7: Chapter 7: Foundation Building

Eternal Night Palace.

Xiao Ran returned to the cultivation room and immediately sat cross-legged, beginning to recover his Devilish Qi.

Although the previous wave of trial-clearing was dangerous, the harvest was immense.

Not only did he obtain a Profound Rank Cultivation Technique, the 'Yin Fiend Finger', but he also acquired many magic crystals.

More importantly, his application of the Guixu Body had become more proficient.

"Eighth level of Qi Refinement is still too weak."

"I need to speed up."

Xiao Ran opened his eyes and looked at the magic crystals he had just obtained.

Since the resources were already in hand, what was there left to say?

Myriad Dao Guixu Body, refine them for me!

He picked up the magic crystals and began a new round of devouring.

Time passed day by day.

On the twenty-fourth day, ninth level of Qi Refinement.

By the thirtieth day, Xiao Ran had already broken through to the Great Perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refinement.

He was only one step away from Foundation Establishment.

And he only had ten magic crystals left.

"It's not enough."

"Impacting Foundation Establishment requires a massive amount of Devilish Qi; these ten magic crystals are at most enough for thirty percent."

Xiao Ran frowned; limited resources were severely restricting him.

Otherwise, he would have reached Foundation Establishment long ago.

Xiao Ran thought for a moment and picked up the jar of Rank 3 Demonic Beast essence blood.

Before, he hadn't dared to drink much, taking only a small sip each time for fear his body couldn't withstand it.

But now, he couldn't care about that anymore.

Xiao Ran tilted his head back and drank the entire jar of essence blood in one go.

Boom!!!

Violent blood-qi power exploded within his body; Xiao Ran let out a muffled groan as his skin instantly turned blood-red.

He could feel his Meridians swelling and his bones letting out groans of being overburdened.

"Refine it for me!"

Xiao Ran gritted his teeth and circulated the Guixu Body.

The black vortex spun frantically, devouring and transforming the energy within the essence blood into pure Devilish Qi, which flooded into his Dantian.

One drop, two drops, three drops...

Liquid demonic essence began to condense within his Qi Sea.

This was the sign of Foundation Establishment.

Gaseous Devilish Qi transforming into liquid demonic essence—the quality was enhanced more than tenfold.

Time trickled by.

Xiao Ran sat within the Demon Gathering Array, surrounded by lingering Devilish Qi, with a massive phantom of a black vortex faintly appearing behind him.

The Devilish Qi of the Eternal Night Palace was drawn by him, forming a visible torrent that continuously poured into his body.

One day.

Two days.

Three days.

Late into the night of the third day, Xiao Ran suddenly snapped his eyes open!

Boom!!!

A surge of Devilish Qi, far purer and more solid than that of the Qi Refinement Stage, erupted from his body, sweeping through the entire cultivation room.

Foundation Establishment, achieved!

And it wasn't just entering Foundation Establishment; he had stabilized directly at the Peak of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, only a hair's breadth away from the Middle Stage.

[Ding!]

[System Notification: Quest 'Foundation of the Demonic Path' completed]

[Rewards Issued: High Grade Profound Rank Demonic Technique 'Essence Devouring Art', 500 System Points.]

['Essence Devouring Art': Can significantly increase the efficiency of devouring Devilish Qi, works better when paired with the Myriad Dao Guixu Body. Points can be exchanged for items in the System Shop.]

"It's done..."

"And I even obtained System rewards."

Xiao Ran felt the surging power within his body and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

Thirty-three days, from Mortal to Foundation Establishment.

This speed would be unheard of even in the entire Northern Border Cultivation World.

"Time to leave seclusion."

Xiao Ran stood up and stretched his limbs.

Sect Master Li Jiuyou had given him three months, yet he had reached the Foundation Establishment realm in just one month.

It was simply exceeding expectations!

Xiao Ran was jubilant, thinking about whether he should lay low and develop stealthily for a while.

But as soon as he walked out of the gates of seclusion, he found Sect Master Li Jiuyou standing at the entrance, though he didn't know since when.

"Foundation Establishment?"

Sect Master Li Jiuyou asked, squeezing out a trace of a smile.

