Ding Wanyan also understood that Lei Dong's cultivation was arduous due to his inherent aptitude. Especially after that time in the Minor Yin Sha Cave, he hadn't stepped out for an entire year, nor had he slacked off; every day was spent enduring the deepest concentration of Yin Sha energy. Such a simple, sincere desire—just to desperately survive—stirred ripples within Ding Wanyan’s heart, bringing forth a pang of melancholy.

After a brief silence, as if infected by the wistfulness in his tone, Ding Wanyan sighed softly, “Lei Dong, what you say is true. Although our innate talents and cultivation levels surpass yours slightly, who among us isn't struggling desperately in this world where the weak are prey to the strong?”

Hearing Lei Dong’s words—lacking ambition, fearful of death, yet intensely genuine—Dongfang Fu also turned her gaze toward him slightly.

“Ha, Senior Sister need not be overly distressed. Which great figure in this world didn't start just like us, inching forward step by step?” Lei Dong brightened up again, laughing, “As long as we work together wholeheartedly, sooner or later you too will become that great demonic woman who can shake the world, whose mere stomping makes the heavens and earth change color.”

His amusing words swept away the gloom hanging over Ding Wanyan. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her bright eyes couldn't help but dart toward him, chiding lightly, “You’re bringing up the demonic woman again. Lei Dong, is that truly your only obsession?”

Her face bloomed like a peach blossom, her gaze captivating, seeming both annoyed and playful. Even with Lei Dong’s firm resolve, his heart fluttered, and he felt inexplicably lightheaded. He instinctively followed up, “That’s right, I’m a great Demon Lord, of course I like Senior Sister, uh…” Lei Dong stopped halfway when he saw Ding Wanyan’s face crimson, staring at him with wide eyes. He quickly clamped his mouth shut, cursing inwardly at the recklessness of youth, blaming the curse of hormones—something truly uncontrollable.

“You, you you…” Ding Wanyan’s face flushed red, a mix of shame and annoyance. But after saying "you" several times, no words came out. She could only lower her head, blushing, and let out a soft spat, “What great Demon Lord are you? At best, you’re just a little Star of Mischief.”

Lei Dong offered a dry chuckle. Knowing that continuing would lead to further entanglement, especially being in such a crowded public space, he quickly shifted the topic, “Senior Sister, look quickly! There’s a Foundation Establishment Pill up for auction, perfect for adding a brick and tile to your upcoming Foundation Establishment!”

Upon hearing of the Foundation Establishment Pill, even Ding Wanyan couldn't help but glance over, her face still red. She then heard Old Gu, who had been dozing listlessly, now spitting excitedly and greedily describing the single Foundation Establishment Pill within the jade vial in his hand.

In truth, he didn't need to say it; everyone knew the Foundation Establishment Pill was a treasure. For a human to break through from the Post-Natal realm to the Innate realm, establishing an immortal foundation within the body, was inherently a colossal hurdle. Unlike advancements between minor realms, where failure might only result in damaged acupoints and meridians, requiring just a period of rest to recover, Foundation Establishment required forcefully opening the body’s most vital point—the Celestial Spirit Hundred Meetings Acupoint—then forging a bridge to heaven and earth, causing the true Qi within the body to form a complete and massive perpetual inner cycle, ceaselessly flowing. From that moment, one was completely reborn, truly differentiated from mortals, having stepped onto the path of cultivation.

However, if Foundation Establishment failed, and the Celestial Spirit Hundred Meetings Acupoint was damaged, recovery was not a matter of a day or two. Coupled with the blow to confidence and plummeting morale, it was far from rare for cultivators to never recover their drive. This step was the first grand chasm on the road between the immortal and the mortal. For any Foundation Establishment attempt, aptitude was paramount; those with superior talent had a higher success rate, followed by the purity of their true Qi. Yet, even for astonishing prodigies like Ding Wanyan and Dongfang Fu, reaching the peak of the twelfth layer of Qi Condensation offered no absolute guarantee of success. They preferred to expend more effort refining their true Qi to greater purity, ensuring thorough preparation, and only considering Foundation Establishment when they felt an eighty to ninety percent chance of success.

