Haizhou, the Hu Family estate.

The Great Hall!

When the news arrived, the entire Hu Family erupted in an uproar that didn’t die down for hours.

Not only had Jinyun Valley not canceled their auction, but they had even produced a Foundation Establishment Pill. This, naturally, filled the Hu Family with both shock and rage.

Two people, in particular, were the most vehement.

"What is there to even talk about? Jinyun Valley only has two Foundation Establishment Cultivators. If we march right up to their gates, you’re telling me we can’t flatten the whole place?" a hot-tempered Major Cultivator in red robes snarled hatefully. "Ever since their news got out, our auction has been deserted!"

"The Foundation Establishment Pill came from the Meng Family. Are you willing to go to war with the Meng Family?"

A voluptuous woman standing nearby swept her mocking gaze over the crowd and said:

"I told you all long ago that if you want to build a reputation for the auction, you have to put up some valuable items. But every single one of you was too stingy, and that’s why you gave Jinyun Valley the opening they needed!"

"Hu Xinyi, whose side are you on?!"

The red-robed Major Cultivator, furious from the humiliation, shot to his feet.

"I’m just scolding the fools here!"

The voluptuous woman, filled with exasperation at their incompetence, sneered, "Every one of you is so short-sighted... Besides, even if you flatten Jinyun Valley, do you think customers will come running back to buy your scrap metal? No, they’ll still stay as far away as possible!"

"Before we started this auction, our Hu Family had over two hundred vassal families. Now, we’ve lost thirty percent of them. Hu Chaohong, why don’t you explain exactly why that is?" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"That’s a vicious lie..."

In a fit of pique, the red-robed Major Cultivator kicked and shattered the table in front of him. He clenched his fists, his crimson robes whipping about him like raging flames.

"Looking for a round of Magical Combat?"

The voluptuous woman narrowed her eyes, not backing down in the slightest.

"Enough!"

From his seat at the head of the hall, Hu Haiqing, a man with an ancient-looking face, finally spoke.

The moment he spoke, both the red-robed Major Cultivator and the voluptuous woman suppressed their anger and obediently sat back down.

The other arguing Major Cultivators also immediately fell silent.

"Hu Chaohong, it is your short-sightedness that has led the auction to its current state. A single Foundation Establishment Pill from Jinyun Valley has washed away a year of our preparations. As of today, you are fined twenty years of your stipend, and control of the auction will be handed over to Second Elder Hu Xinyi!"

"...I!"

The red-robed elder’s eyes bulged, but he quickly just cupped his hands and said:

"Yes!"

But, unable to let it go, he added:

"Patriarch, even if you hand it to Hu Xinyi, she’ll be powerless to turn this situation around! Now that Jinyun Valley has produced this Foundation Establishment Pill, their momentum is set. In my opinion, we should just flatten Jinyun Valley to solve this once and for all. It would also serve as a warning to others!"

"Which is precisely why you will be the one to redeem yourself!"

Hu Haiqing remained seated, saying coolly:

"Didn’t that Chen Che write back saying that business is just a matter of skill? Then we’ll play by the auction’s rules. We’ll buy everything at their auction—and of course, that includes the Foundation Establishment Pill..."

"How many Spirit Stones would that take?"

Hu Xinyi was also taken aback.

"Spirit Stones?"

Hu Haiqing gave a cold laugh and said mockingly, "Does my Hu Family need Spirit Stones to buy things? Remember, do it by the book. Even if the Foundation Establishment Pill belongs to the Meng Family, we’ll make them hand it over without being able to find a single fault with our methods."

Upon hearing this, Hu Chaohong’s face lit up with wild joy. He thumped his chest and declared:

"Rest assured, Patriarch, I will definitely bring that Foundation Establishment Pill back!"

...

...

News of the Foundation Establishment Pill spread quickly.

In just seven days, around twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators appeared in the Market, most of them coming to ask about the pill. After confirming the news was true, they would hurry away. The number of visiting Loose Cultivators was countless. On every street and in every alley, it was all anyone could talk about.

But this was only to be expected. Foundation Establishment was the threshold; crossing it meant a Cultivator had completely escaped the bottom rungs of society and could be considered one of the elite.

Even those who weren’t qualified to compete for it felt a sense of participation just by being able to talk about it.

Moreover, more and more Cultivators were rushing over. Foot traffic in the Market surged, reaching an explosive level.

「Early morning.」

Chen Che got out of bed and dressed.

He then picked up the long skirt, bodice, and silk stockings that had fallen to the floor and placed them on the headboard.

A glance from the corner of his eye revealed an exquisite figure, half-hidden by the blankets, with long legs whiter than frost or snow.

He reached out, tucked the corners of the blanket in properly, and only then walked out of the courtyard.

The several hundred disciples in the valley had long since risen for their morning meditation. As the moon set and the sun rose, the Spiritual Qi was at its most abundant, making Cultivation at this time slightly more effective than at any other.

’The impact of this Foundation Establishment Pill is even greater than I imagined!’

Walking out of Jinyun Valley and looking at the Market teeming with people, Chen Che couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

’Of course. Who wouldn’t want their faction to have one more Foundation Establishment expert? Every additional Foundation Establishment Cultivator adds another layer of confidence and security! Even I have already earmarked spots for Hu Yao and Rong Shisan.’

’What if I were to bring out a Dragon Fish Pill...?’

Seeing this scene, an idea suddenly struck Chen Che.

’When the time comes, I could auction one a year, selling three at most. That way, I wouldn’t be stepping on the Primordial Sect’s toes, and I could use the opportunity to build Jinyun Valley’s reputation. If anyone were to ask, I’d just lie and say I found these pills among Ye Jingzhou’s effects.’

’If you don’t believe me, go ask Ye Jingzhou yourself.’

’But this matter must be handled slowly and carefully. Drawing too much attention wouldn’t be good.’

SCREEE!

Just then, the Little Chick swooped through the sky, heading directly for Jinyun Valley. Looking up, Chen Che saw that it had a giant crocodile clutched in its massive talons. Judging by its aura, the crocodile seemed to be at the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm.

’There don’t seem to be giant crocodiles like this in Yunzhou. Did it go somewhere else to catch it...?’

Chen Che was slightly dumbfounded.

Ever since the Little Chick reached Foundation Establishment, the Demon Beasts in this entire region had basically become its food supply.

However, Chen Che had no intention of restraining it; he only forbade it from capturing Demon Beasts that already had owners.