Chapter 129: Danlong Ginseng

As his cultivation improved, Qin Sang understood the Profound Female Jade Cauldron Scripture more deeply.

Cultivating this technique inherently carried great risks. The consequences of being 'cultivated' were likely not as understated as the sect leader had claimed, nor merely a matter of a few troublesome emotional entanglements.

After being 'cultivated', even if no spiritual imprint was planted, deep emotional roots would form, making it impossible to extricate oneself. In the future, these emotional ties would affect one's progress, whether breaking through a bottleneck or during regular cultivation.

This subtle yet ever-present influence was extremely terrifying.

Just as one was about to break through, it would transform into an inner demon and suddenly emerge, shattering one's mental state and rendering all efforts futile. Unless one possessed immense willpower, further progress would be very difficult.

"This disciple greets the Sect Leader."

The cave dwelling's entrance opened wide, and Sect Leader Yu walked in. Qin Sang stood up and bowed.

Having condensed the Jade Cauldron and being on the verge of completing the third level of the Profound Female Jade Cauldron Scripture, he immediately sent out a sound-transmitting talisman. Half a year had passed since his arrival at Mount Shaohua.

He didn't know about the others' progress, but Qin Sang was certain no one could be faster than him.

Upon hearing Qin Sang say he had already condensed the Jade Cauldron, Sect Leader Yu's expression darkened, and he said solemnly, "I have long warned you all not to rush the cultivation of the Profound Female Jade Cauldron Scripture. Do you know that a month ago, He Mu's mental state was shattered by a lustful Heavenly Demon, causing his prime yang to leak, his cultivation to drop by five realms, and he nearly died!"

Qin Sang was stunned and could only sigh in regret.

After careful verification, Sect Leader Yu's expression softened slightly. He looked at Qin Sang with some surprise and nodded, saying, "I didn't expect you to be the first to condense the Jade Cauldron. Let me first check your talent... Oh? A five-element spiritual root!"

Qin Sang naturally used spirit medicine to conceal his true talent, but he didn't dare hide the fact that he had taken a Foundation Establishment Pill with no effect whatsoever.

Secretly glancing at Sect Leader Yu, Qin Sang noticed that his expression seemed less than favorable. He couldn't help but feel a surge of unease. His heart pounded, and he secretly clenched his fists.

It wasn't that he lacked composure; this was likely his closest chance to reach the Foundation Establishment stage in ten years!

Little did he know, Sect Leader Yu was also muttering to himself inwardly at that moment.

His authority as sect leader was neither too small nor too great. It was merely that the various Senior Masters saw him as mature and steady, with no hope of reaching the Core Formation stage, so they appointed him to handle miscellaneous affairs, lest it affect their own cultivation.

Major sect matters at Mount Shaohua were always decided by the Nascent Soul Grand Ancestor with a single word, or by decrees issued after deliberation by the various Golden Core Venerables. He simply executed them according to the rules.

After Mount Shaohua disciples broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage, as long as their talent wasn't too poor, they all had the chance to become disciples of a Golden Core Venerable. It could be said that everyone had a backer, and they didn't fear him, the sect leader, at all. At most, they showed him some superficial respect.

What he dealt with most often on a daily basis were trivial sect matters. Once it involved a conflict of interest, he could only become a puppet, awaiting the outcome of the power struggles above.

He couldn't even interfere with the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills.

Firstly, the sect had strict rules that no one dared defy.

Secondly, Foundation Establishment Pills were limited in number. Even if the harvest was good at times and a few extra pills were available, they would have already been eyed and reserved for junior disciples well in advance. If the distribution was unfair, complaints would immediately go to the Golden Core Venerables.

This time, True Person Mawu had issued a decree to find a dual cultivation partner, and with the Grand Ancestor's endorsement, he naturally dared not take it lightly. Even knowing there were issues with the technique, he had to make the utmost effort to prepare.

He even racked his brain for this, preparing three Foundation Establishment Pills for contingencies.

He never expected to encounter a disciple with a five-element spiritual root. Three Foundation Establishment Pills would definitely not be enough. If he were to forcibly seize other people's Foundation Establishment Pills now, it would cause a commotion that he wouldn't be able to suppress.

