Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

On the border of Yunzhou, at Luoxia Mountain.

The mountain's spiritual vein is only of the first rank, and the thin spiritual energy, like mist and gauze, lingers among the several caves on the mountainside.

At the foot of the mountain, the town of Luoxia is densely populated, with more than a thousand houses spread out along the mountainside.

More than a hundred of these households are surnamed Li, and are collateral descendants of the immortal master's family on the mountain.

For generations, they have cultivated dozens of acres of terraced fields at the foot of the mountain, which contain a little spiritual energy. Most of the other townspeople also depend on the Li family, forming a small ecosystem with the immortal master family at its core.

The Li family of Luoxia is a minor force that barely ranks among the Qi-refining families.

Today, the fate of the entire clan, and even the rise and fall of the whole Luoxia Town, rests on the body of that reclusive old man in the mountain cave—the clan head, Li Mutian.

Outside the cave, a biting mountain wind howled. Five figures stood silently.

Leading the group was Li Mutian's second younger brother, Li Xiaoyao, dressed in an old blue robe, with a calm expression, but deep in his eyes lay a heaviness that even perfected Qi cultivation could not dispel.

He possesses the four spiritual roots of metal, wood, water, and fire, and has the aptitude of Earth-level. The fact that he reached the ninth level of Qi Refining at the age of fifty is the highest secret of the clan, known only to two or three people, including Li Mutian.

This talent once made him exceptionally gifted, but it also allowed him to see more clearly than others the desperate chasm called "Foundation Building".

Beyond that chasm lies the lifespan, which surges from 150 years of Qi Refining to 500 years of Foundation Establishment, marking the true beginning of the mortal-immortal divide and the threshold to immortality.

However, without Foundation Establishment Pills or other spiritual treasures of the same level, even a low-level Earth-rank talent would find it difficult to achieve anything.

Behind him were his elder brother Li Mutian's four sons: the eldest son, Li Changhu (a water spirit root, a fake), was calm and honest.

The second son, Li Tongya (Water Spirit Root, fake), is meticulous.

The third son, Li Xiangping (fire spirit root, pseudo), is sharp and imposing.

The youngest son, Li Chijing (with dual spiritual roots of water and wood, a true one), is only sixteen years old. He has bright eyes and is the future of the family.

Their eyes were fixed on the stone gate.

The fluctuations of spiritual energy emanating from the cave captivated everyone's attention.

For this Foundation Establishment Pill, the Li family staked almost their entire future:

The right to the benefits of the first-tier spiritual vein of Luoxia Mountain for the next 150 years, and the contract for the only shop in the market under the jurisdiction of the "Qingxiao Immortal Sect".

They mortgaged everything to the "Good Deeds Pavilion" set up by the Immortal Sect nearby, and only then could they barely exchange it for this dark red Foundation Establishment Pill with faint pill patterns.

From then on, the Li family had nothing of value except for this empty ancestral land and the common people of the town.

Li Mutian, sixty years old, possesses a pseudo-fire spiritual root and cultivates his family's ancestral "True Yang Three Lights Technique," barely reaching the second rank, at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. He will take this pill to attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

---

Dozens of miles away, above the clouds.

Two figures, surrounded by a faint, clear light that blocked all auras and detection, were gazing at the tribulation clouds gathering atop Mount Luoxia.

They wore similar light blue robes with cloud patterns, which were only permitted for outer sect deacons and above of the Qingxiao Immortal Sect.

The man on the left had a slightly serious expression. Looking at the rolling clouds of calamity, he shook his head and said, "Brother Wei, what do you think of Li Mutian's chances of winning? Judging from his demeanor, his foundation is weak and he is quite old. I'm afraid his chances are slim."

The cultivator on the right, addressed as Brother Wei, was fair-skinned and beardless, with an even more indifferent expression. Hearing this, he chuckled lightly: "Brother Zhao, you do seem to care about this small clan in the countryside. At sixty years old, with a pseudo-spiritual root, and still cultivating such a rudimentary technique as the 'True Yang Three Lights Technique,' he should be a skeleton in his grave by now, barren and withered."

"He was able to reach the Foundation Establishment stage mostly because of that Foundation Establishment Pill he obtained from our sect's 'Good Deeds Pavilion,' right? He mortgaged his spiritual veins and shops; that's quite ruthless."

The cultivator surnamed Zhao chimed in, "Exactly. However, judging by normal circumstances, the success rate under these conditions is probably less than 20%. It's a pity about that Foundation Establishment Pill; if it had been given to a slightly better candidate..."

