Chapter 141: Refining Foundation Establishment Pills Again

The main peak, Divine Lake Peak, remained unresponsive.

Losing their patience, one of the Core Formation cultivators atop Tianming Peak roared, launching the silver-armored corpse forward with a powerful kick. Laden with overwhelming malevolent qi, it charged straight towards the heart of the immortal sect - Divine Lake Peak.

“Hold back!” From Divine Lake Peak, the peak lord of the first main peak soared into action, unleashing his full Foundation Establishment divine abilities. He conjured a ring of lightning to block the approaching silver-armored corpse. However, the disparity between Core Formation and Foundation Establishment was immense; the divine ability barely scratched the silver armor, effortlessly ignored by the corpse.

“Step aside, youngling.” In mid-air, the Corpse-Raising Sect’s leader waved dismissively.

A storm of malevolent qi swept across, instantly hurling away the Divine Lake Peak cultivators blocking its path, including the peak lord himself. The group of cultivators tumbled uncontrollably, disoriented and battered.

The power gap was simply too vast.

Unstoppable, the silver-armored corpse reached the innermost cave at Divine Lake Peak. This restricted area housed the secluded cultivation quarters of the sect’s patriarch.

Facing the massive stone door, the silver-armored corpse hesitated not a moment, surging forth with boundless malevolent qi and crashing directly into it.

Buzz!

A barrier shimmered to life, with golden threads emerging from the ground and surrounding walls to block the silver-armored corpse’s charge. The force spread out, trapping it securely within.

“A mere minor technique, hardly noteworthy.” Following closely behind, the Valley Lord of Nine Poisons Valley chuckled softly. With a wave of his hand, a faint circle of spiritual energy emanated from his palm, leaving ripples in the air.

Instantly, all the barriers restraining the silver-armored corpse were wiped away by this gesture. Freed from its constraints, the silver-armored corpse roared fiercely and charged at the stone door once more. Behind it, the Divine Lake Peak cultivators watched with expressions of deep anger.

However, against such overwhelming power, their fury went unnoticed.

“Ah…”

A sigh echoed from within the secret chamber.

An invisible force surged forth, immediately halting the momentum of the silver-armored corpse. The might of a Core Formation cultivator radiated from the depths of the cave.

The silver-armored corpse let out an enraged roar, but no matter how it struggled, it could not escape. An ethereal magical power coalesced into a giant hand, forcefully pushing the creature underground.

Creak…

The stone doors opened, revealing an elderly figure who stepped out.

“Greetings, fellow Daoists, long time no see.”

As this person emerged, the tense atmosphere instantly eased. Excitement blossomed on the faces of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect disciples.

The cultivators from the two invading sects displayed grim expressions upon witnessing this scene.

The sect leader of Divine Lake Immortal Sect was still alive!

This old fellow hadn’t been seen for nearly seventy years, leading everyone to assume he had passed away. Yet here he emerged at the eleventh hour, signaling the definitive end to the conflict between the three sects.

“Seeing you alive brings great relief to both me and Old Zombie,” said the Valley Lord of Nine Poisons, his eyes narrowing as a thread of spiritual energy emanated from his fingertips.

However, as it approached the sect leader, the energy effortlessly dissipated.

The expression of the Corpse-Raising Sect’s leader darkened as he commanded the silver-armored corpse to break free from the ground and fly back to his side. Both leaders scrutinized the immortal sect’s sect leader with keen interest. Their elaborate plans, involving countless attempts over time, had crumbled at the final hurdle.

All their efforts yielded no tangible benefits.

As usual, the old man demonstrated remarkable restraint, remaining sequestered even as his sect faced relentless erosion.

“You certainly have immense patience,” remarked the Corpse-Raising Sect’s leader, wiping away the restrictions on the silver-armored corpse with a cold tone.

“To us, our sect is merely a tool for acquiring cultivation resources,” the sect leader of Divine Lake Immortal Sect responded indifferently.

“That statement truly fits your character,” sneered the Valley Lord of Nine Poisons.

The Valley Lord of Nine Poisons Valley sneered.

