Chapter 189: Foundation Establishment (Part 1)

Chapter 189: Foundation Establishment (Part 1)



Lan River.

A teleportation light flashed through the sky, descending rapidly and transforming into a small boat that landed on the wide river.

Luo Chen stood on the boat, his face filled with confusion.

"This should be the place, right?"

The token left by Celestial Star Master was actually a medium-grade puppet.

Its strange function allowed it to act as a surveillance tool for cultivators and provide guidance.

When attacking Duan Family's Little Heavenly Mountain, Luo Chen had once hung it high in the night sky to overlook the entire battlefield.

After that, it had remained with him, never showing any signs of activity.

Unexpectedly, it suddenly reacted today.

Following the guidance of the pentagram puppet, Luo Chen made his way to the lower reaches of the Lan River, near Da He Fang.

However, he did not see Celestial Star Master.

"Where is he?"

Just as he was wondering, the turbulent river suddenly surged.

Luo Chen's expression changed, and he stepped onto the flying boat, retreating against the current.

A massive whirlpool suddenly formed.

The next moment, a figure slowly emerged from within.

Seeing the familiar face, Luo Chen's heart trembled, and he couldn't help but exclaim.

"Mi Shuhua!"

The old man with closed eyes was none other than his very familiar old friend.

The leader of the Mountain Destruction Gang, a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator—Mi Shuhua!

At that moment, Luo Chen felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy, and he almost turned to flee.

But soon, he realized something was amiss.

"Isn't it Mi Shuhua? A puppet?"

"Fellow Daoist, you have sharp eyes!"

A clear voice sounded, and another figure emerged from the whirlpool.

It was a young man who looked a few years younger than Luo Chen.

With red lips and white teeth, his face was like a jade crown, resembling a young boy.

He pressed one hand on "Mi Shuhua" and smiled at Luo Chen.

"This is a human puppet crafted from the body of a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator by my master. It was nurtured for three years using the Lan River Spirit Vein."

"Today, I came here not only to fulfill the agreement between my master and Fellow Daoist Mengmou, but also to retrieve this puppet."

A human puppet?

Luo Chen opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping himself.

He never expected that the body of Mi Shuhua, which Miao Wen had desperately sought, would end up in the depths of the Lan River.

Moreover, it had been turned into a puppet.

"How should I address you, Fellow Daoist?" Luo Chen asked, steadying his complex emotions.

The young man smiled slightly, "I'm Xu Ji, an inner sect disciple of Falling Cloud Sect."

Luo Chen's pupils constricted. It wasn't surprising that the person came from Falling Cloud Sect, as Celestial Star Master had not bothered to conceal his origins when he left. He had told Luo Chen that if he couldn't manage, he could go to Puppet Tower in Heavenly Wave Immortal City to find him.

It was only natural for the person he sent to be from Falling Cloud Sect.

What surprised Luo Chen was that this person claimed to be an inner sect disciple of Falling Cloud Sect, yet he was only at the Ninth Level of Qi Condensation!

This was not something to be taken lightly.

In major sects, only after reaching Foundation Establishment could one be considered an inner sect disciple.

At the next level, they would be Foundation Establishment true disciples with the potential for Golden Core, as well as Dao seeds who were being cultivated as Golden Core candidates.

Judging by this, either this person had extraordinary talent or exceptional combat strength.

Regardless of which, Luo Chen had to be cautious in dealing with him.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, did you bring the Foundation Establishment Pills for this person...?"

In the end, Luo Chen skirted around the matter of Mi Shuhua.

Xu Ji chuckled and directly threw over two jade bottles.

Luo Chen's eyebrows rose, and he happily took them.

But soon, his brows furrowed.

"Why are there only two? Didn't Celestial Star Master promise three?"

"Sorry, the situation is tense, and Foundation Establishment Pills are strategic resources. One of the masters I had promised backed out."

Xu Ji's face was slightly unnatural, "It's already not easy to have these two."