The cultivator surnamed Wei had a deep, unfathomable gaze, as if he could see through distance and witness Li Mutian's struggle inside the cave.

"If one is fortunate enough to establish a foundation using the 'True Yang Three Lights Technique,' the resulting immortal foundation will most likely be the 'Mysterious Radiance Gate' of the 'Bright Yang' lineage."

"This level emphasizes intensity and stability, and has some advantages in combat and defense, but among thousands of immortal foundations, it can only be considered as below average."

"Even if he succeeds, a country cultivator who barely managed to reach the Foundation Establishment stage by mortgaging all his possessions and whose Immortal Foundation is mediocre will be nothing more than another low-level laborer to be used by our Immortal Sect. He won't be able to cause any trouble."

As the two were talking, the third tribulation lightning bolt struck down on Mount Luoxia. After the loud bang, the aura was almost extinguished.

The cultivator surnamed Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly:

"Looks like it failed? But the spiritual vein and the shopfront are still acceptable..."

Before he could finish speaking, a glint flashed in the eyes of the cultivator surnamed Wei:

"Hmm? No... this radiant new life... Xuanhuang Pass! He actually succeeded!"

The cultivator surnamed Zhao also sensed the intense yet stable Foundation Establishment aura rapidly rising from the ruins, and a hint of surprise flashed across his face:

"I underestimated this person's ambition. He successfully established his foundation at the age of sixty with a pseudo-spiritual root. In this area, he is quite a figure."

The indifference on the cultivator's face transformed into a businesslike calm. He adjusted the cuffs of his cloud-patterned robe, his tone becoming distant and aloof:

"That's perfect, saves me the trouble of going to another place."

As he spoke, he reached out into the void, and a scroll-like image, resembling both silk and gold, with a faint Daoist aura, appeared in his hand.

Upon seeing this, the cultivator surnamed Zhao nodded in understanding:

"So Brother Wei brought a 'Selection Decree' with him on this inspection tour. The Li family has really run into us."

The cultivator surnamed Wei said no more, took a step forward, and his figure was already several miles away, leaving only a faint voice behind:

"According to the law, when patrolling, if we encounter someone who has just achieved Foundation Establishment and whose Immortal Foundation has been registered, we must issue an imperial decree to inquire about them. Brother Zhao, please wait here for a moment."

Before he finished speaking, his figure flashed several times, and he appeared in the sky, high above Mount Luoxia, carrying the phantom image of the scroll.

The clear light around him transformed into a more magnificent and majestic pale golden celestial light, and his figure became blurred and lofty in the light, as if in harmony with the Dao of Heaven.

---

At the summit of Luoxia Mountain, amidst ruins.

Li Mutian had just stood still, feeling the [Xuanhuang Pass] Foundation Establishment True Essence flowing through his body and his lifespan surging. His joy had not yet subsided, and he was about to share it with his family.

Just then, an indescribable, vast pressure descended suddenly, as if the entire blue sky were slowly collapsing!

Faced with this oppressive force, Li Mutian's nascent Foundation Establishment aura was like a firefly compared to the bright moon, instantly suppressed and rendered immobile.

Li Xiaoyao and the others were so terrified that they almost knelt down.

A pale golden light filled the field of vision, and a figure shrouded in light, whose face was obscured but whose majesty filled the heavens and earth, sat high above the sky.

The figure held a scroll that inspired awe in all who beheld it.

A calm, indifferent voice, like the pronouncement of the heavens, resounded in the deepest recesses of the Li family members' souls:

"By order of the Azure Sky Immortal Sect."

The gaze of that lofty figure seemed to pierce through all obstacles, landing on Li Mutian, whose breath was still unsteady.

"Li Mutian, a newly promoted cultivator in Yunzhou, has built the immortal foundation [Xuanhuang Pass], which has been recorded in the 'Records of Immortal Foundations of Lower Sects - Mingyang Volume'."

"In accordance with the old customs of the Immortal Sect, I now grant you this opportunity, and also assign you responsibilities."

The voice paused slightly, and the illusory image of the booklet glowed faintly. A golden light containing complex information appeared and disappeared, pointing towards Li Mutian.

"By imperial decree, you have been ordained as an outer cultivator of the Immortal Sect. You must obey orders and fulfill your duties."

"Fellow Daoist Li, receive the imperial decree."