Of course, the Grand Competition was also one of the main reasons they temporarily refrained from attempting it. Success meant they could sweep the field and take first place effortlessly. But failure meant a recovery period possibly lasting a year or two, tantamount to immediately forfeiting the competition, severely impacting the quality of the next batch of disciples and concerning the long-term development of the Cave Estate.

Consequently, both Dongfang Fu and Ding Wanyan diligently remained at the peak of Qi Condensation without charging toward Foundation Establishment. However, after the competition concluded, their foremost objective would undoubtedly be preparing for the breakthrough. This was precisely why they paid such close attention to this Foundation Establishment Pill, as a single one could significantly enhance their chances of success.

However, the Foundation Establishment Pill was even more impactful for cultivators with poorer aptitude who had barely managed to reach the peak of Qi Condensation. It wasn't that taking the pill allowed them to surpass Ding Wanyan’s success rate. Rather, without the pill, their original chances were pathetically low—perhaps only reaching two or three percent. Taking one pill might only elevate that to a meager two or three percent chance. Whereas for someone with Ding Wanyan’s aptitude, who possessed a forty to fifty percent chance without the pill, a single Foundation Establishment Pill could elevate her odds to around eighty percent. This disparity due to innate talent was something inescapable.

Nevertheless, for cultivators with decent aptitude who held some hope of advancing to Foundation Establishment in their lifetime, this pill was an object they absolutely had to secure—even if it meant bankrupting themselves or selling their souls. Such elixirs would never appear at ordinary auctions targeting Qi Condensation cultivators. But this was a special auction held only once every ten years. Many senior disciples who had cultivated for two or three decades without succeeding in Foundation Establishment appeared here precisely for this pill, having saved up all this time. They would trade anything for it—every magic artifact, even their lives and souls.

“Foundation Establishment Pill, starting bid thirty thousand spirit stones. Bids must increase by no less than one thousand spirit stones each time.”

As Old Gu’s slightly excited voice rang out, roughly eighty percent of the attendees were instantly eliminated. But for those old Qi Condensation cultivators who had been training for thirty years, spending thirty thousand spirit stones on a magic artifact might feel like a loss, yet buying a Foundation Establishment Pill felt entirely willing, especially since thirty thousand was merely the entry price.

Moreover, for these cultivators in their forties, this was likely the last chance of their lives. They had exhausted every means—saving, selling, borrowing, even stealing—to amass a considerable hoard of spirit stones. Completing more difficult sect missions, for instance, often yielded rich rewards. Furthermore, they had twenty more years than Lei Dong to accumulate their wealth.

With repeated rounds of heated bidding, the price of the Foundation Establishment Pill quickly broke fifty thousand spirit stones, wiping out a batch of those who were financially weak or insufficiently prepared. Those individuals slumped back into their seats, faces filled with regret and disappointment, their fists tightly clenched. But catching sight of Old Gu’s strength at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment, they could only acquiesce, watching as others gradually drove the price higher.

Soon the bidding reached eighty thousand spirit stones, and the pace slowed considerably. Only a select few remained vying for the item. Ding Wanyan and Dongfang Fu, while clearly interested initially, settled into a composed stillness after their initial notice, like hunters awaiting the perfect moment to strike.

When a middle-aged cultivator from the Ghost Fiend Estate fiercely shouted out a price of one hundred thousand spirit stones, adding a threat, “Whoever dares compete with me, I’ll destroy them!” Dongfang Fu made her move.

“One hundred and twenty thousand.” She instantly raised the bid by twenty thousand, yet she didn't spare a glance for the senior cultivator who had just issued the threat.

“Dongfang, I apologize, but Wanyan has a vital use for this Foundation Establishment Pill,” Ding Wanyan said apologetically, raising her delicate hand, stating calmly, “One hundred and fifty thousand.”

At this bid, those who had previously driven the price up heatedly flushed crimson and fell silent.

…