Chapter 101: Foundation Building’s Foundation
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
He finished the two cups of spiritual tea.
Shopkeeper Qu left the private room and went downstairs to keep himself busy. However, before he left, he said, “No matter who makes the decision in Qingyang City, it’s a small matter. To the True Treasure Pavilion, a special-class guest elder is the most important thing. Since Talisman Master Shen has the qualifications, you have to seize the opportunity.”
He walked on the bustling main street. There was an endless stream of cultivators. The shops on both sides were either imposing, elegant, or simple.
Shen Ping looked straight ahead, his thoughts fluctuating slightly. What did a special-class guest elder mean?
Up until now, he had only deduced from Shopkeeper Qu’s words that the status was extraordinary and he could enjoy more treatment and resources. Even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with a deep background like Shopkeeper Qu was eager.
He did not know the details. But just as Shopkeeper Qu had said, since he was qualified, he had to grasp it. In this cultivation world where danger lurked everywhere and the water was as deep as the sea, opportunities were precious. He thought of Cloud Mountain Parlour again.
If not for his identity as a guest elder of the True Treasure Pavilion, he would have experienced countless dangers. He could avoid it once, dodge it twice, but three times… there would always be a life and death calamity.
“Talisman Dao. Puppet. His thoughts sank as he lowered his eyes. These two techniques required years of accumulation and talent, especially puppets, talent was even more indispensable. However, if he tried to use the Dao of Talismans in the future, then the puppet technique would have to be temporarily concealed. At the very least, he could not expose his ability to make Level Two puppets.
While he was thinking, the Hidden Spirit House gradually came into view. Shen Ping suppressed his confusion and retracted his thoughts. He stepped in. After settling it at the counter, he sat in the private room and sent Mu Jin a message. He thought that he would have to wait for a while.
Unexpectedly, after ten minutes, a sound came from the door of the private room.
After opening it, a slender figure in a jade-patterned dress stood sideways. As the array formation in the private room was activated, Mu Jin’s eyes under the hair on her forehead were both shy and repressed.
Shen Ping shifted his gaze. The dress that did not have any creases propped up a half-circle that made one’s imagination run wild. The ribbon at the waist was decorated with embroidered patterns, and under the skirt was a straight date tree.
At this moment, there seemed to be breathing beside his ear. The curves in front of him also came alive, as if his heart was beating. Mu Jin smiled sweetly. “Talisman Master Shen, what were you watching when you followed me in the guest assessment that day?”
“To see if the material of the clothes is firm.” Shen Ping smiled.
“And? Do you see the results?”
As the two of them spoke, they arrived at the private room one after another. Spiritual light was already flickering on his body. This was a sign that he was about to use his Dao technique.
Shen Ping said in a deep voice, “It’s very sturdy. It looks like it’s made of peach skin. But I know that a real tailor needs to touch the depths of the fabric and stretch the flexibility back and forth. Coincidentally, I was a tailor before I stepped into cultivation.”
Mu Jin bit her lip, her eyes shining. Her voice was suddenly intermittent, accompanied by a slight tremble. “What else can you see from the material other than it being sturdy?”
Shen Ping stared at Mu Jin and shook his head gently. “I didn’t see it clearly.”
“Then Talisman Master Shen, you must take a good look at this material today. Docs it match your—” As soon as she finished speaking, the Dao technique instantly drowned the private room. After a few exchanges, Mu Jin’s voice was mixed with a hint of tears. “Talisman Master Shen, it’s difficult for me to advance to the late stage of Qi Refinement. Please impart your experience!”
••
It was almost evening.
Huiquan Alley, Cloud Fir Street.
Shen Ping’s white robe was clean and neat, and only his fingertips still had a fragrance. Thinking of Mu Jin’s last request, he couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.
Last time at the Hidden Spirit House, he knew that Mu Jin cultivated a relatively special water-element cultivation technique. This cultivation technique needed to preserve the female primordial yin as much as possible before building a foundation. Even if it was completely preserved, it would only increase the chances of building a foundation in the end.
If she lost her primordial yin before the late-stage of Qi Refinement, it might damage her foundation.
Mu Jin’s words were completely ambiguous. Although Shen Ping had taken the opportunity to transform into a flood dragon and Mu Jin wouldn’t say anything after that, he still didn’t impart his experience.
The more he tasted the spiritual tea, the more fragrant it became. He walked to the small courtyard. Shen Ping stopped for a moment. His fingertips flicked, and the fragrance faded until it disappeared. However, when he stepped into the courtyard, he sighed in his heart. “That material is indeed very sturdy!” Cloud Mountain Parlour.
