Daily Divination From Market Rogue Cultivator To Immortal Venerable - Chapter 181

Chapter 181 Qingqing’s Love, Chang’an’s Foundation Building (Two chapters in one, please subscribe)

“Junior Brother Cao?”

Li Chang’an heard these words,

confirming his previous thoughts.

This unfamiliar Qingyun Sect foundation-building cultivator attacked Zheng Qingqing precisely because of Cao Shaolong!

Li Chang’an didn’t attack immediately, but observed for a moment.

“This woman’s aura is even stronger than Zheng Qingqing’s at her peak. Coupled with the Five Elements’ conflict, it’s no wonder Zheng Qingqing is no match.”

Zheng Qingqing’s fighting skills were formidable, but she was ultimately from a foundation-building family.

The woman in the blue skirt, hailing from a major sect like the Qingyun Sect, possessed formidable skills, spells, and spiritual weapons, and her attacks were quite powerful.

Without outside intervention, this battle would have quickly ended with Zheng Qingqing’s demise.

Within a few breaths,

a crack appeared on Zheng Qingqing’s Fire Lotus spiritual weapon.

“Crack!”

The crack gradually widened, spreading in all directions.

The petals dancing around her gradually dimmed, losing their previous luster.

“Zheng Qingqing, die!”

the woman in the blue dress shouted, her voice terrifying, her attacks growing increasingly ruthless.

Then, with a resounding bang ,

a dull petal suddenly shattered.

Zheng Qingqing groaned, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of her mouth, her face growing paler.

She had sustained repeated injuries in today’s battle and had exhausted

every possible means, yet she had still not been able to escape the pursuit.

Now,

she was at the end of her rope.

“Boom!”

Another petal exploded .

Zheng Qingqing, her breath weak, struggled to hold on.

A sudden realization dawned on her: today might be her demise.

A life-or-death moment.

The past flashed through her mind.

She had been a prodigy since childhood, held high hopes by her family.

Everyone said she would succeed in building her foundation, becoming the next patriarch and ensuring the Zheng family’s continued glory for another two hundred years.

And she had lived up to those expectations, silently shouldering countless pressures and responsibilities, suppressing all fatigue, and making it this far.

The word “family” would be a lifelong burden for her.

But…

since when,

in her fleeting, illusory memories, a slowly walking figure had appeared.

That figure’s talent wasn’t exceptional, but it always amazed her. Unnoticed, it had wormed its way into her dull, busy world, leaving an indelible mark.

She even began to anticipate

what surprises would unfold the next time she saw him.

Alas,

there would be no next time.

“Boom!”

The Fire Lotus Spiritual Artifact shattered completely, transforming into a rain of flames that blazed down to the earth.

Zheng Qingqing’s body followed suit, falling like a withering red leaf.

In that moment,

she was dazed for a moment before finally recognizing the blurry figure in her memory.

“Li Chang’an…”

“It’s me!”

Li Chang’an caught her and slowly descended to the summit of a high mountain.

A gentle mountain breeze brought a touch of coolness,

bringing Zheng Qingqing to her senses.

Her lips parted slightly, her pale face filled with disbelief, her eyes fixed on Li Chang’an’s cheek.

At this moment, Li Chang’an possessed an elegant demeanor, gentle as jade, with a hint of toughness and ageless vicissitudes, like an ancient, evergreen tree weathered by time.

Simply feeling his presence brought an indescribable sense of peace.

She wanted to linger a moment longer,

but Li Chang’an had already set her down.

“Miss, are you alright?”

“I… must be alright.”

Zheng Qingqing’s eyes evaded, and she raised her hand to wipe the blood from the corner of her mouth.

“Then you should recuperate well.”

Li Chang’an had already examined her body.

The injury wasn’t as severe as he’d thought.

It was simply excessive exhaustion, nearly exhausting her energy.

If she didn’t recuperate properly, she’d likely suffer from residual effects that would hamper her future path.

Zheng Qingqing’s mind was in turmoil.

She looked back at Li Chang’an, her eyes complex.

“Li Chang’an, why are you here?”

“Just like you, hunting monsters in the mountains,”

Li Chang’an replied calmly.

At that moment,

the woman in the blue dress approached, her magical power surging and her murderous intent radiating.

“So it’s you, Li Changan!”

“Do you know me?”

Li Changan looked over calmly, his expression unchanged.

The woman in the blue skirt said coldly, “You are Junior Brother Cao’s inner demon, of course I recognize you!”

Li Changan asked again, “May I ask your name?”

“A dead man doesn’t need to know my name!”

The woman in the blue dress had a fierce expression and a sharp voice, unconcealing her murderous intent and disgust towards Li Changan.

In her eyes,

a mere Qi Refining cultivator was easily crushed!

