Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 70: Can’t Wait! Preparing for Foundation Establishment!
Celestial Profound City.
Taking advantage of the night, Lin Chang’an used the Supreme Realm’s Breath Concealment Technique to disguise himself as a cultivator at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, and returned to the city without a hitch.
With his Breath Concealment Technique, unless a Foundation Establishment Cultivator intentionally used the Celestial Eye Technique, no one would discover him. Cultivators of the same tier, except those with special pupil techniques, could not see through his disguise.
Only after returning to his cave dwelling did Lin Chang’an finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Finally back."
The journey back was even more tiring than the two months lurking in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
After all, he carried not just a Demon Core, but also a superior Foundation Establishment Pill. If word got out, who knows how many cultivators would fix their eyes on him.
"All that’s missing for the main ingredient of the Foundation Establishment materials is a Celestial Spirit Fruit. Unlike the Demon Core, this kind of Spirit Fruit isn’t priceless and can be found within the city."
Lin Chang’an tallied the materials, then carefully placed the Demon Core and Foundation Establishment Pill together, and checked once more to ensure the Fire Bomb Talisman was affixed.
Ensuring that in a crisis, he could destroy the Foundation Establishment Pill and Demon Core at the first instance.
"Unexpectedly, the Spiritual Eye, which I hadn’t paid much attention to over the years, played a major role."
Lin Chang’an mused, remembering his good fortune in the past when he countered Tribulation Cultivator Zhou Qing and obtained a bottle of Spirit Liquid, thus gaining the Spiritual Eye.
Initially, he thought this ordinary Spiritual Eye was similar to the Celestial Eye Technique, so he hadn’t purchased Spirit Liquid over the years, nearly missing the opportunity.
"If this Spiritual Eye had been any less developed in cultivation, or its stone-penetrating ability any weaker, I fear this opportunity would have slipped by."
Reflecting on this, Lin Chang’an felt lucky, knowing he wasn’t short on Spirit Stones. He decided to continue cultivating the Spiritual Eye with Spirit Liquid in the future.
"Everything is ready, just waiting for the right moment!"
The materials missing for the Foundation Establishment Pill could all be bought within Celestial Profound City, so he wouldn’t need to venture outside and take risks.
"Strive to reach Qi Refining Great Perfection within two years, and then it’s Foundation Establishment!"
In the chamber, Lin Chang’an had a determined expression on his face.
[Life Span: 52/124]
[Realm: Qi Refining Ninth Layer (19/100)]
"Fifty-two years old, Qi Refining Ninth Layer!"
...
Time flew by, and Lin Chang’an returned to his laborious routine of painting talismans to exchange for Spirit Stones. Six months later, he acquired a Celestial Spirit Fruit at an auction.
Simultaneously, the explosive growth of loose cultivators joining Celestial Profound City gradually stabilized, and everything was getting back on track.
Within the Yue Kingdom, with the appearance of Master Lu the Profound Water Turtle in Celestial Profound City, Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion formed a temporary alliance centered on Celestial Profound City, and once again reached a stalemate with the Divine Sword Sect.
But privately, the three major sects never ceased their battles and skirmishes.
Tribulation Cultivators and Demon Cultivators remained rampant; unbeknownst to many, some were disguises of the three major sects. Nevertheless, none of this could diminish the prosperity of Celestial Profound City.
After all, with Master Lu the Profound Water Turtle’s Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation, plus a late-stage Tier Three Profound Water Turtle, alone was a force enough to influence the Yue Kingdom.
A legendary loose cultivator, demonstrating his power of command and deterrence.
...
Two years later.
In his cave, Lin Chang’an, with an overwhelming aura enveloping him, clearly seemed to be at Qi Refining Late-stage Great Perfection, yet at this moment, he solemnly examined his attributes.
[Realm: Qi Refining Ninth Layer (97/100)]
"Upon reaching 95 points, I already sensed cultivation Perfection. Is this the limitation of a cultivator’s Spirit Root?"
Lin Chang’an frowned, analyzing according to the Foundation Establishment Experience Jade Scroll given by Yun Yao, this situation was almost entirely due to the cultivator’s own limitations.
If he couldn’t clearly discern his own attributes, he would probably assume he had reached Perfection and begin preparing for Foundation Establishment, likely leading to failure of a Foundation Establishment attempt.
