Chapter 149: The Fall of a Golden Core

"Oh?" Han Yi's brow furrowed.

Just then, a disciple from the Ascension Pavilion arrived with spirit wine and meat dishes. He Fengdi paused, waiting for the disciple to leave and close the door before continuing his explanation.

"The agreed-upon twenty-year deadline is less than two years away."

"While everyone on the Inner and Outer Peaks believes the conflict will officially begin in two years, it actually started six years ago."

"Six years ago?" Han Yi frowned again, then suddenly remembered something. "I recall a major incident within the sect six years ago. Senior Brother You Wu, who had just been promoted to Elder, was slain by a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from the Blood God Sect. Could it be...?"

He Fengdi nodded, a flash of anger crossing his face. That year, You Wu's death had ignited righteous fury among the disciples of the Profound Pill Sect. However, anger alone solved nothing. Once tempers cooled, they extracted valuable lessons from the tragedy.

Back then, shortly before You Wu's death, Han Yi had run into him, and they had shared a few drinks at the Immortal Transformation Hall.

"Exactly," He Fengdi confirmed. "You Wu's death was the spark that ignited this conflict."

"Over the years, the flames of war have spread from Taibai County to Nanyang County and Luofeng County."

"This conflict is limited to cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage and above; Qi Refining Stage disciples remain completely unaware."

"Junior Brother Han, do you know why the Sect initiated the Escort Program and the Consultant Elder Program? It's because we desperately need more high-level cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage and above."

He Fengdi drained his wine cup in one gulp, a torrent of murderous intent flashing in his eyes for a fleeting moment.

Han Yi remained unaffected, but a flicker of surprise crossed his face. It seemed He Fengdi's strength had grown exponentially since reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"So, there's another layer to the Escort Program and the Consultant Elder Program," Han Yi mused.

He Fengdi nodded. "I only learned of this myself after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"By the way, Junior Brother Han, the Sect hasn't yet disclosed this information to disciples below the Foundation Establishment Stage. Please keep it confidential."

Han Yi naturally understood and nodded in agreement.

"However, given your Demon-Slaying prowess, Junior Brother Han, I believe it's permissible for you to know these matters."

He Fengdi spoke with earnest sincerity.

"Moreover, Junior Brother Han, you've made significant progress since the Demon-Slaying Assembly. Your strength must have reached a new level."

"If I were the Sect Leader, I'd drag you straight to the battlefield and give those Profound Pill Sect curs the surprise of their lives."

Han Yi's heart skipped a beat. The Sect Leader He Fengdi mentioned was the last person he wanted to see. Every encounter brought trouble, and if Han Yi hadn't been so lucky, the grass on his grave would already be three meters tall.

"No, please, absolutely not," Han Yi pleaded. "I just want to cultivate in peace. Besides, the Sect Leader promised not to assign me any duties before my twenty-year grace period expires."

"Oh? It seems Sect Leader Yuan holds you in high regard, Junior Brother Han," He Fengdi remarked, slightly surprised. But after a moment's thought, he added, "Given your extraordinary talent, such preferential treatment is only natural."

"Still, Junior Brother Han," He Fengdi continued, "let me offer a word of caution. You should prepare yourself in advance. War could break out at any moment. Even if you desire peaceful cultivation, a crisis within the Sect will affect every disciple."

"In essence, we're all in the same boat," He Fengdi remarked, his words laden with meaning. "If it capsizes, we'll all be swimming naked." Han Yi pondered his words thoughtfully.

A moment later, after draining their Spirit Wine and finishing their Spirit Food, they promised to meet again whenever their schedules allowed and parted ways.

This time, Han Yi didn't return directly to his courtyard. Instead, he headed to the Scripture Pavilion on Azure Dragon Peak.

Inside, Han Yi spotted a book that caught his eye: Fundamentals of Foundation Establishment in the Immortal Path.

He had reached the Peak Qi Refining Stage and might achieve a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment at any moment. He needed to prepare himself for this crucial step.

Previously, Han Yi had only heard legends of the First-Grade Immortal Foundation. His actual understanding of Foundation Establishment was limited. This visit was his chance to gain a comprehensive understanding of the process.

He pulled the book from the shelf. Its aged cover clearly showed its considerable age.

Finding a quiet corner, Han Yi opened the book.

The first line struck him: "The long journey of the Immortal Path begins with Foundation Establishment!"

