Chen Ping withdrew his consciousness from the Jade Pendant space, returning to the silence of his cave dwelling.

Only then did a thought strike him: ‘I didn’t see Yuan Jingtian or my parents when I got back.’

Almost on cue, a familiar fluctuation rippled through the cave’s protective array. It was a gentle, inquiring ping—a request for entry.

Chen Ping flicked his sleeve to deactivate the restrictions.

His parents, Chen Dahe and Li Xiuying, stood at the entrance. Their faces were etched with parental concern, softened by the relief of completing a long seclusion.

“Ping’er? Is that you?” Chen Dashan stepped inside, scanning the room. “I could have sworn someone was here just now.”

Mother Lin ignored the cave entirely, rushing over to scrutinize her son from head to toe, checking for hidden injuries.

A warmth spread through Chen Ping’s chest. For a moment, the cold calculus of the Li Family negotiation faded. He allowed a genuine smile to surface.

“Father, Mother. You’ve exited seclusion? I had a small matter to attend to earlier, but it’s handled. How did your cultivation go? Any breakthroughs?”

Chen Dashan sighed, shaking his head with a helpless smile.

“It’s not that easy, son. Your mother and I are getting old. The hurdle of the third layer of Qi Condensation… it feels like a wall we can’t climb. We spent two months in deep meditation, but our spiritual power barely budged.”

Mother Lin nodded in agreement. “It’s slow going. If I can reach the late stages of Qi Condensation in this lifetime, I’ll die content.”

Chen Ping froze. His parents’ casual comment triggered an alarm in his mind.

“Two months?” He narrowed his eyes. “Father, Mother, are you certain? You were only in seclusion for two months?”

“Of course.” Chen Dashan looked at him strangely. “We went into seclusion right after you left on your trip. Counting until today… yes, a little over two months. Why? Is something wrong?”

Only two months?!

Chen Ping’s heart hammered against his ribs.

He remembered the Heaven Ascending Ladder vividly. The crushing pressure. The agonizingly slow climb. Every step had felt like an eternity. By his internal clock, he had spent at least half a year struggling in that secret realm.

But the outside world had only moved forward by sixty days.

It wasn’t a hallucination. Cultivators had precise biological clocks; he couldn’t have misjudged six months as two.

There was only one explanation.

Time Dilation.

The space containing the Heaven Ascending Ladder flowed at a different rate than the outside world.

The realization sent a jolt of excitement through him.

This meant the ladder wasn’t just a test—it was a hyperbolic time chamber. One could cultivate there for six months while only losing two months of real-time lifespan. The efficiency was effectively tripled!

‘It’s a pity I can’t take that space with me,’ he thought, suppressing a sigh. ‘It’s anchored to the secret realm.’

“It’s nothing,” Chen Ping lied smoothly, masking his shock. “I lost track of time inside the secret realm. Don’t be discouraged about your progress. Two months is nothing. Take it slow. You’ll break through eventually.”

He quickly changed the subject, asking about the renovations to the cave dwelling.

Chen Dashan’s face lit up.

“Oh, we have Manager Yuan to thank for that! After you left, he came by every few days to work on the place. Look at this floor—smooth bluestone pavement. He carved out new meditation rooms with soundproof wood paneling. He even transplanted cold-resistant flowers outside. It finally feels like a proper home.”

Chen Ping looked around. The difference was stark. The once-crude cave now had a living room, private chambers, and even a small kitchen. Soft light from embedded glowstones bathed the stone walls, and comfortable rattan chairs sat beside the table. The entrance was artfully concealed by vines and rock formations.

“Yuan Jingtian has a good heart,” Chen Ping nodded, impressed. “Where is he, by the way? I haven’t seen him since I returned.”

“He went to the Marketplace,” Chen Dashan explained. “Said he wanted to earn some Spirit Stones.”

Three days passed in a blur of cultivation and waiting.