This is the main reason why Foundation Establishment is so difficult for Loose Cultivators.
Most Loose Cultivators have average Spirit Root aptitude, and the limitations of the Spirit Root make cultivators mistakenly believe they have achieved cultivation Perfection.
For example, Middle-grade Spirit Root achieves Perfection at 96, Top-grade Spirit Root at 97, Earth-grade Spirit Root at 98, and Celestial Spirit Root at 99 with no bottleneck.
"However, the final five points of experience are extraordinarily difficult to improve; if not for my Supreme Realm Chang Chun Skill, I likely wouldn’t have reached this point."
Upon reaching 95 experience points, he became aware of the difficulties posed by his Spirit Root; according to the Jade Scroll, transitioning from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment is a qualitative leap.
The increase in experience beyond 95 was preparing for this qualitative leap.
And the Foundation Establishment Pill is the catalyst for this.
One can reach Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Pill.
The ability to push these two extra points was thanks to his understanding of Chang Chun Skill, refining his own mana to be purer.
"Although with my Supreme Realm’s Chang Chun Skill, I could advance further through rigorous cultivation, my age and the ever-changing external circumstances don’t allow for waiting."
He was already 54; waiting further, his increasing age and declining life energy might not be good, as the younger one is at Foundation Establishment, the better the chances.
Lin Chang’an pondered, if he only had one Foundation Establishment Pill, he would naturally need to refine further, but to step into Foundation Establishment sooner would bring peace of mind.
After all, as long as the Foundation Establishment Pill and materials stayed in the Storage Bag, he couldn’t relax.
Only after converting them into strength would he feel secure.
He vividly remembered the precedents set by Wang Lin and He Yan.
One was a prodigy of the Wang Family, the other quite fortunate; both shown as geniuses of the Immortal Cultivation Realm, yet in the end they paved the way for others.
"Prepare for Foundation Establishment! If I’m lucky with one batch yielding three Foundation Establishment Pills, any fool can achieve Foundation Establishment."
Determined, Lin Chang’an decided to begin preparing for alchemy.
His confidence stemmed from his own abilities and the fact that his cultivation had already been honed to 97, significantly boosting his success rate.
...
Exiting the reclusive pavilion, the clear sound of the waterfall reverberated, and the Cyan-Horned Bull lay comfortably paddling in the pond, occasionally taking a bite of the lotus leaf and chewing.
Seeing this scene, Lin Chang’an chuckled and scolded:
"You silly creature, these are the Spirit Lotuses I’ve specially planted with Flower Spirit Stones, and you’re ruining them."
However, upon seeing Lin Chang’an come out of seclusion, the Cyan-Horned Bull excitedly ran out of the pond, wagging its short tail and splattering water.
Compared to before, the Cyan-Horned Bull had grown larger; after all, it was seven years old by now. In terms of the Cyan-Horned Bull Demon Beast’s age, it would reach adulthood in another three years.
Now it was already a Tier One late-stage Demon Beast, and as Lin Chang’an lovingly patted its head, he remarked: 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"No wonder ordinary cultivators can’t afford to raise Spirit Beasts; just over these seven years, who knows how many Spirit Stones it’s consumed."
The lifespan and growth rate of Spirit Beasts vary by species; for example, the Zhou Family’s Profound Water Turtle takes over a hundred years to reach adulthood, so although its consumption seems small, cumulatively it’s quite substantial.
The Cyan-Horned Bull, though having a shorter growth phase, visibly consumes ample resources.
All the Spirit Grass Zhou Qing gifted him previously was fed into this bull’s belly, and over the years, he has invested plenty of Spirit Stones.
"Is this a letter from Shen Lie?"
The Cyan-Horned Bull mooed, then bit a letter in the pavilion and handed it over.
Upon opening the letter, it was revealed to be left by Shen Lie two months ago. Seeing its contents, a smile gradually appeared on Lin Chang’an’s face.
"Unimaginable, the treatment that once belonged to Yun Yao has now come to me."
The letter indicated Shen Lie knew of his efforts to prepare for Foundation Establishment and offered their assistance, while humorously reminding him not to forget to protect them after achieving Foundation Establishment.
Under the setting sun, the shadows of the man and bull stretched long, with bursts of relaxed laughter resonating.
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