Rising Fame and Fruitful Praise
Fang Jin Yu's rise to renown had begun quietly but inexorably. Word spread of the remarkable increase in his pill formation rate—a measure of success that steadily climbed day by day. In the world of cultivation, a practitioner's reputation is often judged by the efficiency with which one can concoct alchemical pills. For those still at the Qi Condensation stage, the secret elixirs they produce have their own worth. Fang Jin Yu's success rate had already reached a stellar sixty percent when crafting Qi-stage pills. This alone was cause for celebration. In fact, even the venerable sect leader found it necessary to summon Fang Jin Yu personally to offer praise and encouragement. Of course, it wasn't that the headmaster suddenly favored him for some mysterious personal reason—the commendation was simply part of the leader's duty. After all, the standard for a master alchemist in their sacred sect was a success rate of seventy percent; when a disciple reached even sixty percent at the lower stage, it was an omen of greater promise in the years to come.
Fang Jin Yu's outward display, then, was both modest and measured. Though his visible achievements were confined to Qi-stage pills, the very fact that his current success rate hinted at a similar potential when he moved on to the Foundation Establishment stage was enough to set heads turning. In the art of alchemy, one's early achievements often portended the heights one might someday scale. If he could maintain or even improve his percentage when refining Foundation-stage elixirs, it was not far-fetched to imagine him reaching the revered Saint-level of alchemy—a status that transformed a mere craftsman into a legendary figure.
It wasn't long before Fang Jin Yu reaped rewards beyond mere praise. He was granted access to the treasured Foundation-stage pill recipes and, more importantly, the opportunity to exchange spirit-infused medicinal herbs—a privilege reserved only for those who had proven their mettle beyond the mortal, everyday realm. In the hierarchy of cultivators, Qi Condensation still belonged largely to the mundane world, but the Foundation Establishment stage marked the commencement of a transcendent life. This was the point at which a practitioner started to become not only a disciple of the sect but one of its backbone; a critical mass of Foundation cultivators was essential for any great sect's survival. Even if an immortal patriarch from the Yuan-Nian realm were present in the halls of a sect, a dwindling number of Foundation disciples could herald its inevitable decline. For this reason, every step that Fang Jin Yu took toward creating Foundation-stage elixirs was monitored with eagle-eyed care by the sect's higher-ups.
An Explosive Endeavor in Pill-Making
That very day, after receiving the coveted Foundation-stage pill formula, Fang Jin Yu began the arduous process of refining Foundation-level elixirs. With new recipes in hand and the authorization to rent or purchase specialized herbal ingredients designed strictly for Foundation pill-making, he prepared to push the boundaries of his craft. The contrast was stark: while the Qi Condensation elixirs were common enough to barter for spirit stones in marketplaces, Foundation-stage elixirs required not only skill but also a certain level of qualification to be exchanged.
In the secluded alchemy chamber of his sect, Fang Jin Yu set to work with unparalleled focus. Every ingredient, every incantation, every precise adjustment of the mystical furnace was executed with the care of an artisan whose reputation was now on the cusp of soaring. But as the saying goes, in the world of fire and spirit, even the best-laid plans sometimes burst into flame—literally.
Midway through his batch, calamity struck. The very furnace that had served as the crucible for his alchemical experiments, a spirit-imbued device of the lower grade yet possessing formidable power, suddenly exploded. The blast was catastrophic. Three adjacent alchemy rooms—tightly clustered in the compound—were obliterated in an instant, their walls crumbling and filling the corridor with a cacophony of shattering stone and searing energy. The eruption was violent enough that the very air seemed torn apart by the force of the explosion.
Yet Fang Jin Yu was not one to be undone by a single misstep. Drawing on the training from the "Ten Directions Xun Zhen Sutra," a set of mystical techniques capable of evading mortal danger even during a cataclysm, he leapt from the doomed chamber in a blur of motion. His escape was swift, elegant, and completely calculated. While he himself emerged unscathed, the unfortunate souls from the two adjacent rooms—Foundation-stage alchemists who had been similarly engaged in their maiden attempts at refining Foundation pills—were left stumbling out in disarray. Their faces were covered with dust and soot, and the air of exasperation was palpable. Had they not been bound by the mutual respect of belonging to the same sect, it was highly likely that, in the heated aftermath, tempers and fists would have taken over.
