Chương 102: The Calamity Talisman Demon Heart

Back when Zhang Liliang failed his Foundation Establishment attempt, the tribulation and baleful energy from that single Foundation Establishment Pill had remained lodged deep within his meridians. As the years passed, that energy quietly tempered his meridians, slowly strengthening the spiritual power that flowed through them. But the cost was endless, excruciating pain. Zhang Liliang never told a soul. He suppressed the agony, healed his injuries, and then threw himself into frantically crafting talismans.

After all, he still had a mountain of debt to repay. In the blink of an eye, ten years passed. Zhang Liliang paid off every last coin of his debt. And after a decade of nonstop talisman crafting, his skill had advanced to Tier 2, low grade. During those years, a strange connection had gradually formed between the tribulation and baleful energy within him and his talisman crafting art. Liliang seized that opportunity with remarkable cleverness and grasped a profound, elusive concept.

That concept made his mind increasingly calm and peaceful. Because the tribulation and baleful energy also carried a trace of demonic qi, Liliang named his insight the Calamity Talisman Demon Heart. After hearing his explanation, everyone present exchanged astonished glances. The reason was simple: what he described had happened before in the world of cultivation. Conceptual power was different from a spirit body. It was mysterious, indefinable.

Even the person who grasped it might not be able to do so again if they tried to go back. This concept could also be considered a type of mental or spiritual power. As long as he kept refining it, it could support continuous advancement in cultivation for a long time to come. There was no denying it, this was Zhang Liliang's own opportunity. Others couldn't envy him even if they wanted to. One wrong step, and an inner demon would devour him.

But Zhang Liliang, relying on his unwavering Dao Heart, had endured for ten full years. Anyone capable of forming their own Foundation at sixty-eight years old was truly iron-willed. Of course, the Calamity Talisman Demon Heart had also played a huge role. It kept Zhang Liliang's heart increasingly peaceful, neither rushed nor impatient. It also stabilized the blood qi in his body.

In the end, he seized the moment, attempted Foundation Establishment on his own, and became the Zhang family's fourth Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Zhang Lixian and Liwei looked at each other. This was incredible! But that was the reality of cultivation. Anything was possible…

"Second Uncle," Zhang Huaijin said, his voice calm, "no matter what, the fact that you established your Foundation on your own is a blessing for our family. The clan's strength has increased once again. For now, just rest well." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Zhang Liliang had established his Foundation on his own and also grasped a strange, mystical concept.

Although Zhang Liliang had four spirit root aptitude, the amplification from this concept meant his cultivation speed wasn't slow at all. Huaijin had a strong intuition that Zhang Liliang might even have the potential to reach the Purple Mansion realm one day. After all, cultivators who don't use a Foundation Establishment Pill were far more powerful in combat than ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Zhang Liliang nodded, then announced he would enter seclusion again.

He also declared he would not hold a Foundation Establishment Ceremony. The Zhang family's current standing in Langya County was already formidable enough. And with only eight years left before the next beast tide… Once the beast tide erupted, given Zhang Huaijin's combat power, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill would be effortless. At that point, the Zhang family might very well gain another Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

But unfortunately, Zhang Huaijin's older brother, Zhang Hanren, wouldn't make it in time. Zhang Hanren was already fifty-eight years old! Only two years remained before the age limit of sixty for attempting Foundation Establishment. Zhang Huaijin spent three days on Green Bamboo Mountain. He placed some of the spirit artifacts and pills he had refined into the family treasury, reunited with his family, and was just about to leave when… his aunt, Zhang Xue, and her family arrived.

Huaijin immediately canceled his departure plans, wanting to see how Zhang Xue had changed over the years. Unbeknownst to them, nearly thirty years had passed since they last met. After marrying into the Wu family, Zhang Xue's early days had been far from easy. She had often taken resources from the Wu family to help support the Zhangs. But each time, her father, Zhang Chongwen, had scolded her and sent her back to the Wu family with generous gifts.

Even though the Zhang family had been nothing more than a Qi Refining Realm clan back then, with almost no foundation to speak of. they still had their pride. Zhang Xue understood her father's intentions. After all, once a daughter married out, her primary loyalty had to belong to her husband's family interests. It was only after Zhang Xue gave birth to two children with spirit roots that her situation finally improved significantly. More than thirty years have passed since.

Zhang Xue herself had reached the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. She was now over sixty, and her chances of forming her Foundation Establishment were very slim. In the family's main hall, Zhang Xue wore a simple blue dress, her figure graceful, a warm smile on her face. Simply sitting there, she embodied the image of an elegant lady. Beside her sat a middle aged man in a black robe worn over a green shirt. He had a three inch beard on his chin, dark skin, a lean face, but a somewhat portly figure.

A faint smile also played on his lips. This was Zhang Huaijin's uncle by marriage, Wu Anhe. Behind them followed a bright and intelligent young woman. She wore a plain white dress, elegant and clean. Her eyes sparkled like stars, her figure was lithe, and curiosity danced in her gaze. This was Wu Anhe's daughter, Wu Tangxi. They had another daughter as well, named Wu Shuang. Zhang Chongwen's body was still hale and hearty. Seeing his daughter, whom he hadn't laid eyes on for decades, his eyes reddened slightly.

"Xue," he said, his voice thick, "why didn't Wu Shuang come? Decades have passed. If I saw her again, I probably wouldn't even recognize her." Wu Anhe replied, "Father-in-law, Shuang is in seclusion and couldn't get away." Zhang Xue nodded in confirmation.

"Could Wu Shuang be about to break through to Foundation Establishment?" Wu Shuang also had three spirit root aptitude, and the Wu family didn't lack resources. She should be attempting Foundation Establishment.

"We hope so," Wu Anhe replied with a smile, neither confirming nor denying.

"Heh, Tangxi, you've reached the age for marriage. Do you have anyone you're interested in?" Seeing that Wu Anhe didn't want to elaborate, Zhang Chongwen didn't press further, turning his gaze to Wu Tangxi instead. Elderly relatives always circled around these topics. Even the world of cultivation was no exception. Wu Tangxi shook her head firmly.

"I want to focus on breaking through to Foundation Establishment first. I'll think about marriage after I advance." Usually, when daughters of noble families reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, they were never married out. Instead, they would take in a live in son-in-law. This was to prevent the loss of family cultivators. This held true for any family, unless one could marry into a Golden Core family. Even Purple Mansion families weren't considered. Zhang Chongwen nodded and didn't ask further.

With the arrival of Zhang Xue's family, the Zhang family residence became unusually lively. Wu Anhe had now also reached the second level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, at it's peak, and could advance to the third level at any time. He was also a Tier 2, low grade alchemist, and his status within the Wu family was growing higher by the day. And the Zhang family's strength was exploding at a jaw dropping rate.

In just a few short decades, the Zhang family now had three Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators in residence. (The fact that Zhang Liliang had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm was still a secret.) The Wu family had instructed Wu Anhe to do his utmost to maintain a good relationship with the Zhang family. With no conflicts of interest between them, and bound together by marriage, they were natural allies.