Spirit Vein Upgrade, Plans for Foundation Establishment!

The mountains rose and fell, their peaks rolling like waves; hence the name Fubo Mountain Range.

Deep within the Fubo Mountain Range lay a forbidden ground. Dozens of Qi Refining Stage cultivators were pinned fast by Blood-red Iron Nails of varying sizes, their blood and spiritual power being drained away.

Once the blood and spiritual power within the cultivators' bodies had been extracted, they gathered in an eerie formation at the center. After being transformed by the formation, they became pure spiritual power and were injected underground.

Dozens, even hundreds, of streams of spiritual power poured into the earth, nourishing the First-grade Spirit Vein deep below and making it shine brilliantly as its spirituality rose bit by bit.

This spirit vein seemed to be transforming in a certain direction.

Within a radius of a hundred zhang, all was forbidden territory.

An Illusion Formation had been set around the forbidden zone, cutting off Spiritual Sense detection and preventing cultivators from barging in.

Outside the illusion formation stood an old man in his fifties. He wore a brocade robe, had a tall, imposing frame, radiated powerful Spiritual Pressure, and carried the majesty of one in power.

A young man of around thirty approached and respectfully bowed. "Father, of the dozen or so teams sent out last time, three have failed."

"One was a Late Qi Condensation team. They encountered the Black Mountain Bandits and were wiped out to the last man."

"The other two were Mid Qi Condensation teams."

The young man added, "One of them was discovered by the Clan Leader of the Zhang Clan of Qingfeng Mountain. Their mission failed, and they had no choice but to retreat."

"As for the other team, they were killed by the Li Clan of Cloud Mist Mountain. Zhou Yun and Zhou Lan, the brother and sister, were slain on the spot."

Boom!

The old man's Spiritual Pressure spread out as a powerful vortex of spiritual power swept through All Directions. He said coldly, "A pack of trash."

"It would be one thing if they ran into the Black Mountain Bandits. Those bandits have been at it for years, and their chief is a formidable Qi Condensation Tenth Layer expert."

"But the Zhang Clan of Qingfeng Mountain and the Li Clan of Cloud Mist Mountain are merely two Third-rate Qi Condensation Families. Their strongest cultivators are only at the Qi Condensation Sixth Layer."

"Not only did Zhou Yun and Zhou Lan fail, they were even killed."

Fear showed on the young man's face as he explained, "Please quell your anger, Father. According to the two who returned, Zhou Yun and Zhou Lan were killed by a Qi Condensation Fourth Layer cultivator using Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper."

"Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper?" The imposing old man was briefly taken aback. Puzzled, he asked, "How could a mere Third-rate Qi Condensation Family possess Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper?"

"Could they have spent a huge sum to buy it for protection?"

The young man said quietly, "Perhaps."

"Though Tier 1 High-grade Talisman Paper is expensive, as long as they are willing to spend Spirit Stones, Third-rate Qi Condensation Families and some Rogue Cultivators can still afford a few sheets."

The old man pondered for a long while.

The young man said, "Father, our repeated actions over the past few months have already left all the major Qi Condensation Families and Rogue Cultivator factions fearing for their safety."

"Moreover, this matter has been reported to the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, the Liu Clan. The Liu Clan has already dispatched teams to patrol the more than three thousand li surrounding Willow Crane Island and monitor All Directions."

The young man lowered his voice. "If this continues, we are very likely to be exposed."

After thinking for a moment, the old man said, "Li'er, personally lead a team. Select half of the family's elites. Leave Willow Crane Island and head to the other four islands to capture Mid Qi Condensation and Late Qi Condensation cultivators."

"Your Second Uncle will assist you in secret."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Li clasped his fists and bowed. "Yes, Father."

The old man turned around, patted his son's shoulder, and said earnestly, "At This Point, our Zhou Clan has No Retreat. Either we replace the Liu Clan, or blood will flow into rivers."

Zhou Li's shoulders trembled. He steadied himself and said, "But Father, I feel that these outsiders are anything but decent people. Cooperating with them is like seeking a tiger's skin."

Clan Leader Zhou let out a long sigh. "How could I not know?"

"But compared to the Liu Clan, at least they let me see hope for Foundation Establishment."

"Li'er, do not forget how your grandfather died."

Upon hearing this, hatred surfaced in Zhou Li's eyes.

His grandfather had been born with a Dual-Attribute Spirit Root, the hope of the Zhou Clan. By the age of forty, he had already reached Qi Condensation Tenth Layer Perfection. He spent ten years planning for a Foundation Establishment Pill, while the family painstakingly Accumulated more than ten thousand Spirit Stones.

When his grandfather was fifty, he left Willow Crane Island carrying more than ten thousand Spirit Stones and Headed Towards an island occupied by another Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Yet for some unknown reason, his grandfather had been targeted by Bandit Cultivators the moment he left Willow Crane Island.

