novelraw Chapter 230 : Breakthrough, Late Foundation Establishment!
Chapter 230 : Breakthrough, Late Foundation Establishment!
Chapter 230: Breakthrough, Late Foundation Establishment!
“Senior Brother, you're too polite. There's no need for such formality between us.”
Ji Yuan rubbed his hands together as he spoke.
There was a trace of curiosity in his eyes, along with a hint of embarrassment, which made Ran Kui burst into hearty laughter. “So, Little Junior Brother, what are you lacking right now? Just say it directly.”
...What I really need now is a Fixed-Point Teleportation Token. That’s something that can truly save my life.
Ji Yuan shook his head. “I appreciate Senior Brother’s kindness.”
Ran Kui raised an eyebrow. “That won’t do. You should be more like Little Junior Sister... that’s your Third Senior Sister. When she saw me back then, she practically wanted to empty out my storage pouch.”
Ji Yuan merely smiled, unsure of what to say.
“All right, I’ll pick something out for you.”
As he spoke, Ran Kui rummaged through his storage pouch. After quite a while, he finally took something out and placed it on a jade plate, covered by a red cloth.
“Hmm?”
He placed it on the table between them, stroked his beard, and smiled. “Go on, take a look.”
Ji Yuan lifted a corner of the red cloth and peeked inside. The moment he sensed the aura within, he quickly covered it back up.
“This is too valuable, Senior Brother. You should take it back.”
“Look at you.” Ran Kui laughed. “Truth be told, I already prepared this gift for you when I found out you’d be entering the sect. I just hadn’t gotten a chance to give it to you until now. Take it.”
Ji Yuan was about to speak, but Ran Kui waved him off, looking a bit impatient as he said:
“If you accept me as your Senior Brother, then take it. If not, then forget it.”
With the conversation pushed to this point, Ji Yuan had no choice but to take out the item hidden beneath the red cloth.
This was... a poison needle.
As for its grade, Ji Yuan had already sensed it the moment he saw it.
It was a—magical treasure!
A life-bound magical treasure crafted by a Golden Core Real Person, just like the Heavenly Net in his storage pouch.
This thing was far too precious, which was why Ji Yuan had been hesitant to accept it.
“Don’t get too excited. This is just a damaged magical treasure. The complete ‘Heavenly Poison Needle’ set contains thirty-six needles—this is just one of them.”
“But for your current stage, this one is just right. Even if I gave you the full set, you wouldn’t be able to use it anyway.”
Ran Kui explained.
“That’s true.”
Ji Yuan quickly nodded. After all, he already had a magical treasure in his storage pouch with a similar situation to what Ran Kui described.
This poison needle reminded Ji Yuan of the time he was still in Zengtou Market when he had killed Old Boatman Wu and taken the Life-Taker Needle from him.
A damaged mid-grade magical artifact.
Back then, that Life-Taker Needle had saved Ji Yuan from danger multiple times. Unfortunately, once his cultivation advanced, the needle had to retire.
Now, to once again obtain a magical treasure-level Heavenly Poison Needle...
Ji Yuan was overjoyed.
This kind of treasure—Spirit Stones alone couldn’t buy it.
“Thank you, Senior Brother!”
Ji Yuan immediately stood up and bowed to him.
“Heh, no need to be so formal, Little Junior Brother.”
Once Ji Yuan was seated again, Ran Kui asked where he was headed.
“I’m cultivating the Li Family’s Sword Manual. This time I’m heading north to Mirror Lake to forge a flying sword embryo.”
With his own Senior Brother, Ji Yuan had nothing to hide.
“Mirror Lake? Great, it’s not far. I’ll take you there.”
“Well… then I’ll trouble Senior Brother.”
Having already accepted such a valuable magical treasure, this bit of favor wasn’t much in comparison.
“You really are too polite. Come on, it’s our first meeting as fellow disciples—we’ve got to celebrate.”
Ran Kui stood up as he spoke.
Ji Yuan quickly offered, “Let me do it. I’m pretty good in the kitchen. You’ll see for yourself.”
“Oh? You can cook? That’s rare. Unlike that Yun Qianzai fellow—talks big, but the stuff he makes isn’t even fit for dogs.”
“…”
A while later.
Ran Kui was eating Ji Yuan’s cooking and drinking the Wishful Wine he offered.
Already cheerful, he became even more delighted.
Big bites of meat, big gulps of wine—he almost swallowed his tongue.
