novelraw Chapter 179 : Breakthrough, Mid Foundation Establishment Stage!
Chapter 179 : Breakthrough, Mid Foundation Establishment Stage!
Chapter 179: Breakthrough, Mid Foundation Establishment Stage!
Ji Yuan had already withdrawn his spiritual energy from the talisman the moment he heard this sentence.
No other reason—he simply couldn’t listen anymore.
He had originally been standing in front of the house, but now he simply leaned straight back, lying down on the ground, staring dazedly at the white clouds drifting eastward in the sky.
After a long while, he couldn’t help but punch the ground.
“You old man, why the hell are you so damned stupid!”
“Didn’t you say you weren’t going to go?!”
“Damn it, if I’d known earlier, I wouldn’t have given you that Foundation Establishment Pill! Gave it to you and you didn’t cultivate properly—went off to get yourself killed instead!”
Ji Yuan cursed under his breath, but the more he cursed, the more his heart ached.
It had taken him a long time to get over the news of Xu Fugui’s death, and now, in the blink of an eye, he had received word of the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island’s death as well…
For Ji Yuan, this year had truly been hard to bear.
He sat in silence for a long time before finally picking up the talisman several times, and only after much hesitation did he inject spiritual energy into it.
The cheerful voice of the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island rang out once more.
“Hehe, brat, you’re not cursing me right now, are you? Cursing me for going when I shouldn’t have…? Well, yes, if I really died, then I suppose I do deserve a scolding.”
“After all, I’d made up my mind when I set out—there was absolutely no thought of avenging that old fellow. I just wanted to find the place where the incident happened, see if his body was still there. Even if not, I’d bring back some ashes if I could.”
“Don’t blame me for being useless—this was all I could do.”
“But who would have thought… even with my goal set that low, I still ended up dying out there.”
“The demonic cultivators are truly a bunch of bastards, and I… I’m even worse, couldn’t even beat a bunch of bastards.”
“All right, enough rambling. You’re probably wondering why I was so insistent on bringing Xu Fugui back. Fine, I’ll tell you a story, and then you’ll understand.”
And so, in the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island’s rambling, fragmented narration…
Ji Yuan finally learned why the two of them had been both master and friend.
It turned out the two had known each other even before joining the Water Dragon Sect. At that time, the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island had been at the late stage of Qi Refining, and Xu Fugui at the mid stage, with quite an age gap between them.
They had met because, during a monster-hunting trip, the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island was injured and lost consciousness.
By coincidence, Xu Fugui, who was also out hunting monsters, came across him.
A mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator encountering a late-stage one, grievously injured and unconscious, out in the wilderness—
What was the usual course of action?
Naturally, it was to kill and loot.
Such work, with no risk and high profit, was something many cultivators relished.
But Xu Fugui didn’t do that. Instead, he brought the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island back to his home, fed him healing pills, and even invited a physician to treat him.
In the end, the Island Lord survived and became sworn friends with his lifesaver despite the age gap.
Later, the Island Lord successfully joined the Water Dragon Sect, but Xu Fugui, due to his limited talent and strength, failed multiple assessments.
So the two came up with a plan—
Wait for the Island Lord to reach Foundation Establishment and open an island. Then he could take Xu Fugui as his disciple, bypassing the assessments and directly admitting him into the sect.
And indeed, they did just that.
They both settled into stable cultivation within the Water Dragon Sect. With the full support of a Foundation Establishment Island Lord, Xu Fugui quickly reached the peak of Qi Refining, but beyond that…
There was no Foundation Establishment Pill.
This thing was simply too rare.
The Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island had once prepared three for him, and when Xu Fugui was in his fifties, he tried once to break through—only to fail.
After that, no matter what the Island Lord said, Xu Fugui refused to try again.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to establish his foundation—he just didn’t want to spend any more of the Island Lord’s spirit stones.
He needed to cultivate, but so did the Island Lord.
As for the events after that, Ji Yuan already knew them.
“So, Ji brat, it’s not that I didn’t know how dangerous this trip would be, or that steadily improving one’s cultivation is the proper path. But I also knew—some things are more important than cultivation.”
“If I didn’t go for this, would I, Liu Iron Hammer, still be a man?”
