Listening to Xu Qiuhui's voice outside, Li An knew that meeting was unavoidable.

If he avoided it, it would only arouse suspicion and attention.

He pondered for a moment and immediately removed the disguise, returning to Wei Ming's appearance.

After all, if he used a new appearance, it would mean he had to assume a new identity from then on.

And Xu Qiuhui had seen Wei Ming and interacted with his new identity; if Wei Ming, who was preparing to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, suddenly disappeared and a new Foundation Establishment cultivator appeared... it would easily alert Xu Qiuhui.

After all, Xu Qiuhui was not an easy person to deal with!

If by any chance, Xu Qiuhui guessed his practice of the Yin Yang Demon Furnace Skill to change appearances, it would be dangerous.

Might as well appear directly as Wei Ming.

He pushed the door open, walked out of the secret room, and said gratefully, "Thank you for your hard work, Gu!"

Gu Hong was standing outside, which indeed made him feel very at ease.

In this life, the only person he could truly trust at the moment was only Gu Hong.

Even though Tan Qingxue had been intimate and spent years with him, Li An still didn't trust Tan Qingxue.

"Congratulations, friend, on your successful Foundation Establishment."

Gu Hong smiled gracefully, her eyes serene, truly happy for Li An.

Li An's appearance change surprised her a little, but she was so clever that she said nothing and asked nothing.

"Wei Ming's success in Foundation Establishment is greatly owed to Ancient Friend Gu and Gu, this kindness will never be forgotten!"

Li An said again, calmly revealing his identity.

Gu Hong understood that Li An wanted to cover up in front of Xu Qiuhui, so she nodded and said, "Lord Xu is here, Wei should go to meet."

...

Not long after.

Gu Hong opened the door of the Spirit Pill shop, and Li An walked out calmly, glanced around, and bowed slightly, saying:

"Wei was fortunate enough to succeed in Foundation Establishment, thank you all for your concern!"

The others all greeted him, while Xu Qiuhui was momentarily stunned.

Could it be Wei Ming!?

He succeeded in Foundation Establishment?

This truly surprised her heart, somewhat... shocked.

Weren't Wei Ming's two Primordial Soul Crystal Cores already taken by her? Did he gather the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill so quickly?

Or did he hold something back back in the day?

Her heart couldn't help but tense, but she maintained calm and said, "Congratulations to Wei Ming, although a few years late, you've finally crossed the threshold of Foundation Establishment. Now that you have succeeded, Qiu Hui is finally at ease."

Wei Ming smiled faintly, "Please come in for a discussion, Lord Xu."

Xu Qiuhui nodded.

Entering the inner hall, Gu Hong, as the host, served tea to Li An and Xu Qiuhui.

Xu Qiuhui smiled slightly, "Just now, when I was outside, I was thinking that since a Foundation Establishment Pill has emerged, Qiu Hui must procure one to repay the favor I owe Wei Ming for a few years, but I never thought it would be Wei Ming's Foundation Establishment..."

She couldn't help but sigh, "Wei, you succeeded in Foundation Establishment, but how can Qiu Hui repay your kindness from back then?"

Back then, she collected various soul-nurturing items, incurring a few favors, intending to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill to repay this time.

But, Wei Ming... naturally had little weight in her heart, and now it's merely lip service.

Li An said, "Lord Xu, you're too kind. You gave me four thousand Spirit Stones back then, and it was those Spirit Stones that allowed my friend to purchase Spirit Medicine in another city, leading to today's success. We owe each other nothing, besides, I've benefited much from your care over the years."

"Wei should be the one thanking you, Lord Xu."

Ha, purchasing a Foundation Establishment Pill to make up for oneself?

Such words, Li An certainly wouldn't believe.

Li An remained neither servile nor overbearing, while Xu Qiuhui felt an inexplicable complexity of emotions.

If it were anyone else who achieved Foundation Establishment, she could buy their Foundation Establishment Pill.

But for Wei Ming...

