Without a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the Cyan Mountain Sect has no authority in Lushan County.
The sect's business, connections, and resources are all affected, directly causing the Cyan Mountain Sect's influence to continuously diminish.
As for recruiting disciples and expanding its scale, there is no need to even think about it now.
Firstly, the sect's foundation is weak, unable to attract those with outstanding talent to join and cultivate, losing out to other sects.
Secondly, it returns to the sect's economic issues.
Currently, just providing salaries for the sect disciples is already extremely difficult, leaving no surplus resources to train new disciples.
At least in the next three years, Lu Ping has no intention of recruiting disciples.
In fact, Lu Yuanshan is thinking the same.
His current goal is to acquire Spirit Stones to first solve the sect's economic crisis, then strive to nurture a Foundation Establishment Cultivator once the sect's financial situation improves.
With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, the sect's circumstances would be much better, allowing for wider recruitment and territorial expansion.
"However, to train a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it's necessary first to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills."
"Not relying on Foundation Establishment Pills to establish the foundation comes with a ten-percent success rate risk, too great for Distant Mountain and the others to take."
Without Foundation Establishment Pills, forcing disciples to establish their foundation indeed carries high risks.
If the foundation establishment fails, the inevitable outcomes are broken meridians and death with the disappearance of one's Dao.
The high risk of foundation establishment is aptly described as one in ten, otherwise, there wouldn't be Foundation Establishment Pills.
The role of Foundation Establishment Pills is to help cultivators increase their foundation establishment success rate to fifty percent while also protecting the cultivator's heart meridian, preserving their life.
Even if foundation establishment fails, the cultivator's body won't be harmed, and they can completely attempt a new foundation establishment pill to continue trying.
Foundation Establishment Pills are indeed good, but they are costly.
The Cyan Mountain Sect currently lacks Spirit Stones the most.
In the past, the Cyan Mountain Sect was a powerful entity with Lu Ping, the Golden Core Ancestor, holding the fort, renowned throughout Lushan County. Cultivators in Lushan County would instinctively raise a thumb when hearing Cyan Mountain Sect's name.
When Lu Ping stomped his foot, it could cause a tremor in Lushan County. Obtaining a few Foundation Establishment Pills was not an issue at all.
But unfortunately, that was in the past, and there's no point in bringing it up now.
"The sect cannot afford to remain poor any longer."
Lu Ping muttered to himself, still needing to strive to open more income sources. Training alchemists also requires Spirit Stones.
"Indeed, every family has its own difficulties; even trivial matters aren't easy."
As Lu Ping lamented, Lu Zhiwei brought the Moon Grass to the Medicinal Garden.
Since losing her Dao Heart, Lu Zhiwei had not appeared here in a long time, even passing by in a hurry without ever stopping to check out this sect's Medicinal Garden, feeling unfamiliar with it.
A light breeze swept through, causing the Spirit Medicine in the garden to sway gently, some tender green and petite, some vibrant and multicolored, each with a unique form.
Three Spiritual Peach Trees grew in the corner of the Medicinal Garden, lush and beautiful, becoming a stunning scenery attracting attention.
Lu Zhiwei glanced at the Spiritual Peach Trees, finding them pleasing to the eye, not realizing they were newly planted in the garden.
She searched for the figure of She Qingqing.
It was the height of summer, the sun blazing.
As the Garden Guardian, She Qingqing was performing the Spirit Gathering Rain Technique to water the Spirit Medicine, ensuring the soil had adequate moisture to nourish the Spirit Medicine.
A white cloud, formed by Spiritual Power, gathered above the Medicinal Garden. Under She Qingqing's control, it released a misty drizzle evenly over the Medicine Field.
The air was filled with a moist scent only found after rain, fresh and pleasing.
When Lu Zhiwei arrived, the watering was near its end, so as soon as She Qingqing ceased the magic, she noticed Lu Zhiwei.
"Lu... Elder Lu!"
Seeing Lu Zhiwei left her quite surprised.
Since guarding the Medicinal Garden, one always needed to stay in the garden, the other secluded, leading to She Qingqing rarely seeing Lu Zhiwei.
Even within the sect, seeing this Elder Lu was quite rare.
Shel Qingqing accidentally encountered her today, in this Medicinal Garden, leaving her at a loss for how to greet, so she quickly approached Lu Zhiwei and saluted, "Greetings, Elder Lu."
"Mm."
Lu Zhiwei remained calm, giving the Medicinal Garden a casual glance.
After casting magic to water, each Spirit Medicine was adorned with clear water droplets, resembling translucent pearls, looking quite pleasing.
"She Qingqing, do you wish to become an Alchemist?"
After withdrawing her gaze, feeling there was nothing to talk about with She Qingqing, since she didn't know much about the garden matters or types of Spirit Grass, Lu Zhiwei went straight to the point.
She didn't like to talk, so she didn't beat around the bush.
"Ah?"
She Qingqing became even more surprised.
Elder Lu came to the Medicinal Garden just to ask this?
She was an Artifact Refiner, not an Alchemist.
Could the sect want to train a new Alchemist?
Her little mind spun, as She Qingqing truly didn't know how to respond.
Of course, she wanted to; otherwise, she wouldn't be tending the Medicinal Garden. She wasn't exceptional in cultivation talent, so finding another path in Alchemy, what's wrong with that?
But why would the sect favor me?
"What do you mean by ah, are you very surprised?"
Seeing She Qingqing's reaction, Lu Zhiwei couldn't help but smile slightly, thinking this young girl was quite interesting, reminding her of herself when she was young, feeling silly and cute.
She explained to She Qingqing the sect's shortage of Alchemists, expressing the sect's desire to train an Alchemist, and she was a good candidate, considering learning Alchemy.
Of course, Lu Zhiwei didn't mention Lu Ping waking up.
Even if Lu Ping didn't instruct her to keep it secret, she felt she should take the initiative to do so, at least for now.
"It's a good thing the sect wants to train an Alchemist."
She Qingqing said, looking at her own dirt-stained toes.
"But I'm afraid my aptitude isn't good, and without any predecessors willing to teach me, I worry about disappointing the sect's kindness..."
Since spending long periods in the Medicinal Garden, her shoe soles were perpetually stained with soil. Compared to other female disciples who were neat and clean, she belonged to the 'messy' category, laden with the scent of Spirit Medicine.
"It's not an issue; as long as you wish to learn, the sect will fully support your training."
Lu Zhiwei resisted the urge to ruffle her hair: "Just nod if you want to learn; if not, the sect won't force you. The sect does have people to teach you Alchemy."
Lu Zhiwei did not mention Lu Ping's name, not being sure about how Lu Ping might guide She Qingqing if she were to embark on the path of Alchemy.
The sect currently does not have the capacity to recruit Alchemists externally.
"I do, I do!"
This time, She Qingqing responded promptly.
She nodded repeatedly, saying, "If the sect doesn't mind my aptitude, I am willing to work hard, learning to become an Alchemist!"
With the conversation reaching this point, how could She Qingqing refuse? The opportunity was right in front of her, and she didn't want to miss it.
Contributing to the sect and learning Alchemy, this was indeed excellent.
"Good."
With She Qingqing's agreement, Lu Zhiwei felt reassured.
She took out the Moon Grass Seeds.
"These are some Moon Grass seeds; try planting them and take good care of them in the future. I'll be heading to the Library Pavilion to get you some Alchemy-related books."
"Wait here for me."