“I was planning to kill Zheng Qingqing first, then you, but I didn’t expect you to come here seeking death. It’s just right to use your heads as a pair to celebrate Junior Brother Cao’s birthday!”

“Isn’t it unlucky to use human heads to celebrate a birthday?”

Li Changan asked calmly.

Under the overwhelming pressure of the Foundation Establishment cultivator, his expression remained unchanged.

This look

infuriated the woman in the blue dress even more.

She wanted to see Li Changan’s panicked plea for mercy, record it on the photo stone, and give it to Cao Shaolong to resolve Cao Shaolong’s inner demons.

However, Li Changan, a Qi Refining ant, showed no fear.

This made him even more worthy of death!

“Li Chang’an, you will surely die today!”

“What a coincidence! That’s what I wanted to say to you, sir.”

Li Chang’an smiled calmly.

Behind him,

a trace of worry crossed Zheng Qingqing’s pale face.

“Li Chang’an, are you able to do this?”

“Of course, young lady, just focus on healing.”

With that, Li Chang’an took out the Qingyuan Bell.

With a thought, the Qingyuan Bell spun in his hand, instantly expanding countless times, transforming into a large transparent bell that protected Zheng Qingqing.

Zheng Qingqing was momentarily surprised.

The quality of this Qingyuan Bell was even higher than the Fire Lotus she had previously used!

How had Li Chang’an, a Qi Refining cultivator, obtained this?

However,

she was even more surprised by what was to come.

Li Chang’an slapped his storage bag, and instantly a beam of spiritual light flew out, transforming into a puppet of astonishing strength, charging fiercely at the woman in the blue dress.

“Second-level puppet!”

The woman in the blue dress’s face suddenly changed, and she retreated rapidly.

The puppet’s speed exploded, reaching him in a flash, unflinchingly delivering a punch.

Boom!

The woman in the blue dress paled, sent flying backward.

Only then did she realize something was amiss.

She tried to summon her mana to block the second-level puppet’s attack, but it felt as if the mana within her body had solidified, making it difficult to mobilize. She had no time to resist.

“Oh no! I’m poisoned!”

the woman in the blue dress shuddered, frantically pulling out various detoxifying pills from her storage bag.

But it was too late!

Li Chang’an had only been willing to talk to her briefly to buy time.

Now,

the myriad poisons released by the Myriad Poison Gu had already penetrated her meridians and internal organs.

In a matter of moments, she would perish from the poison.

“Li Chang’an!”

the woman in the blue dress screamed, her voice less shrill and more hoarse.

She stared at Li Chang’an intently, as if eager to tear him apart.

“You are a poison cultivator from the lineage of the Five Poisons Wanderer!”

“Your Excellency has misunderstood. I am merely an ordinary cultivator, not even familiar with the Five Poisons Wanderer lineage.”

“You…”

The woman in the blue dress was seething with rage, her face twisted with murderous intent and hatred.

She lunged at Li Changan, intent on taking him with her before the poison took full effect.

However,

before she could reach the summit, she was ensnared in a vast net.

The surrounding void seemed to become water, ripples suddenly forming, weaving into a vast net that bound her tightly.

A rippling net of clear water!

No matter how she struggled, she could not break free.

As time passed, the poison consumed her body, and she gradually lost the strength to struggle.

“Come!”

Li Changan casually beckoned her forward.

He asked calmly, “Sir, can you tell me your name now?”

“Li Chang’an, I am Miao Qianshui, the law enforcement elder of the Qingyun Sect. If you dare to kill me, the Qingyun Sect will never let you go!”

“So it’s Fellow Daoist Miao. Nice to meet you.”

Li Chang’an, expression unchanged, bowed.

He pondered for a moment.

“The Qingyun Sect is a Jindan power. Killing their law enforcement elder might bring me unnecessary trouble.”

“What, are you scared?”

Miao Qianshui sneered.

“If you are, then give it to me immediately…”

Boom!

Before she could finish her words,

Li Chang’an suddenly stepped down, crushing her head.

“Since I’ve offended you, I’ll offend you to death.”

With a casual gesture, he took her storage bag and treasures.

At the same time.

Da Huang, hidden underground, waved the Soul-Respecting Banner, collecting his soul.

Li Changan cast several talismans, burning his corpse to ash and erasing his own and Zheng Qingqing’s auras.

He turned and said to Zheng Qingqing,

“Miss, we can’t stay here for long. Let’s get out of here first.”

At this moment, Zheng Qingqing’s heart was shaken, unable to calm down, as if a huge wave had been set off. A Qi-refining cultivator

killing a Foundation-building cultivator!

Such a feat is rare

in the world of immortal cultivation. Only a handful of geniuses from major sects and aristocratic families can pull it off.

But Li Changan, a mere ordinary casual cultivator with neither background nor talent, had pulled it off!

And…

he had done it with such ease.

