The entry for cultivating immortality states that after dying a hundred times, I attained immortalit

Jiang Bai did not linger outside the boundary between life and death. After confirming that the auras of the Yin Bone Elder and Lady Qingluo had completely disappeared from his senses, he got up and sped off in the northwest direction.

The terrain there gradually rises, offering a wide view, which is convenient for both observation and concealment.

After crossing two mountain ridges, he found a shallow cave under a sheltered rocky cliff.

Several clumps of thorns grew at the entrance of the cave, which was about ten feet deep and barely large enough for a person to shelter in. Jiang Bai pushed aside the thorns and crawled inside. By the time he sat down cross-legged, it was already nearly dusk outside the cave.

The wind in the desolate state was different from elsewhere; it was rough, carrying sand, and faintly smelled of blood. Perhaps too many people had died over the years, even the wind had been pickled with that stench. He thought of Black Wind Valley, of Ping'an County, and of the corpses and bloodstains he had seen along the way.

That's how the cultivation world is; one wrong step and you're reduced to ashes, yet everyone still desperately tries to squeeze in.

For immortality? For freedom? Or simply to avoid being crushed to death while still alive?

Jiang Bai closed his eyes, suppressing these distracting thoughts.

Three days ago, when he swallowed the Nine Poisons and condensed the Sacred Rune in the Boundary Between Life and Death, the spiritual power in his body was like a flood bursting its banks, almost tearing his meridians apart.

Only by relying on the "Hundred Poisons Tempering Technique" and the newly formed poison patterns to forcefully suppress and guide the body was he able to stabilize his realm.

Although he has now reached the pinnacle of Qi Refining, his spiritual power still needs to be refined and his aura still needs to be polished.

He sat there for two days and one night.

During that time, he only drank some water and took two fasting pills.

Outside the cave, the sun rises and the moon sets, the wind rises and the clouds disperse, but he remains completely unaware.

The next day, Jiang Bai didn't open his eyes until late at night.

A flash of dark gold light appeared in his eyes and then disappeared. He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, which turned grayish-black three feet away from his body. When it touched the rock wall of the cave, it made a soft "sizzling" sound and eroded several shallow pits.

The newly formed poisonous patterns have been completely stabilized.

Nine dark gold lines spread from his right arm to half of his chest, usually hidden beneath his skin, only appearing when activated. Within the lines flowed nine different colors of poison, blending together without clashing, like nine venomous snakes with different habits tamed in one place, lying dormant when still, and devouring when in motion.

With a slight thought, Jiang Baixin extended his right index finger. A thin, hair-like dark gold line appeared beneath the skin of his fingertip, and a wisp of grayish-black poison gas seeped from it, condensing into a drop the size of a grain of rice, hovering three inches in front of his finger. The poison droplet slowly rotated, causing the surrounding air to distort slightly, and even dimming the light inside the cave.

This is the new poison power derived from the fusion of the nine unique and potent poisons of the desolate state, which is more domineering and purer than the previous True Blood Poison Pattern.

He flicked his finger, and the poison droplet seeped into the cave wall.

There was no sound, no explosion. Only a pinhole-sized black dot remained on the rock surface, yet within moments, a palm-sized section of the rock wall, centered on that dot, silently crumbled into dust and fell away.

Jiang Bai nodded and withdrew his finger.

The toxicity has been tested; now it's time to plan for the real business.

Foundation building.

These two words rolled through my mind, heavy with emotion. The transition from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment is the first major hurdle on the path of cultivation. Crossing it doubles one's lifespan and liquefies spiritual energy, marking the true beginning of the path to immortality. Failing to cross it means turning into dust, with a hundred years of cultivation wasted.

Jiang Bai was not a reckless person. He had a general idea of ​​what was needed to establish a foundation.

First, the choice of exercise method.

The "True Blood Poison Pattern Foundation Building Chapter" was right in his arms. It was the heaven-defying inheritance of True Man Blood Vine, based on poison patterns, extremely dangerous but with unparalleled power. If it were before, he might have hesitated, but now that he possessed the Sacred Body of Ten Thousand Poisons and had gathered the nine poisons, the conditions for cultivating this technique were complete.

However, risks still exist.

