Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 138 Core Buildings in the Foundation Establishment Stage

A foundation-building stage, and it even has core buildings?!

Damn it, why didn't I qualify for the Qi Refining stage? Are you looking down on me, the Qi Refining Ancestor?!

Although Ji Yuan was internally complaining, he was still extremely happy.

The core building sounds like a great thing.

A meditation room to enhance spiritual awareness... There really is a building that can enhance spiritual awareness!

In Ji Yuan's view, divine sense is like radar or a map detector. If your divine sense is stronger than the enemy's, you can detect the enemy before they can detect you.

Whether to fight or run away is entirely up to you.

Moreover, if one's spiritual power is far superior to that of the opponent, one can tear through the opponent's spiritual defenses, directly invade the opponent's sea of ​​consciousness, and exert powerful suppression on them.

Therefore, this meditation room, which can enhance spiritual awareness, truly deserves to be a core building for the Foundation Establishment stage.

And it has to be turned on in advance... Isn't this exploiting me once, and now I have to exploit me a second time?

This golden building is just different, isn't it?

Ji Yuan had a sudden thought and chose to activate it.

The panel then displayed text again.

Did you spend "51 mid-grade spirit stones, 314 low-grade spirit stones, and 3 spirit fragments" to open the meditation room?

Looking at the string of numbers that popped up on the panel, it all seemed so familiar.

Ji Yuan reached out and touched his storage bag.

Damn it, isn't this all my spirit stones and all my possessions?!

They even included the three Soul Shards I had left in the corner! This is fucking like I have to spend all my savings to unlock it!

Ji Yuan felt a pang of regret; he should have cleaned the spirit stone flower on Wanwu Island beforehand.

If I only have 3 Soul Shards left, wouldn't it only take 3 Soul Shards to unlock this building?

It's a pity I didn't know that sooner.

Although Ji Yuan was reluctant to part with it, he also knew the importance of the building.

This isn't a building, it's clearly my cheat code!

Nothing is more important than improving the cheat software.

So Ji Yuan ultimately chose to "activate" it. As his thoughts settled, he saw all the spirit stones in his storage bag slowly dissipating.

Do not!

My precious spirit stone!

The original text on the panel disappeared, and a room-shaped pattern appeared, but the pattern was sealed with chains. As the spirit stone disappeared, the chains also gradually disappeared.

Once the chains have completely disappeared... can we use the building effect directly?

In other words, this building doesn't need many upgrade requirements; you can just spend money.

Soon, Ji Yuan realized that he had been overthinking things.

This golden building is indeed a golden building.

In addition to the unlocking conditions, there are also separate upgrade conditions.

[Meditation Room: lv0 (current)]

Still starting from level 0, damn it!

I thought I would get a level 1 building right after unlocking it.

[Meditation Room: lv1]

[Effect: Meditation strengthens the soul and spirit, increasing spiritual awareness by 80% at the current cultivation level; also available to those in the Qi Refining stage.]

[Upgrade condition: Peak Qi Refining stage cultivator kills one early Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. (Not achieved)]

Good guy.

It's really simple and straightforward.

Whether it's the efficacy or the upgrade conditions... Level 1 can increase it by 80%, and Qi Refining stage can also have divine sense, so wouldn't I directly have Feng Yichen's cheat effect?

The upgrade requirements are also the same.

They actually want me, at the peak of Qi Refining, to kill someone at the early Foundation Establishment stage? Is this some kind of rebellious act?

Admittedly, Ji Yuan had no intention of making a big profit from a small investment.

His first reaction upon seeing the upgrade conditions was to have the giant toad cripple the opponent, then cast a spell from afar to pick up the scraps.

As long as I, at the peak of Qi Refining, kill an early Foundation Establishment cultivator, that's fine; the stats don't specify how to kill them.

Ji Yuan naturally wanted to proceed in the safest way possible.

In short, this job was worth it!

Tempering the soul and enhancing divine sense—what an abnormal method this is!

Ji Yuan had learned about the soul when he chatted with Dong Qian before... The soul can only improve naturally as one's cultivation level increases.

Or perhaps it's because they were born with an extremely powerful spirit.

There is no other way.

While there are rare and precious materials that can enhance comprehension, there are really no rare and precious materials that can enhance the soul, and there are even fewer cultivation techniques that can improve it.

However, for cultivators, the soul is extremely important.

For example, after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, one needs to manipulate various magical artifacts or puppets, all of which require a powerful divine soul.

The meditation room definitely needs an upgrade!

It seems I have another job to do. Ji Yuan was already thinking about who to kill, but after thinking it over, he realized that it was because he was too cautious... cough cough, too conservative, that he never went out.

There isn't even a Foundation Establishment stage enemy here.

