“Chen Ping?”

The voice came from outside the cave dwelling. It was flat, carrying an unmistakable note of condescension.

Chen Ping deactivated the defensive restrictions and stepped out, cupping his hands in a formal greeting.

“That is me. May I ask what instructions Senior Brother Deacon has?”

“It’s regarding your Foundation Establishment Pill exchange.”

The young deacon in Inner Sect robes didn’t waste time on pleasantries. His expression was as placid as a stagnant pond.

“There are no pills available. We cannot issue one to you at this time.”

Chen Ping’s heart sank, though his face remained a mask of calm.

“Might I ask why, Senior Brother? The Sect regulations are clear: submitting sufficient main ingredients entitles a disciple to exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill.”

The young deacon glanced at him. For a fleeting second, his eyes betrayed a mix of pity and cold indifference.

“Regulations are regulations. However, the refinement and distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills follow their own internal procedures. The current stockpile in the vault is limited. We must prioritize Core Disciples and those who have made significant contributions to the Sect. Ordinary Outer Disciples like you… simply have to wait in line.”

“And how long is this line?” Chen Ping pressed.

“Well…”

The deacon dragged out the syllable, pretending to calculate.

“It’s hard to say. It could be a few months. It could be… several years. After all, there are many Senior Brothers and Sisters with more seniority and greater contributions than you waiting in the queue.”

Chen Ping’s heart hit the floor.

He understood. This wasn’t a delay; it was a soft rejection.

“Waiting in line” was a polite way of saying “never.” The queue would last until he died of old age.

He fell silent for a moment, his mind racing, before looking up.

“Senior Brother, you didn’t come all this way just to tell me to wait, did you?”

The corner of the deacon’s mouth twitched—a micro-expression of satisfaction. He seemed pleased that Chen Ping wasn’t an idiot.

“Indeed. The Sect considers the burning desire you new disciples have for the Dao. Therefore, we are offering you two choices.”

He raised a finger.

“First, you continue to wait. When the Alchemy Hall refines a new batch, and your turn comes up according to the procedures, you will receive your pill. As for the timeline… like I said, it’s unpredictable.”

“Second!”

He paused, scrutinizing Chen Ping’s face for a reaction.

“You can choose to transfer your ‘quota’ for this exchange to the Li Family. As compensation, the Li Family will provide you with a generous package of resources—enough to offset your loss and ensure your cultivation in the Qi Condensation stage is smoother than ever. You can negotiate the specifics directly with their representative. This way, you skip the endless wait and gain immediate, tangible benefits.”

So that’s how it is.

A chill ran through Chen Ping’s veins, followed by a surge of disgust and rage. He clamped down on the emotions instantly, suffocating the fire before it reached his eyes.

He should have anticipated this.

The “queue” was a fabrication. A shakedown.

The true purpose was to force Outer Disciples—those with no background, who had risked their lives to gather herbs—to “voluntarily” surrender their path to advancement. The beneficiaries? The scions of powerful clans within the Sect.

Like this so-called Li Family.

If he chose the first path, his file would be buried at the bottom of the stack forever. The pill would never come.

The second path was humiliating, but it offered a payout. It prevented a total loss. As for Foundation Establishment…

He would have to find another way.

Chen Ping lowered his gaze, hiding the cold calculation in his eyes.

He didn’t scream. He didn’t demand justice.

In a world where the strong ate the weak, indignation was a useless luxury.

He needed capital. He needed resources to plan his next move.

“Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother.”

Chen Ping’s voice was void of emotion.

“I choose the second path. Please arrange a meeting with the Li Family.”

The deacon nodded, not surprised in the slightest.

“A wise man submits to circumstances. Wait here. The Li Family representative will arrive shortly.”

With that, he turned and left, his job done.

The next day, the restrictions outside the cave dwelling flickered again.

This time, the visitor was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in expensive brocade robes. He had a fair complexion and a warm, amiable smile plastered on his face. Behind him stood a servant clutching a jade box.