The explosion, however, came with a bitter price. Fang Jin Yu's financial reserves were severely depleted by the cost of damage repairs and recompense for the loss of the precious materials. Nearly half of his accumulated spirit stones evaporated in the process. Muttering to himself in dismay, he counted his remaining stash: "Only twenty thousand spirit stones left…" The voice in his heart lamented—a sensation akin to being thrown back to square one, as if all his painstaking progress were undone by a single misfortune.
Nonetheless, lessons were learned. In the days that followed, Fang Jin Yu exercised far more restraint in his alchemical ventures. He resolved not to repeat such explosive mishaps, even though deep down he knew that his talent—maybe even an "external cheat code," as some might say—enabled him to recover swiftly from almost any accident. He would not risk another premature detonation of his furnace before ensuring that his Foundation pill success rate reached a reliable thirty percent. Only then would he venture to sell even a single pill—to demonstrate publicly that he could indeed produce Foundation-stage elixirs. For now, financial hardship compelled him to exchange a modest share of spirit stones for the raw materials he needed. Although his current Foundation pills were not the grand "Summoning Spirit Pills" of Qi Condensation but rather a small, introductory elixir suited only for a basic breakthrough at the Foundation stage, they were nonetheless extremely valuable. Each such pill fetched a price of three hundred spirit stones—a staggering fifteen times the cost of a Qi-stage pill.
Indeed, as the trade concluded, Fang Jin Yu realized that by selling seventy elixirs, he had recovered twenty-one thousand spirit stones. It was a heady reminder that while the road to financial recovery was arduous, the Foundation stage held tremendous profit for a cultivator with both talent and determination. As he pocketed the coin, a thought struck him—a thought that made him wonder about the larger economics of cultivation. While spirit stones were the currency for both Qi Condensation and Foundation realms—and even circulated within the mortal sphere and sect administration—there lay another mysterious currency: the spirit pearl.
Mysteries of the Celestial Currency
Spirit stones were extracted from the mountains near spiritual veins and appeared in irregular shapes. They were the standard trade currency among cultivators and ordinary folk alike. But spirit pearls, as legend had it, were the crystallized essences of heaven and earth. The common varieties—fire, water, earth, wood, and gold spirit pearls—were imbued with an elemental purity that even the martial might of Golden Core alchemists could not easily replicate. In fact, the profound power captured in a spirit pearl was so highly valued that almost all circulating spirit pearls eventually fell under the control of those in the Golden Core stage.
Still, there were rare instances when a few of these pearls might slip through the grasp of higher cultivators and be hoarded by either Foundation practitioners or even Qi-stage adepts. Fang Jin Yu recalled reading in a venerable ancient text that there was, in fact, an exceedingly rare Thunder Spirit Pearl. At that moment, his thoughts raced to a rumor he had heard: that a Qi-stage cultivator at the very lowest level possessed this marvel—but that cultivator was no longer within the realm of the Nine Desolations. Instead, she now roamed on another continent of cultivation, a mysterious land where new realms would even appear in the coming decade.
According to the legends, in roughly ten years a new cultivation continent would suddenly emerge near the Nine Desolations, colliding with that realm in a cataclysmic display that would decimate two entire sects within moments. Only those Golden Core alchemists, barely escaping with their lives after suffering grievous injuries, would have any chance to rebuild. The swirling talk of such large-scale disasters was too distant from Fang Jin Yu's immediate concerns. He quickly set aside these ominous forebodings to concentrate on his own progress. After all, the promise of striking riches through Foundation pills was tantalizing enough. And with his newly proven alchemical skills, even if he had to suffer a few setbacks along the way, he envisioned a future in which he might one day enjoy the status of a full-fledged Saint-level alchemist.
Preparing for Seclusion and Unexpected Encounters
With his finances partially restored by the profitable trade of Foundation elixirs, Fang Jin Yu soon began preparations to enter seclusion. The plan was simple: once his current batch of Foundation pills had boosted his cultivation to the second tier of the Foundation stage, he would retreat into deep meditative isolation until new breakthroughs were ripe for the taking. The promised opening of the "Lingdu Secret Realm" was scheduled for one month hence—a window within which he aimed to shatter his current limits. Confidence brimmed in his heart. As one who had long clung to the wall in difficult times—a "hang-on" cultivator by reputation—he firmly believed that his destiny was on a swift ascent.
