After Min Longyu's Foundation Establishment Ceremony ended, everyone gradually dispersed. Duan Feng eagerly approached Min Longyu to talk about enchanted treasures.0 Luo Chen stayed behind, watching them go. He raised his hand slightly, signaling for two figures to remain.0 "Greetings, President," said one.0 "Don't be so formal here," Luo Chen replied with a small smile. "We're all family."0 He stepped down from the dais and approached them. "Can you tell me what's going on between the two of you right now?"0 With his Spirit Eyes, Luo Chen examined the two of them. Both stood at the peak of Qi Refinement, progress that matched Luo Chen's estimate from a few years back.0 The only surprise was that Qin Liangchen had kept pace with Murong Qinglian, rather than being surpassed. That difference was due to them having spent a fortune at an auction half a year ago to acquire a precious first-tier Spirit Purification pill. That pill had helped Qin Liangchen close the gap and reach Perfected Mastery.1 By rights, they should have been attempting Foundation Establishment now. They had the pill they needed, and even if they feared one pill might not be enough, one of them could have gone first. Yet here they both were, stuck at the same stage.0 Murong Qinglian glanced at the silent Qin Liangchen, then turned back to Luo Chen with a wry smile. "Little Luo, please convince him! If he doesn't try soon, he'll miss the best window for Foundation Establishment."3 Qin Liangchen moved his lips, then shook his head. "Don't bother. That Foundation Establishment pill is best used by you."0 Murong Qinglian pleaded, "But you're already sixty-one years old! If you don't do it now, it'll only get harder in the future."0 "You're not much younger than me. You should be the one to hurry."0 Thɪs chapter is updated by novel⦿fire.net "And what about you?!" she snapped.0 "Me? This arm has been broken twice. Even after it healed, it's never been the same. Even if I advance to Foundation Establishment Realm, so what? It's not like I could ever reach the Golden Core Realm."0 “So you’re just going to give it up and let me do it? If I succeed, my lifespan doubles. What then? In a hundred years, I'll be alone, waiting to die of old age?"5 "How would you be alone? We've already reconnected with Xiaohu. He's been recognized by the Falling Cloud Sect, and he'll reach Foundation Establishment Realm one day too."0 "You know that's not what I mean."0 The couple's argument suddenly erupted.0 Luo Chen blinked, caught off guard. In all these years, he'd never seen Qin Liangchen and Murong Qinglian fight . Judging by how smoothly they argued, it was clear this wasn’t their first time on this topic.0 What does marriage bring to men and women? Luo Chen wondered.3 He shivered slightly and quickly raised his hand. "Alright, alright... Cut it off, you two!"0 Looking at the now-silent couple, Luo Chen let out a helpless sigh. “Foundation Establishment isn't easy, and success is never guaranteed. Instead of arguing over who should go first, why not just let one of you try? Regardless of the outcome, you can figure out the next steps afterward.”0 Qin Liangchen nodded in agreement. “That's exactly why I want your sister-in-law to go first.”0 Murong Qinglian let out an exasperated laugh, caught between frustration and tears. “You’re the one who needs to reach Foundation Establishment the most!”0 Qin Liangchen shook his head. "Didn’t Luo Chen say it himself? Reaching Foundation Establishment isn't so easy. Given my condition, my chances of failure are very high. Why waste the pill? Better that you..."0 Here they go again... Luo Chen stood there at a complete loss for words. This was the very meaning of the old phrase "even an honest official finds it hard to settle family disputes."[1] He was a mighty cultivator who had already reached Foundation Establishment, yet here he was, unable to resolve a quarrel between two Qi Refinement Dao companions.0 This can't go on. Whether for Murong Qinglian or Qin Liangchen, the longer it drags on, the more they'll lose.0 Luo Chen himself had reached Foundation Establishment at thirty-two years of age, and even then, he'd still felt pressed for time. The two of them were almost twice that age, so how much longer could they afford to wait?0 After some thought, Luo Chen made up his mind.0 "Sister-in-law, please step out first. I need to talk to Brother Qin alone."0 The heart of the issue clearly lay with Qin Liangchen.0 Murong Qinglian lingered, gazing at them with worry before finally turning away. Under Qin Liangchen’s quiet urging, she stepped out of the Grand Hall.0 Once Murong Qinglian had left the hall, Qin Liangchen let out a long, weary sigh. In that single breath, it was as if he had aged decades. The calm, composed