Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 239: Foundation Establishment Liquid
Alliance and Strategy Are Eternal Topics. Anyang, Kaiping County, and the Li family remained motionless, while Li Xian was selling firearms everywhere, which naturally made him a target of resentment.
When everyone entered the battlefield, they were shocked: “Oh no, I have cannons, and so do you?”
No one was a fool—how could they not see through Li Xian’s “sinister intentions”? Not to mention, the lethality of cannons, the war potential of locomotives and airplanes—everyone could see it. Naturally, some people wanted to reap the benefits without putting in the effort.
The Kong family reached out in all directions, and soon, everyone was on the same page.
Gao Bin was still debating whether to support the second prince as the legitimate emperor and use this to counter the first prince while seizing Wuyang County. Suddenly, he received news from the Kong family: “Let’s join forces to attack Anyang. We will gain Anyang’s technology and talent, while you will acquire Anyang’s land, technology, and a small portion of its talents.”
Gao Bin hesitated only briefly before making the decision—”Do it!” He had been worrying about how to expand. Expanding south or southwest would lead to conflicts with the powerful Kong and Wang families. Expanding north, into Wuyang County, would bring him into direct confrontation with the first prince.
If he expanded eastward alone, he would be isolated and would inevitably be crushed by Anyang. The fact that Anyang was selling weapons externally meant they surely had countermeasures of their own. But if everyone united to attack Anyang, then success was possible.
There were no permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Even the Yuan family, which had long-standing conflicts with the Kong family, agreed to cooperate after receiving their letter.
The same was true for the first prince. Even the distant Guangling Wang family and the third prince in the southwest received invitations and agreed to send troops.
The situation was truly fascinating. Just recently, they were all ready to kill each other, and now they had all turned their sights on Anyang. The reason was simple—interests.
However, gathering troops from all over the place, coordinating a war, and recovering from previous battles would take about a month.
“Report…”
In Anyang, a Golden Core stage cultivator rode thousands of miles at full speed, burning through expensive talismans like they were nothing. Like a meteor, he shot straight into Anyang’s government office.
“What’s the matter?” Wu Peng asked seriously, his expression solemn. Thanks to an ample supply of spiritual liquid, Wu Peng himself had already advanced to the mid-Golden Core stage.
Nowadays, cultivators no longer lacked techniques, guidance, or foundational cultivation. What they lacked were spiritual materials, medicinal resources, and spiritual energy. But with enough spiritual liquid, many cultivators in Anyang had rapidly broken through to the Golden Core stage within just a month.
Anyang no longer lacked Golden Core cultivators. Even the spies delivering messages were Golden Core cultivators.
“My lord, we have just received intelligence that the Kong family of Nanyang County has united all major forces and plans to attack Anyang in one month.”
Wu Peng remained unfazed. “Alright, this was expected. No need to worry.”
When Wu Peng delivered the news to Li Xian, he was indifferent. However, Xu Ren smiled slightly. “They’re too slow! A whole month behind my estimate. If I were them, I’d have gathered the remnants of my forces and attacked Anyang without stopping.”
“In one month, they will regret this!”
Li Xian adjusted his clothes, took Xia Qingqing’s hand, and walked outside. “Let’s go. I heard the microbiology lab has made a breakthrough. Let’s check it out today.”
“Microbiology lab?!” Wu Peng’s eyes widened.
As a high-ranking member of Anyang, he knew that the so-called “microbiology lab” was actually a new alchemy laboratory. Using microorganisms to consume petroleum residues, then classifying and utilizing them to replace medicinal herbs in alchemy.
The idea was promising, but there were many challenges—at the very least, they needed to re-evaluate the medicinal value of different microorganisms. After continuous experimentation, research, and innovation, today, they had finally received long-awaited good news.
Compared to the innovations of the microbiology lab, the “minor issue” of everyone banding together to attack Anyang didn’t concern Li Xian at all—he had long been prepared. When he started selling weapons, he had already anticipated this possibility.
Li Xian, holding the still plainly dressed Xia Qingqing, slowly walked onto the aircraft like an immortal couple. Feiyu Zhenren followed closely as their protector.
Nowadays, Feiyu Zhenren was in high spirits—fully equipped with magical treasures, occasionally showing off his flying sword. With an abundant supply of spiritual liquid, he had astonishingly advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage in just half a month. His cultivation had long been sufficient, only hindered by a lack of spiritual energy.
