When the Sect Master paused, contemplating how to distribute the Foundation Establishment Pills, his gaze swept over the assembled cultivators before finally settling on Elder Yan. This matter directly concerned Elder Yan's daughter, Yan Xuan, so his opinion held weight.

However, Elder Yan's eyes were eager, his lips nearly parting in a plea, but ultimately he remained silent, awaiting the Sect Master's decree on the rewards.

The distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills within the Azure Pill Sect was governed by strict rules passed down for ten thousand years. One could only acquire them by winning internal competitions or by rendering extraordinarily great service to the sect. Otherwise, under normal circumstances, no one qualified, not even Huangfu Bing'er, the daughter of Ancestor Huangfu.

Though Elder Yan was anxious, he dared not brazenly violate the established rules; he could only hope the Sect Master would attribute a portion of the merit to his daughter, Yan Xuan, thereby qualifying her for a pill.

Sect Master Wu caught Elder Yan's fervent gaze and could only offer a wry smile inwardly; the position of Sect Master was indeed difficult.

As the leader of the Azure Pill Sect, one of the seven major immortal cultivation sects, he was bound to judge impartially and stand by his word. If word spread of injustice, how could he command the respect of the nearly ten thousand disciples?

If favoritism cooled the hearts of the eight thousand Qi Refining disciples, who would willingly risk their lives for the sect in the future?

More critically, the Sect Master himself lacked the authority to discard the rules; these Foundation Establishment Pills were not his to arbitrarily bestow. The destination of every single pill had to be reported clearly to Martial Uncle Huangfu and the other uncles.

Sect Master Wu shook his head internally. If his nephew Ye had acquired these scrolls alongside his niece Yan, he could perhaps argue to assign some credit to Yan Xuan. But the problem was these map scrolls were clearly obtained by Martial Nephew Ye alone. He could not outright lie.

In this great tent, over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators had witnessed the events firsthand. If anyone reported to Martial Uncle Huangfu that he had been deceptive and self-serving, giving pills to someone who hadn't earned great merit, his tenure as Sect Master would surely end. Many coveted his position within the Azure Pill Sect; perhaps even Deputy Sect Master Wu standing nearby harbored such aspirations. He couldn't afford to leave any leverage for his rivals.

Therefore, these eight Foundation Establishment Pills could only go to Martial Nephew Ye. Of course, to save face for Elder Yan, he could offer Yan Xuan and the other disciples high-grade spirit artifacts or spirit stones as compensation.

Thinking this, Sect Master Wu paused, preparing to announce his decision.

What Sect Master Wu did not expect was that before he could speak, Ye Qin spoke first.

“Reporting to the Sect Master, although these eight map scrolls were seized by this disciple, had it not been for the strong assistance of Senior Sister Yan, Junior Brother Shen, and Junior Brother Zhang, I fear I would never have reached the second level of the cave. Furthermore, when I was stranded on the third level, it was only thanks to the escort provided by the Senior Sister and the two Junior Brothers that I safely arrived here to see you. Their merit is equal to mine. Since Junior Brother Kong has died, these eight scrolls should rightfully be divided equally among the remaining four.”

The moment Ye Qin finished speaking, Sect Master Wu was utterly stunned. Deputy Sect Master Wu, Elder Yan, the Third Elder Zhao, and all the observing Foundation Establishment cultivators in the tent were deeply moved.

They were not fools; they had eyes and ears and could discern the truth of the matter.

Ye Qin had separated from Yan Xuan and the other two after entering the second level of the cave. These eight map scrolls held almost no contribution from the trio. Even if they had been Ye Qin’s teammates previously and offered some assistance, it could at best count as minor effort, certainly not worth the merit for two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Ye Qin was essentially giving away six-tenths of his potential Foundation Establishment opportunities to the other three. If Ye Qin had succeeded in establishing his foundation with two pills and given the extras away, it would be magnanimity. But Ye Qin had not yet succeeded, yet he was yielding the pills to others, keeping only a two-tenths chance for himself. Such a concession was something none present could achieve.

