14: Chapter 14 Third Sister's Foundation Establishment

After the auction ended, Chu Feng did not leave immediately.

Under Secretary Han Jiangxue's arrangement, he met the Bai Yafei he had just purchased in a quiet room.

She was still wearing that plain white dress, standing in the center of the room with her head bowed.

Up close, Chu Feng could feel the lifeless despair emanating from her even more clearly.

Her eyes were large, but there wasn't a hint of spirit in her pupils, as if they were covered by a layer of ash.

“Bai Yafei?” Chu Feng spoke.

The young girl's body trembled almost imperceptibly as she slowly raised her head.

She looked at Chu Feng with hollow eyes, like a lifeless object.

“Yes,” she said softly, with a numbness that suggested she had resigned herself to her fate.

“My name is Chu Feng, and I am a Two-Star Guest Elder of Duobao Pavilion.”

Chu Feng tried to keep his tone calm. “I bought you not entirely for the purpose of carrying on my Family line.”

“I already have several Dao Companions at home, and I need someone to help manage some affairs. You will work in my household from now on. As long as you behave yourself, I will not treat you poorly.”

A faint ripple of emotion flashed through Bai Yafei's eyes, but it quickly returned to silence.

She curtsied slightly. “I will follow Master's orders.”

Chu Feng knew that such a psychological knot couldn't be untied in just a few words.

He said no more and left Duobao Pavilion with Bai Yafei.

By the time they returned to Courtyard No. 666 in the Red Moon Second Ring, the sky was near dusk.

Lin Youchu, Luo Xingyu, and Cheng Sanniang were all waiting in the front yard.

Seeing Chu Feng bring back an unfamiliar young girl in white, the three women were stunned for a moment, their eyes filled with curiosity and a hint of subtle scrutiny.

“Husband, this is...” Cheng Sanniang was the first to speak, her gaze sizing up Bai Yafei.

“Her name is Bai Yafei; I brought her back from the auction.”

Chu Feng gave a simple explanation. “She will be a part of the Family from now on. Yafei, these three are my Dao Companions: Cheng Sanniang, Lin Youchu, and Luo Xingyu.”

Bai Yafei bowed slightly to the three women, still keeping her head down, her voice barely audible. “Bai Yafei greets the three Madams.”

Her attitude was submissive.

With a normal expression, Cheng Sanniang stepped forward and gently tilted Bai Yafei's chin up, forcing her to look up.

“What a pretty girl.”

Cheng Sanniang smiled, but her eyes were sharp. “It's just this look in your eyes; it's too unlucky. Since you've entered the Chu Family's door, you should let go of the past.”

“Serve our husband well and help out with the household in the future, and you naturally won't be mistreated. But if you have any other intentions...”

She didn't finish, but the warning in her words was obvious.

Bai Yafei's eyelashes fluttered as she whispered, “This servant wouldn't dare.”

“Alright.” Chu Feng waved his hand. “Youchu, take Yafei to settle in. Xingyu, prepare dinner. Sanniang, come to the study with me; I have something to tell you.”

Everyone dispersed as instructed.

In the study, a jade bottle appeared in Chu Feng's hand.

“A foundation establishment pill?” Cheng Sanniang's spirit was roused.

Then +10! +10! +10!

At dinner, Bai Yafei joined them at the table.

She ate very little, her movements mechanical, and she almost never looked up.

Lin Youchu and Luo Xingyu tried to talk to her, but she only gave brief replies, making the atmosphere somewhat stifling.

Late at night, in the master bedroom.

“Husband is exceptionally lenient toward that Bai Yafei,” Cheng Sanniang remarked.

Chu Feng knew what she was thinking. “She is also a pitiful person. Moreover, she has a Mystic Spirit Root and her cultivation is decent. If she can truly join us, it will be a good thing for the Family.”

“I don't just love every woman I see. You three hold the most weight in my heart.”