But even on the eve of retreat, life in the sect compound had one more twist in store. Stepping out of the alchemy hall for a brief walk, Fang Jin Yu let his inner senses—those finely attuned receivers honed by the Fate Calculation Technique—lead him to check on something of personal interest. He already knew, without the need for a conscious thought, where a certain familiar presence was. The delicate pulse of fate had informed him of the whereabouts of the little girl he had encountered days before.
As he strolled through the corridors, he saw her surrounded by several Qi-stage disciples. The small girl was clearly in high spirits, laughing and playing, basking in the innocent joy of the moment. However, when Fang Jin Yu approached, the disciples immediately bowed in deference before backing aside in anticipation of his arrival. It was a gesture that simultaneously acknowledged his growing reputation and, perhaps, the unspoken influence he wielded by association.
"Who would have thought you'd be so popular?" Fang Jin Yu remarked with a casual tone as he came within earshot of the group. His voice carried both amusement and a hint of pride, the sort of warmth shared among friends in a world where status was both hard-won and fleeting.
But his comment was met not with gratitude but with a pair of scornful eyes. The little girl, with a frank and mischievous tone that belied her delicate age, shot back sharply, "Are you stupid? It isn't that they like me—they're all trying to please you! They want to curry favor by backing you up indirectly, because you're the one with the potential to be a Saint-level alchemist."
The girl's words struck him like a surprising gust of biting truth. Though the remark was peppered with the innocent yet trenchant language of one who was growing intimately familiar with the ways of the sect, Fang Jin Yu only smiled. Over time, he had learned that this particular child was refreshingly candid. In fact, after countless exchanges—at least three out of every ten remarks might be downright provocative—he had come to regard her as a cherished if mischievous acquaintance. Memories of previous encounters, when her emotions had once flared and she had inadvertently unleashed a brief but powerful surge of energy, still elicited a wry chuckle from him. Those moments, he recalled, had once coincided with a tumultuous incident at a dubious market—when he had been forced to use a borrowed technique to deflect the anger of three irate Golden Core cultivators.
It was precisely on that occasion, when he had invoked the "Wind and Thunder" method as a defensive measure, that he experienced the tiny, fleeting burst of aura from the little girl—a phenomenon that, though brief, had left an indelible impression on him. The evidence suggested that despite her youthful appearance and playful banter, the girl might be more advanced in cultivation than she seemed. Could it be that, through some twist of fortune or unforeseen accident, she had already attained the Golden Core stage? Even if only by a hair's breadth, such a possibility set Fang Jin Yu's heart pounding with cautious excitement.
In the depths of his mind, he allowed himself a moment of hope. If by chance this small girl were indeed a Golden Core cultivator reborn through unexpected circumstances, then she might one day transform into an invaluable asset—a "ready-made thigh," as some might say in jest—upon which he could depend should fate turn turbulent. He quickly dismissed such extravagant daydreams if she later reverted to simply being a Qi-stage cultivator; for now, the prospect of having a young companion with potential held a secret thrill he was loath to ignore.
Reflections on Fate, Wealth, and the Price of Ambition
Even as the day's events played out before him, Fang Jin Yu's mind buzzed with dual concerns. On one hand was his alchemical brilliance and his steadily rising fame. On the other, the harsh reality of his financial straits reminded him that not all fortunes were measured in enlightenment alone. The earlier mishap with the exploding furnace had cost him dearly, draining nearly half of his recent savings. "I'm left with only twenty thousand spirit stones," he muttered to himself with a sigh that resonated like the echo of past glories—glories that now seemed as distant as the days before his breakthrough.
Yet even this setback was not a defeat but rather a stepping stone. The profitable sale of his modest Foundation-stage pills—though they were not yet the miraculous Summoning Spirit Pills known to propel cultivators from Qi Condensation to exalted heights—was a tantalizing glimpse of what his future might hold. With each pill sold at three hundred spirit stones, the transaction not only filled his coffers but also served as a public testament to his mastery over an art once reserved for higher cultivators. In selling seventy such pills, he managed to procure a sum of twenty-one thousand spirit stones in a single trade. It was both exhilarating and bittersweet—a reminder that while the path to wealth in the cultivation world was fraught with setbacks, the rewards of skilled alchemy could be prodigious.
