“Who told you not to listen to me? You’re just digging your own grave.”
Ao Tian grumbled and muttered.
Serves you right!
That silly girl has nothing but women on her mind.
Sooner or later, she’ll fall at the hands of a woman.
“Wuwuwu, stop scolding me, stop scolding me! How was I supposed to know there wasn’t a single normal person in this cursed place?”
“And you’re one to talk. You’re not much better yourself. Planning to run away already? Don’t tell me you’re scared of her?”
The Phoenix Hatchling poked its beak and kept fanning the flames.
“This isn’t about fear! Am I really supposed to duel Xun Ran three years from now over some man!?”
Ji Shiyu’s gaze was incredulous.
Yun Liu, as the “iron brother,” supported the annulment with all four limbs, absolutely in favor.
No man could tolerate this kind of humiliation!
Rather than say she was indignant, it was more accurate to say this was exactly what she wanted.
Honestly, the further Xun Ran is from that dog of a man, the better.
After a breakup, of course she’d need comforting. And in the process, a little cuddling and kissing is only natural.
Seizing the chance to swoop in—wouldn’t that be perfect?
But could you at least pick a better time, you brat?
This timing is absolutely the worst!
“So what if the engagement’s off? What’s it got to do with me? These days, even the cultivation world promotes free love. No one cares about arranged marriages anymore!”
Huangmao cursed under her breath.
Great, now the misunderstanding has escalated straight to a blood feud over a stolen man—irreconcilable hatred.
Seriously, what the hell!
Ao Tian scoffed, “You’re already thinking of running away over something so trivial? That’s all you’re good for, and you still dream of collecting the Fortune of the Nine Provinces and becoming the Heavenly Fate Girl?”
“It’s not like you’re the one being wronged. Of course you can say that so easily!”
Ji Shiyu pouted, feeling utterly aggrieved.
She’d barely stepped out the door and already stepped in dog poop.
If she had to slink back home and apologize to her mother like this, she’d never live it down…
While she was tangled up in her thoughts, Huangmao and her servant suddenly heard rumors that the legendary Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill had appeared, and right here in Mist City.
Even though she’d snuck out behind her family’s back, Ji Shiyu was never short on money.
She’d originally planned to commission Shanhai Pavilion to reserve an Earth-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, but hearing there was an even better option, she had no choice but to come.
That short, chubby steward rambled on for ages, as was custom, singing praises for the product as if nothing in heaven or earth could compare.
Only after the crowd’s heckling did he finally get to the point.
A serving girl presented a black box.
In an instant, a unique fragrance filled the hall.
The scent of orchid and ganoderma refreshed everyone’s mind, drawing all attention.
“The pill fragrance is rich, spirit energy surges—top quality!”
“That’s a Heaven-grade spirit medicine?”
The entire auction house fell silent.
Everyone held their breath, eyes blazing.
“It really is a Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. The timing is just too perfect.”
Both the timing and the location were suspiciously convenient, as if tailor-made for Ji Shiyu.
Huangmao’s eyes flickered, deep in thought.
Ao Tian never believed in coincidence.
First, that strange phenomenon in the sky, then Yun Liu heading out, and on top of that, those bottles of top-grade Spirit-Guiding Water.
If nothing went wrong, Yun Liu was probably lurking somewhere in the pavilion, watching from the shadows—this had to be his handiwork!
A Heaven-grade spirit medicine appearing at the foot of Sea of Clouds Peaks Forest was already odd enough.
Alchemists capable of refining such pills were usually famous, either local overlords or clan enshrinees with high status.
They’d never need to auction their wares publicly—far beneath their dignity.
Unless someone was in urgent need of money, maybe desperately gathering materials to repair their qi sea with a Backtracking Pill.
Then, it wouldn’t be strange to make a quick sale in a small place like this.
“That’s right, being lucky beats being early. I was just worrying about finding a suitable Foundation Establishment Pill. This one is mine!”