Hey.

Not only that, but the few Foundation Establishment stage cultivators he knows are all friends and take good care of him... The sense of security he feels is unparalleled.

After thinking about it for a while with a sense of satisfaction, Ji Yuan decided to put the "meditation room" aside for the time being.

Killing someone in the early Foundation Establishment stage might present an opportunity at any time.

He then looked at the panel again. He hadn't forgotten that he had just upgraded the [Alchemy Room] to level 2. He had been looking at the effects of the level 3 [Alchemy Room] when he unexpectedly discovered the [Meditation Room] that could be opened.

[Alchemy Room: lv3]

[Effect 1: Success rate of Tier 1 pills +60%, Tier 2 pills +40%, Tier 3 pills +20%, Tier 4 pills +5%]

[Effect 2 (Establishment on a Chosen Date): One Level 1 Foundation Establishment Pill can be obtained every six months.]

[Upgrade Requirements: 500 Medium-Grade Spirit Stones; 3 Nine-Aperture Meridian Opening Vine; 1 Mystic Ice Fire Lotus; Successfully refine one "Exquisite Pill". (Not yet achieved)]

The effects of the level 3 alchemy room were indeed amplified considerably.

Miracle Effect 1 is a standard upgrade.

Based on this, Ji Yuan deduced that the level 1 alchemy room mainly assists in the refining of pills for the Qi Refining stage, while the current level 2 alchemy room assists in the refining of second-tier pills.

For example, the level 3 alchemy room, which has not yet been reached, is used to assist in the refining of pills for those in the Golden Core stage.

The price of upgraded mid-grade spirit stones has increased significantly, and if I'm not mistaken, the final Linglong Pill should be a Tier 3 pill.

There's no rush.

The current level 2 [Alchemy Room] is sufficient for my needs.

Close the panel.

Ji Yuan was in a great mood. Not only had the alchemy room been upgraded by 2 levels, but more importantly, he had obtained the refining method for the "Foundation Building Pill". Based on his alchemy experience,

In refining Foundation Establishment Pills, I must have at least reached the Great Perfection stage, right?

In addition, the level 2 alchemy room provides a 20% success rate bonus for second-tier pills, so Ji Yuan is no longer too worried about refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

The remaining space is the additional [meditation room].

The core buildings for the foundation-building phase have also been opened.

All I need to do next is find a suitable Foundation Establishment cultivator to kill; I just don't know who will be the lucky one.

Suddenly.

Ji Yuan then remembered a mission he had seen several times at Qianji Hall.

Class A mission.

The task was to kill a cultivator in the early Foundation Establishment stage, or even a Qi Refining stage cultivator.

The reward for the mission is still a Foundation Establishment Pill with one rune, plus 1000 merit points.

Or should we go kill that one?

Not only can you complete the upgrade requirements for the panel, but you can also get a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, the price is that you will have to expose your strength to the entire sect.

At that time, I will also become a legendary figure like Feng Yichen, capable of killing Foundation Establishment cultivators while refining Qi.

Is this... worth it?

This deal offers high potential profits, but also carries significant risks.

Ji Yuan is going to think about it more carefully.

Having attained the Foundation Establishment Pill, Ji Yuan sat at home on the Dragon Hatchery Island, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

I wasn't planning on going to the Nine Netherworld Cave Heaven before, and now it seems there's even less need for me to go. I just need to wait another year or two to get the Thousand-Year Illusionary Spirit Grass.

Now we should consider another issue.

Gongfa.

Ji Yuan is currently practicing the same common "Azure Sea Tide Technique" from Yunyuze, and he has already mastered it to its peak... which is the peak of Qi Refining.

Therefore, after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, one must definitely switch to cultivating other techniques.

When it comes to switching cultivation techniques, the Water Dragon Sect certainly won't be stingy. They're about to produce Foundation Establishment cultivators; they can't keep them stuck on cultivation methods, can they?

Since it was still early, Ji Yuan went out to the Water Dragon Sect's Sutra Repository.

Find a suitable water-based martial arts technique.

He wandered around inside for most of the day before finally coming out.

As it turned out, his prediction came true.

The Water Dragon Sect did not have any problems with cultivation techniques. The cheapest Foundation Establishment stage cultivation technique only costs 100 merit points. For any disciple of the Water Dragon Sect, this cultivation technique is practically free.

The same applies to Ji Yuan. Even if he spends a month doing just a few tasks, he would still earn more than 100 merit points.

Just that.

This technique is cheap, but it's similar to the "Azure Sea Tide Technique"—one can be cultivated to the peak of Qi Refining, while the other can only be cultivated to the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Its name is "Creation of Mysterious Water Technique," and the name is still loudly proclaimed.

Ji Yuan checked, but didn't redeem.

