Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 262 Foundation Establishment Stage Three. (First Update!)

Upon entering the main hall, Zheng Que immediately saw the shrine facing him.

The statue is majestic and solemn, with twelve tassels hanging low and the robes are exquisite and beautiful. Although it is just a statue, it still conveys a strong sense of imperial dominance.

The dark, spacious hall now seemed to possess an added sense of majesty and grandeur, filled with a solemn and imposing aura.

Zheng Que was slightly taken aback. Although the face of this statue was covered by the tassels, its posture, clothing and appearance were very similar to the legendary King Yama.

But who knows if this Wanshan Temple has any connection with the underworld?
In the blink of an eye, he saw a figure in a bronze-green robe with bamboo patterns standing upright on the open ground beneath the offering table.

The figure's hair was frosty, his face was deathly pale, and his breathing was erratic, as if he had just suffered a severe injury. There were mottled bloodstains at the corners of his mouth, and his chest heaved violently. His waist was adorned with various exquisite objects, among which a blood-red maple branch was inserted.

Zheng Que recognized Chen Zhentao at a glance and was slightly taken aback. Chen Zhentao was a descendant of a major sect, so how could he have suddenly become so miserable?
He immediately stopped and looked at the figure, cautiously asking, "Are you Chen Zhentao of Xuanyuan Pavilion?"

As he spoke, he turned to look at the withered orchid beside him.

Without Zheng Que needing to speak, Ku Lan instantly understood his meaning and said directly, "Young Master, it's a living person."

At this moment, Chen Zhentao also came to his senses. As if he had suddenly understood something, his previously astonished gaze instantly turned sharp, and he chuckled to himself, "So that's how it is... So that's how it is!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the open palace doors. If he went out now, he would surely be able to escape, but...

In the blink of an eye, Chen Zhentao casually waved his hand, and a container full of divination sticks on the long table next to him suddenly flew up and landed steadily on the open ground in front of Zheng Que.

Boom!
The crisp sound of the divination sticks falling to the ground echoed in the hall, like ripples spreading across the surface.

At the same time, Chen Zhentao said earnestly, "Fellow Daoist Zheng, you've also come for the opportunity at Wanshan Temple, haven't you?"

"There are three opportunities at Wanshan Temple."

"The first is marriage; the second is the path of life; the third is life and death."

"Everyone who enters this place may only draw a fortune stick once."

"We can only choose one of these three opportunities."

"Mr. Chen has already drawn a lot."

"Fellow Daoist Zheng, please draw a fortune stick now. Whether this journey will be auspicious or inauspicious depends on whether you can draw a favorable one!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que made no move, but calmly replied, "Fellow Daoist, the time for drawing lots is from midnight to three quarters past midnight."

"The time has now passed."

"It would be unwise for me to seek divination at this time."

As he said this, he glanced around, quickly surveying the entire palace.

The hall is very spacious, and the bricks are laid together so perfectly that they appear as a single, seamless whole. It is clean and spotless.

Because of the high ceiling, the tall statues do not look out of place in the temple.

Besides the offering table in front of the shrine, there are two blue-and-white porcelain vases, each about the height of a person, with simple and elegant patterns, and several rows of candle holders with candles inserted on them.

The candles burned at different rates, their uneven glow filling the hall with a dim, yellowish light, but offering little illumination; instead, it cast a hazy, dreamlike hue over the entire space.

Zheng Que noticed that there was a lotus-shaped prayer cushion sitting alone under the offering table. The cushion was very exquisite and did not seem to be used by ordinary believers to worship and offer incense. Rather, it seemed to be the exclusive possession of an important person in the temple.

The huge hall was now empty except for him and Chen Zhentao, two living people, and a few ghost servants beside him.

Perhaps because the time for drawing lots had passed, the abbot was not here.

Zheng Que was puzzled. Since Chen Zhentao had already drawn a fortune stick, why was he still staying here?
Furthermore, he recalled that he hadn't told the other person his name, yet the other person seemed to already know him...

