Immortal Foundation

The great figure who had sheltered the old methods for a thousand years had fallen!

The sky over the Southern Edge Continent had collapsed!

Li Chengxuan was shaken. He looked up at Xue Yang, only to discover, to his surprise, that there was little sadness on Xue Yang's face. Instead, he seemed unable to contain his excitement.

That was right.

With the protective umbrella over the old-method cultivators gone, they could finally see the true sky.

The Azure Cloud Sect, which cultivated the new methods, had landed on the Southern Edge Continent.

Did that mean the sects of the Southern Edge Continent could also go to the Central Continent?

More importantly, could the Southern Edge Continent cultivate the new methods from now on too?!

Understanding dawned on Li Chengxuan, and he sighed.

Even if the winds and clouds shifted and the Southern Edge Continent could cultivate the new methods, it no longer had anything to do with him.

The Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao held that "entering the Dao is like choosing a master."

Li Chengxuan had already entered the Dao through Qi Ingestion, so he had no chance of switching to the new methods.

For now, the most urgent matter was dealing with the Azure Cloud Sect.

"Deacon Xue."

Li Chengxuan spoke slowly. "I have inherited Supreme Mystery Mountain's Dao lineage, and I am all alone. I only want to ask: how will the Immortal Alliance deal with the Azure Cloud Sect?!"

Xue Yang's expression turned solemn. "The Azure Cloud Sect comes from the Central Continent, after all. Since it dared to be the first to land on the Southern Edge Continent, I'm afraid it has something to rely on."

"The Immortal Alliance's view is that Sect Leader Li should bear with it for now and wait and see."

Li Chengxuan's expression changed drastically, and he said coldly, "Has the Immortal Alliance abandoned the Dao lineages and turned to the new methods?!"

"Of course not!"

Xue Yang shook his head repeatedly, denying it firmly.

Preserving the various Dao lineages was an ideal the Immortal Alliance had upheld for a thousand years.

The cultivators currently in power in the Immortal Alliance all cultivated the old methods and could not switch to the new ones.

Thus, upholding the Dao lineages of the old methods remained the Immortal Alliance's core ideal.

But it was common knowledge that cultivating the old methods was growing more difficult by the day.

The Immortal Alliance's cultivators were not all alone like Li Chengxuan; they had lineages and descendants.

Their own Dao Paths were difficult, and achievement was unlikely.

They had to give some thought to their children and descendants.

The Immortal Alliance had also split into two factions over how to deal with the Azure Cloud Sect, and their arguments had gone on without end.

At a time like this, Supreme Mystery Mountain, the aggrieved party, was especially important.

Xue Yang explained the Immortal Alliance's difficulties and predicament, earnestly urging Li Chengxuan not to act on impulse. Take one step back, and the sea would be wide and the sky vast.

Li Chengxuan's expression eased somewhat, and he began to state his demands. "I can refrain from pursuing the matter of the Azure Cloud Sect seizing my territory for now."

"But the Immortal Alliance must provide compensation."

Xue Yang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly. "Of course."

Supreme Mystery Mountain's Dao lineage had been passed down since ancient times and possessed considerable reserves.

Xue Yang had been worried that Li Chengxuan, young and hot-blooded, would take Supreme Mystery Mountain's most closely guarded means and recklessly fight the Azure Cloud Sect to the death.

Then the situation would become impossible to contain, and the Immortal Alliance would be left in a very difficult position.

Li Chengxuan asked for some Spirit Stones, pills, and other cultivation resources. Seeing Xue Yang grit his teeth and agree, he continued, "Quite a few ancient Dao lineages have died out over the past thousand years, and the Immortal Alliance has gathered and disposed of them all."

"I don't want the Law Treasures or spiritual objects of those lineages, only their cultivation methods."

"The originals would be best."

"But if that isn't possible, copies will do."

Xue Yang was stunned to hear this, unable to make sense of it for a moment.

The Immortal Alliance's treasury did indeed contain quite a few cultivation methods from extinct Dao lineages. No one had ever touched them, for fear of becoming entangled in their karma and bringing calamity upon their descendants.

Yet Li Chengxuan was quite bold, actually asking for them of his own accord.

"I can't agree to this myself. I'll have to ask the esteemed seniors of the Immortal Alliance."

Xue Yang was very cautious and asked seriously, "Sect Leader Li, could you tell me why you want the cultivation methods of these extinct Dao lineages?"

Li Chengxuan was silent for a moment before saying in a low voice, "Although I entered the Dao with Mortal World Turbid Qi, I am unwilling to stop here. Even if hope is slim, I still want to build an immortal foundation in my lifetime!"

The Southern Verge Immortal Alliance's headquarters, Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain.

Xue Yang came to the cave abode and gave a detailed account of his visit to Supreme Mystery Mountain.

After a long while, an aged voice came from the cave abode. "Very well. Since Supreme Mystery Mountain has taken this stance, I won't play the villain for nothing. Handle it as you see fit."

