Chapter 192 - 135: Foundation Establishment Pill Exposed, Alchemist Zhuang’s Guarantee

Chapter 192: Chapter 135: Foundation Establishment Pill Exposed, Alchemist Zhuang’s Guarantee

In other words,

he had now become the focus of many people’s attention. As long as he didn’t try to break through to Foundation Establishment using a Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill, he would be highly sought after by many Cultivators the moment he left Qinghe Marketplace.

"How did this happen?" Chen Jianghe asked with a frown. "Who leaked the information?"

"Regarding the news about refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, only I, Xinyan, Ruxu, you, Ruan Tieniu, and Ji Wujin knew."

"Ruxu wouldn’t spread it, and Xinyan hasn’t even left the courtyard."

"You should understand, Fellow Daoist. Since this concerns that special Foundation Establishment Pill Formula, I would never leak any information about refining the Foundation Establishment Pill."

Alchemist Zhuang looked helpless.

Chen Jianghe nodded. He believed Alchemist Zhuang. That Foundation Establishment Pill Formula was something that could cost the alchemist and his granddaughter their lives. There was no way he would leak it.

And Ruan Tieniu was no fool, either.

If word got out, he would be the first one to be captured and subjected to a Soul Search.

Besides, Ruan Tieniu had failed his first Foundation Establishment attempt and was still hoping for a second try, so he had even less reason to leak the news.

"It was Ji Wujin!" Chen Jianghe said.

Alchemist Zhuang nodded. Ji Wujin was indeed the only one who could have leaked the information.

"Ji Wujin hasn’t reached Foundation Establishment yet. He’s just a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Puppet Master. What good would leaking this information do him?"

Alchemist Zhuang’s question sent Chen Jianghe into deep thought.

Alchemist Zhuang couldn’t understand Ji Wujin’s actions either.

Now that the news of him refining a Foundation Establishment Pill had leaked, everyone in the Marketplace knew he was a Tier Two Alchemist.

And a newly promoted one at that.

This meant his price for refining Tier Two Spirit Pills would surely be cheaper, which attracted numerous Cultivators to seek his services.

Almost every day, several Cultivators would show up.

At first, Alchemist Zhuang would still open the door and explain to people that he hadn’t refined a Foundation Establishment Pill and wasn’t a Tier Two Alchemist.

But how could any of those Cultivators believe him?

After this happened a few more times, Alchemist Zhuang simply stopped opening the door, letting the Cultivators knock a few times on the door knocker before they eventually grew tired of waiting and left.

It was true that he could refine Tier Two Spirit Pills.

But he wasn’t a fool.

If he started refining Tier Two Spirit Pills for people at a low price now, he would offend the other Tier Two Alchemists in the Marketplace.

He didn’t have many years left to live and couldn’t afford to bring trouble upon his granddaughter and disciple.

Even if he were to help people refine Tier Two Spirit Pills, he would have to wait until the Tier Two Alchemist conference, pay his respects to the other Tier Two Alchemists, settle on a price, and only then talk about refining services.

The Tier Two Alchemist conference was held once every ten years, and the next one was still four years away.

During this period, Alchemist Zhuang could only help people refine Tier One Spiritual Pills. As for Tier Two Spirit Pills, he could only refine them privately for friends.

’As for privately helping those other Cultivators? Would that even count as private? Could any secret be kept?’

"No, that’s not right. It might not have been Ji Wujin. There’s still an ’Away’ sign hanging on his courtyard gate."

Chen Jianghe thought for a moment before saying to Alchemist Zhuang, "If it were Ji Wujin, the news that he possesses a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill would also attract unwanted attention. He wouldn’t dare to leave his home."

"Not Ji Wujin?"

Alchemist Zhuang frowned.

’Then who else could be so familiar with the matter of crowdfunding the alchemy?’

"Regardless of who leaked the information, Fellow Daoist, it’s best you don’t leave Qinghe Marketplace before you reach Foundation Establishment," Alchemist Zhuang said with concern.

Chen Jianghe nodded.

’Although the reason for this concern was complex, it was concern nonetheless—a worry for his safety.’

"By the way, there is one more thing I’d like to ask you, Alchemist Zhuang, but it’s a bit forward, so I hesitate to speak."

"Oh? Fellow Daoist, please say whatever is on your mind. The friendship between us has long since gone beyond a simple business transaction," Alchemist Zhuang looked at Chen Jianghe with curiosity, then spoke with a serious tone.

His friendship with Chen Jianghe had indeed deepened considerably and could no longer be described by the simple word ’transaction’.

He had entrusted both his granddaughter and his disciple to Chen Jianghe, a clear sign of his trust in him.

"Very well. If I overstep, I hope Alchemist Zhuang will forgive me."

Chen Jianghe paused for a moment, then asked, "I wish to know if the Pill Formula that Ruan Tieniu traded had a change regarding the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, one of the three main ingredients."

