Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

The pale golden light slowly dissipated, and the oppressive aura that had eclipsed the world receded like a tide.

Above the sky, the lofty figure had vanished, leaving only a scroll, neither silk nor gold, with a faint Daoist aura, quietly hovering in front of Li Mutian.

The summit of Luoxia Mountain was deathly silent.

The smoke and dust had not yet settled in the ruins. Li Tongya, Li Xiangping, and several others were still kneeling on the ground, their foreheads pressed against the scorched earth, their bodies trembling.

The ecstasy of successfully establishing the foundation was completely crushed by the vast power of the heavens, replaced by a deep-seated awe and bewilderment.

Li Xiaoyao was the first to struggle to his feet. His perfect Qi Refining cultivation made him slightly better than his nephews, but his face was still as pale as paper.

He looked at his elder brother, Li Mutian, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

Li Mutian stood in the center of the ruins, his newly forged [Xuanhuang Pass] Foundation Establishment True Essence surging within his body, radiating a blazing yet stable aura, but with obvious signs of instability and fluctuation.

He reached out his slightly trembling hand and touched the illusory image of the scroll.

The moment the fingertip touched it, a massive amount of information surged into the mind:

[Qingxiao Immortal Sect - Selection Edict for Lower Sects - Jiazi No. 721]

[Recipient of the ordination: Li Mutian, Luoxia Mountain, Yunzhou]

[Records of Immortal Foundations: The Records of Immortal Foundations of Lower Sects - Mingyang Volume - Xuanhuang Pass]

"In accordance with the 'Immortal Sect Expansion Law' and the 'Lower Sect Selection Regulations,' newly promoted members are granted two opportunities for foundation building:"

"Firstly, one will receive the 'Subordinate Register' and the title of 'Outer-Book Cultivator of the Azure Sky'. One must pay tribute for a hundred years (details attached), obey the levy orders, receive a 50% discount in the Immortal Sect Market, enjoy the right to read the Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment stage cultivation methods in the Basic Daoist Canon (limited to three books), and be basically protected by the laws and regulations of the Immortal Sect."

"Secondly, he will receive the 'Expansion Register' and the title of 'Azure Sky Expansion Envoy'. He will be exempt from tribute for a hundred years, and will be given one 'Category C Dimensional Dao Beacon', one 'Void Flying Boat' rental certificate (small, three-year term), and one 'Foundation Establishment Stage Basic Supply Talisman Pack'."

"Within thirty years, you must open up and initially stabilize the 'outpost' in the plane indicated by the signpost, and return 50% of the resources produced in the first year to the clan. If successful, you may be promoted to 'Outer Steward' or even 'Outer Gate Prospector' depending on the scale of the expansion. The right to manage, recruit, and pass on the opened territory will be granted according to the rules."

"If the task is not completed by the deadline, or if the 'Void Flying Boat' is damaged, the person will be stripped of their rank and their clan property will be confiscated as compensation."

"The decision-making period: thirty days."

"The method of selection: simply imprint the corresponding seal on the soul."

After the information flow was completed, the illusory image of the booklet transformed into two light patterns of different colors, one a calm and steady bluish-gray, the other a sharp and bright crimson gold, which quietly imprinted themselves on Li Mutian's palm before disappearing.

"Big brother!"

Li Xiaoyao quickly stepped forward and supported the slightly swaying Li Mutian. "What was that just now..."

"The Selection Decree of the Azure Sky Immortal Sect".

Li Mutian's voice was hoarse, carrying the weariness of surviving a disaster and the shock of information, but his eyes quickly regained their clarity, even sharper than before his seclusion:

"Xiaoyao, Changhu, come here."

The sons quickly gathered around, their faces still showing signs of shock.

Li Mutian briefly conveyed the message of the imperial decree, and then a deeper silence fell upon the ruins.

The setting sun dyed Luoxia Mountain blood red, reflecting the ever-changing faces of the Li family members.

"A vassal's title... that sounds like a safe bet."