He didn't want to continue practicing this trashy water technique. He wanted to switch to a better one. He didn't expect to reach the Nascent Soul stage in one go, but at least he wanted to be able to reach the Golden Core stage without having to switch techniques.

If this technique is flawed, the resulting strength will naturally be weaker.

Even the spiritual energy within his dantian is inferior to that of others.

Secondly, switching cultivation methods too often can actually damage the dantian. It's like the dantian has just become familiar with the size of one cultivation method, and then suddenly a different size appears...

The dantian will feel uncomfortable, and there have even been cases of cultivators going into qi deviation due to switching cultivation methods.

So Ji Yuan went to look at higher-level cultivation techniques, the kind that could lead directly to the Golden Core stage.

In that case, the price won't be cheap.

Any cultivation technique requires at least 5000 merit points, and that's not much. Ji Yuan has only read a dozen or so, covering all five elements, with water-based techniques being the most numerous.

According to the old elder who guarded the scripture pavilion, there are three cultivation techniques in the sect above, which are great opportunities that can lead directly to the Nascent Soul stage.

However, those three cultivation techniques are no longer open to outsiders. To obtain them, one must make great contributions before the sect will reward them.

Ji Yuan didn't even dare to think about it.

Once he left the library, he had already made up his mind.

Exchanging cultivation techniques for Golden Core stage cultivators within a sect is feasible, but it's too time-consuming and laborious.

Instead of wasting his time, he might as well go out and inquire about whether he could acquire a skill himself.

Secondly, before you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, when you ask Li Changhe for the Foundation Establishment Pill, you can ask him if he has any Golden Core cultivation techniques that can be passed on to others.

His father is a Golden Core Elder, so he should have some resources.

If he doesn't have one either, and neither of these two paths is viable, and he's about to reach the Foundation Establishment stage, then he can only exchange for a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique from the sect and practice it as a transition.

We'll make plans after we've established our foundation.

In any case, cultivation techniques can't really trap you; at most, it's just a matter of good or bad.

After leaving the Sutra Repository, Ji Yuan also made a detour to Wanwu Island.

He came to find his acquaintance, the Daoist Bai Piao.

"Brother Piao."

When Ji Yuan entered and saw that there were no outsiders, he smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

This time, Bai Piao was no longer lying around leisurely; instead, he was arranging a potted plant on the table.

Upon seeing the person who had arrived, he looked up, a hint of surprise on his face.

"Brother Ji, it's been a long time."

Ji Yuan had previously told him to wait a few days, saying that he could get a second-tier demon core in a few days.

But Bai Piao certainly didn't think that Ji Yuan could really get his hands on a second-tier demon core in just a few days. There weren't many disciples in the Water Dragon Sect with that kind of ability.

So now, more than a month later, Ji Yuan has finally arrived.

This was exactly what Bai Piao had expected.

"There's no other way; these demon cores are hard to come by."

Speaking of this, Ji Yuan's smile faded, and he lowered his head, saying, "I almost sold everything I owned to barely scrape together one."

"Brother Ji, this is already an incredible skill. I don't even have a way to get my hands on this demon core."

Bai Piao shrugged and said with a helpless expression.

Ji Yuan came here to trade for that black coffin, so he took out a second-stage early-stage demon core, which was from a demon beast he had killed himself.

It hurt a little to give it away, but the thought that it was all for improving my strength made me feel much better.

"Is the thing I asked for still there?"

"Yes, it's true. It was agreed that it was reserved for Brother Ji, so it definitely has to be reserved for Brother Ji. That's why several people have come to ask about it, but I haven't bought any."

As Bai Piao casually spoke, he activated the array inside the room.

Ji Yuan immediately replied, "My demon core is the same. Many shops want to buy the demon core I have, but I've kept it all for Brother Piao."

"Brother Ji is a good man!"

"They're all good brothers!"

As they spoke, both of them wore expressions of deep emotion.

So after Ji Yuan handed over the demon core, the black coffin was finally in his hands. But just as he was about to put it into his storage bag, he noticed that the Yin Ghost Flag seemed to be acting strangely.

The Yin energy within the Yin Ghost Flag seemed to be somewhat activated by the black coffin.

Is there a connection between these two?

Could this be related to the lineage of that force called Yin Gui Men?

Ji Yuan's heart skipped a beat. "Brother Piao, may I ask where you obtained this black coffin? Could you tell me?"

Bai Piao, who had just put away the magic array, looked somewhat frightened upon hearing this.

"The south, that place... I dare not go there again. I advise you, Brother Ji, don't go, really don't go."

"No, I don't have Brother Piao's guts."

