116: Extraordinary People

“Thank you, Fellow Daoists, for attending. This auction has concluded. Tomorrow, we meet again!”

Kang Hongci spoke with a hearty smile. The final transaction price of this auction was much higher than his estimate, so he was naturally in high spirits.

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall doors opened, and the Cultivators began to leave.

At the exit, the black-armored guards were still diligently maintaining order.

Lu Ming’s main body and Yang Tiancheng followed the crowd out of Tianxing Tower, while his Clone, Han Feiyu, remained in the private room.

He stared at the ‘tianxing record’ for a moment, and after some operations, he finally acquired three items.

In addition to the ‘Sensing Technique’ and ‘Green Wood Body Cultivation Art’ he initially selected, he also acquired a halberd technique called ‘Eight Desolations Fissure Abyss’.

Although Lu Ming liked to use a halberd in combat, he had never seriously learned a halberd technique; his fighting relied entirely on brute force.

Although the name of this halberd technique sounded incredibly powerful, its actual grade was only average, barely reaching the second-tier.

But it did make up for some of his shortcomings.

Following the guidance of the Heavenly Star Immortal City attendant, he paid the price of over three thousand Spirit Stones to obtain these three Cultivation Techniques and Spells.

Afterward, Clone Han Feiyu went to the side hall and completed the handover of the Foundation Establishment Pill with Heavenly Star Immortal City.

He carefully placed the Foundation Establishment Pill into his Storage Pouch and, without further delay, turned and left.

Outside the venue, the Clone did not linger. He found an uninhabited place and handed the Foundation Establishment Pill to the main body.

Then Lu Ming retracted his Puppet, and the Clone reintegrated into his body.

Lu Ming’s face and figure underwent a series of wriggling changes, finally transforming into Han Feiyu’s image, then he left with Zhou Yang.

Next, he was going to attempt a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm. The Breakthrough phenomenon would definitely not escape the eyes of observant people, so Lu Ming needed to make thorough preparations.

The identity of Han Feiyu could not be discarded; he would continue to use it after the Breakthrough.

It just so happened that everyone knew he had acquired a Foundation Establishment Pill, so Lu Ming simply completed his Foundation Establishment using this face.

Lu Ming had already decided on the location for his Breakthrough: he would rent an Immortal Cave in the Immortal City. Heavenly Star Immortal City had Foundation Establishment Immortal Caves specifically prepared for Cultivators to Breakthrough their cultivation.

Not only was the Spiritual Qi abundant inside, but outside, there were also strict protective Formations.

Doing this was not only to complete the act but also for safety.

As for the auctions in the next two days, it didn't matter if he didn't go; nothing was more important than a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough!

......

Inner City.

Tianxing Peak.

Lu Ming found the manager responsible for renting Immortal Caves, and unexpectedly, it was an acquaintance.

Manager Wang Heng.

Lu Ming had previously inquired with him about Heaven-Grade Immortal Caves.

Unfortunately, he was treated as a joke.

It was just that Lu Ming was not using his original appearance now, so he couldn't show off.

“Fellow Daoist, are you here to rent an Immortal Cave for a cultivation Breakthrough?”

Wang Heng still looked like a middle-aged man, wearing a blue silk robe, his gaze curiously appraising Lu Ming.

“Precisely.” Lu Ming nodded, speaking frankly.

Feeling the Qi Refining Great Perfection aura from Lu Ming, Manager Wang’s expression became serious.

“May I ask, Fellow Daoist, how old are you this year?”

“Fifty-eight.”

Lu Ming’s face was tinged with bitterness, and with his goatee, he looked particularly weathered.

“Fellow Daoist, you still have two years before your Qi and blood begin to decline. This…”

Wang Heng hesitated to speak further.

Lu Ming didn't know if Manager Wang’s words were a kind reminder or had another intention.

“Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist, but I have a Foundation Establishment Pill, so I have some confidence.”

Lu Ming said politely, then did not speak further with Manager Wang. After paying the Spirit Stones and receiving the Immortal Cave token, he turned and left.

After Lu Ming left, Manager Wang looked at Lu Ming’s retreating figure with a hint of pity.