Three Bandit Cultivators had come prepared. The three Qi Condensation Tenth Layer cultivators joined forces, and his grandfather fought desperately, killing one and Heavily Injuring the other two before escaping home with his life hanging by a thread.

He and his father watched helplessly as their grandfather—the family member with the greatest hope of achieving Foundation Establishment, the grandfather most likely to lead the Zhou Clan into becoming a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan—passed away before their eyes.

Back Then, he had already been seven years old, and he had forever lost the grandfather who cherished him.

Hatred appeared in Clan Leader Zhou's eyes as he said coldly, "It was not only your grandfather. Three hundred years ago, our Zhou Clan also produced a Dual-Attribute Spirit Root genius."

"The first time he left home, he was targeted by Bandit Cultivators and Died and Dao Dissipated."

"Among the three great Qi Condensation Families, aside from our Zhou Family, whenever either of the other two families produces someone highly likely to achieve Foundation Establishment, they all die in inexplicable circumstances."

Zhou Li said calmly, "Looking across Willow Crane Island, who besides the sole Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, the Liu Clan, has both the ability and the reason to do such a thing?"

Clan Leader Zhou said, "Therefore, if we do not take a gamble, our Zhou Family will forever be slaves of the Liu Clan and will never become a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan."

"I understand." Zhou Li nodded and respectfully bowed. "I will immediately select the family's elites and secretly head to the other four islands and the overseas archipelago to capture cultivators alive."

Zhou Li waved his hand. "Bring them in!"

Soon, several Late Qi Condensation cultivators dressed in black escorted dozens of severely injured cultivators here. Most were Mid Qi Condensation cultivators, with seven or eight Late Qi Condensation cultivators among them.

There was even one at the Qi Condensation Ninth Layer.

The Qi Condensation Ninth Layer old man widened his eyes and stared blankly at Clan Leader Zhou. He said in disbelief, "Zhou Kui, is that you?"

"You... what is your Zhou Family doing?"

Clan Leader Zhou, Zhou Kui, looked at the old man and chuckled. "Oh, Brother Wang. I did not expect you to be here as well."

Wang Lao Er was a somewhat famous Rogue Cultivator on Willow Crane Island because he possessed Qi Condensation Ninth Layer cultivation.

Yet at this moment, Wang Lao Er's spiritual power was sealed, his body was covered in wounds, and he had been Heavily Injured. He looked in terror at the father and son, Zhou Kui and Zhou Li.

Zhou Kui smiled kindly. "Brother Wang, rest assured. I will remember your contributions to my Zhou Clan."

Whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

As soon as Zhou Kui finished speaking, he waved both hands, firing out one Blood-red Iron Nail magical artifact after another. They pierced the hearts and limbs of Wang Lao Er and the others, burrowing into their bodies, punching through their limbs, and drawing streams of blood.

"Go in!"

Zhou Kui unleashed his Qi Condensation Tenth Layer cultivation. With a sweep of his long sleeve, he raised a gust that carried the dozens of people into the illusion formation.

When Wang Lao Er and the others landed within the illusion formation, a mysterious figure in a black robe suddenly flew out. With a wave of his hand, he caught them and scattered them into different corners.

The dozens of people screamed and wailed.

Wang Lao Er cried out in terror, "My blood, my spiritual power—they're draining away!"

"Zhou Kui, you demon! What have you done to us?"

Zhou Kui waved his hand, and sheets of talisman paper flew out, sealing the mouths of Wang Lao Er and the others. The area instantly fell silent.

After finishing this, Zhou Kui looked toward the black-robed man at the center of the formation and asked, "Mr. Mo, how much longer until I can Attempt Foundation Establishment?"

Mr. Mo replied blandly, "Your Zhou Clan's spirit vein has already risen to First-grade High-rank and is about to become a Quasi Second-grade Spirit Vein."

"Ten years. Prepare more than ten thousand Spirit Stones, along with another five hundred Mid Qi Condensation cultivators and one hundred Late Qi Condensation cultivators, and it will surely advance into a Second-grade Spirit Vein."

"When the spirit vein advances to the second grade, together with the Foundation Establishment Pill bestowed upon you by my Qin Family, Clan Leader Zhou's chances of successfully achieving Foundation Establishment will approach fifty percent."

Zhou Kui's expression turned grave. Ten thousand Spirit Stones, five hundred Mid Qi Condensation cultivators, and one hundred Late Qi Condensation cultivators—none of these conditions would be easy to fulfill.

But he had to do it, and he certainly could do it.

Only once the family's spirit vein advanced to the second grade could he obtain the promised Foundation Establishment Pill. Then, with the effects of the Second-grade Spirit Vein and the Foundation Establishment Pill, he could Attempt Foundation Establishment and become a Foundation Establishment Venerable.

Zhou Kui said resolutely, "Good. Give me ten years, and I will surely accomplish it."