Chapter 129: Mid Stage Foundation Establishment

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"Thank you for making the trip, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Lan Chang'an put away the two Foundation Establishment Pills, feeling quite pleased.

In this alchemy collaboration, three pills were successfully refined. Lan Chang'an did not attend the process in person.

If Zhao Siyao had harbored any ulterior motives, she could have easily claimed that the alchemist's performance was average and only two pills were produced, which would have been quite plausible.

The two had known each other since youth, with a friendship spanning eighty years, and the level of trust between them exceeded even familial bonds.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, I’ll be heading back now." for new novels

After delivering the pills, Zhao Siyao did not linger and left immediately.

Lan Chang'an knew she had to protect Zhao Tan'er during her Foundation Establishment.

Three months later.

Lan Chang'an received a letter from Zhao Siyao, informing him that Zhao Tan'er had successfully reached Foundation Establishment Realm.

In the letter, Zhao Siyao expressed her gratitude on behalf of her disciple.

Lan Chang'an did not tell Mu Bingyun about this news to avoid making her feel any sense of disparity.

Over these months, Mu Bingyun frequently sparred with the two puppets or the Earth Burrowing Rat.

Through repeated failures, her mindset gradually settled down.

...

Time flew by, and nearly two years passed.

The usually verdant Little Turtle Peak was now decorated with some festive elements: red lanterns, flowers, and couplets.

In the secret room of the cave mansion.

"One hundred years old..."

Lan Chang'an slowly finished his cultivation, feeling that the mana within him was approaching the limit of the early Foundation Establishment stage.

He estimated that in another two years, he could reach the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage and attempt to break through to the mid stage.

After nurturing his treasure talismans, Lan Chang'an left the secret room.

"Senior Brother Lan, may your days be prosperous and your longevity as enduring as nature."

"Uncle Lan, I wish you eternal prosperity on your immortal path."

Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun had been waiting for a long time, holding trays with birthday pastries, longevity peaches, and longevity flowers.

"Thank you for your kind words." Lan Chang'an smiled warmly, taking a few bites as a gesture of politeness.

The cave mansion was adorned with festive elements and was livelier than usual. That day, guests arrived one after another at Little Turtle Peak to celebrate Lan Chang'an’s birthday.

The two other peak masters from Wuqi Mountain, Fairy Shi and Alchemist Lin, along with the steward Lan Lin, were the first to come over to congratulate him.

Each guest brought gifts of varying value.

Guan Qiaozhi made a navy-blue robe for Lan Chang'an and Mu Bingyun presented a natural spirit pearl she had nurtured and polished for years. The duo's gifts were not very expensive, but both of them carried heartfelt sentiments.

"Bingyun, return to Feiyue Lake." Lan Chang'an instructed, having thought of something.

"Yes, Uncle Lan."

Mu Bingyun’s clear eyes were slightly moist as she bowed, gathered some things, and flew away from Little Turtle Peak.

Watching her departing figure, Lan Chang'an knew that he wasn’t the only one who had to celebrate his hundredth birthday.

Two years ago, Mu Bingyun had sought a Life Extension Pill from Alchemist Lin, a fact he was aware of.

By noon, Li Erqing brought his son Mu Ershun and grandson Mu Congren to pay their respects.

Li Erqing, now portly and with a ruddy complexion, sported a balding head with deep-set eyes that shone with a reserved brilliance. Compared to before, he now carried the authoritative air of a family's ancestor.

"Big Brother, I wish you everlasting youth on the immortal path." Li Erqing’s eyes relaxed, and his lips instinctively curled into a somewhat familiar, simple smile.

"Uncle Lan..."

Mu Ershun and Mu Congren bowed in greeting, offering their congratulations.

Mu Ershun's body was slightly stooped, already in the mold of an ancient old man, whose actual age was less than twenty years of Lan Chang'an.

Such an octogenarian bowing to a young-looking man of around twenty was quite a sight.

Mu Ershun had already seen four generations under one roof.

Adding, "Except for that request."

Years ago, upon arriving at Little Turtle Peak, Guan Qiaozhi had wished to bear Lan Chang'an's child. After repeated disappointments, she had given up on that idea.

"Hmm, let me think about it..." Guan Qiaozhi rested her cheek on her hand, pondering.

"When some years pass, I want to visit my parents' hometown and my master’s old land to have a look. If there are any orphans, I’d like to help them, as a way of accumulating good deeds."

"Alright." Lan Chang'an nodded without further comment.

Whether Guan Qiaozhi stayed on Little Turtle Peak or went to the world to enjoy glory and wealth, he would respect her freedom.

...

Two months later.

Mu Bingyun returned to Little Turtle Peak and first greeted Lan Chang'an.

"How is your master?"

"She’s doing well and has taken the Life Extension Pill," Mu Bingyun replied.

Lan Chang'an didn’t ask further.

This time, Mu Bingyun seemed more determined, as if something had inspired her.

After completing her tasks, she immediately went to spar with the Earth Burrowing Rat, which suppressed its power to match hers.

She couldn’t challenge the puppets too often since they required spirit stones to operate.

The Earth Burrowing Rat was tireless and diligent, and wouldn’t harm her.

...

Little Turtle Peak, time flew by.

Mu Bingyun's sweat glistened as she controlled her mana and unleashed her spells, her silhouette gradually becoming more fluid, more valiant.

Until a certain day.

Bang! Crack!

Mu Bingyun’s magical weapon, swift as lightning, successively chopping off the necks and abdomens of the two puppets.

"I did it!" Her joyous voice echoed across Little Turtle Peak.

At this moment, her cultivation had reached the peak of the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, her essence, energy, and spirit were exuberant.

"Bingyun, congratulations!" Guan Qiaozhi approached with a smile.

Seeing the broken remains of the puppets, her brows furrowed with concern, "Bingyun, you’ve damaged Senior Brother Lan’s puppets. According to the mountain rules, you’ll need to compensate with spirit stones."

Mu Bingyun was stunned and was about to speak when she faintly sensed a powerful surge of mana rising dramatically from within the cave mansion.

...

Inside the cave mansion, in the secret room.

Lan Chang'an, eyes closed, meditating as the verdant mana lake within his body expanded by a large margin.

The mana waves around him exuded vibrant life force, a mystical sense of time, and the fresh scent of plant life.

"At 102 years old, mid stage Foundation Establishment." After a long while, Lan Chang'an opened his pitch-black eyes, feeling elated and laughing lightly.

It had taken him thirty-two years to progress from the early to the mid stage of Foundation Establishment.

Compared to someone with low-grade spiritual roots like Li Erqing, this progress was faster. However, among Foundation Establishment cultivators, this speed was considered to be on the slower side, not taking into account minor realm bottlenecks.

This was because most Foundation Establishment cultivators started with mid-grade spiritual roots, and a significant number had high-grade roots.

Around Lan Chang'an, the Profound Water Turtle greedily sucked in the lingering aura.

It could be anticipated that as the gap between his cultivation and the turtle’s increased, the latter’s growth in cultivation would further accelerate.

Lan Chang'an’s spiritual sense scanned outside the cave mansion, noticing the remains of the two puppets that had been defeated by Mu Bingyun.

He nodded slightly and got to consolidating his cultivation realm first.

During this period, Guan Qiaozhi sent him a voice transmission talisman.

Lan Chang'an grabbed it with a wave of his hands and listened to its contents.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Li Erqing’s hundredth birthday is being celebrated soon."

(End of chapter)