Chương 39: Secluded Foundation Building!

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Seclusion for Foundation Building!

"good!"

Li Huayuan nodded in satisfaction: "In that case, you should return to the sect with the group first. The sect will distribute the Foundation Establishment Pills according to your contributions. After you successfully establish your foundation, you can come to 'Green Wave Cave' to find me. At that time, I will formally accept you as my personal disciples."

"Yes, Master!"

The two responded in unison.

Li Huayuan's gaze swept over the other Huangfeng Valley disciples.

Seeing the envy and even jealousy on their faces, he felt a sense of smugness.

With a wave of his hand, four streams of light flew out from his sleeves and landed in front of Zhou Ding and Han Li respectively.

Before Zhou Ding were two exquisite flying swords, one entirely crimson with flame patterns on its blade, and the other an ancient and weighty jade scroll.

"This is a reward from your teacher."

Li Huayuan smiled and said, "It's a top-tier, exquisite magic weapon called the 'Crimson Flame Sword,' and the jade slip contains a set of sword techniques. Consider it a small gift."

Another top-tier magic weapon!

Another wave of envious and jealous glances!

Zhou Ding accepted the flying sword and jade slip, but his heart remained unmoved.

Top-tier magical artifact?

He had at least a dozen top-tier magical artifacts in his storage bag.

Azure Mirror, Devouring Magic Orb, Yellow Silk Umbrella, Cloud-Stepping Boots... which one isn't inferior to this flying sword?

But he remained respectful, saying, "Thank you for your generous gift, Master!"

Han Li also bowed and thanked him.

"Alright, it's time to return to the sect."

Li Huayuan waved his hand, and the massive body of the Silver-Armored Horned Python reappeared: "Come on up, all of you. We can talk about it back at the sect."

The disciples all leaped onto the python's back.

Two days later, the gate to Huangfeng Valley came into view in the distance.

The silver-armored horned python slowly landed in the square in front of the council hall.

Li Huayuan, accompanied by two Foundation Establishment stage managers, went straight to the main hall to summarize the results of the trial to the sect leader.

The other disciples dispersed and returned to their residences to await their rewards a few days later.

Zhou Ding set off alone on the path back to Xuankun Mountain.

I had only taken a few steps when I heard a cautious voice behind me.

"Zhou Ding... my cousin."

Zhou Ding paused slightly, but did not turn around.

Zhou Long quickly caught up and stood behind him, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Zhou Ding was silent for a moment, then said calmly, "Now that you've returned alive from the forbidden area, focus on preparing for Foundation Establishment. Don't worry about anything else."

After saying that, he continued walking forward without looking back.

Zhou Long stood there, stunned, watching the receding figure, his expression extremely complex.

He opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

……

Back at Xuankun Mountain, stepping into the courtyard he hadn't seen for several days, Zhou Ding finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He set up all the restrictions, released Little Gold to guard the underground, and then sat cross-legged in the quiet room to take stock of all the gains from this trip to the Crimson Forbidden Land.

One by one, the storage bags were emptied, and the room was instantly filled with spiritual light, precious light, and the fragrance of medicine.

Ritual implements: Top-tier magical artifacts—a total of seventeen!

These include: Azure Condensation Mirror (an ancient azure mirror that can freeze and weaken the spiritual light of other people's magical artifacts), Devouring Magic Ball (a pink crystal ball that can spew out eerie blood clouds that corrode spiritual light), Yellow Silk Umbrella (a small earthen-yellow umbrella with amazing defensive power), Cloud-Stepping Boots (light gold boots with terrifying speed boosts), Yin Wind Blade (a jet-black crescent-shaped scimitar, a weapon for sneak attacks), Mountain-Splitting Axe (obtained from a burly man), Tiger Head Shield, Bloodthirsty Blade (obtained from an ugly man), Ice Soul Sword (obtained from Zhao Qing), Flowing Cloud Ribbon (a ribbon-like defensive magical artifact, obtained from Zhao Qing)...

as well as several top-tier magical artifacts obtained from other cultivators.

There are more than twenty high-level magical artifacts in total!

