CHAPTER 134: CHAPTER 134 SISTERS (CHAPTER 4)

The other party agreed. The shopkeeper walked out from the warehouse and had just entered the hall when he saw a graceful figure leaning languidly. Upon seeing him, she coyly and charmingly asked, "Shopkeeper Liu, when will there be Foundation Establishment Pills available?"

"Miss Hu Jiu, don’t be anxious. I’ve already instructed my subordinates to do their best to find them." He replied apologetically with a gentle smile, "Alchemists are rare; not only in our remote area, but even in big markets outside, it’s hard to find a single pill."

Her supple fox fur was accentuated by a cluster of blooming little purple flowers, making it ever more snowy white. Her slender and alluring fox eyes glistened with lingering charm, making one feel compassion, as she pouted and whined, "Last time, there was finally one, and you promised to reserve it for me, but it ended up being sold! Shopkeeper Liu doesn’t keep his word!"

Being coaxed by her, Shopkeeper Liu felt as if all his bones were turning soft, and he laughed apologetically, "It wasn’t that I broke my promise; that Foundation Establishment Pill was prepared by a demon cultivator for himself. Unexpectedly, he had another fortunate encounter and successfully established his foundation without using the Elixir, so he decided to sell it. He had negotiated in advance, and the auction house was simply helping with the auction and collecting commission, but I couldn’t decide who to give it to.

Originally, other guests offered a higher price, but that demon cultivator was interested in the Cloak Treasure, preferring to trade at a lower price. What could I do?"

Miss Hu Jiu was feeling anxious yet helpless, so she acted cute and charming to ensure that if there was another Foundation Establishment Pill, it would definitely be hers. Only then did she gracefully leave the auction house.

She wasn’t that focused on cultivation but couldn’t resist the persistent urging from her third sister, who even threatened to come check on her, frightening the ever easygoing Miss Hu Jiu.

She had no choice but to find another path and thought that buying an Elixir to increase her chances could help her establish her foundation sooner, thus avoiding being scolded by her sister pulling on her ears. But, despite having ample preparation due to Shopkeeper Liu’s early reminder, she still failed to obtain it.

After staking out for several days, the mysterious little human gentleman never appeared again, and the Cloud Grocery Store remained closed, making the Cyan Fish Mountain Market very dull indeed.

"Little rascal, it’s been two years and you still haven’t managed to establish your foundation, yet you have the mind to go running around playing?" Miss Hu Jiu just dejectedly returned to her cloth shop when she felt a pain in her ear and heard a familiar voice, causing her furry fox tail under her skirt to stand up in fright, "Th-Third Sister? Why are you here?!"

The letter said you’d come when you had time in the future, and I only received the letter yesterday but you’re here today!

The one angrily grabbing her fox ear was a beauty with a slim waist and sharp shoulders, dressed in a luxurious purple gown with exposed shoulders, her brows like a painting, only she was upset with her little sister’s lack of effort, her charming and slender fox eyes were almost vertical, and her red lips made her appear a bit fierce.

"If I didn’t come, what would you do? Mingle at the auction house every day for amusement, or gossip endlessly with shop owners until you lose your mind?" Hu Zhile was frustrated to the point of headache.

Being the youngest sister, naturally, leniency was afforded, and as her third sister, she tried her best to support her, allowing her to have her own shop in the market without having established her foundation yet. But is cultivation easy to talk about? If she doesn’t chase after it during her youthful good times, won’t she regret wasting her years when she’s old, her lifespan insufficient for advancement?

Moreover, the world is growing increasingly chaotic; even the Netherworld finds ceaseless conflicts everywhere. Without the ability for self-preservation, how could she stand her ground in such chaotic times!

"I-I wasn’t running around playing; I was attending to proper matters." Miss Hu Jiu blinked her eyes and pleaded pitifully, "Really, I went to the auction house to find a Foundation Establishment Pill. A few days ago, there was one, but I didn’t manage to grab it, boohoo..."

