Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 50: Game

"Do you have the ambition to reach Foundation Building?" Yu Hui asked Li An calmly.

Li An hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Reaching Foundation Building is my life's wish, of course I want it."

Two days ago, Xu Qiuhui had reminded him to think about how to handle the Foundation Building Pill. He already understood that this reward from the sect... wouldn't be easy to obtain. Especially a treasure like the Foundation Building Pill. There must be others within the sect who have their eyes on it.

He had already considered two possibilities: if the person who came was of average status, like Xu Qiuhui, he would try to hold onto the Foundation Building Pill. After all, the pill could increase the chances of reaching Foundation Building by 30%, which was extremely important for someone like Li An with average aptitude. Missing this opportunity would require a lot of effort and trouble to obtain another Foundation Building Pill in the future.

But if the person who came had a high status and was obviously someone he couldn't afford to offend, he wouldn't force them to stay. Otherwise, it would only bring trouble upon himself.

Now, it was obvious that the person who came was the latter. Yu Hui, one of the four fake pill elders...

But he wouldn't let her go easily. Playing the game and fighting for enough benefits for himself was the best strategy.

"Your aptitude is only a low-grade Yellow Root," Yu Hui said calmly. "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but with your aptitude, wanting to reach the peak of Qi Refining before the age of sixty is nothing more than a pipe dream. Even in this lifetime, you may not be able to reach that level."

"So, Foundation Building is just an illusion, a dream for you."

Li An's face immediately turned ugly.

"Don't blame me for being hurtful, I'm just considering your future so that you don't miss out on opportunities," Yu Hui said. "If you achieve great merit this time, the sect will give you a Foundation Building Pill and a high-grade Yellow Root cultivation technique. In fact, I can also try to fight for another opportunity for you..."

Li An understood that she was proposing a trade-off. He immediately said, "Please make it clear, Elder."

"You will become an inner disciple and you can become my personal disciple," Yu Hui said calmly, waiting for Li An's response.

Li An began to think.

This old woman... she really is stingy.

Taking Li An as an inner disciple? It seemed like a big opportunity for Li An, but compared to the Foundation Building Pill, it was nothing more than a name. As for her personal instruction... Li An didn't expect it, it was just an empty promise and he didn't care about it at all.

Of course, this name wasn't useless. If it were someone else, having the identity of an inner disciple and being personally instructed by Yu Hui would indeed allow them to walk sideways within the sect.

"This is also for your consideration. If you have no background and possess the Foundation Building Pill, it will be like a death sentence for you. Young man, you should think long-term..." Yu Hui suddenly smiled.

Li An sneered inwardly... she's using both temptation and coercion.

If Li An didn't agree, he would probably end up dead without knowing how...

"Elder, I dare not ask to become an inner disciple and be your personal disciple," Li An thought for a moment and said, "After this battle, I am in a dire financial situation... If I cannot aspire to the path of Foundation Building in this lifetime, I only seek a stable and prosperous life."

Hearing this, Yu Hui couldn't help but be stunned. This kid... actually wants money??

Even Xu Qiuhui was dumbfounded. Is he going crazy? Becoming an inner disciple and receiving the personal instruction of Yu Hui, isn't that more valuable than spirit stones?

"Li An, you need to think clearly. Not only for yourself, but also for Qingxue. If you enter the inner sect, her life will be much better!" Xu Qiuhui couldn't help but remind him.

At that time, Tan Qingxue could also return to the sect and wouldn't have to stay in the market anymore.

Li An sighed, "After this battle, I have no other requests. I only seek wealth and prosperity."

Xu Qiuhui couldn't help but feel frustrated with Li An's stubbornness.

Yu Hui smiled and said, "You have your own ideas, which is also good."

With that, Yu Hui stood up and said, "Speaking of which, my daughter-in-law is from the same batch as you when she entered Xuan Yang Sect. She has always wanted to come and see you, but considering your physical condition, I told her to come in a few days."

"I'll leave now."

After speaking, she left.

Li An frowned slightly. This old woman... she didn't directly give him the spirit stones??

After Yu Hui left, Xu Qiuhui couldn't help but sigh, "Li An, I really can't see through you. You're a smart person, why give up such a good opportunity?"

"Not being able to keep the Foundation Building Pill, but being able to enter the inner sect, isn't that great? You can live a peaceful life with Qingxue, have children, and stay in Xuan Yang Sect. This is a life that many people can't obtain."

Li An said, "Thank you, Senior Sister Xu, but everyone has their own aspirations."

"Alright," Xu Qiuhui didn't say much.

"Senior Sister Xu, I have some doubts..."

Li An asked, "Elder Yu Hui, how could you lack a Foundation Building pill for me?"

Even if a fake pill master cannot refine it themselves, it is not difficult to buy or find someone to refine it!

Xu Qiu Hui said, "Elder Xu has a grandson, you know him, Chen Cheng."

"Junior Brother Chen Cheng's aptitude is weaker. He has already taken two Foundation Building pills consecutively, but he has not been able to successfully build his foundation."

