Bohai Breaks Through

After Meng Haoran finished speaking, Meng Jingshan tightly closed his eyes.

As a centenarian and a cultivator at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, he naturally knew the difficulty of breaking through from the tenth layer of the Qi Refining Realm to the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm.

What is "Foundation Establishment"?

Simply put, it's called laying the foundation in the common folk's terms.

In the process of the ten realms of cultivation, "Foundation Establishment" is the first hurdle cultivators encounter, and it is the basis that determines the future achievements of a cultivator's path.

Only by completing "Foundation Establishment" can one truly step onto the path of cultivation.

Before this is the Qi Refining Realm, and after this is the Golden Core Realm.

And in between is the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The cultivation process each cultivator experiences in the Qi Refining Realm is different.

Although the "Dao Foundation" that each cultivator builds in the Foundation Establishment Realm is also different.

In summary, the more solid and profound a cultivator's cultivation is in the Qi Refining Realm, the higher quality "Dao Foundation" they will build in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Generally speaking, "Foundation Establishment" is divided into five qualities: One-Day Foundation Establishment, Ten-Day Foundation Establishment, Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment, Thousand-Day Foundation Establishment, and Ten-Thousand-Day Foundation Establishment.

Most cultivators in the world at the time of "Foundation Establishment" are almost always the latter two, Thousand-Day Foundation Establishment and Ten-Thousand-Day Foundation Establishment.

For example, Meng Jingshan himself is of the last quality of "Foundation Establishment," Ten-Thousand-Day Foundation Establishment.

Thinking of this, Meng Jingshan slowly opened his eyes and said with a wry smile, "Back then, you, Elder Meng Jinghe, and your father, Meng Liuhai, were our peak combat power in Bohai. We wanted to aim for control of Qingyang County Town and contend with those seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families. Who would have thought that of the three cultivators at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, only this old man remains today!"

Meng Haoran reached out and tightly grasped Meng Jingshan's aged hand, comforting him, "Patriarch Jingshan, although Elder Jinghe and my father are both deceased, you must know that they were able to become cultivators at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm ten years ago in such a difficult situation, relying on the family's limited Cultivation Resources. But I believe that ten years from today, with our Meng Family's favorable situation, there will surely be one, ten, or even a hundred clan members at the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm!"

Hearing this, the sadness in Meng Jingshan's eyes gradually disappeared.

Meng Haoran continued, "Currently, you are the highest-cultivated clan member in our Meng Family. If our Meng Family wants to gain control of Qingyang County Town in a short period and contend with those seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families, it is imperative that you become a true cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Once you shed the 'half-step' and become a true cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, those seven Ninth-Rank Cultivation Families will have to carefully consider your weight as a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm if they want to bully our Meng Family!"

Meng Jingshan's cloudy eyes gradually brightened.

"As long as you, Patriarch Jingshan, become a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Realm, our Meng Family's entry into Qingyang County Town will no longer be a dream!"

Meng Haoran gently squeezed his hand, "In this way, the hundreds of years of effort by our Xinghua Village Meng Family will turn into true glory in your hands!"

Meng Jingshan said in a low voice, "Good! Then I will await Bohai's successful emergence from seclusion!"

Saying that, Meng Jingshan turned to look at Meng Haoran and smiled, "Back then, your father's death was also greatly related to me. If I had persuaded your father a few more words at that time, perhaps you wouldn't be alone today."

Meng Jingshan gently patted Meng Haoran's hand, "Your mother died in childbirth when you were born, leaving only you and your father to depend on each other. But who knew that your father sacrificed himself for our Meng Family. Although I am the Patriarch of the Meng Family, I also know the sorrow in your heart!"

Meng Haoran shook his head, "Patriarch Jingshan, I'm fine. I've gotten through these years."

"Haoran, you are very good. After your father passed away, I thought you would become dejected. I never expected you to bring such a great surprise to me and our Meng Family!"

Meng Jingshan nodded, "First, you cultivated those Six-Pattern Wheat seedlings outside the county town, then you planted a full five mu of Six-Pattern Wheat, weighing over five thousand catties, in the backyard of the Meng Family. Next, at the Xinghua Meng Pavilion, you used the new style Spirit Taming Talisman to decisively defeat the Lin Family's Five Elements Defensive Talisman. And then there's the recent Spirit Beast trading matter, which not only improved our Meng Family's overall strength but also hindered the Lin Family's rise."

Meng Haoran cupped his fists, "It's all thanks to the help of the clan elders and people like Xiaoran; otherwise, I alone would never have been able to accomplish these things."

Meng Jingshan waved his hand, "Haoran, don't refuse any further. Although I have been living deep within the Meng Family's Spirit Spring, I have seen everything you have done in the Meng Family. You have truly worked hard during this time."

Meng Haoran smiled, "As a member of the Meng Family, these are my bounden duties."

Hearing this, Meng Jingshan looked up at the distance and said in a low voice, "Haoran, your talent is beyond anything I could have imagined. Back then, I thought it was already a blessing from our ancestors for our Meng Family to have produced a genius like your father, but I never expected your talent to be so high!"

Meng Haoran's brow twitched slightly, guessing that the clan patriarch Meng Jingshan's words had another meaning.

Then, Meng Jingshan continued, "I am an old man, and your Clan Uncle Meng Bohai's cultivation talent is far inferior to yours, so I have prepared a very precious gift for you."

Meng Haoran frowned and asked, "A gift? May I ask what precious gift it is, Patriarch Jingshan?"

Meng Jingshan explained with a hint of mystery in his smile, "A gift that can help you quickly establish your foundation!"

Upon hearing this, Meng Haoran was secretly excited and asked, "Quickly establish foundation?"

Meng Jingshan replied, "Cultivator Foundation Establishment is divided into five types. In the future, when you cultivate to the tenth layer of the Qi Refining Realm and need to break through to the Half-step Foundation Establishment Realm, I will naturally hand that gift to you."

Looking at Meng Jingshan's solemn expression, Meng Haoran pressed, "Patriarch Jingshan, what kind of gift is it? Since it is so precious, what qualifications do I have to receive it?"

"Only clan members with heaven-blessed talent can inherit this gift. I, your father Meng Liuhai, and the Meng Family Patriarchs of previous generations all lacked the qualifications to inherit this gift."

Meng Jingshan patted his shoulder, "Only you can inherit this gift! It has been waiting for you for hundreds of years!"

Hearing this, Meng Haoran stopped asking.

He knew that even if he insisted on asking, Meng Jingshan would not tell him what the gift was.

What kind of gift is it? It's said to have waited for me for hundreds of years! Meng Haoran thought to himself.

Just as Meng Haoran was secretly guessing, a sudden sound came from behind him.

Meng Haoran and Meng Jingshan were startled simultaneously and turned to look back.

The door in front of them slowly opened, and a person walked out.

It was Meng Bohai!

"It's Uncle Bohai!"

"Bohai! How is it?"