She had once snatched Wei Ming's Primordial Soul Crystal Core, naturally creating a rift with Li An, and now asking for his Foundation Establishment Pill... would likely only increase Li An's displeasure, which would be inappropriate.

After all, Li An was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, no longer the Qi Refining underling who could be easily manipulated.

However, she suddenly thought of something:

"By the way, where is the Ancient Alchemist?"

Gu Hong said, "My master, after refining a Foundation Establishment Pill, is too exhausted and is resting, unable to see guests. Please forgive us, Lord Xu."

Xu Qiuhui nodded, knowing about Gusongxi's situation, who had limited life expectancy, and refining another batch of Foundation Establishment Pills must have been very exhausting.

But what puzzled her was...

Why would Gusongxi help Wei Ming with alchemy?

In recent years, Gusongxi and Gu Hong seldom refined Second Grade Pills, avoiding arousing Zhang Deyi's displeasure, and due to Gusongxi's limited life expectancy.

How could Wei Ming possibly have Gusongxi thus expend life and risk Zhang Deyi's displeasure for his sake in alchemy?

Moreover, Wei Ming specifically sought out Gu Hong and her master, indicating they knew each other well.

This suggests Wei Ming's background might not be that of an insignificant person...

Thoughts flashed through her mind...

She didn't reveal a thing, just politely said, "Ancient Alchemist, who hasn't intervened for years, has achieved something extraordinary today. Wei, being able to receive such assistance from Ancient Alchemist, indeed shows deep fated fortune."

She didn't show any hidden thoughts, just said a polite sentence, then added, "Wei, you've succeeded in Foundation Establishment, and Qiu Hui is greatly relieved. Please accept this small gift."

With that, she took something out!

A Tier Two Talisman Pen, along with forty pieces of Tier Two Talisman Paper!

Li An's heart tensed, but nothing showed on his face. Instead, he seemed a bit puzzled, saying, "I'm not adept in the art of Talismans..."

Xu Qiuhui didn't see the information she wanted from Li An's face, she smiled and said, "Qiu Hui knows well that array and talisman arts share a common ground. In the future, this Talisman Pen will surely be of use to Wei, I'm certain."

Li An also smiled, "Such a grand gift makes Wei embarrassed to accept, yet I cannot refuse Lord Xu's generous grace."

"If there's anything in the future, please feel free to ask, Lord Xu."

Express goodwill.

"Speaking of which, Wei, you remind me of someone..."

Xu Qiuhui spoke while carefully observing Li An, "He was my fellow disciple. Back then, he once killed the Life-taking Horse-Faced in Qingyang Market, and received a Foundation Establishment Pill as a reward from the sect..."

Li An looked surprised, "You mean that, that... Black-hearted Talisman Master? I seemed to hear about it years ago, have some impression."

"Right."

"That junior brother was extremely cautious and careful. It was thanks to a letter from him that I was able to escape Profound Yang Sect's calamity..."

Back then, Li An slew the "Life-taking Horse-Faced" in Qingyang Market and became the final victor, which made Xu Qiuhui increasingly value him.

Therefore, after the event, she paid attention, always understanding Li An's movements through Tan Qingxue.

During the Profound Yang catastrophe, Li An wrote to Tan Qingxue to find Tier Two Talisman materials for him in Qingyang Market.

At that time, she secretly followed Tan Qingxue, intending to investigate Li An.

But unexpectedly, by a stroke of fate, thus avoiding disaster.

In addition, she later learned that Wang Dazhu, who had a very close relationship with Li An, also left due to a letter from him...

She had already guessed something.

Now, Wei Ming oddly reminded her of Li An...

Primarily because Li An had his Foundation Establishment Pill taken back then, while Wei Ming had his Primordial Soul Crystal Core snatched. These two events were quite similar.

Moreover, at this moment, Wei Ming's demeanor of being neither servile nor overbearing made her feel even more... familiar.

"Just as I owe a debt of gratitude to Wei, I owe a great favor to that junior brother as well."

She sighed, saying, "Wei, do you know my junior brother? He's named Li An."

...

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