It was almost effortless, as if he had simply stepped on an ant!

Afterward,

there was no trace of joy on his face, as if this wasn’t his first time doing such a thing.

Zheng Qingqing stared at him in disbelief, her lips slightly parted.

“Li Chang’an, you…”

“Let’s talk later. Now, let’s get out of

here!” Li Chang’an grabbed her arm and sped away.

He quickly reached the previous area where signs of fighting had occurred and wiped out Zheng Qingqing’s presence.

He repeated the same process,

erasing Zheng Qingqing’s presence from every other battle site.

After this ,

he slowly breathed a sigh of relief, but his mind remained focused.

“Miss, this matter must remain hidden. Tell no one. You and I cannot withstand the wrath of the Qingyun Sect.”

“I understand.”

Zheng Qingqing was still in shock.

Li Chang’an’s practiced demeanor suggested he was a frequent practitioner of this sort of thing.

How many cultivators had he slain before?

Zheng

Qingqing was filled with questions, but she had no time to ask them.

The two of them sped away, swiftly fleeing, not daring to rest for a moment. They traveled for a full day and night,

completely away from the site of Miao Qianshui’s death.

Only then

did Li Chang’an feel safe.

“Miss, let’s rest here for a while.”

He casually unleashed a few magical blasts, blasting a cave beneath the nearby cliff.

The two entered and rested briefly.

After a while,

Zheng Qingqing’s breathing had calmed down considerably.

Her eyes flickered, gentle, lingering on Li Changan for a long moment.

This was the first time she had observed Li Changan so intently.

Li Changan noticed and opened his eyes.

“Miss, why are you looking at me? Am I different from before?”

He was well aware that his temperament had changed significantly since practicing the Ancient Wood Health-Preserving Technique.

During the initial period of his change in technique, even the two spirit beasts seemed a little unfamiliar with him.

“No, I was just lost in thought about this matter…”

Zheng Qingqing quickly averted her gaze, a blush spreading across her pretty face.

She immediately changed the subject to their monster hunt.

In fact,

with her strength,

even if she was no match for Miao Qianshui, she could still escape.

However, before Miao Qianshui attacked, she had already been injured, the wound inflicted by a Level 2 water-based monster.

“That’s a Water Cloud Turtle. The power contained within its demon core is very gentle, perfect for alchemy.”

Zheng Qingqing expressed some regret.

She hadn’t been able to kill the Water Cloud Turtle, but instead had been seriously injured in the battle. While recovering from her injuries, she was attacked by Miao Qianshui.

“Chang’an, once I’ve recovered, you can use your puppets and poison skills to cooperate with me. Perhaps we can kill the Water Cloud Turtle.”

“No need.”

Li Chang’an thought, and a pristine white demon core immediately appeared in his hand.

Seeing this demon core,

Zheng Qingqing’s eyes froze.

Her heart, which had barely calmed down, was once again stirred.

She could clearly sense the presence of the Black Moon Cat Demon on this demon core!

“Chang’an, you… you killed that Black Moon Cat Demon?”

she asked in disbelief, taking a deep breath.

Li Chang’an smiled in response.

“No, I asked a senior to help me kill it.”

“Chang’an…”

“Hmm?”

“The senior you’re talking about, are you yourself?”

“Miss, you’re overthinking it. How could I possibly have that ability?”

Li Chang’an shook his head repeatedly, denying it outright.

Hearing this, Zheng Qingqing pursed her lips and asked no more questions.

She reached out and took the demon core.

She carefully sensed it.

A moment later.

She said softly, “This demon core is indeed very suitable for alchemy. If the other ingredients are also of good quality, I have a fifty-fifty chance of refining a top-notch Foundation Establishment Pill!”

“Fifty percent?”

Li Chang’an pondered.

He knew Zheng Qingqing was a man of few words, rarely giving exact numbers.

Since she said fifty percent, the true probability was likely over seventy!

With this thought,

Li Chang’an immediately pulled out a large quantity of the main and auxiliary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pills from his storage bag.

While he hadn’t deliberately collected these ingredients recently, the enemy’s storage bags often contained them, so he had gathered the necessary ingredients for five Foundation Establishment Pills!

“Miss, you choose!”

“Chang’an, you…”

Zheng Qingqing’s beautiful eyes flashed with shock again at the sight of this vast pile of ingredients.

She paused for a moment, then couldn’t help but ask, “Chang’an, did you rob the Yellow Crane Immortal City’s treasury?”

“No, it was just a chance encounter.”

“A chance encounter…”

Zheng Qingqing didn’t know what to say, so she simply let it go.

She slowly calmed down, drawing on her alchemy skills, and began to carefully select the ingredients.

About a quarter of an hour later,

she selected the highest quality material from these materials.

The probability of refining a high-quality foundation-building pill with these high-quality materials is much higher.