The Acacia Faction’s flying ship landed with a bang.
The Qi Refinement disciples filed out. Among them, a delicate purple figure stepped on it with the sounds of bells and quickly arrived at the market. She walked to Yunhe Alley with familiarity and stood at the entrance of the small courtyard she had once lived in. She looked at the second house.
Chen Ying gritted her teeth. “This detestable middle-aged Talisman Master is so cunning. He must have escaped long ago.” She came to visit. As expected, an unfamiliar cultivator appeared in Room 2. A faint smile appeared on her lips, but she quickly snorted. “It’s good that he escaped. It saves me the trouble of not being able to find him to settle scores in the future.”
She walked briskly. Chen Ying left Yunhe Alley and stood in front of the True Treasure Pavilion. After hesitating, she stepped in and sized up the familiar yet unfamiliar environment. She walked around and finally received a response: Qingyang City.
“He actually ran so far! Damn it, just you wait!”
The sun and moon spun, the cold came and the heat went. The boring cultivation life passed day by day. In the blink of an eye, it was the Lantern Festival of the Wei Kingdom the next year.
And after this day, Shen Ping would welcome his 52nd year. In the quiet room of the spirit pool. He meditated and circulated his cultivation technique. The spiritual energy in his dantian was constantly increasing and compressing as he advanced towards the limit of his meridians. With the help of various resources, ever since he broke through to the ninth level of Qi Refinement, his spiritual energy had already reached 80%.
Another 20%, and he would step into the Perfected Qi Refinement Realm.
Most cultivators would make preparations for Foundation Establishment at this point. They would either seek Foundation Establishment Pills or purchase rare spiritual herbs that could assist in the success rate of Foundation Establishment. Those with connections could wait for the True Treasure Pavilion’s auction. Those without could only constantly take risks and seek opportunities.
It was already extremely lucky for individual cultivators to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. Even the disciples of the sect had to work hard for the support materials for Foundation Establishment. After paying a certain price, they had to seek the first threshold of longevity.
A moment later, Shen Ping’s aura calmed down. He opened his eyes and smiled faintly.
Foundation Establishment Pill.
He had already bought two with his status as a guest elder and his accumulation over the past few days. This was the limit of a third-grade guest elder. Although he estimated that the success rate was extremely high if he were to advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm without the help of the Foundation Establishment Pill, he had to be stable.
After his spiritual energy was perfected, if everything went smoothly, there was naturally no need for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Then, the two could be used as backup for Yu Yan in the future.
” Support Treasures for Foundation Establishment.”
Thinking of this, Shen Ping’s smile disappeared and turned into a long sigh. Every time such a rare treasure appeared in an auction, the competition was very intense. He had once bid for it but failed. He was unlucky to encounter a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who personally participated.
At that time, he understood why Shopkeeper Ding’s Foundation Establishment opportunity had been delayed.
Luck, strength, and opportunity. Not a single one could be missing. Shaking his head, he stood up and walked out of the quiet room. The sky was dim, and dark clouds covered the top of Qingyang City.
The cold wind in the small courtyard whistled, but it could not blow away the lights in the hall.
“Husband, you’re cultivating a little late. The food is ready. Today, I specially added your favorite delicacies.” As Wang Yun spoke, she opened the jade plate. Immediately, a fragrance filled the air.
Shen Ping flicked his sleeves and strode to the hall. He sat down and took a look. His eyes could not help but light up. “Isn’t this the jade cherries that Senior Fu from next door gave me a few days ago? You actually made them into delicacies. Your culinary skills are getting more and more exquisite. You have the demeanor of a chef. I’m in for a treat today.”
He couldn’t wait to taste it.
“Husband, how is it?”
His wife and concubines looked at Shen Ping with anticipation in their eyes.
Shen Ping closed his eyes and carefully savored the taste. He suddenly opened them. “This jade cherry is really delicious. Qjng’er, Ying’er, try it quickly!”
Bai Yuying was the first to taste it. Then, she could not help but praise, “Delicious, even more delicious than my husband.”
Luo Qing was speechless. Yu Yan ate it with a smile. “It’s indeed not bad. Husband, I didn’t expect that Senior Fu to have such a treasure.”
Shen Ping nodded and said, “This is the foundation of Foundation Establishment. Yun’er, Ying’er, I want to see your foundation tonight.”
His wife and concubines smiled at each other..