Gathering Immortals Tower.
"Haha, congratulations Brother Lin on your Foundation Establishment!"
"Brother Lin has established his Foundation!"
Outside, the wind and snow howled, but inside the private room, it was filled with laughter and cheers.
Shen Lie, Li Erniu, Wei Buyi, and Lu Qingqing all beamed with joy, offering their congratulations.
Initially, upon hearing that Lin Changâan had successfully established his Foundation, they were so shocked that it was hard to believe. It was all so sudden.
When the news that Yun Yao had established her Foundation came, they were surprised, but could understand it, as Yun Yao was already at the final stage.
However, Lin Changâan was only preparing recently, and suddenly, he had succeeded in establishing his Foundation.
In their laughter, there was an invisible layer of unfamiliarity, as the difference in status naturally created a gap in their hearts.
But then Lin Changâan, as usual, smiled and talked with them, dissipating this unfamiliarity.
Facing everyoneâs congratulations, Lin Changâan raised his glass in a toast to everyone.
"Establishing oneâs Foundation is of great importance, hence I kept it a secret. For my success, I owe it all to the assistance from everyone here."
Without hesitation, Lin Changâan drank it all in one go.
"Come, letâs toast to Brother Lin!"
Faces aglow from the drink, their assistance was given, but deep down, they still felt uncertainty.
After all, Lin Changâan and they were all once the cultivators who were not selected, and establishing a Foundation with a low-grade Spirit Root was extremely difficult.
Their assistance before was more about the friendship over the years.
It was precisely because of that, Lin Changâan was immensely grateful.
After his breakthrough, he first went to Yunyao Cave Mansion to express his gratitude, then bought some items along the way and came to Gathering Immortals Tower to inform everyone.
It was also a small celebration for his Foundation Establishment.
"Brother Lin, I really didnât expect it."
Li Erniuâs face was flushed, his words somewhat incoherent.
Lin Changâan not only attained Foundation Establishment, but also maintained his unchanged attitude towards them.
Lin Changâan looked at their smiling faces, listening to the cheerful conversation, feeling they had finally vindicated themselves, giving a voice to those who were once left out.
"Friends, I wonât forget the assistance you offered before!"
After several rounds of drinks, Lin Changâan stood up again, holding his glass, solemnly toasting everyone once more, and everyone, daring not to hesitate, rose and raised their glasses.
"Brother Shen, Little Junior Sister, on my way here, I happen to have bought two bottles of elixir."
When the two bottles of elixir appeared, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqingâs pupils contracted. On the side, Wei Buyi who was a Pill Master exclaimed:
"This is Clear Spirit Powder and Upper Grade Golden Marrow Pills."
Clear Spirit Powder has the effects of cleansing the muscles, tempering the essence, strengthening the foundation, and nourishing the essence.
Seeing this elixir, Shen Lieâs eyes grew red. How could he not know how much this spiritual medicine would benefit him?
He has been stuck at Qi Refining Seventh Layer for many years, precisely due to the aftereffects of the Tier-Breaking Pill he took back then.
Though this bottle couldnât completely repair the damage, it was enough to strengthen his foundation and allow further cultivation improvement.
Foundation Establishment seemed out of reach, but there was hope for reaching Qi Refining Eight or Ninth Layer.
And the Upper Grade Golden Marrow Pills were for Lu Qingqing.
"Brother Wei, this is for you."
Likewise, producing a jade bottle, Wei Buyiâs eyes immediately reddened. It was a high-level healing medicine for veins, essentially meant to treat his legs.
At this moment, Wei Buyi lifted his head, looking at Lin Changâanâs sincere smile, he couldnât help but recall his younger days, feeling a deep sense of shame, he bowed his head and hoarsely uttered:
"Brother Lin..."
With a hoarse voice, he didnât finish his sentence, but Lin Changâan nodded with a smile already, turning his gaze towards Erniu.
"Erniu, youâve lingered long enough at Qi Refining Sixth Layer; you must understand that in the ever-changing Immortal Cultivation Realm, strength is everything."
Lin Changâan produced a bottle of Tier-Breaking Pill, making everyone present break into smiles.
Although what Erniu was given was of the least value, Erniuâs face was full of smiles, without feeling any lack.
Following this, amidst laughter and chatter, Lin Changâan shared the thrills and experiences of his Foundation Establishment with everyone.
Of course, he didnât disclose a few secrets, but he emphasized the difficulty of hunting demon beasts, and shared his experience on how cultivators of similar aptitude could establish their Foundation.
When Lin Changâan finally mentioned he succeeded using only one high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, everyone gasped in shock.
"Brother Lin, are you saying you still have a Foundation Establishment Pill on hand?!"
Everyone was shocked. Although they didnât need it, they couldnât mask their astonishment for the famed Foundation Establishment Pill.
After all, what loose cultivators aim for all their lives is to seize the sliver of chance for Foundation Establishment.
"Indeed, I still have one Foundation Establishment Pill."
At this moment, Lin Changâan smiled at everyone, and they returned to their senses, exchanging helpless glances, and broke into bitter smiles.
Clearly, if anyone among them had reached late-stage Qi Refining fulfillment, Lin Changâan wouldnât mind selling it to them.
Unfortunately, everyone knew too well; not to mention Foundation Establishment, even Qi Refining Ninth Layer seemed distant.
In the end, everyone shook their heads, and Lin Changâan did so lightly too, finally setting his gaze on Erniu.