“Chang’an, after I go back, I will help you refine the foundation-building pill immediately.”

“No hurry, Miss, you should heal your wound first!”

Li Chang’an did not want any accidents to happen.

Zheng Qingqing’s injuries were not serious. With the help of some elixirs and elixirs, she would recover soon.

He could afford to wait for this little time.

After all, they had been through so many years.

Zheng Qingqing smiled softly: “Okay, Chang’an, then it’s as you say, but… you saved my life this time, and I don’t know how to repay you.”

Li Chang’an didn’t think much and replied directly.

“Miss, with your intelligence, you should know what I want.”

“You…”

Zheng Qingqing’s beautiful eyes were like water, and she looked at Li Chang’an for a moment.

After a while,

she sighed slightly, and a jade slip of inheritance appeared in her hand.

“Take it! This is a second-level, mid-grade alchemy inheritance.”

“Thank you, young lady!”

Li Chang’an smiled and took it without hesitation.

He had long coveted this alchemy inheritance.

As early as his time in Qinghe Market, he had sought to obtain the Zheng family’s alchemy inheritance, but at that time, his strength was too weak to possess such an inheritance.

Now,

it was finally within his grasp!

Li Chang’an held the jade slip in hand, penetrating it with his spiritual sense, carefully perusing it.

It was indeed an alchemy inheritance!

His alchemy skills had long since reached the peak of the first level. With this inheritance, he would soon be able to reach the second level and become a second-level alchemist.

However, all this would have to wait until he had established his foundation.

Within this inheritance,

he quickly came across the section on foundation-building pills.

“So, there’s not just one recipe for foundation-building pills, but over a dozen. Both the main and auxiliary ingredients can be replaced with other spiritual herbs with similar medicinal properties…”

Li Chang’an was somewhat surprised. This was truly an eye-opener.

The recipe circulating outside was only the most widely known one, requiring the most readily available ingredients.

Furthermore.

Although the Foundation Establishment Pill was only a second-grade, mid-grade elixir, its refinement was comparable in difficulty to a second-grade, top-grade one.

Because of its immense importance, the alchemist would endure immense psychological pressure while refining it, making it twice as difficult.

Li Changan was fascinated, but he quickly withdrew his consciousness.

The Black Dragon Mountains were fraught with danger and not a suitable place to study alchemy. He

then

began to count the spoils of the battle.

As a Foundation Establishment Master from a major sect, Miao Qianshui

‘s worth was naturally considerable. His storage bag contained over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones!

There were also numerous other treasures, though they were primarily water-based.

Li Changan couldn’t use them himself

and could only give them to the Black Water Turtle.

Soon, a thought struck him, and he drew forth a water-blue longsword.

It was this longsword that shattered Zheng Qingqing’s Fire Lotus Spiritual Artifact.

“Second-grade, mid-grade spiritual artifact, the Black Water Sword!”

Li Changan gently swung the sword, and ripples of light flowed across its surface, a faint murmur of waves audible.

In the dark, the Black Water Turtle immediately expressed joy and eagerness.

It was obvious

he greatly admired this sword.

Li Changan smiled and sheathed the sword, intending to give it to the Black Water Turtle upon his return.

A moment later, another spiritual weapon appeared in his hand.

“Second-rank, low-grade spiritual weapon, the Bibo Skirt.”

This was the aquamarine dress Miao Qianshui wore, a defensive spiritual weapon.

Though seemingly soft, its defensive effectiveness was even greater than Li Changan’s original Five Elements Spirit Armor.

This time,

the Black Water Turtle didn’t show any emotion.

Li Chang’an whispered, “Xiao Hei, don’t you want this treasure?”

“…”

The Black Water Turtle remained silent.

Li Chang’an thought for a moment. The Black Water Turtle’s shell provided more than enough defense; it truly didn’t need another defensive spiritual artifact.

Da Huang, on the other hand, was

more than capable of attacking, but lacked defense.

However, the Bibo Skirt, a water-based treasure, wasn’t suitable for him.

Feeling a little regretful, Li Chang’an put the Bibo Skirt away, planning to sell it on the black market someday.

A moment later,

his eyes lit up, and he pulled out a crystal-like gem.

“Foundation-building spiritual artifact, the Seven-Colored Glazed Tear!”

This gem was translucent, containing a drop of a rainbow-colored precious liquid. It looked shimmering and dreamy, and could increase the success rate of foundation-building by half a percentage.

It could be used in conjunction with other foundation-building spiritual artifacts,

and the effects were cumulative!

This was precisely why Li Chang’an was so excited.

This Seven-Colored Glazed Tear, combined with the Water and Fire Flower he already possessed, was enough to increase the success rate of foundation-building to 30%!

“This is truly a pleasant surprise.”

Li Changan smiled and carefully put it away.