In any case, he had already found someone who met the requirements, thus completing his task. The rest could be handled by True Person Mawu himself. They were just a few Foundation Establishment Pills, after all.

Thinking of this, Sect Leader Yu told Qin Sang to wait quietly. He carefully chose his words, wrote a sword talisman, and sent it out.

The sword talisman transformed into a stream of light, instantly disappearing into the depths of Cloudswirl Marsh, speeding towards True Person Mawu's cave dwelling.

A moment later, there was no movement in Cloudswirl Marsh. Instead, the cloud sea atop Mount Shaohua suddenly surged, and the sect's restrictions trembled. A beam of green light descended from the sky, falling directly towards Qin Sang's cave dwelling.

Sect Leader Yu felt something and flashed out of his cave dwelling. He looked up and saw a vibrant green spiritual herb enveloped within the green light. It was only palm-sized, with intertwined branches and leaves, and its form resembled a true dragon. Its body coiled, majestic in posture, head raised as if spitting a pearl, and its dragon eyes gleamed brightly.

This pearl, the fruit of the spiritual herb, was fiery red!

"Dragon's Pearl Ginseng!"

Sect Leader Yu's heart trembled, and he couldn't help but exclaim. Then, the Grand Ancestor's decree suddenly resounded in his ear: "You are to personally assist this child in refining the Dragon's Pearl Ginseng to quickly break through. With this ginseng, he will be able to establish his foundation without the need for a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Sect Leader Yu hastily composed himself, lowered his gaze, and prostrated himself completely.

"This disciple respectfully obeys the Grand Ancestor's decree!"

Inside the cave dwelling, after seeing Sect Leader Yu's posture, Qin Sang immediately and shrewdly prostrated himself on the ground. His heart was filled with both shock and anticipation. He was shocked that his Foundation Establishment could actually alarm the Nascent Soul Grand Ancestor Dongyang Bo, and anticipated that for a Nascent Soul Grand Ancestor, allowing a disciple to establish their foundation should be an extremely simple matter, right?

The green light dissipated, and the Dragon's Pearl Ginseng landed in front of Sect Leader Yu.

Sect Leader Yu raised both hands, carefully supporting the Dragon's Pearl Ginseng. He remained prostrated on the ground motionless for a long time before finally rising. He then bowed towards the mountain peak, walked backward into the cave dwelling, and said to Qin Sang, "You may rise."

Qin Sang stood up, his gaze, somewhat fervent, fixed on the dragon-shaped spiritual herb in Sect Leader Yu's hands. He seemed to want to speak but hesitated.

Seeing this, Sect Leader Yu said indifferently, "This is a Dragon's Pearl Ginseng. Consuming it directly has the miraculous effect of assisting one in breaking through bottlenecks. Even when forming a Golden Core, a thousand-year-old Dragon's Pearl Ginseng can provide significant assistance. Only two such spiritual herbs have ever been discovered on Mount Shaohua; this is also your luck. I will assist you in refining this medicine, and you will certainly establish your foundation. Why aren't you thanking the Grand Ancestor for this blessing?"

Qin Sang suppressed his excitement and meticulously kowtowed towards the mountain peak. He then stood up and bowed to Sect Leader Yu, saying, "This disciple will never forget the Sect Leader's assistance."

He knew clearly in his heart that this Dragon's Pearl Ginseng was the price he paid for being a cauldron for dual cultivation.

Of course, if he were merely a rogue cultivator, he wouldn't even have the opportunity to 'sell' himself.

Sect Leader Yu nodded. He sent out a few sound-transmitting talismans to arrange sect affairs, then waved his hand to close the cave dwelling. He held up the Dragon's Pearl Ginseng in his palm, and a flame suddenly appeared, slowly scorching the ginseng's body.

The spiritual herb actually endured the flames for over an hour before showing a slight yellowing.

At this point, Sect Leader Yu's face was faintly pale. He suddenly let out a low cry, and the flames in his palm intensified. The Dragon's Pearl Ginseng withered and yellowed at an increasing pace until it completely dried up and cracked open. Drop by drop, fresh green liquid was forced out and automatically merged into the dragon pearl.

The dragon pearl, fiery red, became even more vibrant.

Sect Leader Yu flicked his finger, sending the dragon pearl flying towards Qin Sang, and shouted, "Swallow it quickly!"