36: Chapter 36 We've been completely honest with each other, after all.

Su Yue took a deep breath, reined in that emotion, and switched back to her usual concise tone.

"The Ascension Conference is held every ten years on the fifteenth day of the tenth month at Ascension Valley."

"It is hosted by the Master of Ascension Valley. It does not matter if one is of the Righteous Path or a demonic Cultivator; only Loose Cultivators at the Peak of the Qi Refinement Stage are allowed to compete on stage."

She paused, her voice dropping slightly:

"The winner of the conference will receive a foundation establishment pill."

Once the words 'foundation establishment pill' were spoken, Jiang Xuan immediately understood. No wonder it was called the Ascension Conference.

There was a chasm separating the Qi Refinement Stage from the Foundation Establishment Stage.

For a Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage to achieve a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, besides accumulating their own cultivation to the extreme...

…they also needed an external force to help break through the barrier between heaven and man.

The foundation establishment pill was that external force.

Without a foundation establishment pill, many Loose Cultivators could spend their entire lives grinding at the Peak of the Qi Refinement Stage and might still never touch the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Sect Disciples had their Sects to issue them, and descendants of noble families had their Family to provide them.

But Loose Cultivators had nothing.

The market price of a single foundation establishment pill was at least two thousand Spirit Stones, and it was a seller's market; Loose Cultivators could hardly buy one at all.

Occasionally, if one flowed out from a Sect or Family, once the news got out, Loose Cultivators within a hundred miles would all go red-eyed and fight tooth and nail for it.

Killing each other and turning into enemies over a foundation establishment pill was simply a common occurrence in the Immortal Realm.

Although Jiang Xuan could use contribution points to exchange for various Medicinal Pills in the System shop, there were quite a few restrictions within it.

For example, core Medicinal Pills for promotion like the foundation establishment pill were locked in a gray page, marked with 'Unlocked at Foundation Establishment Stage'.

In other words, he was only qualified to exchange for it after his own cultivation reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, even if he could exchange for it now, he wouldn't dare to take it out rashly.

A small Cultivator at the Qi Refining Stage 5 holding a foundation establishment pill in his hand?

Once the news leaked, wouldn't that just be inviting disaster upon himself?

At best, he would be targeted by others, and at worst, he wouldn't even be able to keep his business.

Moreover, his System cultivation rebate had a rigid rule: only transactions completed within the shop were valid.

This was also a huge limitation.

Otherwise, when the Ascension Conference started, he could run over to the entrance of Ascension Valley and set up a stall.

Taking advantage of the bustling crowd of Loose Cultivators, his daily revenue would probably equal half a month's earnings in Tingfeng Town.

Unfortunately, rules were rules.

He could only honestly guard this shop and do his business well.

Just as Jiang Xuan was pondering these matters, Su Yue's voice suddenly came from beside him.

It was very soft, carrying a hint of unnatural hesitation: "Could you... lend me a few qi-boosting pills?"

Jiang Xuan snapped out of his thoughts and turned his head to look at her.

The candlelight cast a layer of soft, warm color onto her profile, making her heroic brows and eyes appear exceptionally beautiful in this light.

"What do you want to do?" he asked curiously.

Su Yue pursed her lips, and it took two breaths before she spoke, her voice very low: "I want to go participate in the Ascension Conference."

"I want to take advantage of this time... to restore my strength as soon as possible."

She had previously been at the Peak of the Qi Refinement Stage, but after being hunted by Wu Yingshan, her severe injuries coupled with a Qi disturbance caused her to fall by an entire small Realm.

During this time, she had been recuperating and adjusting her breathing at Yunyou Shop, and her internal injuries had already recovered.

But for her cultivation to climb back to the Peak, there was still quite a distance to go.

If she could obtain a few qi-boosting pills for assistance, it was possible to recover to the Peak before the Ascension Conference.

If she could obtain a foundation establishment pill and achieve a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage...

Even if she encountered Wu Yingshan again in the future, at least she wouldn't have to flee like a stray dog.

Jiang Xuan looked at her and asked: "Aren't you afraid of running into Wu Yingshan at the Ascension Conference?"