"Erniu, Zhou Familyâs Path of Beast Taming is quite renowned, my Cyan-Horned Bull seems to lack a bit of finesse; could you ask the Zhou Family when you get the chance?"
With this sentence, Li Erniuâs face flushed red, excitedly raising his glass without the slightest hesitation and drank it all in one go.
"Brother Lin, rest assured, leave this matter to me!"
Clearly, Lin Changâanâs intention was to use this Foundation Establishment Pill in a transaction with the Zhou Family.
Sending Erniu could even earn a great merit.
This was indeed the gift Lin Changâan was giving to Li Erniu, and everyone was smiling brightly.
After all, Erniu was a son-in-law; the last time he funded something, he used his private savings, which everyone was well aware of.
If he could achieve a great merit, there would be no need to say more, his status in the family and clan would naturally change.
"Come, letâs toast to Brother Linâs eternal journey on the Immortal Dao, cheers!"
"Cheers!"
The room was filled with laughter and joy, and Lin Changâan also wore a broad smile. He had thought through the transaction of the Foundation Establishment Pill with the Zhou Family thoroughly.
Having just made a breakthrough, he didnât lack anything else, and his strength wouldnât see a significant improvement in the short term.
Meanwhile, the Cyan-Horned Bull was at a critical growth stage; if it could successfully break through to Tier Two, his strength would see a substantial increase.
After all, given the situation outside, one never knows when the Three Major Sects might turn against each other.
Incidentally, it could also grant Erniu a great merit, achieving two goals in one stroke.
After the celebration banquet ended, Lin Changâan gifted each person a Golden Light Talisman, earning their gratitude.
...
Amidst the howling wind and snow of Celestial Profound City.
Back in his cave mansion, Lin Changâan naturally felt the thinness of the spiritual energy and couldnât help but mutter to himself.
He hadnât noticed it before, but after visiting Yun Yaoâs cave mansion, the spiritual energy there was indeed on a different level.
"First, Iâll cultivate this ancient cultivation technique, then consider changing my cave mansion."
Since reaching Foundation Establishment, he hadnât chosen a cultivation technique. Now that everything was done, he naturally wanted to study this technique first and foremost.
[Life Span: 54/236]
[Realm: Foundation Establishment Early Stage (2/100)]
"Upon breaking through Foundation Establishment, my lifespan directly increased to over two hundred thirty years."
Lin Changâanâs face was filled with happiness. This was the benefit of cultivating the Evergreen Skill. As his cultivation continued to improve, his lifespan would also increase.
Itâs said that Foundation Establishment cultivators who practice Wood Attribute Techniques can live up to nearly three hundred years before passing on.
"Next is this ancient cultivation technique, along with the needed lifebound spirit plant!"
This lifebound spirit plant was something he had purchased earlier at the market.
"This ginseng might be a rare treasure in the Mortal Realm, but in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, itâs just ordinary."
A ginseng with a history of three thousand five hundred years had already developed a faint spiritual energy, perfectly meeting the requirements for a lifebound spirit plant.
But after looking at it, Lin Changâan shook his head helplessly; real three-thousand-year-old spirit grass is something Nascent Soul cultivators would fight over, and he could only settle for the next best option.
This was already the best he could obtain under his capabilities, meeting all the requirements.
"Evergreen Skill!"
Lin Changâan carefully took out this fortunate opportunity from the ancient ruins, his expression serious as he studied it once more.
"After so much preparation, letâs begin!"
In the cave mansion, Lin Changâan sat cross-legged on a cattail hassock, his expression solemn as he slowly took out a bottle of spirit liquid and poured it onto the ginseng cradled by the leaves printed with the cultivation technique.
With the pouring of the spirit liquid, the ginseng once again burst forth with new vitality, making Lin Changâan sigh inwardly.
After all, it was a mundane item; the mere spirit liquid of the Immortal Cultivation Realm had such a significant effect.
Alas, thatâs all it could do.
"Refine!"
In the next moment, Lin Changâan pinched his fingers together, forcing out a drop of essence blood from his brow just as he was about to enter the crucial moment of sacrificial refining, his pupils suddenly contracted.
As the essence blood dripped onto the ginseng, the millennial ginseng seemed to weather away, visibly disappearing before his eyes.
No!
It should have been being absorbed by the dry tree leaf with the cultivation technique printed beneath it.
"What is this!? The spirit liquid from earlier!"
Lin Changâan was suddenly startled; it was the spirit liquid from earlier that had dripped onto the dry leaf.
It seemed to have been activated.
Could it be!
Just then, the essence blood landed on the dry leaf, creating a subtle connection, and Lin Changâanâs expression froze.
His lifebound spirit plant was gone, but it seemed the dry leaf met the conditions as well.
"Since this dry leaf was in the ancient cultivatorâs cave mansion, it must have existed for thousands of years, maybe even tens of thousands, making it eligible as a lifebound spirit plant."
If there were truly spirit grass from the Immortal Cultivation Realm, he certainly wouldnât use this mundane item.
However, just as Lin Changâan hesitated, the dry tree leaf, under the sacrificial refining method, created a subtle connection, seemingly sensing something, and directly emitted a faint green light.
"Refine!"
Lin Changâan was startled; the tree leaf with the cultivation technique had already made the choice for him.
After all, the treasures from the ancient ruinsâ cave mansion were undoubtedly superior to objects from the Mortal Realm.
Thus, Lin Changâan immediately began to operate this cultivation technique.