Chapter 170: Betting Everything to Buy It, Yin Pill Nourishes the Soul

This little Foundation Establishment cultivator… why did it feel like he was looking down on Ling Shuxian?

Ling Shuxian’s expression also slowly turned cold.

She raised her eyes to look at He Butong and said lightly, “Daoist brother, since this young fellow has made such a bold promise, I’m afraid I can’t compete with him for this sixth-grade wood.”

He Butong paused slightly, then smiled and said, “Oh, Fairy Ling, why say that? Though this young friend made me a promise, we cultivators trade with one another; it’s about mutual benefit. If you have something I need, I’d naturally trade with you.”

“Oh? And if I don’t have what you need, then I can’t buy your sixth-grade wood?”

Ling Shuxian chuckled faintly, as if she didn’t care.

He Butong smiled and shook his head. “Of course not. If you don’t have it, we follow the old rules — highest bidder gets it. Naturally, anyone can buy it.”

Then he turned to Yu Xian with a faint smile: “Little friend, I know you like this item, or you wouldn’t have summoned the courage to approach me. You must’ve made a great decision. Unfortunately, I cannot go against our rules just because of your promise. Either give me what I asked for in trade, or bid higher — may the highest offer win.”

The other Golden Core experts had different expressions, but except for Fang Jue, most had mocking smiles in their eyes.

Highest bidder wins…

A Foundation Establishment junior… trying to outbid Golden Core experts?

What an ignorant little brat.

Had he just gone along with Ling Shuxian’s words, perhaps she would’ve given up.

But a Foundation Establishment cultivator, daring to confront directly?

Sure, buying the wood wasn’t wrong — it wasn’t hers after all. But he had no sense of social nuance…

Yet Yu Xian remained calm: “I understand.”

Refining a fifth-grade pill…

If it were that easy, it wouldn’t be a fifth-grade pill!

Yu Xian didn’t have a 100% chance of success — in fact, he didn’t even have 50% confidence!

He couldn’t promise Ling Shuxian he would refine her one. What if the other Golden Core experts made the same demand afterward?

What would he do — promise all of them one pill each just to stop them from competing?

Ridiculous!

If his cultivation were high enough, sure, he could refine it and even make a profit.

But it wasn’t — and refining such a pill had a high risk of failure.

Failure meant paying the full cost of materials — tens of thousands of spirit stones — and refining again until success!

So Yu Xian made a swift decision — promise He Butong alone. That was far easier than making deals with seven people.

He Butong, shrewd as any Golden Core cultivator, didn’t want to offend Ling Shuxian for a single pill. Golden Core experts often needed to cooperate; everyone within a million miles knew each other.

Nor did he want to reject Yu Xian and risk offending a potential future pill master.

So — the rules: highest bidder wins.

If you can’t afford it — that’s your problem.

The wood was worth 10,000–20,000 mid-grade spirit stones. Not much.

Ling Shuxian smiled. “In that case, simple. I bid 13,000 mid-grade spirit stones. What do you say, Daoist Brother?”

He Butong nodded. “That price is acceptable.”

Then he looked at Yu Xian with a smile. “Little friend, Fairy Ling likes it, and her bid is 13,000 mid-grade spirit stones. I can only sell it to her.”

Everyone present believed there was no way Yu Xian could outbid her.

Yu Xian looked stunned. His throat moved, and he turned toward Ling Shuxian, his expression filled with reluctance and forced politeness: “Senior… I am willing to refine a fifth-grade pill for you… Could you perhaps let me…”

“One fifth-grade pill doesn’t equal 13,000 mid-grade spirit stones, young man,” Ling Shuxian smiled, eyes crescent-shaped. “Besides, I’d be providing the materials. How’s that a fair deal?”

Yu Xian took a deep breath, face full of despair. “Then… what would it take for you to sell it to me?”

“Sell it?” She chuckled. Then her smile faded. “Very simple. Outbid me. Even one lower-grade stone more, and I’ll step back.”

That was final.

13,000 mid-grade spirit stones — 1.3 million lower-grade spirit stones!

He’d already lost face. She’d been generous enough to offer a deal earlier. Now he had to pay the price.

Yu Xian remained silent. Fang Jue’s expression changed subtly but said nothing. Helping him would only bring trouble.

This was about humiliation — not the wood.

Yu Xian took a moment to reflect on his previous Yin Pill refining error.

Then he began refining again.

After two incense sticks of time, two jade-green pills emerged, glowing faintly.

Top-grade Yin Pills.

Yu Xian put them away and refined more.

