Chapter 117: The Protector

As He Song and Wei Fan were not native to Qingyuan Immortal City, they followed the local customs and adopted the same disguises as Meng Guan.

In this manner, with their true identities hidden from everyone else, the three of them attended the small-scale auction together.

However, since the trio only needed to secure a single Meridian-Protecting Pill and had sufficient spirit stones on hand, the process went smoothly without any major ripples. He Song barely had time to observe the auction venue and listen to Meng Guan call out a few bids before the items were cycled on and off the stage, and the auction concluded.

Fast! It was far too fast!

As he accompanied Meng Guan to collect the Meridian-Protecting Pill, He Song felt a bit dazed. Why was this auction so different from what he had imagined? He had expected threats, provocations, declarations of someone being a young master from a Foundation Establishment family or a disciple of a Golden Core sect, and finally, a standoff ending with one party backing down.

Yet, after actually attending a small auction, none of the things he had imagined occurred. Everyone bid quite harmoniously, giving up whenever the price exceeded their expectations. It was so quiet and peaceful—not at all like the cruel world of cultivation he had envisioned.

A thought flashed through He Song's mind, and he could not help but glance at Meng Guan. Meng Guan’s earlier guess had been correct; there were as many as seven Meridian-Protecting Pills available. He had simply called out a bid of two thousand spirit stones, and with no one else competing, he secured the pill. Perhaps that was why the auction had ended in such a hurried fashion.

With this thought, He Song felt enlightened. Maybe there were no disputes simply because there were so many pills on offer this time. Had the quantity been lower, it would likely have been an entirely different scene.

After paying the spirit stones and retrieving the pill, the three quickly departed from the auction site. Three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators traveling together, merely to protect a single Meridian-Protecting Pill, would naturally not attract any covetous eyes. Even a single late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was enough to safeguard such a pill. It was only two thousand spirit stones; a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator could save up that much in a few years. It would be unwise to intercept and kill a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator for such a small sum—let alone three of them.

Consequently, the trio soon returned to Meng Guan’s residence.

Meng Guan bowed to He Song and Wei Fan once more. "My thanks to you both for your assistance. I shall now head to the quiet room for seclusion. I ask that you two please stand guard."

Seeing He Song and Wei Fan nod, Meng Guan finally relaxed and stepped into the quiet room. As the door closed, He Song and Wei Fan exchanged a look and walked over to a table not far away to sit down.

As the faint aroma of tea began to diffuse through the air, Wei Fan spoke up. "Fellow Daoist, Old Meng attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage is a stroke of fortune for us both. If he succeeds, the benefits go without saying; if he fails, it will still provide us with invaluable experience for our own breakthroughs. Over these next few days, we must keep our spirits up to stand guard for him."

Meng Guan had not spread the word about his attempt to reach Foundation Establishment. According to what he had told them, he had only informed He Song and Wei Fan. Over the past decade or so in this vast Qingyuan Immortal City, he had not made a single other friend. Although his moniker, "Daoist Soul-Severing," carried a bit of weight, he had also offended many people. To prevent others from getting close to him with ill intent, he had very few people he could even speak to, let alone call friends. Those he did know were mostly other desperate rogue cultivators or members of the city's law enforcement squads—people he could not trust as he did He Song and Wei Fan.

"Rest assured. We are within the Immortal City, and in the West District at that. You must know that the West District is under the protection of two Foundation Establishment masters. We only need to be cautious. If anyone truly dares to come, we need only cause a stir, and reinforcements will naturally arrive."

With a casual wave, a sword glowing with red light appeared beside He Song. It was a mid-grade magical tool: the Red Gold Sword. Simultaneously, an earth-yellow shield began to circle around him—another mid-grade magical tool: the Thick Earth Shield.

Beside him, seeing He Song claim they only needed to be cautious while simultaneously summoning his magical tools in a state of high alert, Wei Fan was momentarily speechless. How could he have forgotten that his friend’s cautious nature was carved into his very bones? Even without being asked, He Song would do exactly this.

After a moment of silence, two mid-grade magical tools also appeared beside Wei Fan. Thus, four mid-grade magical tools, under the control of He Song and Wei Fan, stood guard over the surroundings.

Time trickled by. In the blink of an eye, several days passed.

He Song and Wei Fan did not lower their guard, continuing to manipulate their magical tools and keep a constant watch on their surroundings.

Inside the quiet room, Meng Guan opened his eyes. After several days of preparation, he had adjusted his state to its peak. His blood and energy were full, his spiritual power was brimming, his spirit was high, and his gaze was sharp as electricity. At this moment, apart from his white hair and eyebrows, Meng Guan was in his absolute prime.

It was time to consume the Meridian-Protecting Pill and begin the assault on the Foundation Establishment realm.

With a gentle wave, a small jade bottle appeared in his hand. He poured out a pill. A rich, fragrant scent immediately filled the quiet room, causing Meng Guan’s spirit to stir as he caught the aroma. This was the Meridian-Protecting Pill he had purchased at the small auction.

With a flash of resolve in his eyes, Meng Guan swallowed the pill. He then channeled his entire spiritual power, beginning his push toward the Foundation Establishment realm.

The breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm hinges on the compression of spiritual power within the body. It must be compressed, compressed, and compressed again until it reaches its absolute limit, forming the first wisp of true mana within the body. Once that happens, Foundation Establishment is achieved!

The mana of the Foundation Establishment realm and the spiritual power of the Qi Refining realm are not the same thing. Possessing mana signifies that one has truly become a cultivator. In the Qi Refining realm, even at the ninth level or the Great Perfection, one is still in a gray area between a mortal and a cultivator.

Only by forging mana does a cultivator truly begin their journey. It is precisely for this reason that one is only called a "Master" upon reaching the Foundation Establishment realm. In the Qi Refining realm, no matter how formidable one's strength, one can at most be called a "Daoist." "Master" is a title exclusive to the Foundation Establishment realm. Without reaching that stage, no one dares to claim the title for themselves.