"Senior Sister..." Ye Xuan called out tentatively, his voice hoarse.

Xia Lengyue did not turn around.

Her voice was as cold as crushed ice: "You're awake? Leave since you're awake."

No concern, no teasing, not even a single glance at him.

Ye Xuan felt relieved. He immediately put on an expression of utter trepidation and extreme respect, bowing deeply: "Thank you, Senior Sister, for saving my life! I, Ye Xuan, will never forget your great kindness! It was this junior brother who failed to appreciate your favor and offended you earlier. Please punish me, Senior Sister!"

Xia Lengyue finally turned around.

She looked at the man who was acting so subserviently toward her. A barely noticeable glimmer of tears flashed in her eyes, but it vanished in an instant, stubbornly held back.

"You are not wrong."

She said coldly, "I am the one who was wrong. It was me... being presumptuous with my affections."

After saying that, she summoned her flying sword and flew straight out.

Ye Xuan watched her departing back, his eyes flickering slightly, before he put on a loyal appearance and quickly followed her.

The journey out of the secret realm was unusually smooth.

Any obstacles that might have appeared all became punching bags for Xia Lengyue, who was currently in an extremely terrible mood.

She remained silent the whole way, slaughtering as she went. Wherever her flying sword passed, demonic beasts were annihilated.

Ye Xuan followed behind her, always maintaining a distance of three paces.

Not too far, not too close.

Neither making her feel like he was trying to run away, nor making her feel like he was trying to get close.

This suffocating sense of alienation was like a dull knife, slicing at Xia Lengyue's heart over and over.

Finally, they reached the exit of the secret realm.

On the Severed Heaven Cliff, the flying ships of the major sects had been waiting for a long time.

Just a moment before stepping onto the Qingyun Sect's flying ship, Xia Lengyue suddenly stopped.

"Hold out your hand," she said flatly.

Ye Xuan blanked for a moment and subconsciously stretched out his hand.

Xia Lengyue's gaze swept over the quaint storage ring on his finger. It was the one she had given him earlier, filled with all the resources they had plundered in the secret realm during this time.

Second-tier demonic cores, thousand-year spirit herbs, rare ores... it was simply a mobile mountain of gold.

"Give it to me."

Xia Lengyue's voice was calm and undeniable.

Ye Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and a trace of astonishment and reluctance appeared on his face. "Senior Sister, this..."

"What? You don't want to give it?"

Xia Lengyue narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of danger in her tone. "Do you think you can protect these things with your meager cultivation? Once we return to the sect, an innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth. Do you want to be swallowed alive by those wolf-like guys in the inner sect?"

"I..." Ye Xuan was at a loss for words.

"Give it to me!"

Xia Lengyue stopped wasting words. A suction force surged out, directly snatching the storage ring into her hand by force.

Ye Xuan only felt his finger go empty, his heart bleeding.

That was the fortune he had risked his life and acted as a laborer for days to save up! That was his capital for running away!

And just like that... it was confiscated?

Robber!

This woman was simply a robber!

But on the surface, Ye Xuan could only put on a look of sudden realization and smile bitterly. "Senior Sister's lesson is right! It is this junior brother who is foolish! It is indeed unsafe to keep these things on me; it is most appropriate for Senior Sister to keep them safe!"

"Hmph."

Xia Lengyue snorted coldly, put the ring away, and returned to her icy demeanor. "From now on, leave your cultivation resources to me. I will give you what you need at my discretion."

At her discretion?

That just meant depending on her mood, right?

Ye Xuan was furious in his heart, his fists clenching so hard they cracked in his sleeves, yet he still had to put on a smiling face: "Yes, everything is up to Senior Sister."

Xia Lengyue looked at him deeply.

She didn't actually want to rob him of his things.

She was just... afraid that once he had resources and wings, he would fly away.

Only by cutting off his economic lifeline and forcing him to rely on her would he obediently stay by her side.

This was the clumsiest yet most effective method she could think of.

After returning to the Qingyun Sect, days became dull and agonizing.

Xia Lengyue went into secluded cultivation right after returning, seemingly digesting what she had gained from the secret realm, or perhaps avoiding something.

As for Ye Xuan, he returned to that dilapidated thatched hut in the outer sect.

Currently, he had faintly touched the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

This desire for a higher realm tortured him like a cat scratching at his heart.

Just one Foundation Establishment Pill!

Just one, and with his Five Elements Chaos Body, he could absolutely succeed in Foundation Establishment in one fell swoop!

Once he established his foundation, he could be promoted to an inner sect disciple, possess an independent cave dwelling, and even take on missions to train outside. From then on, the sea would be broad enough for fish to leap, and the sky high enough for birds to fly!

But... where was the money?

Ye Xuan searched his entire body. Aside from the one hundred spirit stones Xia Lengyue had given him as charity, and the tiny bit of savings he originally had, it added up to no more than three hundred spirit stones.