After the hearty feast, Ran Kui began guiding Ji Yuan in his cultivation—not just the Sword Manual he was studying, but also any techniques he didn’t understand… But what truly surprised Ji Yuan was Ran Kui’s expertise in the craft of artifact refining!
He could even forge supreme-grade spiritual artifacts!
Though it took him a long time, he could do it. As for upper-grade spiritual artifacts—those were no challenge at all.
So Ji Yuan began asking him many questions about weapon refining. Ran Kui shared everything without reservation, eager to pass on all his knowledge in the craft to this Little Junior Brother.
In the blink of an eye—
Ji Yuan had been studying under Ran Kui for half a month. During that time, Ran Kui didn’t bring up anything else—he was fully focused on teaching.
That day.
Ran Kui examined an iron ingot Ji Yuan had just hammered out. He looked it over and said, “That’s about right. You’ve more or less learned my Martial Mourning Hammer Technique. From here on, you just need to keep practicing.”
“Hoo—”
Ji Yuan, bare-chested, let out a long breath. “All right. I’ll keep at it once I return to the sect.”
“Mm. Little Junior Brother, pack your things. I’ll get you to Mirror Lake as soon as possible.”
Three days ago, Ran Kui had received a Messaging Talisman and had been rather anxious since.
Ji Yuan told him that if he had other matters to attend to, he could go handle them first—but Ran Kui simply shook his head and said flatly:
“Little Junior Brother’s matters are more important than demon hunting.”
Just that one sentence, and Ji Yuan said nothing more—he only studied even more diligently.
Now, as Ji Yuan finished packing and stepped into the courtyard, Ran Kui was already waiting.
“Senior Brother, take these talismans.”
Ji Yuan handed over two stacks—100 Shapeshifting Talismans in total—to Ran Kui.
He had drawn them over the past half-month, rushing against the clock. Ran Kui walked the line between righteous and demonic paths. What he did was like walking a tightrope.
Shapeshifting Talismans were extremely useful to him.
“What kind of talismans are these?”
Ran Kui took them and examined them carefully, but didn’t recognize them.
“Shapeshifting Talismans. Once activated, they can change your aura and appearance—like the one I’m using now.” Ji Yuan said as he slapped one onto himself. In just a breath’s time, he looked like a completely different person in front of Ran Kui.
“When I use it, even a Golden Core Real Person can’t see through it—only a Nascent Soul True Lord can.”
“You’ll need these when you’re out and about.”
The moment Ran Kui saw Ji Yuan’s transformation, his eyes lit up. Of course he understood how precious this was.
“Excellent!”
He also slapped a Shapeshifting Talisman on himself.
Soon, his appearance changed from a burly man with a bristling beard to a handsome youth.
He raised his hands and adjusted his robe to fit perfectly. “Damn, if only I was born looking like this.”
Ji Yuan merely smiled.
“Little Junior Brother, these talismans will indeed be very useful to me. I thank you in advance.”
After the brief excitement, Ran Kui cupped his fists to Ji Yuan.
“Senior Brother, you’re too polite. I’ll prepare more for you when you return to the sect next time.”
“All right, then I won’t stand on ceremony.”
After some casual conversation, the two—both under the disguise of the Shapeshifting Talismans—departed from Lanshan City via the East Gate. Once outside the city, Ran Kui summoned his supreme-grade spiritual artifact flying boat and took Ji Yuan directly north.
If Ji Yuan had traveled using his own Sky-Slicer Boat, it would’ve taken nearly ten days.
However, with Ran Kui around, it would probably take only three or four days to arrive.
The flying boat ascended, gliding through the clouds. Ji Yuan, seemingly trying to make conversation, said, “By the way, Senior Brother, do you know Senior Brother Qinghe?”
Ran Kui, who was standing at the front of the flying boat, turned around and asked via voice transmission, “You saw him in Lanshan City?”
“Mm.”
Ji Yuan nodded, admitting it.
“I was the one who called Qinghe over. You could say he's a kindred spirit of mine. The person who had been sending me messages in the city earlier was him.”
Ran Kui didn’t hide anything from Ji Yuan and laid out the situation honestly.
“So that’s how it is…”
Ji Yuan recalled the time at the auction house, when Qinghe had been trying to befriend a Foundation Establishment cultivator... who seemed to be a cultivator from Corpse Herding Mountain.
No wonder he’d seemed so odd—he was actually helping Senior Brother handle things.
With that cleared up, Ji Yuan’s earlier concerns and suspicions about Qinghe completely vanished.
