They said that once one crossed the first layer of Qi Refining, one had stepped over the threshold of cultivation. In truth, the truly Renowned Great Sects scoffed at such a claim. The orthodox Cultivation World held that the entire long Qi Refining stage was merely a preparatory period for cultivation, and those on this path ought to be called Qi Cultivators.
Only after forming a sea of qi in the dantian and entering Foundation Establishment could one be said to have crossed the threshold of cultivation.
Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment—building the foundation of cultivation. With no foundation built, how could one speak of cultivation?
This view was a basic tenet among the orthodox mainstream of cultivation. It could also be explained from another angle: the first and second layers of early Qi Refining displayed abilities not greatly different from those of Martial Masters in the martial world. In an actual fight, it was difficult to say who would win or lose. Only after reaching the third layer did the gap begin to widen.
Ninety-nine percent of Qi Cultivators would remain trapped in the Qi Refining stage their entire lives, unable to cross this preparatory period. Their lifespan would end at around a hundred years old. If so, how could it count as true cultivation?
Only once the sea of qi had been fully constructed could one be counted among cultivators, extending one's life to around a hundred and sixty years and truly gaining the bearing of a cultivator.
After Foundation Establishment, one needed to solidify the sea of qi and form a golden core.
Then one tempered the golden core, tempering it without pause, making it fit oneself more closely, unleashing greater wondrous effects, gaining a few more years of life, and living somewhere between two hundred and forty and three hundred years.
Only those truly endowed by heaven, or blessed with heaven-sent opportunities, could gradually develop Spiritual Sense while cultivating and tempering their golden cores, eventually transforming it into a nascent soul.
All subsequent cultivation, such as spirit refinement, Void Returning, and even the legendary union with the Dao, revolved around the nascent soul. There were only differences in cultivation level, no distinct differences in realms. Thus one entered the ranks of great cultivators, collectively called Immortals on Land by the Renowned Great Sects. Therefore, the transformation of a nascent soul was a watershed for becoming a mighty cultivator. Once past that watershed, one could live to six hundred.
The Foundation Establishment Pill was a spiritual elixir that helped Qi Cultivators construct their seas of qi. For the vast majority of Qi Cultivators, it was the secret key that opened the gate of cultivation, a dream pursued for an entire lifetime.
Yet not only were the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill rare, its formula was also a secret never passed on by sects. Even among those cultivation clans, those capable of refining this pill could be counted on one's fingers. Its value was plain to see.
"It was stolen?" Zuo Gaofeng was startled. A Foundation Establishment Pill painstakingly refined by the Lu Clan of Tianmu Mountain had actually been stolen—this was beyond imagination.
"That's right, it was stolen. This is absolutely true." Wei Hongqing nodded heavily.
"How did you come to know of such a secret, younger brother Wei?" Zuo Gaofeng pressed.
Tan Bazhang sighed. "It seems younger brother Wei has some entanglement with an inner sect disciple of the Lu Clan of Tianmu Mountain. Mm, a female disciple."
Zuo Gaofeng stood with his mouth open for a long while, unable to speak.
Wei Hongqing said in a deep voice, "The one who stole the spiritual pill was an Officer assigned to guard the pill chamber, named Lu Zi'an. He was originally an outer sect disciple of Tianmu Mountain and had reached the Qi Refining tenth layer. When he failed in the inner sect disciple selection, resentment rose in his heart. Taking advantage of his duty guarding the pill formula, he stole this pill. After stealing the pill, Lu Zi'an fled Tianmu Mountain. Now everyone on Tianmu Mountain is investigating Lu Zi'an's whereabouts."
After a pause, Wei Hongqing suddenly smiled. "By sheer coincidence, I happen to know Lu Zi'an's whereabouts."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone present began breathing noticeably faster.
Becoming Foundation Establishment cultivators was the greatest wish of every Wulong Mountain rogue cultivator, including Liu Xiaolou. As for golden cores and nascent souls, no one dared entertain such hopes. Wei Hongqing had suddenly told them today that a Foundation Establishment Pill had fallen into the martial world, and their hearts inevitably began to harbor a few wild thoughts.
