I have a cultivation simulator

Chapter 63 The Azure Moon Black Market

"Forty-eight years old, mid-Foundation Establishment stage!"

Aside from the simulation, Zhou Qing was in a good mood.

In terms of age and cultivation level alone, Zhou Qing is no less capable than cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots.

Of course, cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots have great potential. They can reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage at forty-eight years old, the late-Foundation Establishment stage in their fifties, and break through to Core Formation around eighty years old.

"In this simulation, without the threat of a Blood Sea True Person, with the lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I can live to be at least over two hundred years old."

"In addition, with the effect of the 'Shan Hai Jue' extending to old age, even with grinding, one can reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment and at that time, there will be at least a chance to break through to the Core Formation stage."

Zhou Qing thought to himself.

For ordinary cultivators with mid-grade spiritual roots, reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage is a luxury; they are often stuck at the bottleneck between the early and middle stages of Foundation Establishment, or between the middle and late stages.

However, Zhou Qing's use of the elixir was merely a way to burn some of his own potential.

"The path of cultivation is fraught with difficulties..."

Zhou Qing couldn't help but sigh. He had only qualified for this simulated attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage because of the foundation he had built up in the previous two simulations. One can imagine how desperate ordinary cultivators would feel facing this path of cultivation.

[You didn't hide your mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level, and the news spread quickly.]

More than thirty years ago, when you came to the Immortal City and joined the Pill Hall, you were already at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Now, more than thirty years have passed, and entering the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment is perfectly normal.

Several cultivators who usually get along well with you have come to your door to celebrate.

[On the third floor of the Pill Pavilion, you sit facing each other with Pill Master Zhao Kan and another female cultivator in a white dress.]

[Master Zhao Kan needs no introduction; thanks to your deliberate efforts to cultivate a relationship with him over the years, you naturally have a very good one.]

The female cultivator in the white dress is named Shen Lingxiu. She is a second-tier array master and a member of the Immortal City Array Hall. More than ten years ago, she came to you seeking pills, and after a few visits, you became acquainted.

You often consult Shen Lingxiu about your questions regarding array formation techniques.

"Congratulations on reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment."

Alchemist Zhao Kan and Shen Lingxiu offered their congratulations and presented gifts.

"Taking the Breakthrough Pill isn't something to celebrate," you said with a smile.

Breakthrough pills consume a cultivator's own potential, so cultivators aspiring to form their core generally do not take such pills.

"So what if you've taken a Breakthrough Pill? How many cultivators who cherish their potential actually succeed in forming their core?" Alchemist Zhao Kan said dismissively.

Even genius cultivators with earth-elemental spiritual roots cannot guarantee that they will successfully form their core. Potential is meaningless if it is not converted into strength.

"Indeed." Shen Lingxiu nodded, pursing her lips.

"By the way, Brother Zhao, I heard you've recently been trying to refine Foundation Establishment Pills?"

You looked at Alchemist Zhao Kan and asked.

"Oh, don't mention it. We failed several times..." Zhao Kan's expression immediately fell.

Although it's possible to purchase the main and auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills through the Pill Hall's channels, they are still quite expensive.

Even a wealthy alchemist would feel the pinch after failing several batches in a row.

The key issue is that this kind of investment seems endless and is highly likely to be a complete waste of money.

"What does failure matter!"

You shook your head slightly. "Perfect. I've gathered enough ingredients for several batches of Foundation Establishment Pills. I'll give them to you, Brother Zhao, to practice with. If you succeed, the Foundation Establishment Pills are mine; if you fail, that's fine too."

Because of the experience gained in the first simulation, you focused on inquiring about Master Zhao Kan's background in the second simulation.

The opponent's first batch of Foundation Establishment Pills was refined recently.

From this point on, Alchemist Zhao Kan's status in the Alchemy Hall rose significantly.

A second-tier alchemist capable of refining Foundation Establishment Pills holds a higher status than a normal second-tier alchemist.

[You've gathered quite a few main and auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills in the Mountain and Sea Secret Realm. By combining them, you can refine several batches of Foundation Establishment Pills.]

"Brother Wang, you..."

Zhao Kan was deeply moved when he saw that you actually handed over the storage bag.

[You should know that he is currently only a mid-grade second-tier alchemist. The probability of him refining a high-grade second-tier Foundation Establishment Pill is extremely low.]

At this point, with you presenting these main and auxiliary ingredients, Zhao Kan probably doesn't even intend to successfully refine the Foundation Establishment Pill.

[I came purely to support him]

"What are you standing there for? Why aren't you taking it?"

You said with a smile

[In fact, you knew that Alchemist Zhao Kan would soon successfully refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, which is why you provided several sets of main and auxiliary ingredients.]

[If you successfully refine even one batch of these main and auxiliary ingredients, you'll make a profit.]

Even if not a single batch is successfully refined, it will still leave Alchemist Zhao Kan with a huge favor. A favor from an alchemist who can refine Foundation Establishment Pills is always a win-win situation.

Having known each other for over thirty years, you probably know Zhao Kandan's character well; he's the kind of person who doesn't like owing favors.

That's why this "investment" behavior occurred.

After what happened with Ye Feng in the first simulation, you are very cautious about 'investment'.

"In that case, I'll accept it!"

[Zhao Kan, the alchemist, said solemnly, "Brother Wang, I, Zhao Kan, will definitely repay this favor in the future!"]

Although second-stage alchemists are generally quite wealthy, even with the help of the Pill Hall's channels, it's impossible to purchase the main and auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills indefinitely.

[Providing several doses of main and auxiliary ingredients at this time is a timely help for Alchemist Zhao Kan.]

"Fellow Daoist Wang is indeed a man of character," said Shen Lingxiu, her eyes bright as she gazed at you.

In today's cultivation world, most cultivators are selfish and self-serving. Even with their closest relatives, they will still be wary of each other. It is extremely rare to see someone like you who would make such a sacrifice for a friend.

You chatted with Zhao Kan and Shen Lingxiu for a while longer, then saw them off.

Before leaving, Shen Lingxiu lingered in the courtyard for a while, her gaze falling on a large black eagle.

"Fellow Daoist, this spirit pet of yours seems to have an extraordinary bloodline." Shen Lingxiu stepped forward and stroked the black eagle's feathers.

[Xiao Hei wasn't averse to Shen Lingxiu; in fact, it nuzzled against her.]

["Really? This isn't the Black Wind Eagle?" You quickly showed a hint of surprise.]

"Definitely not." Shen Lingxiu rolled her eyes. "For the specific type, it's best to have it identified by a professional beast tamer a few times."

"Okay." You nodded.

You often keep "Little Black" in the courtyard for the cultivators coming and going to see, in order to make Little Black's origins seem more plausible and thus be able to sell it for a good price.

......

[In the thirty-third year, you are forty-nine years old. With your assistance, Ye Feng's Water Spirit Body has fully awakened.]

[You took Ye Feng out of Biyue Immortal City six months in advance, and then left the city six months later under the pretext of going out to buy spiritual materials.]

Ten days later, you disguised yourself as a burly man and entered the Immortal City.

[Your method of disguise comes from the Mountain and Sea Sect's heritage and is extremely sophisticated. Only a true person could see through it by carefully observing it with their divine sense.]

However, in reality, even if someone notices something amiss, you don't care; even if they see your true colors, it won't affect you much.

[Your true appearance hasn't revealed any secrets in the cultivation world, so there's no reason for it to be exposed.]

Your biggest secret is your true age, but determining a cultivator's true age requires extremely complex methods.

Even a Core Formation cultivator cannot discern a cultivator's true age at a glance.