Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

The third day after the liberation of the wasteland.

The "God Race" banner that had hung for ten thousand years atop the Heavenly Demon City has long since turned to ashes.

Instead, a huge battle flag of the Azure Sky Immortal Sect fluttered in the morning breeze.

Li Xiaoyao stood on the city wall, looking at his homeland being rebuilt in the distance.

For three days, countless humans poured in from all directions, some with their families, some alone, and some being carried, carried, or supported.

The numbness in their eyes is fading, replaced by disbelief and ecstasy, a sense of bewilderment at surviving a catastrophe, and apprehension about the future.

"The statistics are in."

Master Shuyu landed beside him and handed him a jade slip.

Li Xiaoyao took it and probed it with his divine sense—

Throughout the entire wasteland, a total of 9.73 billion humans have been liberated. Among them, approximately 140 million possess spiritual roots and have begun receiving instruction in the new methods in batches.

Death statistics: Three people died in the early stage of Zifu - Chixiao Zhenren, Zhuohua Zhenren, and Cangyao Zhenren.

More than 8,200 Foundation Establishment cultivators and more than 370,000 Qi Refining cultivators perished in the battle.

Seriously injured: Zhenyue Zhenren, Canglan Zhenren, Liegui Zhenren, Xuanming Zhenren, and Qingya Zhenren, all at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm, are seriously injured and unable to fight again in the short term.

In the early stages of the Purple Mansion, more than ten fellow Daoists, including True Man Guanghua and True Man Danxi, were seriously injured and urgently needed to recuperate.

Although Jinpan Zhenren and Chonglou Zhenren were seriously injured, they had stabilized their foundations and chose to rest on the spot.

Li Xiaoyao remained silent for a long time.

Three Purple Mansions, eight thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators, and three hundred and seventy thousand Qi Refining cultivators.

This is a number that the entire Li family combined cannot match.

But in return, they gained the freedom of nearly 10 billion compatriots.

"Is it worth it?" Master Shuyu asked softly.

Li Xiaoyao looked at her.

"It was worth it. They risked their lives for it, and we must remember that."

Master Shuyu nodded and said nothing more.

Just then, a golden light suddenly appeared on the horizon.

Everyone looked up.

The golden light drew closer and brighter, eventually transforming into a massive void warship—twice the size of the one they had arrived in.

Following the warships were dozens of medium-sized warships, densely packed together, blotting out the sky.

"This is……"

Li Xiaoyao's pupils contracted slightly.

The warship slowly descended, the hatch opened, and figures filed out one after another.

The two at the front possessed auras as deep and boundless as the ocean; they were none other than Golden Core True Monarchs.

Zhaoming Zhenjun, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator of the Mingyang Dao lineage, had a body radiant with light, like the rising sun illuminating thousands of miles.

Xuan Gui Zhenjun, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator of the Gen Earth Dao lineage, possessed an aura as heavy as a mountain, and with each step he took, the void trembled slightly.

Behind the two True Lords were fifty Purple Mansion True Persons—twenty of whom were in the late Purple Mansion stage and thirty in the middle Purple Mansion stage.

Further behind were 100,000 Foundation Establishment cultivators, a dark, silent mass.

"Is this... the second wave of reinforcements?"

"Master Shuyu murmured."

Li Xiaoyao nodded: "The Immortal Sect acted faster than I expected."

A moment later, the voice of True Lord Zhaoming resounded throughout the entire Heavenly Demon City:

"My fellow friends from the desolate region, thank you for your hard work."

"By order of the Immortal Sect, we have come to take over the defense and support the subsequent campaign. You may take a break when the time is right. Those who are seriously wounded should return to the rear to recuperate, while those who are lightly wounded should rest on the spot. It is not too late to fight again once you have fully recovered."

On the city wall, countless cultivators bowed in unison.

An hour later, in the temporary council hall of Tianyao City.

More than fifty Purple Mansion True Persons gathered together. In addition to the original cast including Li Xiaoyao, there were also fifty new Purple Mansion True Persons.

Zhaoming Zhenjun sat in the main seat, with Xuangui Zhenjun sitting beside him.

"We have already seen the battle report."

True Monarch Zhaoming spoke, his voice gentle, "The liberation of the entire desolate region owes much to you all."

"We will take over the battles in the other four domains, as well as the Lower Three Heavens, Middle Three Heavens, and Upper Three Heavens."

"You've been playing for three months, it's time for a break."

He looked at the assembled True Immortals: "Those who are seriously injured may return to the Immortal Sect to recuperate. Those who need to break through may also return to exchange for resources or engage in seclusion for cultivation."

"Of course, if anyone wants to continue playing, they can stay and be added to a new team."

Everyone looked at each other.

Zhenyue Zhenren spoke first: "True Lord, the five of us are seriously injured and unable to fight again in the short term. Please allow us to return to the Immortal Sect to recuperate."

Zhaoming Zhenjun nodded: "Granted."

The four True Immortals, Canglan, Liegui, Xuanming, and Qingya, also stood up and bowed at the same time.

All five mid-stage True Immortals were seriously injured. In the battle against the Tiger Demon King and the Fox Clan High Priest, they were practically fighting for their lives.

It's a miracle that I'm still alive and standing here right now.

Next, more than ten other early-stage True Immortals rose and requested to return to recuperate—True Immortal Guanghua, True Immortal Danxi…

They were all seriously injured in the battle of Tianyao City, and if they did not recuperate, their foundations would be damaged.

