Beginning Foundation Establishment

Cultivation knows no passage of time.

Just like that, Lu Li began his secluded, arduous training.

Every morning, the first thing he did upon waking was to rouse Lady Red Furnace and have her charge his body.

He would collect the emotions of joy and sorrow while he was at it.

Of course, even the most good-natured person would grow annoyed if someone bothered them for no reason.

Therefore, Lu Li had to invent a new excuse every single day.

Excuses such as, "True Lord, my Purple Haze Sun-Refining Scripture has run dry again," "I almost suffered a qi deviation last night," or "I made chicken soup, True Lord, would you like some?" and so on.

At first, when Lady Red Furnace's phantom drifted out from the pot, she would still exchange a few pleasantries with Lu Li.

Later on, the moment she emerged, she would simply tap Lu Li on the forehead and dive back in to catch up on her sleep, too lazy to even speak to him.

Lu Li began to collect the Evil of Seven Emotions.

The True Lord had started to grow hateful.

Lu Li understood this perfectly.

After all, they were already cultivating immortality, for heaven's sake—did he really have to clock in at six or seven every morning?

Anyone would find that annoying!

The fact that Lady Red Furnace hadn't slapped him to death yet was an act of great mercy.

Thus, Lu Li immediately ceased this death-seeking behavior.

He stopped for seven days straight.

The reason for the seven-day hiatus was quite simple.

Women, after all, always have those seven days a month when their mood is less than ideal.

Although this lady had already "slain the red dragon," there was likely still some lingering influence.

Sure enough.

After the seventh day, Lu Li went to clock in again and roused Lady Red Furnace.

This time, although Lady Red Furnace still didn't say a word and returned to sleep immediately after charging him, no feelings of hatred were collected.

Lu Li smiled, secretly noting the date.

At the same time, he sighed in his heart.

He had truly encountered a benefactor!

No!

A benefactor at best gives someone a hand; this Lady Red Furnace had given him quite a few hands—she was a great benefactor!

Infinite gratitude welled up in Lu Li's heart.

Then, before dawn the next day, he woke Lady Red Furnace up again to continue the charging.

Eventually, as soon as Lady Red Furnace heard his voice, she would wake up in a daze, manifest a clone, shift it into the jade pot, have it crawl out to tap Lu Li's head, and then drift back into a hazy slumber.

It felt as if she were having a dream.

When she finally woke up, she began to feel suspicious.

Today... did she not go to transfer her true qi to that lad?

Oh no!

Eh?

What is wrong with me? How have I become accustomed to this?

Lady Red Furnace widened her beautiful eyes, feeling somewhat bewildered.

However, watching Lu Li's cultivation base soar upward, she still felt quite gratified.

Sixth level of Qi Refining.

Seventh level of Qi Refining.

Eighth level of Qi Refining.

Ninth level of Qi Refining.

In less than twenty days, Lu Li had already broken through to the ninth level of Qi Refining!

There was absolutely a share of the credit that belonged to her!

Although she was unhappy about being woken up every day, seeing Lu Li's diligent cultivation made it difficult for Lady Red Furnace to harbor any blame in her heart.

Because she knew how difficult it was to be an undercover agent!

Especially within this Demon Sect!

A single moment of carelessness, and one would be reduced to ashes, doomed beyond redemption.

Lu Li had been cultivating so diligently and risking everything to improve his strength, wasn't it all for the Dao Alliance?

Thinking of this, the displeasure in Lady Red Furnace's heart vanished like smoke in the wind, and her appreciation for Lu Li grew a few shades deeper.

Lu Li had no inkling of this change in her mindset.

However, he still vaguely sensed that Lady Red Furnace's attitude toward him had shifted.

Whenever she woke him each day, she was all smiles and pleasantries.

Gone was her icy, frigid expression.

Lu Li found it a bit baffling, but he was too lazy to guess at a woman's thoughts.

Because he had already cultivated to the tenth layer of Qi Refining!

Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art: Tenth Layer (Progress 50%).

As soon as he broke through to the eleventh layer, he could directly advance to Foundation Establishment!

Excitement surged in Lu Li's heart, filling him with drive. He sat within the Spirit Gathering Array and began to ravenously absorb the dense spiritual energy surrounding him.

At the same time, he silently recited the heart sutra in his mind.

Between his brows, a fleshy lump bulged and pulsed rhythmically.

It was the Spirit-Devouring Fish, consuming and refining the Azure Flood Dragon True Blood.

Ding.

"Your Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art has absorbed powerful spirit blood; your cultivation level has increased, progress +1%."

"Progress +1%."

"Progress +1%."

"Progress +1%."

On the system panel, the progress of the Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art climbed steadily.

55%... 66%... 77%...

88%!

99%!

Qi Refining perfection!

In an instant, Lu Li felt the bottleneck looming in the dark.

That threshold!

As wide as a great river!

If he crossed it, his life would undergo a transformation, and he would step into the realm of innate Foundation Establishment!

Hoo.

Lu Li exhaled a long breath, his eyes flashing with sharp light as he ceased his cultivation.

He needed to rest well for a day.

Then... he would break through to innate Foundation Establishment in one go!

Of course, before that, he had to find Lady Red Furnace, this Nascent Soul True Lord, to ask for advice and, incidentally, request that she guard him just in case.

