Chapter 108: Chapter 107: Foundation Establishment

Ancestor Hall.

Sect Leader Wei Dao, the Five Halls Masters, and the Elders in charge of the seven departments were all gathered here.

These thirteen individuals could be considered the true upper echelon of the Qingfeng Sect.

"The Mo Family colluded with the Ghost Spirit Sect this time. Fortunately, Senior Brother Liang handled it properly. He received intelligence in advance and killed Mo Qianyuan, performing a great service."

The battle was decided, and now it was time to divide the spoils.

As the number one Cultivation Family in Black Mountain, the Fire Phoenix Mo Family had occupied a great deal of territory in the past due to having the most Cultivators.

They had no fewer than ten Tier One Veins of various types, and over a thousand acres of mature Spirit Fields... The Sect left the Mo Family with a token ten percent, confiscating the rest.

"Colluding with the Demon Path brings endless harm, so it’s only right to eradicate evil completely... This is the duty of the Law Enforcement Hall. I don’t deserve your praise, Sect Leader."

After pushing himself to kill Mo Qianyuan, Liang Yu had rushed to the Market and refined the Six Desires Yin Demon.

Having used a Secret Technique that over-drafted his Magical Power, he showed a rare trace of weakness today.

The Qingfeng Sect had its own set of procedures and rules for resource allocation that had been in place for a thousand years. It was only because the Mo Family’s treasury was so vast that the heads of the Five Halls and seven departments needed to gather.

They deliberated for over four hours before finally finishing the allocation of the Mo Family’s resources.

Aside from the allocation of a Medicine Garden planted with a large number of basic Spirit Plants to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, which drew some slight dissatisfaction from the Alchemy Hall, the rest of the meeting proceeded smoothly under Wei Dao’s direction.

"There is one more matter that requires the Sect Leader’s decision. The list of applicants for the Foundation Establishment Pills has been finalized... A total of four True Disciples, one former True Disciple, and three Stewards have applied."

The Transmission Hall Master took out a slip of paper, on which the qualifications of the eight applicants were recorded.

"My hall has already ranked them according to seniority. The final selection still requires the Sect Leader’s approval."

The quotas for Foundation Establishment Pills were originally controlled by the Five Halls. Aside from the candidates who absolutely had to be chosen, the remaining spots depended on the political dealings between the halls.

But after Wei Dao took power, his authority grew, and in recent years, he had consolidated the right to distribute the Foundation Establishment Pills into his own hands.

"No need to look. All disciples who applied this time are approved... Just distribute them in order of seniority."

A relaxed smile appeared on Wei Dao’s face. Having serendipitously resolved the hidden threat of the Fire Phoenix Mo Family during his tenure, he could also enter seclusion for his own breakthrough with a light heart.

"The disciples who applied this time are fortunate... In the Mo Family’s treasury, there was a Golden Crown Reishi. Although it isn’t a thousand years old, it’s at least eight or nine hundred years old."

"I’ve already had Brother Tan look at it, and it’s sufficient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills."

"In three months, another batch of Foundation Establishment Pills will be refined... This will be hard work for our fellow members in the Alchemy Hall."

"It’s no trouble. This Elder Daoist will be able to pass on in peace if I can see a few more Foundation Establishment brothers emerge in the Sect before I die."

Tan Changkong had met privately with Wei Dao yesterday. Several of his wishes had been promised, and the weight in his heart was gone.

"Everyone, what I’m about to say is the most critical part of this meeting..."

Wei Dao’s expression turned solemn, and the lighthearted atmosphere vanished.

"Ancestor Ge defeated four Core Formation True Men from the Ghost Spirit Sect in a single battle. Before long, this news will surely spread and shake the entire Liang Country."

"This battle has completely crushed the Ghost Spirit Sect’s arrogance. They likely won’t dare to provoke our Sect again for several decades."

"However, a message came from Ancestor Ge yesterday. He has made an agreement with a high-level Daoist from the Holy Lotus Sect to explore a Secret Realm together in ten years... He may be gone for several years, or even longer."

"Therefore, we must prepare a strategy. If the Ghost Spirit Sect discovers that Ancestor Ge is not in Black Mountain County, how will we deal with their retaliation... and possibly that of other Demon Path Sects?"

"Is it the Lotus Secret Realm?"

Liang Yu couldn’t help but ask. Seeing Wei Dao nod, he continued.

