Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 253: Chapter 251: Disciple’s Foundation Establishment

Whether out of confidence in Bai Zichen’s strength or the fact that Cyan Bull Valley was indeed the easiest to deal with among all the Tier Three Spirit Lands the Qingfeng Sect had under observation.

After some negotiation, Wei Dao was persuaded to agree that Cyan Bull Valley should also be a pioneering target.

With the two Core Formation True Men in agreement, the matter was set in stone.

The specifics of implementation were minor details to be delegated to the Elders, who would convene and determine the best course of action.

Their role was simply to strike at the critical moment during the assault on Cyan Bull Valley, delivering the final, decisive blow.

Two years of preparation, another two years for a phased advance, and finally, conquering Cyan Bull Valley before the spring of the fifth year.

This was the general plan Gu Xisheng had devised within a quarter of an hour of receiving the order.

Cyan Bull Valley was too far from the Mountain Gate, which would pose a great test to the Qingfeng Sect’s supply lines.

Both men expressed their approval and waved Gu Xisheng away, instructing him to schedule everything according to this timeline and initiate the pioneering war.

After a bit of small talk, Bai Zichen left Wei Dao’s Cave Mansion. Instead of returning directly to Feiyue Lake, he made a trip to the Transmission Hall.

Using his Identity Token, he went straight into the underground palace and gained access to a portion of the Qingfeng Sect’s most secret tomes.

’An original handwritten copy of the Daoist Classic Cantongqi, complete with the founding patriarch’s personal annotations...’

’A map of the Five Domains drawn by some predecessor. The Northern Domain is the most detailed, followed by the Southern and Central Domains, while the Eastern and Western Domains only have a few key locations marked. It even has the approximate locations of Desolate Lands like the Bitter Cold and Desolate Land, the Qingqiu Death Sea, and the Ten Lands of Fengdu...’

’An explanation of our Daoist lineage... Nanhua Immortal Monarch passed the tradition to Xu Xun the Celestial Immortal, who in turn passed it to Wuwozi. Wuwozi passed it to Pingyangzi, and Pingyangzi to Fuu Yangzi. The lineage was broken at some point, but was fortunately revived by True Monarch Shao Yang, leading to the re-establishment of the Pure Brightness Sect.’

Bai Zichen put down the scroll in his hand. According to what was written, the Qingfeng Sect’s lineage actually originated from the Pure Brightness Sect.

However, it didn’t explain why the founding patriarch would have taken such an enormous risk to cross the sea and come to this place.

In terms of heritage, the Qingfeng Sect’s history was long and storied, traceable all the way back to the Immortal Realm.

Of course, every sect, after rising to prominence, would do everything in its power to claim connections to Upper Realm Immortals, gilding their own heritage.

It was hard to say how much of it was actually credible.

Bai Zichen made a copy of the map of the Five Domains, thinking it might be useful for his own future travels across the world.

He could also add the places he had visited, making the map even more detailed and aiding the disciples of future generations.

’Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Meng Zhaode was able to escape the valley from the Kui Ox Demon King, albeit at the cost of self-destructing a Spiritual Artifact. Although he ultimately succumbed to his grievous injuries, it shows the Demon King’s strength is limited... It will be another four years before I have to make a move. I’ll use this time to focus on mastering the remaining techniques of the True Enlightenment Sword Technique.’

After returning to the White Jade Tower, Bai Zichen cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and began to cultivate the Seven Emotions Swordsmanship.

At times his face showed fury, at others, wild joy, as all sorts of extreme emotions appeared in succession.

This school of swordsmanship influenced an enemy’s mind, but to master it, one first had to invest their own emotions into it and truly experience the seven emotional transformations.

While he was absorbed in his swordsmanship cultivation, the decision he and Wei Dao had made was already causing a huge uproar throughout Black Mountain.

In his capacity as the Sect Leader of the Qingfeng Sect, Gu Xisheng once again issued a Pioneer Decree, addressed to all Black Mountain Cultivators.

In two years, at Cyan Bull Valley, the pioneering war would begin anew!

