Immortal Refiner

A violent surge of spiritual pressure erupted from Stream Cloud Pavilion.

Boom!

In an instant, it drew the attention of countless disciples nearby.

”What’s that?! Someone’s attempting foundation establishment?!”

”Impossible! I haven’t heard of anyone obtaining a foundation establishment pill recently!”

”Hiss! Could someone be trying to force their way through without a pill?!”

Many qi refining disciples gasped, deeply shaken by the sheer audacity of such an attempt.

”Who would dare take such a reckless gamble?”

”That’s foolish! Trying to establish a foundation without a pill—unless you have a Heavenly Spirit Root, this is practically suicide!”

”Well, it’s not entirely hopeless. Back in ancient times, before foundation establishment pills were invented, people still managed to establish their foundations, didn’t they?”

Despite these words, within the vast Lingyun Sect, with its countless qi refining disciples, few would dare attempt foundation establishment without a pill.

After all, they had joined an immortal sect. Even if earning contribution points was slow, as long as they persevered, they would eventually have a good chance of obtaining a foundation establishment pill in their lifetime.

Rashly attempting foundation establishment was like pushing oneself to the edge of a cliff—success meant survival, failure meant certain death!

And the odds of failure were overwhelming; calling it a nine-deaths-to-one-chance situation wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

As more disciples gathered to watch, someone finally recognized the person attempting foundation establishment.

”This courtyard... it looks like Lu Fan’s!”

”So it’s him? No wonder. That reckless brute would do something like this.”

”He must have been driven to desperation to take such a gamble. I heard his situation in the Ice Prison wasn’t good.”

”What a pity. I clearly remember how full of vigor Lu Fan was at the ascension conference.”

”...”

Almost no one believed Lu Fan would succeed. They saw his attempt at foundation establishment as a doomed endeavor.

After all, Lu Fan’s usual demeanor was that of an impulsive, hot-headed brute who easily lost his temper.

It was only natural for such a rough-edged man, cornered and desperate, to force his way into foundation establishment.

Even with the aid of a foundation establishment pill, Lu Fan had failed to reach the foundation establishment realm before. Now, without the pill’s assistance, his chances were terrifyingly slim.

As time passed, news of Lu Fan’s forced foundation establishment attempt spread like wildfire, causing a major stir within the Lingyun Sect.

However, reactions to the news varied greatly.

Some admired Lu Fan’s daring, his willingness to burn his bridges and gamble everything.

Others were skeptical, deeming his actions reckless and impulsive.

Zheng Donghe was initially stunned by the news, but his face quickly twisted into a sneer.

”Heh, a cornered dog will bite. Trying to achieve foundation establishment without a foundation establishment pill? If it were that easy, wouldn’t everyone be in the foundation establishment realm by now?”

He imagined Lu Fan’s failure: the regret, the mana surging back and rupturing his meridians, his body exploding from the backlash.

Zheng Donghe felt no remorse, only malicious glee, eagerly anticipating that very outcome.

Meanwhile, inside the Ice Prison:

”Where’s that Lu Fan brat? It’s already this late, and he still hasn’t shown up at the Ice Prison?!”

”Does he think he can just avoid coming here and everything will be fine? How naive!”

News always traveled slowly within the Ice Prison.

Senior Brother Lin, the prison warden, smirked, unable to resist mocking, ”If that’s true, we’ll report this to the sect and have him thrown into the Ice Prison for a while.”

”Heh, I heard that kid’s a body refinement cultivator. Maybe we can use this opportunity to pry that body refinement technique out of him.”

”Once he’s in the Ice Prison, we’ll be the ones calling the shots.”

The disciples exchanged gleeful remarks, but their conversation was abruptly interrupted when a guard rushed into the prison.

”Major news! Lu Fan is attempting foundation establishment!”

Senior Brother Lin and the others froze, their faces etched with disbelief.

”How is that possible? Where did he get a foundation establishment pill?!”

”How could he have obtained a second foundation establishment pill in such a short time?”

”Junior Brother He, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake?”

”...”

Junior Brother He, who had brought the news, forced a wry smile. ”No mistake. Everyone outside is talking about it!”

”Though it seems Lu Fan isn’t using a foundation establishment pill. He’s attempting foundation establishment solely through his own efforts.”

Hearing this, Senior Brother Lin and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief.

”To attempt foundation establishment without a foundation establishment pill? He’s truly reckless.”

”He’s like a gambler who’s lost everything and is desperate for a win. There’s no rationality left in him.”

”I thought he’d obtained a second foundation establishment pill, but this is just foolish.”

”...”

Amidst the widespread ridicule and scorn, Lu Fan’s determination to achieve foundation establishment remained unwavering.

Everyone assumed he lacked a second foundation establishment pill, unaware that he had actually traded for one from Li Qing.

His actions weren’t a reckless gamble with his life, but a calculated move.

This time, he would succeed in foundation establishment!

Having failed once before, Lu Fan’s resolve burned with unshakeable conviction. He was certain he would succeed this time.

Boom!

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, a small-scale spiritual energy tide erupted from Lu Fan’s courtyard.

Clouds swirled and parted as the qi refining disciples who had gathered to observe stared in wide-eyed awe.

They clearly sensed a formidable aura rising steadily, growing increasingly intense and radiating a faint sense of oppressive power.

Each person wore an expression of disbelief, their eyes wide with shock, and some even began to breathe rapidly.

Was Lu Fan actually about to succeed in his foundation establishment attempt?!

”Impossible! How could he succeed without a foundation establishment pill?!”

”He hasn’t taken a foundation establishment pill, and he doesn’t have a Heavenly Spirit Root. He only has Three Spirit Roots!”

”Is this man trying to revive the glory of the ancient ascetic cultivators?”