He calmed himself down and continued to count the remaining items.

In addition to the various treasures,

the storage bag also contained a large number of skills and spells. Unfortunately, most of them were water-attributed and were useless to Li Changan.

However,

Li Changan found a lot of foundation-building experience nearby.

These experiences, almost all of which came from the elders of the Qingyun Sect, were of great benefit to him.

“Before I go back to build my foundation, I will read all these foundation-building experiences first.”

He put these foundation-building experiences in a separate storage bag.

About an hour and a half later,

the inventory was complete.

Li Chang’an selected some treasures he found suspicious, then, with a flash of his body, used his escape technique to descend deep underground, discarding them there.

After this,

he returned to the surface and hurriedly departed with Zheng Qingqing.

…

For the next few days,

the two of them sped along, encountering few dangers along the way.

That evening,

they finally left the Black Dragon Mountains, and the pervasive demonic aura suddenly vanished.

Li Chang’an felt a sense of relief, a sense of lightness rising to his feet.

Soon,

they passed by the black market.

Li Chang’an asked Zheng Qingqing to wait outside for a moment.

He altered his aura and appearance, entered the market, and found Luo Baitong.

“Fellow Daoist Luo, could you please help me post a message?”

“What message?”

“Ancient and Evergreen Trees.”

“Ancient and Evergreen Trees? Just those four words?”

Luo Baitong was a little surprised. What kind of message was this?

Could it be that these four words held some special meaning, attracting a specific person?

Li Changan didn’t explain much, simply saying, “Fellow Daoist Luo, if anyone contacts you through this message, please tell them to leave their contact information. If this is handled well, I will reward you handsomely!”

As he spoke, Li Changan took out a treasure.

According to the old rules,

a portion of the reward would be paid in advance.

Luo Baitong’s eyes lit up instantly. This portion of the reward alone was far greater than the entire reward for any previous mission!

“Don’t worry, Fellow Daoist Li, I will do my best to handle this!”

He accepted the treasure and solemnly promised,

even swearing an oath on the spot with his Dao heart!

Seeing this,

Li Changan felt relieved.

He was about to leave

when Luo Baitong suddenly said, “Fellow Daoist Li, are you aware of the recent incident at Kurumu Cliff?”

Li Changan paused.

“What is it?”

Although he had joined Kurumu Cliff, he rarely interacted with the robbery cultivators there, remaining a solitary presence.

To him,

this identity was merely a tool to be exploited.

Luo Baitong secretly transmitted a message: “Something’s happened to the master of the Deadwood Cliff. His second-level spiritual plant seems to be out of control and almost devoured him.”

“A spiritual plant rebelled?”

Li Changan was surprised.

Logically, as long as the spiritual contract was signed, the possibility of rebellion was very small.

Luo Baitong continued, “I heard that the strange spiritual plant originally didn’t want to follow the master of the Deadwood Cliff, but it was very weak at the time and was forcibly subdued by the master of the Deadwood Cliff.”

“Forcibly subdued?”

Li Changan’s mind stirred.

It suddenly occurred to him.

In the secret realm, the cultivator on the white bone ship had warned him that spiritual roots of heaven and earth cannot be forced to surrender; they must be influenced by one’s own faith.

Could it be that the strange spiritual plant in the master of the Deadwood Cliff’s hands was actually a spiritual root of heaven and earth?

He immediately asked, “What’s the situation now? What happened to the spiritual plant and the master of the Deadwood Cliff?”

“I don’t know,”

Luo Baitong shook his head.

“Rumor has it that the master of Deadwood Cliff has entered the Black Dragon Mountains, seeking a way to completely suppress that spiritual plant. Some have seen him, finding him emaciated and like a skeleton, looking quite frightening.”

“Fellow Daoist Luo, please help me find out more about this.”

“Okay!”

Luo Baitong didn’t ask for payment, after all, he was also curious about the matter.

In fact,

many cultivators in the black market wanted to know

what that spiritual plant that could rival those of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was.

“By the way, Fellow Daoist Li, it seems that Yan Yuan, the master of the Blood Beast Valley, has gone exploring the secret realm again. He hasn’t been seen in over a month. You can breathe a sigh of relief.”

“Okay, I understand.”

Li Changan smiled, but didn’t reveal the truth.

Next,

he sought out Hu Yu, the old cultivator who had brought him to Deadwood Cliff, and inquired about the master’s situation.

Hu Yu’s information was similar to Luo Baitong’s.

The master of Deadwood Cliff had indeed entered the Black Dragon Mountains,

but he didn’t know where exactly.

…

After a while,

Li Changan left the black market.

He regained his original aura and appearance, and returned to Yellow Crane Immortal City with Zheng Qingqing.

They parted at Zheng Qingqing’s residence.

Before leaving, Zheng Qingqing made a solemn promise.

