Uncle Nine's Breakthrough

Mo Yuan stood beneath the eaves, his fingertips brushing over the cold shaft of the Thunder Dragon Evil-Slaying Spear as Uncle Nine's words from moments ago echoed in his mind.

The shadow of the Black Fiend Sect had not dispersed. Instead, it spread like dark clouds toward the Provincial City and even farther beyond, and he had already become one of their targets.

He knew full well that an individual's strength was ultimately limited. His master, Uncle Nine, had been stuck at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining realm for many years, only half a step away from the Earth Master realm of the Foundation Establishment stage. Yet due to the scarcity of resources and opportunities in this age of declining Dharma, he had been unable to break through.

If his master could become an Earth Master, it would not only be a leap in his personal cultivation, but also a vital pillar in facing the Black Fiend Sect and the greater storms to come.

With that thought, Mo Yuan made up his mind. He turned and returned to his room, closed his eyes, focused his mind, and let his consciousness sink into the system space.

Over these past days, he had accumulated quite a few resources through check-ins. Some were no longer of great use to his current realm, but for his master, who was trapped in the Qi Refining stage, they might be precisely the key to breaking the deadlock.

He carefully took stock of them:

Three High-Grade Spirit Stones, their spiritual energy pure and immense, far beyond anything found in the mortal world.

Five mid-grade Spirit Nurturing Pills, which nourished the soul and were remarkably effective in overcoming bottlenecks.

One low-grade Foundation Establishment Pill! Though it was only low-grade, and he himself followed the path of ancient primordial inheritance and might not need it, in today's cultivation world, it was still a supreme treasure that countless Qi Refining cultivators dreamed of obtaining to break through.

There were also several Medium-Grade Spirit Stones, along with pills for healing injuries and restoring qi.

Mo Yuan carefully removed these resources, packed them into an ordinary cloth bag, and headed toward Uncle Nine's meditation chamber.

Inside the meditation chamber, Uncle Nine sat quietly before a portrait of a Maoshan patriarch, his brows slightly furrowed. He was clearly still contemplating matters concerning the Black Fiend Sect and the Provincial City. Hearing the knock, he slowly opened his eyes.

"Master, this disciple has something to report." Mo Yuan entered the chamber and placed the cloth bag in his hand on the table.

Uncle Nine's gaze fell upon the bag. Though he had not opened it, with his cultivation, he could already sense the pure spiritual energy and medicinal fluctuations emanating from within. Surprise appeared on his face. "Mo Yuan, this is?"

"Master," Mo Yuan said solemnly, "during this journey, this disciple happened upon the ancient cultivation cave dwelling of a senior who had passed away and was fortunate enough to obtain some of his remaining possessions. This disciple believes that some of these resources may be of great use in helping Master break through your current realm.

"This disciple's cultivation is still shallow. Keeping such treasures in my hands would only waste them. Only by entering the Earth Master realm can Master better protect this place and stand against evil forces. Please do not refuse."

As he spoke, he opened the cloth bag and took out the Spirit Stones and pills one by one. When the Foundation Establishment Pill, wreathed in an unusual glow, appeared before Uncle Nine, even with his composure, his pupils suddenly contracted and his breathing grew noticeably quicker.

"Th-This... is a Foundation Establishment Pill?!" Uncle Nine's voice trembled with disbelief. He had been trapped at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining for years and knew deeply how difficult this step was. His senior brother, the sect leader Shi Jian, possessed extraordinary talent and had received the sect's preferential resources, allowing him to establish his foundation early and remain steadily ahead of him.

And now, the opportunity for a breakthrough lay so tangibly before him.

He lifted his head and looked at Mo Yuan with a complicated expression, filled with gratification, excitement, and deep emotion. "Mo Yuan, this is far too precious... I..."

"Master," Mo Yuan interrupted sincerely, "this disciple was accepted into your sect and received your teachings. Your kindness is as great as giving me a second life.

"These are merely worldly possessions. If they can help Master attain the Earth Master realm, it will be this disciple's fortune, Maoshan's fortune, and the fortune of all living beings. Besides, the Black Fiend Sect is watching us like a tiger watches its prey. The more strength we possess, the greater our certainty. Please accept this disciple's heartfelt offering."

Seeing the clarity and determination in his disciple's eyes, warmth surged through Uncle Nine's heart. At last, he let out a long breath and nodded heavily. "Good! Good child! Your master... will accept this kindness!"