Xue Yang's face lit up with joy, and he bowed sincerely. "Thank you for your mercy, Old Ancestor."

Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain held sway over the Immortal Alliance and appeared mighty, but only it knew its own troubles.

Supreme Mystery Mountain's Dao lineage was ancient and highly valued.

Back when it had been on the verge of dying out, the great figure who sheltered the Southern Edge Continent had used his means to seize Old Daoist Wu, who bore a weighty fate, from the Chu Lands of the Central Continent and bring him over to inherit the Dao lineage.

The several disciples under Old Daoist Wu, all of whom had unusual fates, had come from similar origins.

Once Li Chengxuan entered the Dao, the others were naturally released.

But the Xue Household of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain was different.

The Xue Household had cultivated Wu Earth since ancient times.

Even with a Foundation Establishment cultivator holding the fort on the mountain, the entire Xue Household remained heavily bound, able only to cling to the Wu Earth Dao lineage, trapped in the Southern Reach and unable to move.

A full thousand years!

The Xue Household had had enough!

Now that the great figure had fallen, the cage shrouding the Southern Edge Continent was about to collapse. How could the Xue Household not be ecstatic?!

Even the Xue Household's old ancestor, exalted as he was as the Immortal Alliance's leader, could not stop them!

The aged voice in the cave abode sneered. "Inside a cage, you may not be free, but you won't be eaten by jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards either."

The Immortal Alliance had long since debated the reasoning behind this hundreds and thousands of times.

Xue Yang had made up his mind, but he did not dare defy the old ancestor to his face. After a moment of silence, he asked, "As for the sect leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain asking for the cultivation methods of extinct Dao lineages, how should we handle it? Please instruct me, Old Ancestor."

The Xue Household's old ancestor pondered for a moment, then asked, "Which kind of Spiritual Qi did that man use to enter the Dao?"

Xue Yang remembered. "It was Mortal World Turbid Qi."

"Supreme Mystery... Mundane World Qi..."

The Xue Household's old ancestor thought for a moment and sighed. "I never expected this junior's Dao heart to be so steadfast that he still harbors thoughts of Foundation Establishment."

"In that case, let him have his wish."

"Sort through the cultivation methods of extinct Dao lineages in the Immortal Alliance's treasury and send them all to him."

After a pause, he added, "Send the clan's Rainbow Rosy Clouds cultivation method along with them."

Xue Yang was stunned and instinctively protested, "You mustn't, Old Ancestor! That is where our ancestors' merit lies. It concerns the great Dao of Fruition. How can we hand it over to an outsider?!"

The Xue Household's old ancestor sneered. "In that case, let your children and descendants cultivate it!"

How could Xue Yang be willing?

Cultivating Wu Earth was like sitting in prison, but cultivating Rainbow Rosy Clouds was courting death.

Forget it, forget it.

The Xue Household's descendants would all cultivate the new methods from now on, so why care about these things?

Xue Yang bowed. "I respectfully obey your command, Old Ancestor!"

Supreme Mystery Mountain, Founding Master Hall.

Looking at the library, which was nearly filled to the brim, Li Chengxuan felt somewhat reassured.

Now, Liu Zhijian's Kan Water cultivation method was taken care of.

His own path to Foundation Establishment finally had a glimmer of hope as well.

When the Heavenly Dao manifested earlier, Li Chengxuan had learned many of this world's secrets.

Among them were secrets concerning Supreme Mystery Mountain's Dao lineage.

As a Dao scripture said, "The Dao begins with mystery; immortals emerge from mystery."

Supreme Mystery Mountain's Dao lineage could be traced back to primordial times. It was truly ancient and esteemed.

Alas, its descendants had failed to live up to it, and it had fallen into destitution.

Having entered the Dao with Mortal World Turbid Qi, Li Chengxuan had originally had no path ahead.

But after a painstaking search, he had still found a glimmer of light.

Mundane World Qi corresponded to the Human Immortal Dao.

The Human Immortal Dao was diverse and chaotic, but one immortal foundation inclined toward teaching and enlightenment suited him perfectly.

This immortal foundation was called Continue Lost Teachings!

Now that the inheritance of the old methods had declined, countless Dao lineages had died out.

Yet Li Chengxuan could travel between two worlds and find disciples bearing manifestations and fates on Earth, so he could naturally continue many Dao lineages that had already died out with ease.

In ancient times, that would have counted as merit!

If his merit was great enough, let alone Foundation Establishment, even attaining Fruition was possible!

"It's just a pity that people still seem to cultivate Kan Water, so its Dao lineage hasn't died out."

"Even if Liu Zhijian enters the Dao, it won't count as merit for me."

"I'll have to search for more."

With a thought, Li Chengxuan connected to the Two Worlds Pearl.

"After all this time, the Two Worlds Pearl has finally regained its function. I can make another trip to Earth!"

"I wonder if I'll meet a child of fate who has condensed a manifestation this time!"