One day later.
Wang Jianqiang and the others finally returned to the Hehuan Sect, after being away for a full year.
The moment they got back, news of the Cold Pool Secret Realm spread at an astonishing pace.
And what shocked people the most was Wang Jianqiang's performance.
"Did you hear? Wang Jianqiang has already reached the peak of Qi Refining, and with the help of a powerful spirit bird, he defeated Lin Xian'er, the number one prodigy of Xuanqing Palace!"
"Did you hear? Wang Jianqiang beat Lin Xian'er with a bird!"
"Did you hear? Lin Xian'er of Xuanqing Palace and Wang Jianqiang have something going on?"
…
In less than a day, the tales of Wang Jianqiang had already spread into countless versions, getting more and more distorted.
The disciples who actually knew the truth could only laugh and cry when they overheard these rumors.
Lin Xian'er was the treasured genius of Xuanqing Palace—how could she possibly fancy an old man like Wang Jianqiang who already had one foot in the grave?
Couldn't people at least be logical?
Which genius came up with such explosive drama?
And yet, Wang Jianqiang himself couldn't help but feel a bit guilty.
Why did these rumors sound more and more convincing the more they spread?
Thankfully, this was the Hehuan Sect, not Xuanqing Palace.
Otherwise, wouldn't his relationship with Lin Xian'er be completely exposed?
As expected, no matter the world, there were always some wild imaginations—also known as… show-offs.
That very night, after returning to the sect, his house, left empty for a whole year, felt especially cold and desolate.
Wang Jianqiang lay there alone, gazing at the vast starry sky, and loneliness welled up inside him.
So, he called for Wang Yuyao.
Loneliness vanished, and the house no longer felt cold.
…
Now, Wang Jianqiang was extremely wealthy; he had no shortage of materials for alchemy or crafting.
Over the next three days, he didn't go out at all—he shut himself in seclusion.
After accumulating enough cultivation points, he advanced his alchemy to Second Grade, then immediately ended his seclusion and headed to the Foreign Affairs Hall.
The main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills were already in his hands, and with Dong Yue's promise regarding the pill recipe, he had no worries there. The supplementary ingredients could also be purchased at the hall—everything was ready.
He could hardly wait to refine a Perfect Foundation Pill and break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.
At the Foreign Affairs Hall.
Dong Yue was leaning lazily behind her desk as usual.
A tall man stood in front of her.
He had a slender build, jade-like features, and sharp, chiseled lines to his face.
A faint, confident smile hung on his handsome face as he chatted with Dong Yue.
But Dong Yue didn't seem interested in him at all. Beneath her cool expression flickered clear irritation, and she answered him half-heartedly.
At that moment, she suddenly spotted a familiar figure walking in from the entrance.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Greetings, Elder Dong."
Wang Jianqiang walked straight to her desk, cupping his fists in salute.
Hearing his voice, Dong Yue's cold face softened into a smile. "You're back? How did it go?"
"Not bad." Wang Jianqiang smiled faintly.
The handsome man at the side frowned slightly at how familiar their exchange sounded.
"Rou'er, who is this?"
At his address, a flash of disgust crossed Dong Yue's eyes. "Ye Fan, you and I are not that close."
Ye Fan wasn't offended. He turned his gaze on Wang Jianqiang. "Friend, may I have your name?"
His eyes carried an invisible pressure.
The instant Ye Fan's gaze fell upon him, Wang Jianqiang felt a powerful weight crash down, his body sinking involuntarily.
His expression tightened as he instinctively checked the man's information.
Name: Ye FanGender: MaleCultivation: Early Foundation EstablishmentAge: 205Spiritual Roots: Wind and Earth Dual RootsVirtue/Malice Value: -70
A Foundation Establishment cultivator!
And a -70 Malice Value!!
Wang Jianqiang's heart skipped a beat.
"Ye Fan, you're being far too brazen!"
Dong Yue shot to her feet.
Ye Fan chuckled faintly, reining back his aura. "Don't be angry, Rou'er, I was only greeting a friend."
Dong Yue snorted coldly. "Get out. You're not welcome here."
"Fine, I'll come visit again in a few days."
Spreading his hands, Ye Fan gave Wang Jianqiang another look before strolling out of the hall.
"Are you alright?"
Once he left, Dong Yue turned back to Wang Jianqiang, an apologetic look in her eyes.
"I'm fine."
Wang Jianqiang gave a bitter smile.
Damn, didn't check the almanac before heading out—ran straight into a lunatic.
And this lunatic was absurdly strong.
That -70 Malice Value…
It was already a dangerously low number.
If not for Dong Yue's presence, Wang Jianqiang suspected Ye Fan might have killed him on the spot.
Dong Yue nodded, then asked, "Did you come today to buy something, or…?"
"To buy." Remembering his purpose, Wang Jianqiang's expression steadied as he listed the items.
"Three hundred Tianqing Flowers, one hundred Seven-Star Grasses, one hundred Spirit Fruits, one hundred Dragon-Pattern Herbs."
Dong Yue paused at the list.
These were precisely the materials for Foundation Establishment Pills. Could it be…
She glanced at him. "You've become a Second-Grade Alchemist?"
Wang Jianqiang nodded with a smile. "Just broke through not long ago. I was about to tell you. I wonder if you can now sell me the Foundation Establishment Pill recipe, as you promised?"
Hearing this, Dong Yue's heart leapt with excitement.
He had really become a Second-Grade Alchemist!
If his talent for refining Perfect Pills extended to Second Grade, then he could refine Perfect Foundation Pills—his chance of establishing a foundation would skyrocket!
And once he formed his foundation, his lifespan would double.
That would give him ample time to progress further.
As long as he reached High Second-Grade Alchemist, the injury that had crippled her cultivation for over a century might finally be cured!
Caught up in her thoughts, Dong Yue froze for a moment.
Wang Jianqiang's heart tensed.
Don't tell me she's going back on her word?
He couldn't help but call out, "Elder Dong?"
Hearing him, Dong Yue snapped back to herself.
Wang Jianqiang cleared his throat, a little nervous. "Elder Dong, you promised me—you said once I became a Second-Grade Alchemist, you'd make an exception and sell me the recipe. You're not going to take it back, are you?"
"Of course not."
Dong Yue smiled, waved her hand, and a jade slip floated above the desk.
"This contains the recipe for the Foundation Establishment Pill."
Wang Jianqiang's eyes lit up, though he didn't grab it immediately.
Dong Yue waved her hand again.
A large amount of herbs floated out, hovering in front of him.
"These are the ingredients you asked for."
"The recipe and materials together cost two million spirit stones."
Wang Jianqiang nodded, then pulled out a large pile of items.
There were magical artifacts, pills, and spare crafting and alchemy materials.
All were spoils he had taken from storage bags inside the secret realm.
He didn't need them, so this was the perfect chance to trade them for spirit stones.
"Elder Dong, please appraise these—how much are they worth?"
After calculating, Dong Yue looked up. "They total one million six hundred thousand spirit stones."
Wang Jianqiang nodded, then added another four hundred thousand spirit stones.
He quickly stored away the Foundation Pill recipe and supplementary materials, cupped his fists in farewell to Dong Yue, and left the hall in a rush.
As she watched him go, Dong Yue's expression shifted several times.
At last, as if reaching a decision, her gaze steadied.
"Looks like tonight, I'll have to sit down and have a proper talk with him."