Every one of these Foundation Establishment cultivators had clawed their way to their current cultivation and status through hardship!

They had initially viewed Ye Qin with a strange mix of interest and disdain, thinking he had obtained the eight pills too easily, merely by luckily picking up a storage bag. But now, Ye Qin instantly surrendered six pills’ worth of opportunity. Their attitudes shifted subtly, replaced by astonishment; they no longer dared to look at him with contempt. This youngster was ruthless—ruthless to others, and ruthless to himself, enduring the temptation of establishing his foundation. With such ambition, he was surely destined for greatness.

Third Elder Zhao thought to himself, This boy’s courage is considerable; he’s exchanging six Foundation Establishment Pills for a favor. Elder Yan is surely indebted to him now. By offering two pills to align himself with Elder Yan’s faction, Elder Yan will have little choice but to accept him. It seems this boy didn't just stumble upon that storage bag; he gains not only the hope of foundation establishment but also the protection of Elder Yan’s faction. However, why is he giving the remaining four pills to two inconsequential Azure Robe disciples? What is so special about Shen Bao and Zhang Yun that warrants such flattery? Third Elder Zhao pondered, failing to find anything remarkable about Shen Bao or Zhang Yun.

Yan Xuan gasped, her small mouth wide open. She hadn't expected Ye Qin to produce eight map scrolls at once. But she was even more surprised that Ye Qin would proactively suggest dividing the merit equally. Honestly, having one Foundation Establishment Pill was more than enough to satisfy her.

Zhang Yun was utterly dumbfounded, as if a giant meat pie had fallen from the sky and knocked him senseless. He never dreamed he would possess two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Shen Bao’s expression was peculiar, muttering continuously under his breath.

This debt of gratitude was extraordinary.

Facing the intense gazes of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, Ye Qin remained as indifferent as ever, completely unaffected.

“Good, Martial Nephew Ye truly possesses great bearing, sharing weal and woe with his fellow disciples—a model for the Azure Robe disciples of our Azure Pill Sect! Excellent, promising future! Martial Brother Sect Master, in my view, let us settle this matter according to Martial Nephew Ye’s wishes.”

Elder Yan chuckled, appraising Ye Qin with approval. He increasingly felt this disciple from a humble background and ordinary appearance possessed courage and talent, and he would surely reward and promote him significantly in the future.

Fearing any further complications, he quickly cemented Ye Qin's proposal, allowing no other cultivator a chance to interject.

Sect Master Wu nodded.

Ye Qin's voluntary yielding prevented any potential friction with Elder Yan. It seemed this Martial Nephew Ye had considerable ambition, intending to curry massive favor with Elder Yan. This was a matter of mutual agreement, and he naturally shouldn't interfere.

Sect Master Wu said no more, taking out four jade pill bottles from his storage bag. Each bottle contained two Foundation Establishment Pills, which he distributed to the four meritorious disciples before the tent.

Ye Qin received one bottle, naturally.

Yan Xuan, Shen Bao, and Zhang Yun each received two pills, showing expressions of intense excitement. The way they looked at Ye Qin had completely changed.

“Two Foundation Establishment Pills each!”

Wu Zijian quietly retreated from the main tent, passed through an outer sound-dampening circular barrier, and emerged outside, a cold, playful sneer lingering on his lips.

This main tent was not open to just anyone; only Foundation Establishment cultivators or Qi Refining disciples specifically summoned were allowed entry. But as the son of Deputy Sect Master Wu, he needed no notification and could enter and exit freely. He had clearly seen the moment Sect Master Wu bestowed the pills upon the four disciples.

Wu Zijian was not the type to attack fellow disciples, but to claim he wasn't tempted by the Foundation Establishment Pills would be a lie. He couldn't easily target Senior Sister Yan’s pills, but the other three Azure Robe disciples were fair game.

Wu Zijian gritted his teeth and immediately summoned several Blue Robe disciples waiting several yards outside the main tent, whom he had specifically arranged to wait there because they were familiar with him.