This success led Fang Jin Yu to muse on the monetary intricacies of their world. Spirit stones were the ubiquitous currency—mined from the veins of sacred mountains, their shapes wild and irregular, and exchanged among cultivators at all stages. But then there were the spirit pearls, born of the very essence of heaven and earth. Legend dictated that these pearls, typically found in five varieties aligned with the elemental forces of fire, water, earth, wood, and metal, contained pure concentrations of spiritual energy. Their potency was such that even many Golden Core alchemists found them irresistible. It was said that if one were to procure the most elusive of these—like a rare Thunder Spirit Pearl that Fang Jin Yu had read about back in one of his treasured texts—one could harness such purity of qi that even a struggling alchemist might transmute it into a breakthrough elixir. Although rumors claimed that one such precious pearl was currently in the possession of a Qi-level cultivator on another cultivation continent, the reality of that distant prospect was far removed from Fang Jin Yu's immediate concerns.
Instead, he concentrated on the here and now. With the financial crisis looming over him—a crisis symbolized by his now meager remaining spirit stones—he steeled himself for further challenges. He resolved to keep his furnace under tighter control and to limit the risks that might lead to another catastrophic explosion. For the moment, however, his focus remained on practical matters: consolidating his resources, refining his mastery over the Foundation-stage formulas, and preparing for his impending seclusion.
The Calm Before the Secluded Storm
In the midst of all these concerns, there came a moment of gentle interaction that reminded Fang Jin Yu that fate was not only a matter of high finance and alchemical genius but also of human connection. Earlier that day, having finished his business in the compound, he deliberately wandered outside the alchemy hall. Without even intoning a single word or projecting any special spell, the subtle resonance of his Fate Calculation Technique—an art he had nurtured in secret—revealed the precise location of the mischievous little girl from before.
He found her in a small courtyard, surrounded by several Qi-stage disciples. She appeared carefree, laughing as they teased and entertained her. Yet when Fang Jin Yu's presence was noted, the mood shifted at once. The disciples bowed respectfully and retreated, leaving the girl momentarily adrift in the center of a quiet circle. The scene was endearingly familiar—a gentle blend of camaraderie and gentle ribbing that exemplified the life of a sect in its early days of camaraderie and friendly rivalry.
"Who would have thought you'd be so popular?" Fang Jin Yu said with a smirk as he drew near. His tone was light, teasing even, as if he were almost amused by the sight of disciples fussing over her. However, the girl's response was swift and laced with sharp wit. "Are you stupid? It isn't that they like me," she retorted, her voice uncharacteristically bold for someone so young. "They're all trying to please you indirectly—because now you're the one with the potential to be a Saint-level alchemist. They're all rooting for you!"
Her words, though delivered playfully, carried a weight of truth that caused even the self-assured Fang Jin Yu to pause and consider. Though accustomed to her rough-and-tumble banter and the occasional punch-in-the-side that her tongue might deliver, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pride tempered with concern. The intimacy of their relationship had grown over these past few events, and her candor was as refreshing as it was unnerving. For a brief moment, amid the clamor of disciples and the quiet pulse of fate, he wondered about the latent power within this seemingly ordinary child.
Memories of past encounters resurfaced. On multiple occasions—the chaotic scuffle during that dark market incident, for instance—she had inadvertently radiated a burst of mysterious aura so potent that even seasoned Golden Core alchemists had taken notice. Though her display of power had been fleeting, never lasting more than a heartbeat, it had confirmed one tantalizing possibility: this little girl, despite her apparent innocence, might have already tasted the precipice of Golden Core cultivation. Such a notion, dangerous yet exhilarating, sent a jolt of anticipation through him. Were she to truly flourish, she would become a force in her own right—a discovery that could alter the delicate balance of influence within the sect.
Yet, any thought of such an eventuality was tempered by practicality. If she was to remain a mere Qi-stage cultivator when she finally recovered from her momentary crises, then all his musings on her latent potential would have to be set aside. But if she did wake to her true strength—if fate allowed her to rise to the Golden Core stage after recovering from this unforeseen incident—then she would be an unexpected prize, a ready ally (or even a mantle upon which he might lean) in the long, arduous battles that lay ahead.
The Weight of Ambition and the Promise of Seclusion
As dusk deepened into the cool of evening, Fang Jin Yu's thoughts turned once more inward. His successes, however difficult or fraught with peril, had already begun to pay off—both in reputation and in tangible gains. Yet, the price of progress was steep. The explosive mishap in the alchemy hall had left him with fewer spirit stones than he had begun with, a fact that stung more sharply than any physical wound. The sector's economy of cultivation was merciless: one misstep could set you back to square one. But like all true cultivators, he resolved not to despair. Instead, every loss was a lesson—a necessary step toward achieving the kind of power that would allow him to surpass even the revered alchemists of old.