“Chang’an, give me three days. After three days, I will be fully recovered.”

“Okay!”

Li Chang’an said calmly, telling her not to worry.

Regarding the foundation-building matter.

The more anxious you are, the more likely you are to make mistakes.

He returned to the house and set up the formation again.

After that,

Li Changan stopped practicing and did not go out to visit friends. He declined all visits and hung up a sign to mark his retreat.

He put aside all the trivial matters and silently read the various foundation-building experiences he had obtained from Miao Qianshui’s storage bag.

Three days passed quickly.

Early that morning,

Zheng Qingqing came to visit, and her injuries had completely recovered.

“Changan, I will start refining the elixir today. Do you want to watch?”

“That’s what I mean!”

Watching the seniors refining the elixir is of great help to one’s own alchemy skills.

Li Changan naturally would not miss this opportunity.

The reason why Zheng Qingqing invited him to observe was to reassure him that she would not embezzle his high-quality elixirs.

Not long after,

the two arrived at Zheng Qingqing’s house.

Her house had a dedicated alchemy room.

An ancient and majestic fiery red alchemy furnace was placed in the center of the entire alchemy room.

“Chang’an, watch carefully!”

Zheng Qingqing said solemnly as she approached the alchemy furnace.

With a wave of her jade hand, a large amount of Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients flew out of her storage bag, hovering beside the furnace.

Then,

a blazing alchemy fire ignited.

When the time was right, Zheng Qingqing immediately manipulated the second-level demon core and slowly placed it in the very center of the furnace.

Before long,

under Li Chang’an’s watchful eye,

the second-level demon core began to slowly melt, transforming into a fist-sized ball of translucent white liquid.

During this process, a faint grayish-white mist rose, representing impurities within the demon core.

A moment later,

Blood Dragon Vine, one of the three main ingredients, was dropped into the furnace.

In a flash, it was refined into a thumb-sized ball of blood-red liquid.

Under Zheng Qingqing’s control, the two liquids slowly approached each other, merging into a single, pale red liquid.

Next, Purple Jade Ginseng, another main ingredient, was dropped into the furnace.

Repeating the previous process,

the liquid took on a new purple hue.

“Zheng Qingqing’s refining technique is consistent with the records in the tradition. She seems relaxed, so nothing unexpected should happen.”

Li Chang’an watched intently, pondering from time to time.

After refining the three main ingredients,

Zheng Qingqing began refining the numerous auxiliary ingredients, transforming them into drops of medicinal liquid that merged with each other.

Finally,

a dark brown liquid appeared in the furnace.

With a thought, she split it into three.

Each of the three portions of liquid continued to boil in the furnace, bubbles forming on the surface, gradually shrinking until they completely solidified, transforming into three round pills.

Instantly, a rich, fragrant aroma wafted into the air.

Li Chang’an’s face lit up with joy.

The pill was done!

Zheng Qingqing also smiled, slowly letting out a sigh of relief.

“Chang’an, I’ve accomplished your mission!”

She waved her hand, and

the three Foundation Establishment Pills flew out of the furnace, each landing in a small, translucent jade bottle.

Among them

was a fine Foundation Establishment Pill.

It can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by 25%!

The other two pills are also of excellent quality, even better than ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills.

“Chang’an, three chances, are you sure?”

“One is enough!”

Li Chang’an said with a smile.

The high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, combined with his Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items,

have increased the success rate by over 55%!

He already has a second-level physique, and his spiritual consciousness has long been established. He doesn’t need to worry about the “spirit” and “spirit” stages at all.

Under such circumstances,

he can’t imagine any possibility of failure.

“If I’m really unlucky and fail unexpectedly, I can keep trying. I still have plenty of Foundation Establishment Pills and second-level demon cores.”

Li Chang’an was reassured.

Even if he failed three times in a row, it wouldn’t matter.

Zheng Qingqing chuckled, “Chang’an, if you can succeed on your first try, can you sell me one of the remaining two Foundation Establishment Pills?”

“Of course!”

Li Chang’an immediately agreed.

He has no descendants, no disciples, and lives alone.

Xu Fugui and Chu Daniu, his two good brothers, each had their own opportunities ahead of them, so they didn’t need to buy the Foundation Establishment Pills he had.

The extra Foundation Establishment Pills were perfect for selling to Zheng Qingqing.

…

Not long after,

Li Changan returned to the house and began making final preparations.

Zheng Qingqing also arrived to protect him, ensuring that nothing unexpected happened before he could complete his foundation building.

In the evening,

Su Yuyan unexpectedly visited.

“Brother Li, are you home?”

Her voice was filled with joy, as if something good had happened.

Not long after she finished speaking, the courtyard door slowly opened.

Su Yuyan was startled.

The person behind the door was not Li Changan, but Zheng Qingqing.