“Little Junior Brother, remember to keep this a secret. What he and I are doing is quite dangerous—it’s best not to let outsiders know. Even when he came to Lanshan City, I had him come discreetly.”
Ran Kui reminded him via voice transmission.
“Alright.”
Naturally, Ji Yuan understood the gravity of the situation and agreed without hesitation.
Still, he hadn’t expected that the seemingly carefree Senior Brother Qinghe from the Water Dragon Sect was, behind the scenes, working on matters involving the demonic path.
‘Looks like you really can’t judge people by appearances.’
‘Just like me—who would guess that someone as kind-looking as I am, would actually be... even kinder in secret?’
On the journey that followed, Ji Yuan stayed at the back, cultivating quietly. Apart from occasionally asking a few cultivation questions, the two didn’t speak much.
The trip passed uneventfully.
On the morning of the fourth day, Ran Kui at the front of the flying boat suddenly spoke, “We’re here.”
Ji Yuan exited his meditative state and opened his eyes to look down.
Upon the endless plains below lay a vast immortal lake.
The surface of the lake was smooth and rippleless, like an immortal mirror forged from millennia-old cold jade, reflecting the drifting clouds above. Its waters were incomparably clear and transparent, shimmering with a verdant light under the sun—visually pleasing and soothing to the soul.
At the moment, a few cultivators were dashing across the lake on swords, breaking its surface and sending splashes flying, as if shattering the mirror.
Surrounding Mirror Lake were rings upon rings of courtyards, neatly arranged in harmony.
Looking down from the sky, Ji Yuan subconsciously thought… this could truly be called a paradise on earth.
Unlike the chaos and disputes outside, this place was peaceful, as though it had withdrawn from the world.
“When I get old, I plan to buy a courtyard here and retire.”
Ran Kui said half-jokingly.
“Indeed, this place looks far better than our Water Dragon Sect’s boundless marshlands.”
Ji Yuan replied in full agreement.
“Come on, I have a few acquaintances here. I’ll help you rent a courtyard first. Then you can cultivate peacefully here. I’ll be heading back to Lanshan City shortly.”
“Alright, sorry for troubling Senior Brother to make this trip.”
Back in Lanshan City, Ji Yuan had already noticed that Ran Kui seemed pressed for time, yet he still went out of his way to escort Ji Yuan all the way to Mirror Lake.
He even thoughtfully contacted friends to help rent a suitable courtyard by the lakeside.
This had been the easiest journey Ji Yuan had ever had.
“Little Junior Brother, just cultivate steadily here. If anything comes up, go to that shop we just passed and find the shopkeeper. Tell him you're my junior—he’ll help you.”
“For the time being, I’ll be staying in Lanshan City. When you return, drop by and visit me.”
After inspecting the courtyard and confirming there were no issues, Ran Kui finally spoke with ease.
“Alright, I will.”
Ji Yuan nodded. “Senior Brother, do you know when you'll return to the sect?”
“Once I’ve finished with the matter in Lanshan City, I’ll probably head back for a bit, to see Master.”
“Nice. You called Master an old lady—I'll tell on you when I return.”
Ran Kui burst out laughing. “You? I say that right in front of her.”
Ji Yuan could only concede, defeated.
“Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave. Focus on your cultivation here.”
Ran Kui stepped forward, gently patted Ji Yuan on the shoulder, then summoned his flying boat, took to the skies, and flew straight south.
With his Senior Brother gone, the smile on Ji Yuan’s face faded.
Over the next few days, he didn’t immediately begin refining his flying sword. Instead, he strolled around Mirror Lake a few times, taking in its beauty before returning home to begin closed-door cultivation.
During his stroll, he also saw a gift that would suit Hua Yaoyue well and bought it on a whim.
Since he was about to begin seclusion, Ji Yuan naturally activated the Stellar Whirl Cloud Barrier Formation that came with his [Cave Dwelling], then entered the [Enlightenment Room].
For this seclusion, as long as he absorbed the water fortune of Mirror Lake and condensed the Firefly Sword, Ji Yuan’s cultivation would naturally break through to late Foundation Establishment.
Moreover, both his comprehension and cultivation had already improved significantly thanks to dual cultivation with Dong Qian.
So this seclusion posed no difficulty at all.
That day.
Once all preparations were complete, Ji Yuan entered the [Enlightenment Room], calmed his mind, and began sensing the water fortune around him.
He had done this many times before—quite skilled at it by now.