He recalled the numbers with a mix of satisfaction and sorrow. By selling just seventy Foundation-stage elixirs, each priced at three hundred spirit stones, he had managed to recoup a sum that, while not lavish, signaled that the promise of wealth was indeed within his grasp. "It really is easy to earn spirit stones when one masters Foundation elixirs," he mused as he counted his earnings. And yet his mind queried another pressing matter: within the secret realms of cultivation, what conversion rate did spirit pearls command against spirit stones? There were legends of great feats, hidden treasures inside the Lingdu Secret Realm, that required the pure spiritual force of a spirit pearl rather than the standard offerings of spirit stones. Such exchanges, after all, were governed by traditions that even now held sway over the largest sects and imperial courts alike.
His thoughts drifted briefly to the mysteries of trading in Golden Core currencies—a system that governed the miraculous spirit pearls. In these tales, only those who possessed the supernatural might be entrusted with the luminous, elemental spirit pearls, purified to the extent that their spiritual energy surpassed that of many Golden Core cultivators. Yet isolated instances of misbegotten pearls—falling into the hands of Foundation or even Qi-stage aficionados—occasionally emerged. Fang Jin Yu recalled reading of one such rare instance: a Thunder Spirit Pearl, an entity of almost mythical status. The rumor was that such an object currently resided in the possession of a Qi-stage cultivator on a distant continent of cultivation, far removed from the realm of the Nine Desolations. For now, however, these grand ideas belonged to a future he would consider once his own position was unquestionable.
Soon, it was time to initiate his planned seclusion. In the days ahead, he would retreat into a meditative state to focus solely on his inner cultivation. Although the little Foundation elixirs he crafted were far from the miraculous Summoning Spirit Pills of his Qi stage, they were potent enough to propel him upward—if only to the second tier of the Foundation Establishment stage. "In just one more month," he whispered, "when the Lingdu Secret Realm opens, I shall break through before then." As one so accustomed to "hanging onto" his fortunes, he braced himself with unwavering confidence.
But before he could seal himself away in a closed-door retreat for further refinement, there was one final matter to attend to.
A Familiar Presence by the Alchemy Chamber
Stepping outside his alchemy workshop—no need for a grand incantation or outward projection of mind force—Fang Jin Yu let the subtle pulse of his Fate Calculation Technique guide him. It told him exactly where that same familiar presence was, the little girl whose fate had begun to intertwine with his own. When he approached, he discovered that she was now encircled by a group of Qi-stage disciples. At this moment, she was laughing and being playfully teased, her eyes alight with premature mischief. Yet, as soon as she saw Fang Jin Yu, the disciples bowed quickly, stepping aside with an unmistakeable air of respect.
"Looks like you're still the center of attention," Fang Jin Yu remarked softly, his manner teasing. His words, delivered in a familiar tone, were meant to be both friendly and lighthearted.
But the girl was not in the mood for pleasantries. "Are you stupid?" she shot back with an indignant glare that made her expression all the more animated. "Fang Jin Yu, you're now rumored to have the potential to be a Saint-level alchemist. They aren't fond of me because of who I am—they're trying to please you! They want to curry favor with you, indirectly flattering you in the process." Her voice, though playful, carried a sting of truth that only those who had known him longer could appreciate.
Fang Jin Yu merely chuckled at her candidness. Over time, he had grown accustomed to her no-holds-barred style; every few sentences, she'd say something that was nearly—or sometimes intentionally—provocative. It was as if she enjoyed the banter as much as she cherished the occasional display of force, which, on more than one occasion, had startled him. He recalled, with a mixture of amusement and cautious respect, that the last time she had become incensed, there had been a brief surge of energy from within her that had reminded him all too vividly of the chaotic power he had once seen during a riot at a disreputable market. That incident, involving a borrowed technique of wind and thunder that drew in not one but three Golden Core cultivators, had marked the girl as far more than a mere Qi-stage prodigy.
