章 29: Grades of Foundation

"Young master Xiao." A voice called and Xiao Weimin turned around.

"Young master Rong." Xiao Weimin nodded at the young man who was walking towards them.

"I didn't expect to see young master Xiao in a remote place like Two Reeds town."

"I was training at the Blue Deer Beast Mountain. I am on my way back to the Academy."

"Is that so?" Rong Hao nodded and looked at Xiao Weimin in admiration.

Xiao Weimin was the legendary 'other people's child'.

When Rong Hao was growing up, he often heard about the genius seventh young master of the Xiao family.

Now that he was also about to go to the Divine Rainbow Academy, Rong Hao naturally wanted to make a connection.

"Young master Xiao…" Rong Hao called and expectantly looked at the people next to Xiao Weimin.

Seeing this, Xiao Weimin was momentarily confused before he realised what Rong Hao meant.

After he figured it out, he began introducing everyone.

"This is young Miss Qin Ran. She is the daughter of the town lord of Blue Spring town." Xiao Weimin pointed at Qin Ran and introduced.

"Young miss Qin." Rong Hao nodded.

After that, Xiao Weimin introduced Bai Guo, Zhen Yuan, and Shen Xu.

However, when Rong Hao realised that none of Xiao Weimin's companions had a powerful background, he lost interest and only wanted to talk to Xiao Weimin.

[As expected.] Shen Xu barely suppressed the urge to roll his eyes.

[Don't mind him. He has nothing to do with us.] Zhen Yuan transmitted and Shen Xu nodded in agreement.

[Ayuan, what do you think of the woman standing behind Rong Hao?]

Hearing this, Zhen Yuan frowned.

He had naturally seen the woman.

However, he didn't know her so he didn't dwell on her.

[What can I think of her?] He asked.

At that, Shen Xu smiled.

Originally, his inquisition was just a way to pass the time.

However, when he heard the confusion in Zhen Yuan's voice, he couldn't resist the urge to tease the older boy.

[Do you think she is beautiful?] He asked with a mischievous smile in his eyes.

[You are better looking.] Zhen Yuan answered.

Although he had never been in love and was new to marriage, he knew what not to say in front of his wife.

Most importantly, he wasn't speaking against his conscience.

Of all the women and doubles he had ever seen, Shen Xu was the most beautiful. Naturally, the young woman standing behind Rong Hao couldn't compare.

[Good answer.] Shen Xu smiled and a trace of joy flashed in his eyes.

[Do you think she is Lin Xiang?]

[Most likely.] Zhen Yuan agreed.

Although they rarely left the inn, he and Shen Xu overheard a lot of gossip.

From the gossip, they learned that Rong Hao came from a big family in the capital.

This time, he came to Two Reeds town to recruit a genius talisman master.

In the end, he not only recruited the person but also got engaged to her.

The female genius was called Lin Xiang.

She was fifteen years old and was the most beautiful woman in Two Reeds town.

Looking at the person behind Rong Hao, it wasn't difficult to guess her identity.

[She is young but she isn't simple.] Shen Xu suddenly said.

[Why do you think so?]

[She is standing behind Rong Hao but her eyes are firm and determined. She doesn't look like someone willing to clip her wings to support a man.]

[You may be right.] Zhen Yuan agreed.

[Rong Hao may be unable to control her after they reach the capital.]Shen Xu said, his voice laced with schadenfreude.

[Either way…]

Before Zhen Yuan could finish his words, a loud voice echoed in the surroundings.

"Get on your horses. We will leave in an incense stick." Manager Zhang shouted.

Hearing this, everyone including Zhen Yuan and Shen Xu hurried to their demon horses and carriages.

Soon after, the caravan left Two Reeds town and headed towards the next town.

The next town was called Heilong Town.

Compared to Blue Spring town and Two Reeds town, Heilong town was larger and more prosperous.

After arriving in the town, Shen Xu found a chance to certify as a first-level weapon refiner. Fortunately, nothing unexpected happened during the certification and the process went smoothly.

One month later, the caravan arrived at a city called Anyang City.

Anyang City was a second-tier city, and its city lord was in the mid-stage of the golden core realm.

Unlike Blue Spring town, Two Reeds town, Heilong town, and other small towns that the caravan had passed through, people needed to pay to enter Anyang City.

Because of this, the caravan disbanded outside the city gate and everyone queued to enter the city.