“Cultivation is about having a clear heart. If I didn’t go, my heart wouldn’t be clear—so what damn kind of immortal would I be cultivating to become?”
“So I went… And thinking now that I didn’t make it back, I do feel a bit sad. Fine, I admit it—I’m afraid of dying too.”
“…”
After these words, the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island was silent for a long time.
Just as Ji Yuan thought the recording talisman might have run out, the voice returned.
“Ji brat, I actually lied to you about one thing. You have talent in weapon refining, so I’ve given you my furnace and hammer. All my lifetime of refining experience is recorded in the True Explanation of Weapon Refining. If you have the interest, study it.”
“If you truly don’t want to refine weapons, then please, find a junior with talent for it and a decent temperament, and pass on my craft. I don’t want my lineage to end.”
“That old fellow Xu Fugui always thought I couldn’t let go of body refinement, but what I truly couldn’t let go of was weapon refinement. My body training was all for the sake of better refining. I love the feeling of sparks striking against my body… Enough, I’ll say no more.”
“When you get old, you ramble on without end.”
“I have to go bring that old fellow home.”
“Brother Ji… live well. Just like I told you when you came to my island—only by living does one have hope.”
“To have befriended you in this lifetime is truly my great fortune.”
The recording ended there.
Lying on the ground, Ji Yuan raised his right hand. The talisman turned to ash in his palm and was carried away by the wind—
Just like the passing of Xu Fugui and the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island.
As for the task the Island Lord had set before his death, Ji Yuan knew that many Foundation Establishment cultivators would leave such testament-like tasks at the Thousand Mechanisms Hall.
They wouldn’t be made public at first, only released when their soul lamps went out.
The Island Lord had chosen that path as well.
Honestly, Ji Yuan had never understood why he had gone to his death, but after hearing the recording, he did.
Indeed—going was in his nature.
If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have been the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island.
“It’s just… damn it, you could’ve gone without leaving me all this stuff.”
Ji Yuan wiped his face, stood up, and exhaled deeply.
He certainly wasn’t going to rush off now to avenge Xu Fugui and the Island Lord, nor even to collect their corpses—that would be like the Calabash Brothers saving their grandpa.
Even the best of friends couldn’t justify such a suicidal act.
To avenge them, he would first need to improve his strength.
For now, the only thing to do was to remember this grudge and wait until he was strong enough to act.
Then, Ji Yuan took out from his storage pouch the large iron furnace and hammer left to him by the Island Lord.
He had seen them many times before.
The furnace was called the Three Mountains Forging Fire Furnace, and the hammer was named the Earth-Pressing Hammer. Both were high-grade spiritual artifacts. When used together, they could even forge other high-grade artifacts.
If either of them were lacking, he could only produce mid-grade artifacts.
As for the thick book, Ji Yuan flipped through it briefly—
It was filled with the Island Lord’s accumulated experience in weapon refinement.
The first few pages recorded techniques for crafting low-grade magical artifacts.
Compared to the two high-grade artifacts, this was the true priceless treasure to Ji Yuan.
After all, he could buy new artifacts, but such a complete set of refining experience was beyond price—few refiners ever passed on all their skills.
Some would even hold back a few tricks from their personal disciples.
Therefore, Ji Yuan intended to honor the Island Lord’s wish and pass on his refining art.
And besides—he still hadn’t opened his Weapon Refining Room… and if it meant opening it like this, Ji Yuan would rather not open it for now.
“Sigh.”
Ji Yuan let out a long breath, then walked into the house looking utterly dejected.
After staying on Wuyou Island for three days, Ji Yuan went to Water Dragon Island.
It wasn’t for any other reason—Real Person Xuan Shui had returned and even sent a message asking what Ji Yuan had wanted from him the last time.
Real Person Xuan Shui had gone to Beishan City, but now that he was back—and given the incident with the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island and Xu Fugui—Ji Yuan naturally had to go and ask.
“Disciple greets the Sect Master Martial Uncle.”
As always, Ji Yuan saluted respectfully at the entrance.
In the main hall, Real Person Xuan Shui lifted his head, his face no longer relaxed as before. “Nephew, come in.”
“Yes.”
Ji Yuan straightened and stepped into the hall.
While reviewing a dossier, Real Person Xuan Shui said, “These days, it’s a turbulent time outside. If you must go out, remember—be cautious, and then more cautious.”