Upon reading this solemn declaration, Han Yi's expression turned reverent, as if he were embarking on a sacred pilgrimage. He continued to turn the pages with reverence.

The second page introduced the Foundation Establishment stage, covering the process, common challenges, and classifications of Immortal Foundations.

It took Han Yi a full quarter of an hour to finish the book. He read slowly and deliberately, pausing frequently to contemplate and synthesize the information.

Closing the book, Han Yi exhaled slowly, feeling a deeper understanding of Foundation Establishment settle within him.

Next, he returned the book to its shelf and gathered several more volumes on the same topic, seeking to fill in any gaps in his knowledge. He then retrieved the notes of the sect's Foundation Establishment Elders, focusing on unexpected situations that could arise during the process and strategies for resolving them.

After two hours, Han Yi finally emerged from the Scripture Pavilion, feeling confident in his theoretical knowledge of Foundation Establishment.

The essence of Foundation Establishment, he understood, could be summarized in six words: "Overcome Three Trials, Endure Five Tribulations."

The Three Trials pertained to the physical body, Mana, and Divine Soul.

Typically, after consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill, the physical body trial posed no further problems.

Mana and the Divine Soul are intimately connected to the dantian.

Humans possess three dantians: the upper, middle, and lower.

The upper dantian, located deep within the Hall of Impression acupoint between the eyebrows, is the dwelling place of the Divine Soul, also known as the Sea of Consciousness.

The middle dantian, situated within the Tanzhong acupoint in the chest, serves as the storage site for mana cultivated during the Qi Refining Stage.

The lower dantian lies three inches below the navel at the Guanyuan acupoint.

The upper dantian represents spirit.

The middle dantian represents qi.

The lower dantian represents essence.

During the Qi Refining Stage, cultivators store their mana in the middle dantian. Ordinary martial artists, however, can store True Qi cultivated through mundane techniques in the lower dantian.

All three dantians undergo significant transformations during Foundation Establishment.

The upper dantian, representing spirit, experiences minimal expansion during Foundation Establishment. However, the Divine Soul within undergoes a metamorphosis, solidifying and greatly strengthening Divine Sense. Compared to the Qi Refining Stage, Divine Sense strengthens approximately tenfold.

This tenfold increase is typical for standard Foundation Establishment. For those who establish a First-Grade Immortal Foundation, the enhancement can reach up to ninety-ninefold.

The middle dantian, representing qi, rapidly expands until it merges with the lower dantian, representing essence, forming a unified whole.

When the Middle and Lower Dantians merge into one, they form a new entity called the Spirit Sea.

Within the Spirit Sea, Mana surges violently, typically multiplying tenfold. For a first-grade Foundation Establishment, it can reach up to ninety-ninefold.

This standard, whether for Divine Sense or Mana, varies depending on specific circumstances. Key factors include the quality of the Foundation Establishment Pill used, the cultivator's cultivation realm during Foundation Establishment (Senior Qi Refining, Peak Qi Refining Stage, or Legendary Qi Refining), and whether they possess a special inheritance.

After overcoming the Three Trials of the physical body, Divine Soul, and Mana, one must face the Five Tribulations: the Mortal Dust Tribulation, the Heavenly Demon Tribulation, the Lust Tribulation, the Karma Tribulation, and the Dao Heart Tribulation.

Each tribulation presents its own unique challenges. The Three Trials and Five Tribulations do not occur sequentially but begin simultaneously.

For instance, when the Middle and Lower Dantians connect, a cultivator undergoing Foundation Establishment might immediately fall into the Mortal Dust Tribulation. Without a Dharma Protector, they risk becoming lost in worldly temptations, their Dantian collapsing. By the time they awaken, their path to enlightenment will be irrevocably shattered.

After enduring the Three Trials and Five Tribulations, extraordinary phenomena may manifest within the vast Spirit Sea:

An Azure Lotus blooms in the Spirit Pool. A Spirit Crane hides within Immortal Mist. A Divine Man sits in a Dao Palace. An Immortal Sword dances across the cosmos. The Nine-Aperture Golden Cicada chirps.

The emergence of such extraordinary phenomena within the Spirit Sea is definitive proof that the Immortal Foundation being forged is of the highest grade: a First-Grade Immortal Foundation.