It was no different from absorbing ambient spiritual energy—he simply had to identify the water fortune within it.
Mirror Lake was unlike the Blood River of the ancient battlefield.
That Blood River contained very little water fortune and was overwhelmingly tyrannical—separating the water fortune from the ambient spiritual energy had been extremely difficult.
But Mirror Lake was different—it was a real lake.
Ji Yuan took less than five days to isolate the water fortune from the ambient spiritual energy.
With a thought, the heaven and earth’s water fortune converged.
Immediately, Ji Yuan could clearly feel the water fortune, mixed with spiritual energy, rushing madly into his body.
It entered through his skin, traveled along his meridians, circled his body in a major cycle, and finally converged into his Dantian.
The spiritual energy sank into the depths of the Dantian, transforming into liquid spiritual energy.
Meanwhile, the water fortune of Mirror Lake hovered above the Dantian, drawn and rotated by the other four sword embryos.
From here on, things became simpler—he just had to keep absorbing the ambient water fortune. As for spiritual energy, Ji Yuan didn’t absorb much.
Because the breakthrough would be the main event.
He had already prepared enough Spirit Stones for the breakthrough.
After more than ten days of absorbing water fortune, Ji Yuan noticed that the water fortune in his Dantian had solidified, gradually forming a sword embryo under the guidance of the Sword Manual…
Four or five more days passed.
Ji Yuan’s fifth sword embryo—Firefly Sword—was finally fully condensed.
Looking inward at his Dantian, Ji Yuan saw five sword embryos suspended vertically, all with their tips pointing downward at his Dantian, rotating slowly—radiating an aura of dominance.
He could also feel that the five sword embryos had formed a small sword formation inside his Dantian.
It was slowly nurturing the spiritual energy within, giving it an added sword energy effect.
As a result, any spell Ji Yuan cast would now be stronger than before.
This was the benefit of a high-level cultivation technique.
If he had cultivated an ordinary Foundation Establishment method, he wouldn’t get such added effects—just reaching peak Foundation Establishment would already be impressive.
Ji Yuan took one last look at the five sword embryos in his Dantian.
Now that the sword embryos were formed, it was time for the breakthrough.
With a thought, he retrieved crates of Spirit Stones from his storage pouch—each containing 100 mid-grade Spirit Stones. He took out ten crates in one go.
He wasn’t sure if it would be enough. If not, he’d just get more.
Let alone a few thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones—even if he needed upper-grade ones, he had 100.
Hmm… a final thanks to Real Person Heaven Silkworm for the donation.
After expressing his gratitude, Ji Yuan activated the Sword Manual once more and began advancing to late Foundation Establishment… though it wasn’t so much a breakthrough as a natural progression.
The spiritual energy from the Spirit Stones surged into Ji Yuan like a whale swallowing water, circulating in a major cycle before converging into his Dantian.
“Drip—”
A faint sound rang out—another drop of liquid spiritual energy formed.
In just a few breaths, a spiritual energy vortex formed around Ji Yuan.
The spiritual energy flowing into him… grew even denser.
Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, a month passed. After absorbing 2000 mid-grade Spirit Stones, the spiritual energy in Ji Yuan’s Dantian finally reached its peak.
This meant that his cultivation had not only reached late Foundation Establishment…
But had stabilized there.
However, because of this, even with the concealment of the Breath Concealment Art, his apparent cultivation was now mid Foundation Establishment… He wondered if Master had an advanced version of the Breath Concealment Art. It would be great if it could hide an entire major realm.
With that hopeful thought, Ji Yuan stood and stretched.
But in that brief moment, he seemed to sense something off.
Because the surroundings… were too quiet—so quiet it made him uneasy.
In an instant, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. His whole body tensed, and he whipped around.
At some point, a young man in white robes with a jade pendant had appeared behind him, seated with a cup of tea in hand.
The tea was a little hot, so he gently stirred it with the lid and blew on it softly.
As if only now noticing Ji Yuan had turned around, the young man looked up and smiled faintly. “It seems fate truly binds us, Little Brother Ji Yuan. Don’t you think?”
Staring at this Nascent Soul old... patriarch whom he’d met once before, Ji Yuan took a deep breath, first using his Divine Sense to pull on the Fixed-Point Teleportation Token in his storage pouch, then cupped his fists and said solemnly:
“Fate, drifting half a lifetime, only regrets never having found a noble house.”
“If Senior does not reject me, this junior is willing to join… Shang Court.”