Thinking of this, Lu Li exited the cultivation chamber and jumped into the pool to bathe.

He spent the afternoon basking in the sun and the night watching the stars and the moon.

The next day, early morning.

In the cultivation chamber.

Ding, ding, ding.

Lu Li tapped the White Jade Snuff Bottle right on time.

Hum.

The White Jade Snuff Bottle trembled slightly, emitting a brilliant azure light.

A wisp of white smoke drifted out.

Following that, a graceful figure coalesced within the white smoke, revealing the face of Lady Red Furnace.

"Hm? You've reached Qi Refining perfection?"

Lady Red Furnace swept her beautiful eyes over him and exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes."

A trace of a smile appeared on Lu Li's face as he bowed, saying, "I have much to thank you for, True Lord! Without your assistance and guidance in my cultivation, I fear I could not have reached Qi Refining perfection so quickly!"

"Think nothing of it. You are my junior, so it is only right that I guide you," Lady Red Furnace replied with a light wave of her hand and a gentle smile.

Hearing this, Lu Li was about to ask her to stand guard, but as he looked up, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "Eh, True Lord, you... you look a bit strange today."

"Hmm? How so?"

Lady Red Furnace paused, slightly taken aback.

"Strangely beautiful," Lu Li praised. "At a glance, you look just like a celestial maiden descending from the nine heavens—peerless, enchanting, and capable of turning the world upside down."

"Heh."

Upon hearing this, Lady Red Furnace's face blossomed into a smile, as vibrant and exquisite as an epiphyllum in bloom. "I have heard such flattery countless times within the Demon Sect. However, coming from your lips, I find myself quite pleased. Speak, what help do you wish to ask of me today?"

"True Lord, your heart is as delicate as an orchid, and your gaze is like a torch! I am full of admiration!"

Lu Li secretly harvested the joy he had provoked, bowed, and said, "I wish to request that you stand guard for me! I intend to reach Foundation Establishment within this very day!"

"Oh? So quickly? Do you not need to temper yourself for several months to solidify your foundation? The Kunpeng Devil Art you practice is a demonic path that relies on devouring spiritual blood to rapidly boost your cultivation; it is a shortcut, and your foundation is shallow. To break through now is to risk a deviation in cultivation or failure. Even if you succeed, the drawbacks will outweigh the benefits. Why not wait a day? I can have someone send over some spiritual fruits and pills to consolidate your foundation."

Lady Red Furnace frowned as she spoke.

Her soft, delicate voice carried a hint of concern and worry.

"Thank you for your concern, True Lord! But there is no need; that would easily expose your identity! I am confident that I can successfully reach Foundation Establishment!"

Lu Li said, his chest filled with certainty.

Seeing Lu Li's absolute confidence, Lady Red Furnace blinked her beautiful eyes, pondered for a moment, and then asked in a gentle voice, "Are you certain you wish to proceed? You must know that for anyone practicing demonic arts, the breakthrough will inevitably summon inner demons! Under their influence, you will be beset by illusions: mountains of corpses and seas of blood, thousands of beauties, imperial power and wealth... You must conquer these various temptations to steady your mind, condense your mana, enter the innate state, and build the foundation of the Great Dao."

"Conquer temptations?"

Lu Li was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily. "Please rest assured, True Lord, that is exactly what I am best at!"

"Are you sure?"

Lady Red Furnace remained somewhat worried. "You must have practiced the Scripture Protection Elder's Heavenly Demon Twenty-Three Swords, right? Now that the Power of Seven Emotions clings to you, you will certainly attract Heavenly Demons. They will detonate your inner demons with terrifying power; if you are even the slightest bit careless, you will be consumed by fire and perish."

Right!

He had almost forgotten about that!

Reminded by Lady Red Furnace, Lu Li realized the gravity of the situation. He thought for a moment, then bowed. "Then I must ask you to ensure my safety! Ghost Demon True Person demands that I reach Foundation Establishment to compete for the position of Chief Disciple; I have no choice but to obey! For the sake of the Dao Alliance's grand enterprise to eradicate the Demon Sect, I beg for your assistance!"

"Very well! I will help you! Begin." Lady Red Furnace nodded solemnly.

"Many thanks, True Lord!"

Lu Li bowed once more in gratitude.

Then, he sat cross-legged within the Spirit Gathering Array, exhaled a long breath of turbid air, and sharp light ignited in his eyes.

The next moment, he flipped his hand, and a small, blood-colored fish materialized from his palm.

The Spirit-Devouring Fish!

He then raised his other hand, on the palm of which sat a blood bead the size of a sesame seed.

Azure Flood Dragon True Blood!

"Go!"

Lu Li gave a sharp command.

The Spirit-Devouring Fish swam out, darted to the palm of his other hand, swallowed the Azure Flood Dragon True Blood in one gulp, and then flicked its tail, vanishing instantly into the space between Lu Li's brows to begin devouring and refining it.

Boom.

A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted instantly from his forehead.

A crisp ding echoed.

The system prompt sounded:

"Your Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art has absorbed powerful spiritual blood; cultivation increased."

"Progress +1%."

"Congratulations to the host, your Kunpeng Heaven-Swallowing Demon Art has reached the eleventh level."

"Congratulations to the host, you are about to begin Foundation Establishment..."

As the voice faded, all manner of illusions began to emerge before Lu Li's eyes.