The mana and Divine Sense amplification factor for a First-Grade Immortal Foundation ranges from fiftyfold to ninety-ninefold. Cultivators with lower-grade foundations, upon reaching Foundation Establishment, can at most achieve a forty-ninefold increase in mana and Divine Sense.

Beneath the First-Grade Immortal Foundation, there are actually two lower tiers: the Second-Grade and Third-Grade Immortal Foundations.

Cultivators whose mana and Divine Sense amplification falls between twenty-ninefold and forty-ninefold are considered to have a Second-Grade Immortal Foundation. Those below this level are classified as having a Third-Grade Immortal Foundation.

Interestingly, First-Grade Immortal Foundations can be inherited, and what is passed down is the unique phenomenon itself.

Legend has it that within the Holy Lands, special inheritance rituals exist to condense the Spirit Sea phenomenon into a seed, which can then be passed on to future generations.

Of course, Qi Refining Stage cultivators who receive this inheritance must still meet all the criteria for a First-Grade Immortal Foundation after enduring the Three Trials and Five Tribulations. Only then will the inherited Spirit Sea phenomenon materialize, allowing them to forge a First-Grade Immortal Foundation.

And so, the Immortal Path truly begins.

This was the knowledge Han Yi had summarized and compiled from his studies in the Scripture Pavilion.

After leaving the Scripture Pavilion, Han Yi made his way to Combat Peak.

The peak was still buzzing with activity. Han Yi stood before the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings, scrutinizing them closely.

The Heavenly Ranking listed one hundred names, with Fire Phoenix Daoist still at the top. He Fengdi remained conspicuously absent.

The Earth Ranking featured three hundred names, with Wu Hui of Pill Sword Peak claiming the top spot.

The name Wu Hui was familiar to Han Yi; he had heard Fei Qing mention it over two years ago during their journey to the Myriad Stars Sea.

What puzzled Han Yi was that he had never encountered Wu Hui's name in previous years. With his powerful Divine Soul, he would surely have remembered any name he had seen on the Earth Ranking. Yet Wu Hui had been unable to even make the list until recently.

This was certainly intriguing. Wu Hui must be hiding a significant secret.

However, Han Yi had no intention of delving deeper. Every cultivator on the Immortal Path carried their own mysteries, and his own secrets were likely the greatest of all within the Profound Pill Sect.

After reviewing the Earth Ranking, Han Yi turned to the Human Ranking. A relieved smile spread across his face as he saw Zheng Hai's name listed at seventy-ninth place—not a high rank, but still within the top hundred.

After reviewing the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings, Han Yi paused to consider his next move. He decided against visiting the Nine Dragons Merchant Guild, as he had ample Spirit Stones and sufficient Magic Artifacts. He still had thousands of sets of raw materials for Gold-Silver Pills unused, and while he possessed a variety of artifacts, he had no intention of selling them.

Returning to his courtyard, Han Yi inventoried his Magic Artifacts. He owned four Top-Grade artifacts: the Golden Light Shuttle, the Green Ripple Sword, the Clear Spring Sword, and the Crimson Longsword.

The Clear Spring Sword was a reward from the Myriad Stars Sea, while the Crimson Longsword had belonged to Xue He of the Blood God Sect.

As for High-Grade artifacts, in addition to his original Coiled Dragon Sword, he had discovered a black High-Grade sword artifact in Xue He's storage pouch. Engraved with the characters "Demon-Slaying" on its blade, Han Yi named it the Demon-Slaying Sword.

He also possessed numerous Low-Grade artifacts, mostly swords and sabers.

His Spirit Stone reserves had been depleted during his cultivation to the Peak Qi Refining Stage, but after his journey to the Myriad Stars Sea—acquiring Xue He's storage pouch and receiving rewards from the sea—the Spirit Stones in his storage pouch had more than doubled.

Finally, there was a flawless-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.

According to the Sect's reward policy, upon returning from the Demon Slaying Assembly, Han Yi would receive a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Sect and the protection of a Supreme Elder when preparing for his Foundation Establishment.

However, Han Yi was uncertain about the quality of the Sect's Foundation Establishment Pills. If it was flawless-grade, he would use the Sect's pill. But if it was only standard-grade, he would undoubtedly choose the flawless-grade pill from the Myriad Stars Sea.

After tallying his magic artifacts, spirit stones, and other resources, Han Yi resumed his cultivation, diligently preparing for his Foundation Establishment.

