Liou Yuan’s eyes involuntarily widened when he saw the words ’Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique’ displayed on the Fixed Star Compass.

He then shifted his gaze to the three Beauty Paintings in the Golden Bottle Record, staring for a long while, eyes full of disbelief.

"There’s actually a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique hidden in here!"

Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques are very different from Breathing Skills of the Qi Cultivation stage.

Breathing Skills, no matter how powerful, are merely cultivation techniques for cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Realm, with limited might.

Even the Grade B Breathing Skill that Liou Yuan is currently cultivating, the Five Mansions Star Gazing Breathing Skill, can be exchanged for a copy at Five Extremes Mountain for just dozens of merit points.

But Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques are different.

In terms of value, even the lowest quality Grade E Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique is comparable to a Grade B Breathing Skill.

After all, Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques determine whether cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Realm can break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The gap between realms is as vast as the heavens and earth.

Furthermore, the higher the quality of the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique, the greater the likelihood of successfully establishing foundations.

After all, breaking through to Foundation Establishment carries risks; one wrong move could lead to demise.

Even just a half percent increase in success rate would attract many cultivators eagerly.

Therefore, Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques above Grade D are almost entirely controlled by major sects, making them extremely difficult for loose cultivators to acquire.

Their rarity has always been a closely guarded secret within the sects.

Otherwise, that ancestor cultivator who wrote the Yizhu Chronicles wouldn’t have given up on Foundation Establishment.

Firstly, Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques are hard to find; secondly, it’s difficult to find even slightly better ones.

"The upper echelons of Five Extremes Mountain wouldn’t think there’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique hidden in the library."

Liou Yuan was dizzy from the windfall, not quite coming to his senses.

Don’t underestimate the Yin Yang Crossing Skill as just a Grade D cultivation technique; it’s considered quite rare even in the outer sect of Five Extremes Mountain.

Those disciples on the verge of breaking through at the Peak of Qi Cultivation, especially those interested in Dual Cultivation, like Wei Miaomeng, would be willing to spend a fortune to purchase it.

"The way it’s hidden is quite cunning too."

"Were it not for the Fixed Star Compass, I’d never notice the clue even after a lifetime."

Liou Yuan’s fingers gently stroked the three Beauty Paintings, his eyes filled with obsession.

But not obsessed with the beauties in the paintings,

rather, obsessed with their value.

"This thing must be well preserved." Liou Yuan knew the importance of the Yin Yang Crossing Skill, quickly retreating the starlight emitted by the Fixed Star Compass.

The meridians on the three Beauty Paintings in the book also vanished, revealing no sign of anomaly.

Liou Yuan was currently at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, still a long way from Foundation Establishment, so he dared not look at the cultivation technique for fear of its influence.

By the time one reaches the Foundation Establishment Realm, there are already some supernatural aspects beyond ordinary cultivators; even cultivation techniques could exert influence, and Liou Yuan dared not look much.

"The Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques of Five Extremes Mountain are obscenely expensive, so this Yin Yang Crossing Skill can be kept for later use."

"If I can’t afford the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Techniques from Five Extremes Mountain, using this Yin Yang Crossing Skill to exchange for a suitable technique, or directly cultivating it, remains my fallback."

Liou Yuan and Liou Zhen, the brothers, had no family strength to rely on. Despite Liou Zhen’s Foundation Establishment, life was still frugal.

Therefore, Liou Yuan prepared for the worst.

He pondered over it, suddenly recalling something awkward and added,

"The only complaint is that this is a Dual Cultivation technique. Damn, it’s somewhat embarrassing, perhaps better exchanged. But when there’s no other option, I wouldn’t care about these things."

Liou Yuan mumbled softly, carefully putting away the Golden Bottle Record.

This book definitely can’t be returned; he’ll just pay some Star Stones if necessary.

Secure the most precious Yin Yang Crossing Skill.

Liou Yuan revived his spirits, looking towards another book titled Seeking Truth in Silence.

Within Seeking Truth in Silence was a calming spell incantation hidden among the words, named Calming Spell.

[Name] Calming Spell

[Category] Magic

[Quality] Top-grade of Grade D

[Effect] Resists Heart Demons, exhibiting significant calming power for cultivators ensnared by Heart Demons. It helps them return to their true selves, balancing their Divine Soul. It also possesses a defensive effect against attacks on Divine Sense.

"Another thing from the Buddhist Sect, I truly have fate with those baldies."

Liou Yuan picked up Seeking Truth in Silence containing the Calming Spell, his eyes scanning over the long-winded text.

They weren’t connected together, but only a dozen words per page.

