Chapter 97 - Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate | Chapter 97: Xu Ziqings Foundation Establishment

Chapter 97 - Arc 7: Dragon Ascension Gate | Chapter 97: Xu Ziqing's Foundation Establishment

Translator: Lynn

As Xu Ziqing’s threat seemed to have an effect, he didn’t encounter the remaining members of Wuliang Sect in the following days.

During the next month, spurred by Yan Bo’s successful foundation building, a few others gained confidence and started building their foundations one after another. Their progress was relatively smooth, a testament to their diligence. It was evident that with focused cultivation and caution, failures were rare.

Xu Ziqing occasionally observed their progress and gained some insights after doing so a few times.

As the days passed, he diligently polished the true energy within his body, which surged like a tide and roared like thunder. Initially, controlling it was not as easy as manipulating spiritual power, leading to occasional difficulties. However, once he mastered it, the true energy responded to his will, and his strength surged dramatically, increasing by hundreds of times.

The vast difference in strength made Xu Ziqing realize why foundation-building cultivators regarded those beneath them as insignificant.

In a sudden moment, Xu Ziqing felt a surge of enlightenment. The cultivation method, “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique,” focused on using one tree as the foundation to control and utilize all the trees in the world. His bloodthirsty demon vine, as the tree of his natal life, possessed a gentle and feminine nature—an Ethereal Wood. By absorbing the essence of Ethereal Wood, the Qi of Ethereal Wood within him became stronger and more harmonious.

Now, as he sought to build his foundation, the way to harmony should align with the Ethereal Wood.

Ethereal Wood: resilient, tenacious, tolerant, stubborn, brimming with vitality and hard to suppress.

With this understanding, Xu Ziqing sat cross-legged, closing his eyes and falling silent. A green light enveloped him, and countless ethereal images of strange spiritual grasses floated around his body.

A vine split into two strands, climbing up like jade-white ribbons, and suspended itself upside down from the cave’s roof, providing a protective canopy.

Within the cave, lush green grass spread like a carpet.

The young man in the green shirt sat amidst this verdant scene, his spiritual energy full of vitality, seemingly connecting with the will of the heavens.

At this critical moment of foundation building, Xu Ziqing’s inner world’s true essence surged, forming an immensely powerful force. It transformed into a true essence dragon, ascending through the Ren Meridian, directly targeting Baihui, intending to reach the dantian.

In the human world, there were upper and lower dantians.

The lower dantian served as the repository for essence and blood energy, allowing a person’s essence and blood energy to combine. As they cultivated, they would one day nurture the elixir within, break the elixir to become a baby, and live for thousands of years.

The upper dantian, on the other hand, hid the divine spirit.

Before foundation building, all the meridians in the human body were unblocked, except for the upper dantian, which remained chaotic. To unlock this hidden spiritual realm, one needed to gather enough essence and use true energy to break through the heavenly barrier, open Baihui’s acupoint, and unlock the upper dantian, establishing a Purple Mansion.

Without a completed Purple Mansion, one’s soul would have no foundation for future growth and might be unable to manifest a soul.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Baihui, like a gatekeeper, sealed off the upper dantian. It appeared like a gigantic drum, resounding with loud thunderous noises that seemed to never end.

The true energy surged, relentlessly pounding on Baihui, attempting to break through and establish the Purple Mansion.

Baihui quivered, and a small gap slowly appeared, allowing a sliver of purple air to escape from Tianling.

Gradually, the upper dantian opened, and purple energy overflowed, forming a purple smoke dragon that flowed out of the cave.

However, continuous impacts from the true energy depleted over half of it, and the dantian gradually emptied.

Xu Ziqing closed his eyes, focused, and acted in accordance with the cultivation method.

Once this realm was consolidated, it would last for three days and three nights.

When Xu Ziqing opened his eyes again, they sparkled, exceptionally radiant and dazzling. It seemed that his gaze could penetrate the internal organs of anyone he looked at, incredibly clear and sharp. After a while, he took a deep breath, blinked slightly, and concealed his expression, not showing as many differences as before.