“Three Azure Robe disciples will be coming out shortly. You few remember their faces and find men to monitor their movements. The moment you see them leave the encampment, report to me immediately.”

He turned to one of the middle-aged Blue Robe cultivators: “Additionally, Junior Brother Liu is stronger. You take nine brothers and guard the exit to the third level of the cave. Prohibit all Azure Robe disciples of our sect from leaving. If you find any Azure Robe disciple attempting to leave the cave, find a way to stop them. I will be there shortly.”

The middle-aged Junior Brother Liu asked doubtfully, “Senior Brother Wu, we are currently short on manpower for building the camp. Why mobilize so many people to monitor these three Azure Robe juniors for no reason?”

Wu Zijian’s face instantly darkened, and he snapped, “Why ask so many questions? Are you qualified to inquire about this matter?”

The cultivator surnamed Liu and the other Blue Robe disciples immediately shrank back and lowered their heads.

After chastising them, Wu Zijian clapped the shoulders of the Blue Robe disciples, replacing his stern expression with a smile. “This matter is highly confidential; it must not leak easily. However, since we are trusted brothers, I won’t hide it from you. Someone discovered that these few have been associating too closely with cultivators from other sects and suspects they are involved in some illicit dealings. They are currently being questioned by the Sect Master. These three are cunning, and the Sect Master likely won't get much out of them without evidence, so he won't punish them easily. Once they emerge, you monitor them closely; not a single mistake. Do not act here; follow my arrangements and wait until they leave the area before making a move. If you do this well, you might even earn merit; there will certainly be benefits.”

The Blue Robe disciples were momentarily stunned, then their faces lit up with pleasant surprise. They nodded in agreement. “Yes, Senior Brother Wu, we will certainly capture them.” The group separated to find some familiar Azure Robe disciples.

Sect Master Wu, Deputy Sect Master Wu, Elder Yan, and the other Azure Pill Sect higher-ups did not linger long. After assigning the management of mining operations in the Wanku Ridge cave to the Third Elder Zhao, they released their flying swords and departed the subterranean cavern by air.

With two Foundation Establishment Pills, Yan Xuan no longer needed to risk further trials here, so she naturally left with her father, Elder Yan. Before departing, she glanced back at Ye Qin with a flushed face, wanting to express a few words of thanks. But in front of all the elder cultivators, she couldn't bring herself to speak. With a final stomp of her foot, she flew away with her father.

After respectfully seeing off Sect Master Wu and the other high-ranking officials, Ye Qin, Shen Bao, and Zhang Yun visibly relaxed. In the presence of so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, they had felt as though they were pinned beneath a mountain of giant stones, daring not even twitch a finger.

Soon, Ye Qin felt as if needles were pricking his skin as he sensed numerous sharp gazes from disciples within the Azure Pill Sect encampment fixed upon him.

Ye Qin’s heart tightened.

This was within his expectations. It was hard to keep the bestowal of Foundation Establishment Pills secret from fellow disciples, but he hadn't expected to be targeted so quickly. A large sect like the Azure Pill Sect had numerous people, high-level descendants, and plenty of individuals with malicious intent. A single Foundation Establishment Pill was enough to make them desperate, let alone the six pills he and the others possessed.

Ye Qin’s expression remained calm. When he gave the pills away, he hadn't intended to simply gain favor; he simply didn't want to become the sole target of attention. As for Elder Yan’s high praise and clear appreciation, he didn't pay it much heed. Having Elder Yan as a backer in the sect would bring many benefits later. Even without support, he would survive regardless.

Ye Qin glanced around, and the staring eyes immediately shifted away. He gave a cold snort. With Elder Zhao and more than ten Foundation Establishment Martial Uncles guarding the camp, no one would dare openly rob him of his pills within the confines of the encampment. His safety inside the camp seemed assured.

However, Ye Qin didn't want to remain there. His own two pills offered only about a meager twenty percent chance of successfully establishing his foundation; the odds were not high. He needed to find a suitable location to refine the Foundation Establishment Pills to have confidence in breaking through the bottleneck in one go.

