After a period of dedicated learning, he had a clear understanding of Foundation Building.
Foundation Building, in essence, is the establishment of the foundation for the Dao. Only after completing Foundation Building can one be considered to have taken the first step on the Cultivation Path.
All the cultivation before reaching Foundation Building, even before entering the Foundation Building phase, is considered preparation for this crucial step.
From the Foundation Building phase until the formation of the Golden Core, the entire process is focused on laying the groundwork for the future Dao. Thus, the cultivation during the Foundation Building phase emphasizes solidifying the foundation, rather than hastily advancing in cultivation levels.
In the Foundation Building phase, it's a common practice to concentrate on strengthening the foundation, and the advancement in cultivation levels should not be rushed.
For many cultivators today, advancing one level is already considered fortunate. Establishing a solid foundation is even more challenging since only a few Foundation Building cultivators have the hope of reaching higher realms.
During the Qi Cultivation phase, cultivators can only absorb the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth and use it in simple ways, termed as Spiritual Energy. However, this Spiritual Energy is not entirely their own, and its effectiveness is limited.
Upon entering the Foundation Building phase, cultivators refine all their Spiritual Energy, integrating it into themselves to become Spiritual Power. Spiritual Power and the cultivator become inseparable, and its use is dependent on one's mind.
Spiritual Power represents a more advanced state than Spiritual Energy. While Spiritual Energy is in a gaseous state, Spiritual Power is liquid. The density of Spiritual Power is several times or even hundreds of times greater than that of Spiritual Energy for the same volume.
Therefore, during successful Foundation Building, when Spiritual Energy transforms into liquid Spiritual Power, absorbing a large amount of Spirit Qi is essential. The concentration of Spirit Qi in the surroundings directly influences the quality of Foundation Buildingthe more Spirit Qi absorbed, the more solid the foundation.
Most cultivators during Foundation Building search for places with abundant Spirit Qi. When successful, the absorption of Spirit Qi not only fortifies the foundation but also triggers the flow of Spirit Qi in the vicinity.
Each peak at the Qingxu Sect has secret rooms specifically designed for Foundation Building, available for rent with some contribution points.
However, he planned to conduct his Foundation Building secretly and wouldn't rent a secret room.
He found another formation in the Jade Scroll, the Transmutation Array. By having enough Spirit Stones and using the formation, he could release the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stones, turning it into Spirit Qi and filling the air. Setting up this array in the Cultivation Room, along with a pile of Spirit Stones, would naturally create a rich Spirit Qi environment.
As Spirit Qi is densest in the Cultivation Room and with the concealment of the courtyard's formation, the flow of Spirit Qi during successful Foundation Building wouldn't be noticed.
According to the Jade Scroll, using the Transmutation Array would require approximately ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones. He currently had over forty thousand Spirit Stones, which should be sufficient.
However, he thought, the more abundant the Spirit Qi, the better. He decided to get more Spirit Stones, just to be safe.
He went to the market under the Heavenly Authority Peak. This time, he didn't use the Misty Illusion Mask for disguise but directly entered a seemingly powerful Elixir shop.
He had previously learned that this shop was just the right sizenot too small to handle much merchandise, and not too large to potentially overshadow him.
The shop owner was a Foundation Building cultivator who usually wasn't in the shop, employing a junior disciple to manage the business.
"Senior, may I help you find an Elixir?" A middle-aged cultivator warmly greeted Wang Hong as soon as he entered.
"I would like to sell some Elixirs. Are you interested in purchasing?" Wang Hong inquired.
"May I know which Elixirs you wish to sell? Our buying prices are slightly lower than retail prices, as we need to make a profit."
Qingxu Sect primarily focused on Alchemy, and many disciples practiced it. It was common for cultivators to bring their own refined Elixirs to sell to the shops.
However, some disciples insisted on selling at retail prices, not considering that the shop owners also needed to earn Spirit Stones. So, the shopkeeper clarified this in advance.