Luo Chen had no choice. Although the other party had discounted the number, they still delivered two Foundation Establishment Pills as agreed.

For a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator to give him this much face was already not easy.

Xu Ji suddenly smiled, "Moreover, with your abundant spiritual energy and vigorous vital energy, two Foundation Establishment Pills should be more than enough!"

"Hmm?"

This person's perception was so keen that he could see through my current state at a glance.

Luo Chen had only changed his appearance and physique, but his external spiritual energy fluctuations were not concealed at all.

Mainly, he had not been sure whether the other party was friend or foe before coming.

Displaying his strongest state could also dispel the other party's thoughts in advance.

"However, Falling Cloud Sect is known for its expertise in puppets and spiritual consciousness, so having this level of perception is normal."

With these thoughts in mind, Luo Chen's expression remained unchanged as he said,

"Thank you for your high praise, Fellow Daoist Xu."

"Not at all, I'm just stating the facts."

Xu Ji didn't rush to ask Luo Chen for payment. Instead, he asked with interest, "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Mengmou still has any Blood-Boiling Pills?"

"None left."

Luo Chen shook his head slightly, "After Celestial Star Master left, we ran out of the main ingredient for Blood-Boiling Pills. We don't have any extra ones on hand."

"That's a pity." Xu Ji frowned and sighed.

Luo Chen's heart stirred.

"You need Blood-Boiling Pills badly?"

He remembered the other party's unintentional mention of "tense situation."

Xu Ji looked at Luo Chen, his gaze sweeping around the surroundings before finally nodding.

"It seems that you've been staying in this remote area of Da He Fang, unaware of the great changes in Jade Cauldron Domain."

"Great changes?"

"Yes, my Falling Cloud Sect and Jade Cauldron Sword Sect are like water and fire, currently in a state of constant local conflicts."

Xu Ji spoke freely, not minding revealing this information.

"In such a situation, Foundation Establishment Pills, Blood-Boiling Pills, and the like are all very important strategic resources."

"My master relied on the merits from Da He Fang to secure my position as an inner sect disciple."

"Speaking of which, you also played a part in this, Fellow Daoist!"

Luo Chen suddenly realized.

No wonder Celestial Star Master had left in a hurry.

Although Jade Cauldron Sword Sect didn't have many core members, it was still a High Stage Nascent Soul Sect that controlled a domain.

Falling Cloud Sect was only a Golden Core Great Sect.

Even if Elder Han Zhan had indeed broken through to the Nascent Soul stage as Luo Chen had guessed, the strength of the entire sect was still limited to its previous state.

Someone with Celestial Star Master's Foundation Establishment combat power would certainly not be left idle.

At this moment, tensions were high, and conflicts were brewing.

Perhaps, it wouldn't be long before a full-scale war erupted!

Luo Chen recalled the words of Celestial Star Master before his departure.

There was indeed a hint of regret in his words.

It seemed that the reason was because the Foundation Establishment Human Puppet of Mi Shuhua was not yet complete.

Now, they had sent a messenger, arriving exactly two years later.

Apart from fulfilling the agreement, it was also to retrieve this Human Puppet.

Luo Chen didn't renege on his promise and quickly handed over ten thousand spirit stones to Xu Ji.

With that, the transaction was settled.

However, after the deal was done, Xu Ji didn't leave.

He looked at Luo Chen and asked, "May I ask if you know the location of the Duan family's territory in Da He Fang?"

Luo Chen was taken aback for a moment and subconsciously asked, "Do you have a prior connection with the Duan family, Fellow Daoist Xu?"

Xu Ji smiled slightly.

"I can't say we have a prior connection. It's just that a member of the Duan family almost became a disciple of my master, Celestial Star Master. Unfortunately, he failed in his Foundation Establishment, and the opportunity was lost."

Luo Chen raised his eyebrows.

He remembered Duan Feng's father, who had once been a disciple of Falling Cloud Sect.