He hesitated no longer and carefully put away the resources, storing the Foundation Establishment Pill especially close to his body.

"With this pill's aid, along with the High-Grade Spirit Stones to stabilize my spiritual energy and the Spirit Nurturing Pills to protect my soul, I have at least a seventy percent chance of succeeding in one attempt!"

Over the following days, the funeral home temporarily closed its doors to visitors. Uncle Nine announced that he would enter seclusion to challenge his bottleneck, with Mo Yuan, Wen Cai, and Qiu Sheng guarding him.

When Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng learned that their master would attempt Foundation Establishment, they were both nervous and excited, becoming exceptionally careful in everything they did.

Within the meditation chamber, Uncle Nine calmed his breath and focused his mind, first adjusting himself to peak condition. He began by taking a Spirit Nurturing Pill, nourishing and soothing the soul that had grown somewhat weary from years of stagnation, restoring its liveliness and fullness.

Afterward, he grasped a High-Grade Spirit Stone. Pure, vast spiritual energy poured into his body like rivers flowing into the sea, washing through meridians that had long been tempered to their limit and filling his Dantian's sea of qi to perfection.

When his essence, qi, and spirit had all reached their peak, a sharp light flashed in Uncle Nine's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill!

The pill entered his stomach and instantly transformed into a scorching yet gentle torrent, flowing into his limbs and bones. An even more profound force surged directly toward the heavenly gate of his consciousness sea.

Refining qi into spirit—the key to Foundation Establishment lay in condensing a more powerful divine sense, using it as the core to compress and purify one's spiritual power into a higher form of True Essence, then opening the Purple Mansion within the consciousness sea.

In an instant, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy faintly gathered above the meditation chamber, creating subtle ripples. Standing guard outside, Mo Yuan could clearly sense his master's aura undergoing a qualitative transformation. Its original solidity and strength began changing toward something more ethereal and majestic.

The process lasted three full days and nights. At times, spiritual energy surged within the meditation chamber; at others, the pressure of divine sense permeated the air. Wen Cai and Qiu Sheng were nearly unable to breathe beneath the occasional leaked aura, and their reverence for their master grew even deeper.

Mo Yuan remained calm throughout, guarding the chamber while comprehending the Dao resonance emitted during the Foundation Establishment process. It was also of immense benefit to his own cultivation.

Late on the third night, as the moon hung high overhead, a clear, resounding howl suddenly rang out from within the meditation chamber! It was like a crane's cry piercing the nine heavens, breaking through the roof and soaring into the clouds.

The spiritual energy throughout the funeral home boiled, and an invisible pressure spread outward from the meditation chamber. Though it vanished in an instant, it made some of the more perceptive creatures in town tremble in alarm.

With a creak, the meditation chamber door opened, and Uncle Nine slowly stepped out. He still wore the same blue cloth Daoist robe, and his appearance had not changed, but his entire bearing was completely different.

His eyes were deeper, as though stars were contained within them. The aura around him was harmonious and natural, and his communion with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy had reached an entirely new level. Simply standing there, he possessed the bearing of a grandmaster, as still as an abyss and as steadfast as a mountain.

The Foundation Establishment stage—the Earth Master realm—had been achieved!

"Congratulations, Master! Congratulations, Martial Uncle, on your successful Foundation Establishment! May you enjoy immortal blessings forever!" Mo Yuan, Wen Cai, and Qiu Sheng bowed together in congratulations, their faces brimming with sincere joy.

The most contented smile Uncle Nine had shown in years appeared on his face. He helped the three of them up, his gaze finally settling on Mo Yuan, filled with indescribable gratitude and gratification. "Mo Yuan, your master was able to take this crucial step entirely because of you."

"You overpraise me, Master. Your foundation was already deep; this was simply the natural result," Mo Yuan said modestly.

Though Uncle Nine's breakthrough to Foundation Establishment was not deliberately publicized, the news quickly spread through the nearby cultivation circles.

Lin Fengjiao of the Maoshan Sect—Uncle Nine—had advanced to become an Earth Master. This meant that the balance of power within the Maoshan Sect might undergo subtle changes. At the very least, the sect leader Shi Jian was no longer its only Earth Master expert.

Many fellow Daoists on good terms with Uncle Nine sent letters of congratulations, and for a time, the funeral home's threshold was worn down by visitors.