Zhaoming Zhenjun agreed to all of them.

Although Jinpan Zhenren and Chonglou Zhenren were seriously injured, they chose to rest on the spot and did not get up.

Finally, Zhaoming Zhenjun looked towards Li Xiaoyao.

"Young friend Shangyuan, and you?"

Li Xiaoyao pondered for a moment and said, "True Lord, this junior would like to check my contribution points first before making a decision."

Zhaoming Zhenjun nodded, raised his hand and waved, and a light screen appeared in front of everyone.

That's the Immortal Sect's merit list, updated in real time.

Li Xiaoyao found his name—

[Shangyuan Zhenren: Accumulated good deeds amount to 37 million.]

[Among them, liberating the southeastern war zone of the desolate region, participating in the decisive battle of the Heavenly Demon City, killing seven demigods of the Purple Mansion, and assisting in the killing of three demon kings...]

[Contribution rating: Grade A, Upper]

Li Xiaoyao was stunned for a moment.

Thirty-seven million good deeds.

What does this mean? Back then, he only spent a little over ten thousand to exchange for a fourth-grade cultivation technique. He only spent a few hundred thousand to exchange for three third-tier spiritual artifacts.

Thirty-seven million was enough for him to arm the entire Li family to the teeth.

"So many?"

he murmured.

Zhaoming Zhenjun smiled slightly: "Not much. The people you saved are worth this price."

Li Xiaoyao was silent for a moment, then raised his head: "True Lord, this junior wishes to stay."

"Oh?"

Zhaoming Zhenjun looked at him. "Your injuries are not light either. Why don't you go back and rest?"

Li Xiaoyao shook his head: "This junior has simply overexerted his spiritual energy and will be fine in a few days. Those new fellow Daoists are unfamiliar with the situation in the Desolate Region, this junior can act as their guide."

Zhaoming Zhenjun looked at him for a moment, then nodded and said, "Very well. You can stay and be assigned to the second echelon."

Li Xiaoyao cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, True Lord."

After the meeting concluded, Li Xiaoyao walked out of the hall.

Outside, Master Baichuan, Master Muye, Master Hanche, and Master Shuyu were standing on the city wall, seemingly waiting for him.

Li Xiaoyao walked over.

"Have you made a decision?" asked Master Shuyu.

Li Xiaoyao nodded: "I'll stay. What about you?"

Master Baichuan smiled and said, "We've discussed it and we're going back."

"Are you badly injured?" Li Xiaoyao looked at him.

Master Baichuan's left arm was still wrapped in bandages, from the bones shattered by the Demon King's attack. Although they had been set, they wouldn't heal anytime soon.

"It's not just injuries. After these three months of fighting, my [Ten Thousand Pounds Fall] technique has reached its peak. I'll go back and exchange for some materials, then it's time to go into seclusion and cultivate my second divine ability."

Master Muye chuckled憨厚ly, "Me too. I've perfected the Stacked Peaks Foundation. I'm going back to exchange for some earth-attribute spiritual items to cultivate my second divine power."

Master Han Che remained taciturn, only nodding: "The Soul-Cold Court is complete. Go back."

Li Xiaoyao looked at Master Shuyu.

Master Shuyu remained silent for a moment, then said, "The Vast Sea is now complete. Go back... and cultivate your second divine power."

Looking at her, Li Xiaoyao suddenly recalled the scene on the battlefield where she withstood the Demon King's lightning strike with the vast ocean. At that time, her spiritual power was almost exhausted, yet she did not retreat an inch.

"Go back and work on your training. Come back when you've mastered your second supernatural power."

Master Shuyu nodded, her eyes slightly red.

Master Baichuan stepped forward and patted Li Xiaoyao on the shoulder: "Fellow Daoist Shangyuan, take care."

Master Muye chuckled and hugged him, saying, "I'll be waiting for you to come back for a drink at the Immortal Sect."

Han Che Zhenren rarely spoke, but he did: "Don't die."

Li Xiaoyao agreed to all of them.

Finally, Master Shuyu stood before him and remained silent for a long time.

"Fellow Daoist Shangyuan..." she began, but then stopped.

Li Xiaoyao looked at her and waited.

"Never mind," Master Shuyu suddenly laughed. "We'll talk about it next time we meet."

She turned around and walked with Baichuan, Muye, and Hanche toward the warship that was returning to the Immortal Sect.

Li Xiaoyao stood on the city wall, watching their figures disappear into the cabin.

The warship slowly rose, sailed into the void, and gradually disappeared into the horizon.

The wind swept across the city walls, carrying the rugged atmosphere unique to the desolate region.

Li Xiaoyao stood there for a very long time.

Then a voice came from behind: "Young friend Shangyuan?"

He turned around and saw Zhaoming Zhenjun standing not far away, smiling at him.

"True Lord".

Zhaoming Zhenjun walked over and stood beside him, looking at the void.

"Reluctant to part with it?"

Li Xiaoyao was silent for a moment, then said, "We've been fighting together for three months, I'm used to it."

True Lord Zhaoming nodded: "On the path of cultivation, gathering and parting are common occurrences. To be able to separate alive is already a great blessing."

Li Xiaoyao looked at him: "True Lord, what's the next step?"

Zhaoming Zhenjun smiled slightly, turned around and walked towards the council hall.

"Come, let me explain in detail."

Li Xiaoyao took one last look at the void before turning and following.

There are still nine days to fight ahead.

But at least for now, he knew that his friends were on their way home.