Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Qinghe's Letter

It's done.

Looking at the three Origin-Breaking Pill in front of her, Chen Nianzhi couldn't help but show a hint of joy.

After emerging from seclusion, he rented a Tier 2 high-grade cave dwelling and spent two days adjusting his condition in preparation for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Logically speaking, he had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment Third Layer less than a year ago. Even with the help of the Spirit Peach, he would still need five years to accumulate True Essence before reaching the limit of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

However, in order to break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, Chen Nianzhi specially bought a Jade Marrow Pill from the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion this time.

This Jade Marrow Pill is a high-grade Tier 2 pill. Su Mingwei refined it using two Tier 2 treasures: Millennium Jade Marrow and Snow Jade Ginseng. It is a rare and Precious Pill. Taking one pill can increase Foundation Establishment cultivator's cultivation by about twenty years.

This kind of pill is rare in the Heavenly Ruins Pavilion, and it costs as much as two thousand Spirit Stone. Ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators really can't bear to buy it.

Moreover, this pill has a drawback: only one pill can be taken within a 60-year period. Chen Changxuan took one pill more than 30 years ago, so much so that even now that he has the means, he has not bought any more of this pill.

After taking the Jade Marrow Pill, Chen Nianzhi spent seven days cultivating his True Essence to the limit of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

At this moment, the True Essence in his meridians is already abundant. If he wants to continue to grow, he generally needs to spend another twenty or thirty years refining it before he can naturally break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Over the past few decades, cultivators' True Essence has barely progressed, and they still need to tediously hone True Essence day after day. Many cultivators see no hope of breakthrough and lose their motivation to cultivate.

Once a cultivator loses confidence and the determination to cultivate diligently, their efforts to hone their True Essence will be inconsistent, which is why almost 80-90% of Foundation Establishment cultivators will remain at the early or middle stages of Foundation Establishment.

However, with the Origin-Breaking Pill, there is a possibility of directly breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

This pill is different from the Foundation-Building Pill. The Foundation-Building Pill, along with other substances like the Blazing Fire Crystal, makes the True Essence more gentle and can protect the meridians.

While this helps cultivators reduce the difficulty of breakthroughs, it also makes their True Essence become unstable, lacking the stability and sharpness of a breakthrough achieved on its own.

The effect of the Origin-Breaking Pill is similar to that of the Origin-Gathering Pill; both cause a cultivator's True Essence to surge, thereby forcibly breaking through bottlenecks and increasing the chances of success.

This saves the time spent refining True Qi. Once you break through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, you can go back to refining True Essence when you reach a higher level. It will be much easier and won't make the cultivator's foundation weak.

Chen Nianzhi was full of confidence at this moment. One Origin-Breaking Pill was enough to increase his chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage by 30%. With three in hand, he was almost 100% certain.

In fact, Chen Nianzhi only used one Origin-Breaking Pill. His veins were wide, and his True Essence was thick and sharp, far exceeding that of ordinary people. After taking the Origin-Breaking Pill, a chain reaction was immediately triggered.

Without expending much effort, he broke through to the Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, and his True Essence essence increased by more than 40% out of thin air.

It's done.

Feeling the surge of True Essence within his body, Chen Nianzhi couldn't help but smile. After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, his strength would experience explosive growth.

Next, once he finishes refining his True Essence, True Essence will be no weaker than that of an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator. In this way, he can unleash the full power of the Purple Radiance Mirror and the Purple Sun Furnace.

In addition, the power of the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Sword and the Yang-Metal Divine Thunder Divine Ability his hands would be almost the same as that of the Old Clan Leader.

Most importantly, he has already refined the Blazing Fire Return-to-Ruins Sword to the Tier 2 superior grade. At that time, the Blazing Fire Return-to-Ruins Sword will unleash a ten-zhang Sword-Ray, and its power will be greatly enhanced.

Thinking of this, Chen Nianzhi couldn't help but show a look of joy. Once the Blazing Fire Return-to-Ruins Sword was successfully refined, his strength would probably increase dramatically.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Law Artifact might only possess one or two Tier 2 high-grade magic artifacts, and a few powerful ones might have a Divine Ability. But he lacked neither Divine Ability Law Artifact nor supernatural abilities, and he also had a superior Higher Vehicle sword. Naturally, his strength far surpassed that of others.