”Hiss... Is he really going to succeed?!”

”This is a miracle on par with Elder Li Qing’s achievement—achieving foundation establishment without relying on a foundation establishment pill!”

”I don’t believe it! Lu Fan must have obtained a foundation establishment pill through some hidden channel. How else could he possibly succeed?!”

”...”

Amidst the clamor, Lu Fan’s aura suddenly surged again, finally stabilizing.

”ROAR!”

A primal, beast-like roar echoed through the heavens, reverberating across the entire Stream Cloud Pavilion region.

The roar carried exhilaration and triumphant spirit!

”Hahahaha! I’ve finally achieved foundation establishment!”

Bang!

Too impatient to consolidate his realm or stabilize his aura, Lu Fan kicked his courtyard gate flying open. Before the assembled disciples, he soared into the air, brazenly unleashing the overwhelming pressure unique to foundation establishment cultivators.

”Congratulations, Elder Lu Fan...”

The disciples’ words trailed off as they realized Lu Fan wasn’t here to flaunt his achievement. He didn’t even glance at them before swiftly departing on his magic artifact.

”Where is Elder Lu Fan going?”

”Why the rush? Is there some urgent matter?”

Soon, someone recognized the direction Lu Fan was heading.

”That’s the Ice Prison!”

”But Elder Lu Fan is already a foundation establishment elder. He doesn’t need to serve at the Ice Prison anymore.”

”Rumor has it he suffered great humiliation there. This could be a major incident.”

”Quick, follow him! This is going to be good!”

The disciples’ excitement erupted instantly. Forgetting everything else, they surged forward, eager to witness the spectacle at the Ice Prison.

This was beyond outrageous! Instead of consolidating his cultivation after foundation establishment or accepting congratulations, he was immediately seeking to settle old scores.

Such a dramatic showdown was too thrilling to miss!

Accustomed to the sect’s tranquil routines, they rarely witnessed such a spectacle. Naturally, they couldn’t bear to miss this opportunity.

Inside the Ice Prison, Senior Brother Lin and his group, who had been waiting for news of Lu Fan’s failed foundation establishment, maintained an air of smug complacency.

However, their expressions soon shifted as they sensed a formidable aura rapidly approaching.

”Greetings, Elder!”

”Elder.”

”What? Lu Fan?!”

Before they could finish speaking, Lu Fan strode into the bone-chilling Ice Prison and delivered a swift, resounding slap.

Slap!

”Disrespectful! How dare you address an elder by name?”

Slap! Slap! Slap!

Senior Brother Lin didn’t even have time to react before Lu Fan’s resounding slaps landed on his face.

Lu Fan was no ordinary disciple. His mastery of body arts had earned even Li Qing’s admiration, and he cultivated the Brahma King True Body. These slaps left Senior Brother Lin with a swollen, bruised face, his cheeks burning crimson.

”You! Lu Fan, you’ve gone too far!” Senior Brother Lin stood frozen, trembling with rage.

The Lu Fan he had always looked down on was now slapping him across the face. Just yesterday, Lu Fan had been a new disciple he could bully at will.

This sudden reversal of roles left him utterly stunned.

”Still defiant, seeking death!” Lu Fan roared, his hand arcing through the air for another strike.

Slap!

This time, several of Senior Brother Lin’s teeth flew out, blood splattering across the ground.

The other disciples froze in terror, not daring to move a muscle, lest they provoke this fearsome figure.

”Speak! Who ordered you to put me in the deepest part of the Ice Prison?!” Lu Fan glared fiercely at the remaining guards, his eyes burning with a hint of violence, as if he might continue slapping them at the slightest provocation.

Though impulsive and reckless, Lu Fan wasn’t foolish. He knew his revenge needed a legitimate pretext. He understood Zheng Donghe was behind everything, but he needed a justification and knew he must never implicate Li Qing.

That’s why he had come to the Ice Prison—to pry the truth from these men’s lips.

The remaining guards dared not conceal anything. They didn’t even dare meet Lu Fan’s gaze, terrified of being devoured alive by his terrifying glare.

”It was... it was Senior Brother Zheng! Senior Brother Zheng Donghe ordered us to do it!”

Lu Fan smirked, his divine sense expanding to detect a crowd of disciples flying toward them, drawn by the spectacle.

”Audacious! How dare you frame others and smear my most respected Senior Brother Zheng with your filth!”

”Look at this man’s true colors, everyone! He claims Senior Brother Zheng Donghe conspired with them to frame me!”

”Senior Brother Zheng Donghe and I have no grievances. Why would he do such a thing?!”

With that, Lu Fan seized the remaining disciples and began slapping them mercilessly.

Slap! Slap! Slap!

The crisp, resounding slaps echoed through the air.

”We’re not lying! We swear on our lives and our Dao! Senior Brother Zheng Donghe ordered us to do this!”

”If you don’t believe us, ask Senior Brother Lin when he wakes up, Elder Lu Fan! We wouldn’t dare lie to you!”

”Waaah! Elder Lu Fan, we were wrong! Please, master, show us mercy and forgive us!”

Only after hearing these pleas did Lu Fan finally stop, his face now satisfied.

Now he had a legitimate reason to confront Zheng Donghe. He feigned a sigh and said:

”Such a thing? How could Senior Brother Zheng Donghe do this to me? I still can’t believe it!”

”I must get to the bottom of this with Senior Brother Zheng Donghe. If this turns out to be false, you will face the full wrath of this elder!”

”Senior Brother Zheng Donghe... I refuse to believe he’s such a hypocritical scoundrel.”

With these words, Lu Fan soared into the sky once more, charging toward Zheng Donghe’s residence with a ferocious momentum. He looked less like someone seeking answers and more like a vengeful predator hunting his prey!

(End of the Chapter)

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