Regarding the method for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, there likely isn't a soul in this world, perhaps even in the celestial realm, who knows it better than Bai Qiuran.
"I believe if Ruo Wei heard what you just said, she surely wouldn't be happy."
Soon, this news reached the ears of the sect leader, Jue Yunzi, as well as a few elders. Unable to stay still, the sect leader hurried to the storeroom and intercepted Bai Qiuran, asking, "What is Ancestral Martial Uncle doing?"
Over the past three thousand years, he had researched countless sects' Foundation Establishment Pill recipes, and he had taken an innumerable amount of Foundation Establishment Pills himself. Bai Qiuran could tell not just the effects of a Foundation Establishment Pill, but merely by looking at its shape and color, he could instantly recall how it tasted and felt.
And today, to help Tang Ruo Wei with her Foundation Establishment, Bai Qiuran brought along his ancient jade pendant that was over three thousand years old, venturing into the various storerooms of the Qingming Sect to exchange for materials.
The news reached Jue Yunzi and several elders, who couldn't sit still any longer, prompting the sect leader to run to the storeroom. He stopped Bai Qiuran to inquire, "Ancestral Martial Uncle is planning to use which pill recipe to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill for Ruo Wei?"
Within two days, Bai Qiuran successfully refined a pill for Tang Ruo Wei, its potency and quality identical to the one he had first consumed when he established his foundation.
"And what do you mean by that...?"
"I believe if Ruo Wei heard your words, she surely wouldn't be happy."
The sixth elder responded, "In any case... just leave it to fate."
Currently, the recipes for Foundation Establishment Pills among the five major sects in the Righteous Dao Alliance were mostly written by him.
Bai Qiuran frowned as he sat opposite his junior disciples. In the facilities of the Azure Nether Sword Sect, aside from the ability for disciples to buy materials, techniques, and magical treasures using spirit stones as currency, there was also a monthly allocation of resources depending on their rank and cultivation level.
However, for Tang Ruo Wei, the Foundation Establishment Pill Bai Qiuran planned to refine was not an extraordinary modified recipe.
Jue Yunzi casually brushed past the question, asking, "Ancestral Martial Uncle, which recipe will you use to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill for Ruo Wei?"
If Bai Qiuran so wished, he could easily become the sect leader of the Azure Nether Sword Sect, assuming all positions and responsibilities from Grand Elder to executive elder effortlessly.
Concerning the method of refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, no one could rival Bai Qiuran's familiarity, even in the celestial realm.
"Hmm?"
Inside the palm print left behind, there was a clear remnant of earthly true essence, a sign of successful foundation establishment, Bai Qiuran inquired.
As he mentioned, some of Ruo Wei’s conditions resembled his own, compelling Bai Qiuran to earnestly emulate his initial failure to establish his foundation.
The nurturing technique he imparted to Ruo Wei was the one given to him by the Qingming Daoist on the eve of his own foundation establishment, and the Foundation Establishment Pill he was preparing to refine was also the same one crafted by Qingming Daoist after he emerged from seclusion.
"I've lost..."
Over the thousand years, Bai Qiuran had not kept track of how many recipes for the Foundation Establishment Pill he had explored nor how many of these pills he had consumed. Just the sight of a Foundation Establishment Pill's shape and quality enabled him to instantly recall its taste and sensation.
Every ingredient's quantity in that formula and every moment of heat control were ingrained in his memory; this was the essence of his master...
With the power of magnetic attraction emanating through his body, enhanced by his body refining technique, Bai Qiuran left a clear palm print on the stone slabs of the courtyard.
Jue Yunzi pleaded for mercy. Yet, since over a thousand years ago, Bai Qiuran had almost stopped using the Azure Nether Sword Sect's allocation quotas, and these quotas had accumulated to a frightening number.
Upon hearing this news, the sect leader and the elders abandoned their work and cultivation to come and witness what was happening.
Cough, this was definitely not about wanting to use Tang Ruo Wei as an experimental subject; absolutely not.
The message quickly spread that Bai Qiuran was exchanging for materials on Azure Nether Mountain, with his significant allocation catching the attention of those outside the sect.
Bai Qiuran stared at the palm print on the ground, lost in thought.
... However, for Tang Ruo Wei, the Foundation Establishment Pill he planned to refine was not an extraordinarily effective modified recipe.
After three days of seclusion, the girl pushed open the door to the training chamber. Seeing this, Bai Qiuran hurriedly went forward, his heart full of unease, and asked, "Ruo Wei, how did it go? Did you manage to break through?"
"What's wrong? Is that...?"
Despite having no official position within the sect and his cultivation stuck at the Qi Refining stage for years, Bai Qiuran's contributions to the sect had consistently been the highest within the Azure Nether Sword Sect.
He could say, if Bai Qiuran wished, he could instantly and justifiably become the sect leader of the Azure Nether Sword Sect, overseeing every position from Grand Elder to executive elder.
"One side of me, as a master, hopes Ruo Wei can shatter my expectations and progress even further. But on the other hand, I can't suppress my darker thoughts; wouldn’t it be pleasing if I had someone to accompany me, all of us failing to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage together?"
The girl gazed at her teacher before suddenly breaking into a smile and bringing her hand down on the floor.
No, he absolutely did not want to take Ruo Wei as a test subject, definitely not.
... Within two days, Bai Qiuran quickly refined a Foundation Establishment Pill for Tang Ruo Wei, with its efficacy and quality matching the one he once took precisely.
"Ruo Wei is about to break through; I plan to refine her a Foundation Establishment Pill."
As the residual earthly true essence within the palm print served as a mark of a successful foundation, Bai Qiuran's demeanor reflected a complex mixture of emotions.
And so, again, Bai Qiuran made his way back down Azure Nether Mountain, heading towards the medicine storage overseen by the fifth elder.
Any further interactions would be merely mundane matters, as Bai Qiuran returned to his routine, watching his disciple's progress as the sect's anticipation reached a peak during Ruo Wei's breakthrough.
What would yield from this unusual turn of events? Time would soon unveil the answer.