Now, even in her playful teasing she carried the aura of one who might have experienced an accidental breakthrough into the Golden Core stage. For Fang Jin Yu, the potential of this unexpected development lit a small spark of excitement. Even if fate had rendered her power unstable for the moment, if she could ever stabilize her cultivation and fully awaken her potential, she would be an invaluable ally. In that eventuality, if she managed to reach the Golden Core stage and remain true to herself, her very presence would be a boon—a built-in reserve of power and support.
Yet, even as these thoughts swirled in his mind, Fang Jin Yu was fully aware of the precariousness of his own situation. He had lost many of his hard-earned spirit stones in the earlier mishap, and though he had managed to recoup enough to forge ahead, the looming specter of financial strain was never far from his thoughts. He eyed the bustling disciples with a mixture of fond exasperation and steely resolve—knowing that in this world of alchemy and cultivation, every encounter, humorous or serious, was interlaced with fate's unpredictable threads.
Reflections on a Promising but Turbulent Future
As the twilight deepened and the cacophony of the sect's daily life slowly subsided into a gentle evening hum, Fang Jin Yu allowed himself a moment to reflect. His reputation was rising, his financial setbacks were gradually being overcome, and new opportunities—both in the realm of alchemy and in the broader tapestry of cultivation—were steadily emerging. The incident with the furnace explosion had been costly, but it also served as a crucible of transformation. Every setback, every hair's breadth escape from disaster, refined his skills and forged his destiny a little more keenly.
He couldn't help but muse that if he maintained the same meticulous discipline in his Foundation alchemy experiments, it wasn't long before he might achieve not just a respectable success rate but one that rivaled those of legendary Saint-level alchemists. Such an accomplishment would not only bring him prestige but also secure the future growth of his sect. After all, Foundation-stage cultivators were the bedrock of each immortal sect, the vital force without which the entire organization would eventually crumble.
In the midst of these grand designs, financial and personal concerns still clung to him. The symbolism of spirit stones and spirit pearls—the twin currencies of their mystical society—remained ever at the forefront of his thoughts. He recalled that spirit stones were mined by the side of spiritual veins in the mountains and shaped into irregular tokens of power. In contrast, spirit pearls were said to be the concentrated crystallizations of the heavens and earth, such that even the might of many high-level Golden Core practitioners paled in comparison to their pure spiritual energy. Yet, the trade and circulation of these pearls were fiercely monopolized by those at the Golden Core level. There was always talk of a rare chance—a misbegotten spirit pearl that might fall through the cracks, only to be discovered by a Foundation or even a Qi-stage cultivator. Such was the case with the rumored Thunder Spirit Pearl, now held by a lower-stage cultivator far away on another continent of cultivation.
Even if these grand celestial exchanges were a distant concern, the thought of one day participating in such high-stakes trade filled Fang Jin Yu with a heady blend of ambition and wonder. Perhaps, in some future chapter, as his own cultivation matured and his fame soared to even greater heights, he would have the resources and the clout to negotiate in that rarefied market as well. Until then, his focus remained fixated on the gradual, arduous improvement of his alchemical craft—and on ensuring that every explosion, every setback, only motivated him to refine his technique further.
The Calm Before the Closed-Door Battle
Finally, with the day drawing to a close, Fang Jin Yu prepared himself for a period of deep, solitary cultivation—a seclusion meant to consolidate his progress and accelerate his breakthroughs. Even as he planned to close himself off from the world, he knew that he must tie up certain loose ends before retreating completely.
One such matter was the fate of the little girl whose destiny had been so inexplicably intertwined with his. As he stepped out from the inner confines of his alchemy chamber, his internal senses—ever attuned to the swirling ripples of the Fate Calculation Technique—alerted him to her whereabouts. He found her, once again, surrounded by a gaggle of Qi-stage disciples. This time, however, she appeared even more animated, her eyes devouring the lively banter and friendly jests that filled the courtyard.
Her laughter, light and unburdened for those fleeting moments, reminded him that even in a world so steeped in danger and ambition, innocence and levity still flourished. Yet as he neared, the moment shifted; the disciples quickly dispersed, lowering their heads in courteous silence. The little girl's gaze immediately locked onto his, and in the blink of an eye, she seemed to size him up entirely—a mix of mischief, curiosity, and a hint of something more profound that shone like starlight in her eyes.
"Are you following me?" he asked in a tone that was both gentle and amused. "Are you blind?" she retorted with a playful tilt of her head—a phrase that had become something of a recurring joke between them. The banter was familiar now, each exchange laden with its own hidden meanings born of shared history and fate.
