Chapter 201: Chapter 147: Breakthrough to the 7th Layer of Foundation Establishment: An Expert’s Operation

The Lingyuan Sect was offering three True Essence Union Pills as the highest bounty to invite Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Li State to Hezhou.

The True Essence Union Pill was the exact Rank-Breaking Spirit Pill that could help a Foundation Establishment Cultivator break through to the Golden Core realm.

Depending on the cultivator’s age, it could increase the success rate by five to twenty percent. The older the cultivator, the lower the success rate.

To achieve the highest success rate, the cultivator must be under one hundred years old.

Moreover, this pill was largely out of reach for ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Therefore, to make the offer more appealing to average Foundation Establishment Cultivators, the Lingyuan Sect also provided a list of resources far exceeding the last one and publicized it throughout Li State.

Suddenly, all of Li State was abuzz with feverish discussion.

Numerous Foundation Establishment Cultivators from smaller clans also began rallying behind the call to reinforce Hezhou and uphold the principle of Demon Extermination and Protection of the Dao.

After receiving the news, the Li Huo Sect naturally held a second assembly as well.

"The timeline is a bit more flexible this time. You all have ten days to consider whether to go to Hezhou."

"The detailed list of resources will be distributed to everyone shortly."

Mei Yong did not look happy as he said this. In fact, his brow was furrowed with worry.

As the Sect Leader, he had to consider the sect’s continued operations.

They had already dispatched a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators last time. If too many left now, he estimated many of the sect’s enterprises would have to shut down.

But honestly, if not for his responsibilities, he would have wanted to go to Hezhou himself.

’Even if I couldn’t get the Rank-Breaking Spirit Pill... After all, that’s the hardest one to obtain, requiring the most contribution points.’

’But I could still try for other valuable items, like Top Grade Magical Artifacts or the Earth Level Talisman Dao teachings.’

’And then there are the Demon Beast Inner Cores!’

That’s right. This time, the Lingyuan Sect was even offering a total of six Demon Beast Inner Cores.

An item that could permanently increase the Magical Power capacity of one’s Dantian—what cultivator wouldn’t want something so valuable?

But Mei Yong’s current task was to remind everyone of the dangers involved in this trip to Hezhou.

"Brothers, the reason I haven’t distributed the list yet is that there are more important matters I must first make clear to all of you."

"Just one month ago, a Golden Core cultivator from the Demon Dao launched a surprise attack on Seeking Plum Mountain."

"The two Foundation Establishment comrades stationed there were both killed. Neither survived."

He paused for a moment after speaking.

Then he continued, "Half a month ago, the Lingyuan Sect’s Thunder Sound True Man clashed with a Golden Core cultivator from the Demon Dao."

"The mere aftershock of their battle was enough to severely injure a nearby Foundation Establishment comrade who couldn’t retreat in time."

"Although he was rescued, his foundation was damaged. For the rest of his life, he will be stuck at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, unable to advance any further."

...

Mei Yong recounted many such incidents in one go. Aside from clashes between Golden Core Daoists, he also shared intelligence about the Soul-Chasing Shuttle.

The Divine Fire Sect’s Southern Wanderer, relying on a single Soul-Chasing Shuttle, had already hunted down at least eight Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

And that was just the number of confirmed kills; the actual number of victims was likely much higher.

In short, he repeatedly emphasized the dangers of Hezhou.

Hearing this, many of the clan cultivators began to hesitate, especially the few supervisors from the Su Family. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

But Mei Yong’s main concern was still the sect’s Honored Guest Elders.

The Five Great Clans would ultimately make a collective decision. In matters of such importance, the will of the clan was paramount; their individual opinions didn’t matter.

Only the Honored Guest Elders could truly decide for themselves whether or not to go.

However, most of the Honored Guest Elders, despite their grave expressions, showed no signs of fear.

The Lingyuan Sect was simply offering too much.

’Not just the Rank-Breaking Spirit Pills, but so many Inner Cores as well.’

Xiao Chen returned to Cuiwei Valley and fell into deep thought, staring at the redemption list in his hand.

’To be honest, in a fight against a cultivator of the same tier, I don’t even know how I could lose.’

’And this time, they’re offering three Rank-Breaking Spirit Pills and six Inner Cores.’

’I’m ninety-nine percent certain I can get my hands on both of these crucial resources.’

’The only problem is, what if my luck runs out and I run into a Golden Core cultivator from the Demon Dao?’

It was a low-probability event, but Xiao Chen wasn’t keen on gambling with his luck.

’My luck is probably unreliable. In the end, I have to rely on my own strength.’

"Things have come to this... It’s time to see if I can draw another ace from my sleeve."

He had been suppressing his cultivation for over a month.

He did it precisely to give himself more options at a moment like this.

Without hesitation, Xiao Chen took out his last bottle of Pure Wood Essence Qi and consumed it. He immediately felt a continuous flow of Wood Spiritual Power spreading through him.

「An hour later.」

He successfully broke through to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.