Cheng Sanniang beamed. “I know. Husband is a man of great ambition; there will surely be more than just us sisters by your side in the future. As long as you have us in your heart and don't favor one over the other, I am satisfied.”

+10! +10! +10! +10!

The exchange of Dao techniques ended.

Cheng Sanniang suddenly remembered something and said softly, “Husband, although you bought the foundation establishment pill and Bai Yafei at an auction, it's hard to guarantee word won't get out.”

“Over two hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones is enough to make some people have wicked thoughts. Although we live in the Inner City's Second Ring and our safety is guaranteed, we should still be careful when going in and out.”

Chu Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. “I understand. Wealth should not be flaunted. During this time, we should all try to go out as little as possible. The house's defenses also need to be strengthened.”

He calculated in his mind that he would go to Duobao Pavilion tomorrow to see if there were any suitable Materials for a protective Formation.

At the same time, he also needed to speed up the improvement of his and his Dao Companions' strength.

The count of the Giant Spirit Root System was growing slowly but steadily, but Chu Feng knew that a true crisis might be quietly brewing in an unseen place.

The next day.

Cheng Sanniang sat cross-legged in the center of the Spirit Gathering Array, her face flushed and the Spiritual Qi around her surging like a tide.

In front of her, a longan-sized, emerald-green, and lustrous foundation establishment pill floated quietly, emitting an enticing medicinal fragrance.

Chu Feng stood at the edge of the Formation with a solemn expression.

Lin Youchu nervously clutched his sleeve and whispered, “Husband, can Sister Cheng succeed?”

“Don't worry.” Chu Feng patted the back of her hand. “Sanniang's accumulation was already sufficient. With this foundation establishment pill, the success rate is at least ninety percent.”

Even though he said this, Chu Feng was also a bit apprehensive.

Foundation Establishment is the first true threshold for a Cultivator. Once it fails, at best, the Meridians are damaged and cultivation regresses; at worst, the Spiritual Qi backlashes, endangering one's life.

“Let's begin.” Cheng Sanniang opened her eyes, gave Chu Feng a firm look, and then opened her mouth to swallow the foundation establishment pill into her stomach.

Boom—

The Medicinal Pill melted as soon as it entered her body, and its majestic medicinal power exploded instantly, turning into a scorching torrent that rushed toward her limbs and bones.

Cheng Sanniang let out a muffled groan. Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her clothes were instantly soaked, clinging tightly to her plump body and outlining breathtaking curves.

Chu Feng stared intently at the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi within the Formation.

He could clearly perceive that the Spiritual Qi inside Cheng Sanniang was being forcibly compressed and purified by the medicinal power, transforming toward a liquid state. This was the most critical step of Foundation Establishment—Liquefying Spiritual Qi.

Time passed bit by bit.

The atmosphere in the room was oppressive, with only Cheng Sanniang's heavy breathing and the humming of Spiritual Qi vibrations.

The exposed skin of her body began to ooze light black filth. This was the phenomenon of the Physical Body being further tempered and Impurities being expelled during the Foundation Establishment process.

Two hours later, the aura around Cheng Sanniang suddenly stalled, then soared into the sky like a volcanic eruption!

“Now!”

Chu Feng shouted low, his hands forming seals to manipulate the Spirit Gathering Array to frantically gather Spiritual Qi from all directions and pour it into Cheng Sanniang's body.

Cheng Sanniang's delicate body trembled violently, and a roar like a rushing river came from within her.

That was the sound of Spiritual Qi completely liquefying and surging through her Meridians!

After another fifteen minutes, her aura slowly calmed down, and a Spiritual Pressure several times stronger than before spread out.

The Spiritual Pressure unique to the Foundation Establishment Stage—it was done!

“She succeeded!” Lin Youchu jumped up in surprise and joy.

Cheng Sanniang slowly opened her eyes, a sharp light flashing through them before vanishing.

She looked down at her filth-covered but even more translucent skin, feeling the surging liquid Spiritual Qi in her body, and her eyes welled up with tears. “Husband... I, I've reached Foundation Establishment!”