Translator: AnubisTL
The distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills caused quite a stir within the Lingyun Sect.
Even some Elders were curious about how many of the ten disciples who had stood out at the Ascension Conference would successfully achieve Foundation Establishment.
"There should be at least three or four who make it, right? They're all prodigies who excelled at the Ascension Conference. Their cultivation aptitude can't be too poor."
"That's not necessarily true. Remember twenty years ago? Of the ten immortal seeds who received Foundation Establishment Pills, only one succeeded in Foundation Establishment."
"This time should be different. Aside from the ice attribute variant spirit root, the other two Dual Spirit Root immortal seeds have both reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining and the Perfected Qi Refining Stage. Their cultivation aptitude is exceptional."
"Hehe, don't forget about the disciple who obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill through an Ascension Token!"
This time, eleven Foundation Establishment Pills were distributed. Aside from Li Qing, the other ten disciples had earned their pills by excelling at the Ascension Conference.
This made Li Qing's presence seem somewhat out of place.
"I heard he's an old friend of Elder Wu's, probably quite advanced in age. While reaching the Perfected Qi Refining Stage is respectable, his chances of achieving Foundation Establishment seem slim."
"Tsk, even someone with Four Spirit Roots gets a Foundation Establishment Pill. It's a waste on him."
"Why can't I have that kind of luck? Sigh, it's been almost three centuries since the last Ascension Token appeared. And this guy actually has one."
"Heh, we'll see him make a fool of himself later. With so many people watching, if he fails to establish his Foundation, I'd like to see how he handles the fallout."
"..."
Shortly after receiving the Foundation Establishment Pill from the sect, Li Qing inevitably became one of the focal points of attention.
The fact that a cultivator with Four Spirit Roots had been granted a Foundation Establishment Pill sparked curiosity among many. They wondered whether Li Qing would end up in ignominious failure or soar to the heavens.
Back in his courtyard on Cloudsoar Island, Li Qing remained surprisingly calm and composed. He focused on cultivating his qi and clearing his mind.
Even without actively seeking out the rumors circulating about him, Li Qing could easily guess what people were saying.
Over the past two months, he had already turned down six Fellow Disciples who had tried to get their hands on his Foundation Establishment Pill. Some were his peers who had entered the sect at the same time, while others were more senior Senior Brothers.
Naturally, those he had rejected would spread some disparaging remarks about him.
When Li Qing inevitably failed his Foundation Establishment, they would inevitably feel he had wasted such a precious Foundation Establishment Pill. Some might even blame him for obstructing their own paths to immortality.
If Li Qing were wise, he would have surrendered the pill to them, increasing their chances of success.
"Being the center of attention is more curse than blessing for me," Li Qing sighed, sitting in his courtyard, regulating his breath. "This time, I absolutely cannot fail my Foundation Establishment."
The allure of treasures, especially a sacred object like the Foundation Establishment Pill, was irresistible. Only within the sect's walls could he be safe. Outside, countless cultivators would ambush him, desperate to seize the pill.
"The innocent suffer for possessing treasures." For the sake of Foundation Establishment and a longer lifespan, who would care about brotherhood or sect ties? Before the promise of immortality, no one was immune to temptation.
Finally, one of the ten immortal seeds who had received a Foundation Establishment Pill began his attempt.
In the Stream Cloud Pavilion district, a subtle ripple of energy suddenly emanated from a courtyard inhabited by a Qi Refining Realm disciple, drawing the attention of a few nearby cultivators.
"That's Ji Bai's place. Has he finally decided to attempt Foundation Establishment after all these days?"
"Quite the audacity, daring to attempt Foundation Establishment first. No wonder he once aspired to Core Formation."
"This pioneering spirit is admirable. I believe Ji Bai has a high chance of succeeding in Foundation Establishment."
Generally, among the ten immortal seeds recruited each year at the Ascension Conference, it's considered a great success if five achieve Foundation Establishment.
Even in the best case scenario since the Lingyun Sect's founding, only seven out of ten immortal seeds successfully established their Foundation—a feat that occurred long ago.
Most years, only two or three immortal seeds manage to leap over the Dragon Gate, transitioning directly from Qi Refining Realm disciples to the rank of Elder within the sect.
Across the Azure Ridge Domain, encompassing three major Cultivation Sects, no Ascension Conference has ever seen all ten immortal seeds who received Foundation Establishment Pills simultaneously advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
This is because Foundation Establishment is inherently risky. Even with exceptional cultivation aptitude, failure is possible unless one possesses a Heavenly Spirit Root.
Therefore, it's widely believed that for each immortal seed who succeeds in Foundation Establishment, the remaining disciples who haven't yet begun their own attempts face slightly reduced chances of success.
This might be due to internal factors or external psychological pressure—it's all rather mysterious.
As time passed, news of Ji Bai's Foundation Establishment spread rapidly, immediately drawing widespread attention.