“I will. Thank you for the reminder, Martial Uncle.”
“Good.”
After finishing with the dossier, Real Person Xuan Shui looked up. “I heard from Nephew Bishui, who was on duty, that you came looking for me some time ago. What was the matter?”
Normally, at such a busy time, if an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple came to seek him, Real Person Xuan Shui would have had no time and certainly wouldn’t summon them.
But the man before him was not an ordinary Foundation Establishment disciple.
Some days ago, Real Person Xuan Shui had casually heard from Old Treasurer Li that Ji Yuan was likely Real Person Wangyou’s last disciple.
And what did “last disciple” mean?
Put simply—it meant that after accepting this disciple, no one else could enter Real Person Wangyou’s eyes. Ji Yuan was the one she favored most.
“Disciple wishes to ask about the incident where the flying boat to Beishan City was attacked. On that boat… was my friend.”
Ji Yuan bowed deeply to Real Person Xuan Shui.
“That matter, hmm…” Real Person Xuan Shui descended from the dais, stroking his beard with a serious expression. “It’s a difficult matter. A few days ago, Senior Brother Qingyu and I just returned from there. Do you know what cultivation level the demonic cultivator who attacked was at?”
“Disciple does not.”
Ji Yuan answered truthfully.
With a sweep of his right hand, the ground between them displayed a flying boat—palm-sized, but split in two by a single sword strike.
“This…”
“This is the very flying boat from that incident,” Real Person Xuan Shui explained.
What was its condition?
It had been split cleanly down the middle—not chopped into two halves across its length, but cleaved into two symmetrical parts from the center.
Ji Yuan’s first thought was… what kind of strength could split a mid-grade spiritual artifact flying boat into two halves with one sword?
And this wasn’t an ordinary, single-passenger spiritual artifact—it was a large, tower-like transport flying boat for cultivators. These were slower, but heavily reinforced for defense.
To split such a vessel with one strike—
“Could it be… that a Golden Core stage demonic cultivator acted?”
Though he found it hard to believe, looking at the evidence before him, Ji Yuan could think of no other explanation.
“Mm.”
Real Person Xuan Shui nodded gravely. “According to friends from Corpse Herding Mountain to the north, it seems a demonic cultivator from Western Shang entered our region. This cultivator… is the son of a Nascent Soul old devil. So even here in Eastern Shang, he has Golden Core protectors.”
“The son… of a Nascent Soul cultivator…”
Hearing this, Ji Yuan couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Damn it… when would he be able to avenge Old Xu and the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island against such an enemy? The pressure felt suffocating.
“Mm, but this is only rumored. In truth, the Golden Core experts from Corpse Herding Mountain never saw him, and neither Senior Brother Qingyu nor I found any trace. The world is vast—if a Golden Core expert wants to hide, they’re almost impossible to find.”
“Whether or not he’s a Nascent Soul’s son is uncertain, but it’s certain that a Golden Core cultivator acted.”
“So, Nephew, just keep this to yourself for now. Don’t spread it—no need to stir unrest within the sect.”
Real Person Xuan Shui didn’t hide the truth from Ji Yuan but still gave this pointed reminder.
“Disciple will remember.”
Ji Yuan cupped his hands slightly, intending to ask further, but Real Person Xuan Shui anticipated his question and said directly, “Killed by demonic cultivators—there’s no body to recover.”
True enough—he, as a righteous cultivator, wouldn’t leave a corpse behind, let alone demonic cultivators… Ji Yuan felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
Would the Island Lord of Iron Hammer Island not have known this?
Most likely he had—but even knowing, he had still gone.
Leaving Real Person Xuan Shui, Ji Yuan felt all the more that revenge was far off.
Especially with the words “Nascent Soul’s son”—Corpse Herding Mountain would never make such a claim without basis. If it were baseless, they wouldn’t have told the sect master of a great sect like Real Person Xuan Shui.
And Real Person Xuan Shui wouldn’t have told Ji Yuan.
So it was likely true.
“Western Shang’s Three Demonic Sects—Demonic Flame Palace, White Bone Sect, and Blood Luo Mountain.”
Ji Yuan had heard of them before. Each had at least two Nascent Soul old devils.
The strongest, Blood Luo Mountain, was rumored to have three or four.