"Then we must indeed take precautions. The Lotus Secret Realm is world-renowned. Every person selected for the Secret Realm is a figure who can stir up storms in Liang Country. It’s impossible for the Ghost Spirit Sect not to be paying attention."

"Our two sects have always had conflicting ideologies, but we only truly became mortal enemies after Ancestor Ge brought back the legacy of the Primordial Yang Divine Thunder... The few of us here all know that the story about Ancestor Yangg and the Ghost Spirit Sect fighting over a Life-Extending Elixir is just the public excuse."

"If they find an opportunity, they absolutely will not let it pass."

The Lotus Secret Realm was the most famous Secret Realm in Liang Country. It opened once every 60-Year Cycle, and the entry threshold was the level of a Core Formation True Man.

Anyone below the Core Formation Stage couldn’t even withstand the Teleportation Array at the Secret Realm’s entrance.

This Secret Realm was controlled by the Holy Lotus Sect, and no more than ten people could enter each time.

Besides the Holy Lotus Sect’s Cultivators, only Core Formation True Men who had an extremely close relationship with them or possessed Nascent Soul Form could receive an invitation.

Within the Lotus Secret Realm were Treasures that could help a Core Formation True Man break through to the late stage, or even reach Perfection.

...

Bai Zichen circulated the Chang Chun Skill. Having cultivated this basic Cultivation Technique for over a decade, he knew it like the back of his hand.

As his surging Magical Power completed one Circulation, new Magical Power emerged from his Dantian Qi Sea and automatically flowed into his meridians.

His Magical Power naturally began a new circulation path—the tenth and final layer of the Chang Chun Skill.

’Is this what Qi Refining Great Perfection feels like...?’

Bai Zichen opened his eyes, feeling the surging Magical Power within him, thick and viscous as it circulated.

This feeling of complete perfection throughout his body, of being unable to advance any further, was something he had never experienced before.

He knew in his heart that he now stood at the very pinnacle of Qi Refining.

If he wanted to advance again, he could only take that one step: succeed in Foundation Establishment and embark on the true Immortal Path.

He walked out of the Quiet Chamber and gave some pointers on Cultivation to a few servant disciples.

Xun Shuang wasn’t there. When he asked, he learned that Xun Shuang had broken through a layer and been promoted to an Outer Sect Disciple with his Qi Refining Sixth Layer Cultivation.

At the age of people like Su Lie and Cai Heng, such an improvement was impossible.

It was more likely that once Bai Zichen became a Foundation Establishment Elder, his escorts would be sent out to become Stewards.

Returning to the Quiet Chamber, Bai Zichen spent a month familiarizing himself with Qi Refining Great Perfection, tempering his physical body with Magical Power and expelling Erysipelas.

’I don’t actually have much Erysipelas in my body... Did achieving the Five Crystal Glaze Body automatically purify my body?’

Bai Zichen used a Cleaning Talisman, and his entire body was refreshed.

He left the Moon-Locking Pool and flew on his sword straight towards the Ancestor Hall.

Half a year ago, his application to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill had been submitted and was approved immediately without any issues.

He only learned later that all eight people in this batch of applicants were approved, but they were split into two groups. The second group had to wait an extra three months.

Three months later, when news came from the Alchemy Hall that they had used a Thousand-Year-Old Golden Crown Lingzhi confiscated from the Fire Phoenix Mo Family to refine another batch of pills, yielding four Foundation Establishment Pills, everyone finally understood.

Bai Zichen landed his Sword Light. The last time he came here, he was just a young boy. The old turtle resting in the pond before the entrance was just as it was back then, as if it hadn’t moved a single step.

Turtle-type Spirit Beasts had long lifespans. This Exotic Species of mountain turtle had lived in the Ancestor Hall for over two hundred years, showing no signs of advancing in rank or aging.

"True Disciple Bai Zichen, here to request a Quiet Chamber for Foundation Establishment."

Bai Zichen didn’t enter the Ancestor Hall. He walked around it and followed a bluestone path for a hundred paces, where he saw a row of low-thatched huts.

An Elder Daoist with a white beard, white hair, and even white eyebrows was holding a fishing rod, angling in a nearby mountain stream.

"Another one?"

The Elder Daoist checked the True Inheritance Token and, without looking up, waved his hand. A ray of Spirit Light shot out, and one of the huts opened automatically.

"Go on in. Once you close the door, the Array will activate on its own. It’s impossible to open from the outside; you can only leave normally from within."

"I really don’t know why you youngsters are in such a hurry. Last month, a kid with the surname Huang just failed his Foundation Establishment, and now here’s another one..."