Almost simultaneously, several other immortal seeds who had received cultivation resources from the sect also began their Foundation Establishment.
Boom!
Several auras simultaneously began to subtly radiate outward, causing the heaven and earth spiritual energy within the Stream Cloud Pavilion area to suddenly become restless.
"Mo Changfeng has begun his Foundation Establishment too!"
"Pan Xiao's courtyard is absorbing spiritual energy with such intensity! He's only at the ninth level of Qi Refining, yet the commotion is so fierce. This shows he has a solid foundation."
"Whoa... who would have believed it? A layer of frost suddenly formed over Shen Ningbing's courtyard. I thought the sect's array formation had malfunctioned!"
"..."
News of one immortal seed after another beginning their Foundation Establishment spread, drawing more and more attention.
Except for a few who, prioritizing stability, planned to reach the Perfected Qi Refining Stage before attempting Foundation Establishment, everyone had consumed their Foundation Establishment Pills today, as if by prior agreement.
Li Qing naturally heard these rumors, but his attitude remained unperturbed, undisturbed by external distractions.
"Cultivation is a personal matter. If one's state of mind is disturbed by such things, it only reveals a lack of skill."
"I don't seek speed, but stability. Whether Foundation Establishment comes quickly or slowly matters little."
Li Qing, holding a scroll of ancient texts, gazed calmly into the distance.
He was waiting for news of the Foundation Establishment Pill he had been brewing.
At this moment, his patience was boundless. After all, he had waited for so many years, finally gathering all the Spirit Herbs needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill through his own efforts.
Li Qing's state of mind had become remarkably stable. Even if all ten immortal seeds successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, he would remain completely detached.
But while he could remain unconcerned, others might not share his perspective.
For example, several Qi Refining Realm disciples who had previously expressed interest in purchasing his Foundation Establishment Pill were now closely monitoring Li Qing's movements.
"What? Has that Li Qing still shown no sign of activity?"
"I just glanced from afar. His courtyard remains as eerily quiet as ever."
"Heh, he's certainly not in a hurry. Is he afraid of failure?!"
"It's only natural. With Four Spirit Roots, how can he compare to those immortal seeds? It's normal for him to lack confidence."
"How ridiculous! We cultivators should be bold and strive for progress. If he doesn't even have that much courage, how can he talk about pursuing the Immortal Path? That Foundation Establishment Pill is truly wasted in his hands!"
"..."
Among them, Zheng Donghe was the most concerned. He kept sneering, muttering contemptuous mockery.
Yet, inwardly, he prayed that more of the other immortal seeds would succeed in their Foundation Establishment. Perhaps then Li Qing would feel pressured and hesitate to take the pill.
If that happened, Zheng Donghe might still have a chance to buy the Foundation Establishment Pill from Li Qing.
After a long while, Ji Bai, who had started his Foundation Establishment first, finally stopped absorbing spiritual energy from heaven and earth.
Soon, a hearty laugh erupted from Ji Bai's courtyard.
"Hahaha! Twenty years of cultivation, and before I'm even thirty, I've laid my Dao foundation! This calls for a grand celebration!"
Ji Bai's triumphant self-declaration echoed out, stirring envy in the hearts of many Qi Refining Realm disciples who overheard.
From these words alone, it was clear that Ji Bai had achieved Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty. Such talent was truly exceptional.
Now that he had succeeded in Foundation Establishment, his lifespan had been extended once more. His future on the Dao was truly limitless!
Indeed, a Foundation Establishment cultivator under thirty had an absolute chance of attempting to reach the Core Formation Realm in their lifetime, provided nothing unexpected occurred.
Of course, whether they would succeed was another matter entirely.
"Congratulations, Elder Ji Bai! Your Foundation Establishment is a joyous occasion!"
"Hahaha, Brother Ji Bai, we'll have to call you Elder from now on! Congratulations! We eagerly await your Foundation Establishment Celebration!"
"Elder Ji Bai..."
Ji Bai had a cheerful disposition and handled the congratulations with grace. He remained humble and didn't put on any airs as a Foundation Establishment Senior. Instead, he shared his joy with others in a natural and approachable manner.
"Hahaha, how are the other Fellow Disciples doing?" Ji Bai asked with concern.
"The other immortal seeds have also begun their Foundation Establishment. The results are still uncertain."
"Only three haven't started yet. Two of them are probably waiting until they reach the Perfected Qi Refining Stage. The other one... Li Qing seems to still be waiting," someone replied to Ji Bai's question, filling him in on the current situation.
"Mm, only those who've experienced it truly understand how difficult Foundation Establishment is. Even I nearly failed. Playing it safe is the right approach," Ji Bai agreed wholeheartedly.
While waiting for news of the other immortal seeds' Foundation Establishment, Ji Bai closed his eyes slightly, consolidating his own cultivation.
After a long while, as dusk gradually deepened, news of the remaining immortal seeds' Foundation Establishment began to trickle out.
