Immortal Foundation Establishment

"Two months."

"A full two months, and aside from Li Huai'an, no one else had entered the Golden Ranking." Lin Changsheng stood atop the clouds and sighed.

"Indeed. Compared to our batches, they fell quite a bit short." His fellow junior disciple nodded.

When they had undergone the assessment, its difficulty had been about the same as it was now, yet several people had still managed to complete it within two months.

Boom!

As they spoke, a scarlet beam of light shot straight into the heavens.

"Hm?" Both men gave soft cries of surprise and looked over.

"Someone has reached Perfection of the Five Viscera and is about to condense an Immortal Foundation." A figure suddenly appeared there—it was the eldest, Senior Disciple Yun.

"Perfection of the Five Viscera... Li Huai'an!" Lin Changsheng murmured.

Among all these assessment disciples, he was the only possible candidate.

"I wonder what kind of Dao foundation he will condense. It concerns just how far he will be able to go in the Dao Platform Realm later on," he said.

"His talent is decent. I imagine it will not be poor." Senior Disciple Yun smiled.

"The Dao foundation has only just condensed and is inside his body, so we cannot pry into it. Otherwise, we would certainly have to take a look."

"There is no rush. He will have chances to act in the future." Senior Disciple Yun appeared rather unconcerned.

"I'm still a little short of the Fourth Stage of Qi and Blood. If I had Qi Replenishing Pills and Spiritual Meat to supplement me, I'm confident I could advance in a short time. Unfortunately, that is merely empty talk for now."

Inside a thatched hut in District Eight, Bai Jing sensed the cultivation within his body and muttered to himself.

His talent was still far too lacking. More than a month had passed since he broke through to the Third Stage of Qi and Blood, yet he remained some distance away from the Fourth Stage.

That was already the result of cultivating the Minor Formless Technique to perfection. Without the help granted by the Talent Tree, it would likely have been even harder.

"Brother Bai!"

At that moment, a voice came from outside. Bai Jing rose to take a look and found Xu Shan there.

Since this assessment began, he had not seen the other man at all.

He walked out of the hut and saw that Xu Shan was glowing with health. He guessed that the other man's cultivation had made considerable progress, which was why he had come looking for him on his own initiative.

Otherwise, with Xu Shan's competitive nature, how would he have the time to visit?

"It just so happens to be mealtime. Want to eat together?" Xu Shan did not enter, merely standing at the doorway with a smile.

Bai Jing nodded, casually shut the door, and the two headed toward the dining hall.

"Brother Xu, do you still have spare Ascension Coins?"

At the table, Bai Jing could not help asking as he looked at Xu Shan carrying a plate of Spiritual Meat.

Xu Shan smiled mysteriously. "Of course not."

"Then?"

"Borrowed."

"Huh?" Bai Jing froze.

"I borrowed them from an alchemy disciple I know. He is not short on Ascension Coins." Xu Shan personally placed a piece into Bai Jing's bowl and said, "But though they are borrowed, I will have to pay back more when the time comes."

Bai Jing did not stand on ceremony and directly ate the piece of Spiritual Meat.

This was exactly the sort of supplement he lacked most right now.

As he enjoyed the wonderful changes in his body, he said, "Brother Xu, are you saying the borrowed Ascension Coins accrue interest?"

"Of course. Otherwise, why would that person be willing to lend me Ascension Coins?"

"It is fine, eat as much as you like." Seeing Bai Jing's chopsticks halt just as he was about to pick up some meat, Xu Shan smiled.

"When I treated Chen Ping and the others to this Spiritual Meat before, they did not hold back with me. You and I have known each other for months, and our friendship is deeper, so do not be so polite." He added.

"In that case, this Bai shall not decline." Bai Jing immediately picked up another piece. As the Spiritual Meat entered his stomach, his cultivation improved by several more degrees.

"I see Brother Xu looking radiant, as though something joyous has happened. Could you tell me about it?" he asked.

"I will not hide it from you." Xu Shan said seriously, "Before long, I will likely break through to the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood!"

"Congratulations!" Bai Jing raised his teacup and offered his sincere congratulations.

He was not surprised in the least. Xu Shan had the makings of a genius to begin with. Though he had fallen a little behind Chen Ping and the others earlier, as long as he adjusted his mindset, this outcome was only to be expected.

"Actually, I am still somewhat inferior to people like Chen Ping." Xu Shan sighed and lowered his voice. "These past few days, many people have already started taking on tasks."

"You mean someone has already broken through to the Fifth Stage of Qi and Blood?"

"Yes." Xu Shan nodded, then said solemnly, "Leaving that freak Li Huai'an aside, the competition among us is about to begin!"