The ambitious were overjoyed, the timid wailed incessantly, some steeled their faces in preparation to earn their Foundation Establishment opportunity, and entire clans plotted through the night, checking how many Spirit Veins lay on the route from the Qingfeng Sect to Cyan Bull Valley.

In an instant, the prices of all war-related resources skyrocketed.

”A single strand of Dragon and Snake Gang Sha, two thousand Contribution Points...”

Before the sect mission board in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, several Qi Refining Disciples stood together, whispering about the mission at the very top.

”Junior Brother Songx, are you thinking of taking this mission?”

After years of tempering himself in battle against Demon Beasts, Tong Huan’s face was tanned and his frame was sturdy, giving him a much more composed air.

When he had become his master’s disciple, only a few people had been present. Since it hadn’t been deliberately publicized, very few in the Sect knew that this highly inconspicuous ”Black-Faced Young Master” among the True Disciples, Tong Huan, was the sole Inner Chamber Disciple of the new Core Formation True Man.

”That’s right. Two thousand Contribution Points is worth the gamble... If I delay for a few more years, I still won’t have saved up enough for a Foundation Establishment Pill by the time the pioneering war starts, and I might actually die on the battlefield. I heard that the last campaign to pioneer Feiyue Lake had the lowest casualties of all, yet even then, several Foundation Establishment Elders perished, and the number of Qi Refining Disciples who died was countless.”

In terms of appearance, Songx Lian, also a True Disciple, was far more striking than Tong Huan, with a face like polished jade and eyes like bright stars.

In recent years, due to the sharp increase in the number of Qi Refining Disciples, the demand for Foundation Establishment Pills and Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects had risen to another level.

The Foundation Establishment Pill remained priced at ten thousand Contribution Points, but as more disciples became able to afford a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, its price had already risen to one thousand five hundred points per portion.

Although Dragon and Snake Gang Sha was rare, for a Qi Refining Disciple, it was just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. A price of two thousand Contribution Points was already a steep premium.

”I know a place that most likely has Dragon and Snake Gang Sha... Senior Brother Tong, would you like to go with me? Aside from the Dragon and Snake Gang Sha, we can split any other spoils evenly.”

Songx Lian took the initiative to invite him. He was the second-generation child of a Loose Cultivator who had migrated to Black Mountain from another county. He had no local connections and was even subtly ostracized.

He had no close friends among the other True Disciples, but he had become familiar with Tong Huan over the years, as they had both been hunting Demon Beasts in the same area.

Having fought side-by-side for several years, he trusted Tong Huan’s strength and character, which was why he was willing to share this opportunity.

”Better not. I’ve already gathered enough Contribution Points for the Foundation Establishment Pill. I plan on attempting my breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm as soon as I get back...”

Tong Huan’s face flushed red, though it was fortunately unnoticeable thanks to his dark complexion.

He had the savings his grandfather, Elder Tong, had accumulated over a lifetime as a Spirit Farmer, plus a strand of Profound Frost Gang Sha gifted by his master, and the Pure Yang Gang Sha he received as a reward for becoming a True Disciple.

After selling them, his net worth had long surpassed ten thousand Contribution Points.

He had spent these past few years merely honing his Magical Power in battle, waiting for the optimal time to attempt his breakthrough.

”Then I’ll be the first to wish Senior Brother Tong a successful breakthrough. I hope that in a few years, we can still call each other senior and junior brother.”

Songx Lian’s expression dimmed, but he quickly adjusted his mindset and offered his congratulations.

”Make preserving your life the top priority. The pioneering war might not be as dangerous as you think... Besides, once the Tier Three Demon King is taken down, the Sect will immediately be able to begin refining Foundation Establishment Pills. There will be another round of opportunities then.”

Tong Huan couldn’t resist offering a few words of advice before taking his leave.

With a look of grim determination, Songx Lian accepted the Dragon and Snake Gang Sha mission. He exchanged a large batch of Demon Beast Materials at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, then went to the Alchemy Hall to buy a few Life-Saving Elixirs before flying deep into Black Mountain, braving the freshly falling snow and wind.