Someone roared in frustrated defiance: "No! I was just one step away! Why?!"
"Pfft! Cough, cough... I refuse to accept this! Give me another chance, and I'll succeed for sure!"
As the sounds from the immortal seeds' courtyard echoed through the air, it was clear that some were celebrating while others were mourning. Even without asking for details, the situation was obvious.
Regret, resentment, despair!
The greater their initial confidence, the deeper their despondency after failing Foundation Establishment.
"Shen Ningbing has successfully achieved Foundation Establishment. As expected of an ice attribute variant spirit root, I suspect she could have passed this step even without the Foundation Establishment Pill. It all went so smoothly, like water flowing to its natural course."
"The sect will soon have another Foundation Establishment Elder with an ice attribute variant spirit root. Her combat prowess should be quite formidable."
"Pan Xiao failed his Foundation Establishment attempt and has been avoiding visitors. He seems deeply affected."
"..."
After all the commotion, the dust finally settled. Of the eight immortal seeds who had taken the Foundation Establishment Pill today, only three had succeeded, including one with an ice attribute variant spirit root.
This dismal success rate left many Qi Refining Realm disciples feeling deeply conflicted.
Remember, these eight were all immortal seeds—cultivators who had distinguished themselves in the Ascension Conference, boasting cultivation aptitudes that were truly one in a hundred!
Even with that advantage and the aid of the Foundation Establishment Pill, only three out of eight had succeeded.
Though they had long known the path to Foundation Establishment was arduous, many disciples were disheartened by this outcome. The ordinary disciples who had entered the sect alongside Li Qing, in particular, turned pale, their expressions tinged with bitterness.
In the end, all Li Qing could do was sigh: "The path of cultivation is treacherous!"
"Even Pan Xiao failed. She has a Dual Spirit Root aptitude, second only to Heavenly Spirit Roots and variant spirit roots."
"Perhaps her preparations weren't thorough enough. Even a slight fluctuation in her mental state could have had an impact."
"..."
As news of the Foundation Establishment results for the immortal seeds spread, Li Qing remained largely unmoved.
Having walked the path of cultivation for many years, he understood the harsh realities of the Dao better than anyone.
He paid no heed to these matters, his emotions barely stirred.
They were all irrelevant trifles.
And it was that very night that the person he had been waiting for finally arrived!
A plump, round figure slipped into his courtyard—Wu Chong, his face flushed with excitement.
"Li Qing, it worked! It worked!"
"Senior Brother Chen performed exceptionally well this time, producing four pills! Even he didn't expect such a high success rate!"
As he spoke, Wu Chong pulled out a white jade porcelain bottle from his chest. Inside were four perfectly round and plump Foundation Establishment Pills, each brimming with potent medicinal power—not a single substandard pill among them!
Unlike Wu Chong's excitement, Li Qing merely smiled faintly, praising Elder Chen with genuine admiration. "Elder Chen's Pill Refinement skills are truly remarkable. Four Foundation Establishment Pills from a single batch—that success rate probably surpasses ninety percent of Second-Tier Alchemists."
Back when Daoist Qingyang refined Foundation Establishment Pills, he only produced three from a batch, and one was a substandard pill that still sat in his storage pouch.
"Hehe, it's probably because Senior Brother Chen was in peak condition," Wu Chong said, shaking his head. "But what about you? When will you attempt Foundation Establishment? I heard several newly promoted immortal seeds in the sect failed, causing quite a stir." He then pulled out two massive roasted chicken legs from his storage pouch and began devouring them.
"Right now, Fatty Wu. I'll trouble you to act as my Guardian again," Li Qing said with a faint smile, feeling surprisingly calm inside.
In the past, receiving four Foundation Establishment Pills at once would have sent him leaping with joy.
Now, his mood was as steady as if he were simply eating or drinking water—utterly mundane.
"So soon? Aren't you going to prepare any further?"
Li Qing simply shook his head. "Everything's ready. Now, we just need the east wind. There's nothing left to prepare."
TL/N: "East wind" is a metaphor for the right circumstance or wind in their favor.
With that, Li Qing sat cross-legged and poured out a Foundation Establishment Pill that had just been freshly refined.
He now had a total of six Foundation Establishment Pills, including one defective one.
This was an astonishing number. If other Qi Refining Realm cultivators knew, they would be shocked speechless.
Each Foundation Establishment Pill was incredibly precious. If auctioned, they would fetch at least three to five thousand spirit stones each, possibly even more.
Yet Li Qing possessed six at once. Even with one defective pill, this was still an extraordinary quantity.
This was why Li Qing's mood was so calm. Six Foundation Establishment Pills, though they couldn't be taken all at once to stack the success rate, gave him a sense of security. If he failed, he might as well kill himself.
With Wu Chong standing guard, Li Qing swallowed his first genuine Foundation Establishment Pill.
(End of the Chapter)
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