strength he usually carried as a Perfected Mastery Qi Refinement cultivator seemed to melt away entirely, as if all his usual strength and indifference were nothing more than a disguise?0 Luo Chen couldn't help but speak up. "Brother Qin, you—"0 "Little Luo," Qin Liangchen interrupted him, "I won't call you President or Luo Chen. Let's just speak as equals like we did back in Dahe Market."0 Qin Liangchen's voice was steady, but there was an undeniable heaviness beneath his words. "Tell me honestly. In my current state… do you truly believe I can reach Foundation Establishment?"0 Luo Chen met his gaze, those eyes, once sharp and filled with resolve, now dulled by fatigue and uncertainty. He tried to say "maybe," "perhaps," or "possibly," but in the end, he fell silent.0 Cultivation wasn’t just about the physical condition. The most critical factor was mindset. Without that unwavering determination, even with the best spirit medicine, the chance of success would slip away like a fistful of sand through open fingers. And in that moment, Luo Chen knew: The man before him was not ready, especially not in this state of mind. He couldn't bring himself to lie. Hence, he remained silent.0 Seeing Luo Chen's reaction, Qin Liangchen gave a desolate smile. "See? You know I'm not ready, so why push me so hard to try?"0 He walked over to a table and poured himself a drink. "Do you know why, even though I've reached Perfected Mastery of Qi Refinement and I have the pill you gave me, I still won't attempt it?"0 "Are you afraid of failure or afraid of wasting it?" Luo Chen asked.0 "No," Qin Liangchen replied firmly. "There are many things I've feared in this life, but not those. I'm afraid that if I fail, I'll be gravely injured, with only a few years left to live. I won't have time to be with your sister-in-law or to wait for Xiaohu to finish his training and come home. Given my condition and from what you four have shared, if I fail, at best, I'll be badly injured and my lifespan will suffer. At worst, I'll die on the spot. Rather than risk all that, I'd rather enjoy the few decades I have left. That way, even if I die, I'll have no regrets."0 His words were frank and open-hearted, very much like the bold, heroic man he had been in the past.0 He downed his cup of wine.0 Luo Chen pursed his lips, then asked with difficulty, "And what about your wife?"0 Qin Liangchen chuckled lightly. "Her desire for Foundation Establishment is far stronger than mine! Seeing how we share the bed, I know her best. She loves me. She can't let go of Xiaohu, and she can't bear to abandon all we've built here in the Luo Tian Society. She might seem like the delicate kind, but if she gets the chance, she'll move forward more resolutely than anyone."0 Luo Chen fell silent. For love, one had chosen to step back, and the other to move forward. He understood this, but it was hard to truly acknowledge it. If it were him, then even with a shattered body and just one day left to live, he would take the gamble!0 "So don't try to talk me into it," Qin Liangchen said softly. "Talk to your sister-in-law instead! Later, we'll tell her that you're looking for a spirit medicine for me, and I'll attempt it in a few years. And don't worry, she won't blame you. I'll pretend to go into seclusion for a month or so, then come out 'unsuccessful' but perfectly fine. Compared to being gravely injured, she'd rather see me fail but come out unscathed."0 Luo Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry. What kind of solution is that?! You really do know your wife well!0 "Little Luo, you must promise me!" Qin Liangchen set his cup down heavily and looked Luo Chen straight in the eyes. "Just think of it as your big brother asking you for a favor!"0 Luo Chen wanted to say something, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.0 The door opened and Murong Qinglian hurried in.0 Qin Liangchen wore a rare relaxed smile. "Dear, it's all settled. We'll both be able to reach Foundation Establishment soon! Little Luo knows of a Foundation Establishment spirit medicine that's better suited for my constitution, but it'll take time to gather all the ingredients. So stop arguing about that pill, we're not going to fight over it anymore."0 Murong Qinglian blinked, then instinctively looked at Luo Chen's back. "Luo Chen, is that true?"0 Qin Liangchen clenched his jaw, his eyes fixed anxiously on Luo Chen's back. This was the moment of truth... so to say.0 Luo Chen turned around, wearing a smile as natural as a seasoned actor's. "It's true."2 It was the first time he had ever told a lie of such consequence to a friend. In that moment, a pang of guilt hit him. But seeing the genuine smiles on their faces, he felt that maybe lying wasn't so wrong after all.0