They were all seized from the cultivators of various sects whom he had killed.

Intermediate-level talismans – nine!

The basic talismans—dozens of them, mostly found on the bodies of those cultivators. They weren't very useful, but better than nothing.

Three talisman treasures: Small Knife Talisman Treasure (obtained from Feng Yue), Golden Sword Talisman Treasure (Zhao Qing), and Flying Shuttle Talisman Treasure (obtained from a cultivator from Spirit Beast Mountain).

Spiritual materials: Red silver ore (a top-grade material for refining magic weapons), mist crystal (a rare material for refining illusion-attribute magic artifacts), the skin, tendons, bones, blood, eyes, horns, and claws of the black dragon (a whole bunch!), as well as various rare spiritual materials found in the storage bags of other cultivators, totaling at least a dozen items.

Spirit Stone: Around six thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Medium-grade spirit stones – a dozen or so.

Elixirs: Various pills for healing, restoring energy, and enhancing cultivation were piled up on the ground, but he was too lazy to count them.

Looking at the dazzling array of spoils before him, Zhou Ding couldn't help but smile slightly.

This trip was worth it.

……

The next day.

A communication talisman flew over.

Zhou Ding crushed the cauldron, and the voice of Ancestor Zhou Yong came from within: "Zhou Ding, come to Qiyun Peak to see me."

Zhou Ding's heart stirred.

Ancestor Zhou Yong had promised that whoever performed best in the forbidden area would receive the Foundation Establishment Pill he possessed.

His performance in the forbidden area is evident to all, and the ancestor's summons must be for this very reason.

He straightened his robes and set off for Qiyun Peak.

Upon entering Tingzhuxuan, Zhou Yong was already waiting there.

To Zhou Ding's surprise, Zhou Yong's attitude was completely different from before.

He wore a kind smile, his eyes full of satisfaction and appreciation, and even a hint of... flattery?

"Zhou Ding, you're here. Please have a seat." Zhou Yong waved his hand in greeting.

Zhou Ding sat down as instructed.

Zhou Yong looked him over and exclaimed, "I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Not only did you survive this trip to the forbidden area, but you also won first place in the spiritual medicine competition and even became a disciple of Senior Uncle Li Huayuan—an opportunity that countless disciples would kill for!"

He paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Once you successfully establish your foundation, you will become Senior Brother Li's personal disciple, and you will be of the same generation as me. From now on, you can call me 'Senior Brother'."

Zhou Ding understood.

This is the reality of the cultivation world.

Strength determines status, and cultivation determines seniority.

Yesterday he was still a junior in the Zhou family, but today he can sit on equal footing with the patriarch.

He nodded slightly: "You're too kind, Ancestor."

Zhou Yong didn't say much, but took out a sealed jade bottle from his pocket and handed it to him.

"This is the Foundation Establishment Pill I promised. Please accept it."

Zhou Ding accepted it without refusing.

Zhou Yong looked at him, hesitated, and finally just sighed: "Cultivate well, don't let it go to waste... Never mind, you may go now."

Zhou Ding stood up, bowed, and turned to leave.

Behind him, Zhou Yong watched his departing figure, and thought of Zhou Xue who had perished in the forbidden area. His face was full of loneliness and sighs.

……

three days later.

The promised rewards from the sect have been delivered.

Because Zhou Ding submitted a record number of spiritual herbs, the sect specially rewarded him with two Foundation Establishment Pills.

Zhou Ding accepted the jade bottle, his heart remaining calm.

He already had plenty of Foundation Establishment Pills.

Adding the two that Lu Mingyuan and Chen Qiaoqian had, the one that Ancestor Zhou Yong had, and the two that the sect rewarded— He currently has a total of five Foundation Establishment Pills.

Five Foundation Building Pills!

He possesses three spiritual roots, has reached the perfected thirteenth level of Qi Refining, and has five Foundation Establishment Pills...

Zhou Ding stood in the quiet room, his gaze fixed on the distant green mountains through the window.

"The preparations are sufficient."

He took a deep breath.

"Next, I will go into seclusion."

"Aiming for the Foundation Establishment stage!"