The encampment was too cramped and clearly unsuitable for alchemy; it would surely draw attention to his abnormality.

Moreover, Elder Zhao was present. Although Elder Zhao harbored no ill will, this situation made Ye Qin uneasy. Having killed the man's son, could he truly stay here peacefully? If Elder Zhao discovered even the slightest clue, killing him would be as easy as crushing an ant, leaving no room for resistance. He didn't want to stay in the camp for a single moment longer.

Shen Bao and Zhang Yun had each received two pills, sharing his fortune. Now it was time for them to share the hardship and alleviate his pressure and danger; those two pills weren't given freely.

Ye Qin was helpless. Who told them all three were ordinary Azure Robe disciples without powerful backgrounds? If they could fly away with Elder Yan, like Yan Xuan did, they would face no danger. But they were just ordinary Azure Robe disciples, the lowest tier, originating from loose cultivators, lacking even family backgrounds; if they died, hardly anyone would care.

Unless they could establish their foundation one day, they might stand out among the eight thousand Qi Refining disciples and become core disciples of the Azure Pill Sect, enjoying all the sect’s benefits. Before successfully establishing the foundation... they were mere weeds, and even with Foundation Establishment Pills, they remained weeds.

Shen Bao and Zhang Yun were both at the eighth level of Qi Refining; even with the pills, they couldn't use them immediately to advance. They needed to return to the Azure Pill Sect for secluded cultivation, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining, accumulating enough strength before taking the pills to establish their foundation.

As expected, before Ye Qin could speak, Shen Bao and Zhang Yun eagerly expressed their hope to travel together with Ye Qin out of the Wanku Ridge Cave and return to the Azure Pill Sect for closed-door cultivation, only coming out to act after establishing their foundation.

Ye Qin readily agreed. Returning to the sect would be quite perilous; sticking together would make things easier for the three of them.

They promptly left the Azure Pill Sect encampment and rushed toward the exit of the third level of the cave.

A Blue Robe cultivator guarding the entrance of the Azure Pill Sect encampment glanced subtly at the backs of the three figures before immediately sending a telepathic message to Wu Zijian. Soon, more than ten Blue Robe and Azure Robe cultivators rushed out of the Azure Pill Sect encampment.

Half an incense stick later.

“Someone is tracking us, more than ten of them, and they are coming for us.”

Shen Bao quickly glanced behind him and said urgently.

Zhang Yun glanced back dismissively, “Ignore them. So what if they have more people? As long as we get into the mining tunnels of the second level, their numbers won't matter. They’ll be the ones regretting it.” He had absolute faith in Ye Qin.

Ye Qin remained silent. The three hurried along, swiftly arriving at the exit of the third level of the cave.

However, ten cultivators from the Azure Pill Sect suddenly flew out of the exit of the third level, blocking the passage. The leading middle-aged Blue Robe cultivator brandished a huge flame saber and yelled fiercely at the three of them: “Halt! Azure Pill Sect disciples are only permitted to enter, not to leave.”

“Why can’t we leave?”

“We suspect you are colluding with other sects and plotting against the Azure Pill Sect.”

“Nonsense! When did we collude with other sects?”

Zhang Yun roared indignantly.

“Oh, really? Then why are you trying to leave now? Why leave this place? I suspect you harbor ill intentions and are fleeing from guilt before disaster strikes!”

“Where we go is none of your business! Move aside!”

“Hmph, I suggest you stay here obediently and explain yourselves to Senior Brother Wu. Otherwise, see if my saber agrees to let you leave.”

The middle-aged Blue Robe cultivator held the flame saber, giving a cold, confident sneer as he blocked the exit to the third level of the cave. To his sides stood nine cultivators at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refining—three times their number.

Ye Qin frowned, glanced back, and saw more than ten Blue Robe and Azure Robe cultivators rushing toward them. When they arrived, it would be over twenty people surrounding the three of them.

