The Wind Abyss Is About to Open

Inside Qiuran Palace, in the Cloud-Heaven Azure Palace.

After settling the clan's affairs, Ye Jinyu devoted himself to cultivation.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged with his eyes closed in a supreme-grade Spirit Gathering Formation, Spiritual Qi swirling around him like mist.

Before him, the phantom image of the Heavenly Cauldron of Fate rotated slowly, purple qi gathering within it. The Bifeng in his body and the yin and yang Qi in his heart were nurtured and refined within the cauldron, then returned to nourish him, strengthening his body and Divine Sense and making his foundation ever more secure.

Yet his cultivation was firmly suppressed at Qi Refinement Perfection. He continually strengthened his foundation, aiming to reach the utmost limit of Qi Refinement.

"Young master."

Xu Feng's voice rang out from outside the hall, carrying a hint of gravity.

"Come in."

Xu Feng pushed open the door and entered. Bowing, he said, "The clan has just received official notices from the Great Jin imperial court and Firmament Heaven in Jianghuai. True Lord Qiuran also has some news for you, young master."

"Speak."

"Yes."

Xu Feng acknowledged the order, then continued.

"Notice is hereby given to the immortal clans, sects, and Rogue Cultivators of Cangxuan. In one month, the imperial court will open a passage through heaven and earth into the Wind Abyss Ruin Realm and begin its conquest.

"Under the agreement reached by the Cangxuan All-Heavens in the Great Void, of all those who wish to enter the realm and contend for fortuitous opportunities, only cultivators at Foundation Establishment and below may enter. Purple Mansion True Persons must face one another on the battlefield in the Great Void beyond the heavens."

Xu Feng paused, then continued, "The terms of the pact are as follows: first, once the Ruin Realm opens, cultivators at the Purple Mansion Realm and above may not set foot inside. Any who violate this rule shall be slain by all.

"Second, the Purple Mansion battlefield shall be established in the Great Void, thirty thousand li beyond the Wind Abyss Realm. Victory or defeat is uncertain, and the fighting may last for years at the shortest, decades at the longest.

"Third, the struggle within the realm shall last ten years. After ten years, the passage shall close, and ownership shall be assigned according to the territory and resource sites each faction actually occupies.

"Fourth, should the Ruin Realm's native factions hold their core territories through ten years of assault, the Cangxuan All-Heavens, in its virtue of cherishing life, may grant them the right to govern themselves as vassals and preserve their inheritances..."

Ye Jinyu slowly opened his eyes.

He truly had not expected this pact. In the past, Cangxuan would not have shown such kindness.

Now that it had been officially announced, it meant that some unusual change must have occurred in the Wind Abyss Ruin Realm. The struggle for this realm was likely bound up in the schemes and maneuvering of Cangxuan's greatest factions.

"Did my father say anything?"

Xu Feng's expression grew even more respectful. "The True Lord sent word that, after deliberation, the Cangxuan All-Heavens chose this realm to select the best of Cangxuan's younger generation for this century. The victor can receive a title from the imperial court and have fortune and merit poured into them, which will be of great benefit to their cultivation.

"Thus, the leading geniuses of Cangxuan's immortal clans will all come here.

"This is a contest for Cangxuan's fortune over the next century, to divide influence among the factions and nurture Cangxuan's heavenly geniuses.

"True Lord Chen, the imperial court's Chief Evaluator, and that supreme sovereign of the Great Jin imperial court have both given their approval.

"It will also be used to determine the ranks of the immortal clans. The ninth rank is the lowest, and the first rank the highest. This is the Nine-Rank Evaluator System."

"The True Lord said that, as the Ye Clan's young master, you must stand at the forefront... You must distinguish yourself here, make your name known throughout Cangxuan, display the might of our Yunlan, and not bring shame upon the True Lord."

"And the fortuitous opportunity you seek to break through to Foundation Establishment is also among them."

"There are four great fortuitous opportunities in the Wind Abyss Ruin Realm, all worth fighting for."

Ye Jinyu raised an eyebrow. "Four great fortuitous opportunities?"

Hearing Ye Jinyu's question, Xu Feng nodded and continued:

"First, at the heart of the Wind Abyss Ruin Realm lies the Heavenly Gang Bifeng Pool. Every three hundred years, it condenses a wisp of Bifeng origin, which can forge a top-tier wind-aspect Dao foundation. Bifeng is a wonder of heaven and earth, and something our Cloud Mist Ye Clan must obtain. The Dao of the wind attribute..."

"Second, there is a special spiritual plant in the Wind Abyss Realm called heavenly will sword soul grass. It matures once every hundred years, and consuming it can help sword cultivators condense a sword intent Dao foundation and improve their comprehension. It has miraculous effects for breaking through to Purple Mansion and condensing sword Dao Divine Abilities."

"Third..." Xu Feng lowered his voice. "Deep within the Wind Abyss Realm's earth veins, there is thought to be a small piece of void heavenly water marrow. It can help one comprehend the Principle of space and is also a water-aspect wonder of heaven and earth."