"Looks like the Golden Ranking is about to get lively." Bai Jing's expression remained calm as he drained the tea in his hand in one gulp.

After that, the two chatted a while longer. Bai Jing also learned that several days earlier, the monstrous genius Li Huai'an had reached Perfection of the Five Viscera, condensed an Immortal Foundation, and greatly increased his strength.

Boom!

A few days later, a long, melodious bell rang out.

Immediately afterward, word spread throughout the entire stronghold that twelve people had entered the Golden Ranking.

"It has begun!"

Many people wore grave expressions. As they looked at the names appearing one after another on the Golden Ranking, their sense of urgency grew ever stronger.

There were only two hundred thousand tasks in total, which meant that ten thousand people would certainly be eliminated.

Rumble!

On a lake far from the Shangqing Mountain Stronghold, an enormous demon serpent wreaked havoc in the water.

Before it stood a young man in brocade with bound sleeves.

Boom!

It was as though a melodious bell had rung, yet it differed from the bell at the stronghold.

Above the youth's head floated a wondrous great cauldron.

Qi and blood flowed within the cauldron, endlessly pouring down. The entire lake surface had formed a field of blood qi.

Crack! Crack!

Moreover, threads of gold were mixed into the surging qi and blood.

"Golden Cauldron!"

Qin Yan Sheng, standing above the clouds, was utterly astonished.

"It is actually a Golden Cauldron!" he exclaimed.

Seven days later.

At the immortal dining hall of the Shangqing Mountain Stronghold.

"Spiritual Meat again? Brother Xu, just how much did you borrow? This is already the fifth time."

Watching Xu Shan arrive carrying yet another plate of Spiritual Meat, Bai Jing could not help asking.

"Only ten, and no more than that. He would not agree to lend me more." Xu Shan smiled.

"Ten? That is only enough for five meals. Brother Xu, you bring me along every time—I feel ashamed. This is aid for your cultivation."

"It is all right. I still say the same thing: when I first saw you and invited you to eat, it was not mere politeness. I genuinely found you agreeable, Brother Bai." Xu Shan shook his head.

"All right." What else could Bai Jing say?

"By the way, Brother Bai, starting tomorrow, I will begin taking on tasks as well," Xu Shan added.

"You reached the Fifth Stage?"

"Yes!" He nodded solemnly, quite proud. The urgency he had once felt had largely vanished after his breakthrough.

"Brother Xu, let me ask you something." Bai Jing placed a piece of meat in the other man's bowl. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Are you confident that you can reach Perfection of the Five Viscera within a month?"

"Of course!" Xu Shan nodded, full of confidence in his talent.

"Then Brother Xu, do you trust me?"

"Certainly. Here, you are the person I have the best relationship with." He nodded again.

"Then do not rush to take on tasks yet." Bai Jing voiced what was on his mind.

"Why is that?" Xu Shan was puzzled.

This assessment would eliminate ten thousand people. The pressure was not too great yet, so if he could complete tasks, why would he not do so?

"Let me ask you this: among those people on the Golden Ranking, how many received a Grade A Rating for their tasks?" Bai Jing asked again.

"Very few." Xu Shan recalled the people on the Golden Ranking.

To complete tasks of Fifth Stage difficulty immediately after entering the Fifth Stage relied on Shangqing Mountain's Immortal Foundation Method, along with all kinds of supreme arts rarely seen in the mortal world.

Even so, earning a Grade A Rating in a task was still extremely difficult.

"Only Grade A Ratings grant special rewards for tasks. If Brother Xu goes to take on tasks now, are you confident you can obtain a Grade A Rating?"

"No." Xu Shan shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Once you reach Perfection of the Five Viscera, your strength will rise greatly. Since Brother Xu is confident you can reach perfection within a month, why not wait a little? You can complete tasks now, but that does not mean you can obtain a Grade A Rating. What about after reaching perfection?"

Bai Jing said.

If he possessed Xu Shan's talent, he would certainly do the same.

Unfortunately, given his own talent and the time available, he likely could not obtain a Grade A Rating.

"You mean I should wait until Perfection of the Five Viscera, then aim for ten Grade A Ratings?" Xu Shan's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Of course." Bai Jing nodded.

"Then that is what we will do!" Xu Shan swiftly made his decision.

If he truly completed the Top Ten Tasks, setting aside the rewards, it would still make for a fine tale!

Excitedly, he grasped Bai Jing's hand and said, "Brother Bai, knowing you truly has not been in vain. You have so many ideas—excellent, excellent!"

P.S. Thank you to Qing Mo Wang for the monthly ticket. It is also the first monthly ticket this book has received from a reader. Special thanks!