Longevity starts from having a daughter in old age

Having anticipated this, Xu Mu felt joyful in his heart, though not overly excited.

Perhaps due to the island’s environment, the maid was dressed lightly, revealing a large area of white skin. This was quite different from the conservative attire in the Tianhe Sect area.

Hearing Xu Mu inquire about the price, the maid maintained her smile.

For a hundred year batch, it’s twelve medium-grade spirit stones. The five hundred year batch requires one top-grade spirit stone! As for the thousand- year batch, our shop is currently out of stock!”

The Dragon Heart Nine Leaves Lingzhi is not just used for crafting Foundation Establishment Pills, it also has other uses. Generally speaking, a hundred-year batch is adequate for crafting Foundation Establishment Pills, but if you want superior quality, a batch aged five hundred years is a must.

“I’ll take two of the hundred-year batch and one of the five hundred-year batch. However, I don’t have any top-grade spirit stones on me. Can I use medium-grade spirit stones instead?”

Usually, such big stores would not bargain.

However, there was a sense of urgency in Xu Mu’s heart. He wanted to secure the ingredients first, so he didn’t want to waste too much time bargaining over a few spirit stones.

Of course, that can be done. However, the price will be slightly higher!

The maid who didn’t expect Xu Mu to be a big spender, although her expression and demeanor didn’t change much, she seemed to have grown more enthusiastic.

This was probably what being earnest looked like!

That’s not a problem! Hand me the ingredients!

This way, please!

The maid enthusiastically led him to the back hall. After serving some tea, she hastily went to fetch the ingredients.

Shortly after, she walked in with a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

These are the Dragon Heart Nine Leaves Lingzhi you asked for. Please check!

The Foundation Establishment cultivator took out two jade boxes from his storage bag and placed them on a nanmu table in front of Xu Mu.

Xu Mu took a look inside the boxes.

In one box was two dark green Lingzhi with leaves curled-up together forming a shape that resembled a heart.

In the other box was a slightly bigger dark red Lingzhi with leaves also curled up. There were tiny branches on its surface that looked like blood vessels.

All three Lingzhi had nine leaves each. The one that was dark red and slightly bigger seemed more impressive.

After confirming that they were correct, Xu Mu gave the spirit stones to the other party, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, even if he returned to Liyang City immediately, this trip would still be considered a success.

However, the ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill were indeed pretty expensive!

In total, they were almost as expensive as a Tier 6 pill.

Adding up the spirit stones spent on purchasing other ingredients, most of the savings that Xu Mu brought with him had been used up.

I wonder if you accept magic artifacts, robes, and monster beast materials?

He had many items that he had looted from the Luo Family that he couldn’t offload in Liyang City. But here, it didn’t matter.

It was just right to dispose of them and add a bit of savings for himself.

Yes! If you have some, you could show them to me!

The Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was planning to leave, sat back down with a smile.

I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Wen Ruo Yu, the manager of the first floor of this shop!”

You’re too kind, Mr. Wen. My name is Mu Yu!

Xu Mu used a pseudonym since his current appearance was also a camouflage. Once his disguise was lifted, this person would cease to exist.

He took out some of the unused magic artifacts, robes, and a variety of materials from his storage bag and placed them on the table.

When Wen Ruo Yu saw that Xu Mu had tier four monster beast materials among other things, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he didn’t ask any further questions.

After discussing the price, they quickly completed the transaction.

Xu Mu gained three fist-sized, top-grade spirit stones that emitted a faint glow.

When he was leaving, Wen Ruo Yu gave him a token and said that it would provide him convenience at the Star Pavilion branches in various cities.

Without being polite, Xu Mu accepted it. Whether or not he would use it would depend on the circumstances.

After leaving the Star Pavilion, Xu Mu had Su Luan take him to several other shops to sell more unnecessary things in his possession.

After emptying his storage bag, he had gained six top-grade spirit stones and over eighty medium-grade spirit stones.

Xu Mu’s previously depleted savings started looking healthy again.

Senior, this is the place for closed-door cultivation. It is managed by the Four Seas Immortal Palace. Not only is there a formation for constant protection, but it is also rumored to have a Golden Core Stage cultivator stationed here. It should be the safest place outside the City Lord Mansion! The only problem is that the price is a bit high!”

As far as she knew, even the cheapest room here cost ten lower-grade spirit stones per day. The most expensive, it was rumored, cost as much as one top­grade spirit stone per day.

It was terrifying to imagine who could afford to stay here.

Probably only a powerful Golden Core Stage cultivator!

I see!”

Xu Mu nodded, took out two lower-grade spirit stones, and handed them to the girl.

You’ve been a great help today. Consider these two spirit stones as your compensation.”

No, no, I volunteered! There’s no need for spirit stones!

Having said that, Su Luan quickly waved her hands, stepped back, and then turned around to run.

After getting some distance, she turned round, waved, and shouted, “Senior, if you need my assistance next time, you can find me at Tao Guan!”

Alright!

Helplessly, Xu Mu put the spirit stones back and watched as Su Luan ran off. Only then did he turn around to enter the building behind him.

There was a scholarly young man dressed in a light blue robe sitting at the counter.

Hearing the footsteps, the young man put down the book in his hand and looked up.

Sir, are you here to rent a cultivation room?”

Exactly!

Xu Mu nodded.

What kind of room do you offer?

Do you have any specific requirements for the room?” the young man asked indifferently.

It needs to be suitable for pill refining!

Alchemy Room, you say? Let me see!

The young man retrieved a booklet from the counter and quickly flipped through several pages.

The rooms available for alchemy are only one medium-grade spirit stone and five medium-grade spirit stones per day!”