Ji Yuan smiled sheepishly, "I just heard Brother Piao say last time that this black coffin was dug out of the Tomb of Ten Thousand Corpses, so I'm a little curious about where the Tomb of Ten Thousand Corpses is."

"To the south, within the territory of the Joyful Palace, there is a city called 'Great Love City'. In the southwest corner of that city, there is a place called Ghost Search Pond. My black coffin was dug out from there."

Bai Piao told him the truth.

Ji Yuan silently noted it down. Going there... he definitely didn't plan to go at the moment. Ghost Search Pool, the name sounded very eerie, he couldn't go.

Unless the Yin Ghost Flag really gives me some surprise that makes me have no choice but to go.

"Thanks, Brother Piao."

"You're welcome. Just call me Brother Bai next time."

After Bai Piao finished speaking, he continued to fiddle with the potted plant in his hand.

Ji Yuan could tell as soon as he entered the house that it was a 'flowerless pine tree'. It doesn't bloom, but every single leaf looks like a blooming flower, which is extremely beautiful.

Therefore, some cultivators in the cultivation world will grow it as a potted plant.

"What are you doing, Brother Piao?"

When Bai Piao heard Ji Yuan finally ask, he couldn't help but raise his head and ask in return, "Brother Ji, didn't you notice anything different about this Wuhua Qingling wood?"

"no the same?"

Ji Yuan examined it carefully for a few moments, and then he noticed...

"Is this a flower bud?"

Ji Yuan pointed to one of the branches.

"Exactly."

"How about the ones I bred?"

Bai Piao became increasingly proud.

"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant."

"I never imagined that Brother Piao would have such a skill in growing flowers out of nowhere when it comes to spiritual plants."

Ji Yuan gave a heartfelt thumbs up.

Then Bai Piao, as if he had found a kindred spirit, pulled Ji Yuan aside and talked for a long time about planting techniques, from the preparation of spiritual soil to the grafting of plants, from pest control of spiritual plants to the breeding of spiritual plants, and so on.

Ji Yuan, relying on his nine years of compulsory education in his previous life, could only barely agree with a few words.

The cultivation world is truly full of talented people.

Although Ji Yuan himself also farms, he doesn't feel much about it, and the one who really farms is Tu Yue, who is still digging soil on Misty Island.

But Bai Piao is different; he genuinely loves farming.

Ji Yuan usually buys formations like the Rain Killing Needle to kill enemies, but he bought the Cloud and Rain Formation specifically to "artificially rain" on that piece of spiritual field.

"Brother Piao, I should go back and feed the pigs."

Ji Yuan resigned for the third time, and Bai Piao finally reluctantly let go.

"It is truly a great blessing in my life to meet Brother Ji today."

Bai Piao spoke very seriously, especially regarding Ji Yuan's comments on grafting and cultivation, which greatly benefited Bai Piao.

So the two agreed to talk again next time before Ji Yuan left.

After leaving Wanwu Island, Ji Yuan went straight to Misty Island, without even returning to Chulong Island.

One day later, by the fishpond on Misty Island.

Ji Yuan first took out the black coffin. As soon as it appeared, a dense yin energy filled the surroundings, even startling the fish in the pond, which thrashed about wildly.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the giant toad squatting nearby stuck out its tongue, wrapped it around a first-stage spirit fish, and swallowed it whole.

"Croak—"

Ji Yuan didn't have time to pay attention to that. He then took out the Yin Ghost Flag and released the two Yin Ghosts.

The two of them lunged forward, and judging from their posture, it seemed they were kneeling before the black coffin, kowtowing repeatedly.

"Damn, there's something fishy about this?"

Ji Yuan was somewhat surprised by the amazing scene.

But he also checked the black coffin, and it was just as Bai Piao had said. It was a solid black coffin with nothing inside. Could it be that the ghost was afraid of this aura?

Ji Yuan then urged the Yin ghosts to devour the Yin energy within.

Only then did the ghost react, but it stayed close to the edge, swallowing the food in small bites, unlike how it had acted when it saw other ghosts before.

Ji Yuan had no choice; as long as he could eat, it didn't matter how fast or slow he ate.

Then he dug a hole in the mountainside next to him, put the Yin Ghost and the black coffin inside, and let it devour and evolve on its own.

When Ji Yuan returned to Misty Island, he had no spirit stones left, making him even poorer than before.

Starting from scratch will take a bit longer.

So he set his sights on his Foundation Establishment Pill... It seems it's time to sell it and buy more materials to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, especially this Thousand-Year Green Orchid Grass.

However, to sell this Foundation Establishment Pill, it must be done at an auction.

Only there can you sell it for a high price.

After making some inquiries, Ji Yuan actually found out that there was a large-scale auction going on recently in Qingye City, where Du Wanyi was stationed.

(End of this chapter)