Zheng Qingqing smiled and said, “Fellow Daoist Su, please come in.”

“Oh, okay.”

Su Yuyan looked puzzled and entered the courtyard.

Li Changan put down the foundation-building experience in his hand and looked up at her.

“Yuyan, is there anything I can do for you?”

“Brother Li, I have a way to obtain a low-grade foundation-building pill that can increase the success rate by about 15%. Do you need it?”

Su Yuyan explained her purpose.

Foundation-building pills are hard to find, and this low-grade foundation-building pill is already the best foundation-building item she can get for the time being.

Li Changan’s expression was gentle, and he said to her, “Yuyan, there’s no need to worry about my foundation-building. Fellow Daoist Zheng has already refined a genuine foundation-building pill for me.”

“This… this is great!”

Su Yuyan was stunned for a moment, and a look of joy quickly appeared on her pretty face.

She hurriedly asked, “Brother Li, when are you planning to attempt Foundation Building?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow? But your cultivation…”

Su Yuyan hadn’t finished her words when she suddenly sensed the aura of a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator emanating from Li Changan. This

wasn’t just a newcomer. He

‘d clearly been accumulating experience at this level for years!

Surprise flashed in her eyes, but even more so, joy.

“Brother Li, I knew you must have hidden some of your cultivation!”

“The path to immortality is treacherous, so I have to hide,”

Li Changan replied with a smile.

After a few words,

Su Yuyan also decided to stay here, protecting him and ensuring no one interfered with him.

…

The next day.

Dawn broke, the sun rose.

Li Changan had rented a second-grade, superior cave dwelling.

He walked inside, his expression normal, and glanced back.

Outside,

Zheng Qingqing and Su Yuyan smiled, but a hint of worry lingered in their eyes.

“Don’t worry, there’s nothing to worry about,”

Li Changan said with a casual wave of his hand.

The cave gate closed!

For safety’s sake.

As usual, he set up four major formations to protect himself.

He also released two spirit beasts.

“Little Black, Big Yellow, guard the gate and don’t let anyone in!”

The two spirit beasts nodded, each sitting at a corner of the gate, acting as guards.

Li Chang’an stepped into the depths of the cave.

The spiritual energy here was extremely rich, reaching the upper second level.

He sat cross-legged, silently adjusting his state.

Decades of ascetic cultivation

had led to this leap. At

that moment, memories of past and present lives suddenly flooded into his mind.

In those dreamlike memories, he saw the days of his arduous studies in a previous life, and the arduous search for immortality in this life…

Countless old friends and stories flashed through his mind.

Looking back,

everything seemed like a dream, a bubble, fading into illusion over the years.

“Huh…”

Li Chang’an took a deep breath and lit the bodhi incense.

The smoke curled upwards.

He forgot all his complicated thoughts, his heart as calm as water, only the determination to achieve the goal of building his foundation remained.

“Begin.”

Without hesitation, he swallowed all the foundation-building supplies he had prepared, including the foundation-building pills and spiritual objects!

This time, the foundation-building process would succeed!

With this conviction, he activated the foundation-building chapter of the Ancient Wood Health-Preserving Technique, charging forward with all his might towards the barrier!

Boom!

His entire body trembled.

Rich spiritual energy from heaven and earth poured down from his head, madly washing over his flesh.

This was the first stage of foundation-building: the physical stage!

Those with hidden illnesses, flaws in their flesh, or age and frailty, lacking in Qi and blood, simply couldn’t withstand this stage.

Many cultivators, in their early years, battled for cultivation resources, sustaining hidden injuries and ultimately failing at this stage.

Li Changan had also frequently battled in this life.

But he always planned before acting, attacking only when he was certain of victory. He

had almost never been injured.

His second-level physical refinement made him stand tall above countless Qi-refining cultivators.

At this moment,

he was like a towering ancient tree, unmoved by the onslaught of violent spiritual energy.

This stage presented no challenge to him.

Pass!

At this moment,

outside the cave, the situation changed dramatically.

Spiritual energy from all directions converged frantically, forming a vast vortex of spiritual energy exceeding a hundred feet in diameter.   Zheng Qingqing and Su Yuyan exchanged a look of delight upon

