Xianxia :I live for ever in Cultivation World

If it hadn't been for a small auction that allowed He Song and Wei Fan to borrow some spirit stones to purchase a Meridian Protection Pill, Wei Fan might not have even had that pill. 

And yet, under such circumstances, Meng Guan had managed to achieve Foundation Establishment. 

It could almost be called a miracle. 

After all, Wei Fan had taken a Foundation Establishment Pill, which increased his chances of success, and he had also learned from Meng Guan's experience. 

Even with these advantages, his attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment had been incredibly difficult. 

Comparing the two, Wei Fan couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at Meng Guan's success. 

In his opinion, luck had played a significant role in Meng Guan's breakthrough. 

Beside him, He Song nodded thoughtfully after hearing Wei Fan's words. 

Attempting Foundation Establishment without life-saving pills was extremely risky. 

If the breakthrough failed, the consequences could range from severe injuries to instant death. 

This wasn't an exaggeration—it was the harsh reality. 

Only by taking a Meridian Protection Pill or a Foundation Establishment Pill could one avoid such a fate and survive. 

However, even with these pills, the injuries sustained during a failed breakthrough would require a long period of rest and recovery. 

This was why, after failing a breakthrough with a Foundation Establishment Pill, one had to wait two years before attempting again. 

"It seems I've arrived a step too late." 

As the two were speaking, a voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard. 

They turned to see Meng Guan standing at the entrance, his gaze fixed on Wei Fan. 

Recognizing Meng Guan, He Song waved his hand, deactivating the courtyard's formation and opening the gate. 

Once Meng Guan entered, He Song reactivated the formation and closed the gate. 

Approaching Wei Fan, Meng Guan carefully observed his condition before letting out a sigh of relief. 

"You've taken a Foundation Establishment Pill, so you should be fine. After two years of rest, you can attempt the breakthrough again." 

"To be honest, the methods of Foundation Establishment are incredibly profound. Even after five years, I've only managed to grasp one of them. I missed the day of your breakthrough, Brother Wei. I hope you won't hold it against me." 

Meng Guan clasped his hands in greeting as he spoke. 

Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, the way the three addressed each other hadn't changed. 

Although Wei Fan had brought it up before, Meng Guan had insisted that he didn't mind. 

Thus, even as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Meng Guan still referred to Wei Fan as "Brother Wei." 

Old habits were hard to break. 

"Old Meng, you're too kind. If anything, I'm the one who wasted a Foundation Establishment Pill. I feel truly ashamed." 

Seeing Meng Guan's polite gesture, Wei Fan's face flushed with guilt. 

The Foundation Establishment Pill he had used had come from Meng Guan. 

Now, having failed his first attempt and used up the last pill, Wei Fan felt even more ashamed upon seeing Meng Guan again. 

Meng Guan had succeeded in his breakthrough without even using a Foundation Establishment Pill. 

While Wei Fan believed luck had played a major role, the fact remained that Meng Guan had succeeded where he had failed. 

Wei Fan had the advantage of Meng Guan's firsthand experience, a Foundation Establishment Pill, and even a four-spiritual-root constitution. 

Yet, despite all this, his first attempt had ended in failure. 

If not for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he would have died on the spot. 

This stark contrast was hard for Wei Fan to accept, and seeing Meng Guan only deepened his sense of shame. 

"It's fine. A single Foundation Establishment Pill isn't a big deal. Now that I've reached Foundation Establishment, obtaining such pills isn't as difficult as it was during the Qi Refining stage. You don't need to feel this way, Brother Wei." 

Meng Guan waved his hand, signaling that Wei Fan shouldn't dwell on it. 

However, as he spoke, Meng Guan quickly began calculating in his mind. 

Foundation Establishment Pills were typically stored in the sect's treasure vault. 

Whenever one became available, disciples with sufficient contribution points or Foundation Establishment elders could exchange for them. 

However, the cost was steep. 

A single Foundation Establishment Pill required 100 contribution points. 

With one contribution point equivalent to 150 spirit stones, a single pill would cost 15,000 spirit stones. 

And that was just the internal sect price. 

On the open market, the price could easily exceed 20,000 spirit stones or more. 

For a Qi Refining disciple, even a year of completing external missions would only yield five contribution points. 

Moreover, within the sect, everything required contribution points—techniques, pills, magical tools, and more. 

Thus, for a Qi Refining disciple, accumulating enough contribution points to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill was extremely difficult. 

Even though outer disciples received an annual stipend of 500 spirit stones, which could be exchanged for contribution points, the math was still discouraging. 

At a rate of 150 spirit stones per contribution point, a disciple could earn a maximum of eight contribution points per year. 

Factoring in the costs of learning spells, purchasing pills, and acquiring magical tools, saving up 100 contribution points for a Foundation Establishment Pill was a daunting task. 

However, once one reached Foundation Establishment and became an elder, the situation improved significantly. 

A Foundation Establishment elder could earn 20 contribution points per year from external missions. 

Additionally, each elder received an annual stipend of 3,000 spirit stones. 

If this stipend was fully converted into contribution points, an elder could earn 40 contribution points per year. 

This meant that in just three years, an elder could exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect's treasure vault. 

As Pinger had once said, most Foundation Establishment Pills ended up in the hands of Foundation Establishment elders. 

This was also why having a Foundation Establishment friend or mentor greatly increased one's chances of success. 

For Foundation Establishment elders, such pills weren't particularly valuable. 

Of course, for outer disciples of the Earth Sect, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill was still far easier than for rogue cultivators. 

They could seek out a Foundation Establishment mentor, work hard to accumulate contribution points, or build relationships with elders who might provide assistance. 

For disciples of the Earth Sect, the opportunities to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill were vastly greater than for ordinary rogue cultivators. 

However, even with a three-year timeline to save up for a pill, Wei Fan didn't have that much time. 

Wei Fan was already 57 years old. In three years, he would be over 60. 

Moreover, his recovery would only take two years. 

In other words, to ensure Wei Fan could use a Foundation Establishment Pill for his next attempt, they would need to obtain another pill within two years. 

After carefully calculating, Meng Guan's expression turned slightly awkward. 

"It's just... I've already used up my annual stipend on daily cultivation and purchasing high-grade magical tools. Saving up for another Foundation Establishment Pill in two years might not be possible." 

(End of Chapter)

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