73: Middle stage of foundation building

Xu Sanyan circled the Fiend, carefully examining its cobbled-together body, noting that there were still seams at the limbs and neck where the Fusion was not yet complete, but this did not hinder its movements.

Xu Sanyan frowned in thought. After much deliberation, he murmured to himself, "I'll call you... Little Gourd."

Since it was formed from seven people, calling it Little Gourd made perfect sense.

With a thought, a light screen appeared in his eyes.

[Xu Sanyan]

[Age -- 19 / 315]

[Realm -- Foundation Establishment Stage (Initial Stage)]

[Cultivation Technique -- "The Supreme Truth and Serenity Scripture of Eliminating Illusion and Attaining Reality" (Intermediate Stage)]

[Techniques -- "Blood Demon Corpse Refining Method" (Beginner). "Life Coffin Technique" (Beginner)]

[Skills -- Perfect Stance (Perfection). Three Tigers Subduing Dragon Saber (Perfection). Horse Appraisal Technique (Perfection). Excavator Repair and Maintenance (Initial Stage)...]

[Qi -- 106]

With over a hundred points of Qi, Xu Sanyan pondered how to use them. First, he could raise his cultivation to the intermediate stage of Foundation Establishment, and the remainder would be used to enhance the Blood Demon Corpse Refining Method.

Having made his decision, Xu Sanyan no longer hesitated. As the "Qi" on the panel dissipated, all the pores on his body opened wide, and countless Spiritual Qi surged in like bees returning to their hive.

Xu Sanyan had never felt the Spiritual Qi between heaven and earth so abundant. He couldn't help but accelerate his refinement, his Meridians swelled, his Qi Sea was instantly filled with Spiritual Qi, then expanded again, filled again, cycle after cycle...

After an unknown period, the Spiritual Qi stopped flowing in. Xu Sanyan finally let out a long breath. The biggest change from the initial to the intermediate stage of Foundation Establishment was that his Qi Sea had expanded many times, and the magical power within his body was more abundant.

He opened the panel and glanced at it. Out of one hundred and six points of "Qi", only twenty-one remained. This Breakthrough had cost a full eighty-five points!

"The gap between the Heavenly Human Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm is indeed significant," Xu Sanyan murmured to himself, seeing it clearly from this alone.

The remaining twenty-one points of "Qi" were only enough to enhance the Life Coffin Technique. It was not quite enough to enhance the Blood Demon Corpse Refining Method, but it should be close.

Xu Sanyan decided to accumulate more, to use for enhancing the latter, as the Blood Demon was more powerful than the Fiend.

Now that everything was ready, it was time to prepare to depart for the sect.

Before leaving, Xu Sanyan, adhering to the "a fly's leg is still meat" philosophy of thoroughly looting, once again scoured Taian City for precious medicines.

However, due to his exhaustive approach, which led to the demise of the Ginseng Society and a severe loss of ginseng gatherers, he only collected less than twenty precious medicines.

After consuming them, his "Qi" reached thirty-six points, which was enough to enhance the Blood Demon Corpse Refining Method.

After some thought, he still didn't rush to make the Breakthrough.

The next morning, Big Yellow Tooth, the Chieftain's Wife, Bai Qingyu, and others came out of the city to see him off. Xu Sanyan departed today, returning to Xiang City.

"Fourth Master, take care," Big Yellow Tooth's ugly Face was scrunched up, showing clear reluctance to part.

Xu Sanyan pushed him away, then hugged the Chieftain's Wife and Bai Qingyu behind him, "If there's a suitable family, marry them. Don't worry about me."

Xu Sanyan estimated that he would likely never return here in this lifetime. The fate between them was exhausted, and there was no need to selfishly occupy the position any longer.

"Fourth Master..." The Chieftain's Wife's lips moved, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Seeing this, Xu Sanyan reached out and waved to a young man in the distance, "Come here. Consider it for your mother's Face."