Perhaps, this was where their fates were intertwined!

"Before my master left, he had a deal with the Duan family's ancestor. I'm here to fulfill that deal."

A deal!

Luo Chen's heart sank. He had no idea what transaction Celestial Star Master had with Duan Qiankun.

Why would Celestial Star Master have so many unfinished matters before his departure?

Now that Duan Qiankun was dead, this deal...

Without hesitation, Luo Chen said, "I know the location of the Duan family's territory, but it has long been renamed and changed ownership. You'll likely be disappointed."

"Hmm?"

"The Duan family is no more. Duan Qiankun was blown to pieces, leaving behind only a treasure called the Ze Guo Gui Diagram, which was taken by another Foundation Establishment cultivator, Nan Gong Jin."

Xu Ji stood there, stunned.

"Dead?"

Luo Chen didn't hide anything and immediately shared the intelligence about Luo Tianhui's attack on Xiao Huan Mountain with Xu Ji, explaining everything in detail.

He especially emphasized that Duan Qiankun was blown to pieces.

After saying this, Luo Chen boarded his flying boat and departed.

After he left, Xu Ji remained on the spot, his expression fluctuating between gloom and cheer.

...

In the sky, Luo Chen stood in his flying boat, his face also fluctuating between gloom and cheer.

"There's such a deep connection, and even an unfinished deal."

"The item Celestial Star Master sought must be valuable."

"But according to Sima Huiwang's inventory of the spoils, although there are precious items, they are definitely not what Celestial Star Master wanted."

"In other words, it's highly likely that the item is in Duan Qiankun's remaining storage bag."

Duan Qiankun's storage bag was now in Luo Chen's possession.

He was definitely unwilling to hand it over directly.

This loot included a portion of his, a portion of Wang Yuan's, and a portion of Duan Feng's.

If he handed it over, the gains from the attack on Xiao Huan Mountain would be greatly reduced.

Luo Chen had already made up his mind.

After achieving Foundation Establishment, he would use his spiritual sense to gradually erase the imprints left by Duan Qiankun on the storage bag.

However, someone now had their eyes on this item.

Luo Chen pursed his lips and retracted his flying boat.

Activating his Cloud-Stepping Boots and Freedom Flying Spell simultaneously, he vanished into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

...

At the foot of Xiao Huan Mountain, Xu Ji, looking like a young man, gazed upon the renewed Xiao Huan Mountain.

There were transplanted giant trees, a lake reflecting the blue sky and white clouds above, and faint outlines of pavilions and terraces on the mountain slopes.

"Luo Tianhui?"

He had heard of this sect from the ancestor, Celestial Star Master.

It was a sect primarily composed of alchemists, and among them was an Essence Condensation Stage alchemist.

In terms of alchemy skills, they were quite remarkable.

Even Celestial Star Master once suspected that the Blood-Boiling Pill originated from this sect.

It was only later, upon learning that a Second Stage Alchemist supported Murong Yuan, that this suspicion was dispelled.

"Can a mere Essence Condensation sect annihilate a Foundation Establishment family?"

Xu Ji felt rather frustrated.

Wasn't this an unexpected twist?

He didn't know whether to say the Duan family was too weak or if the local sects had secretly joined forces against them.

If it was the latter, his trip might be in vain.

"However, I have a Foundation Establishment Human Puppet. Perhaps I can negotiate with them."

Just as he was about to take a step forward, the mountain patrol team spotted him.

"Who goes there?"

"Xu Ji from Falling Cloud Sect, here to pay respects to the mountain!"

His clear voice, transmitted through the Foundation Establishment Human Puppet of Mi Shuhua, echoed and rose into the sky.

...

...

"A sword sheath? A magical tool?"

In the Hall of the Universe, Sima Huiwang was perplexed.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, are you sure it's not a flying sword magical tool?"

Xu Ji replied seriously, "It's just a sword sheath."