"Ayuan, we can stay in this city for five days. Let's take the chance to walk around and do some shopping." Shen Xu suggested.

Because Manager Zhang had something to do in Anyang City's branch of the Myriad Treasures Pavillion, the caravan could stop in the city for five days instead of the usual one to three days.

Knowing this, Shen Xu was excited and couldn't wait to go around.

"Whatever you want." Zhen Yuan immediately agreed.

Soon, the two reached the front of the line.

"Five spirit stones per person." A guard stated while looking at Zhen Yuan.

Without wasting time, Zhen Yuan paid ten spirit stones and led Shen Xu into the city.

At first glance, Anyang City was very lively.

The streets were filled with people, and everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get somewhere.

Seeing this, Zhen Yuan took his wife's hand and led him to navigate through the crowd.

"Where are we going?" Shen Xu asked.

"I will take you to eat."

Hearing this, Shen Xu immediately became excited.

Although he liked to eat the food he cooked, he didn't dislike going to restaurants.

After all, each town had its specialities.

The more specialities he tried, the more ideas he got.

When the time was right, he planned to create new dishes and let Zhen Yuan try them.

"We can eat while we listen to gossip." Shen Xu whispered with a mischievous look in his eyes.

After travelling for more than a month, the two had learned some common sense.

One of the things they learned was that restaurants were some of the best places to gather information without paying a hefty price.

"Good." Zhen Yuan agreed.

An incense stick later, the two stood at the entrance of the most popular restaurant in Anyang City.

The restaurant was called Diyan Tower and was the property of the third young master of the city lord's residence.

"Two guests, welcome to Diyan tower." A female attendant greeted them as soon as the two entered the restaurant.

"Do you want a private room or a table in the hall?" She asked.

"We want a window table in the hall. Preferably on the second floor." Shen Xu answered.

"Please follow me." The attendant said and led the way.

A few moments later, they arrived on the second floor and sat at a window table, facing the street.

"Two guests, what can I serve you?"

"Can we see a menu?"

After that, Zhen Yuan and Shen Xu ordered several signature dishes and a pot of wine. While waiting for their order, they secretly eavesdropped on the neighbouring guests.

"Young master Chen spent nine hundred thousand spirit stones to buy a flame whip for young Miss Lu." Someone said with a trace of envy in her voice.

"Nine hundred thousand spirit stones? How can that be? Didn't Miss Lu just advance to the foundation establishment realm? Even if the whip is a peak grade level two weapon, it shouldn't cost nine hundred thousand spirit stones."

"I don't know the details. Maybe it's made using special materials."

"Could it be a failed third-level weapon?"

"Who knows? " Someone sighed and Shen Xu shifted his attention.

Although it was a little interesting that someone spent nine hundred thousand spirit stones to buy a level two weapon, the matter had nothing to do with him.

"I heard the seventh young master Xiao is in Anyang City." A female cultivator said, her voice filled with interest.

Hearing this, Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan looked at each other.

The seventh young master Xiao was Xiao Weimin.

Since they were in the same caravan and had just arrived in Anyang City, it was a little unexpected that people had already discovered their arrival.

'As expected of the main protagonist.' Shen Xu thought and continued to eavesdrop.

"Is your news true? I heard the seventh young master Xiao is the most handsome man in our Canglan continent."

"He is not only handsome but also powerful. There was a vision at his birth and I heard he established a purple-grade foundation."

"Purple grade foundation? How is that possible?" One of the gossipers was incredulous.

At another table, Shen Xu frowned and looked at Zhen Yuan.

"Ayuan, what is a purple-grade foundation?" He asked.

In the original novel, the main protagonist was already a foundation establishment realm cultivator when the book started.

As a result, the author didn't explain the foundation-building process or grades of foundation.

"Establishing the foundation means transforming gaseous qi into liquid qi and condensing a crucible in the dantian." Zhen Yuan started, and Shen Xu listened.

"The quality of the crucible varies from cultivator to cultivator. The lowest quality is the white grade, followed by green grade, blue grade, and finally the purple grade crucible."

"In the Canglan continent, most cultivators condense a white-grade crucible. Some of the more talented ones condense the green-grade crucible while the blue-grade is almost unheard of. As for the purple grade…" Zhen Yuan sighed, but Shen Xu understood.

If it was almost impossible to condense a blue-grade crucible, how difficult was it to establish a purple-grade foundation?

"As expected of the protagonist." Shen Xu said and also sighed.