Unable to reconcile what he was observing with any normal explanation, Kinson found himself studying Lordi with newfound intensity, his gaze penetrating and analytical as he tried to pierce through to hidden truths.
What sort of extraordinarily fortunate encounter or abyss-defying opportunity had this junior brother stumbled into during their time apart?
What secret advantages or hidden hacks could possibly account for such explosive growth?
The questions multiplied in his mind, each one spawning three more.
However, even as his curiosity burned with almost physical intensity, Kinson restrained himself from voicing direct inquiries. After all, this Payne operated under Senior Sister's patronage and protection. As one of her acknowledged subordinates and favored Outer Sect disciples, his affairs and secrets were not something an outsider like Kinson could appropriately probe too deeply into.
Taking a moment to collect his scattered thoughts and suppress his shock, Kinson released a long sigh.
With a somewhat deflated gesture, he casually handed the bamboo scroll containing the Alchemy Formula over to Lordi. "It appears you've already obtained the Jade Tempering Pill through some other channel and successfully used it to complete your Bone Jaden Transformation," he acknowledged, unable to keep a note of letdown from coloring his voice.
"But Junior Brother, this alchemy formula still holds considerable value and shouldn't be dismissed. You should continue studying it and mastering the pill refinement technique, even though you personally no longer require this type of pill for your own advancement. After all, once you've perfected the refining process, you can produce these elixir pills and sell them for profit in the marketplace."
"The Jade Tempering Pill admittedly has a rather narrow application—cultivators with merely average or even Mid-grade Refined tier Bone constitutions have no need for it whatsoever, as their advancement doesn't require such specialized assistance. However, and this is the crucial point to understand, everyone who does require this pill belongs to the upper echelon of talent. Every single person who needs the Jade Planting Pill is, by definition, a genius cultivator with either Perfect-grade or at minimum High-grade Refined tier Bone constitutions. These are the future pillars of the cultivation world."
Kinson's expression grew more serious and instructive as he warmed to this topic. "Therefore, if you maintain a supply of premium or even legendary level Jade Tempering Pills—refining them during your spare time and keeping an inventory available—you position yourself to form useful connections with the most promising young cultivators of this generation."
"When a talented disciple desperately needs this pill to advance and you're able to provide it, they'll remember that favor. Such relationships, cultivated strategically over time, become invaluable networks of allies and contacts throughout the cultivation world."
"Do you understand the long-term strategic value I'm describing?"
Lordi bowed respectfully. "Senior Brother speaks with great wisdom." Beneath his outwardly respectful demeanor, he was mentally spitting blood in frustration.
So this damned Kinson Wexford had known all along—had been fully aware from the very beginning—that Lordi would need the Jade Tempering Pill to advance past the sixth layer of Qi Refinement Stage!
And yet, despite possessing this crucial knowledge, he had never once thought to mention it, had never provided even the slightest warning or heads-up about this critical requirement! As a result of this oversight, Lordi had begun his cultivation advancement completely unprepared and unaware.
The AwfulOS system, following its programming without caring any consequences, had dragged him off in the middle of the cultivation to rob Kim Simona's carefully refined Jade Tempering Pill right under her nose. Yes, while she was naked, cultivating in the bath.
That theft, in turn, had triggered the entire catastrophic chain of events that led him into the Hanz Clan Estate situation—a nightmare Outer Sect task that had nearly cost him his life a dozen times over. He'd escaped that deadly trap by the narrowest of margins, surviving through a combination of desperate cunning, sheer luck, and circumstances that could only be described as miraculous.
And all of this. Every single terror-filled moment, every brush with death could have been avoided if Kinson had simply bothered to share this one piece of critical information!
"Actually, the Jade Tempering Pill alchemy formula represents merely a minor consideration in the grand scheme of things," Kinson continued, seemingly oblivious to the dark thoughts churning behind Lordi's respectful facade.
After spending a few moments wallowing in disappointment over his failed surprise regarding the first surprise, he rallied his spirits and prepared to unveil what he clearly considered his true triumph. A mysterious smile played across his features as he adopted an even more dramatic and ceremonious attitude than before.
"My genuine prize from this expedition to the Vermithys, the real treasure that makes this entire journey worthwhile, is actually this second treasure I'm about to show you. Now, Junior Brother, you absolutely must maintain your composure and keep your emotions under control. Don't allow yourself to become too overwhelmed or overexcited by what I'm about to reveal."
"Take deep breaths if necessary."
Despite his frustration over the chaos caused by Jade Tempering Pill, Lordi felt his anticipation rising once again in response to Kinson's theatrical buildup.
