Chapter 36: The Secret of Foundation Establishment
Shen Yunjiao glanced at Zhao Zuo, then lowered her voice and explained quietly.
"Winter is indeed difficult for those low-level Loose Cultivators to get through. But for the powerhouses at Qi Cultivation Perfection, it’s the perfect time to earn Spirit Stones. With their strength, hunting five One Tier Demon Beasts a day is no problem. Then they arrange for someone to sell them... That’s a profit of at least three hundred Spirit Stones per day."
Zhao Zuo thought for a moment and understood. Chen Xiaorong’s actions were blocking many people’s source of wealth, and these people were the ones at the very top of Moyun Workshop.
"Just for Spirit Stones, they would dare to make a move against the top True Inheritor?" Zhao Zuo was a little surprised. Chen Xiaorong’s status was the True Inheritor Chief, the successor to the future Sect Leader.
If Chen Xiaorong died at the foot of the mountain, the Moyun Sect would probably go crazy.
"If it were just for Spirit Stones, they would naturally be willing to step aside, or even actively try to get on the good side of the True Inheritor Chief. But it’s a different story if it concerns their own path of cultivation. It’s rumored that Chen Xiaorong has two Foundation Establishment Pills." Shen Yunjiao’s voice grew even lower, so quiet that Zhao Zuo, sitting right next to her, could barely hear. She shouldn’t have told him these things.
This secret was likely only circulating among the Late Period Qi Cultivation group. This was the benefit of making connections; otherwise, how could Zhao Zuo have obtained such valuable information?
"The Spirit Pill that lets a Cultivator skip the Nourishing Body Realm and directly reach Foundation Establishment?"
This was a Spirit Pill that could save decades of ascetic training. If Chen Xiaorong truly had such a pill, it was no wonder that those powerhouses at Qi Cultivation Perfection would take the risk.
The most likely reason for this information leak was internal competition within the Moyun Sect. Clearly, Chen Xiaorong’s life as the True Inheritor Chief was not as glamorous as it seemed.
Additionally, someone in the Market was dissatisfied with Chen Xiaorong’s major actions and intended to use this to make her a public target.
Hearing this, Shen Yun rolled her eyes and then said.
"Save decades of ascetic training? Where did you hear that nonsense?"
"From a drunk old cultivator at a tavern a while back," Zhao Zuo replied with a straight face.
"..." Shen Yunjiao sighed, a little exasperated.
"If Taoist Friend Zhao is willing to treat me to a grand meal at Fuxiang Residence, I can explain the relationship between Qi Cultivation, Nourishing Body, and Foundation Establishment, as well as how to achieve Foundation Establishment," Shen Yunjiao said in a low voice.
Fuxiang Residence was a famous restaurant in Moyun Workshop. All its dishes were cooked with ingredients that had spirituality. Not only could one enjoy the ultimate culinary experience, but it could also partially enhance one’s Cultivation. The only downside was that the prices were a bit steep.
"Let’s go!"
Zhao Zuo immediately agreed. It’s often said that profound techniques are not easily passed down. In this world, the difficulty of obtaining certain knowledge couldn’t be measured in Spirit Stones. To hesitate for even a second would be disrespectful to the secrets of Foundation Establishment.
Shen Yunjiao, on the other hand, was a little surprised by Zhao Zuo’s sudden generosity.
Fuxiang Residence had a wooden structure, divided into a main hall on the first floor, private rooms on the second, and guest rooms on the third. Since Shen Yunjiao and Zhao Zuo were going to discuss the secrets of Foundation Establishment and needed privacy, they naturally chose a private room on the second floor.
The Spring Rain Private Room in the Four Seasons Hall had a minimum charge of seven Spirit Stones.
In Moyun Workshop, some people might not even earn seven Spirit Stones in a month, yet this was just the minimum charge for a private room at Fuxiang Residence. One could only imagine what a huge sum Fuxiang Residence’s daily revenue was.
The main hall of Fuxiang Residence was bustling, with only seven or eight empty tables. The Cultivation of most of the people there was higher than Zhao Zuo’s, so he couldn’t perceive their levels. Only a few were at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.
Inside the private room on the second floor, Shen Yunjiao had already finished ordering: Golden Dumplings, Cinnamon Lotus Seed Cake, charcoal-grilled beef tenderloin, and roasted Spirit Dove. These four simple dishes cost a total of ten Spirit Stones.
The lotus seeds in the lotus seed cake came from a Hundred-year-old Spirit Lotus in a pond on Moyun Mountain, the beef tenderloin was from a mid-One Tier Demon Ox, and the Spirit Dove was a Spirit Bird raised on Moyun Mountain. The exquisite ingredients were the reason for the high prices of the dishes.