Years of relentless practice had paid off as he finally established the foundation. Even Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but smile, his heart filled with joy. He then made up his mind and focused his consciousness on the storage ring for the first time.

Under the divine consciousness, everything inside the storage ring became crystal clear. It appeared like an endless dark space, with countless spiritual herbs, animal pills, and miscellaneous items floating within. They were faintly visible, but as soon as his mind shifted, they moved accordingly.

His spiritual consciousness traversed the storage space and arrived at the core—a stone platform. On this stone platform sat a stern man dressed in white with black hair, his posture upright, emitting a cold aura, and his demeanor as sharp as a sword. As Xu Ziqing’s consciousness approached, the man suddenly opened his eyes, and two golden glimmers flashed and disappeared in an instant.

“Xu Ziqing?”

With a smile, Xu Ziqing’s gentle thought was already transmitted through his spiritual consciousness, “Fortunately, I haven’t let down the teachings of the king. Brother Yun, I’ve successfully established the foundation. Can you sense it?” The man in white nodded approvingly, “Your dedication to cultivation is commendable.”

Satisfied with sharing the good news, Xu Ziqing withdrew his consciousness to avoid intruding on his friend’s privacy. He lifted the restraint with a wave of his hand and inhaled a mouthful of fresh spiritual energy, feeling invigorated and in high spirits.

As he stepped out of the cave, the scenery of Tenglong Peak appeared before him, filling him with a sense of joy different from before.

The difference between the perceptions of the Qi refining period and the foundation establishment period was like night and day.

After admiring the view for a while, just as Xu Ziqing was about to return to his cave, he heard someone calling him.

“Fellow Daoist Xu, could you spare a moment to talk?”

Looking down, he spotted someone walking up the peak’s path.

The man wore a purple robe with wide sleeves, thin eyebrows, and thin lips. He was also a foundation cultivator.

Recognizing him as Diao Zimo from the Thunder Fire School, Xu Ziqing smiled gently and replied, “Greetings, fellow Daoist Diao. My apologies for keeping you waiting.” With a graceful movement, he approached Diao Zimo and followed him into his cave.

Inside, there was already another familiar face, which surprised Xu Ziqing.

The man there clasped his fists and said, “Friend Xu, please have a seat.”

Xu Ziqing returned the gesture and said, “Thank you, fellow Daoist Luo.” This man was a 190 cm tall figure with a powerful build. He and Diao Zimo were rivals in the same field, with evenly matched cultivation bases. However, Diao Zimo possessed lightning skills, and so Luo Hou was defeated before he could employ all his means.

According to logic, Luo Hou might have held some discontent with Diao Zimo, but Xu Ziqing was surprised to see the two of them now having a friendly conversation. It showed their open-mindedness, not judging each other based on victory or defeat, and worthy of true friendship.

Seated across from Luo Hou, Diao Zimo hesitated momentarily before taking a seat beside him.

Although Diao Zimo seemed a little cold, he appeared straightforward in his interactions. As soon as he sat down, he spoke up, “I couldn’t help but admire fellow Daoist Xu’s smooth foundation establishment. I really wished to get acquainted. Today, when I saw fellow Daoists emerging from seclusion, I took the liberty to interrupt. I hope you don’t hold it against me.”

Luo Hou did the same, carrying a wine jar, pouring another glass for Xu Ziqing, and offering it with a toast to Diao Zimo, saying, “A glass of light wine, as a gesture of sincerity.”

Feeling touched by their hospitality, Xu Ziqing raised his glass with a smile and drank it, “You two are too kind. It’s not necessary.”

Diao Zimo added, “Cheers!” Then he asked, “Now that we are both Foundation Establishment cultivators, soon to ascend to the Dragon Gate and enter the wider world, do you have any concerns about the future, Fellow Daoist Xu?”

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