88: Building the foundation (Part 2)

"Brother Zhang, should we perhaps first end our cooperation with the Xiaoyao Sect's Utility Disciples?"

"We could just cooperate with the Utility Disciples from the original Chang Sheng Sect to show our stance..."

Luo Fei said with great concern.

"No need. Ending our cooperation with the original Xiaoyao Sect's Utility Disciples right now would actually be disadvantageous to us."

"The reason the Kang Family hasn't directly snatched our business is likely related to the Li Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

"We aren't competing with the Kang Family's Cultivators; it's just to make a statement."

"However, we cannot just keep conceding."

"If they dare to snatch the Utility Disciples we are cooperating with from the original Chang Sheng Sect, we must be firm."

After hearing Lin Ying finish explaining the detailed situation, Zhang Qingxiao had felt a bit worried, but after calming down, he quickly realized the crux of the matter.

"Brother Zhang, have you... with the Li Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator..."

Seeing Zhang Qingxiao so confident, Luo Fei suddenly thought of something and asked with some excitement.

"You don't need to ask about this matter."

"Just do as I say."

"For the next period of time, I will go into seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment."

"Unless there is something particularly important, do not disturb me."

Zhang Qingxiao had originally been considering whether to directly attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment, but encountering this situation, he had to try.

If he couldn't succeed in Foundation Establishment on the first try, he would first become Dao Companions with Li Wanqing, then confess about the business, share some profits with the Li Family, and seek the protection of the Li Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Brother Zhang, you are going to attempt Foundation Establishment?"

Luo Fei asked in pleasant surprise.

If Zhang Qingxiao could reach Foundation Establishment, what the hell would he have to worry about?

"Whether I can reach Foundation Establishment, I am not sure."

"Don't get your hopes up too high."

"Regardless of whether I succeed in Foundation Establishment, we must keep a low profile from now on."

"Alright, you all go back now."

Zhang Qingxiao believed he would definitely be able to reach Foundation Establishment; it was only a matter of time.

Even if he didn't succeed this time, with the attribute panel, once he truly reached the Perfection of the Qi Refinement Stage, he would be able to continuously comprehend the opportunity for Foundation Establishment.

After seeing Luo Fei and Lin Ying off, Zhang Qingxiao did not immediately go into seclusion to Cultivate.

Instead, he went to Li Wanqing's home and told her about his plan to go into seclusion for Foundation Establishment.

He also took the opportunity to have a meal at Li Wanqing's place.

In the afternoon, he went to see the Li Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator again to ask about some matters regarding the Kang Family.

The Li Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator was an old fox; as soon as he heard Zhang Qingxiao asking about the Kang Family, he knew that he might have provoked the Kang Family's Cultivators.

Since Zhang Qingxiao didn't say it explicitly, he didn't ask for details.

However, he did make his stance clear: as long as Zhang Qingxiao wasn't the one actively provoking them, he didn't need to worry.

Knowing that Zhang Qingxiao was preparing to go into seclusion for Foundation Establishment, he also gave detailed instructions once again on matters to pay attention to during Foundation Establishment.

After leaving the Li Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator's place, Zhang Qingxiao's heart felt at ease.

Even if he didn't succeed in Foundation Establishment this time, he didn't need to worry about his business being completely monopolized by the Kang Family.

After returning home, he gave some instructions to Liang Qiaoer and Zhou Yun, then returned to his cultivation room.

He sat cross-legged, took a Foundation Establishment Pill from his Storage Pouch, and swallowed it without hesitation.

As soon as the Foundation Establishment Pill was swallowed, Zhang Qingxiao felt a massive surge of medicinal power erupting within his body.

He immediately circulated his Cultivation Technique with all his might to begin refining it.

And just as he was refining the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill, the cultivation progress on his familiar attribute panel was also constantly increasing.

In less than two hours, it had already risen to 99/100.

And the medicinal power within his body had only been two-thirds refined.

Feeling that his Realm had reached Perfection.

With his internal Qi being extremely full, Zhang Qingxiao began to use the remaining medicinal power to continuously compress the Qi within his body.

However, when he had consumed all the medicinal power of this one Foundation Establishment Pill, the Qi in his body had only been compressed to one-third of its original amount.

And the further he went, the more difficult it became.

At this point, Zhang Qingxiao couldn't care about anything else; he took out two more Foundation Establishment Pills and consumed them.

The medicinal power erupted in his body again, and he felt as if his whole body was about to be burst apart by this powerful force.

At this time, he had no other choice but to bite the bullet and continuously circulate his Cultivation Technique to compress the Qi in his body.