The opening lines of the cultivation technique state: "With one turn of the poisonous pattern, life and death are evenly matched. Nine turns represent the ultimate, capable of shaking even the Golden Core."

The other path is the foundational chapter of the "Zhou Tian Ning Qi Gong" (Circulation of Qi Condensation Technique). This technique, derived from that piece of remnant wood, is balanced and moderate, emphasizing a solid foundation and proceeding step by step. It is reliable to cultivate, but it is somewhat incompatible with his current path of using poison techniques and being entangled in sacred runes.

"I need to find a quiet place to think this through properly," Jiang Bai muttered to himself.

Second, build a base.

The desolate state is not a safe place; people are watching it from all sides.

The greatest danger during secluded cultivation is disturbance; at best, all previous efforts will be wasted, and at worst, one will suffer a qi deviation. A sufficiently secluded place, unknown to anyone, must be found.

Thirdly, it serves as an auxiliary spirit.

Foundation Building Pills are the best, but they are probably priceless and unavailable in the desolate state.

As a second choice, things like Condensed Essence Jade Liquid or Earth Spirit Milk would also be acceptable, as they would at least increase one's chances of success.

Fourthly, measures to protect the law.

Alone and without the protection of any elders or masters, he could only rely on formations and his own vigilance.

Jiang Bai sorted these points out in his mind one by one, then got up and walked out of the shallow cave.

The sky was just before dawn, with the eastern horizon tinged with the pale light of fish's belly. He changed into a worn-out gray cloth outfit and smeared some yellow mud on his face, disguising himself as an ordinary-looking middle-aged rogue cultivator, and his aura was also suppressed to the level of the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining.

This level of cultivation is not particularly remarkable in the desolate state, which is perfect for carrying out one's plans.

Having determined his direction, he headed towards Blackstone Market.

The market always wakes up early.

Before dawn, numerous stalls had already been set up on both sides of the street. Selling materials for monsters, broken magical artifacts, and unknown herbs and ores, the shouts, bargaining, and hushed conversations mingled together, a cacophony that revealed a fierce determination to survive.

Jiang Bai didn't squeeze into the bustling area; instead, he turned straight into the narrow alley in the southwest corner.

At the end of the alley stood a teahouse with a dilapidated facade. The four characters "Old Huang Teahouse" on the signboard were almost illegible due to the soot from cooking oil. Inside, there were only three square tables, and at that moment, only the one furthest inside was occupied.

He was an old man in his early fifties, wearing a faded gray cotton jacket, with sparse hair casually tied up with a wooden hairpin. In front of him was a pot of coarse tea and two chipped ceramic cups, and he was playing chess alone.

He holds a black piece in his left hand and a white piece in his right. The chessboard was drawn directly on the table with charcoal.

Jiang Bai walked over and sat down opposite him.

The old man didn't look up. He placed a piece of paper with his left hand before lifting his eyelids and saying, "Pour your own tea. Five copper coins a pot."

His voice was hoarse, as if his throat had been choked by sandstorms for years.

Jiang Bai took out a small bag of spirit stones from his pocket, about ten low-grade ones, and gently placed them on the corner of the chessboard.

The old man paused, his right hand holding the white chess piece suspended in mid-air, before finally raising his eyes to carefully examine Jiang Bai. After a moment, he chuckled, tossed the white chess piece back into the broken pottery jar, picked up the spirit stone, weighed it in his hand, and stuffed it into his pocket.

"What do you want to ask?"

"A secluded retreat where no one can disturb you."

The old man poured himself a cup of tea, took a slow sip, and then said, "Young man, you look unfamiliar, but you have quite the nerve. A place for quiet cultivation? Heh heh, in this desolate region, all the good places have long been occupied by various strongholds. The remaining unclaimed lands are either deadly dangerous places or require you to be skinned alive to get through them."

Jiang Bai didn't speak, he just looked at him quietly.

The old man put down his teacup, leaned forward slightly, and lowered his voice: "Three hundred miles to the north, there is a place called 'Secluded Valley,' which is perpetually filled with poisonous miasma, and even birds and beasts have disappeared. But deep in the valley, it is said that there is a 'Frosty Marrow Spirit Spring,' whose water is extremely yin and cold, capable of suppressing inner demons and concentrating the soul, and has a miraculous effect on the disturbances of distracting thoughts when breaking through realms."