What are the differences between these two types of rooms?”

Truthfully, even Xu Mu was a little overwhelmed by these rates.

This was a daily rate, not monthly.

Apart from differences in spiritual energy and defensive arrays, the room costing five medium-grade spirit stones also comes equipped with a ground fire formation and a tier-four Alchemy Furnace!”

A ground fire formation and a tier-four Alchemy Furnace!!

Xu Mu was swayed.

But the prices were indeed heart-wrenching.

In the end, Xu Mu gritted his teeth and indulged himself extravagantly, renting the room that costs five medium-grade spirit stones for twenty days.

After all, he was on the verge of a Foundation Establishment breakthrough – he didn’t want any mishaps.

Fellow Daoist, please follow me!”

After paying the rent of one high-grade spirit stone and a deposit of another high-grade spirit stone, the young man led Xu Mu into the back hall of the loft, revealing a descending passage.

A room capable of setting up a ground fire formation, of course, couldn’t be suspended in midair; it had to be underground.

The two of them treaded downward for at least a hundred meters. When Xu Mu felt that they must’ve reached about thirty to forty meters underground, the young man finally took out an array token and waved it in front of a smooth wall, revealing a slowly opening door.

The young man led him into a hallway lined with small rooms, all adorned with identical stone doors. If not for the numbers above them, they would all appear indistinguishable.

This one it is!”

The young man took out a blue token and affixed it to the seventh stone door from the entrance.

The stone door silently parted, revealing a small room no more than fifteen or sixteen steps in length and width.

Embedded in the ceiling was a white stone illuminating the entire room as if it was daytime. In the center of the room stood a giant red pill furnace as tall as a person, its surface etched with closely packed runes that continuously flickered with a faint spiritual light.

Fellow Daoist, this is the token to activate the array. Apart from you, no one else can enter!”

The young man handed the array token to Xu Mu and continued, “This token also has a communication function. If you need anything, you can directly activate the array inside here to notify me!”

After explaining everything Xu Mu needed to know, the young man finally turned around and left.

Xu Mu stepped through the array and entered the room. He activated the array, sealing the stone door behind him.

From the layout of the room alone – aside from the alchemy furnace in the middle – it was rather spartan.

But—

Such rich Spiritual Energy!

The moment Xu Mu entered the room and took a breath, he felt a noticeable increase in his cultivation, akin to consuming a tier-two pill.

The spiritual energy in the room felt so dense that it was on the verge of becoming tangible.

This room was the perfect place for breakthroughs in cultivation.

No wonder it’s so expensive! This place isn’t meant for run-of-the-mill cultivation. It’s intended for those on the cusp of a breakthrough!”

This single training room alone could greatly accelerate the progress of all the cultivators in the city.

No wonder the city was filled with so many experts.

Liyang City is truly far superior to Pursuing Wind City.

After thoroughly inspecting the room and ensuring there were no issues, Xu Mu finally sat down cross-legged, opened his system, and began to enhance his Foundation Establishment Pill Alchemy Skill.

[Foundation Establishment Pill +100]!

[Foundation Establishment Pill +100]!

While he was selling his magical artifacts, he also asked if there were any Foundation Establishment Pills available.

There were!

However, there were very few!

The factors that led Xu Mu to decide to make his own pills, aside from the scarce quantity and high prices, were that all the pills being sold were of inferior grade. There wasn’t a single medium grade pill available, let alone high-end or extreme grade ones.

Using inferior Foundation Establishment Pills for a breakthrough meant a lower success rate, and it might require multiple pills and attempts. Furthermore, the foundation after the breakthrough would not be stable, affecting future cultivation progress.

The breakthrough to Foundation Establishment is an opportunity for rebirth.

The better the pill used, the stronger the foundation laid, and the more benefits there will be in the future.

Moreover, for Xu Mu, the Foundation Establishment Pill will become his next stable source of income. Investment is essential.

Considering all this, there was no need to hesitate any longer.

After spending nearly all his accumulated Luck Value, Xu Mu elevated his Foundation Establishment Pill Alchemy Skill to the level of a Grandmaster in one go.

At this level, unless he purposefully sabotages the process, there is a 99% chance of obtaining an extreme grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

After a full day of cultivation, Xu Mu tunes his condition to its peak and starts refining the tier-four Alchemy Furnace in the room.

Chi Yang flew out from within him and fused with the furnace. Suddenly, the ordinary room came alive as countless runes flickered intensely.

An opening suddenly appeared in the center of the array, from which a surge of heat and a cluster of golden-red fire violently spewed.

Divine Skill – Fire Command!

A crisp crow’s caw emanated from the furnace, and the fierce ground fire abruptly tamed, becoming as docile as sheep.

The fire engulfed the furnace while Xu Mu cast his spell. The runes on the furnace started glowing one by one.

Once the preheating was complete, Xu Mu started to add the foundation establishment pill’s medicinal ingredients into the furnace, one by one.

Fire Lingzhi, Blood Essence Grass, Condensing Light Grass, Dan Yang Fruit, Red Light Ginseng, Cold Ice Fruit…

And the most crucial five-hundred-year Dragon Heart Nine Leaf Grass!

Although it was his first time crafting it, his grandmaster-level Alchemy Skill made everything seem effortless.

Three days later.

Next, Xu Mu stirred the ‘Harvest Pill’ spell in the furnace. The furnace lid slowly opened, and five flawless, crystal-like pills flew out, landing in Xu Mu’s hand.

The room was filled with a rich, intoxicating medicinal fragrance, as if it could cleanse one’s soul.

They’re all extreme grade Foundation Establishment Pills!

I’m finally going to have a breakthrough!