Foundation Establishnt is hard!
Countless Qi Refining Cultivators are held back by this barrier, forever barred from the realms that lie beyond.
One day, Li Chang’an would have to face this barrier himself.
His Spiritual Root would be of no help. He could only rely on his own accumulated foundation to break through.
Fortunately, his foundation was solid. Though his progress wasn’t fast, every step he took was exceptionally steady.
"I wish you success in your Foundation Establishnt, Young Mistress, and a long and prosperous journey on the Immortal Dao."
"Thank you. I pray your auspicious words co to pass, Daoist Li!"
Zheng Qingqing’s tone was solemn as she thanked him.
Today, she was unlike her usual self, her light laughter and soft speech replaced by an exceptionally grave expression.
Evidently, even with her talent and preparation, she wasn’t very confident about facing the trial of Foundation Establishnt.
This was because several mbers of the Zheng Family had already failed their Foundation Establishnt attempts before her!
The difference was that those people had all attempted Foundation Establishnt on the family’s Tier Two Spirit Vein, with clan experts protecting them each ti.
She, on the other hand, had chosen to co to Yellow Crane Immortal City. She had no clansn by her side—not even the family’s old ancestor, Zheng Yuandao. There was only Li Chang’an, a friend she knew relatively well.
"Daoist Li, tell so more stories from your ti in the mortal world."
"Alright."
Li Chang’an nodded and began to tell her tales of young heroes from the martial world.
Roughly an hour later, Zheng Qingqing rose to take her leave, the heavy look on her face having eased sowhat.
...
「The next day, at noon.」
In the courtyard, Li Chang’an was testing the Tier Two Spiritual Artifact he had just acquired, the Spirit-Breaking Alms Bowl.
The spiritual bowl was golden all over, looking like a round bowl forged from pure gold. It was the very one he had retrieved from inside the Golden Buddha.
’This Spirit-Breaking Alms Bowl is Tier Two Middle Grade. Its array-breaking capabilities are truly powerful, far surpassing the Array-Breaking Pestle and Forbidden Spirit Pearl I got before. It can even break through the Thundercloud Annihilation Array.’
The Thundercloud Annihilation Array was only a Tier Two Low Grade Array, after all. Its tier was a bit low, so it was no match for the Spirit-Breaking Alms Bowl.
After running so tests, Li Chang’an was very satisfied with the Spirit-Breaking Alms Bowl.
Suddenly, at the foot of the distant Yellow Crane Mountain, the sky above a Tier Two Cave Mansion began to churn.
Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power from all around surged toward the area, forming a massive vortex of Spiritual Power nearly a hundred zhang wide.
’Transforming Magic Power into liquid. It’s starting this quickly?’
Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened as he looked up at the vortex.
During their conversation last night, he had learned the location of the Tier Two Cave Mansion that Zheng Qingqing had rented for her Foundation Establishnt. It was the very sa one where the Spiritual Power was now converging.
The Foundation Establishnt has three gates. The first concerns the physical body.
Zheng Qingqing had clearly already passed it.
She was still young and had rarely been injured. With no hidden ailnts and a flawless physical body, it was only natural that she would pass.
Right now, she was undergoing the second gate: transforming the gaseous Magic Power within her body into a liquid.
The Magical Power of a Qi Refining Cultivator is gaseous, while that of a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator is liquid. This is one of the key differences between the two stages.
’The Young Mistress is breaking through faster than I expected,’ Li Chang’an mused.
According to the records, the ti required for Foundation Establishnt varies.
It can take as little as a day or as long as several.
Normally, the more robust one’s foundation from the Qi Refining Stage, the less ti the breakthrough requires.
’According to legend, cultivators in Ancient Tis pursued a "Hundred Day Foundation Establishnt," which was supposedly a safer and easier thod. But that Foundation Establishnt Technique has long been lost to ti.’
Li Chang’an had long ago collected a great deal of information regarding Foundation Establishnt.
He was intimately familiar with all the potential scenarios that could occur during the process.
’The Spiritual Power vortex above the Young Mistress’s cave mansion is very stable, showing no signs of collapsing. It looks like she’ll have no problem with the Magic Power Barrier.’
Li Chang’an thought to himself.
Zheng Qingqing cultivated a Top Grade Fire Elent Technique.
In terms of tier, it was higher than the Cyan Wood Technique Li Chang’an currently practiced, and the Magical Power it produced was also purer.
The purer the Magical Power, the easier it is to compress into a liquid.
...
「anwhile.」
Almost the entire Yellow Crane Immortal City had noticed the phenonon.
"Soone is attempting a breakthrough to Foundation Establishnt!"
"They’re already at the Magic Power Barrier!"
