Chapter 101: Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Building

Chapter 101: Breakthrough to the Second Layer of Foundation Building

The day after obtaining Yu Ling Jue, Xiao Chen’s new courtyard in Cuiwei Valley was completed.

The sect had disciples specialized in architectural techniques, allowing them to construct the courtyard swiftly while ensuring its elegance and durability. However, since the management of the Demon Suppression Hall was still under debate at the sect headquarters, operations remained on hold temporarily.

Xiao Chen locked the courtyard gates and immersed himself in cultivation within the valley. However, as news of his Foundation Building breakthrough spread, countless visitors arrived at his doorstep—offering invitations to banquets at White Jade Restaurant or urging him to visit their clans. From minor families to inner and outer sect disciples, the endless stream of requests became overwhelming.

To resolve this, Xiao Chen specially visited Shen Simyue at Azure Water Peak, asking her to act as his gatekeeper.

“Ah, it’s you?”

After finally enjoying a day of peace and focusing on cultivation until dusk, Xiao Chen stepped out to thank Shen Simyue, only to find Su Wanning lounging on the chair by the gate.

“Master Uncle Xiao, surprised to see me?”

“What are you doing here?”

“Helping Senior Sister Shen ease her burdens, of course!”

“Ease her burdens? What do you mean?”

“Honestly, you wouldn’t believe how many people came today—even representatives from major clans! Refusing them all is such a thankless task.” Su Wanning smirked, hands on her hips. “Since Shen Senior Sister couldn’t do it herself, she let me handle it.”

“Even if I block them, they wouldn’t dare resent me.”

Hm… She actually had a point.

Su Wanning began boasting, “Master Uncle Xiao, I rejected all those people for you—killing two birds with one stone! Don’t you think you should thank me?”

Xiao Chen nodded. “You’re right. I did overlook this. Thank you.”

“Great! Then can I ask you for a small favor?”

Xiao Chen frowned. “What favor?”

Su Wanning pulled out an invitation. “Hehe, my great-grandfather wants to meet you at our family’s all-fish banquet on the tenth day of the tenth month.”

Xiao Chen took the letter, puzzled. “But this says Zhou Family?”

“Oh no, wrong one!” Su Wanning snatched it back hastily, rummaging through a pile of invitations from her storage bag before producing another. “Here’s the right one—Suhu Family, same color as Zhou’s.”

Xiao Chen checked the details. “Nanhu Lake’s fish banquet on the tenth day of the tenth month. I’ll come if nothing unexpected happens.”

He handed her a bottle of Five-Color Vitality Pill. “This is for your help.”

While the pill aided early-stage cultivators, it was nearly useless for Foundation Builders. Still, it made a suitable token of appreciation.

Over the next two days, word spread that Xiao Chen had closed his doors, and the visitors dwindled. But no sooner had Su Wanning left than an uninvited guest arrived—a Foundation Building patriarch from the Jing Clan of Jingchuan County, 500 miles west of Lihuo Sect.

The clan leader strode in, offering a high-grade magic sword. “Congratulations, Cultivator Xiao, on your Foundation Building breakthrough. A hero deserves a legendary blade—please accept this Cangmu Sword.”

Xiao Chen didn’t reach for it. “Director Jing, your generosity suggests this isn’t just a congratulatory visit?”

In recent days, many had brought gifts—ranging from embroidered decorations and rare plants worth a dozen spirit stones, to spirit fruits, teas, and wines valued at hundreds. But Xiao Chen had instructed Su Wanning to decline all, thanks to the generous spirit stones gifted by the Hundred Poisons Demon and Heifeng Sanren.

Even families like the Sus and Songs hadn’t been this lavish.

When something seems off, there’s always a hidden motive.

The Jing patriarch smiled nervously. “Cultivator Xiao, the Jiang Family asked me to deliver a message…”

“Unnecessary.” Xiao Chen pointed at the gate. “Take your sword and leave.”

The clan leader blinked in shock at his rejection of a premium artifact. “But this is—”

“Third warning: leave.” Xiao Chen raised his hand, gathering spiritual energy around him. The Jing leader hastily retreated on his flying sword.

Later, another sect elder acted as a messenger, only to be expelled the same way. Xiao Chen’s stance was clear: No negotiations.

He soon learned why the Jiang Family had shifted tactics—their fear stemmed from news of his slaying the Hundred Poisons Demon, which had spread widely.

For the following month, debates raged within the sect over the Demon Suppression Hall’s jurisdiction. Mei Yong pushed to expand its authority, seeking control over all demonic cultivator matters—a move supported by many solitary elder cultivators. However, clan representatives fiercely opposed, insisting on handling affairs within their territories independently.

Mei Yong even approached Xiao Chen, urging him to back the power grab. But Xiao Chen had no interest—his clan also resisted expansion, and he cared only for his own cultivation. In fact, he secretly hoped the debates would never end, allowing him to enjoy double cultivation subsidies while peacefully refining Yu Ling Jue in the valley.

By now, he’d nurtured his Spirit Seed, channeling mana to nourish it. After a month, the seed had swollen threefold. On the thirty-first day, it finally sprouted.

Xiao Chen’s spiritual sense scanned his dantian, revealing a tiny flower seedling with two leaves stretching outward, greedily absorbing mana. He quickly drew on spirit stones to replenish his energy until the leaves matured and the seedling stilled.

His cultivation realm had advanced to Foundation Building Second Layer—his dantian capacity surging to 42 strands of mana, with his Internal Elixir expanding to 45.

“Yu Ling Jue’s cultivation speed is truly extraordinary,” he mused. Normally, cultivators slowed at higher realms, but Yu Ling Jue let him match his previous pace.

Now, he could finally spare time for techniques like Truth-Seeing Spirit Eye and Blazing Crimson Clouds. Before the Spirit Seed sprouted, practicing other arts risked destabilizing it, but with the seedling rooted, alternating cultivation would boost efficiency.

Half a month passed in this rhythm. By the tenth day of the tenth month, Su Wanning’s all-fish banquet arrived.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end