Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

The stone gate to the cave slowly opened.

When Li Xiaoyao stepped out, a layer of warm, cyan light flowed around him.

The halo was as clear as spring water and as deep as ancient wood, slowly swirling three inches around him.

Wherever it went, the tender shoots of wild grass that stubbornly sprouted from the cracks in the rocks stretched out at a speed visible to the naked eye, exuding vitality.

He took a deep breath, feeling the completely different power flowing through his body.

Within the dantian, beside the Dao Foundation which was originally predominantly crimson, a verdant and ethereal phantom of a palace tower has now steadily risen—the Immortal Foundation [Longevity Palace].

The gate's body is textured like dragon scales, and wisps of blue spiritual energy hang from the eaves, echoing the blazing and stable [Xuanhuang Pass] on the other side, subtly creating a mutually reinforcing relationship.

Wood generates fire.

This year and seven months of secluded cultivation not only successfully forged the second immortal foundation, but also, with the nourishment of the vitality of the [Longevity Palace], broke through to the fourth level of Foundation Establishment and officially entered the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

"Second Uncle!"

Li Chijing, who was guarding outside the cave, suddenly stood up, his face full of surprise.

The boy had grown taller in the past year or so, and his aura had become much more composed. He had already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining.

"Chijing".

Li Xiaoyao nodded with a smile.

"Why are you the one guarding this spot?"

"My father said that my second uncle's seclusion was very important and that I should pay close attention to him in my daily life."

Li Chijing strode forward and carefully examined Li Xiaoyao.

"Second Uncle...you've broken through?"

"Hmm, mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

Li Xiaoyao made no attempt to hide it.

"Thank you for your hard work over the past year."

"It's not hard work!"

Li Chijing's eyes sparkled.

"My second uncle's breakthrough is a great joy for the family! I'll send a message to Brother Changhu right away!"

He took out a communication jade talisman from his pocket and whispered a few words.

In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Li Changhu arrived on the wind and landed on the cliff top.

"Second Uncle!"

Li Changhu's face lit up with even more joy, and he bowed deeply in greeting.

"Congratulations, Second Uncle, on your successful completion of seclusion! Your cultivation has greatly improved!"

"Get up, get up."

Li Xiaoyao helped him up and asked, "How is the clan while I've been in seclusion? How is my elder brother?"

Li Changhu and Li Chijing exchanged a glance. Li Changhu said, "Second Uncle, shall we go inside and talk?"

The three entered the main hall and sat down. Li Changhu then began to explain:

"In the third month after my second uncle went into seclusion, our exploration team discovered a barren plain a thousand miles to the southeast."

"That place... actually hides a second-grade high-level earth fire vein underground."

Li Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow: "Earth Fire Vein? That's a good thing."

"Exactly."

Li Changhu nodded.

"After my father personally went to investigate and confirmed that there was nothing wrong, he set up the formation."

"Convert some of the fiery energy from that earth fire vein into usable spiritual energy. Although it is not as pure as the spiritual vein, it is enough to support a stronghold."

He paused, then continued, "Father checked the map and found that the plain was in a special location—it wasn't far from the strongholds of the An family, Xuange Alliance, Baicao Group, Wan family, and Wang family. The closest was no more than three hundred li away, and the furthest was no more than six hundred li away."

"After a moment's thought, my father decided to build a market there."

"Marketplace?"

Li Xiaoyao seemed to be deep in thought.

"Does Big Brother intend to... use this as a center to connect these various forces?"

"Exactly."

Li Changhu said, "Father said that our Li family has taken the initiative and obtained the autonomous territory of a thousand miles, but we cannot keep it all to ourselves."

"Instead of letting these companies operate independently and compete covertly, why don't we take the lead in establishing a place for open trading and mutual exchange of resources?"

"Firstly, we can collect a cut from the market; secondly, we can keep track of everyone's movements; and thirdly... although the Earth Fire Vein is good, our family can't handle it all, so we might as well let it play a greater role."

Li Xiaoyao nodded repeatedly, "Brother, your considerations are thorough. How is the market doing now?"

Li Changhu smiled and said, "It's already up and running."

"Our Hou Tu Jin Ya originally had more than 800 ordinary people. After more than a year of recuperation, the population has barely reached 1,000."

"My father mobilized more than 700 people to build the market town, which he named 'Luoxia' (meaning 'Sunset Glow')."