Countless Cultivators stopped what they were doing and stared at the vortex of Spiritual Power.
So looked on with yearning, hoping that one day it would be their turn.
Others were filled with jealousy, secretly cursing the person attempting the breakthrough to fail.
In Yuelai Restaurant, Xu Fugui stood by the window, his face filled with envy.
"Foundation Establishnt... I wonder if I’ll ever see that day in my lifeti."
"You will!"
A wizened voice suddenly spoke from behind him.
Xu Fugui froze, then hurriedly turned and bowed respectfully.
"Master."
"Mm."
The newcor was none other than his master, Wang Fu’an, an expert at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishnt!
This Tier Two Spirit Chef, renowned throughout the Immortal City, already had white hair and an aged appearance, carrying the air of his twilight years.
He had a kind expression and a gentle smile on his face as he looked at Xu Fugui with satisfaction.
"Fugui, it is good that you aspire to Foundation Establishnt. Master will help you."
"Thank you, Master!"
Xu Fugui was overjoyed.
Until now, his master had never paid much attention to his disciples’ prospects for Foundation Establishnt.
He had simply taught them his craft, provided a stable environnt for their cultivation, and then let them develop on their own.
That was why his eldest martial sister, Tang Suran, had to risk venturing into a Secret Realm to fight others for a Foundation Establishnt Spiritual Object.
Xu Fugui had assud his own path to Foundation Establishnt would be just as arduous.
But today, his master, Wang Fu’an, had actually offered to help him!
Having operated in the Immortal City for many years, the old man was well-connected and possessed quite a few treasures. It wouldn’t be difficult for him to gather the items required for Foundation Establishnt!
As this thought crossed his mind, Xu Fugui suddenly grew worried about his own aptitude.
"Master, I... I only have a Low Grade Spirit Root, after all. I’m afraid I’ll fail and just waste the treasures."
"Nonsense!"
Wang Fu’an smiled kindly and patted his shoulder.
"If you don’t succeed the first ti, we’ll just try a few more tis!"
...
「At the foot of Yellow Crane Mountain.」
In another courtyard, Huang Feng stared up at the vortex of Spiritual Power, his heart in turmoil.
’No one from our Yellow Crane Mountain Lineage is attempting Foundation Establishnt. The scions of the Great Noble Families usually do it on their own clan lands. This person is most likely a Loose Cultivator.’
He felt a pang of jealousy.
As a disciple of the Yellow Crane Mountain Lineage, he himself had not yet achieved Foundation Establishnt.
’What right do these Loose Cultivators have?’
...
Ti flowed by, and before he knew it, dusk had fallen.
Li Chang’an had been standing in the courtyard for a long ti, silently keeping track of the ti.
’It should be soon.’
The mont the thought crossed his mind, the Spiritual Power vortex in the sky suddenly stilled. It didn’t collapse, but instead began to disperse slowly and steadily.
This was a sign that Zheng Qingqing had passed the Magic Power Barrier!
’Just one last gate to go.’
The Divine Barrier, which tested whether one’s Spiritual Power was sufficiently formidable.
Zheng Qingqing was a Pill Master.
She had been capable of refining High-quality Top Grade Elixirs for many years now.
Therefore, her Spiritual Power was bound to be stronger than that of other Cultivators at her level, so there would almost certainly be no issue.
’She should be able to make it!’ Li Chang’an thought to himself.
Sure enough, about half an hour later, the gate to the cave mansion opened, and the aura of the Foundation Establishnt Stage emanated from within.
"She succeeded!"
Li Chang’an slowly let out a breath of relief.
From this day forward, he had a friend in the Foundation Establishnt Stage.
Just then, a hearty laugh rang out.
"I am Murong Kang of Yellow Crane Mountain. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your successful Foundation Establishnt!"
At the sa ti, several other voices called out from the surroundings.
"Zhou Sheng of the Zhou Family. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on attaining the Dao!"
"Mo Wenyuan of the Mo Family. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist, on your successful Foundation Establishnt!"
"..."
The birth of every new Foundation Establishnt Cultivator of the Righteous Dao was a joyous occasion.
For other Foundation Establishnt Cultivators, it ant one more peer on the path, and discussing the Dao with them might prove beneficial.
For the many Qi Refining Cultivators, the more Foundation Establishnt Cultivators there were on the Righteous Dao, the more stable their own cultivation environnt would beco.
A mont later, Zheng Qingqing erged from the cave mansion and stood in the crimson twilight.
She wore a red dress, her features as lovely as a painting. With a slight smile on her vermilion lips, she thanked the crowd.
"My thanks to all of you, Fellow Daoists!"
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