Otherwise, with just three sects, they would never dare fight Eastern Shang’s Six Immortal Sects head-on.
With so many Nascent Souls, having a Nascent Soul’s son in the mix was entirely possible.
After noting this, Ji Yuan returned to Misty Island and cultivated for over ten days—until he received a message from Hua Yaoyue.
His master, away for several months, had finally returned to her loyal Wuyou Island.
Hua Yaoyue’s message first asked whether Ji Yuan had made a breakthrough.
Given two or three months without incident, Ji Yuan figured, with his 【Comprehension】, he would have broken through.
But the recent string of events had affected him.
So—he had not.
When Hua Yaoyue summoned him to hear the Dao, he went.
Upon arriving at Wuyou Island, Hua Yaoyue looked the same as always, showing no change.
Ji Yuan naturally did not ask where she had been.
But when Hua Yaoyue saw him, she gave him a once-over and curiously asked, “What have you been through these past few months? Why do you look so dispirited?”
Her words genuinely surprised Ji Yuan. “Disciple… is it that obvious?”
“See for yourself.”
At her words, Ji Yuan summoned a mirror and looked.
Outwardly, nothing seemed wrong—but the spark in his eyes was gone, replaced with… still water.
Or perhaps, a lifeless calm.
Putting the mirror away, Ji Yuan sat before Hua Yaoyue and told her everything from start to finish.
To others, he couldn’t say these things.
But to his master Hua Yaoyue, he felt she might be able to help him.
Hua Yaoyue didn’t interrupt, simply listening until he finished. Then she asked:
“How old are you this year?”
“Disciple… is thirty this year.”
Ji Yuan even had to think for a moment before recalling his age.
“Thirty—not surprising, then. With more experience, you’ll be fine.”
Hua Yaoyue said calmly, “Even mortals must face birth, aging, sickness, and death—how much more so we cultivators, whose lifespans are so vast.”
“This time, it’s just ordinary friends. What if you one day lose a Dao companion of centuries… or the parents who’ve accompanied you for hundreds of years? How will you handle that?”
“Cultivation is cultivation. You’re only at Foundation Establishment now, so it’s still fine. But the further you go, the more you’ll realize—cultivation is, at its core, cultivating the heart.”
“Cultivating… the heart?”
Ji Yuan felt a glimmer of understanding.
“Yes. Some great cultivators make no progress for centuries. If their minds are not firm, even slightly, the heart demon will find a way in… Of course, that’s still far from where you are now.”
Hua Yaoyue waved her hand casually. “You’re a grown man—there’s no need to be so narrow-minded. If a fellow cultivator dies, then they die. When you have the strength, avenge them.”
“If you reach the end of your life and still don’t have the strength to do so, then there’s nothing you can do.”
“Yes.”
Ji Yuan took a deep breath and bowed his head. When he straightened, he found that Hua Yaoyue had somehow appeared right in front of him.
Startled, he took a step back.
Then, Hua Yaoyue’s voice suddenly boomed in his sea of consciousness.
“Freeze!”
In a daze, Ji Yuan saw a brilliant golden character for “Freeze” appear in his sea of consciousness. The turbulent waves within were instantly suppressed by this golden character.
They turned utterly calm.
The gloom weighing on Ji Yuan’s mood cleared in an instant.
All the frustration that had been festering in his heart dissipated, the long-standing haze swept away. He felt the world grow bright again, with no more obstructions.
A single thought, and the world felt vast.
The cultivation bottleneck that Ji Yuan had been unable to break through finally loosened. Sensing it, he immediately sat cross-legged.
The spiritual energy between heaven and earth gathered toward him, forming a vortex of energy around his body.
But it wasn’t enough.
Ji Yuan took out a pile of mid-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch and placed them by his side.
The milky-white stones turned transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Several days later—
Ji Yuan, seated cross-legged in the pavilion, suddenly opened his eyes.
A wave of mid Foundation Establishment stage aura swept out from him, but in the blink of an eye, it sank back down to early Foundation Establishment.
A breakthrough.
And yet—not quite.
Ji Yuan was still stabilizing his cultivation, when a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind him.
“Standing at the peak of immortality, proud over the mortal world…”
Requesting monthly tickets, stabilizing cultivation… oh no, ranking!!