He had been a manager for many years and had seen many such Cultivators. Fifty-eight was already considered an elderly Cultivator.

Wanting to make a desperate attempt before the sixty-year Qi and blood limit, even with a Foundation Establishment Pill, the success rate for Foundation Establishment was less than one in a hundred.

If one was unlucky, they might not even preserve their Dao path, let alone their life.

Otherwise, why had he been stuck at Qi Refining Perfection for many years, unwilling to Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment?

It was precisely because he had seen too much and was even more afraid of death.

......

After arranging for Zhou Yang to wait outside, Lu Ming planned to enter the Immortal Cave.

At this moment, Zhou Yang suddenly called out to Lu Ming.

“Wu… Shopkeeper Han.”

“Hmm?” Lu Ming looked back, puzzled.

Zhou Yang smiled and bowed to Lu Ming.

“Junior Zhou Yang wishes Senior a transformation into an Immortal and a successful Foundation Establishment!”

Lu Ming was stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Then I’ll take your auspicious words!”

He patted Zhou Yang’s shoulder, then turned and strode towards his Immortal Cave.

As he stepped inside, a Restriction Spiritual light rose outside the Immortal Cave.

There were no superfluous furnishings inside the Immortal Cave, only a Spiritual Spring in the center, with a prayer mat floating in it.

Lu Ming felt the surrounding misty Spiritual Qi, took a deep breath, and felt as if he was floating to Immortality.

After circling once, and releasing his Clone to inspect everywhere, ensuring everything was in order, Lu Ming patted his Storage Pouch and took out a Formation Plate.

After inserting a few Spirit Stones, the Formation Plate flickered with Spiritual light, and a layer of Formation barrier appeared, enveloping the Immortal Cave.

Although the Immortal City had a good reputation, Lu Ming would not entirely entrust his safety to outsiders.

He would not omit any necessary preparations.

After casting dozens of Talismans, Lu Ming sat down on the prayer mat beside the Spiritual Spring.

Then he took out all the Spirit Stones on him, in case of insufficient Spiritual Qi during the Breakthrough.

Although absorbing Spiritual Qi from Spirit Stones was very wasteful, Lu Ming didn't care.

The Spirit Gathering Formation within the Immortal Cave slowly activated, and the thick, mist-like Spiritual Qi slowly enveloped him, causing the Spiritual mist to churn with each breath.

After all this was done, Lu Ming did not rush to Breakthrough. He took out a Spirit Nurturing Pill and a Grain Abstinence Pill, swallowed them, and silently adjusted his state.

His cultivation had already reached Qi Refining Perfection, with no room for further improvement. If not for ensuring everything was foolproof, he would have already undergone Foundation Establishment on his own.

For Cultivators, there are three hurdles to Foundation Establishment: the Qi and Blood hurdle, the Magic Power hurdle, and the Divine Sense hurdle, corresponding to a person's essence, Qi, and spirit.

As Cultivators age, their Qi and blood begin to decline, and their bodies gradually decay. The older they are, the lower the probability of a Foundation Establishment Breakthrough.

The Qi and Blood hurdle has blocked the path to Foundation Establishment for many Qi Refining Cultivators.

The Magic Power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator is liquid, requiring the compression and transformation of gaseous Spiritual power into liquid Magic Power, forming the Dantian Sea.

The Divine Sense hurdle is the Sea of Consciousness giving birth to Divine Sense, similar to the Dantian Qi Sea, used to store Divine Thought.

The Foundation Establishment Stage is called 'Great Cultivation' precisely because Divine Sense is born. Wherever Divine Sense envelops, all sorts of profound mysteries are revealed.

As his thoughts flowed, scenes from Lu Ming's Transmigration flashed before his eyes.

The confusion of first encountering the Immortal path, the joy of obtaining the golden book, the exhilaration of slaying enemies...

And one by one, figures, grudges, Karma entanglements, all vivid in his memory.

Liu Dong, Chang Yun, Yang Hong...

His cultivation speed was very fast; in just three years, he had already reached the end of Qi Refining.

Now was the most crucial moment in his journey on the path of Cultivation.

Foundation Establishment is the first major hurdle on the Immortal Dao!

Once this hurdle is broken, he will no longer be a Mortal!