Ji Shiyu blinked, eyes glued to the black box on stage, determined to win.
“Idiot~!”
Ao Tian sighed, not bothering to explain.
His estimation of Yun Liu rose another notch, though he felt a bit regretful.
With Shiyu’s intelligence, she’d probably already forgotten what she missed out on—she had no idea.
If things were really as Xun Ran thought, Yun Liu could have easily won favor with this Foundation Establishment Pill. Seems he really doesn’t care for this silly girl.
What a pity…
Whether or not she’s a Child of Destiny, Ao Tian felt more and more that those two were a perfect match, complementing each other.
Maybe this ridiculous farce was the start of a fated blessing?
Some took advantage of an opening, only to be counterattacked.
Some fished in troubled waters, boldly reeling in their catch.
In truth, Yun Liu was even more ruthless than Ao Tian guessed.
Not only did he have no fondness for Huangmao, he was planning to wring every last benefit from her.
Though the annulment had a little “accident,” it didn’t affect his plan to lay low at all.
Yun Liu had it all figured out: once he returned to the sect, he’d quickly settle his affairs, immediately resign from Master and bid farewell to his fellow disciples, then buy a nice mountain with good feng shui and enjoy retirement.
First break off the engagement, then leave the sect, stay far away from the main cast, retire early and live a leisurely life!
He’d cultivate spirit gardens and herb gardens on the mountain, live self-sufficiently, lie around all day as a mountain king among rogue cultivators, and maybe trick some beautiful stranger who never appeared in the main story to be his wife.
Perfect!
A blissful life awaited—what a future!
While Yun Liu was lost in these beautiful dreams, the Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was displayed and handed over to Shanhai Pavilion for auction.
The girl in purple, after some thought, glanced at the calm white-robed youth and decided to start the bidding at fifty thousand spirit stones.
As it turned out, that price was not high at all.
The four corners of the hall quickly joined in, raising the bids by hundreds and thousands of spirit stones without a care.
Clearly, this year’s new students were quite wealthy.
“Seventy thousand!”
“Seventy-five thousand!”
***
As the price climbed higher, fewer people competed. Many shook their heads and gave up.
A hundred thousand spirit stones was already a terrifying sum for a second-grade spirit medicine.
Given the Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill’s unique power to break through, it was the ceiling of its class, even pricier than many top-tier pills.
For ordinary cultivators, buying a high-grade Artifact would boost their strength more.
The Earth-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was already cost-effective enough—it would do.
As the auction house fell into silence, a slightly chubby middle-aged man in the upper seats rose and thanked everyone for their bids, looking very pleased with his own wealth.
For his precious daughter, Xiao Wang never hesitated to spend, no matter how much it hurt.
This time, Heaven truly favored Xun Ran, solving a major problem.
He’d have to properly thank that mysterious alchemist who happened to pass through Mist City.
If nothing went wrong, the Xiao Family Little Princess would soon receive the Heaven-grade Foundation Establishment Pill—no surprise there.
Good news travels slow, bad news travels fast.
Whispered gossip filled the hall. If it weren’t for that incident, the Xiao Family would be even happier right now.
Hiding in the corner, Ji Shiyu still hadn’t made her move.
Seeing this, her expression turned troubled.
“If there are no further bids…”
Ao Tian jumped up and pecked Ji Shiyu hard on the forehead, scolding, “Are you brain-dead? They’re about to call it! If you don’t want to ascend, I do! This concerns both our futures. Did a crystal bug crawl into your brain? Besides, you haven’t even stolen her man yet—at least wait until you have before feeling guilty!”
“Don’t rush me, I never said I’d let her have it!”
Ji Shiyu rubbed her forehead, steadying herself.
Building the Innate Spiritual Foundation was no small matter—there couldn’t be the slightest flaw.
Even a tiny gap would widen during future cultivation.
With the talents of both Huangmao and the female lead, neither was willing to miss out on a perfect Foundation Establishment.