Sima Huiwang was in a dilemma.

"The Duan family is a renowned tool-forging clan in Da He Fang, famous for their expertise in forging mid-grade flying swords. It's common knowledge that flying sword magical tools rarely come with sheaths."

"May I ask about the grade of the sword sheath magical tool you mentioned?"

After all, Sima Huiwang was an Inner Sect Disciple of Falling Cloud Sect, and she wanted to give him some face.

Thus, her words carried a sense of compromise.

Xu Ji patiently explained, "I'm not sure about the exact grade, but it's at least Superior Grade."

Who would forge a Superior Grade sword sheath!

Sima Huiwang wanted to retort, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

She slowly said,

"We have records of Superior Grade magical tools, and some are also stored in our treasury."

Her gaze fell on the Foundation Establishment puppet behind Xu Ji, and she remembered Luo Chen's instructions. She immediately said, "How about I take you to the treasury to take a look?"

"Perhaps there are items that we, as wandering cultivators, might not recognize."

Xu Ji nodded and followed Sima Huiwang to the treasury.

Soon after.

Xu Ji walked out of the treasury, disappointed.

Most of the items inside were Inferior Grade and mid-grade magical tools.

There were ten Superior Grade magical tools, which were indeed exquisite, but they weren't what he wanted.

He couldn't help but ask, "Was Duan Qiankun's storage bag truly destroyed in the explosion?"

Sima Huiwang forced a smile, "That explosion was terrifying."

"The lake you saw at the foot of the mountain was created by the blast."

"In such an attack, do you think a mere storage bag could survive?"

Thinking of the lake he saw when he arrived at the mountain, Xu Ji...

Xu Ji's pupils contracted slightly.

To cause such destruction even with the protection of a magical treasure was unimaginable.

One could only imagine the intensity of that battle.

Storage bags were precious, but they were definitely not stable array magical tools.

Storage items, only those at the level of a treasure-grade storage ring, might have survived such an explosion! But he still didn't give up.

"May I meet your esteemed leader?"

Sima Huiwang frowned and said with displeasure, "That's rather impolite! Earlier, I told you that our leader is in seclusion and cannot be disturbed by outsiders."

Xu Ji was taken aback, and anger rose in his heart.

He, an inner sect disciple of a Nascent Soul stage sect, wanted to meet the leader of a loose cultivator alliance.

How could this be considered impolite?

"What if I insist on meeting him?"

Just as his eyes turned cold, Sima Huiwang narrowed her eyes as well.

"Fellow Daoist, we've given you enough face, so don't make a mistake!"

This place was the lair of Luo Tianhui!

There were over a hundred cultivators, and those at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement were not few.

If a conflict were to arise, Xu Ji would undoubtedly be at a disadvantage.

But what of it?

He had a Foundation Establishment Human Puppet in his possession!

Just as Xu Ji was about to make a bold statement, two powerful auras erupted simultaneously from the foot of the mountain.

In the distance, a beast's roar could be heard.

"A second-stage demon beast! A Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Xu Ji was stunned, his face filled with shock.

Sima Huiwang was initially surprised but then said matter-of-factly, "Without such strength, how could they dare to annihilate a Foundation Establishment family?"

She smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, you've seen enough. Do you want to stay for a meal?"

Xu Ji tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Farewell!"

...

Outside the Xiao Huan Mountain, Xu Ji's expression darkened.

His gaze fell on the azure blue lake at the foot of the mountain, and if his senses were not mistaken, one of the Foundation Establishment auras must have come from there! He never expected it to be like this.

"Oh well, two out of three tasks completed, I can report back to the ancestor."

"This Luo Tianhui, wait for me to reach Foundation Establishment, then I'll come back and deal with them!"

Without hesitation, he left immediately.

After he left, at the bottom of the azure blue lake, two figures sat facing each other.

Wang Yuan retracted his gaze that seemed to see through the lake's surface, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Mi Shuhua, did someone really turn him into a puppet..."