"I understand that," Wang Hong replied, well aware of the business aspect.
Taking out a bottle of Elixir from his Storage Bag, he handed it to the middle-aged cultivator.
The middle-aged cultivator took the Jade vial, opened the lid, and probed inside with his Divine Sense. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, looking surprised.
"This... Is this your Refinement?"
"How is that possible? I'm just a Qi Cultivation Disciple; how could I refine a second-tier Elixir? This is something my Master asked me to handle for him."
As Wang Hong spoke, he wore a proud expression on his face.
"May I ask, who is your esteemed Master?" The middle-aged cultivator asked cautiously.
"Of course, my Master is Elder Gu from Kaiyang Peak!"
At this moment, Wang Hong spoke with confidence, an air of arrogance about him, displaying a demeanor of having a significant background.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother. With such a distinguished Master, your future on the Dao is undoubtedly promising."
The middle-aged cultivator complimented with envy on his face. With years of experience, he knew that flattering a person , praising them a bit, and then getting down to business would make transactions smoother.
After a few more compliments, the middle-aged cultivator finally got to the point.
"The Nourishing Essence Pill currently has a market value of two hundred and eighty Spirit Stones per pill. I can offer you two hundred and twenty, how about it?"
"It seems you're not serious about the purchase. Well then, I'll have to look elsewhere for these two hundred pills of Nourishing Essence Pill."
Wang Hong thought, "You really think I'm a fool," and made a show of leaving.
"Senior Brother, please wait. Let's discuss this. Do you really have two hundred pills of Nourishing Essence Pill?"
The middle-aged cultivator's eyes gleamed at the mention of two hundred pills. This was a significant deal, the kind that could sustain a business for three years with one sale.
"And how about two hundred and five?" Wang Hong shook his head, about to leave again.
"Two hundred and six!"
"Two hundred and seven!"
"Fine, I'll sell them to you. I find you quite congenial."
Wang Hong finally stopped, taking out a dozen more pill bottles.
"But let me warn you of one thing. This matter must be kept confidential. Don't mention it to anyone. Originally, my Master asked me to handle this quietly. It shouldn't be publicized. I accidentally let it slip just now."
"You can rest assured. Even if you give me ten times the courage, I wouldn't dare plot against a Golden Core cultivator behind their back." The middle-aged cultivator assured, patting his chest.
"As long as you keep the secret well, whenever there's something similar in the future, I'll sell it to you." After the threat, Wang Hong added a temptation.
"Absolutely, I promise. If you have anything in the future, just bring it to me. I will keep my mouth shut."
After confirming the number of Elixirs and Spirit Stones, Wang Hong completed the transaction.
With an additional fifty-four thousand Spirit Stones, combined with the previous amount, he now had a total of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. This should be more than enough for his Foundation Building, considering that the Jade Scroll mentioned ten to twenty thousand would suffice.
His approach to selling the Nourishing Essence Pill was carefully planned. Shops that could manage second-tier Spiritual Herbs were typically owned by Foundation Building cultivators. Wang Hong had little confidence in the Misty Illusion Mask; if someone saw through it, it could lead to trouble.
Rather than risk exposure, he decided to openly sell under the name of Gu Qingyang. After all, he was genuinely Gu Qingyang's disciple, and a little coercion and temptation followed.
Most Foundation Building cultivators operated shops to gain resources. Since he now had Nourishing Essence Pills, suitable for Foundation Building cultivators, the cultivator would likely use them personally and refrain from selling them again to avoid attracting attention.
Moreover, once the Foundation Building cultivator benefited, a little inquiry would reveal that Wang Hong was Gu Qingyang's disciple. This would dispel any doubts about the authenticity of the matter. After all, a Qi Cultivation Disciple wouldn't possess so many Nourishing Essence Pills, and only a Golden Core cultivator's actions could make sense.
Wang Hong was confident that Gu Qingyang wouldn't learn of this. Even if he did, Wang Hong was prepared to handle it discreetly.
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