Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Primary Ingredient of the Foundation Establishment Pill

The auction continued until dusk before finally ending.

During that time, Li Chang’an had successfully bid on a total of eight auxiliary medicines for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

The most expensive was the Seven-Night Flower.

The cheapest was a medicinal liquid called Cyan Bamboo Liquid, which only cost sixty Spirit Stones.

’I spent over a thousand Spirit Stones in total, which is within my budget.’

Although the Foundation Establishment Pill required many auxiliary medicines, the vast majority were cheap and easy to obtain.

Only a few were particularly rare.

…

After the auction concluded,

Li Chang’an recalled his five Puppets and stored all his new purchases in his Storage Pouch.

’This Talisman Brush is strange. No matter how I look at it, it just seems like an ordinary Tier One Middle Grade Talisman Brush.’

He took out the Talisman Brush and examined it closely.

By now,

Li Chang’an was no longer the destitute, low-level Loose Cultivator he once was.

Over the years,

he had handled numerous Tier One Top Grade Magical Artifacts, and his discerning eye far surpassed that of most Cultivators at his level.

Yet, at this moment, he couldn’t see anything special about this brush at all.

If not for the hint from his divination,

he most likely would have missed out on it.

’The amount of Magical Power it can handle is no different from a regular Middle Grade Talisman Brush either.’

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and gave up on his inspection.

He gripped the Talisman Brush and applied a bit of force.

With his current physical strength, crushing a Talisman Brush wasn’t difficult.

With a CRACK,

a network of fine cracks instantly appeared on the brush’s surface, like chapped skin.

Immediately after,

the black outer fragments trickled off,

revealing a jade-green layer beneath.

’Just as I thought. There was another Talisman Brush hidden inside.’

Li Chang’an gave it a sharp shake, dislodging all the surface fragments.

The Tier Two Talisman Brush within was immediately revealed before his eyes.

The brush was jade-green all over, with a smooth and lustrous surface, as if carved from fine jade. At its end were inscribed the four words “Clear Heart Talisman Brush.”

’Clear Heart Talisman Brush?’

Li Chang’an’s gaze flickered as he examined the entire brush in detail.

After a moment,

he entered the Borrowed State, held the brush, and channeled his Magical Power into it, attempting to paint a Talisman.

The instant his Magical Power flowed in, a faint force fed back from the brush.

In a flash,

Li Chang’an felt his mind clear, and his chaotic thoughts diminished significantly.

’Huh? This brush actually has a Calm Heart and Peaceful Mind effect?’

Li Chang’an was surprised.

As expected of a Tier Two Talisman Brush that came from a Secret Realm.

This effect could help a Talisman Master quickly enter a state of complete focus.

Then,

he began to try Talisman Painting.

The entire process felt divinely guided, as smooth as flowing water—unimaginably fluid. He felt no difficulty whatsoever.

’It’s this easy!’

Li Chang’an grew even more astonished.

His current state was indescribably good.

He even felt he could try to challenge a Tier Two Talisman!

Unfortunately,

he had not yet obtained a Tier Two Talismanic Inheritance.

’I’ve really struck gold this time!’

Li Chang’an stared at the Talisman Brush in his hand, growing happier the more he looked at it.

Next,

he painted more than ten High-quality Top Grade Talismans in one go.

Only then did he stop to rest for a moment.

’This brush also seems to share some of the mental strain. I don’t even feel that tired right now.’

Li Chang’an was all smiles, his mood excellent.

The Spirit Stones spent on this Talisman Brush were absolutely worth it!

…

For the next few months,

Li Chang’an began the Sixth Stage of Body Refining.

His days were primarily spent cultivating, practicing Body Refinement, and painting Talismans, with occasional correspondence with Xu Fugui in Yellow Crane Immortal City.

Recently,

Li Chang’an had asked Xu Fugui to keep an eye out for Elixir Pills and Treasures that could help a Demon Beast break through to Tier Two and to inform him immediately if he heard any news.

Dahuang had already grown to Tier One Peak.

The next step

was to become a Tier Two Great Demon,

a being comparable to a Human Race Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!

But this step was incredibly difficult to cross, no less so than Foundation Establishment itself.

’If Dahuang can break through successfully, I’ll essentially have a Guardian with a Foundation Establishment Cultivation. My own path to Foundation Establishment will become much easier.’

Li Chang’an mused.

He knew this step was difficult, and for now, it was just a thought.

He wouldn’t let Dahuang risk the breakthrough without sufficient Treasures.

Just like Human Race Cultivators, if a Demon Beast failed its breakthrough, it would suffer a backlash and could die on the spot!

’The Profound Water Turtle hasn’t reached Tier One Peak yet, but it’s growing extremely fast. After all, it has a rare Earth Grade Bloodline. Maybe it will be the one to break through to Tier Two first.’

A Demon Beast with an Earth Grade Bloodline,

even without using any Treasures, had a high probability of breaking through to Tier Two as long as it grew up safely.

Unless it was incredibly unlucky,

it wouldn’t fail.

Li Chang’an was now pinning more of his hopes on the Profound Water Turtle.

“Just tell me what you want to eat. Don’t be shy.”

He smiled and patted the Profound Water Turtle’s head.

The Profound Water Turtle understood his meaning.

It had been cultivating diligently recently, absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power and doing its best to tap into its own bloodline potential, never once slacking off.

…

That night.

Midnight.

A new divination appeared before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[You go to the Black Market to sell Talismans. While there, you clash with Zheng Family Elder Zheng Songcheng. You kill him outside the Black Market and discover Dream Soul Grass, a main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, in his Storage Pouch.]

“A main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill?!”

Li Chang’an’s eyes widened, and his calm was instantly shattered.

The Pill Formula for the Foundation Establishment Pill

listed three main ingredients:

Blood Dragon Vine, Purple Jade Ginseng, and Dream Soul Grass.

These three Spirit Medicines corresponded to a Cultivator’s three aspects of Essence, Qi, and Divine, and each one was extremely precious.

Li Chang’an had originally thought it would be impossible to obtain these three Spirit Medicines in Qinghe Marketplace.

But now,

a rare opportunity had presented itself right before his eyes!

HUFF…

Li Chang’an took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing his excitement.

After all, the Treasure wasn’t in his hands yet.

He had to calm down.

’To think Zheng Songcheng’s Storage Pouch would have Dream Soul Grass… It was most likely prepared for Zheng Lingfeng.’

Li Chang’an stared at the divination’s text, thinking to himself.

If this battle went smoothly,

not only would he take a huge step forward on his own path to Foundation Establishment, but he could also slow down Zheng Lingfeng’s progress.

’According to the divination, the battle takes place outside the Black Market. I must be fully prepared and not get careless.’

Previously,

Li Chang’an had been able to eliminate Zhu Gang so easily entirely because he had the help of an Array.

Zheng Songcheng was a much more troublesome enemy than Zhu Gang.

He was, after all, an Elder of a Foundation Establishment Family; his resources and background were bound to be much deeper than Zhu Gang’s.

And without the aid of an Array, Li Chang’an would have to be doubly cautious if he wanted to deal with Zheng Songcheng.

…

「The next day.」

Li Chang’an disguised his aura and headed straight for the Black Market.

As usual, he waited outside the Black Market and controlled his Speed-specialized Puppet to enter and sell some of the Talismans he had accumulated recently.

After that,

he did not leave, but began to wander around inside the Black Market.

’When will Zheng Songcheng arrive?’

Li Chang’an wondered, keeping a constant watch on his surroundings.