Chapter 497: Jiangyun Purple Fruit

"Oh?" Qin Sang asked curiously, "What good news?"

Yun Youzi kept him in suspense. "Brother, let me ask you first: has your foundation recovered?"

"No," Qin Sang shook his head and said in a low voice. "The Harmony Pill that Senior had Yu Fu deliver was not very effective. My foundation is still a little short of full recovery. And I can already feel that elixirs like the Harmony Pill no longer work for me. This is my biggest worry; I fear the damage to my foundation will affect my Core Formation."

During this time, Qin Sang had been hesitating whether to refine the Snow Spirit Lotus and Iris Flower. Having cultivated smoothly to the False Core Stage, Qin Sang couldn't help but harbor a sliver of hope that perhaps the damage to his foundation wouldn't affect his breakthrough. But he couldn't be certain. If his foundation hadn't healed and he couldn't form a core, refining these two spiritual herbs now would be nothing short of a waste.

Yun Youzi put away his smile and said, "During my seclusion at the sect, I found an opportunity to consult a senior uncle-master about your problem. That senior uncle-master specializes particularly in alchemy, and his attainments in the Pill Dao are second to none in the Taiyi Pill Sect, even surpassing the Sect Master. If anyone can resolve your doubts, it would be him. My senior uncle-master said that a situation like yours, where someone with a damaged foundation can still cultivate to the False Core Stage with great perseverance, is very rare but not unheard of. According to him, this kind of damage will not have a decisive impact on Core Formation. There have been precedents of successful Core Formation in the cultivation world, so you can proceed with confidence, Brother Qin."

Qin Sang's eyes lit up. The Taiyi Pill Sect was the undisputed leader of the Pill Dao in the Little Cold Region. Someone considered "second to none" in the Taiyi Pill Sect was certainly extraordinary. If his words couldn't be trusted, Qin Sang didn't know who else could be.

"However..." Yun Youzi's sudden change of tone caused Qin Sang's heart to sink. "Brother Qin, you can't just let it be. Especially after breaking through to the Core Formation stage, this hidden danger will affect your strength even more noticeably. As your power increases, the gap between you and cultivators of the same rank will be infinitely magnified. In battles between high-level cultivators, even a tiny difference can determine life or death..."

Qin Sang nodded and hummed in acknowledgment, knowing that Yun Youzi's warning was not idle talk. The reason he had been able to forge ahead in the Foundation Establishment stage without feeling the effects of his damaged foundation, repeatedly defeating enemies beyond his realm, was primarily due to external forces. In the early stages, he had the Ten Directions Yama Formation, whose power surpassed that of talismans, and the elusive Ebony Sword. In later stages, he possessed two Dharma Treasures, the Nine Dragons Heavenly Carriage Talisman, and other divine artifacts. And throughout the Foundation Establishment stage, he had the divine ability from the *Soul Nurturing Sword Chapter* and his Corpse Refinement.

Once he broke through to the Core Formation stage, these advantages would be negated. Other Core Formation masters also possessed Dharma Treasures. Without the latter half of the *Heavenly Yin Corpse Arts*, he couldn't refine corpses beyond the Flying Yaksha level. His current Flying Yaksha still had a certain gap when facing true Core Formation masters. Only the divine abilities granted by the *Soul Nurturing Sword Chapter*, namely the current Sword Qi Thunder Sound and the Sword Light Splitting after Core Formation, were Qin Sang's greatest reliance for the future. But this cultivation method was incomplete, and whether he could obtain Senior Qing Zhu's self-created cultivation method was still unknown. At that time, what would he use to bridge the gap? Just as Yun Youzi said, the gap would only widen in the future, and he would gradually fall behind.

Seeing Qin Sang frown in silence, Yun Youzi asked, "Brother Qin, do you still remember the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit?"

Qin Sang suddenly looked up. The Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit! How could he not remember? When his foundation was first damaged, he had scoured the ancient texts of Shaohua Mountain and found two rare heavenly treasures capable of restoring one's foundation: one was called Dao Scripture Grass, and the other was the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit!

"Do you remember what this old Daoist said at Yinshan Pass? The place most likely to contain heavenly treasures is Ziwei Palace. The heavenly treasure this old Daoist investigated recently was indeed information about the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit. It's now confirmed that there is indeed a Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit plant in Ziwei Palace!" Yun Youzi looked at Qin Sang and said in a low voice.

"What?" Qin Sang's face was filled with surprise. "Senior, you've been missing for so many years, were you helping me search for information about the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit? What about your hidden injuries then..."

Yun Youzi hummed in affirmation. "Such heavenly treasures are incredibly rare and hard to come by. This old Daoist wasn't sure at first, and time was short, so I had to go alone. Thankfully, I didn't disappoint, and I found definite information. As for my hidden injuries, ordinary spiritual medicines outside are completely ineffective on me. I only know of one method now: there's a unique realm within Ziwei Palace that might be able to help me. It's not easy to enter, though, and I'll need your help, Brother.

"Since I returned this time, I've been looking for the Ziwei Secret Scrolls, and I already have a lead on one. I didn't expect you, Brother, to suddenly produce two of them. This old Daoist has saved a lot of effort. This is also a good opportunity to carefully instruct Yu Fu during this time, as this old Daoist's journey... I don't know if I'll ever return." As he spoke, Yun Youzi glanced at Li Yu Fu, who was standing guard outside the island.

Hearing this, Qin Sang said worriedly, "Senior, your chances aren't high?"

Yun Youzi hummed and said in a calm tone, "Using this method is equivalent to breaking before establishing. As the saying goes, 'without breaking, there is no establishing,' but who can be sure that 'establishing' will ultimately be achieved? This old Daoist has at most a ten percent chance. However, I don't want to be stuck in the False Core Stage for the rest of my life, so this journey is a must."

Yun Youzi's words were firm. Only a ten percent chance! Yun Youzi must have already come to terms with sacrificing himself for the Dao. Yun Youzi's gaze was very calm. Qin Sang knew that Yun Youzi's determination to seek the Dao was unwavering, and it was impossible to persuade him to give up. As a friend, all he could do was offer his full support.

"The unique realm Senior mentioned, is it in the inner or outer hall?" Qin Sang asked.

"Brother Qin, you seem to know a lot about Ziwei Palace!" Yun Youzi replied. "It's in the inner hall, and the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit is also there. Our cultivation levels make it difficult to even move an inch in the outer hall; this old Daoist wouldn't dare to aim for it. Time is running out, and I still need to prepare some auxiliary items to help us reach the inner hall entrance."

The inner hall would be fine. Qin Sang breathed a sigh of relief. If it were the outer hall, it would conflict with his agreement with Grandma Jing. Thinking of this, Qin Sang said, "Senior, just prepare your own things. I have a way to reach the inner hall entrance. We can meet in the inner hall then."

"Is that true?" Yun Youzi did not delve into Qin Sang's secret and said joyfully, "This old Daoist has truly saved so much trouble! Brother Qin is truly a lucky star. I only hope this time will be as smooth as before!"

Qin Sang nodded, then eagerly said, "Senior, please tell me more about the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit..."

Only then did Yun Youzi remember, putting away his smile and saying solemnly, "It's true that Ziwei Palace has the Crimson Cloud Purple Fruit, but I must warn you, Brother! If your Core Formation fails, consider this trip an early reconnaissance, and don't force it. Wait until you break through to the Core Formation stage, and then participate in the struggle the next time Ziwei Palace opens. Because those vying for this fruit with you will be great demons at the Demonic Core stage from Sky Demon Mound, and perhaps more than one!"