Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

Zhang Chi followed Chen Ling’Er into the cave residence and soon saw a number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Zhong Yu, Chen Bufan, three others he knew fairly well, and Junior Martial Uncle Hong were all present.

Among them, both Chen Bufan and Zhong Yu had already reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

This was hardly surprising, though. For one, they had both reached Foundation Establishment before Zhang Chi. For another, they had all gained considerable benefits during the Exploration.

Of course, even so, their cultivation progress was still far from matching Zhang Chi’s, as he was on the verge of reaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage himself.

"Zhang Chi, over here!"

Seeing Zhang Chi, Chen Bufan and the others immediately waved him over, making a space for him to sit with them.

The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were a little surprised to see this, but that was the extent of it.

For one, they had all heard that Zhang Chi had saved Chen Bufan and the others.

For another, even if Zhang Chi was viewed favorably and had now reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, his chances of reaching Foundation Establishment in the future were not high.

After all, Foundation Establishment required more than just a high enough Cultivation; things like one’s Spirit Root and Cultivation Technique were every bit as important.

After taking his seat, Zhang Chi listened quietly as the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators chatted. He would only say a few words in response when Chen Bufan and the others spoke to him.

"The Azure Dragon Master has arrived!"

Soon, the excited shout of a Servant rang out from outside. A streak of Escape Light flew directly into the cave residence, dissipating to reveal the Azure Dragon Master.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle!"

Everyone quickly offered their respectful greetings.

"Mm..."

The Azure Dragon Master gave a slight nod, offered a few simple words of encouragement, left a gift, and then departed.

This nonetheless filled everyone with envy for Chen Ling’Er, who was herself quite thrilled.

Even Zhang Chi was a little surprised at the sight.

’But then he thought about it. Chen Ling’Er had only joined the sect twelve and a half years ago. She’d been younger than him at her Entry Level, which made her twenty-six or twenty-seven at most now. She had a great chance of achieving the Golden Core in the future.’

’Coupled with the fact that Chen Bufan was also expected to reach the Golden Core, it really wasn’t surprising that the Azure Dragon Master valued her.’

After a long while, the celebration finally ended. Just in gifts alone, Chen Ling’er had received a huge pile.

By now, the cultivators had all dispersed, with only a few people like Chen Bufan and Zhong Yu remaining.

Zhang Chi, too, had not left.

"Zhang Chi, is there something you need?" Zhong Yu asked.

"That’s right. I plan to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, so I need to ask you, Junior Martial Uncle Zhong, to help me cut in line," Zhang Chi said with a nod.

"You’ve reached the limit of the Qi Cultivation Stage so quickly? It looks like your harvest in the Secret Realm was quite substantial. But this is great. Don’t worry, just go to the Sect Hall and register. You can leave the rest to me!"

Zhong Yu was quite surprised to hear this, but she immediately and readily agreed.

"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle!"

Zhang Chi hurriedly thanked her.

’In truth, he could refine a Foundation Establishment Pill himself.’

’After all, the Spirit Medicines he’d obtained during the last Exploration included the main ingredients for the Pill.’

’But this time, he didn’t truly need a Foundation Establishment Pill. He was just putting on an act, which was why he’d asked for Zhong Yu’s help.’

"That’s wonderful, Junior Brother Zhang. I’ll be waiting for you. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, we can return to the Sect together."

Chen Ling’er couldn’t help but be overjoyed.

"Alright."

Zhang Chi nodded readily.

After that, he chatted a bit more with everyone, and even received their shared insights on Foundation Establishment before he left.

"Do you think Zhang Chi can make it to Foundation Establishment?" Zhong Yu said.

"I’m afraid it’ll be very difficult. But that kid is no ordinary person. Even if he doesn’t succeed this time, he will sooner or later. After all, he’s not even thirty yet, so he doesn’t lack for time," Chen Bufan said after some thought.

"Indeed!"

Zhong Yu and the others all nodded in deep agreement.

—

After leaving, Zhang Chi went directly to the Sect Hall in Azure Dragon City to register. He paid twenty thousand Spirit Stones and successfully joined the queue to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Only then did he return to the Medicinal Garden to continue his Cultivation in Seclusion.