At this moment, Xiao Ran didn't dare hide it; he immediately stepped forward to salute, putting on a joyful expression.

"Lord Sect Master, I have fortunately fulfilled the mission!"

"Good, good, good!"

Sect Master Li Jiuyou said 'good' three times in a row and immediately decided to hold another grand ceremony to announce that the Eternal Night Demon Sect had taken in a chosen son of heaven.

According to Sect Master Li Jiuyou, all the Demonic Path Sects in the Northern Border would send representatives to observe this ceremony.

At that time, even the Grand Elders of the Sect might come out of seclusion to attend.

And what Xiao Ran had to do was to firmly secure his position as the Ninth Demon Son in front of everyone.

...

The next day, Eternal Night Demon Sect, Vientiane Square.

Compared to the last conferment ceremony, this scene was even more grand.

In the very center of the square were the seats for the various big shots, and nine massive black banners were erected around them, representing the nine Demon Sons.

Hundreds of seats were arranged under the banners, already filled with Demonic Path Cultivators from all sides.

Xiao Ran stood on the high platform, wearing a black robe embroidered with golden demonic patterns—the formal attire of a Demon Son.

He could feel countless gazes falling upon him from below the stage.

There was curiosity, scrutiny, and also expectation.

"The auspicious hour has arrived!!!"

The Deacon Elder shouted loudly.

Sect Master Li Jiuyou's figure appeared at the front of the high platform, still possessing that majestic appearance.

He looked at Xiao Ran, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes: "The Ninth Demon Son of my Demon Sect achieved Foundation Establishment in thirty-three days; the Myriad Dao Guixu Body truly lives up to its reputation."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it clearly spread throughout the entire square.

A chorus of gasps immediately sounded from below.

"Foundation Establishment in thirty-three days?"

"This... how is this possible!"

"Back then, when Lord Blood Demon established his foundation, it took over fifty days, right?"

"As expected of the third on the Sacred Body List..."

Xiao Ran bowed in salute: "This Disciple was just lucky."

"Lucky?"

Sect Master Li Jiuyou laughed.

"In Demonic Path cultivation, there is no luck. Since you have established your foundation, today this seat shall formally announce to the Northern Border..."

He raised his hand, and a streak of black light shot into the sky!

Rumble!!!

The sky suddenly darkened, and a phantom of a blood moon emerged, its moonlight spilling down and enveloping the entire Eternal Night Demon Sect.

At the same time, the nine Demon Son banners lit up simultaneously, turning into nine black pillars of light that soared into the sky!

"Today there is a Disciple, Xiao Ran, who possesses the Myriad Dao Guixu Body, with extraordinary talent and a resilient Heart-Nature."

"After this seat's review, from this day forth, he formally becomes the Ninth Demon Son of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, enjoying all the authority of a Demon Son, with his treatment raised by one level, and receiving the full cultivation efforts of the Sect!"

His voice was like rolling thunder, spreading for thousands of miles.

Countless demonic Cultivators looked up at the sky, focusing on the newly lit pillar among the nine.

Ninth Demon Son, Xiao Ran.

From today on, this name would formally enter the vision of all powers in the Northern Border.

But it wasn't over yet.

"Also, I, Sect Master Li Jiuyou, have been ordered to accept the Ninth Demon Son as a Disciple on behalf of our Sect's Third Supreme Elder, Old Ancestor Yin Xu."

"Xiao Ran, are you willing?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the scene fell into a dead silence.

The Grand Elders of the Eternal Night Demon Sect were powerhouses of the previous era.

They were one of the most important foundations of the entire Demon Sect, with a status even higher than Sect Master Sect Master Li Jiuyou.

For such a grand figure to personally take Xiao Ran as a Disciple...

Xiao Ran was about to soar!

"I am willing!"

Xiao Ran paused for only a second before immediately bowing his head in worship.

Was he joking? In such a situation, saying those words might seem like there were two options, but in reality, there was only one.

With this, Xiao Ran's status rose another level.

Not only was he the Ninth Demon Son, but he was also a Personal Disciple of a Grand Elder.

In principle, he wouldn't even need to salute when seeing Sect Master Sect Master Li Jiuyou anymore.