Yet, Li Xian remained courteous. “I’ll have to trouble you, Senior.”
“Not at all, not at all, it’s only natural. Hahaha…” Feiyu Zhenren laughed so hard that even his little tongue trembled.
The aircraft slowly took off, and many people on the ground gave them respectful glances. However, the ground was also bustling with activity. After urgent planning, the banking industry within Anyang had finally been launched. With the emergence of banks, Anyang’s business environment officially entered a mature and high-speed development phase. At the same time, the banking industry would gradually expand into Anyang’s foreign concessions and territories.
Li Xian looked down from high above, gazing at the prosperous Anyang and the skyscrapers gradually rising around it, smiling. Once the power of industry erupts, it expands wildly under the push of wealth. Once the beast of capital is unleashed, no one can stop its expansion.
The aircraft did not head toward Qingyun Valley but instead flew a hundred miles away to an oil field. The microbiology laboratory was established there.
From a distance, they could already see Zhou Likun grinning and laughing heartily. This guy had become increasingly smug. With the development of petroleum, liquid spirit essence, and microbiological technology, Zhou Likun’s status within the Brilliant Star Group had risen higher and higher.
Nowadays, Anyang had two governing bodies: one was the normal administrative team, and the other was the Brilliant Star Group, which functioned as an independent research institution. This was the true foundation of Li Xian.
“Looking at how happy you are, it must be an extraordinary success!” Li Xian asked knowingly.
“Of course, of course!” Zhou Likun laughed loudly with his mouth wide open. “Young Master, you have no idea! We have solved one of the most critical problems—well, I won’t say anymore!”
Li Xian was speechless. These guys were becoming more and more arrogant. Ever since they discovered that technological advancement could promote cultivation, they had been throwing themselves into research with everything they had. According to Li Xian’s expectations, achievements in microbiological research should take at least three to five years. But these guys had managed to make breakthroughs in just three to five months.
Upon entering the laboratory, a rich and complex fragrance filled the air. The scent invigorated the spirit, making the body’s blood and energy surge with vitality.
Li Xian looked around and saw glassware, jade tools, magical artifacts, and even experimental magical treasures, all labeled with various names. Many of the instruments were unfamiliar to Li Xian, and their names were rather peculiar—well, at least to him. In reality, these were all tools that the researchers had developed bit by bit.
Zhou Likun walked to a cabinet labeled “Foundation Establishment Liquid,” opened it, and revealed neatly arranged rows of small jade bottles—over a hundred of them. Each bottle was about the thickness of a thumb and three inches long.
As the cabinet opened, an even stronger fragrance spread through the air. Li Xian felt an unprecedented surge of vitality in his blood, and even his true essence seemed to be cheering. Taking a deep breath, his entire body felt refreshed.
Even though Li Xian had anticipated a major breakthrough, he was still quite shocked at the sight before him. “This is the Foundation Establishment Liquid that can replace Foundation Establishment Pills?”
Zhou Likun smirked with pride. “That’s right! We originally wanted to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, but the moisture content in the microbial extracts was too high. Drying and evaporating it would reduce the medicinal efficacy, so we had no choice but to turn it into a spirit liquid. Fortunately, the results are excellent. We’ve already tested it on death row prisoners and livestock—there are no issues.
The next step is clinical trials.
Currently, we can produce 50 liters of spirit liquid per day. With each bottle containing 10 milliliters, that’s equivalent to 5,000 Foundation Establishment Pills.”
Li Xian rolled his eyes. “You’re a master alchemist yourself. Can’t you judge the quality of the liquid?”
Surprisingly, Zhou Likun’s expression became serious. “Young Master, you told us that science requires rigorous discipline and the pursuit of perfection.”
Li Xian’s face stiffened.
Xia Qingqing chuckled softly. Zhou Likun was now lecturing Li Xian in return.
Luckily, Feiyu Zhenren spoke up, “Give me a bottle to examine.”
Since a Nascent Soul stage expert had spoken, Zhou Likun obediently handed over two jade bottles. Feiyu Zhenren opened one, carefully sniffed it for a long time, and, after confirming there were no issues, placed a single drop on his tongue, savoring the taste. Finally, he tilted his head back and drank the entire bottle in one go before sitting down cross-legged.