Then he will be able to fight against two or three Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator on his own, just like the Old Clan Leader.

Moreover, the Blazing Fire Return-to-Ruins Sword is an extremely Higher Vehicle sword. Its defensive power may not be as good as the Old Clan Leader's Old Clan Leader, but its offensive capabilities are probably several times stronger.

Thinking of this, Chen Nianzhi suppressed the urge to leave seclusion. He spent another half a month refining his True Essence before excitedly emerging from the Seclusion Chamber.

But as soon as he stepped out of the Seclusion Chamber, he found that several Lineage cultivators had been waiting for a long time, each with a sorrowful expression on their face.

"What happened?"

Looking at their expressions, Chen Nianzhi's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a bad premonition welled up in her heart.

Among the crowd, Chen Nianyong, who was at the head, showed a sorrowful expression and said with a grief-stricken face.

"Uncle Qinghe... he has passed away!"

"What?"

"..."

The night was hazy, and a light rain was falling.

Chen Nianzhi stood before Chen Qinghe's secluded cave, looking at Chen Qinghe covered by a white cloth, and couldn't help but close her eyes.

Uncle Qinghe left you a letter.

"And this..."

Chen Nianyong, who was standing nearby, handed over a letter and a small jade box.

Chen Nianzhi opened the jade box and found that the Foundation-Building Pill was still intact, emitting a pale blue light.

Opening the letter, Chen Nianzhi read its contents word by word with a blank expression.

"The thought ends."

Xiao Nianzhi, you've finally grown up. Nearly thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye, and you've finally become a pillar of the Lineage.

You are much better than me. Your Uncle Qinghe is incompetent. He accomplished nothing when he was young, lacked the courage to attempt Foundation Establishment in his prime, and can only help the Lineage with their business in his old age.

Before I die, I'll make a final attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm; that's my last act of defiance as an old man.

I know it's impossible to succeed, even with the Foundation-Building Pill. Rather than wasting a Foundation-Building Pill Foundation-Building Pill to save my life, I'd rather keep it for someone who needs it more.

You're still young and too sentimental, but you're immature, while I need to be!

Take this Foundation-Building Pill back to the Lineage. I hope it can add another Foundation Establishment to the Lineage. This can be considered my last contribution to the Lineage.

There is no need for sorrow after my death.

For me, dying while attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment is better than watching my life slip away day by day, and then dying in regret and resentment.

I also hope you can learn from my experience. When faced with a difficult choice, don't hesitate. Be bold and take action. If you succeed, you will achieve your goal. If you fail, you will have no regrets!

If you miss the opportunity because of hesitation, you will regret it for the rest of your life and die in despair, but then it will be too late!

..."

Chen Nianzhi closed the letter expressionlessly, only to feel a chill on his face. He reached up and touched it, only to find that tears were already streaming down his face.

That night, the darkness was hazy, and a light rain was falling from the dim sky.

His long hair was held up by a silver crown, and he was dressed in white like snow. He sat alone on the edge of the cliff, playing the zither, silently getting wet in the rain, and playing a tune of Autumn's Longing.

After an unknown amount of time, a paper umbrella was extended. She, dressed in a snow-white long dress, stood quietly there, holding the paper umbrella, shielding him from the wind and rain.

The two remained silent, utterly silent...

As dawn broke and the drizzle subsided, Chen Nianzhi reached out and pressed down on the strings of the zither, speaking softly.

"Thanks."

"Um."

Jiang Linglong watched him silently, saying nothing, but quietly held up her paper umbrella, turned and disappeared into the hazy dawn.

P. S.: I've changed the ending of this section. Also, I'd like to mention some details that weren't mentioned before, which some readers might not be aware of if they haven't read the book carefully.

The incident of Chen Nianzhi playing the zither wasn't a coincidence, nor was it that Chen Nianzhi's playing attracted Chen Nianzhi. Chen Nianzhi had gone there specifically to deliver the Foundation-Building Pill Foundation-Building Pill, seeing that Chen Nianzhi was heartbroken.

Otherwise, what a coincidence it would be to deliver the Foundation-Building Pill just when Chen Qinghe was about to Foundation Establishment?