"Finally... one of the supremely yin earth fires, the Zhu Nantian Yin Fire, is thought to have appeared... Between heaven and earth, fire is divided into three kinds: heavenly, earthly, and human."

"Heavenly fire is yang, earth fire is yin, and human fire is thought. All are supreme treasures of the fire attribute."

When Ye Jinyu heard there was Yin Fire, a glint flashed in his eyes.

Take the Bifeng, refine the Yin Fire... My Dao can be achieved!

He could not help recalling the confidential records he had read before.

There were four methods of Foundation Establishment in this world. The first was to observe one's fate and condense a phenomenon; the second was to use wonders of heaven and earth; the third was to use artistic conception and mental intent. The fourth and final method was the most ordinary: swallowing a Foundation Establishment Pill and refining Qi into a foundation. It was also the method most people chose.

That was because the first three were all exceptionally rare methods, impossible without a powerful faction, great perseverance, and a vast accumulation of resources.

The first method, observing one's fate and condensing a phenomenon, involved using a special fate. Someone with a "flood dragon fate," for example, had to find a flood dragon's Essence Blood, take its spirit essence, refine and consume it, and thus establish their foundation. Someone with an "Azure Sparrow fate" needed the feathers and spirit essence of their fated creature... They harmonized with nature and consumed their fate, gaining attributes and transforming their body into something wondrous. If a Divine Ability was formed, the spirit essence could also enhance it. Examples included Azure Sparrow and Yellow Dragon and Azure Luan and Phoenix Cry.

The second method was Spirit Root and wonder Foundation Establishment: one sought wonders of heaven and earth according to one's Spirit Root attribute. A wind Spirit Root used "Bifeng" or "Azure Nether," a fire Spirit Root used "fire of heaven and earth," and a wood Spirit Root used a "spiritual wood seed." After Foundation Establishment, one's true essence naturally carried the wonder's characteristics and enhancements. Examples included Nine Heavens Azure Nether and Clear Heng Radiant Wind.

Artistic conception Foundation Establishment: one entered the Dao through artistic conception and mental intent. The true essence of someone who established their foundation with Autumn Waters and Boundless Sky surged on without end, the sky stretching to the horizon. The Qi channels of someone who established their foundation with Vast Universe were long and endless, their water aspect inexhaustible. Someone who established their foundation with Sword Momentum of the Firmament united ten thousand swords into one, unrivaled in the sword Dao. This path was also difficult to succeed in; comprehension, talent, and resources were all indispensable.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment: the choice of ninety percent of cultivators. They relied on accumulation through their Cultivation Methods and the aid of Foundation Establishment Pills, letting success come as naturally as a channel forming when water flows. It was reliable, but its upper limit was not high.

"No wonder they attach such importance to it. This Wind Abyss Ruin Realm really is blessed by heaven, an unclaimed treasure vault..." Ye Jinyu rose and walked to the window, gazing toward Jiangnan, hazy with mist and rain.

"Its origin is probably so strong that it has nearly broken through the shackles of a Ruin Realm and become a world in its own right. Everyone wants a bite of such a fat morsel."

Xu Feng nodded. "Exactly. That is why the All-Heavens were unwilling to smash it apart and drew up the pact, arranging for the Purple Mansion cultivators of that realm to fight to the death in the Great Void beyond the heavens.

"Within the realm, Foundation Establishment and Qi Refinement cultivators will fight for actual territory and resources. Ten years is enough to turn the entire Wind Abyss Ruin Realm upside down."

"So this time, each clan will surely send its most elite Foundation Establishment disciples."

Ye Jinyu turned. "How are the clan's preparations?"

"We have selected thirty Foundation Establishment disciples and a hundred at Qi Refinement Perfection. All are among the finest of our Ye Clan's generation.

"We have also assigned two third-grade Foundation Establishment Alchemists, one third-grade Foundation Establishment formation master, and one artifact refiner, along with more than three thousand bottles of pills for healing, recovery, and breaking through realms."

Xu Feng presented a Jade Slip. "This is the detailed roster and list of supplies."

Ye Jinyu swept it with his Divine Sense and nodded slightly.

"Three thousand... I fear that won't be enough. Prepare some more pills, as well as talismans, defensive formations, and the like. The disciples carry our clan's fortune for the next hundred years on their shoulders, so we should naturally take greater precautions."

"I recall that a few years ago, several Purple Mansion great clans of Cangxuan lost their chosen young masters and their entire younger generations in a Ruin Realm conquest, leaving each household and clan without a new generation to carry it on... How tragic."

"So, in my opinion, we should prepare another one or two Spirit Treasures for protection. Who knows what measures those Purple Mansion cultivators of the Ruin Realm may have left behind?

"Throw open the storehouses and equip all the clan disciples going on this journey with Foundation Establishment Law Artifacts for protection."

"Our Ye Clan is a dignified immortal clan, not a band of impoverished Rogue Cultivators. Why be stingy...?"

(Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Law Artifacts, Purple Mansion Spirit Treasures, Golden Core Law Treasures)

"In three days, we'll first go to Jiangnan... to meet the heavenly geniuses of the various clans of our Cangxuan Ancient Realm."

Xu Feng assented, then slowly withdrew.