The man’s aura was steady—Qi Condensation Perfection.

“Junior Brother Chen, apologies for the intrusion.”

The man beamed, radiating exaggerated politeness.

“I am Li Mao, an Elder of the Li Family. I heard of Junior Brother’s righteousness—willing to yield the Foundation Establishment Pill quota to my family. I am immensely grateful!”

His posture was humble, his words dripping with gratitude and respect. He showed none of the arrogance typical of clan elders.

Chen Ping sneered internally but forced a flustered, overwhelmed expression onto his face. He hurriedly returned the bow.

“Senior Brother Li, you flatter me! Please, come in.”

He ushered Li Mao and his servant into the sparse dwelling.

The cave was bare, furnished only with a rough stone table and stools.

Li Mao sat down without complaint. His servant respectfully placed the jade box on the table.

“Junior Brother Chen is a straightforward man, so I won’t beat around the bush.”

Li Mao dropped the smile, his expression turning serious.

“A single Foundation Establishment Pill is a matter of grave importance. For the Li Family, it represents one more hope for a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Since Junior Brother understands the greater picture, my Li Family will absolutely not shortchange you.”

He signaled the servant to open the box.

The interior was divided into three compartments.

The first was filled to the brim with spirit stones—two thousand sparkling, translucent Low-grade Spirit Stones, their Qi humming in the air.

The second compartment held three small porcelain bottles.

“These are three bottles of ‘Essence Condensation Pills’, thirty in total,” Li Mao explained. “They are incredibly potent for refining spiritual power and stabilizing cultivation in the late stages of Qi Condensation. On the market, a single pill is hard to find.”

The third compartment contained a single jade slip.

“This slip records the cultivation insights and breakthrough experiences of one of my ancestors before he reached Foundation Establishment. It is not a technique, but the wisdom contained within could be crucial when you attempt to break through in the future.”

Li Mao looked at Chen Ping, his eyes sincere.

“Two thousand Spirit Stones. Thirty Essence Condensing Pills. One set of Foundation Establishment notes. This is the Li Family’s sincerity. What does Junior Brother think? If you feel it is lacking, please speak. Anything within my authority is negotiable.”

Chen Ping looked down at the box.

The offer was objectively good.

Spirit Stones were hard currency. The pills were high-quality supplements for his current level. The notes, while likely generic, had some value.

For a normal Outer Disciple with no backing, this was a windfall. It was far more than the market value of the herbs themselves.

The Li Family was trying to buy his silence and compliance with a “fair” price, projecting an image of generosity.

But to Chen Ping? It was trash.

Spirit Stones? He could grow valuable herbs and sell them.

Pills? With the Black Earth space, he could mass-produce resources.

Specifically, the Essence Condensation Pills. They were merely Tier 1 pills, slightly better than the standard fare. To him, they were tasteless scraps. Useless.

“I don’t want any of this.”

Chen Ping shook his head and pushed the jade box back across the stone table.

Li Mao’s heart sank.

These items were the best liquid assets he could mobilize immediately. Compared to a Foundation Establishment Pill, there was a gap in value, yes, but he had thought the quantity would make up for it.

Chen Ping’s blunt refusal made him panic. Did the boy change his mind?

However, as a seasoned clan negotiator, Li Mao kept his cool.

“May I ask what Junior Brother has in mind?” Li Mao asked carefully. “Feel free to name your price. A trade is only successful when both parties are satisfied.”

Li Mao was nearly fifty. He had attempted Foundation Establishment once before, with the full support of his family.

He had failed.

This was his second, and likely final, attempt. If he missed this chance, his path to the Dao would end here. He was desperate.

Chen Ping smiled, a sharp glint in his eyes.

“These items are truly useless to me. However… there is one thing I need. Something that should be within your power to provide.”

Li Mao’s gaze sharpened. He subconsciously smoothed his hair.

“Please, speak frankly.”

Chen Ping nodded. He raised a single finger.

“I want the formula. The complete… Foundation Establishment Pill Formula!”