Hearing her speak this way, Hu Zhile could only let go and advised earnestly, "Sister spends her years serving under the Mistress of Yin Mountain and doesn’t have time to pay attention to you everywhere. You need to take some initiative and cultivate diligently yourself; otherwise, with the world in such turmoil, what if something happens to me..."

"May you have an endless lifespan, no cursing allowed, please!" She stepped forward to cover her sister’s mouth, whining, "I truly only need one Foundation Establishment Pill! Once I find the Elixir and make preparations, I’ll try establishing my foundation. Besides, you know I’m not so good at cultivating, so I thought maybe I could..."

Miss Hu Jiu twisted the handkerchief in her hands and whispered, "Maybe I could use our family’s ancestral method, find a strong gentleman for Dual Cultivation, that would make it easier?"

"As cultivators, we must seek our own path that suits us; people have their own aspirations that cannot be forced. But sister must remind you, times have changed now, the world is chaotic and deceitful. Those who last long either have strong Dual Cultivation partners who join hands equally; or those who rely on a stronger party must endure humiliation for survival."

Hu Zhile had a bold personality, preferring to endure hardships herself rather than entrust her life to others, thus being displeased with her little sister’s reliance on men without effort, she coldly said, "Unless you are totally sure you can win him over, making him unable to leave you, otherwise, when you’re old and faded, you’ll be kicked away or even drained dry as a cultivation furnace!"

Frighened, Miss Hu Jiu shrank her neck and cutely stuck out her tongue, diverting the topic, "Why did you come here so suddenly, is there something urgent?"

At this time, the shop boy was bold enough to serve tea and quickly withdrew.

"Less than three months until the Immortal Peach of Wo Hu Temple matures, Mistress found helpers and plans to seek the opportunity. In preparation, a batch of first-rate goods was ordered. Unexpectedly, the batch was plundered, and the fool responsible for transporting who fled couldn’t even identify who did it. Mistress ordered me to investigate thoroughly. Passing by Cyan Fish Mountain, I came to see you. Incidentally, I need you to keep an eye out in the market for any clues."

"Huh? What kind of fiend dares to plunder items belonging to the Mistress of Yin Mountain?" Miss Hu Jiu widened her eyes and blinked, gossiping quietly, "Sister, what is Mistress’s cultivation level now?"

"Ghost cultivators and demon cultivators have different realm terminologies, and because of the soul body, there’s no such thing as Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment. They divide into: Spiritual Movement, Spirit Awakening, Pill Soul, Heart Refining, Spiritual Devouring, etc. Mistress has refined her main body to the Peak of Heart Refining, merely a step away from advancing to Spiritual Devouring." Hu Zhile sipped her tea and lowered her voice, "Only sharing this with close sisters, don’t go mindlessly spreading it outside."

Miss Hu Jiu nodded vigorously and asked, "Then what equivalent realm is that for our demon cultivators?"

"Demon cultivators and human cultivators both must Refining Qi, establish foundation initially, and then differentiate. Gathering Spirit, Intelligence; Body Forging, Bone Refining... approximately the Peak of Bone Refining Realm."

"Wow! That’s amazing!"

"No matter how amazing others are, what does it have to do with you?" Hu Zhile’s willow-leaf brows almost stood upright, "Hurry and cultivate, also behave in the market. If you discover information about Mistress’s plundered goods, inform me immediately."

Seeing her third sister wrapping up her instructions and ready to leave in a hurry, she quickly grabbed her and asked, "Didn’t you tell me humans love fluffy creatures? Recently, a human gentleman appeared in the market, I intended to gauge his strength and looks to find a suitable Dual Cultivation partner, but he didn’t even glance at me. Am I not pretty enough?"

Hu Zhile couldn’t help but roll her eyes, "Humans indeed love fluffy creatures. But you either need to be fully fluffy; or refine your Transformation technique carefully, leaving at least pretty parts like ears or tails while transforming your face, you see you are neither human nor fox, which human gentleman would find that attractive?"