Jiang Bai's eyes flickered slightly.

The old man abruptly changed the subject: "However, that place is occupied by a 'Jade-Eyed Toad King.' That beast has lived for at least a hundred years, and its cultivation is probably not far from the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. It's covered in poisonous bumps, and the poisonous mist it spews can corrode gold and iron. Moreover, the terrain of the Secluded Valley is strange, like a natural maze. It's easy to get in, but as difficult as climbing to heaven. Over the years, of those who dared to try to get in there, only one or two out of ten would come back alive."

"Is there anywhere else?" Jiang Bai asked.

"To the east, deep in the swamp." The old man stretched out his withered finger and roughly drew a direction on the tea-stained table. "There is an ancient cultivation site there, with half of a 'Foundation Building Platform' remaining. It is said that there is an ancient array engraved on the platform to gather spiritual energy. Although it is broken, its residual power is still there. Building your foundation there can increase your chances by half."

"But—" The old man raised his eyes, a half-smile on his face, "that place is being watched by the Bloodfang, Poison Ivy, and Bone Hill strongholds, the waters are very murky. I heard a few days ago that a leader from one of those strongholds died, and things are getting tense right now, anyone who gets close is going to be in trouble."

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment, then asked, "What if we don't want a ready-made spiritual spring or ancient platform, but only a secluded, undisturbed, and peaceful place with decent spiritual energy?"

Upon hearing this, the old man gave Jiang Bai a deep look.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers unconsciously on the edge of the table. After a long while, he slowly said, "Head west, past 'Soul-Severing Cliff,' and another hundred miles or so, there is a large area of ​​ancient battlefield ruins, which the locals call 'Burial Wasteland.'"

"That place has been entangled with deathly aura and resentment for hundreds of years. Not only is the spiritual energy thin, but it is also mixed and chaotic. Inhaling it is no different from swallowing sand. Ordinary cultivators, let alone establish their foundation there, may have their bodies invaded by deathly aura and their foundation damaged even if they stay there for a few days. So the villages don't bother with that place. It's practically a godforsaken place."

The old man paused, a complex look appearing in his eyes: "But if young man... has special means to dispel or utilize that deathly resentment, then the Burial Grounds would actually be a good place to hide. No one would disturb us there, after all, no one would go to that cursed place to invite bad luck."

"However—" he added, "deep in the wilderness, the nights are not peaceful. The elders say that around midnight, one can occasionally hear the neighing of warhorses and the clash of swords, and some people have even seen shadowy 'ghost soldiers' marching by in the distance. It's very eerie, and no one knows whether it's the work of lingering spirits or something else."

After listening, Jiang Bai had already made up his mind.

The Valley of Desolation has the best resources, but the risks are too high; one must fight to the death against demonic beasts nearing the peak of Foundation Establishment. While the Foundation Establishment Platform is readily available, it is caught in the vortex of power struggles, with too many variables.

The conditions in the Burial Grounds are the worst. The deathly aura and resentment that permeate it are no different from poison to others, but for him... the Corpse Poison Body is good at absorbing yin energy and death energy, and the Myriad Poisons Saint Body can even transform deadly poison into cultivation. These mixed auras may actually become his help.

Most importantly—safety.

"Thank you." Jiang Bai stood up and put down a small bag of spirit stones. "Are you familiar with Misty Hidden Lake, sir?"

The old man quickly put the spirit stone into his sleeve, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out: "Mist-Hidden Lake? It's in the southeast, about 150 or 160 miles away. That place is shrouded in gray mist all year round. There's a special product in the lake called 'Mist-Hidden Water Grass,' which is an auxiliary ingredient for refining some calming pills. However, there are many poisonous creatures in the lake. 'Iron Wire Black Hydra' often dwells near the water grass. That thing is extremely poisonous. Even a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining wouldn't survive more than half an incense stick's time if bitten by it."

"Is there any rumor about 'Condensing Essence Jade Liquid'?" Jiang Bai asked.

