Qi Cultivation Perfection is the realm a cultivator enters after the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, where their Magical Power has reached its peak and can advance no further. Their combat power is far greater than that of an ordinary late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator.
Ordinary cultivators must focus most of their energy on refining their Magical Power and breaking through realms. They hope to reach Qi Cultivation Perfection before age sixty for a chance at Foundation Establishment. Cultivators who have already reached Qi Cultivation Perfection, however, can no longer advance their Magical Power. This frees them up to practice Magic, familiarize themselves with Magical Artifacts, and study strategies for defeating their enemies.
Furthermore, those who can cultivate to Qi Cultivation Perfection are typically quite wealthy and are never without an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact.
"Qiu Feihua, an Honored Guest Elder of the Foundation Establishment Huang Family, reached Qi Cultivation Perfection two years ago. He's fifty-five now and is desperately trying to acquire Spirit Stones to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill. He was somewhat restrained at first, but this year, his shortfall is still significant, so he's started to act unscrupulously."
Li Yuanqing said:
"He uses the pretext of accepting disciples to extort offerings from Independent Cultivators. At first, they think they've found a powerful backer and happily hand over all their wealth. They never expect that Qiu Feihua demands offerings every month. If they fail to pay up, Qiu Feihua's True Disciples will hunt them down, beat them, and humiliate them. Some are even forced to go work in the mines."
Although Yang Jing lived a secluded life, he had heard Qiu Feihua's name. Last year, when news spread that Qiu Feihua was accepting disciples, quite a few Independent Cultivators had indeed gone to him on their own accord.
"Qiu Feihua's second disciple, Xu Hongzhi, has been in San Yuanli recently, gathering information. I'm afraid he already has his eyes on you,"
Li Yuanqing said. He had recognized Xu Hongzhi and sent the Communication Talisman because he was afraid Yang Jing, not knowing the gravity of the situation, would walk right into a trap.
"What kind of backing does this Qiu Feihua have?"
Yang Jing asked. He knew a bit about the Foundation Establishment Huang Family but not much about Qiu Feihua. The ancestor of the Foundation Establishment Huang Family had been an Inner Sect Disciple of the Supreme Profound Sun Sect. Because the family had diligently maintained their connections over the years, some old ties still remained, even after two centuries.
"Qiu Feihua is quite talented as a Sword Cultivator. He has been practicing the Red Training Sword Mantra, which originated from the Taixu Sword Sect, for over forty years. It's rumored that he is close to the realm of Refining Sword into Gang. He has made great contributions to the Foundation Establishment Huang Family, securing mining veins and guarding their Medicinal Garden. That's why the Huang Family protects him, leading the Guardian Envoys from the Six Great Sects to turn a blind eye to his actions."
The power of Sword Cultivators is legendary, renowned even in the Demon Country. However, becoming a Sword Cultivator isn't as simple as just buying a Flying Sword. One must, at the very least, reach the realm of Refining Sword into Gang. Upon reaching that stage, they can project a Sword Gang from their Flying Sword, massively increasing its might.
This Sword Gang is a world apart from both the Sword Qi of Innate Martial Artists and the Sword Qi created by a cultivator's Magic. It is in no way inferior to the blade of the Flying Sword itself, and its power is astounding.
A strict requirement for Inner Sect Disciples of the Taixu Sword Sect is to reach the realm of Refining Sword into Gang while in the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation. An Independent Cultivator of the same cultivation level, even using all their techniques, couldn't withstand a single one of their sword strikes.
Yang Jing put on a curious expression and asked Li Yuanqing about Qiu Feihua's past exploits. Li Yuanqing, delighted to find someone willing to listen to his ramblings for once, told him every last detail he knew.
Li Yuanqing talked until his mouth was dry. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and after a moment's hesitation, said:
"Little Brother Yang, if Qiu Feihua really demands you become his disciple and offer up the Dragon Blood Carp, you won't be able to resist him on your own. I know an Outer Disciple from the Celestial Talisman Sect. I can ask him to mediate on your behalf. You'll probably still have to give up half, but at least you won't have to become Qiu Feihua's disciple. The fee for asking this favor won't be cheap, mind you, but you'll still have some Spirit Stones left over."