"Now the market has three streets and more than twenty shops. The Luoxia Pavilion in the center is our own property, and my father is in charge of it."

"What about the remaining two hundred or so people?" Li Xiaoyao asked.

"They are all relatives from our collateral branches and fellow villagers who have followed us for many years, and they have stayed in Houtu Jinya."

Li Changhu said, "I usually handle affairs here, while Tongya guards the mine and studies formations and evil energy."

"Xiang Ping... has already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, and is now helping his father manage affairs in Luoxia Market."

Li Xiaoyao felt a sense of satisfaction: "Xiang Ping has made considerable progress. What about Tongya?"

"Tongya is still at the eighth level of Qi Refining."

Li Changhu said, "But he did something big in the past year or so—by searching the souls of the old, weak, sick and disabled local people, he successfully mastered the local language and even engraved it into a blank jade slip."

"Now our people can communicate with the indigenous people without any problems."

Li Xiaoyao's eyes lit up: "Great! This is a great achievement!"

"With this language, we can extract more secrets about the sanctuary and about this C-749 from the natives."

Li Chijing added from the side, "Second Uncle, although the market is newly built, it is gradually becoming lively."

"The An family excels at weapon crafting and owns a blacksmith shop in the market; Senior Su Wan of the Hundred Herbs Clan leads people in alchemy; the Wan family knows how to draw talismans; the Wang family understands formations..."

"These few families have gathered all the skills of cultivation, so those independent cultivators will naturally be willing to come."

"A rogue cultivator?"

Li Xiaoyao asked, "Besides the original six families, have any more people arrived?"

"Um."

Li Changhu nodded. "I heard from Xiao Chuhuan of the Xiao family that the Xuange Alliance and another loose cultivator alliance are very diligent and often go to several nearby interdimensional stations to spread the word."

They say there are few people here, lots of resources, and we can earn spirit stones.

"Over the past year or so, three or four independent cultivation teams have come one after another, some with more than a hundred people and others with fewer than a few dozen."

"This is a good thing."

Li Xiaoyao laughed and said, "With more people, the market will thrive. Our stall fees and rent will also provide us with a stable income."

"Exactly."

Li Changhu said, "Father is now at the second level of Foundation Establishment, and his presence in the market is enough to intimidate people."

"Xiang Ping was meticulous in his management and kept the market in perfect order."

"Tongya is over there in the mine. We can communicate about this, which has made the locals work much more cooperatively, and the output of the gold ore has increased by 30%."

Li Xiaoyao stood up: "I'm going to Luoxia Market to see my elder brother. Chijing, would you like to come along?"

Li Chijing's eyes lit up: "I want it!"

"Then let's go."

With a flick of his sleeve, Li Xiaoyao lifted the two of them up with a beam of azure light. "Changhu, Houtu Jinya are now in your hands."

"Don't worry, Second Uncle."

Before the words were even finished, a beam of blue light shot into the sky and swept towards the southeast.

Flying in mid-air, Li Xiaoyao truly felt the changes brought about by the improvement of his cultivation.

In the past, flying on the wind was swift, but it always required distraction to maintain the flow of spiritual energy.

Now in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, his spiritual power is much stronger than before. He can fly through the air as if walking on flat ground, and even has time to observe the scene below.

The turbid and malevolent energy still permeated the area, but the malevolent energy within a radius of over a hundred miles centered on the thick earth and golden cliffs was noticeably thinner.

This is clearly the result of the Cleansing Array and the efforts of the Li family over the past year.

"Second Uncle."

Li Chijing stood beside him, facing the wind, and asked, "Is your second immortal foundation of cultivation wood-attribute?"

"good."

Li Xiaoyao nodded, "The [Longevity Gate] governs vitality and nourishment. It does have some similarities with the Lesser Yin Water and Wood Dao that you cultivate."

Li Chijing pondered, "My nephew is cultivating the 'Autumn Lake Reflecting the Moon Technique,' but lately I've felt that it's difficult to fully balance the somberness of 'autumn' with the tranquil nourishment of 'lake.' Your second uncle's wood-type immortal foundation is so vibrant, which has given me some insights."

"The path of spiritual practice is about finding balance amidst contradictions."

Li Xiaoyao said gently, "It's good that you're taking the initiative to think about these things. But don't be impatient, you're still young and have a long way to go."

Li Chijing nodded in agreement.

As the uncle and nephew were talking, the scenery in front of them changed.