He had noticed this person long ago. With Xu Sanyan's cultivation, he could hear a needle drop within a hundred feet around him.

This young man was Wu Peng, the son of the Chieftain's Wife and Wu Jue.

He was Innate weak and had difficulty moving, similar to Bai Qingyu's condition, but more severe.

Joy appeared in the Chieftain's Wife's eyes, and she suddenly threw herself into Xu Sanyan's arms, sobbing, "Thank you, Fourth Master."

Xu Sanyan patted her backside, "Consider it not in vain for you to have served me for so long."

The young man walked over timidly, his steps dragging. These few steps were very difficult for him, and he knew that this was an opportunity his mother had sacrificed herself for.

Xu Sanyan placed his finger on the young man's wrist, and his magical power entered the young man's body.

"Mm..." A warm current surged into his body, and the young man instinctively let out a soft hum.

Xu Sanyan frowned, disgusted, "If you make that dying sound again, I'll break your leg."

The young man hastily shut his mouth.

A moment later, most of his illness was removed, but because this person lacked Innate Qi, he would probably not achieve much in the future, but at least he had a chance to leave behind an heir for the Wu Family.

"Let's go."

Xu Sanyan waved his hand, and the two people and two horses walked towards Xiang City. The Fiend was completely wrapped in a black robe, its bloodless Face hidden behind a mask, adding a touch of mystery.

Bai Qingyu stood in place, her expression lingering as she licked her lips.

...

Seven days later, in the evening, two figures, covered in dust from their journey, arrived outside Xiang City.

"Finally here..."

Xu Sanyan looked at the towering city walls, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

The reason for returning to Xiang City was for two things: first, to find a way to eliminate the Cui Family to prevent future trouble.

Second, he wanted to ask the cultivators behind Prince Rui what the Immortal Realm of the Central Plains was like, so he could be fully prepared.

The horses' hooves crossed the city gate, and Xu Sanyan walked towards his home. Along the way, he heard discussions among the common people by the roadside and only then learned that the imperial city had fallen, and Prince Rui would ascend the throne soon.

Xu Sanyan stopped and asked a street vendor, "Excuse me, elder brother, has the war up ahead ended?"

The vendor looked at Xu Sanyan and nodded lightly, "That's right. The current emperor feels that his virtue is lacking and he wrongly trusted treacherous officials, leading to the suffering of the people, so he is preparing to abdicate to Prince Rui."

Xu Sanyan secretly shook his head. What a load of nonsense about abdication. It was probably a forced abdication with a knife to his throat.

At least Prince Rui found an excuse, which made his actions seem a little less unsightly.

While pondering, he had already arrived outside his home. Butler Zhao rushed out upon hearing the news, his old Face filled with anxiety, "Oh, my lord, where have you been? The Prince summoned you to the capital, and it's been delayed for many days."

"Summon me?"

Xu Sanyan frowned. Why would Prince Rui summon him after ascending the throne?

"Yes, the imperial decree arrived ten days ago, and we couldn't find any trace of you. Please quickly get ready and go to meet the Prince."

Butler Zhao stepped forward to take the horse's reins, then inadvertently glanced at Little Gourd following behind him, secretly surprised. This person even wears a mask, perhaps he's too ugly to be seen?

"Alright, where's the Princess Consort?" Xu Sanyan nodded.

Butler Zhao led the horse, following step by step, "The Princess Consort left a few days ago. With the Prince about to ascend the throne, the Princess Consort naturally has to be present."

Xu Sanyan pouted. The Princess Consort was just a pretty Face, her only prominent feature being those two lumps of flesh.

"Tell the kitchen to prepare food. We'll depart tomorrow," Xu Sanyan instructed.

"Yes," Butler Zhao went to make arrangements.

Xu Sanyan changed his clothes, and the meal was quickly brought. After eating his fill, he took a short nap.

It wasn't until the sky was completely dark that Xu Sanyan opened his eyes.

Beside him, Little Gourd, wrapped in a black robe, pushed open the door and disappeared into the night.