The Celestial Talisman Sect might rank last among the Six Great Sects, but to an Independent Cultivator, it was still a colossal entity. Li Yuanqing had only managed to form a connection with that Outer Disciple because of the superior quality of the Talisman Paper he produced. If it weren't for Yang Jing's Alchemy Talent, he would never have been willing to cash in a favor to ask the man to mediate.
Yang Jing looked hesitant:
"Thank you, Brother Li. I've thought it over carefully and decided that becoming Qiu Feihua's disciple might not be a bad thing. Qiu Feihua exploits Independent Cultivators because they have no special skills to offer. I can already refine Yellow Bud Pills. Perhaps Qiu Feihua, seeing my Alchemy skills, will genuinely accept me as his disciple. After I help him reach Foundation Establishment, I'll be the disciple of a Foundation Establishment Great Power. Then, maybe I can use the Huang Family's connections to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill for myself."
Li Yuanqing was so incensed by Yang Jing's words that his eyes went wide:
"You're a fool! Do you really think Qiu Feihua is that easy to get along with? A single Foundation Establishment Pill from the Huang Family costs ten thousand Spirit Stones! How many pills would you have to refine to earn that? And let's not even talk about his low chances of reaching Foundation Establishment at his age. What if he does succeed? What will you do when he needs to buy Spirit Pills and a Flying Sword and demands even more Spirit Stones from you?"
Yang Jing stood and gave Li Yuanqing a deep bow:
"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Li. My mind is made up."
Li Yuanqing let out a deep sigh. He knew how fanatical Independent Cultivators were about Foundation Establishment, but Yang Jing's plan was a fool's errand. Getting out in one piece would be considered a good outcome.
He glanced back at his granddaughter, who was peeking from the doorframe, and mentally crossed Yang Jing off the list of potential grandsons-in-law.
'How many cultivators had been left battered and broken by the trial of Foundation Establishment? He, too, had once chased after it relentlessly. By the time he came to his senses, he was all alone in the world, with only his granddaughter left to rely on.'
Yang Jing returned to his Cave Mansion and sat cross-legged on the large rock where he usually cultivated, tapping his knee with his knuckles.
"Yinjiao, how's your progress with the Jade Water Skill?"
Yinjiao, which was lying at the bottom of the pool, emerged from the water. It had finally digested the Blood Qi from the Dragon Blood Carp's flesh. Its spirits were much improved, but its somewhat emaciated body would still require long-term nourishment to recover fully.
"Master, I'm about to break through to the second layer!"
Yinjiao swam through the air, Green Water Magical Power surging around its body. Even with the help of elixirs and the Dragon Blood Carp's flesh, such rapid progress would still be enough to make an Independent Cultivator's jaw drop.
Yang Jing nodded in satisfaction and continued to cultivate with his eyes closed.
Although the Six Great Sects had established laws and regulations to govern cultivators, most cultivators still believed in the law of the jungle: the strong prey on the weak, and might makes right. If the power gap was too vast, your opponent wouldn't bother with rules at all.
Over the next few days, aside from using Cloud Escape to leave his Cave Mansion and buy a copy of "Initial Understanding of Array Dao," Yang Jing acted as if nothing was amiss. He continued his routine, cultivating the True Yang Body and the Five Talisman Scripture.
When Yinjiao reached the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation, Yang Jing used its new power to strengthen his own Cloud Riding Talent.
[Cloud Riding Talent: 45%]
Cloud Riding was a Legendary Talent, after all. A single layer of Early Stage Qi Cultivation couldn't add much to it, but every little bit of improvement was beneficial for Yang Jing's plans.
He slowly reined in his surging Celestial True Yang and was about to end his cultivation session when a Communication Talisman flew in from outside the array.
Yang Jing caught the Communication Talisman and pressed it to his forehead. His expression instantly turned cold. He had given this Communication Talisman to the brothers Zhang Long and Zhang Hu, but it was now in the hands of Xu Hongzhi.
A moment later, the Five Elements Lock Jade Formation suddenly began to tremble slightly. Someone outside was bombarding the Grand Array.