For a moment, as they stood in the twilight near the open courtyard, Fang Jin Yu felt a surge of warmth and gratitude. Here was someone who, despite her youth, had come to embody the unpredictable twists of destiny—the sorts of unexpected encounters that made the long, lonely path of cultivation so inexplicably vibrant.
But as all good things were tempered by reality, he reminded himself of the harsh truth: his journey continued to be a constant balancing act between soaring promise and the unyielding demands of survival. Every step forward in cultivation was matched by a setback in his worldly finances, and every success in alchemy brought with it the risk of further explosive mishaps. And yet, even in these moments of vulnerability, Fang Jin Yu's resolve grew ever stronger. He was determined to invest every lost spirit stone into his advancements, confident that each sacrifice was but a precursor to the greatness that lay ahead.
A Glimpse Beyond the Horizon
In the quiet that followed their brief exchange, as the last rays of the setting sun melted into the cool embrace of night, Fang Jin Yu allowed his mind to wander to dreams of the future. He recalled the countless hours spent poring over ancient texts and scrolls dedicated to alchemical arts. In those venerable pages, he had read of the miraculous feats of Saint-level alchemists whose achievements once lit up the annals of immortality. Now, as he stood at the brink of a new chapter, he could almost see himself among those illustrious names—a figure whose name would someday be spoken of with reverence throughout the sect.
That reverent hope was tinged, however, with the sobering reality of the coming seclusion. His plan was to enter a deep, closed-door retreat—a period in which he would lock himself away to hone his inner cultivation until he was ready to emerge even stronger. Though his current elixirs were humble compared to the Summoning Spirit Pills of earlier days, they were sufficient to raise his cultivation from the first level of Foundation Establishment to the second. "The Lingdu Secret Realm opens in one month," he reminded himself with quiet determination. "I must break through before that time." With such resolve, nothing could stand in his way, not even the lingering specters of past mishaps or the clamor of worldly responsibilities.
And yet, despite all his ambitions and plans for the future, the human heart never forgets its interpersonal ties. As he took one last look at the courtyard—where the little girl was now momentarily alone, her eyes reflecting both mischief and a hidden wisdom—Fang Jin Yu felt a deep responsibility stirring within him. Perhaps, someday, when fate had allowed the blossoming of potential in her, he would not take her for granted. Whether by chance or design, her presence might prove to be one of the most unexpected boons on his journey—a tie that, if nurtured properly, could bind their destinies together for mutual benefit.
In Conclusion: The Road Ahead
Thus, as night finally wrapped the compound in a gentle shroud of darkness, Fang Jin Yu quietly returned to his private quarters. With heart heavy yet hopeful, he began the process of preparing for prolonged seclusion. Every incident—be it the explosive failure of the alchemy furnace or the spirited exchange with the little girl—was meticulously cataloged in his memory, each with its own lesson and bearing its own promise. Though his spirit stones had dwindled and his bank of resources had taken a significant hit, the intangible wealth of his experiences and the steady rise of his reputation promised that his future was far from bleak.
Fang Jin Yu's mind was a whirlwind of calculation, ambition, and a touch of wistfulness for the simpler moments of friendly banter. In the interplay between financial pragmatism, rigorous alchemical practice, and the unpredictable stirrings of fate, he continued to chart his course, ever aware that the greatest victories often come from overcoming not just external obstacles but the internal trials of doubt and loss.
In the end, it was precisely this blend of volatile challenges and fleeting victories that defined the life of a cultivator. Every misstep was a lesson; every success, however small, a beacon of hope guiding him forward into realms of higher power and understanding. In the annals of immortal cultivation, Fang Jin Yu's journey—marked as much by the spark of his genius in pill-making as by the accidental explosions that left him reeling from financial strain—was destined to stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of human ambition.
As the first light of dawn crept across the horizon, promising another day of trials, opportunities, and unforeseen encounters, Fang Jin Yu took a final, measured breath. With his mind locked on the impending seclusion and the breakthroughs that lay just beyond the veil of his current limits, he promised himself that no setback was final and that every hardship was but paving the path to legendary greatness.
And so, with renewed determination, the story of Fang Jin Yu continued—a tale of alchemical genius and fragile human ambition, of financial struggles paired with soaring achievements, and of unexpected bonds forged in the unpredictable crucible of fate.