“We’ve been friends for over a hundred years; I must say, you’ve disappointed us both.”

The Divine Lake Immortal Sect’s leader remained unfazed, showing no hint of anger. The power of a Core Formation cultivator radiated from his immortal’s cave, instantly enveloping the entirety of Divine Lake Peak. All foreign presences within the mountain were swiftly expelled. Standing at the outermost edge, Elder Ke from Beast Taming Peak and Su Tianyao’s expressions drastically changed. Without hesitation, they turned to flee.

“Being esteemed talents of our sect, how could you simply leave?” The sect leader raised his hand and gently gestured towards them. An invisible wave rippled outward, spreading a hazy network of divine ability that reached the outskirts. Terror filled the faces of the fleeing pair as they felt themselves being constricted.

“Spare us, O Sect Leader!”

“Valley Lord, save me!”

Following their desperate cries, the force tightened its grip on them, gradually shrinking their forms until they reduced to specks of dust, effortlessly absorbed by the sect leader’s palm.

“I trust neither of you have any objections to my handling these two?” With this accomplished, the sect leader crossed his arms, a faint smile appearing on his face.

“Just insignificant pests, do as you please, fellow Daoist.” A fleeting note of apprehension flashed in the eyes of the Valley Lord of Nine Poisons Valley.

Neither Chen Luo nor the Corpse-Raising Sect Leader fully comprehended that display of power. The reclusive return of the Immortal Sect’s leader had made him even more inscrutable. With no absolute certainty against such might, their options were limited.

“Since fellow Daoist is unharmed, I am relieved. Perhaps we can discuss cultivation another day,” said the Valley Lord of Nine Poisons Valley. With those words, his figure transformed into a swarm of insects and disappeared over the horizon.

Similarly, the Corpse-Raising Sect Leader returned to his coffin, transforming into a black cloud before departing.

Thus, the anticipated grand battle ended anticlimactically.

The Immortal Sect’s leader, with his powerful resurgence, reminded all that the Immortal Sect remained as formidable as ever.

In Woodmount City,

Within a secret chamber, Chen Luo sat cross-legged, the Foundation Establishment Pill placed mere inches away from him.

He pondered whether to risk attempting the breakthrough.

Sensing the external brains within him, he found them all highly active at that moment.

‘Chance of successful Foundation Establishment: 70%.’

‘Chance of successful Foundation Establishment: 90%.’

‘Chance of successful Foundation Establishment: 60%’

Each Qi Refinement Realm external brain provided feedback, assessing Chen Luo’s chances of achieving Foundation Establishment based on its own perspective.

Chen Luo shared this sentiment.

After everything he had experienced, possessing one hundred little spiritual energy snakes, having mastered the Foundation Establishment technique ‘Xin Mo Art’ early on, along with the aid of the Foundation Establishment Pill and numerous external brains, virtually eliminated the possibility of failure.

Based on Chen Luo’s own assessment, his chances of successful Foundation Establishment were at least 90%! The remaining uncertainty accounted for unforeseen events, such as the potential resurgence of the curse within him.

He then consulted the eight Foundation Establishment cultivators’ brains to see what insights they would provide from their higher level of understanding.

“Foundation Establishment success rate: 70%, Core Formation possibility: 40%.”

“Foundation Establishment success rate: 80%, Core Formation possibility: 35%.”

“Foundation Establishment success rate: 60%, Core Formation possibility: 10%.”

The eight Foundation Establishment cultivators’ brains offered feedback from their respective perspectives. As Foundation Establishment cultivators, their foresight indeed surpassed that of Qi Refiners. While Qi Refiners could only focus on reaching Foundation Establishment, those at the Foundation Establishment stage not only considered advancing but also contemplated future Core Formation prospects.

This disparity reflected the difference in levels, much like how individuals facing the same problem would provide varying solutions based on their knowledge and expertise.

A grade school student might approach a question with basic foundational knowledge, concerned primarily with achieving a high score, using the skills they have learned. In contrast, a university student may consider the underlying significance of the question and employ different methods to solve it. Similarly, if a researcher examined the same problem, their approach would again differ significantly, encompassing broader aspects beyond the imagination of the previous two, leading to entirely distinct outcomes.