But if they were truly fortunate enough to obtain this spiritual pill, how should it be divided? And who should receive it?
They looked at one another, each staring at the next. For a time, not even a crow or sparrow made a sound.
After a long silence, Tan Bazhang suddenly said, "Sell it and split the spirit stones! If we can seize this pill, wouldn't we get over a hundred spirit stones by reselling it?"
Western Mountain Hermit, Zuo Gaofeng, and Liu Xiaolou all slowly shook their heads.
Zuo Gaofeng said, "This matter must be considered over the long term. After all, he is at the tenth layer..."
Western Mountain Hermit said, "Over a hundred? Brother Tan, do you know of any market town that has ever sold a Foundation Establishment Pill? At what price? Chieftain Zuo, younger brother Liu, do either of you know?"
Everyone's minds raced as they pondered carefully.
Wei Hongqing also asked, "Who can answer the Hermit's question? Have any of you ever heard of a market town selling Foundation Establishment Pills?"
They thought for a long time, but no one could answer. They had never heard of such a thing.
Wei Hongqing said coldly, "Because no one dares sell one! The Foundation Establishment Pills refined by every sect differ from one another. An expert can tell at a glance which sect refined it. Everyone on Tianmu Mountain is searching for Lu Zi'an and pursuing this Foundation Establishment Pill. If you take it to a market town to sell, what shop would dare accept it? Even if someone truly did accept it, would you have the life to spend the money?"
Everyone fell silent at once. Wei Hongqing was right. Forget having the life to spend it—they would not even have the life to sell it!
Who could they sell it to? Once they sold it, the news absolutely could not be kept under wraps. When Tianmu Mountain came knocking, who could handle them? Perhaps the buyer would report them to Tianmu Mountain the moment they stepped outside.
Tan Bazhang hesitated. "Surely someone would buy it? Sell it farther away—take it to Qingcheng Market or Luofu Mountain Market Town? Since when have we lived to this day without tying our heads to our belts? Looking ahead and behind before acting is not the way of us Wulong Mountain cultivators!"
Zuo Gaofeng said, "This matter must be considered over the long term... Everyone, stay calm. Since younger brother Wei summoned us here, he must have a way. When has younger brother Wei ever been someone who looked ahead and behind?"
Wei Hongqing was certainly not someone who looked ahead and behind, or he would not have gathered them all here. It was simply that his way of handling things was more secure. "In truth, the Foundation Establishment Pill is secondary. What has enraged Tianmu Mountain's elders is that a traitorous disciple emerged from their sect. Thus they issued an order: if a sect disciple finds Lu Zi'an and recovers the Foundation Establishment Pill, an outer sect disciple will enter the inner sect directly, while an inner sect disciple will be directly granted the sect's secret arts!"
Western Mountain Hermit asked, "What if it is an outsider?"
Wei Hongqing nodded. "This is Tianmu Mountain's shame, and Tianmu Mountain is unwilling to rely on outsiders. If an outsider provides information, they may be rewarded twenty spirit stones."
At this, everyone's spirits immediately sagged. Tan Bazhang said, "To hell with that! Who would have thought a grand sect could be so miserly!"
Western Mountain Hermit said, "If information can be sold for twenty spirit stones, you won't take it? Brother Tan can withdraw if he wishes. I am willing, though. We each get four stones—not too little. younger brother Liu, what do you say?"
Liu Xiaolou was blunt. "Sell."
Wei Hongqing smiled mysteriously. "If that were all, I would not have summoned you all. I have a way. As long as we capture Lu Zi'an and recover the Foundation Establishment Pill for Tianmu Mountain, we can obtain fifty spirit stones!"
Liu Xiaolou suddenly understood. "Brother Wei means handing both the man and the pill over to that person of yours at Tianmu Mountain..."
Tan Bazhang caught on as well. "Your sweetheart!"
Western Mountain Hermit asked, "She is willing to give fifty? Good heavens, these people from the Renowned Great Sects really are generous! Mm, then this business is truly worth doing!"
Zuo Gaofeng stroked his beard and smiled. "After all, he is at the tenth layer... This matter must be considered over the long term."
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