Chapter 33: Chapter 33: The Three Treasures of Foundation Establishment !
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
“I’m 57 this year, three years away from the age limit of 60. Although I’m aware that the possibility of succeeding in Foundation Establishment is slim, this is indeed my only chance in life. I can’t help but take a shot,” Chen Xinglan said regretfully at the dinner table.
In the Immortal Schools, every cultivator who reaches the ninth level of Qi Cultivation before turning 60 would generally take a shot at Foundation Establishment.
“Dad, I wish to see you become a True Cultivator through Foundation Establishment.”
Within the Immortal Schools, one is considered to have truly stepped onto the Path of Immortal Cultivation and is termed a “True Cultivator” only after achieving Foundation Establishment.
“It’s a pity that your breakthrough to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation came too late. Perhaps if it had come a few years earlier, you might have had the opportunity to prepare more,” Tang Panchui said with a disappointed look.
A cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation can begin exerting energy to attempt Foundation Establishment. However, those who have reached Perfection at this level generally have a higher success rate for the breakthrough.
“It’s okay. I know my chances of success are less than 10%, but I must attempt it. After my breakthrough yesterday, I have already informed my employer about my resignation. Over the next three years, I will isolate myself at the Red Dawn Institution, using up my single chance at Foundation Establishment,” said Chen Xinglan optimistically. Chen Mobai and Tang Panchui only exchanged glances and nodded their heads. After all, this was Chen Xinglan’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Foundation Establishment, and they had to fully support him.
“You graduated almost thirty years ago. I’m not even sure if the Red Dawn Institution still considers you a student!” Tang Panchui said, full of hesitation and concern.
Within Immortal Schools, whether it’s the four top Daoist Academies, the ten academies, or 120 lesser institutions below, they primarily offer every student who had been officially admitted one opportunity to undertake Foundation Establishment.
This opportunity includes, apart from a Rank-3 lower-grade Spiritual Vein Cave Dwelling, a supply of medicinal pills to increase the chances of successful Foundation Establishment.
Although formation of the Foundation Building Pill is prohibited within the Immortal Schools, they have developed a complete set of prescriptions that can substitute it.
These include the Vein Protection Pill, Spirit Ascension Powder, and Solidifying Qi Liquid!
Among these, the “Vein Protection Pill” can save a cultivator’s life when Foundation Establishment fails.
The “Spirit Ascension Powder,” when taken, temporarily enhances a cultivator’s Divine Sense and makes it easier to control the burgeoning Spiritual Power.
The “Solidifying Qi Liquid,” on the other hand, promotes the liquification of a cultivator’s spiritual power. When all the Spiritual Power in the Dantian is entirely liquified, it signifies the success of Foundation Establishment.
This complete set of medicinal pills, known as the “Treasures of Foundation Establishment,” is periodically released in the official flagship store of the Immortal Schools. Customers can purchase it for free using points.
On the other hand, while they are available for purchase with Good Deed Points on the online pharmacy of the Imperial Medical Academy and other Jumang Daoist Academies, each one is priced at approximately 800,000 Good Deed Points. Despite such expensive prices, demand still exceeds supply, and you need to compete fiercely for it.
After each successful formation of the “Treasures of Foundation Establishment,” all the Daoist Academies, big and small, claim their shares first. Only the leftover stock makes its way to the market.
Once the Daoist Academies have claimed their share, they naturally distribute it among their students.
Although Chen Xinglan graduated thirty years ago, as he hadn’t reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, his Foundation Establishment opportunity was always reserved at the academy and went unused.
If he fails to break through in his lifetime, the opportunity will automatically become void. The Daoist Academies do not allow descendants to inherit these opportunities.
After all, resources for Immortal Cultivation are scarce.
Therefore, Chen Xinglan must attempt Foundation Establishment, upholding the principle of not wasting the opportunity.
“Which of the Treasures of Foundation Establishment will you choose, dad?” Chen Mobai asked. The Red Dawn Institution offers only one product from the Treasures of Foundation Establishment, but cultivators can choose according to their preference.
“Choose the Vein Protection Pill.”
Tang Panchui was the first to speak, and this was also the choice made by 99% of the people.
Given Chen Xinglan’s situation, the probability of successful Foundation Establishment was really quite low. Consequently, they would certainly choose the life-saving “Vein Protection Pill” first.
“Okay, okay, I’ll go with your choice.”
This was also Chen Xinglan’s idea since he didn’t have much confidence in himself.
“We have nearly 300,000 Good Deed Points in our family account. We can apply for a Foundation Establishment Loan of 500,000 from the bank. Then, you can buy the ‘Solidifying Qi Liquid’ from the academy. With that, you can at least make it to the stage of Foundation Establishment,” Tang Panchui suggested. As a student at a Daoist Academy, this was the advantage. During your first attempt at Foundation Establishment, if you have sufficient Good Deed Points, you are allowed to buy the remaining two components of the Treasures of Foundation Establishment.
Of course, this opportunity is only available for your first attempt.
If you fail in Foundation Establishment and want to try again, the Daoist Academy won’t assist, and you’ll need to scramble for it on the market by yourself.
Chen Xinglan shook his head in response. Although the husband and wife had been diligent and thrifty all their life to save Good Deed Points, with the intention of using them at Foundation Establishment, Tang Panchui had been stuck at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation for over thirty years and had given up hope. Chen Xinglan had managed to reach the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, but his chances of successful Foundation Establishment were extremely slim. He didn’t want to waste their savings.
“Don’t bother. We should reserve this money for our son’s Foundation Establishment in the future. He’s at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, so he can certainly enroll in an academy. We can work hard for another dozen years, gather 800,000 Good Deed Points, add the bank loan, and give him a full set of the Treasures of Foundation Establishment. Who knows, after a hundred years, our Chen family might witness the emergence of a True Cultivator again,” Chen Xinglan suggested. These words moved Chen Mobai, causing tears to well up in his eyes. However, he immediately stood up and shook his head.
“Dad, you need it the most. I’m going to join a Daoist Academy. They’ll distribute the Treasures of Foundation Establishment; you don’t need to worry,” he said.
The welfare of the students from the four top Daoist Academies—the most prestigious and oldest schools of Immortal Cultivation—is indeed the best. They distribute a complete set of the Treasures of Foundation Establishment.
The ten academies distribute two types of the Treasures of Foundation Establishment.
The 120 other institutions, such as the local Danzhu and Chixia Institutions, only provide one type.
Thus, every student sets the four Daoist Academies as their ultimate goal.
According to the Imperial Medical Academy’s samples, cultivators at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation who have attained Perfection, and are taking a full set of the Treasures of Foundation Establishment, have a 10% chance of successful Foundation Establishment.
After much persuasion, Chen Mobai finally convinced Chen Xinglan to use the savings to buy the “Solidifying Qi Liquid.”
“All right, if my son has such aspirations, I, as his father, won’t refuse.”
Seeing the deep affection between father and son, Tang Panchui couldn’t help tearing up. Just as she was about to start crying, Chen Mobai quickly changed the topic.
“So, dad, when are you going to the Red Dawn Institution?”
During the Foundation Establishment, the institution provides a Rank-3 lower-grade Spiritual Vein Cave Dwelling, with rights to use for two years. Chen Xinglan surely wouldn’t squander these two years and probably would try Qi Induction for Foundation Establishment only on the last day.
“The day after tomorrow, perhaps. I’ve already informed Baolan and Yulan about this matter; I need to say goodbye to them.”
The grandparents of Chen Mobai passed away quite early, but they had three children—Chen Xinglan, Chen Baolan, and Chen Yulan..