“Why is the Core Formation success rate so low? Could this curse leave some hidden dangers?”

Chen Luo set down the medicinal pill, his expression shifting rapidly. He attempted to access the mummified brain once more, and this time, it promptly responded favorably.

‘Foundation Establishment success rate: 70%. Core Formation possibility: 40%. Nascent Soul success rate: None.’

Nascent Soul?

None?

Instantly, Chen Luo retrieved the Foundation Establishment Pill from his hand and began brewing Black Dragon Tendril Decoction.

Is it just an evil curse? Let’s brew it away!

No big deal, after all, he knew how to dispel it.

Half a month later.

Three distinct presences pierced the sky, directly intruding into the small courtyard where Chen Luo was in secluded cultivation. Inside, Chen Luo paused while brewing the Black Dragon Tendril Decoction and looked towards the newcomers.

Arriving were the same trio who had ventured with him into Guo Mountain County—the dried-up old ghost, Wang Tianji, and Lu Zhaotian.

In these two weeks, their injuries had fully healed. Notably, Wang Tianji regained his lost weight, becoming plump once again.

“Pill Master Chen.”

“Brother Chen,”

Wang Tianji and Lu Zhaotian greeted Chen Luo first. As they had come seeking his assistance, their demeanor was exceptionally courteous. In contrast, the dried-up old ghost at the back wore a grim expression. Apart from recovering his cultivation base over these past two weeks, he had primarily focused on addressing the issue of the ‘possessing evil fiend.’ Unfortunately, for Qi Refinement cultivators like them, such evil fiends were overwhelmingly powerful. Despite half a month’s effort, they achieved no progress and wasted a significant amount of resources instead.

Neither Wang Tianji nor Lu Zhaotian were aware of the ‘evil fiend possession,’ especially not Wang Tianji.

As his regained weight emphasized the presence of the evil fiend, it remained peculiar that he himself felt nothing unusual.

‘His days are numbered.’ Chen Luo recalled the mummified brain’s assessment.

“We’ve come to request Pill Master Chen’s help in refining Foundation Establishment Pills,” the pair stated without any preamble, promptly handing over what they had prepared.

Two bags of holding.

Chen Luo accepted and took a look inside.

He found each bag filled with spirit stones, numbering at least three thousand, excluding various other valuable spirit materials. Similarly, Lu Zhaotian’s bag contained spirit stones along with two high-quality magical swords, significantly superior to Chen Luo’s newly acquired ones.

“I can clearly sense your sincerity.”

With a content smile, Chen Luo carefully stored the bag of holding, his grin becoming even more genuine.

“Please refine one for me as well.”

The dried-up old ghost then handed over his prepared materials, which included not only what he had given Chen Luo initially but also numerous additional spirit resources and spirit stones accumulated over decades.

Regardless of the outcome, they all insisted on having their Foundation Establishment Pills refined.

“No problem.”

Chen Luo collected the bags of holding from all three individuals and led them to the Alchemy Room at the back.

Having gained experience from the first attempt, refining multiple Foundation Establishment Pills simultaneously felt much easier this time. Chen Luo ignited the furnace, swiftly tossing in the medicinal ingredients prepared by each person, intending to refine all three pills together.

This approach saved both time and effort!

Lu Zhaotian and the others, lacking knowledge of pill concocting, assumed that this was the standard method for creating medicinal pills.

As the ingredients melted and fused within the pill furnace, three pills formed. With a spin, the furnace lid automatically opened, releasing the enticing aroma of medicine.

The completed trio of medicinal pills flew out directly onto the nearby table.

Although devoid of alchemy patterns, they were still high-grade.

“Foundation Establishment Pills!”

Upon seeing these pills, expressions of excitement lit up on the faces of all three individuals.

For solo cultivators like themselves, the Foundation Establishment Pill represented a chance to defy fate and alter destiny. The risks they took and their relentless pursuit were all for this very moment—the attainment of these pills.