It was a white porcelain vial the size of an egg, unremarkable in shape and texture. But three bold characters etched on its surface immediately lit Lin Feng's eyes with boundless excitement…
"Foundation Establishment Pills!! Hah! Just when I needed a pillow, here comes sleep… Foundation Establishment Pills!"
—The three characters were indeed "Foundation Establishment Pill," with the smaller words "Medium Grade" in the lower right corner and the emblem of "Fragrant Alchemy Hall" beside them.
This was a vial of medium-grade Foundation Establishment Pills produced by Fragrant Alchemy Hall!
Lin Feng, fearing it might be empty, hastily uncorked the vial and tipped it over. Four faintly jasmine-scented, pale-green pills tumbled into his palm.
Though unfamiliar with pills—having never even seen one before—Lin Feng felt certain these were genuine. He doubted He Wenyan would bother storing random pills in a labeled vial. Moreover, the seal had been intact when he opened it. This batch might have been freshly purchased.
He was right. He Wenyan had acquired these four pills to reward four of his late-stage Qi Refinement retainers. Little had he imagined they'd fall into Lin Feng's hands after last night's fatal encounter.
Lin Feng pinched one pill between his fingers, examining it. "I'd planned to buy some, but here they are! Though these are only medium-grade… Should I use all four for my breakthrough?"
Like artifacts, pills were categorized into low, medium, high, and peak grades. Higher grades meant greater efficacy and milder "pill toxicity"—a residual toxin accumulated through prolonged pill consumption. Excessive toxicity diminished future pill effectiveness, yet cultivation often demanded their use. Rare detoxifying pills thus became priceless treasures in the cultivation world.
Lin Feng had once considered Qi Condensation Pills, commonly used by Qi Refinement cultivators to accelerate progress. But poverty had barred him initially, and later, he'd avoided reliance on low-tier aids to safeguard his long-term potential.
Now, with broader horizons, Lin Feng aimed for peak-grade Foundation Establishment Pills to minimize toxicity. These medium-grade pills left him conflicted.
As he scrutinized the pill, inspiration struck. Instinctively, he activated his Mending Technique. What happened next froze him in shock.
"Integrity Loss: 55%"
"Repair Materials Required:
2 grams of Level 2 Azure Sky Grass2 grams of Level 1 Silver Frost Grass1 gram of Level 1 Purple Swirl Leaf"**
Lin Feng's hand stiffened. He stared at the pill, eyes widening in disbelief before erupting into exhilaration.
"Pills… Pills can be repaired too?!"
After double-checking, he nearly shouted, "It's true! Even pills!! Hah! This changes everything!"
—His Mending Technique could restore pills! An unprecedented revelation.
Once the initial thrill subsided, calculations began. "55% integrity loss for a medium-grade pill… If each grade corresponds to 25% integrity, fully repairing this would elevate it to peak grade!"
Even perfectly brewed pills varied in quality due to alchemists' skill. But now, any pill in Lin Feng's hands could be refined to perfection—a revolutionary ability that would shake the cultivation world if revealed.
Unaware of the broader implications, Lin Feng focused on the immediate: four peak-grade Foundation Establishment Pills awaited him if he gathered the materials.
He recalled that Azure Sky Grass, a primary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills, grew near Thornstone Peak. Silver Frost Grass and Purple Swirl Leaves—secondary components—were also documented in his recent studies.
After brief deliberation, Lin Feng adjusted his plans. He'd forage the herbs himself, repair the pills, achieve Foundation Establishment in Seven Peaks Forest, then return to Qingyun City.
A subsequent search of He Wenyan's storage ring yielded assorted mid-tier artifacts, a stack of mostly Level 2 talismans, and mundane valuables. No coveted cultivation manuals surfaced.
With his spoils secured, Lin Feng left the cave and headed for Thornstone Peak.
...
Guided by a detailed map, Lin Feng navigated the forest. Half a day passed without encountering He family pursuers—or any cultivators. While odd, he dismissed it; the vast wilderness often felt empty.
Thornstone Peak, a jagged spire resembling a giant stone hedgehog, lay deeper than Crimson Rock Mountain. Four hours of brisk travel brought him there by noon.
En route, he'd battled over a dozen beasts—half Level 2, including a mid-Level 2 Golden-Eyed Jackal. Its metal-attribute core, combined with stored Level 3 ores and jade, fully repaired He Wenyan's Spirit Light Talisman, bolstering his defenses.
Now twenty li from Thornstone Peak, Lin Feng slowed, scanning the ground. Luck granted him a Purple Swirl Leaf and several other Level 1-2 herbs.
"Moo—!"
A guttural roar echoed ahead, mingled with shouts. Lin Feng's brows lifted. "A battle? Cultivators versus a beast?"
After half a day of solitude, encountering others near Thornstone Peak intrigued him. Skilled adventurers here might already possess Azure Sky Grass—worth negotiating for.
He crested a hillock, peered through weeds, and glimpsed a cliffside clearing below. Four figures—two men, two women—dodged a charging, ash-gray beast.
"Ironhide Rhino! Level 2, seventh tier!" Lin Feng recognized the notoriously tanky creature. Its charge could flatten even a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The group bombarded it with talismans to little effect. The rhino's relentless charges kept them scrambling. Lin Feng noted their repeated attempts to reach a specific spot—a cluster of weeds near the cliff's base.
There, a vibrant green plant stood out.
"Azure Sky Grass!!"
Lin Feng's heart leaped.