His words carried an indescribable sentiment.

Mi Shuhua was once the most outstanding figure in Da He Fang.

With his mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, he controlled the vast Broken Mountain Gang, suppressing all other factions.

The seemingly evenly matched Great River Gang would have been nothing before him without the support of the Linked Cloud Alliance.

Even a sect cultivator like Miao Wen was treated as an equal by Mi Shuhua.

But who would have thought that in the end, he would suffer the fate of death, clan annihilation, and gang destruction.

All his accumulated wealth was divided among everyone.

Even his corpse was turned into a puppet.

Thinking of what Mi Shuhua had done for Wang Yuan and Luo Chen, although there was an intention to take advantage, they still gained numerous benefits.

Now, seeing his fate, Wang Yuan couldn't help but sigh.

Luo Chen avoided this topic and just looked at Wang Yuan curiously.

"Brother Wang, have you perfected the Soul-Binding Oath?"

The Foundation Establishment aura earlier was released by Wang Yuan himself.

However, Wang Yuan shook his head.

"Two years of cultivation, and I've barely reached the beginner level."

"Moreover, that Foundation Establishment fluctuation isn't mine. It's a simulation achieved by combining Duan Qiankun's remnant soul with my cultivation."

As he spoke, he looked at Luo Chen.

"You've reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refinement, and Foundation Establishment is just a step away."

Thinking of the two Foundation Establishment Pills in his storage bag, Luo Chen smiled slightly.

"Soon, very soon!"

...

After Xu Ji left, Luo Tianhui returned to its previous state of tranquility.

Luo Chen spent a whole month frantically refining a large batch of Intermediate Rank Jade Marrow Pills and then announced his seclusion.

This time, it was a genuine seclusion!

Unless it was a matter of life and death, no one was allowed to disturb him.

In the Green Thatched Cottage.

Luo Chen looked at the two Foundation Establishment Pills in his hand, his face filled with difficulty.

Logically, he should be rushing towards Foundation Establishment right now.

But the experiences of these years made him feel uncertain about Foundation Establishment.

Fu Xiuxiu had failed to reach Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Duan Rui had two Foundation Establishment Pills and an eight-hundred-year-old Heaven Earth Root, yet he gained nothing.

Even sect disciples like Fu Xiuxiu's partner and Duan Feng's father had failed.

This made him increasingly aware of the challenges of Foundation Establishment.

"Even Wang Ge, who was brave and diligent on the path of cultivation, fell at the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Two Foundation Establishment Pills might not be enough for me!"

"Therefore, I must continue refining the Imperial Stream Fluid, there's no other way!"

After the hesitation, a firm decision was made.

Luo Chen didn't want to experience failure after failure or suffer repeated setbacks.

Even with his powerful physical body, a Divine Soul comparable to Foundation Establishment, and abundant resources to assist in Foundation Establishment, he still wanted to achieve the best and perfect result!

He had already reached the beginner level of Imperial Stream Fluid, which took a lot of effort.

After several failures, he gradually found the knack.

Success was just around the corner.

Since it was like this, why not take some time? Luo Chen, with his wholehearted dedication, once again began the familiar process of pill refinement.

...

One month later.

The exhausted Luo Chen's eyes shone with joy.

He looked up at the Four Elements Cauldron, and strands of golden fluid flowed like spirit liquid descending from the stars.

"There's so much of it!"

Without hesitation, he took out three large jade bottles.

Using the Cloud Transformation Technique, he carefully guided the fluid into the bottles.

The golden Imperial Stream Fluid descended from the sky and slowly flowed into the three jade bottles.

Three portions!

In terms of cost.

For these three portions of Imperial Stream Fluid, Luo Chen spent a total of over ten thousand spirit stones.

A severe overspending!

After all, this was only a second-stage spirit liquid.

But considering its great effect on enhancing one's foundation, it might not be weaker than a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Therefore, its value couldn't be measured solely by the number of spirit stones.