「Three months later.」

Zhang Chi received a notice from the Sect and went to Azure Dragon City again, where he successfully collected a Foundation Establishment Pill.

「Another three months passed.」

It had been exactly thirteen years since Zhang Chi’s Entry Level, and his Cultivation finally reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

He immediately gave the disciples from the Lower Sect time off and began his push for the next Realm.

BOOM!

The next moment, an immense pressure instantly radiated outward. The surrounding Spiritual Qi surged in like a tide, and his Realm broke through with ease, reaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage in one fell swoop.

Four hours later, the breakthrough ended. His very essence, qi, and spirit had undergone a tremendous transformation, making him a great deal stronger than before.

’Thirteen years since I joined the Sect, and I’ve finally reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage!’

Zhang Chi consolidated his Cultivation, opened his eyes, and couldn’t help but grin, filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Afterward, he tested his various abilities and found that they had indeed all become more powerful.

However, when he continued his Cultivation, he found that he needed even more Spiritual Qi. The Eye of the Spirit Spring and the Spiritual Vein were clearly having trouble keeping up.

If he cultivated at his previous pace, he would only need a little over ten years to break through again.

But now that the Spiritual Vein and Eye of the Spirit Spring couldn’t keep up, it might take him thirty or forty years.

Fortunately, the Eye of the Spirit Spring could be upgraded by spending Spirit Stones, and he could also find a higher-grade Spiritual Vein.

’Alright, it’s time to reveal my Foundation Establishment Cultivation!’

After that, he flew towards Azure Dragon City, this time finally revealing a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivation.

"You... you successfully reached Foundation Establishment? Congratulations, Junior Martial Uncle!"

Some of the disciples on duty at the Sect Hall still remembered that Zhang Chi was the Qi Cultivation Cultivator who had collected a Foundation Establishment Pill three months ago.

Many of them had been quite envious, even jealous, at the time, so he had left a deep impression.

But they never would have dreamed that after just three short months, Zhang Chi had already successfully broken through.

After all, they all knew his general situation. Although he’d had some fortuitous encounters and had earned the favor of Chen Bufan and the others, his Spirit Root and Cultivation Technique weren’t considered very good.

Because of this, they had all assumed he would fail, or at least prepare for a few more years.

And now, Zhang Chi’s status was on a completely different level from theirs.

No matter what they had thought of him before, now they had to respectfully address him as Junior Martial Uncle!

"Haha, I just got lucky. Where are the Stewards? Have them come over and handle my registration," Zhang Chi laughed.

’He’d broken through long ago but had always hidden his Cultivation. After waiting for nearly ten years, he was finally revealing a fraction of it; it was hard not to feel a sense of exhilaration.’

’He even had the illusion that he had, in fact, just broken through to Foundation Establishment right this moment.’

"Yes, we’ll call the Junior Martial Uncles over right away!"

The Qi Cultivation Disciples were all very envious of Zhang Chi’s good fortune, and at the same time, they hurriedly sent a message to summon the others.

"Congratulations on your breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, Junior Brother Zhang!"

"Haha, I knew it all along, Junior Brother Zhang! You’re no ordinary person. It seems my judgment was right on the mark!"

Soon, several Foundation Establishment Stewards arrived, every one of them beaming and full of enthusiasm.

When they first heard the news, they hadn’t believed it, but upon seeing Zhang Chi, all their doubts vanished instantly.

"You flatter me, Senior Brothers. I was just lucky," Zhang Chi replied humbly, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.

’Half a year ago, when Chen Ling’Er reached Foundation Establishment, these same fellow disciples had been there. But they hadn’t spoken a single word to him, acting as if he didn’t even exist.’

’Clearly, none of them had high hopes for him.’

’But now, these same fellow disciples were showing a completely different attitude.’

’Of course, it was only normal. After all, there were far too many Qi Cultivation Disciples, and failure to reach Foundation Establishment was incredibly common.’

’And now, he hadn’t just "reached Foundation Establishment"—he’d done it just before his thirtieth birthday. No wonder these fellow disciples were being so polite.’