Tong Huan’s identity was no secret among the upper echelons at the Hall Master level, so he was able to smoothly exchange his points for a Foundation Establishment Pill before returning to Feiyue Lake, which he hadn’t seen in a long time.

’I leave for one trip, and my master becomes a Core Formation True Man. That’s just absurd...’

Tong Huan gazed in the direction of the White Jade Tower, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Sometimes, the gap between people was large enough to drive one to despair.

Even a so-called genius would seem as dull as a block of wood, their progress sluggish, when compared to his master.

During his travels, he would hear others praise and envy Master Bai, comparing him to Master Ge Cang. When they debated who was the most gifted cultivator in the history of Black Mountain County, the opinions were generally split fifty-fifty.

This was mainly because Bai Zichen had only recently advanced to the Core Formation Stage and had no record of fighting cultivators of the same realm. Thus, his impact on ordinary cultivators wasn’t as profound as that of Master Ge Cang, who had on multiple occasions fought and defeated several opponents at once.

Master Bai’s supporters, however, would point out that his cultivation speed was only accelerating, putting him on a path opposite to that of everyone else.

After all, in the end, a cultivator’s worth was ultimately determined by their Cultivation Realm.

Tong Huan took a walk around the White Jade Tower, the place where he had grown up. He then went down to the lake and played with a few of the water turtles for a while.

Feeling his restless and agitated mind gradually calm down, he finally returned to his room and consumed the Foundation Establishment Pill.

First was the trial of the physical body. Having consumed Spirit Rice constantly since childhood and also practiced Body Refining Techniques, Tong Huan’s physique was among the strongest of the twelve True Disciples.

The medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill circulated through his body, nourishing and strengthening it, pushing it to a new level.

Next was the trial of Magical Power. His foundation was already solid from long honing, and his master had used the Divine Capturing Treasure Mirror every so often to correct his mistakes.

He passed this trial smoothly as well, consuming almost none of the pill’s medicinal power.

Finally, for the trial of Divine Sense, the vast majority of the Foundation Establishment Pill’s remaining medicinal power rushed into his Sea of Consciousness.

Like a thunderclap on a clear day, it exploded in his mind, and a whole new world unfolded before him.

”Hm?”

In his Quiet Chamber, Bai Zichen’s eyes snapped open. He had sensed an unusual fluctuation in the Spiritual Qi.

’It’s that boy, Tong Huan... He didn’t rent a Tier Three Spirit Land, but is attempting his breakthrough in his own Tier Two Top-Grade pavilion instead.’

In truth, a Tier Two Spirit Land was perfectly sufficient for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

It was just the typical cultivator mentality, especially when breaking through a Great Realm, to stack every possible advantage in one’s favor.

Even the slightest increase in the probability of success was considered worthwhile.

The fact that Tong Huan could forgo a Tier Three Low-Grade Spiritual Land specifically meant for breakthroughs and instead return to a more comfortable and familiar environment showed that he was quite confident.

’Success! I finally have a Foundation Establishment Disciple under my tutelage. I suppose I haven’t failed Elder Tong’s request from all those years ago. I’ve successfully nurtured his grandson into a capable cultivator...’

As a Core Formation True Man, his sensitivity to the nature’s spiritual energy was far beyond that of ordinary people. Bai Zichen quickly sensed the whistling Spiritual Qi surging toward the pavilion.

This connection through the flow of qi actually caused his own disposition to change, imbuing him with a new kind of confidence.

’All this time, because breaking through realms has been so easy for me, I’ve always felt that I was incapable of properly teaching and guiding disciples. I felt I was missing that empathetic connection... Tong Huan’s successful breakthrough, however, has shown me that you don’t necessarily need to have had similar experiences to resolve your disciples’ questions.’

Having come to this realization, Bai Zichen felt even more certain about the bright path of the Great Dao before him. The Willow Leaf Sword resting in front of him flew into his hand, condensing a brilliant sword light.

After a year of secluded cultivation, he had achieved initial mastery in both the Seven Emotions Swordsmanship and the Heavenly Inquiry Swordsmanship, integrating them into his own Sword Dao.