"With this, I can truly say that everything is ready!"

Luo Chen pursed his lips and retracted the Four Elements Cauldron.

Facing the entire Qing Mao House, he cast a cleansing spell.

Furthermore, he carefully took out ten middle-grade spirit stones and embedded them one by one into the holes next to the spirit spring.

With his ten fingers interlaced, Luo Chen held his breath and focused, executing a series of hand seals.

This was a set of techniques he had obtained from the Duan family's library.

It had no additional effects, only serving to merge the spirit energy within the Ice and Fire Spirit Spring, temporarily elevating it from a first-rank spirit land to a second-rank one.

Ice and fire, being two extremes, would destroy each other in conflict but thrive in harmony.

"Merge!"

In an instant, large patches of white mist continuously expanded.

The mist filled the air, but it soon felt like it was losing strength.

Unless Luo Chen continuously maintained the release of the technique.

However, as he was about to attempt Foundation Establishment, it was naturally impossible for him to do so.

Thus, with the assistance of the array, the ten middle-grade spirit stones could temporarily sustain the current state.

"Absorb..."

Luo Chen took a deep breath, his spirit greatly shaken.

This feeling was identical to the second-rank spirit vein area that Uncle Mi had created.

However, Uncle Mi's method required the consumption of eighty spirit stones.

Luo Chen, on the other hand, only needed ten.

The difference between them was this Ice and Fire Spirit Spring!

"In three days, this second-rank spirit land will be thoroughly stabilized."

"Only then will it be the real opportunity to break through Foundation Establishment."

"These three days will be just enough for me to recover."

Luo Chen exhaled and lay down on the small bed inside the house.

...

Three days later.

After bathing and changing clothes, he lit the furnace and incense.

Luo Chen casually sat cross-legged by the Ice and Fire Spirit Spring.

He lit the calming incense, and the moonlight grass in the corner bloomed with a faint fragrance.

He applied the Liuligang, which could enhance physical strength, to his body.

He drank the He Yang Water in advance.

Only then did Luo Chen carefully take out the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Let's break through with the orthodox Foundation Establishment Pill first!"

Without hesitation, he swallowed the pill.

In just an instant, the immense medicinal power erupted.

This was different from the ordinary pills used in cultivation.

It was a Foundation Establishment Pill refined specifically for breaking through cultivation realms.

The emphasis was on the explosive medicinal power, which would forcefully overcome all difficulties with its fierce momentum.

Success or failure would be determined in the upcoming surge.

However, before Luo Chen could even reach the step of using spirit energy to impact the Energy Core Barrier, a surge of immense pain rushed through his limbs and bones.

Especially his tongue! The pain was so intense that he felt like biting his tongue to end his life.

He could no longer maintain the cross-legged sitting posture.

His entire body collapsed to the ground, rolling back and forth.

His face turned red, resembling a boiled little lobster.

Veins popped out, and large beads of sweat continuously fell to the ground.

His lips and teeth were already bitten to the point of bleeding profusely.

Amidst the haze, he seemed to be on the verge of passing out from the pain.

"No, this won't do!"

In a daze, Luo Chen subconsciously activated the Divine Spirit Demonic Annihilation.

The thirty-six acupoints that had been stimulated before now became the focal points.

All the pain converged towards these thirty-six acupoints.

Painful! Even more painful! But amidst this intense agony, Luo Chen found a familiar sensation.

"After all, it's still within my endurance range!"

Luo Chen's face contorted, and with immense willpower, he forced himself to sit up.

He couldn't afford to waste the effects of the Foundation Establishment Pill! He activated the Supreme Completion level Eternal Spring Technique.

Luo Chen, with his unwavering willpower, forcefully used his cultivation technique to mobilize the abundant Essence Qi Clouds in his Dantian, thus absorbing the massive medicinal power released by the Foundation Establishment Pill.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end