A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 The Deal?

“Disciple Han Li greets Sect Leader.”

Upon seeing Sect Leader Zhong, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Han Li bowed respectfully.

Sect Leader Zhong and the others then began to use their hidden techniques to scrutinize Han Li.

Seeing that Han Li only possessed the low-level cultivation of the fourth level of Qi Refining, everyone showed surprise.

“Young friend Han, where is your Ascension Token?”

Sect Leader Zhong asked first.

“Here.”

Han Li deftly took out the specially made token issued by Yellow Maple Valley two or three hundred years ago from his robes.

Holding the Ascension Token in his hand with his magic power, Sect Leader Zhong examined it and immediately nodded:

“It is indeed our Yellow Maple Valley’s Ascension Token.”

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so Foundation Establishment cultivators present all cast surprised and suspicious glances in his direction.

Although they already knew that a rogue cultivator had come to pay homage with an Ascension Token, the very fact that it involved the ownership of a Foundation Establishment Pill still made them all tempted.

Cultivation levels for immortals range from low to high: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Deity Transformation…

Foundation Establishment Pills, as the name suggests, are related to foundation establishment. They are used to help cultivators at the peak of Qi Refining establish their foundation. Except for geniuses with rare Heavenly Spiritual Roots, few cultivators with other spiritual root physiques can establish their foundation without the help of Foundation Establishment Pills.

Therefore, Foundation Establishment Pills, despite their relatively low grade, are often among the most valuable resources of large sects and forces.

Their market price is even much higher than that of higher-grade Foundation Establishment pills.

In recent years, the number of Foundation Establishment Pills distributed by Huangfeng Valley has been decreasing. Even though they are distributed twice every ten years, only about a hundred pills are given out each time. The ownership of this single Foundation Establishment Pill may seem insignificant, but those hundred or so pills are divided among Nascent Soul families like the Linghu family, the Chen family, the Lei family, and the Feng family, as well as nearly a hundred Foundation Establishment families. Often, some Foundation Establishment families struggle to obtain even a single pill after several rounds of distribution.

Moreover, behind every hundred or so Foundation Establishment Pills often lies the eager anticipation of thousands upon thousands of Qi Refining cultivators in Huangfeng Valley.

It’s truly a case of too many wolves and too little meat.

Therefore, although the Ascension Token only involves the ownership of a single Foundation Establishment Pill, its impact extends far beyond just one or two individuals. Often, it means affecting several Foundation Establishment families.

Imagine, the profits that have been painstakingly distributed are suddenly claimed by an outsider with no foundation—would the family whose cake has been touched be happy?

Furthermore, the difference between a rising star in a family attempting Foundation Establishment a few years earlier and one a few years later is vast.

Therefore, few present were willing to let a priceless Foundation Establishment Pill be easily snatched away by Han Li, this “outsider.”

Meanwhile, the venerable Sect Leader Zhong, looking up again, smiled even more broadly:

“Young friend Han, to enter my sect, one must have their spiritual root tested. Do you know what your spiritual root is?”

Upon hearing this, Han Li’s heart tightened immediately:

Here it comes!

“Damn it!”

“If you asked me somewhere else, at a different time, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you. But asking me now is clearly an attempt to put me on the spot.”

“Heh, this seemingly kind Sect Leader Zhong is probably a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Han Li thought to himself.

Of course, it wasn’t that these people would do anything to him if he confessed the quality of his spiritual root. However, his cultivation level was already quite low, and if the quality of his spiritual root was also low, his plan to smoothly obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill through the Ascension Token would likely fall through, and he would probably face many setbacks afterward.

Han Li’s thoughts raced through his mind, but it didn’t affect his truthful reply:

“This disciple’s spiritual root is a pseudo-spiritual root of the four elements: wood, water, fire, and earth.”

These words intensified the contempt on the faces of many Foundation Establishment cultivators present. Some Foundation Establishment cultivators’ eyes flickered, and they began to have other plans. Others looked at Han Li a few more times, and after scrutinizing him for a moment, they shook their heads and sighed, a hint of regret flashing between their brows.

“Just a four-element pseudo-spiritual root? Do you have any special physique?” Sect Leader Zhong frowned slightly.

“This disciple indeed only has four spiritual roots, and no special physique has been discovered so far.”

If he had a special physique to back him up, why would his cultivation speed be so snail-paced?

“Nephew Han, do you know the function of the Ascension Token?”

Although Sect Leader Zhong’s smile remained unchanged, and his attitude was still kind, even improving his form of address, the underlying feeling had subtly changed.

If before, this person was sincere and genuinely intended to befriend Han Li, now his smile was merely a professional facade, revealing a sense of distance. Han Li, with his keen senses, could discern something from the subtle change in his tone.