Fortunately, his Barbaric Body Refining Art had reached the Grandmaster Level, making his internal organs and Meridians much stronger than those of ordinary Lianqi 9th Layer Cultivators.

Otherwise, he would never have been able to withstand taking three Foundation Establishment Pills in a row.

Under such powerful medicinal force, the Qi within Zhang Qingxiao's body was quickly compressed to the extreme and began to transform into a liquid state.

He didn't know how long had passed, but when all the Qi in his body had transformed into a liquid state, his whole body suddenly shuddered.

His whole being became clearer, and a wisp of Divine Sense was born within his Sea of Consciousness.

With the birth of this wisp of Divine Sense, his body also underwent changes.

The Impurities within his body were continuously expelled, forming a layer of black substance outside his body.

"Breakthrough!"

"Hahaha!"

"I, too, am now a Foundation Establishment Cultivator."

After his body stopped changing, Zhang Qingxiao felt incredibly refreshed, opened his eyes suddenly, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Having come to this world of Immortals and Demons for over four years, nearly five years, he had finally broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage and become a true Cultivator.

Only now did he understand why one could only be called a true Cultivator after reaching Foundation Establishment.

He opened his attribute panel and took a look.

His lifespan had increased to 240 years, which was a full 40 years more than a normal Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Zhang Qingxiao knew this was likely related to his Body Refining and his cultivation of the Longevity Skill.

Besides the change in lifespan, his Realm was also displayed as Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, he did not yet have a Cultivation Technique for the Foundation Establishment Stage, so the attribute panel did not show which layer of Foundation Establishment he was at, nor did it show any cultivation progress.

Circulating the ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage was also very unsmooth.

"It seems I need to learn a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique as soon as possible."

"It's a pity that my ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage is only a little over 300 points away from reaching the Perfection Level; I wonder if it will affect the Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique."

When he saw that the proficiency of the Longevity Skill was still at the Grandmaster Level, he thought with some regret.

Although his Realm had broken through to Foundation Establishment, it had not yet stabilized, so Zhang Qingxiao could only continue to use the ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage to continue Cultivating and stabilize his Realm.

It took nearly seven days to stabilize his Realm.

And the progress of the Longevity Skill had also increased by over two hundred.

"Cultivating the ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage at the Foundation Establishment Stage actually increases progress so quickly..."

"Since that's the case, I'll wait until I Cultivate the ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage to the Perfection Level before coming out of seclusion."

After Zhang Qingxiao's Realm stabilized, he glanced at his attribute panel and saw that the ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage was less than 100 points of progress away from reaching the Perfection Level, so he was not in a hurry to leave seclusion.

Two days later, the proficiency of the ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage reached the Perfection Level, giving him an instantly different feeling.

PS: I've reached Foundation Establishment, so I'm posting the attribute panel again. It wasn't in the main text, so readers who don't want to see the attribute panel data can skip it directly.

【 Name: Zhang Qingxiao 】

【 Identity: Xiaoyao Sect Outer Sect Disciple 】

【 Aptitude: Ordinary 】

【 Lifespan: 36 / 240 years 】

【 Realm: Foundation Establishment Stage 】

【 Cultivation Technique: ChangSheng Skill for Qi Refining Stage, Proficiency: Perfection; Barbaric Body Refining Art, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 658 / 1600 】

【 Skills: Alchemy: Pi Gu Pill, Proficiency: Great Master: 468 / 800; Yellow Dragon Pill, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 83 / 1600; Golden Marrow Pill, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 365 / 1600; Detoxification Pill, Proficiency: Great Master: 438 / 800; Qi Condensation Pill, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 165 / 1600; Talisman Making: Dust Removal Talisman, Proficiency: Great Master: 1 / 800; Spirit Arrow Talisman, Proficiency: Great Master: 1 / 800; Fireball Talisman, Proficiency: Great Master: 1 / 800; Light Body Talisman, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 5 / 1600; Message Talisman, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 102 / 1600; Sound Transmission Talisman, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 83 / 1600; Body Protection Talisman, Proficiency: Master: 308 / 400; Golden Light Talisman, Proficiency: Master: 99 / 400; Spells: Fireball Technique, Proficiency: Great Grandmaster: 2950 / 3200; Dust Removal Spell, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 195 / 16800; Spirit Detection Technique, Proficiency: Great Grandmaster: 2273 / 3200; Spirit Arrow Technique, Proficiency: Perfection; Ice Technique, Proficiency: Great Grandmaster: 638 / 3200; Swordplay: Chong Ling Swordplay, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 1586 / 1600; Elementary Sword Control Technique, Proficiency: Grandmaster: 1521 / 1600; Elementary Sword Flight Technique, Proficiency: Great Master: 773 / 800 】