Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 234 Foundation Establishment Opportunity. (First Update!)

Xuanyuan Pavilion...

The imperial court...

Zheng listened intently and immediately asked, "Senior Lu, how does the Xuanyuan Pavilion and the Imperial Court compare to the Heavenly Artifact Sect?"

He had no concrete idea of ​​the strength of the Xuanyuan Pavilion and the imperial court, but the Heavenly Artifact Sect... had a disciple with the strength of the Foundation Establishment stage. Such a foundation was far beyond what the rogue cultivators and cultivation families in Taiping County could compare to!
Upon hearing this, Lu Maohong calmly replied, "The Heavenly Artifact Sect and the Xuanyuan Pavilion are evenly matched. Both of these sects are major sects in this region."

"In comparison, the imperial court is somewhat weaker."

"But for us low-level rogue cultivators, these three forces are actually no different."

"The Heavenly Artifact Sect specializes in crafting artifacts. If you join this sect and become their official disciple, you won't need to worry about artifacts."

"However, like the Xuanyuan Pavilion, this sect has very strict standards for recruiting disciples. They basically only accept young children, and only those children with outstanding talent and a clean background."

"If you are just a steward under his jurisdiction, you will still have to rely on yourself to get some decent equipment."

"The same applies to the Xuanyuan Pavilion. Without becoming a disciple, one cannot obtain any decent resources. One will spend one's entire life doing odd jobs and just trying to make a living, with no hope for the future."

"But the imperial court is different."

"As long as you have the ability and are willing to work, you can earn all kinds of resources!"

"Cultivation techniques, spells, elixirs, artifacts... even the opportunity to establish a foundation, we will spare no expense!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que nodded slightly, gaining a general understanding of the strength of Xuanyuan Pavilion and the imperial court.

In addition, he doesn't lack cultivation techniques and pills for the time being, but he definitely wants as many spells and artifacts as possible.

There's also the opportunity to establish a foundation...

At his current cultivation speed, as long as he survives this tribulation, he will soon reach the ninth level of Qi Refining.

However, neither the [Seed of Life Technique] nor the [Secret Record of Yin-Yang Harmony] mentions how to establish a foundation...

Thinking of this, Zheng Que immediately asked, "If I join the imperial court, how can I obtain the method of Foundation Establishment?"

Lu Maohong smiled slightly, stroked his long beard, and replied with a sigh, "There are many methods, so let me tell you about mine."

"Fifty years ago, I reached the ninth level of Qi Refining and began taking on missions."

"Over the years, we have escorted taxes on 26 occasions. Of these, 17 times the taxes were delivered intact; 6 times they were slightly damaged; and on the remaining 3 times, we protected nearly half of the supplies!"

"In addition, we set up arrays and restrictions in fifty-one villages and towns, resolved sixty-two ghostly afflictions, apprehended forty-eight wanted criminals, and completed a total of seventy-nine other tasks..."

Lu Maohong spoke eloquently, listing dozens of achievements in one breath, and then concluded, "After escorting the tax revenue to the prefectural city this time, I will be able to obtain a Foundation Establishment opportunity!"

Fifty years of running around and working hard, all for the sake of accumulating experience, in exchange for a chance to build a foundation?

Isn't this taking a little too long?
Zheng Que was stunned for a moment, but seeing Lu Maohong's boastful look, he immediately understood that being able to obtain a Foundation Establishment opportunity once every fifty years was considered quite good for an ordinary cultivator...

Thinking of this, he immediately cupped his hands slightly and said, "I see! Then this junior congratulates Senior Lu on your successful journey and your successful Foundation Establishment!"

Lu Maohong laughed and was about to say a few words of encouragement when Zheng Que asked, "But, is there a way to quickly obtain this Foundation Establishment opportunity?" Zheng Que quickly calculated in his mind that after he survived this tribulation, there might be more tribulations to come.

Fifty years is enough time for him to die a hundred times over!
Upon hearing this, Lu Maohong frowned slightly and immediately said, "You kid, don't underestimate the difference between the seventh and ninth levels of Qi Refining, which is only two minor realms. The gap between them is much greater than the gap between the first and seventh levels of Qi Refining!"

"Fifty years may sound like a long time, but for most cultivators, that amount of time is not enough to go from the seventh level of Qi Refining to the ninth level of Qi Refining."

At this point, Lu Maohong paused, as if he had thought of something, and couldn't help but sigh, "However, at your age, you have already reached the seventh level of Qi Refining. Your aptitude is much higher than mine and Fellow Daoist Xu's!"

"It won't take that long to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining."

"As for a faster way to establish a foundation, I know two. One is to participate in the imperial court's 'Immortal Examination,' and after passing it, you can immediately obtain a spot to establish a foundation."

"However, the questions in the 'Immortal Trial' are all extremely dangerous, and there is no need to take that risk unless absolutely necessary."

"The other one is evil magic!"

"These kinds of methods don't require many rare and precious materials, but they do require a large number of living beings... cough cough! These kinds of evil methods are used by mediocre people who take shortcuts. With your talent, you don't need to know about them."

"Anyway, as long as I join the imperial court, I'm sure I can obtain the Foundation Establishment method!"

The imperial court's "immortal examination"?
Zheng Que nodded slightly. In any case, as long as he could establish his foundation, he would agree to it for now!

Zheng Que immediately replied in a serious tone, "I grew up in a small town and owe my current status entirely to the protection of the Four Symbols Soul-Suppressing and Spirit-Locking Array. I have always been blessed by the imperial court. Now that the court does not despise my humble talent, I am naturally willing to join the court and serve it to the utmost, even unto death..."

"Please introduce me, Senior Lu!"

Seeing that Zheng Que agreed to join the court, Lu Maohong immediately smiled, then took out a jade slip, handed it over, and said slowly, "The [Concealing Breath Talisman] you are using now is of very poor quality."

“Any cultivator with even a little discernment can see through your aura at a glance.”

"This jade slip contains a [Concealing Qi Technique], which can also conceal one's aura, and its effect is even better than the [Concealing Breath Talisman]."

"Since you have chosen to join the imperial court, I will give you this technique of the court as a gift."

[Concealment Technique]?
Zheng Que immediately accepted the jade slip with both hands. He had witnessed Xiao Yiyang's abilities when he was in Shujiabao. Xiao Yiyang, who came from the Heavenly Artifact Sect, could freely change his aura, and even the [Spiritual Eye Technique] could not see through him.

I wonder how this imperial technique compares to Xiao Yiyang's methods?

In a flash, Zheng Que bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Thank you, Senior Lu!"

Lu Maohong nodded slightly, quickly thought for a moment, and then, feeling that he had finished discussing the important matters, asked, "Is there anything else you would like to know?"

As Zheng Que put away the jade slip, he asked without hesitation, "Senior Lu, the area we are about to pass through is Danqiu Peak. Could you tell me about the Wanshan Temple on Danqiu Peak?"

He had already encountered two of the three "strange" incidents in Yaotai Mountain, and in order to prevent encountering Wanshan Temple again, he naturally wanted to inquire about the situation in advance.

Other cultivators had previously told him that Lu Maohong had experienced the Wanshan Temple...

Upon hearing this, Lu Maohong seemed to recall some very unpleasant memories. His facial muscles twitched involuntarily, and his expression instantly darkened. However, he quickly regained his composure and said, "To survive in Wanshan Temple, the most important thing is to have a firm mind!"

(End of this chapter)