The old man raised an eyebrow: "Gathering Essence Jade Liquid? That's a treasure that can replace Foundation Establishment Pills. There are indeed such rumors deep within Misty Hidden Lake, but no one has actually found it. A few herb gatherers have mentioned seeing milky-white, fragrant stalactite in the crevices of the rocks on the island in the middle of the lake. I wonder if that's what it is."

He sized up Jiang Bai: "Young man, you want to go searching? Let me give you a piece of advice: that place isn't much safer than the Burial Grounds. Putting aside the poisonous creatures in the lake, the gray fog itself has a disorienting effect, making it easy to lose one's way. Besides... the Blood Fang Village people occasionally go there to gather herbs, and if you run into them, it won't be easy to deal with them."

"Understood." Jiang Bai nodded, asked no more questions, and turned to leave the teahouse.

The old man watched his figure disappear into the alleyway, shook his head, set up the chessboard again, picked up a black piece with his left hand, but did not put it down for a long time.

"Buried in the wasteland... Heh, another one who's not afraid of death." He muttered to himself, finally slamming the chess piece onto the center position of the chessboard. "In this world, those who survive aren't necessarily the most skilled, but they're definitely the toughest."

After leaving, Jiang Bai wandered around the outskirts of the market for a while before entering a shop specializing in general merchandise. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with squinty eyes, merely raised his eyelids and asked, "What do you want?"

"A set of warning flags, the range doesn't need to be too large, just enough to cover a quiet room," Jiang Bai said.

The shopkeeper pulled a wooden box from under the counter. Inside, eight small black flags, each about the size of a palm, were neatly arranged, their surfaces embroidered with simple runes in silver thread. "This is the 'Eight Directions Warning Array,' covering an area of ​​ten zhang in radius. It will be triggered when someone intrudes or when there are abnormal fluctuations in spiritual energy, causing the flags to become hot. Twenty low-grade spirit stones."

Jiang Bai examined the runes; though simple, the inscriptions were neatly drawn, and the spiritual energy flowed smoothly. He paid with spirit stones and added a few other items: several bottles of decent-quality fasting pills, a map of animal hides marking the approximate locations of Misty Lake and Burial Ground, a bundle of sturdy climbing ropes soaked in tung oil, and a small packet of insect and snake repellent powder.

After putting these items into his storage bag, he left the shop and found a quiet corner to reorganize the information he had just obtained.

The foundation-building base is tentatively set for the Burial Grounds, but before going there, we need to try our luck at Misty Lake. If the Condensing Essence Jade Liquid truly exists, it will be of great benefit to foundation building; even if it doesn't, gathering some Misty Lake Grass might be able to exchange for other resources.

The choice of cultivation method still needs to be carefully considered. Perhaps only after arriving in the Burial Grounds and experiencing the deathly environment firsthand can we determine which path is more suitable.

In terms of protective measures, besides array flags, perhaps we could try using poison patterns to set up a simple poison array...

As I was pondering this, a sudden sensation arose in my mind—not a sound, but a piece of information that appeared directly:

[Host is about to undergo a major breakthrough in cultivation level]

The related quest chain "Initial Foundation Building" has been generated.

[First Quest: Foundation Building Site]

[Content: Arrive at the Burial Grounds and survive in this environment for seven days, adapting to the deathly atmosphere]

[Reward: Based on performance during the survival period and the final basic cultivation method chosen, corresponding Foundation Building assistance insights will be provided (one-time reward)]

Jiang Bai's eyes narrowed slightly. System task chain... This meant that the Foundation Establishment matter had officially entered the system's "attention" scope.

The reward is "Foundation Building Assistance Insight". Although the specific effects are unknown, it is a product from the system, so it should not be bad.

"It seems that we have no choice but to go to the Burial Grounds."

He looked up and gazed southeast, where Misty Lake was located.

First, go to Misty Lake to find Condensing Essence Jade Liquid or collect aquatic plants, then head west past Soul-Severing Cliff and enter the Burial Wasteland.

The route is clear, and the goal is well-defined.

Without further delay, Jiang Bai determined the direction and darted out, quickly disappearing into the vast wilderness of the desolate state.

The wind swept across the spot where he had just stood, and the traveler's figure gradually shrank among the rolling hills, eventually becoming a black dot and disappearing on the horizon.