"Senior Brother Huang failed his Foundation Establishment?"

Bai Zichen was surprised to hear this news, but at the same time, he felt it was normal.

Senior Brother Huang was one of the four True Disciples who had exchanged for a Foundation Establishment Pill. He had been at Qi Refining Great Perfection for several years and probably started his secluded attempt not long after getting the pill.

But having a Foundation Establishment Pill didn’t guarantee success. This was why so many Cultivators hesitated before this hurdle.

However, this news didn’t affect Bai Zichen. He cupped his hands in a brief salute, walked into the hut, sat down, and closed the door.

This row of huts behind the Ancestor Hall, like the Quiet Chambers at Moon-Locking Pool, was a Tier Three Low Grade Spirit Land, specifically for Sect Disciples to attempt their breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

However, he disliked that his own territory lacked the protection of an Array and worried about being disturbed at the critical moment of his breakthrough, so he chose this place instead.

It was connected to a section of the Mountain Protection Array, ensuring that even if the world outside was shaking and turning upside down, you wouldn’t notice a thing from inside the hut.

After entering the hut, Bai Zichen didn’t rush his breakthrough. He calmed his mind and cultivated normally for several days, making sure the Spiritual Qi here wasn’t too different from what he was used to, before finally taking out a Jade Box from his storage bag.

A longan-sized Elixir lay quietly on a bed of silk. It glowed with a golden light that wasn’t dazzling, surrounded by rings of a halo.

Countless tiny patterns covered its surface, seemingly alive, exuding an astonishing allure that made one want to swallow it in a single gulp.

This was the Foundation Establishment Pill, the object of longing for countless Qi Refining Cultivators in the Cultivation Realm!

’I started Entering the Dao at nine and have cultivated relentlessly for fourteen years to reach this day... My Essence, Qi, and Spirit are all complete, and I have the support of my Spirit Body. If even I were afraid of Foundation Establishment, who else could succeed?!’

Bai Zichen swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill in one gulp. Filled with immense confidence, he began to circulate the tenth layer of the Chang Chun Skill.

A powerful medicinal energy surged forth. Compared to the Foundation Establishment Pill, any other elixir he had taken before probably didn’t even have one percent of its potency.

The first trial: the Body trial!

The transition from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment was a change in the very essence of life. Lifespan would multiply, which naturally placed strict demands on the physical body.

The medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill surged through Bai Zichen’s limbs and bones, mending subtle, imperceptible hidden injuries and strengthening his internal organs.

He was in the prime of his youth with vigorous blood and qi. Furthermore, having cultivated the first layer of the Five Crystal Glaze Body, his physical strength was comparable to that of a dedicated Body Cultivator.

The pill’s transformation of his body lasted only three days and consumed at most ten percent of its power before surging towards his Dantian Qi Sea.

The second trial: the Magical Power trial!

Because Bai Zichen cultivated the common Chang Chun Skill, the upper limit and purity of his Magical Power were average. This was also why he had been so determined to get a Foundation Establishment Pill.

His Magical Power circulated wildly, refining Spiritual Qi at more than double his normal speed.

The pure and vast Spiritual Qi provided by the Tier Three Low Grade Spirit Land of the hut actually formed a Spiritual Energy Vortex with Bai Zichen at its center.

The vast medicinal power from the Foundation Establishment Pill was consumed rapidly. With every passing moment, he could feel a qualitative improvement in his Magical Power.

Fortunately, the Body trial had used up very little of the pill’s power. When only about twenty percent of the Foundation Establishment Pill’s power remained, a drop of Spiritual Liquid formed in his Qi Sea.

This indicated that his Magical Power had undergone a true qualitative change, transforming from the gaseous Magical Power of a Qi Refining Cultivator to the Liquid Magical Power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The difference in power between the two was like that between the clouds and the mud.

By the time the medicinal power was completely exhausted, a shallow pool of Liquid Magical Power had already collected in Bai Zichen’s Dantian Qi Sea. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

The Magical Power trial was also passed smoothly!

As for the third trial, the Divine Sense trial, which stumped countless Qi Refining Cultivators, Bai Zichen didn’t even need to focus to break through.

His Divine Sense surged from his Sea of Consciousness, left his body, circled around him once, and returned.

His Liquid Magical Power and Divine Sense merged. With a buzz, he felt as if he had pushed open a great door and entered a whole new world.

Bai Zichen, at twenty-three years of age, had achieved Foundation Establishment!