“This disciple naturally knows the function of the Ascension Token.” Han Li bowed again: “The person who carries this token can enter the Yellow Maple Valley and receive a Foundation Establishment Pill, enjoying the same treatment as the top ten winners of the Ascension Tournament…”

However, just as Han Li finished speaking, an old man in the hall suddenly spoke up:

“Han Li, I am not mistaken, you are only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, right?”

As the old man asked his question, a bright light shone in his eyes.

Han Li nodded, “Indeed.”

“Have you noticed that your magical cultivation is finding it difficult to improve any further?”

“This junior has already noticed.”

“Good that you’ve noticed. Then let me tell you, with your four pseudo-spiritual roots, if you don’t receive a large amount of cultivation resources later, and only rely on daily arduous training, your cultivation in this lifetime will at most reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, and at best, you might reach the seventh level by sheer luck.” The old man stroked his beard, his face full of certainty.

Han Li was also frustrated by this.

How could he not know these things? After all, these were the rules of the spiritual root system that he had originally set. In other words, the bullet he fired many years ago struck him squarely between the eyebrows when the book was completed many years later.

It made him feel suffocated for a time.

Seeing Han Li remain silent, the old man didn’t stop there, but continued, “Han Li, do you know what level of cultivation is required to take a Foundation Establishment Pill during the Qi Refining stage?”

“It’s said to be the seventh level of Qi Refining?”

“The seventh level of Qi Refining does offer a chance to try one’s luck, but there’s a risk of meridian tearing. It’s like a torrential downpour flooding a stream; the stream can’t withstand the sudden impact, and when the flood recedes, everything is unrecognizable.” The old man wasn’t exaggerating; the analogy was quite apt.

“To take a Foundation Establishment Pill without taking risks or damaging meridians, the best cultivation level is at least the ninth level of Qi Refining.”

“Furthermore, Foundation Establishment must be done before the age of sixty. After sixty, impurities accumulate significantly in the body, and a single Foundation Establishment Pill is simply not enough to cleanse the marrow and transform the body. The [Ascension Conference] set up by the seven sects of Yue Kingdom requires participants to be no older than 40, which is also due to this consideration.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Uncle-Master.”

Han Li clasped his hands in a respectful bow, intending to let the matter drop.

He knew he had reached his first hurdle in the mountain. If he could overcome it, he could find a way to exchange a Foundation Establishment Pill for a large amount of cultivation resources to improve his cultivation. If he couldn’t, his future path would be much more difficult. For example, whether he could even venture into the Blood Forbidden Land to obtain the precious herbs within was uncertain.

Therefore, he wanted to drop the topic and not put himself in a passive position surrounded by wolves.

But the old man wasn’t so easily dismissed:

“Han Li, don’t rush, I actually want to make a deal with you.”

“A deal?”

At this moment, not only Han Li tensed up, but many Foundation Establishment cultivators present also raised their eyebrows.

Some of them looked at the old man in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage with an angry and irritable expression.

The man’s lips moved slightly, as if he were talking to someone, but in fact, he was using a secret technique to transmit his voice.

A Foundation Establishment Pill involved many interests. But these people were all mid-level figures in the sect, Foundation Establishment cultivators who needed to maintain their dignity. How could they argue in front of a low-level Qi Refining cultivator at the fourth level?

Secret transmission was the most appropriate method.

“Junior Brother Xu, what do you mean by this?”

“Hmph, Senior Brother Xu, you’re pretending to want to make a deal with this unknown brat, but you really want the Foundation Establishment Pill represented by the Ascension Token, aren’t you?” “Junior

Brother Xu, two members of your clan already benefited from the last distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills. Do you want to take advantage again this time?”

“…”

A series of whispered messages swirled in his ears, keeping the old man’s face expressionless, though his eyelids twitched violently.

But for the sake of his clan, for the junior he favored, he didn’t mind being shameless, even prepared to abandon all pretense of decency.

“Junior Nephew Han, your spiritual root quality is too poor. It’ll be a long time before you can use the Foundation Establishment Pill to reach the late Qi Refining stage. Furthermore, without other cultivation resources, your cultivation speed will only be as slow as a snail’s pace. At that time, you’ll be like a mountain of treasure, unable to use it. Therefore, I suggest you trade with me. I will use a large amount of Qi Refining stage cultivation resources, magic tools, talismans, spirit stones, etc., to buy your Foundation Establishment Pill…”

“Trade with Qi Refining stage cultivation resources?” Han Li’s eyes lit up.

This coincided with his initial idea.

“May I ask, Uncle-Master, what specific things can you offer?”

If it’s suitable and shows sincerity, he’ll trade.

If not, they’ll stick to the original plan.

In any case, he had already prepared a contingency plan for this trip.

(End of Chapter)