Flipping through a book with hundreds of pages, they just managed to connect into a complete spell incantation.

"Although it’s a top-grade of Grade D, its application range is too narrow."

"Where on earth are Heart Demons in the Qi Cultivation Realm?"

"Only its defensive effect on Divine Sense has any use, wasting the name of top-grade of Grade D."

Liou Yuan thought with some regret.

If this were an attack spell, Liou Yuan would probably be overjoyed by now.

But it’s just a useless piece of chicken rib—too good to waste but not worth keeping.

Of course, even chicken ribs have their way of being consumed.

Since Liou Yuan got his hands on it, he’d practice it occasionally anyway.

"Who knows, it might come in handy someday," Liou Yuan mused.

Then, Liou Yuan closed the "Seeking Truth in Silence" with little enthusiasm.

He then turned his attention to the last gain from the Cultivation Skill Pavilion—"Yizhu Chronicles."

In the "Yizhu Chronicles," there’s a page that shimmers with a dark aura under the gaze of Liou Yuan’s Evil Eyes.

At this moment, Evil Eyes were fully activated by Liou Yuan, rendering his eyes completely filled with purple.

Under the full force of Evil Eyes, the black-colored page began to change.

The writings on it transformed into new texts.

It recorded the names of a dozen or so Spirit Medicines, like an elixir recipe.

Liou Yuan didn’t know the exact effect of the recipe, so he used the last of the Star Essence from the Fixed Star Compass to appraise it.

[Name] Withered Blood Elixir

[Category] Elixir Recipe

[Quality] Grade A Superior

[Effect] When the Withered Blood Elixir is ingested, it draws upon the drinker’s vital essence and Spiritual Power until the oil runs dry and the flame goes out, then the elixir is formed. Once formed, consuming it can enhance one’s cultivation.

This elixir is effective for those below Foundation Establishment Realm, with diminishing effects above that realm.

"Such a vicious thing!" Liou Yuan raised an eyebrow, giving the recipe a fair evaluation.

Apparently, ’draw upon the drinker’s vital essence and Spiritual Power until the oil runs dry and the flame goes out, then the elixir is formed.’

Isn’t that equal to taking the life of the one consuming it?

Such a detrimental elixir recipe doesn’t seem to align with the style of those major sects, reeking of bloodlust, resembling sinister paths.

"Stripping one’s vital essence and cultivation entirely into the Withered Blood Elixir—only then is the elixir considered complete."

"Consuming this thing, is it any different from cannibalism?"

Liou Yuan felt a new world unfolding before his eyes, albeit one filled with a pungent odor of evil and slaughter.

"Sure enough, there are people on crooked paths everywhere."

"Since such an elixir recipe exists, there must be those who cultivate through this wicked way."

"Besides demons and Star Evil, there’s yet another group to guard against."

Liou Yuan pondered.

He, for sure, wouldn’t consume the darn Withered Blood Elixir.

Regular elixirs have their toxins and noticeable side effects.

This Withered Blood Elixir, made from living spirits, would surely have even greater side effects.

This is just the first point.

Secondly, he was certain that if he consumed the Withered Blood Elixir, Five Extremes Mountain would notice.

By then, he might not even know how he died.

However, Liou Yuan did have a cunning idea.

"Crafting this Withered Blood Elixir as a poison wouldn’t be impossible..."

Liou Yuan smirked slyly.

Unless dealing with overly knowledgeable Pill Masters of high cultivation in Alchemy Dao, who could discern the effects of the Withered Blood Elixir?

"I’ll craft it, then mix it with other elixirs that boost cultivation. Who can tell the good from the bad?"

"Consuming this Withered Blood Elixir would surely be more lethal than any poison."

Liou Yuan thought malevolently.

With that thought, Liou Yuan tore the page with the recipe from the book.

No matter if he uses it or not, this Withered Blood Elixir must not be allowed to spread.

Lest one day he gets caught in its snare himself.

Having done all of this, the harvest from the Cultivation Skill Pavilion was now fully accounted for.

A Grade D mid-tier Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique, a spell to resist Heart Demons, and a page with an elixir recipe not aligned with righteousness.

As for the three books borrowed from the Cultivation Skill Pavilion, Liou Yuan didn’t plan to return them.

He’d find some excuse to brush it off, pay with some Star Stones as compensation.

"They aren’t books from the Cultivation Skill Pavilion, so they’re easier to fudge over."

Liou Yuan thought happily.

"Now all that’s left is the one with Pan Yang; I wonder when he’ll finish it."

"No rush, I can wait—don’t want to blow my cover."