He had 19 ghost orbs and worked tirelessly for three hours.

At the end: 19 Yin Pills — two high-grade, 17 top-grade.

Exhausted, he took two and swallowed them.

Cold!

Colder than swallowing ice!

But his strong body withstood it. The cold traveled through him, straight to the spirit platform — the seat of the soul.

Then cold became warmth. His whole being cleared up.

The change wasn’t in realm, physique, or qi. It was subtle — clarity of mind, spiritual vitality.

He tried more — two at a time. Again. Again.

When he had consumed 10 of the 19 pills, his spirit platform was burning hot!

And then, eyes closed, he saw everything in the room — clearly — in a full 360° view.

It lasted only a moment, but it was real.

Not spiritual sense. Actual sight.

Then — pain! A piercing stab between the brows.

Sweat broke out. Soul-wrenching pain. But it faded quickly.

“Soul pressure…”

He massaged his brow, realizing that over-nourishing the soul could be dangerous.

If he wasn’t careful, his soul could burst, scattering his three souls and seven spirits.

Breathing heavily, he stood up.

His gaze became sharp, filled with an intangible pressure — the aura of a strengthened soul.

A weaker cultivator would be suppressed by it without a word spoken.

“Yin Pill nourishes the soul… but must not be overused. Everyone has different limits…”

He sat again. It was time to advance.

Outside, Yue Pingfeng shouted joyfully.

He’d just finished refining a weapon — unrelated to Yu Xian, who smiled to himself.

He had paid over 1.3 million spirit stones for this wood — but it wasn’t about value.

It was the body of the elm tree spirit — his mother in another life.

Even if it cost everything, he would buy it.

He held the jade pendant, feeling its gentle warmth.

This trunk piece… was like the root from before. It would refine his core foundation.

But he wouldn’t use it now.

That would be a waste.

He’d save it — for the breakthrough from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation.

Only then would he absorb it.

A rare, personal breakthrough elixir.

After resting, he summoned his cauldron. It was time to refine pills.

He had many spiritual herbs — and his cultivation was ready to climb from early to mid Foundation Establishment.

Although relying on pills to push one’s realm carried risks, Yu Xian had his own powerful body refining technique, which could purge residual toxins easily.

Besides, even if resistance developed — he could just refine stronger pills!

Third-grade resistance? Take fourth-grade pills.

Resistance to those? Take fifth-grade!

He could afford it.

Inside the inner room, Yu Xian refined Yin Pills quietly.

A rare pill that nourishes the soul using ghost essence and cold spiritual herbs.

Ordinary people could never strengthen their souls.

But cultivators could — and Yin Pills were one such way.

Ghosts were the remnant souls of the dead. Using them for pills wasn’t considered evil — everyone did it.

Before long, the furnace opened again — two top-grade Yin Pills emerged.

Yu Xian frowned slightly.

A reminder: wealth matters.

Without spirit stones — everything is difficult.

He’d soon understand what it meant to earn 100,000 spirit stones a month as a member of Jinlin Pavilion.

Just then, he raised his head and asked a question:

“If I can gather items — pills, materials, and spirit stones — worth over 1.4 million, does that count?”

Everyone paused.

Ling Shuxian laughed. “You’re really going all-in for a single piece of wood? Sure, if you’re serious — bring everything you have!”

Yu Xian didn’t hesitate.

He transferred everything — pills, materials, artifacts — into a higher-quality storage pouch.

In total: over 1.3 million spirit stones’ worth!

Hand trembling, forehead sweaty, he placed it on the table.

“Senior… please check.”

He Butong didn’t check immediately. “Are you sure? This is everything you have. One mistake, and you might not recover.”

Yu Xian trembled slightly, but nodded.

Ling Shuxian smiled playfully.

The other Golden Core experts remained calm — this was pocket change for them.

“…Buy,” Yu Xian whispered.

He Butong’s eyes flashed. He checked the pouch — nodded.

“Indeed. The sixth-grade wood is yours.”

Yu Xian bowed deeply. “Thank you, senior.”

Ling Shuxian’s expression returned to calm. She gazed at him thoughtfully.

Yu Xian gripped the storage pouch tightly, then bowed once more. “I’m unworthy to remain among seniors. I take my leave.”

He especially bowed to Fang Jue.

“Senior, I’ll be on the third floor.”

“Go,” Fang Jue nodded.

Yu Xian turned away — his face full of regret and reluctance.

To the eight Golden Core experts, he was just a brief episode in their day.

Yet as Yu Xian descended the stairs — that expression vanished.

His face returned to calm.