Just as Zheng Que was pondering rapidly, Chen Zhentao looked at him, shook his head slightly, and explained directly: "I already have a general understanding of the rules of this Wanshan Temple."

"If you wish to live, fellow Daoist, while I can still suppress the illusions here, quickly draw a lot." "As long as you draw a favorable lot, I am confident I can deal with that abbot!"

"Otherwise, after I die, it will be your turn, fellow Daoist."

"Fellow Daoist's cultivation level is too low. With only the fifth level of Qi Refining, you cannot break through this 'strange'!"

Fifth level of Qi training?

Where did Chen Zhentao get this false information from?

Zheng Que was slightly taken aback, but quickly came to his senses and immediately said, "Fellow Daoist Chen, since you claim that you can solve this 'strange phenomenon,' then I will believe you this once."

"However, there are too many strange things in this 'weirdness'; what you see with your eyes may not be the truth."

"Therefore, before I draw lots, I need to confirm your identity, fellow Daoist, whether you are indeed Chen Zhentao of Xuanyuan Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhentao replied without the slightest hesitation, "Okay!"

Zheng Que nodded and continued, "Xuanyuan Pavilion is one of the major sects in this region. As a disciple of the sect, you are naturally knowledgeable and must have a deep understanding of the Foundation Establishment method."

"Please tell me all the Foundation Establishment methods you know now."

"If you were a fake, you certainly wouldn't be able to say it, or you would deliberately say it wrong."

"If what you say is correct, I will draw lots immediately."

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhentao slowly nodded, without any suspicion.

In his view, although Zheng Que's cultivation level was very low, the four ghost servants behind him were of different levels: two were at the ninth level of the [Tongue-Pulling Hell], one at the eighth level, and one at the seventh level...

How could an ordinary cultivator possibly do that?
More importantly, two of these four ghost servants are clearly not "vengeful spirits," but rather "evil spirits" and "wicked beings"!
Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator might not be able to have such a luxurious lineup of ghost servants!
Such a gesture is enough to prove that Zheng Que has an extraordinary background. Even if he is not from a prominent family like Zheng Que, he must have a strong background or family history.

The method of Foundation Establishment is naturally an unattainable dream for ordinary rogue cultivators. The imperial court uses this as bait to drive countless low-level rogue cultivators to work diligently and toil year after year.

But for him, and for someone like Zheng Que, these were just basic common sense!
Zheng Que's choice to use this question to distinguish between truth and falsehood is very appropriate.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhentao replied without hesitation: "Foundation Building is divided into three grades, from low to high: Human Grade, Earth Grade, and Heaven Grade."

"Ordinary independent cultivators who attempt to establish their foundation, including so-called imperial cultivators like Lu Maohong, can only build a foundation of character and cultivation."

"Most disciples of our six sects, as well as those cultivators in the imperial court who have passed the immortal examination, have strong foundations and can usually build a ground-grade Dao foundation."

"As for the Heavenly Grade Dao Foundation..."

"A Heavenly-grade Dao Foundation not only requires the accumulation and refinement of foundational knowledge, but also a 'law'!"

"I came to Wanshan Temple this time to accept the trial mission from the temple. I know that there is a 'law' hidden in Wanshan Temple!"

"Although my foundation is currently damaged, as long as I obtain this 'law,' I can build a Heavenly Grade Dao Foundation and break through this 'strangeness'..."

Zheng Que listened intently, but soon he frowned.

Chen Zhentao's understanding of Foundation Establishment is clearly much greater than Lu Maohong's.

However, he now knows that all of this is useless!
What he wants is a specific method for building a foundation!
The other party's nonsense about character, terrestrial character, and divine character is meaningless to him.

Thinking of this, Zheng Que quickly said, "What I asked about is the method of Foundation Establishment, not the grade of Foundation Establishment."

"Fellow Daoist, just name any Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment method!"

"By the way, as we all know, a Heavenly Grade Dao Foundation requires accumulating foundation and there is also a 'law'."

"Please explain your so-called foundation and 'laws' properly, fellow Daoist. Don't try to fool me..."

(End of this chapter)