Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

SWOOSH!

One day, as Zhang Chi was practicing fierce attacks with his Flying Sword, he suddenly channeled a trace of the Power of the Stars, causing the speed and lethality of his Sword Light to skyrocket.

It was so powerful that it left a shocking gash on Corpse Puppet No. 1, his training partner.

Of course, the gash was quickly enveloped by the Corpse Puppet’s Corpse Evil and began to heal rapidly.

But even so, the Mighty Power and speed of the Sword Light were terrifying.

’Good. The Star Sword Control Technique is truly incredible. Its Mighty Power is far greater than the Wind and Thunder Sword Control Skill.’

’And that’s with my inadequate Cultivation and Flying Sword. Otherwise, I’m afraid the Corpse Puppet wouldn’t have been able to block it at all!’

Zhang Chi couldn’t help but feel very satisfied.

After spending five years setting aside time for arduous Cultivation every day, he had finally reached the Entry Level with this Top Grade Sword Control Technique.

Of course, he had made great progress in other areas over the past five years as well. The most obvious was his Alchemy, which had already reached Tier Three Low Grade.

In truth, his skills in Talisman Making and Artifact Refining could have also reached Tier Three, but they were limited by his Cultivation, so he hadn’t been able to break through.

For example, in Talisman Making, a Tier Three Talisman required an infusion of Golden Core Magical Power, which he was clearly incapable of providing.

He could surpass his realm in Alchemy because a Pill Furnace could enhance the flames.

Unlike Artifact Refining and the Puppetry Technique, which both required Tier Three Magical Power to inscribe arrays, he was also stuck in those areas.

Fortunately, his skill level was sufficient. He just had to wait until he formed a Golden Core, and all these arts would naturally advance with it.

’It’s time to refine the Tier Two Life Extension Pill.’

After finishing his Swordsmanship Cultivation, Zhang Chi planned to refine the Longevity Fruit into an Elixir.

This would also serve as good practice, preparing him for refining the Dust Condensing Pill for himself in the future.

’Huh? That kid Hong Hu has reached Qi Cultivation Peak?’

Just then, however, he received a message. It was Hong Hu and Hong Jin’Er, requesting an audience outside.

He swept his Divine Thought over them and instantly saw Hong Hu and Hong Jin’Er’s Cultivation levels with perfect clarity.

Hong Hu was ready to attempt his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, while Hong Jin’Er had already reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer.

’Not bad. I’m finally about to complete this task!’

Zhang Chi nodded in satisfaction and immediately used his authority as Peak Master to open the Mountain Protection Array.

"Martial Uncle, I can attempt my breakthrough to Foundation Establishment! I want to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill. Can you help me cut the line?"

Hong Hu asked impatiently the moment he saw Zhang Chi.

"No need. I’ve already prepared one for you. Take it. You can attempt your breakthrough to Foundation Establishment right here."

"Hong Jin’Er, you should also stay and observe. You can listen in and learn about the Foundation Establishment experience."

Zhang Chi waved his hand dismissively.

He had known for a while that they would need Foundation Establishment Pills in the next few years, so he had specially refined five of them in advance.

Even if the two of them didn’t use all of them, the extras could be auctioned off, so there would be no waste whatsoever.

"Yes, Martial Uncle!"

Even though Hong Hu remembered Zhang Chi saying years ago that he would prepare a Foundation Establishment Pill for him, he was still overjoyed and incredibly grateful to actually receive it.

After that, the two stayed, and Zhang Chi shared some of his insights about Foundation Establishment with them.

Finally, Zhang Chi even treated them to some High Tier Spirit Wine to celebrate.

The two of them promptly got drunk and passed out, after which Zhang Chi used the Jade Pendant to remove the Pill Poison from Hong Hu’s body.

With this done, his probability of successfully breaking through to Foundation Establishment would certainly be higher. This was far more effective than the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid.

After all, the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid could only remove most of the Pill Poison and would definitely affect one’s normal Cultivation in the future.

When Zhang Chi had told them to take as many pills as they needed, he had actually already planned for this.

Of course, if the two hadn’t trusted him—if they had been afraid that the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid couldn’t completely remove the Pill Poison and refused to cooperate—then they would have simply missed out on this fortuitous opportunity.

