Zou Feng wasn’t surprised to see that his Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force could no longer be improved.

After all, this Cultivation Skill was incomplete.

It was supposed to have Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, and Cyan Dragon Chapters as well.

When he returned to Great Yan, Zou Feng had thought about searching for the other three Chapters.

However, time had been too tight. Although he’d had Bian Yixia issue an order to search for them, nothing was found during his stay.

But it wasn’t a big problem. At his current Realm, even if he found the other three Chapters, they would be of little use to him.

It would be better to cultivate a Skill with suitable Compatibility and fuse the Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Force into it.

After checking his gains, Zou Feng, of course, didn’t forget to check on the man at the top of his list.

Gongyang Marquis’s name had been tormented by the Refinement of the Dragon Poison, but it was as resilient as ever.

Although the name’s brightness had dimmed somewhat, the effect was limited.

Zou Feng strongly suspected this guy was likely in a Realm above Golden Core...

’A Nascent Soul Old Monster!?’

By now, Zou Feng had some understanding of the Golden Core Realm, as he had seen True Disciples at that level in action on several occasions.

In terms of raw combat strength, the Golden Core Realm was undeniably impressive.

Take Jiang Wanzhao, for example. She had no flashy moves or Skills—just simple, direct, and casual crushing power.

Her every move, her every thought, was an unfathomably deadly attack.

Crushing a sea dragon at the Dao Foundation Realm was like squashing a toy for her.

But as powerful as the Golden Core Realm was, it didn’t completely exceed the bounds of Zou Feng’s comprehension.

But as for the methods of a Nascent Soul Old Monster, Zou Feng had no clue.

’Speaking of which, that Upper Sect Elder I communicated with in the chaotic space, the Undying Master... he must be a Nascent Soul Old Monster, right?’

The thought that Gongyang Marquis might be on the same level as the Undying Master gave Zou Feng a massive headache.

’Then again, Gongyang Marquis hasn’t made a move against me... could it be that he’s just waiting for the fruit to ripen more before he comes to harvest it...?’

"Brother Zou? Long time no see..."

Jiang Xue’s voice came from outside the wooden cabin.

She didn’t ask Zou Feng for permission to enter, simply pushing the door open and walking in.

It was as if they were already regular partners from their time cultivating on the third floor of the Demon Suppression Tower.

Zou Feng looked up, sizing up Jiang Xue for a moment before saying, "Thanks for the warning last time!"

It was the truth. If not for Jiang Xue’s warning, who knew when he would have discovered that Lu Guanghua was up to something, especially here in the Demon Suppression Tower, where the Celestial Dao Cauldron had no signal.

’Of course, Lu Guanghua would surely have found a way to let me know anyway...’

At this thought, Zou Feng secretly checked the List of Gods again, but Jiang Xue’s name wasn’t on it.

He had suspected that the only reason Jiang Xue had so conveniently and promptly informed him of Fu Jiaming’s successful Foundation Establishment was because she was in league with Lu Guanghua.

’After all, if I didn’t know anything and just stayed in long-term seclusion in the Demon Suppression Tower, Lu Guanghua’s plot to provoke me into leaving the Pinnacle Celestial Immortal Sect would be pointless.’

’But since her name isn’t on the List of Gods, I’m probably just overthinking things...’

After that, the two exchanged a few idle words, and then each began to cultivate.

「Ten days passed in a flash.」

As Jiang Xue let out a long sigh, Zou Feng, who had just finished his own cultivation, opened his eyes.

Seeing the worried look in her eyes, and based on their recent interactions, Zou Feng had a rough idea of what was troubling her.

"Junior Sister Jiang, are you... having trouble with your Foundation Establishment?"

It was only natural that Jiang Xue was preparing for Foundation Establishment. As a prodigy who possessed Spirit and Flesh, a Spirit Bone, and a Spiritual Vein—a Three-in-One combination—this was the logical next step.

In fact, Zou Feng had noticed the signs ever since they first met.

After all, he was also preparing for his own Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Xue nodded decisively. "I always feel like something is missing, but I’ve already prepared a suitable Foundation Establishment Treasure..."

Foundation Establishment in this world didn’t require any sort of Foundation Establishment Pill.

Instead, one had to prepare one or more treasures suited to their individual circumstances to act as a "base" for the process.

These treasures could be all sorts of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, or they could be man-made Spiritual Artifacts or Elixirs.

They could even be certain living creatures...

Zou Feng, however, didn’t need to worry about this. The Ant King’s Heart that he had already absorbed was more than sufficient to serve as his Foundation Establishment Treasure.

Hearing this, Zou Feng replied casually, "If the Foundation Establishment Treasure is suitable, then the problem must be with something else..."

He was just making small talk, with no real intention of helping Jiang Xue solve her problem.

Of course, having not even undergone Foundation Establishment himself, it wasn’t as if he could offer her any real guidance.

Jiang Xue sighed softly again. "Perhaps the Skill I cultivate is too moderate and tranquil. It focuses too heavily on nourishing my life force and qi."

"It’s fine for daily cultivation, but for establishing a Celestial Tier Dao Foundation, it’s too placid. It’s like a still well, unable to produce the necessary volatile reaction."

"If I had an Evil Qi Skill to use as a catalyst, that would work. However, I can’t possibly start cultivating an Evil Qi Skill that conflicts with my current one now. I’m afraid I’ll have to rely on some external object..."

At first, Zou Feng was only listening half-heartedly.

But the more he listened, the more he felt that something was off.

’Why does this sound like it’s directed at me?’

’Jiang Xue needs an external object with Evil Qi to clash with her own Skill in order to establish a Celestial Tier Dao Foundation...’

’And isn’t the most suitable "external object" for that... me?!’

’Just imagine it: if I were to use the Dragon and Tiger Kan and Li Skill, I could make the Evil Qi clash with her Skill in the gentlest possible way, without harming her body.’

’So, if what she’s saying is true, then I could actually help her establish a Celestial Tier Dao Foundation through dual cultivation.’

’And if I could personally participate in the entire process of someone else establishing a Celestial Tier Dao Foundation, the benefits for my own Foundation Establishment in the future would be immense.’