Chen Ping soon learned that Yuan Jingtian had aspirations of becoming a Talisman Master, which explained his erratic schedule. Chen Ping made a mental note to have a serious talk with his follower about priorities when he returned.

For now, Chen Ping stayed indoors, consolidating his cultivation at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Condensation.

He spent his breaks inside the Jade Pendant space, meticulously tending to his crops. He harvested thirty seeds from the mature Amethyst Flowers and forty from the Sunflame Grass, replanting them immediately to expand his production line.

On the third day, at the exact agreed-upon hour, the cave’s restriction array pulsed urgently.

Chen Ping waved his hand, dissolving the barrier.

Li Mao stood in the doorway.

The Li Family Elder was still wearing his expensive brocade robes, but he looked like he hadn’t slept in seventy-two hours. His eyes were bloodshot, his face haggard.

But beneath the exhaustion, his eyes burned with triumph.

“Junior Brother Chen!” Li Mao’s voice was hoarse but energetic. “I have not failed my mission!”

He strode into the cave, ignoring the chair Chen Ping offered. From his robes, he reverently withdrew a jade box sealed with a high-grade talisman. He placed it on the stone table with the care one would give a newborn.

“What you asked for is here.”

Li Mao tapped the lid of the box, his expression solemn.

“This is one of the three Foundation Establishment Pill formulas held by the Li Family. It utilizes the True Essence Fruit, Amethyst Flower, and Sunflame Grass as the core trinity, supplemented by three auxiliary herbs. It contains detailed refining methodologies. I had to beg the Council of Elders and call in every favor I had to get this copy.”

Chen Ping’s gaze locked onto the box. His pulse quickened.

This was it. The key to his independence.

“However.”

Li Mao’s tone hardened. The “benevolent senior” mask dropped, replaced by the stern authority of a clan enforcer.

“This formula is a core heritage secret of my family. It cannot be treated lightly. Before you open this box, I require you to swear a Heart Demon Oath.”

Li Mao stared intensely at Chen Ping.

“You must swear that you will never leak, sell, or teach this formula to any individual or faction outside the Li Family. If you violate this oath… may your cultivation stagnate forever, may Heart Demons consume your soul, and may you perish with your Dao extinguished!”

A Heart Demon Oath. The ultimate binding contract in the cultivation world. To break it was spiritual suicide.

Chen Ping didn’t hesitate. He had never planned to share the formula anyway. Monopoly was the name of the game.

He raised three fingers to the sky, his voice steady and clear.

“I, Chen Ping, swear upon my Dao: The Li Family Foundation Establishment Pill formula obtained today will be for my exclusive use. I will never leak, teach, or trade it to any entity outside the Li Family. If I violate this oath, may my cultivation shatter, may Heart Demons devour me, and may I die a dog’s death!”

As the final word left his lips, a heavy, invisible shackle descended from the heavens, wrapping itself around his soul. The contract was sealed.

Li Mao visibly sagged with relief. The tension drained from his shoulders.

He performed a quick series of hand seals to dissolve the talisman on the box, then pushed it across the table.

“Junior Brother is a man of honor. Please, verify the goods.”

Chen Ping flipped the lid. A single jade slip lay on the velvet lining.

He pressed it to his forehead and injected his Divine Sense.

Boom.

A flood of information cascaded into his mind.

Ingredient ages. Morphological characteristics. Pre-processing techniques. The precise temperature control for the “Condensing” phase. The spiritual power guidance patterns for the “Pill Formation” phase. The three most common failure states and how to mitigate them.

It was exhaustive. It was complete.

Chen Ping opened his eyes, suppressing the urge to grin. He stored the slip in his storage bag and nodded at Li Mao.

“The formula is authentic. Thank you, Senior Brother Li.”

Li Mao smiled—a genuine, tired smile this time.

The deal was done. Chen Ping got the knowledge; Li Mao got the chance for immortality.

Anxious to claim his own prize, Li Mao didn’t linger. He offered a hasty farewell and vanished into the night.

Chen Ping watched him go, then let out a long, slow breath.

He finally had it.