Perhaps he was being too harsh in his judgment of this brunt but kind senior brother. After all, no matter how much of an unreliable troublemaker Kinson Wexford might be in certain respects, surely he wouldn't have traveled all the way to the Verymithys carrying one hundred and twenty legendary level Bone Tempering Pills only to accomplish absolutely nothing of value with the proceeds.
Yes. There had to be something worthwhile resulting from such a significant transaction.
This time, with even more exaggerated care and reverence than he'd shown the bamboo scroll, Kinson retrieved a jade slip from his storage pouch. He handled the object as though it were made of the most delicate spun glass, liable to shatter at the slightest rough touch.
As the jade slip emerged fully into view, Lordi waited for his AllFullOS System to react, to announce the detection of new knowledge or techniques.
But the system remained completely silent, offering no notifications or alerts whatsoever.
An ominous sensation crept through Lordi's chest, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach like a cold stone. His instincts told that something was wrong with this situation.
Kinson extended the jade slip toward him with both hands in a gesture of utmost solemnity, his voice dropping to a portentous tone as he made his grand announcement: "This... is the complete formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill!"
He delivered the revelation as though presenting the cultivation world's greatest treasure, his expression radiating pride and self-satisfaction.
Lordi, "…???"
Entirely missing the stunned horror written across his junior brother's features, Kinson plunged ahead with his explanation, his enthusiasm building with each word.
"Originally, my plan was to complete my business at the Vermithys's grand market and return to the holy sect immediately afterward. The journey there and back is quite lengthy, and I had already spent considerable time away from my own cultivation pursuits."
"However, just as I was preparing to depart for home, I happened to overhear rumors and whispers spreading through the trading halls. Word had emerged that an authentic Foundation Establishment Pill alchemy formula had appeared for sale—a genuine, verified formula, not one of the countless forgeries that occasionally surface."
"This represented an opportunity far too precious to ignore. For your sake, Junior Brother, I deliberately extended my stay for several additional days, remaining in that distant marketplace far longer than originally intended. I participated in what turned out to be an intense bidding war, ultimately succeeding in purchasing this formula specifically for you. Do you understand what an incredible stroke of fortune this represents?" His eyes shone with the expectation of grateful amazement.
Lordi stood frozen, his face completely blank as his mind struggled to process what he'd just heard. No words came to his lips. No response seemed adequate to the cosmic joke that the universe had apparently decided to play at his expense. The silence stretched between them, heavy with implications that Kinson completely failed to notice.
Bloodline Lord continued his lecture, warming to his subject with evident passion. "Among all the various pill formulas that exist within the Qi Refinement stage of cultivation, the Foundation Establishment Pill formula stands alone as the most expensive to acquire and simultaneously the most difficult to obtain through legitimate channels."
"Consider the economic realities of our cultivation world: Foundation Establishment Pills themselves, while extraordinarily expensive, do occasionally appear for sale in major marketplace establishments. Wealthy cultivators with sufficient spirit stones can, with patience and luck, eventually purchase actual pills to facilitate their breakthrough. Similarly, within our own Sacred Sect, late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators who demonstrate sufficient merit and are willing to pay certain prices in terms of contribution points or completed missions can eventually obtain Foundation Establishment Pills through official sect channels. It may take time and effort, but the path exists for determined individuals. However—and this is the critical distinction—the formula itself, the knowledge of how to actually refine these precious pills, represents an entirely different category of restricted information."
He leaned forward, his expression growing more intense as he emphasized his point. "Even within our holy sect's own ranks, exceptionally talented alchemists like that female alchemist Kim Simona in the Outer Sect—cultivators who possess genuine alchemy genius and have demonstrated remarkable skill—must complete an extensive series of incredibly demanding loyalty program assignments for the Tower of Hundred Treasures before they're permitted to exchange their accumulated merits and loyalty scores for this alchemy formula. The requirements are deliberately made harsh and difficult."
"Junior Brother, do you know why the holy sect imposes such stringent restrictions? Do you understand the deeper political and economic reasons behind such tight control?" Kinson paused, clearly expecting Lordi to express curiosity or confusion.
"… … Why…?" Lordi forced the single word out through a jaw clenched so tight it ached. His face had darkened several shades, taking on a complexion that suggested violent internal distress.
The question that screamed through his mind, the one he managed not to voice aloud through sheer force of will: Why in the name of all the abyss and hells did you take my Spirit $tones and use it to purchase the exact same Foundation Establishment Pill alchemy formula that I had just managed to obtain for myself mere days ago?