Alchemist Zhuang was stunned by the question.

He hadn’t expected Chen Jianghe to ask about the Foundation Establishment Pill Formula, something he considered the very foundation for his family’s future prosperity.

Naturally, the fewer people who knew about it, the better.

Alchemist Zhuang fell into contemplation, seemingly conflicted about whether to tell Chen Jianghe. After all, the future safety of his granddaughter and disciple was at stake.

Seeing Alchemist Zhuang’s silence, Chen Jianghe didn’t press the issue and simply waited quietly.

Yun Xiaoniu was a nephew he cared for deeply. To get Yun Xiaoniu a share, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask Alchemist Zhuang.

Even if Alchemist Zhuang refused to say, it wouldn’t strain the relationship between them.

「A short while later.」

Alchemist Zhuang first cupped his hands and said, "Forgive me, Fellow Daoist. This concerns the future of the Zhuang Family, so I had to be cautious. It’s not that I think you would spread the word."

"Alchemist Zhuang, you speak too gravely. Please rest assured, I will not reveal a single word of this to anyone," Chen Jianghe added with a chuckle, "After I reach Foundation Establishment, I still have to protect Fellow Daoist Jiang and Fellow Daoist Zhuang for thirty years. Why would I go looking for trouble for myself?"

Hearing this, Alchemist Zhuang felt even more at ease.

"As you know, Fellow Daoist, the three main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill are the Purple Mist Red Fruit, the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, and the Illusion Heart Grass."

"There are many Foundation Establishment Pill Formulas, but most of them only change or reduce the auxiliary materials to simplify the difficulty of refining the Foundation Establishment Pill."

"The formula Ruan Tieniu traded to me, however, involves changing a main ingredient. It can be replaced with a Spiritual Object of similar effect."

At this point, Alchemist Zhuang looked at Chen Jianghe with a solemn gaze and said, "The substitute for the Profound Ice Jade Marrow is a Tier Two Ice Spirit Core."

"Then if one has Profound Ice Jade Marrow, can they still refine a Foundation Establishment Pill using this formula?" Chen Jianghe asked hastily.

"Haha... of course you can! And the effect will be even better. The Pill Success Rate will be higher, and the quality will also improve."

"You must understand, Fellow Daoist, a substitute is just a substitute. It can’t compare to the original required Spiritual Object," Alchemist Zhuang laughed and explained the pharmacology of the Alchemy Dao to Chen Jianghe.

Chen Jianghe didn’t understand pharmacology, but he did understand that a Foundation Establishment Pill refined with Profound Ice Jade Marrow would have a better effect and higher quality.

Alchemist Zhuang had managed to refine one Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill using a Tier Two Ice Spirit Core as a substitute.

’If he used Profound Ice Jade Marrow, could he possibly refine two?’

Since he was planning to help Yun Xiaoniu organize a crowdfunded alchemy attempt, he would definitely try to secure a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill for this favored junior.

Although, for someone whose Physical Body and Spirit had not reached Perfection, the effects of a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill and a Low-Quality Foundation Establishment Pill were the same.

Both would only serve to save one’s life.

The rest was up to luck.

But luck was a matter of metaphysics. An extra ten percent ’success rate’ would make one psychologically more confident in successfully reaching Foundation Establishment.

"What? Fellow Daoist, you have Profound Ice Jade Marrow on you!" Alchemist Zhuang asked in surprise.

When it came to Chen Jianghe, Alchemist Zhuang was both surprised and curious.

The once-humble Fisherman and Farmer had actually come this far, not only organizing a crowdfunded refining of a Foundation Establishment Pill, but also repeatedly obtaining hard-to-find Spiritual Objects.

It was simply incredible.

"I suppose you could say that." Chen Jianghe thought for a moment and nodded at Alchemist Zhuang.

"Could it be that this Profound Ice Jade Marrow is related to Fairy Peiyao?" Alchemist Zhuang asked, his curiosity piqued again.

"Er... that is indeed the case."

Chen Jianghe wasn’t lying to Alchemist Zhuang.

Yun Xiaoniu had the Profound Ice Jade Marrow, and his only path was to crowdfund the alchemy.

So, it was as good as being in his own hands.

As for its connection to Gao Peiyao? Of course it was connected—it was the precious gift Gao Peiyao had given to Yun Xiaoniu.

"Mm... Good, excellent!"

When Alchemist Zhuang heard the Profound Ice Jade Marrow had come from Gao Peiyao, his face instantly broke into a wide grin, his dense wrinkles blooming like a flower.

He thought to himself that he had still underestimated the relationship between Chen Jianghe and Gao Peiyao.

’It’s definitely more than just childhood friends.’

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist. If you can gather the other two main ingredients, with this Profound Ice Jade Marrow, I guarantee I can refine two Genuine Foundation Establishment Pills."