This was Luo Chen’s first time meeting Mi Shuhua. 

He was the "Old Man Mi" Qin Liangchen often mentioned, and the Gang Leader of the Poshan Gang. With a head full of white hair, a round face lined with wrinkles yet glowing with vitality, and a large belly, he resembled a constantly smiling Maitreya Buddha [1].4

In the mortal world, he would appear no different from a wealthy old gentleman. However, Luo Chen, along with every rogue cultivator in Dahe Market, knew that this man’s seemingly kind demeanor was far from simple.0

It was widely known that Foundation Establishment was the first major hurdle on the path of cultivation. In this realm, the land was rich, and the spirit energy was abundant, making it theoretically easy to overcome this hurdle. Yet, only one in ten thousand cultivators succeeded in Foundation Establishment.6

For sect-affiliated cultivators, Foundation Establishment was relatively easier. The reason lay in the formula for the Foundation Establishment pill, which was monopolized by major sects. Even if a formula occasionally leaked, the sects would spare no expense to reclaim it. If they couldn’t reclaim the formula, they would ensure the person who obtained it was brought back, dead or alive.2

Thus, ordinary rogue cultivators, unless they had extraordinary...1