"He is already forty-nine years old. After two failed attempts, his qi and blood will decline. He wants to make a final attempt before he turns fifty, so he urgently needs the one in your hand."

"Time waits for no one."

Li An instantly understood.

Generally speaking, the best age to attempt Foundation Building is before sixty. After sixty, the qi and blood gradually decline, and there are rarely any who can successfully build their foundation after sixty.

Although Chen Cheng is only forty-nine years old, he has failed to build his foundation twice, and his qi and blood already show signs of decline. That's why he is eager to try again.

Even though Yu Hui has the ability and resources to collect spiritual medicines, hire someone to refine them, or buy them, it takes time. How can it be faster than the stock in Li An's hands?

But Li An knows very well that attempting Foundation Building, if it fails twice, the chance of success on the third attempt... is extremely slim, almost impossible!

But if someone has a background and resources, they can try again.

This is reality. With a background, even if Chen Cheng's aptitude is trash, with someone paving the way, he can find the most beautiful woman with the best talent to improve his spiritual roots, and he can even risk his life with several Foundation Building pills.

As for Li An, his identity and strength are not enough. Even if he obtains treasures... he can only give them away!

This is still his merit, after all, he is a hero. Yu Hui is limited by the reputation of Xuan Yang Sect and has to consider face, so it is not easy to directly snatch them.

Otherwise, it would be wishful thinking to get three thousand spirit stones!

...

Another day passed.

Li An's condition improved.

The sect issued an order to commend Li An and held a ceremony, giving him a Foundation Building pill and a scroll of high-grade yellow-ranked cultivation technique. This also marked Li An's smooth landing without any suspicion.

After the ceremony.

Many acquaintances came to visit and congratulate Li An.

"An Ge, you are really amazing!"

Wang Da Zhu was extremely excited. In the past ten years, he was already in his forties and now he is a first-level craftsman in the Refining Hall. His body is very strong, and his cultivation is approaching the seventh level of Qi Refining. It can be said that his future is boundless!

"Brother Li's great achievement will pave the way for a smooth future from now on!"

Zhao Xian Chuan's eyes were filled with envy. He was already middle-aged, and with him was a beautiful young woman, his wife named Wang Yue Zhu.

Wang Yue Zhu has already given birth to a son for Zhao Xian Chuan. At this moment, her eyes also showed a hint of eagerness. Having a friend like Li An with great prospects will also be helpful to them in the future.

"Brother Li, congratulations!"

At this moment, a joyful voice suddenly came. Li An saw that it was Chen Cheng, whom he had met before, accompanied by a woman, who was naturally Mu Qing Wan.

After many years, Chen Cheng's temples already had a few strands of gray hair, and Mu Qing Wan was pregnant, with a big belly.

Li An was quite surprised by this because when Mu Qing Wan and Chen Cheng got married, she wore a bracelet used for guarding against miscarriage. He thought Mu Qing Wan would die young.

But now she is doing well.

Seeing these two people coming, Zhao Xian Chuan, Wang Da Zhu, and others remained calm and didn't say anything.

"Brother Li, congratulations on your great achievement for the sect. From now on, you can soar to the sky."

Chen Cheng appeared extremely enthusiastic and said, "During this time, I have been coming to see you because you were recuperating. I hope you don't mind!"

Li An smiled and said, "Not at all."

"Lady is pregnant, and she came here... Li An is honored and feels uneasy!"

He glanced at Mu Qing Wan.

Mu Qing Wan's beautiful eyes couldn't help but reveal a hint of complexity.

She remembered the scene when they entered Xuan Yang Sect together...

In the blink of an eye, decades have passed, and their destinies have diverged.

"What are you saying, Brother Li!"

Chen Cheng said, "Qing Wan, quickly bring the gift we prepared for Brother Li!"

Mu Qing Wan immediately handed over a storage bag. Chen Cheng took it and handed it to Li An with a smile, saying, "Just a small token of appreciation, please don't refuse, Brother Li!"

Li An took it and glanced at it, feeling clear in his heart!

"Three thousand five hundred spirit stones... Such a generous gift, thank you, thank you!"

He spoke.

He earned more than what he had negotiated with Yu Hui!

Beside him, Wang Da Zhu, Zhao Xian Chuan, and others had their faces greatly changed.

Chen Cheng actually gave Li An so many spirit stones? They don't even have much of a relationship!

"Now that Fellow Daoist Mu is pregnant, I have no way to congratulate Li An. This Foundation Building pill can be considered a gift—please don't refuse, Brother Chen!"

Li An took out the Foundation Building pill and handed it to Chen Cheng with a smile!

"An Ge, you..."

Wang Da Zhu's face turned ugly. This is a Foundation Building pill!

"Ah..."

But Zhao Xian Chuan just sighed. Although he didn't know the details, he guessed that there must be some inside story...

After all, Foundation Building pills are something Li An can't keep in the end!

...

(End of this chapter)