Foundation Establishment Success

After Su Zhi entered the Cloud Sword Sect, she had the sect's resource advantages. Even a Foundation Establishment Pill needed for Foundation Establishment could be exchanged for within the sect.

Unfortunately, these sect forces kept a tight grip on resources and could not transfer sect resources to outsiders.

Otherwise...

Not far from Eight Demon Ridge, several Demonic Cultivators sat around a stove brewing tea in an estate. Several pretty village girls had been captured to serve as maids, trembling beside them with pale faces as they attended to the group.

"Why haven't we found that fabled place of opportunity yet? How long has it been already?!"

"Boss, this matter can't be rushed. Even the people from Nine Souls Demonic Palace failed to find it before they died. We... will probably have to take it slow and wait."

"Hmph. Time waits for no one. It isn't just Cloud Sword Sect watching this place now—powerful forces like Moon Worship Immortal City and Sun Valley have also shown signs of activity."

"They have not made a move yet, but once that place is discovered, forces like Cloud Sword Sect definitely won't let us off."

"Actually, it's not too bad. Cloud Sword Sect has been declining year after year. Their Real Person is old, yet there is no one to carry on the torch. If no new Real Person appears in another twenty or thirty years, Cloud Sword Sect will surely be in danger!"

"That is why Cloud Sword Sect does not dare act too arrogantly or conspicuously. As for the other forces, they are farther away, beyond the reach of even the longest whip. We still have a chance."

The group brewed tea around the stove until nightfall before dispersing.

A ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm cultivator left the estate with an eighth-layer Qi Refining Realm cultivator, heading toward Eight Demon Ridge. He had built an underground Cave Dwelling hideout outside Eight Demon Ridge. As long as he remained cautious, safety would not be a problem.

He was not as ostentatious as that fellow in the estate, who had seized a mortal wealthy merchant's estate and hidden among mortals.

Thinking he could hide in the darkness beneath the lamp.

Yet if he was careless and a Righteous Path expert happened to pass by, that fellow would undoubtedly die.

"Still, for what happens in a few days, we should call him along for greater certainty. The spirit mine belonging to that Chen family transports ore out every month. The gains from taking it once would let us lie low for another year."

The ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator pondered in secret. Just as he crossed a hill, clouds and mist suddenly surged forth. Cloud dragons roared into being one after another—twelve in all, occupying every direction and commanding the mist to form barriers. A Trapping Formation took shape, trapping the ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator and his younger clan brother subordinate.

The Demonic Cultivator's expression changed drastically. "A top-tier Rank 1 Cloud Dragon Formation? An Inner Disciple of Cloud Sword Sect!?"

"Fight our way out!"

Without the slightest hesitation.

With an angry roar, the Demonic Cultivator chose to break through the formation and escape.

Yet just as he summoned his Demonic Path magical artifact and threw out two high-grade Rank 1 Demonic Path Talismans specifically meant for breaking formations, intending to shatter the Cloud Dragon Formation, a black phantom suddenly lunged from the dark clouds and mist!

The two Demonic Path Talismans struck the figure, only making its body pause slightly.

They did not even leave a mark.

Whoosh!!!

Boom!!!

The ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator was horrified. He controlled his magical artifact and clashed head-on with the phantom, only for the artifact to be slapped flying with one claw. His Demonic Path mana scattered, and the artifact dimmed.

Boom!!!

After sending the Demonic Path magical artifact flying, the puppet beast did not stop. One claw struck toward the ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator.

The Demonic Cultivator fought with all his strength against the puppet beast, but in his haste, he immediately fell into a disadvantage. He was blasted away by a claw and smashed into the Cloud Dragon Formation's barrier behind him.

"Mmgh!" The Demonic Cultivator grunted, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

He stared at the puppet beast that had suddenly attacked. Its entire body was pitch-black like a phantom, yet it stood a full zhang tall, its oppressive presence even more terrifying than that of a demon beast of the same rank.

The Demonic Cultivator cried out in shock, "A Top Grade Rank 1 Puppet Beast!!!"

They were finished!