"The answer lies in understanding the fundamental power dynamics of the cultivation world," Kinson explained with the air of a kind teacher instructing a particularly slow student.
"Controlling access to the Foundation Establishment Pill alchemy formula is functionally equivalent to controlling the very life essence and advancement potential of the vast majority of lower-level cultivators throughout the realm, particularly those independent rogue cultivators who lack sect backing. This isn't merely about our holy sect's policies—every giant cultivation sect and powerful clan family operates according to the same principle. By carefully regulating how many Foundation Establishment Pills enter circulation each year, these powers effectively control how many rogue cultivators can successfully advance to Foundation Stage. This, in turn, allows them to manipulate market prices for cultivation resources across all external marketplaces. Supply and demand become tools of political control."
Kinson's expression took on a shrewd, calculating quality as he continued his economic dissertation. "Consider the implications from another angle: a family or clan that possesses the Foundation Establishment Pill formula, even if that family falls into temporary decline and loses much of its former power and influence, still retains the ability to refine these pills. Those pills can then be used to recruit and purchase the loyalty of late-stage Qi Refinement Stage cultivators, binding talented individuals to the family's service in exchange for the promise of advancement. It's a form of currency that never loses value and that desperate rogue cultivators will do almost anything to obtain. This is precisely why, although our holy Sect maintains a generally magnanimous and liberal policy toward its own members—allowing disciples to acquire most resources through simple Spirit $tones transactions if they have sufficient wealth—the sect nonetheless maintains extremely strict controls over who can possess Foundation Establishment Pill alchemy formulas. Potential owners must pass through rigorous testing and evaluation to prove their loyalty and reliability."
He placed a hand on Lordi's shoulder with an expression of sincere brotherly concern. "If I didn't have Senior Sister's backing and protection, providing me with unassailable credentials and guaranteed trustworthiness in the sect's eyes, I wouldn't have dared to hand this alchemy formula over to you even after purchasing it. The scrutiny and potential consequences would have been too dangerous. But with her support, we can proceed without fear. This alchemy formula represents nothing less than the foundation pillar for the Payne Clan of Deerspring town to rise from obscurity and establish itself among the cultivation world's notable powers. Lordi kun, your clan's destiny changes from this moment forward."
Hearing these grandiose declarations about his clan's supposedly glorious future, Lordi felt only bewilderment compounding his frustration.
Dude... Sigh… What did the rise or fall of the Payne Clan of Deerspring Town have to do with me?
Lordi felt few kin bond warmth from his mortal life in Deerspring before when he entered the cultivation world. Besides those distant blood connections meant nothing compared to his immediate survival concerns.
Suppressing his frustration, Lordi cleared his throat and redirected the conversation to the only topic he actually cared about at this moment. "Senior Brother Wexford, I appreciate all these... considerations. But perhaps may I know how many Spirit $tones will I be receiving from the auction proceeds?"
"Spirit $tones? Oh, right… let me see..." Kinson replied, tilting his head back as he performed mental calculations.
"Hmm... the two alchemy formulas combined cost approximately 500,000 D$t in total. That expenditure consumed more than half of all the Spirit $tones generated from auctioning your legendary level Bone Tempering Pills. Your personal share of the auction proceeds has been entirely absorbed into covering the cost of these formulas."
"See, we here both realize the amount still falls slightly short of the full price for the two precious alchemy formulas, but this Senior Brother is not the sort of petty person who nitpicks over such minor discrepancies between brothers. Let's simply consider the account settled and call it even, shall we? No need for anyone to owe anyone anything. Hahahaha! You happy?" Kinson waved his hand dismissively, as though magnanimously forgiving a debt.
The Bloodline Lord's expression brightened as he continued, apparently considering his next words to be additional good news. "As for the remaining Spirit $tones after the formula purchases, I invested all of that capital in purchasing raw materials and medicinal ingredients—everything needed to refine both Jade Tempering Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills in quantity. I'll have everything delivered to you shortly. Junior Brother, you absolutely must dedicate yourself to mastering these two pill alchemy skills as quickly as possible!"
"This timing is actually perfect because the Grand Outer Sect Tournament is rapidly approaching, and that event represents an absolutely golden opportunity for us to earn tremendous profits!"
"Just think about it: desperate Outer Sect disciples wagering everything on their advancement, all of them potential customers for our elixir pills. We're going to make an absolute fortune! Ayo! We're gonna be rich, RICH!"
Lordi, "...???... !!!..."
He stood paralyzed, mouth opening and closing soundlessly like a fish drowning in air. His mind had simply short-circuited under the weight of this reality, leaving him standing speechless before his well-meaning but catastrophically oblivious senior brother.