After the attendant had served all the dishes, Shen Yunjiao casually activated the room’s built-in Silence Array. Zhao Zuo’s unhesitating agreement had raised her opinion of him, so she naturally wouldn’t let him get the short end of the stick and was determined to share some real substance.
Her first sentence left Zhao Zuo deeply confused.
"Actually, once you reach Qi Cultivation Perfection, you can attempt Foundation Establishment. You don’t need to cultivate the Nourishing Body Realm," Shen Yunjiao said.
"Why is that?"
"At Qi Cultivation Perfection, you can achieve Foundation Establishment by taking a Foundation Establishment Pill."
"This is because the Foundation Establishment breakthrough has three trials: Mana, physique, and Divine Thought. Taking a Foundation Establishment Pill helps you pass the Mana and physique trials. As long as your Divine Thought is strong enough, you can break through to Foundation Establishment. Of course, if your Foundation is insufficient and your Mana and physique are too weak, you will fail the breakthrough even with a Foundation Establishment Pill."
Shen Yunjiao explained, simultaneously picking up a piece of Spirit Dove meat with her chopsticks and placing it in her mouth, chewing slowly.
Despite the table full of delicacies, Zhao Zuo had no intention of tasting them. He focused his attention on Shen Yunjiao, trying to commit every word she said to memory. He knew this meal was worth it!
"The Nourishing Body Realm is mainly for strengthening a Cultivator’s Mana and physique to the point where they can advance without a Foundation Establishment Pill. This path is called Perfect Foundation Establishment," Shen Yunjiao said.
With Shen Yunjiao’s explanation, Zhao Zuo gradually formed a clear concept of the Qi Cultivation and Nourishing Body realms.
The Nourishing Body Realm wasn’t originally supposed to be a completely new Realm; it’s a means to achieve Perfect Foundation Establishment. However, a Qi Cultivation Cultivator who has practiced a Nourishing Body Technique can absolutely dominate an ordinary Qi Cultivation Cultivator.
Later, the Cultivation Realm established the Nourishing Body Realm as a new, independent Realm.
"Chen Xiaorong hasn’t reached Foundation Establishment yet?" Zhao Zuo asked. In fact, he was shocked that Chen Xiaorong, who could block the attack of several hundred Demon Beasts with a single sword, had not yet reached Foundation Establishment.
"Her Magic Body is formed, and she has reached Body Nourishing Perfection. She is just a hair’s breadth away from Perfect Foundation Establishment," Shen Yunjiao said.
"Is there a big difference between Perfect Foundation Establishment and ordinary Foundation Establishment?" Zhao Zuo asked again.
"A Perfect Foundation Establishment has higher combat power, and their Mana and Divine Thought are stronger than an ordinary Foundation Establishment’s. Their chances of Golden Core Formation in the future are also higher," Shen Yunjiao said.
It was like constructing a building. The more solid you packed the groundwork and the firmer you laid the foundation, the broader your future path would be. You could even build a skyscraper that reaches the heavens.
"Perfect Foundation Establishment must have its own limitations, right?" Zhao Zuo pressed. ’Any perfect path is bound to be more difficult; that’s a universal principle.’
"Body Nourishing Techniques are hard to obtain. Moreover, Foundation Establishment must be achieved before the age of sixty. No matter how profound a Body Nourishing Technique is, it cannot change the natural rule of Qi Blood declining at sixty. So... Perfect Foundation Establishment is a Great Path that requires talent and resources, but it’s not suitable for ordinary people like you and me."
As Shen Yunjiao spoke, a fleeting shadow of gloom passed through her eyes. Many people in Qingni Lane knew she had poor talent, the useless constitution of someone with Five Spirit Roots. To have reached her current Realm at her age, she had naturally endured immense hardship and many life-or-death situations...
"I plan to find a way to join the Moyun Sect and obtain a Body Nourishing Technique," Zhao Zuo said. After Shen Yunjiao’s explanation, his desire to join the Moyun Sect had grown even stronger. It was the best way he could think of to get a Body Nourishing Technique.
"You plan to walk the path of Perfect Foundation Establishment?" Shen Yunjiao was taken aback. ’He’s being delusional, perhaps even indulging in fantasy... Everyone yearns for the grand highway of Perfect Foundation Establishment, but one has to be realistic.’
"That’s right," Zhao Zuo said seriously. ’With a cheat on hand, I should naturally walk the path of the strongest and most invincible.’
"You’re twenty-five this year, right?" Shen Yunjiao asked.
"That’s right. I started at fifteen, so I’ve been in Cultivation for ten years," Zhao Zuo answered truthfully.
Shen Yunjiao didn’t say anything to discourage him, but advised him earnestly.
"That path is very difficult. I suggest you be realistic and not walk the path of Perfect Foundation Establishment."
...
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