Su Yue was silent for two breaths, then said in a low voice: "At that time, I can take the flying Magical Artifact of the Tingfeng Town Chamber of Commerce and travel to Ascension Valley together with the people from the Chamber of Commerce."

"On the way, they will have guards accompanying them, so there won't be any major issues with safety."

She paused, then continued: "After entering Ascension Valley, during the conference, there will be Disciples of Ascension Valley maintaining order, and private fighting is prohibited within a ten-mile radius of the arena."

"Even if Wu Yingshan is there, he wouldn't dare to make a move in front of Ascension Valley."

"Afterward, as long as I take the Chamber of Commerce's flying Magical Artifact back, there won't be any risk."

Jiang Xuan nodded; this was indeed a safe method.

He did not hesitate and spoke directly: "Alright, whatever Medicinal Pill you need, just go to the counter and take it."

Su Yue's Phoenix eyes flashed slightly; she seemingly hadn't expected him to agree so readily.

She opened her mouth, and it took a breath before she spoke: "I will repay you."

Jiang Xuan smiled and waved his hand: "Why be so polite?"

He rested his hands behind his head, his tone casual: "When you become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, just make sure to look after my little shop well by then."

"I am just a small shopkeeper at the Qi Refinement Stage; no matter how well the business is doing, I'll be helpless if I run into a tough opponent."

Su Yue's lips curled up slightly unconsciously.

It was very faint and fleeting.

"Okay," she replied softly with one word.

It was quiet for a moment.

Jiang Xuan turned his head to look at her and suddenly smiled: "Come to think of it, we have already seen each other in the raw, after all."

The solemn demeanor Su Yue was maintaining shattered completely in an instant.

A faint flush burned up from her cheeks, spreading all the way to her neck along her earlobes.

She raised her hand and patted his shoulder; the force was not heavy, carrying a bit of annoyance and a bit of indescribable shyness and embarrassment.

Her lips moved as if to say something, but in the end, nothing came out.

She just turned her face to the other side and stared at the blue bricks in the corner for a long time.

Jiang Xuan smiled and didn't tease her anymore. He slowly sat up, took off his outer robe, and hung it on the rack at the end of the bed.

Tonight, he could finally have a peaceful sleep.

Absolutely.

One hundred percent.

However, just as he lay flat, he heard a slight rustling sound from behind him.

It was the sound of robes being taken off.

Fabric slid across skin and was gently placed on the clothes rack.

Jiang Xuan's eyes snapped open, his heart skipped a beat, and he slowly turned his head.

Su Yue had already changed out of that white brocade robe and was standing next to the clothes rack.

A silver-white thin silk bodice glowed with a soft light under the moonlight, outlining her tall and graceful figure.

Her jet-black long hair was draped over her shoulders, with a few strands hanging in front of her chest, swaying gently with her movements.

She walked to the bedside, gently lifted the corner of the quilt, and lay down.

A wave of warm and intoxicating fragrance of plum blossoms drifted out, seeping into his nostrils.

This time, she didn't turn on her side with her back to him like last time.

Instead, she lay quietly beside him, facing the ceiling, with her hands folded over her lower abdomen.

After a few breaths, she slowly moved a little toward his direction.

Only moved a tiny bit.

Then she stopped and didn't move anymore.

Jiang Xuan felt the warmth coming from beside him and the faint, almost non-existent fragrance of plum blossoms.

He turned on his side, reached out an arm, and pulled Su Yue into his embrace.

Su Yue's body stiffened slightly, then immediately relaxed.

She buried her face in his chest, her warm breath brushing against his lapel.

Their bodies were pressed together, and through the thin fabric, they could feel each other's heartbeats.

After a long while.

Su Yue gently broke free from his embrace and sat up.

Jiang Xuan perked up, almost jolting out of bed in a fright; she wasn't throwing another tantrum, was she?

He hurriedly opened his eyes.

Under the moonlight, Su Yue sat by his side, her dark hair disheveled, and the thin straps of her silver-white bodice had slipped slightly off her shoulders.

Her face was flushed, and after noticing his gaze, she turned her head to meet his eyes for a moment.

Her Phoenix eyes were filled with shyness and were watery, looking like a completely different person from the cold and aloof Fairy Su of ordinary days.

Jiang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief; it didn't look like the time before when she was angry because he didn't move.

It must be something else.