Fortunately, both of them trusted him completely. Even knowing the limitations of the Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid, they still chose to follow his arrangements.

Otherwise, Hong Hu would never have reached the limits of Qi Cultivation so quickly.

Of course, the pair had no idea what Zhang Chi had done. When they woke up, they simply thought they had gotten drunk.

Zhang Chi told them that he had added Bone Marrow Cleansing Spirit Liquid to Hong Hu’s Spirit Wine, and that he should begin his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment immediately.

Hong Hu took a moment to check his body and found that he indeed felt much lighter all over.

At the same time, the High Tier Spirit Wine had made the Spiritual Power in his body more abundant than ever before.

Overjoyed, Hong Hu immediately began his attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm right there on Divine Needle Peak.

Zhang Chi even specially activated the Purification Array for him for a short time.

BOOM!

Hong Hu lived up to expectations. With good luck and sufficient preparation, he triggered a celestial phenomenon that very day and successfully broke through.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother!"

Seeing this, Zhang Chi breathed a sigh of relief and immediately offered his congratulations with a smile.

After all, even he could only increase the chances of success; he couldn’t guarantee it.

"Thank you, Master Zhang... no, Senior Brother. Words cannot express such a great kindness. Senior Brother, please accept my bow!"

Hong Hu, who had been ecstatic, felt his eyes redden upon seeing Zhang Chi. He knelt down to express his gratitude without a moment’s hesitation.

Even though he had broken through, in his heart, Zhang Chi would always be a master-like figure to him.

Moreover, the Cultivation Zhang Chi revealed was already approaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, a level far beyond his own.

Even Hong Jin’Er, while happy for Hong Hu, was filled with gratitude toward Zhang Chi and immediately bowed in thanks as well.

Hong Hu was actually older than Zhang Chi. Even after becoming Fu Hongchang’s disciple, his Cultivation progress had been slow. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have been able to attempt Foundation Establishment until he was over sixty years old.

But at that age, if he failed, it would be nearly impossible to attempt Foundation Establishment again. He would have only had one chance.

But now, Zhang Chi had allowed him to succeed more than ten years ahead of schedule, completing his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment before the age of fifty.

Furthermore, Zhang Chi’s support had given him a more solid foundation; for instance, his Body Refining Cultivation was quite strong thanks to the Profound Crane Blood.

And Zhang Chi removing his Pill Poison would have an even more profound and far-reaching impact.

Because of all this, his success rate for his first Foundation Establishment attempt was over fifty percent, which is why he was able to succeed directly.

"It was nothing. Alright, you can go. Let me know when you hold your celebration. I’ll be there, and I’ll prepare a congratulatory gift for you then." Zhang Chi smiled slightly and helped them both up with a lift of his hand.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

The two of them expressed their thanks a few more times before leaving in high spirits.

A few days later, they did indeed hold a celebration, and both Zhang Chi and Chen Ling’Er attended.

Zhong Yu and Chen Bufan were even there as well.

In fact, their required years of service here had already been fulfilled. Even Zhang Chi and Chen Ling’Er were approaching their twentieth year.

Given their status, they could have easily applied to return to the Sect.

But none of them had gone back. Although the Demon Abyss had become more dangerous, the rewards had also become greater.

Of course, Zhang Chi wasn’t in a hurry to return because there was a Spiritual Vein here, and he had his smuggling business to run.

Chen Bufan was still at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage and would likely need a few more years to break through to the Late Stage.

His current Cultivation was about the same as what Zhang Chi chose to reveal.

Zhong Yu, on the other hand, had long been at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, having broken through more than two years ago.

As for Chen Ling’Er, she had been at the Foundation Establishment Realm for nearly twenty years but was still in the Middle Stage. She would need at least another ten years to break through, meaning she had already fallen quite a bit behind Zhang Chi’s apparent Cultivation.

However, considering Zhang Chi was an Alchemy Master with access to a large amount of Elixirs, and that he had previously slain a Fake Core Demon Cultivator, no one found his progress strange.

Chen Ling’Er was still fired up, determined to catch up to Zhang Chi, but she had no idea that he was, at most, only twenty years away from Core Formation.