While Han Yi was diligently preparing for his Foundation Establishment,

Four thousand li away from the Profound Pill Sect, in Ancient Creek County, a cultivator soared through the air above Mount Hanyang.

Mount Hanyang was merely a small mountain range, not even ranking among the top twenty in Great Qian. Yet deep within its heart grew a spirit herb called Yang-Bathing Grass, a versatile auxiliary material that could be used to refine ordinary Qi Nourishing Pills, as well as serve as a supplementary ingredient in certain medicinal pills with remarkable effects on Golden Core cultivators.

If Han Yi were present, he would immediately recognize the airborne cultivator as Supreme Elder Su Changkong of the Profound Pill Sect.

Years ago, during the Profound Pill Sect's second Cave Heaven Trial, Fu Xuanxu, Su Changkong, and Fu Canghai had led the expedition.

Su Changkong now stood aloft, clad in a white robe, without any visible Magic Artifacts supporting him.

Upon entering a secluded valley deep within Mount Hanyang, Su Changkong channeled a surge of Mana toward a specific point. Instantly, a cyan light flashed, revealing the true form of a hidden Formation Art.

This valley served as a secret Spirit Medicine cultivation base established by the Profound Pill Sect.

Su Changkong retrieved a Formation Plate, infused it with Mana, and activated its azure glow. The Formation Plate resonated with the valley's Formation Art. Moments later, the valley's protective barrier split open like a zipper, creating an opening. Su Changkong breathed a sigh of relief and stepped through.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, three figures suddenly materialized near the valley. Simultaneously, a more formidable, outer Formation Art enveloped the entire area.

"Su Changkong is now trapped like a fish in a barrel," one of the figures remarked. "Our three years of waiting here have not been in vain."

A cultivator clad in black battle armor stood in the void, a towering three-meter-tall black banner rising behind him. The banner was adorned with mysterious patterns that writhed as it fluttered. Only upon closer inspection did one realize these weren't mere patterns, but countless contorted Divine Souls, their faces frozen in agony.

"Fellow Daoist Cen," said another cultivator, a crimson longsword with a black demon skull hilt strapped to his back—a Demon Skull Blood Sword. "With our two sects collaborating, the Profound Pill Sect has no chance of recovery. As for the twenty-year grace period, that restriction only applies to my sect, not the Heavenly Soul Sect. Therefore, we haven't violated the laws of Great Qian."

The third cultivator was an exceptionally burly middle-aged man. His bare arms, exposed from his battle armor, gleamed like burnished bronze. Unlike the others, he carried no visible Magic Treasures.

Yet the Black Banner Cultivator, Fellow Daoist Cen, turned to address this imposing figure. "With you here, Fellow Daoist Li, even without my assistance, crushing an early-stage Golden Core cultivator will be child's play."

Fellow Daoist Li, the burly man, simply took a single step forward, and the very void trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

"Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit."

"Fellow Daoist Cen, let's begin. Kill Su Changkong before the Profound Pill Sect can react. If possible, we should eliminate another Golden Core cultivator as well."

The Black Banner Cultivator nodded. "Since Fellow Daoist Li insists, let's commence."

With a flick of his black banner, the patterns on its surface flickered and dissolved into over thirty dark shadows.

Each shadow radiated terrifying power, no less than that of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. At the center stood one with the aura of an early-stage Golden Core cultivator.

"Kill!"

The formation enveloping the entire valley erupted with violent spirit energy.

The next day, shocking news swept through Shu Prefecture.

The Heavenly Soul Sect, a Golden Core Sect in southwestern Shu Prefecture, issued a public proclamation accusing the Profound Pill Sect. They claimed that Supreme Elder Su Changkong of the Profound Pill Sect had destroyed their Medicinal Garden in Hanyang, Ancient Creek County.

Furthermore, Su Changkong, consumed by demonic frenzy, had slaughtered over a thousand Heavenly Soul Sect disciples stationed at the garden in an act of unparalleled savagery.

Although Su Changkong was subsequently slain by Heavenly Soul Sect Golden Core cultivators who rushed to the scene, his soul and spirit utterly annihilated, the Heavenly Soul Sect refused to let the matter rest. They demanded an explanation from the Profound Pill Sect.

The news sent shockwaves throughout Shu Prefecture.