Besides the people from Cloud Sword Sect, there was also such a puppet beast, while a formation trapped them and their Formation Breaking Talismans were gone.

What could they do now?

Whoosh!

The puppet beast charged again in the next instant. The two Demonic Cultivators joined forces, yet they were completely suppressed by the puppet beast. Their attacks landed on its body without causing pain or itch, but a single claw from it could injure them—or even kill them.

Whoosh!

At the instant the two Demonic Cultivators desperately joined forces against the puppet beast, a flying sword suddenly shot forth.

At the same time.

The puppet beast suddenly pounced forward, sending the eighth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator flying with a single claw.

Splurt! While he was still in midair, the flying sword instantly pierced through his head. The Demonic Cultivator's eyes bulged wide, his mouth full of blood. He died with his eyes open.

Su Zhi struck, working with the puppet beast to instantly kill the eighth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator.

Then, joining forces with the puppet beast again, she easily killed the remaining ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator.

Once the Cloud Dragon Formation dispersed, Chen Sisi, who had been controlling it, had a strange gleam in her eyes. The puppet beast Su Yu had produced was far too strong and ferocious!

Even a ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm cultivator wielding a mid-grade Demonic Path magical artifact had been beaten down by the puppet beast's savage fighting style!

It could be said that such a puppet beast was a hundred, a thousand times better than so-called High-grade Rank 1 Talismans and formations! In an ordinary immortal cultivation family, it could even protect them through the ages. As long as they had spirit stones to power the puppet beast, that was enough—after all, puppet beasts had no lifespan limit!

Was this puppet beast refined by Cousin Su Yu himself, or bought by the Su Family...? Chen Sisi secretly wondered. If he had refined it himself, then aside from his somewhat poor cultivation talent, his other talents were simply monstrous.

She did not know that Su Yu had also begun cultivating the path of a Puppet Master.

Not far away.

Su Qingyi, who had not even needed to act, had a subtly changing expression. The puppet beast's might had likewise shaken him, adding a trace of distortion to his face.

"Su Yu... your cultivation talent is so poor, so why do you have to live better than me!" Su Qingyi's expression was ugly, and the thoughts in his mind grew increasingly extreme.

Su Zhi collected the heads of the two Demonic Cultivators, along with their magical artifacts, Cosmos Bags, and other spoils.

"Let's go!"

"We'll head to that estate and slaughter all the remaining Demonic Cultivators!"

The successful ambush greatly boosted Su Zhi's confidence, and her face was brimming with delight. The puppet beast her cousin Su Yu had brought out possessed astonishing combat strength, beyond her imagination.

Even within Cloud Sword Sect, there was no high-grade Rank 1 puppet beast this formidable available for exchange.

The puppet beast's appearance delighted her, while also giving her an indescribable sense of happiness.

With Cousin Su Yu and the family standing behind her as her support, she truly was fortunate.

Not long after.

Su Zhi and the other two arrived at the estate and charged straight in.

Besides one ninth-layer Qi Refining Realm Demonic Cultivator, there were another five Demonic Cultivators at the eighth layer of Qi Refining Realm or below. It was a small Demonic Cultivator den.

Only after half an hour did peace return to the estate. Although the Demonic Cultivators had set up a Demonic Path formation—

They only held out for half an hour before the formation was smashed apart by the puppet beast's claws. One Demonic Cultivator's head after another was severed through the combined efforts of the puppet beast and Su Zhi's group, and the estate returned to stillness.

The mission had been completed beyond expectations. Su Zhi happily returned with the others, gave the puppet beast back to Su Yu, then returned to the sect to settle the mission and exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Next, Su Zhi would enter seclusion to prepare for her breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Half a month later.

Su Yu received a letter from Su Zhi: "Little Brother Su Yu, I have successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Next, I will continue my secluded cultivation for a while. Once I emerge, I will definitely repay your help handsomely. Hehe, just wait."

Su Yu was delighted as he read the letter. Another member of the Su Family had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

With everything flourishing, his cultivation here in the market would have even greater security.

Afterward, he continued studying his puppet beasts.

"Can the strengths of these two puppet beasts be combined and fused into an even stronger puppet beast?"