The eldest son, Li Changhu, murmured. He was kind and gentle, and was the first to recover from the shock, beginning to consider reality:

"Paying tribute and receiving some orders, at least we have the protection of a celestial sect, and there's hope for cultivation techniques. We've just staked everything we have; we really can't afford to lose any more..."

"safe?"

Li Xiangping, the third son, interrupted him. The youthful vigor, which had been intimidated by the awe-inspiring power just now, transformed into a flame of defiance:

"Brother! Have you read the details of the tribute? Within a hundred years, 40% of the spiritual energy produced by my family's Luoxia Mountain will have to be handed over! Even if we redeem that shop in the market, they'll still take 30% of the profits! And we'll be on call to fight for our lives at any time!"

He took a breath, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter: "What about opening the talisman? A hundred years of free tribute! A flying boat, a guiding light! If it succeeds, our Li family will have our own territory, our own foundation! We won't have to depend on others anymore, we won't have to gamble the entire clan's future for a single Foundation Establishment Pill!"

"That's dimensional expansion!"

Li Tongya's voice trembled, filled with lingering fear:

"Second Uncle, you are very knowledgeable. Do you know how dangerous the 'Sea of ​​Void' and 'Alternate Dimension' are?"

"The ancient texts and fragments mention only fragments of a primordial chaos, rampant demons, and vastly different laws... Thirty years to establish a foothold? With our own efforts? With Father alone achieving Foundation Establishment?"

All eyes turned to Li Xiaoyao.

Li Xiaoyao remained silent for a long time, the mountain wind ruffling his tattered blue robe. He looked towards the hidden light patterns in Li Mutian's palm and slowly spoke:

"Tongya's words are true. Dimensional expansion is a matter of life and death. Under the rule of Qingxiao Immortal Sect, although the number of newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators is not large each year, there are still dozens or even hundreds."

"These 'pioneer talismans' are issued every year, and those who manage to return alive and truly establish a foundation are less than one in ten."

Li Changhu's face turned pale. Li Xiangping gritted his teeth and remained silent.

"However," Li Xiaoyao changed the subject, his eyes revealing the calm calculation familiar to Li Mutian, the kind of composure that belonged to the family's strategists:

"Why did the Immortal Sect establish this 'Expansion Register'? Why did they offer such 'generous' conditions?"

"Because for the Immortal Sect, the countless undeveloped or failed-developed planes in the vast void sea are the greatest resource in themselves."

"They need countless 'pebbles' like us to be thrown in, to pave the way and open up new paths with blood and lives."

"We are both pebbles and sparks."

Li Mutian spoke, his voice deep and firm:

"What the Immortal Sect wants is expansion and domination. If we choose to become vassals, the Li family might be stable for the next hundred years, but we are destined to be drained of resources and make little progress. My foundation-building stage, Li Mutian, is probably the ceiling for the family. But if we choose to expand..."

His gaze swept over his sons, finally settling on his second brother, whose face was filled with worry.

"If we choose to explore, we will be gambling the fate of our entire clan on a perilous path that will either lead to our annihilation or to our ascension to the highest heavens."

Li Mutian said, word by word, "It's done. Xiaoyao, your talents will not be buried. You will have a foundation that far surpasses that of Luoxia Mountain, and there is no limit to what is possible."

"They've lost. The Li family has vanished. The spiritual veins and townspeople of this place have all come to the Immortal Sect. They can just throw another pebble in."

"Has Father made a decision?" Li Tongya asked softly.

"I had already thought about this when I went into seclusion to attempt the Foundation Establishment stage."

Li Mutian gazed at the setting sun in the west; the afterglow was intense, dyeing the sky red.

"A pseudo-spiritual root, sixty years old. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I have no hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in this lifetime. It is the family that has given everything for me to take this gamble."

"I succeeded, but if this success cannot secure a real future for my family, what difference is there between it and failure?"

"This 'Pioneering Register' may seem dangerous, but for the Li family, it might be the only chance to escape this stagnant pool!"

He raised his hand, and the crimson-gold "Pioneer Register" seal on his palm was slightly warm.

"My mind is made up. We have a 30-day deadline, and only one month to prepare."