He took a trip to the sect's Wanbao Pavilion.

"Foundation Establishment Pill? We have them."

The deacon behind the counter lazily lifted his eyelids. Low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, two hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones each. Mid-grade is five hundred thousand. High-grade... heh, you can't afford it anyway, so I won't bother quoting the price.

Two hundred thousand!

The number felt like a massive mountain pressing down on Ye Xuan, leaving him breathless.

For an ordinary outer sect disciple, even if they didn't eat or drink and saved for a hundred years, they still wouldn't be able to amass such a sum!

In the past, he could have easily covered it just by selling a few spirit herbs dug up from a secret realm.

But now...

Even a hero is helpless without money!

Ye Xuan walked out of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion and looked up at the sky, his heart filled with a profound sense of powerlessness.

He had considered making money by concocting pills or drawing talismans, but he currently had neither the capital nor the time. By the time he saved up two hundred thousand, it would be far too late.

The only shortcut left was...

Ye Xuan turned his head, his gaze falling upon the highest peak of the Azure Cloud Sect—Lengyue Peak.

That was the personal disciple peak of Xia Lengyue.

Damn it, a true man knows when to yield and when to stand tall!

Ye Xuan spat fiercely, straightened his clothes, and strode toward Lengyue Peak.

Atop Lengyue Peak, the cold wind was biting.

Xia Lengyue, clad in a white dress, was sitting under an old plum tree, brewing tea.

She had long anticipated Ye Xuan's arrival. Two teacups were placed on the table, the curling steam carrying the fragrance of tea, yet exuding an indescribable chill.

Ye Xuan pays his respects to Senior Sister.

Ye Xuan walked up behind her and respectfully bowed.

Sit.

Xia Lengyue did not turn around, merely uttering a single word indifferently.

Ye Xuan sat down as instructed, only daring to perch on the edge of the stool, appearing quite uneasy.

At the peak of Qi Condensation? Not bad.

Xia Lengyue took a sip of tea, her gaze sweeping over him. It seems you truly are a cultivation genius.

It is all thanks to Senior Sister's nurturing in the secret realm, Ye Xuan replied submissively.

You wouldn't visit without a reason. Xia Lengyue set down her teacup and turned to look at him with a faint, enigmatic smile. Speak. Why have you come to find me?

Ye Xuan took a deep breath and raised his head, his eyes bearing a trace of both plea and resolve:

Senior Sister, I wish to ask for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The air suddenly fell dead silent.

Xia Lengyue looked at him, her fingers gently stroking the rim of her teacup, her gaze playful.

A Foundation Establishment Pill?

She chuckled softly. Ye Xuan, although we share the bond of fellow disciples, you know as well as I do that Foundation Establishment Pills are incredibly precious. According to sect rules, they are not rewarded to anyone without major contributions. If you want one, why don't you buy it yourself?

Ye Xuan's face stiffened as he cursed inwardly: You robbed me of all my money, how the hell am I supposed to buy it?!

But he could only say bitterly, Senior Sister jests. Two hundred thousand spirit stones... this disciple truly cannot afford it.

Oh, so you know it costs two hundred thousand.

The smile on Xia Lengyue's face abruptly vanished, replaced by a layer of frost: Since you know you are poor, then honestly save your money. Or... wait twenty years and apply to the sect through seniority.

Twenty years?

Ye Xuan grew anxious. Senior Sister, cultivation is like sailing against the current. How old will I be in twenty years? By then, my vitality and blood will have decayed, and my hopes of Foundation Establishment will be even slimmer! Senior Sister, those resources you took in the secret realm...

Those are mine, Xia Lengyue interrupted him coldly. What, do you want to snatch them back?

Ye Xuan choked on his words.

Snatch them back? Did he dare?

Seeing Ye Xuan's aggrieved and helpless expression, a thrill of vindictive pleasure surged in Xia Lengyue's heart, but it was quickly followed by a wave of emptiness.

She didn't want to just see him acting like a subservient slave.

What she wanted was more.

However...

Xia Lengyue shifted her tone, leaning forward slightly, her burning gaze fixed on Ye Xuan. It's not that I absolutely cannot give it to you.

Ye Xuan's eyes lit up as if grasping at a lifeline: What conditions does Senior Sister have? As long as Ye Xuan can do it, I will walk through fire and water without hesitation!

There is no need to walk through fire and water.

Xia Lengyue reached out a finger, gently tracing the contours of Ye Xuan's face. Her gaze gradually deepened, turning greedy: A Foundation Establishment Pill is no problem. I can even... prepare the spirits of the five elements of heaven and earth required for the legendary 'Five Elements Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment' for you.

Ye Xuan's pupils contracted violently.

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!

That was the legendary perfect Foundation Establishment!

Once successful, one would be invincible among peers, the Golden Core stage would be within reach, and even the Nascent Soul stage could be expected!