He cursed inwardly. For twenty people to ambush three—that was quite a large operation. He certainly didn't possess the ability to slay ten men at once; once entangled in a siege by a large group of cultivators, escape would be exceedingly difficult.

“Scatter and flee! Save yourselves!”

Ye Qin instructed Shen Bao and Zhang Yun, immediately transforming into an arrow and darting away in reverse.

Shen Bao and Zhang Yun exchanged a glance, realizing the urgency, and gritted their teeth before twisting and fleeing in different directions. The subterranean cavern spanned hundreds of miles, filled with pillars, strange stones, shrubs, rivers, and lakes—the terrain was complex, and there were numerous beast lairs. As long as they avoided their pursuers, finding a hiding place wouldn't be too difficult. Even if all the forces from every sect combined, searching the entire underground cavern was impossible.

Ye Qin fled rapidly, utilizing the cavern’s terrain.

When Wu Zijian led his men to the spot, Ye Qin and the others were already nearly a mile away. His face darkened, and he immediately shouted: “Leave five men to guard the cave entrance; do not let them escape. The remaining fifteen split into three small teams, and we will pursue. You must capture all three alive!”

“Yes!”

The cultivators split into four teams: one to stand guard, and the other three splitting up to chase.

After Ye Qin had sped several miles through the cavern, he noticed one young Blue Robe cultivator leading several Azure Robe disciples still relentlessly pursuing him. Annoyed, he flicked his hand back, sending out a streak of purple light.

With a boom, the purple saber struck the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of crimson sand and dust.

The five pursuers stopped in alarm. When the dust settled, the person they were chasing had vanished without a trace. Wu Zijian stared at the massive saber mark on the ground before him, and the nearly melted crystalized sand within the mark, unable to speak for a long moment.

“Damn it, that kid possesses a fire-attribute magic tool from the Ancient Artifact Sect! A Purple Saber magic tool is something only core disciples of the Ancient Artifact Sect might possess.”

Wu Zijian gripped a magic tool tightly, a chill creeping into his heart. If he had chased a few steps further, he might have been cleaved in two by the saber light. This opponent was far more formidable than he imagined. He dared not continue the pursuit; one escaped, but there were two others, and four Foundation Establishment Pills were still a significant gain.

“Turn back! Pursue the other two!”

Only after Wu Zijian angrily led his men away did Ye Qin emerge from a low cluster of bushes, his icy gaze fixed on their retreating backs.

He had memorized that face: Wu Zijian, the Deputy Sect Master's son. It was this person causing trouble; no wonder he could so easily mobilize so many fellow disciples to ambush them. Among the Qi Refining disciples of the Azure Pill Sect, Wu Zijian was a top-tier core disciple, known for his arrogance.

Ye Qin felt somewhat vexed. Even knowing Wu Zijian was secretly scheming against him, he couldn't afford to make an enemy of him. An arm couldn't overpower a thigh. The Deputy Sect Master controlled an entire peak; his actual authority far surpassed that of Third Elder Zhao. Dealing with just Elder Zhao had made his scalp tingle, requiring extreme caution. If he also offended the Deputy Sect Master, he might have no choice but to completely defect from the Azure Pill Sect and flee to ensure his safety. He wondered which immortal cultivation sect in the Spiritual Mist Mountain Range would be willing to shelter him.

Since the exit of the third level of the cave was blocked by Wu Zijian’s men, it seemed they couldn't leave that way.

Then, he might as well find a spot within this cavern to commence his Foundation Establishment.

After all, every preliminary arrangement was now complete; only the final hurdle of Foundation Establishment remained. Once he successfully reached that stage, no matter how tyrannical Wu Zijian might be, he would have no choice but to respectfully acknowledge him as Martial Uncle.

Ye Qin considered this, and a pair of snow-white wings unfurled from his back. With a whoosh, he flapped them a few times and vanished from the cavern’s open expanse. (To be continued; to discover what happens next, please log in to m for more chapters, support the author, and enjoy genuine reading!) First release