Chương 101: A Man of Resolve

The spirit vein on Purple Cloud Peak had been upgraded to Tier 2, Mid Grade. As a result, Zhang Huaijin's own cultivation speed quickened once again. Apart from what he had consumed himself, every single spirit peach he had ever obtained had been sent straight into the family treasury. Now, the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators of the Zhang family lacked for nothing when it came to cultivation resources. All because Zhang Huaijin had become a Tier 2, mid grade alchemist.

He was careful not to let mid grade pills leak to the outside world. With two Tier 2 spirit mountains under their control, the Zhang family could now finally stand shoulder to shoulder with the Gao family. As for the Tian family? They were barely clinging to life. Even though they still had resources, they simply could not buy a Foundation Establishment Pill anywhere.

Faced with their dire circumstances, the three Tian family members under sixty who had reached the peak of Qi Refining Realm decided to take matters into their own hands. They would attempt a breakthrough directly with no Foundation Establishment Pill, just a desperate gamble for a sliver of hope. But unfortunately, all three of them, without exception, failed. Two had their meridians shattered and died on the spot. The last one survived, but was grievously wounded and barely escaped with his life.

The Tian family's overall strength weakened yet again. Meanwhile, the Yan and Gao families saw their own power steadily rise. After all, their relationship with the Zhang family remained fairly amicable. The division of profits within Langya County Town had long been settled. But without a stable channel to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills, even established families found it difficult to produce new Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. The Zhang family had simply caught a stroke of good fortune.

A prodigy with a Wind Spirit Root had emerged from their ranks, and through him, they had traded with the Heavenly Crane Sect for a single Foundation Establishment Pill. That was how the Zhang family had obtained their very first Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. After that came Zhang Huaijin, who achieved Foundation Establishment Realm entirely on his own, then went on to display terrifying combat strength. He had covered himself in glory during the spirit beast tide.

And eventually, he had earned another Foundation Establishment Pill. Opportunity, strength, and luck, not one of them could be missing. The Miao and Yang families had been far stronger than the Zhang family back in the day. But more than thirty years had passed, and they were still stuck wandering the Qi Refining Realm. Even Miao Tianghong and Yang Jing had long since withdrawn from managing family affairs, handing everything over to the younger generation.

They were just trying to squeeze out a few more years of life. With the spirit vein on Purple Cloud Peak now upgraded, Zhang Huaijin planned to enter seclusion once more, determined to push straight through to the fifth level. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. But then, without warning, Zhang Rende announced a visitor. A family member had arrived bearing urgent news. A flicker of surprise crossed Zhang Huaijin's eyes.

Because the person who had come was his younger sister, Yunli. Zhang Yunli was thirty-eight years old now. She had already reached the peak of the eighth level of Qi Refining Realm. She had plenty of time to polish her foundation, and there was even a chance she might attempt Foundation Establishment Realm herself someday.

"Yunli, what's happened at home?" A trace of shock still lingered on Zhang Yunli's face.

"Second Brother… Second Uncle has reached the Foundation Establishment Realm!" Zhang Huaijin's expression shifted.

"Are you absolutely certain?" Think about it. Zhang Liliang was sixty-eight years old this year. Ten full years had passed since his last failed attempt at Foundation Establishment. In those ten years, Zhang Liliang had not only paid off every last debt he owed, but had also become a Tier 2 talisman crafter. His conduct and character had earned the deep admiration of everyone in the Zhang family. And now, at sixty-eight years old, he had directly challenged Foundation Establishment Realm again and succeeded.

Even with all his own experience and composure, Zhang Huaijin could not help but feel respect for the man. He truly deserved to be called a formidable character.

"Brother, do I look like I'm joking?" Yunli's face twisted into a wry smile. But deep in her heart, she felt nothing but admiration for Zhang Liliang. The first time, he had failed using a damaged Foundation Establishment Pill. Ten years later, without saying a word to anyone, Leaving behind only a farewell letter, he had quietly shut himself away in seclusion. Succeed, or die. By the time Zhang Wujian discovered the letter, it was already too late.

He had never imagined his father could be so resolute, that the old obsession still burned so fiercely in his heart. The bitterness of failing to establish his foundation, the desperate, aching hunger for it… it had nearly devoured him from the inside. He had never spoken of these things to anyone. Zhang Huaijin nodded slowly. Zhang Liliang's successful, self-won breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Realm was a tremendous shock and a gift for the entire Zhang family.

Zhang Huaijin left Purple Cloud Peak in Haihu's care and immediately set out with Zhang Yunli, racing back toward Green Bamboo Mountain. Half an hour later. The two siblings, having pushed themselves to their limits, arrived back at Green Bamboo Mountain. Zhang Chongwen looked much older now, his face deeply lined with age. He had already consumed one longevity spirit peach. Without it, he would never have lasted this long. Zhang Lixian had also returned from Langya County Town. And Zhang Liwei was there as well.

In total, Zhang Chongwen had four children with spirit roots. All three of his sons had become Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Two of them even possessed Triple Spirit Roots. Countless people envied his ability to produce such gifted offspring. His daughter, too, had married into a Foundation Establishment Realm family. Zhang Chongwen's face was etched with worry now.

"Liliang," he roared, his voice trembling with fury and fear, "do you have any idea how reckless your decision was?! If you had failed, there would be nothing left of you but a pile of bones. Do you really think your luck will hold forever? That it will always spare your body?" His heart was flooded with lingering terror. He bellowed at Zhang Liliang like an enraged lion. Zhang Liliang had hidden this from everyone in the family.

If he had failed, they would be looking at his cold remains right now, without even the chance to say a final farewell. Zhang Lixian and Zhang Liwei exchanged a complicated glance. They asked themselves honestly, did they possess the same courage as Zhang Liliang? His vitality was already in decline. If he chose not to attempt Foundation Establishment, with the Zhang family's current resources and the aid of life-extending spiritual items, Zhang Liliang could easily live another fifty or sixty years.

But attempting Foundation Establishment Realm at this age… the chance of success was vanishingly small. Yes, there were Qi Refining Realm cultivators over sixty who had successfully broken through to Foundation Establishment Realm. But those were cultivators who lacked for nothing, who had the full support of their elders behind them. What did Zhang Liliang have?

"Heh… Father, didn't I succeed in the end?" Zhang Liliang remained as calm and indifferent as ever. Ever since his first failed attempt, his personality had grown increasingly detached. Apart from talisman crafting, nothing else in the world seemed to hold his interest.

"You…!" Zhang Chongwen was left sputtering, too furious to form words. It was far too dangerous. If Zhang Liliang had failed, he would have been forced to bury his own child. He truly didn't think he could bear such a thing.

"Second Uncle," Zhang Huaijin interjected, "tell us. How did you manage to break through?" Zhang Liliang dared not be presumptuous with them. He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then said, "I realized a special kind of insight. It feels like some sort of mental or spiritual technique. I call it the Calamity Talisman Demon Heart." Zhang Huaijin frowned slightly.

"The Calamity Talisman Demon Heart… I've never heard of it." Even with access to portions of the Yun family's inheritances, the Zhang family's foundation was still terribly shallow.

"I came up with the name myself," Zhang Liliang said with a faint smile. He rose to his feet and slowly began to explain his understanding.