witnessing this scene.   ”The physical body has been tested.”   Next came the test of mana.   This test   required the cultivator’s mana to transform from gaseous to liquid.   The more accumulated mana before building the foundation, the easier it would be to pass.   The Ancient Wood Health-Preserving Technique that Li Changan practiced was a top-grade technique, vaguely approaching the earth-grade. The mana cultivated was of exceptional quality, possessing a foundation far exceeding that of ordinary casual Qi-refining cultivators.   Furthermore, he had never before consumed any tier-breaking elixirs, leaving his potential intact.   This test was a sure thing!   Whoosh!   Rich spiritual energy surged into his dantian.   Steady as a rock, Li Changan activated the foundation-building techniques within the technique, guiding the spiritual energy to continuously compress.   A hazy green mist gradually appeared within his dantian, growing thicker and thicker.   Time passed.   It was unknown how much time had passed.   The increasingly dense mist gradually condensed into a drop of cyan liquid mana, which fell above the dantian.   A tick!   This gentle sound announced the passing of the mana test!   Over the next few hours, drop after drop of liquid mana dripped, until fifteen drops totaled, forming a puddle within the dantian.   Outside the cave,   the vast vortex of spiritual energy paused, not suddenly disintegrating, but slowly dissipating.   This scene delighted Zheng Qingqing and Su Yuyan even more.   ”The mana test has been passed!”   Only one test remained!   The spiritual consciousness test!   It was also the most elusive.   There was no way to cultivate spiritual consciousness; it only increased with the cultivator’s strength.   Legend has it that methods existed in ancient times, but the major sects, despite exploring countless secret realms, had yet to find any secret techniques.   At this moment,   the strange state of this world had already attracted the attention of countless people.   Most of the cultivators in Yellow Crane Immortal City had put down their work and gazed in this direction.   ”Another person is building their foundation.”   ”It looks like they’ve already passed the first two stages and are now on to the final one.”   ”Success or failure, this is the end!”   Everyone had their own thoughts, most simply observing.   A few hoped Li Changan would succeed, strengthening their own faith in building foundations.   Some, jealous, secretly cursed him for failure, and even considered rushing over to disrupt his progress.   Of course ,   they were just thoughts.   This was Huanghe Immortal City. Interfering with foundation building would be an insult to the Huanghe Mountain lineage, and would surely result in annihilation!   On the hillside of Huanghe Mountain, in a house,   Sima Rui stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the slowly dissipating vortex of spiritual energy on the horizon.   ”This person’s mana level has passed very smoothly. He’s accumulated a lot before building his foundation, so I think the spiritual consciousness level shouldn’t be a problem.”   He commented slowly, his eyes calm.   ”It seems we’ll have another fellow cultivator building his foundation. I just don’t know if this fellow cultivator is a casual cultivator or a member of an aristocratic family.”   If he was a casual cultivator, he could certainly make friends. It would be   best if he could be recruited into the Huanghe Mountain lineage.   Not far away.   In another house,   Murong Kang also looked up at the vortex of spiritual energy.   ”It looks like he’s about to succeed. He must be a casual cultivator.”   He thought secretly, intending to make friends with him.   At the same time,   outside Pei Yingyao’s cave,   Ji Mengyun looked at the sky with envy.   ”Master, I feel that person should be able to succeed.”   ”Success? Failure? It’s all about outsiders. It has nothing to do with you. Practice well!”   Pei Yingyao’s cold voice sounded.   She had been sitting cross-legged in the depths of the cave, not paying any attention to this foundation-building.   Time passed quickly.   Unknowingly, it was dusk.   Inside the cave,   Li Changan opened his eyes and slowly stood up. A powerful aura emanated from him.   He smiled, feeling unprecedented strength.   ”Foundation-building, it’s done!”   After decades of cultivating immortals, he finally took the most critical step!   From then on,   he was no longer an unknown Qi-refining cultivator.   Foundation-building cultivation is enough to become a local ancestor in most regions!   At this moment.   Besides his strength, the biggest change Li Changan noticed was his lifespan.   ”The Foundation Establishment Ancestor has a lifespan of 240 years. If he finds some longevity-extending treasures, avoids fighting, and cultivates his character year-round, living past 250 shouldn’t be a problem.”   Li Changan possessed a plant called Dieffenbachia that could extend his lifespan by ten years.

This was what he had obtained in the secret cave.

He was only fifty-three this year, and barring any unforeseen events, he could still live for another two hundred years!

A lifespan exceedingly ample!

“As long as I continue to break through, I’ll eventually reach the legendary realm of immortality!”

Li Chang’an had already planned the path beyond Foundation Establishment.

After a moment’s contemplation,

he removed the formations within the cave and returned the two spirit beasts to their spirit beast bags. Then, with a powerful wave of his hand ,

a buzz!

The cave door shook and slowly opened.

His own foundation-building aura instantly emanated.

At this dusk, ablaze with rosy clouds, countless people sensed this aura.

They all knew that a new foundation-building figure had emerged!

At that moment,

a hearty laugh echoed through the city.

“I am Mo Wenyuan of the Mo Family. Congratulations on your successful foundation-building!”

Simultaneously, several more voices echoed from all around.

“Jin Ming of the Jin Family, congratulations on your success!”

“Murong Kang of Huanghe Mountain, congratulations on your foundation-building success…”

Before he could finish his words, Murong Kang was startled.

This aura.

Why does it seem so familiar?

(End of this chapter)