117: temptation

He sat like this for several days.

On this day, he suddenly opened his eyes, and an inexplicable Aura emanated from Lu Ming’s body.

His entire spirit, energy, and vitality reached a state of Peak and Perfection at this moment.

The time for Foundation Establishment had arrived!

“Then… let’s begin!”

He opened the golden book and selected ‘Zheng Tianming’, the first Cultivator to make it onto the Foundation Establishment list.

“I hope you can last a little longer!”

Lu Ming no longer hesitated. He took out the jade box containing the Foundation Establishment Pill and retrieved the three-patterned, purple-green Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lu Ming didn’t swallow it immediately. He merely wrapped it in his magical power and held it in his mouth, ready to consume it instantly if anything went wrong.

“I will definitely achieve Foundation Establishment!”

With strong confidence, he began to circulate the ‘Demonic Bloodspring Method’. Black and red Demonic Qi swirled around him, and a sea of blood surged behind him.

He began his sprint towards Foundation Establishment.

The Blood Fiend Spiritual Qi, which had been suppressed within his body, now circulated freely.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi seemed to be drawn by something, continuously pouring into the Immortal Cave. The Spiritual Qi gradually became dense, forming a vortex…

Who knows how much time passed.

The intense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, like a waterfall, violently crashed down, entering Lu Ming’s Celestial Spirit and continuously cleansing his Physical Body.

Pain!

The intense pain made him let out a muffled groan.

This was the first hurdle of Foundation Establishment, the Qi and Blood barrier!

A large amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi infused the Cultivator’s Physical Body. If the Physical Body couldn’t withstand it, Foundation Establishment would fail.

Therefore, those with declining Qi and blood or physical disabilities would face more danger at this stage, with a greater chance of failure!

Historically, there were many Cultivators who fainted from the pain at this step.

‘I am a Blood Dao Demonic Cultivator, and also a Body Cultivator at first-order Perfection, with abundant Qi and blood comparable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. If I cannot pass this stage, then no one can!’

Lu Ming declared with strong confidence, even uttering bold words.

But in the next second, the intense pain throughout his body suddenly vanished.

This left Lu Ming stunned on the spot.

“Holy cow! This works too!”

This seemed unexpected, yet it was entirely reasonable.

The golden book could transfer the negative effects of Realm Breakthroughs.

Thinking of the Foundation Establishment Pill held in his mouth, Lu Ming fell silent.

Wasn’t this preparation for nothing!

And all that mental preparation I did, what was it all for?

Thinking of his earlier grand ambitions, Lu Ming felt a pang of frustration.

But now was not the time for idle thoughts.

Since the golden book provided a safety net, Lu Ming had even less to worry about.

Completely letting go of his absorption of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, Lu Ming’s Qi and blood pulsed like a pump throughout his body. His physique was like a reef in a great wave, with crashing tides, yet he remained unmoving.

He refined a large amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and poured it into his Dantian Qi Sea!

Lu Ming, sitting cross-legged on the futon, trembled all over, not from pain, but from an incredibly comfortable sensation.

...

Moon Cliff Mountain.

Zheng Family territory.

Zheng Yaoxing walked out of his Cultivation chamber with a frown, clearly not in a good mood.

Ever since he returned to the Family territory from Heavenly Star Immortal City, he had a premonition of impending storm.

An invisible pressure had constantly lingered in his heart, making him irritable during Cultivation and feeling somewhat suffocated.

So he planned to find some of his wives and concubines to relax and alleviate his mood.

“I don’t know what happened to Old Ancestor. He has been in seclusion for several years and hasn’t shown his face to the outside world.

It’s been so long that some people with ulterior motives have grown suspicious, and rumors of Old Ancestor’s demise have even begun to circulate outside.”

Zheng Yaoxing sighed.

Because of a previous decision by the Old Ancestor, many market towns were affected by the beast tide, resulting in heavy casualties, which gave the Zheng Family a very bad reputation outside.

In addition, the Zheng Family had previously relied on the presence of a Foundation Establishment Old Ancestor to act too domineeringly, offending many people.

If something truly happened to the Old Ancestor, then the Zheng Family’s days would be difficult from now on.

Zheng Yaoxing’s brows were tightly furrowed.

“Patriarch, this is bad!”

At this moment, several servants ran over in a panicked hurry.

Their shouts interrupted his thoughts, making Zheng Yaoxing’s already agitated mood even more irritable.

He reprimanded them with a gloomy expression.

“Panicking like this, what kind of decorum is that!”

The servants flinched, startled by Zheng Yaoxing’s sudden reprimand.

But remembering the matter they needed to report, they still braced themselves and spoke.

“Patriarch, please calm your anger. Something truly big has happened. Guards discovered traces of Huang Family members outside the Family territory, acting suspiciously with unknown intentions. The Family Elders couldn’t make a decision, so you should go and see quickly!”

“How dare they! This Huang Family has provoked us time and again, do they really think my Zheng Family has no one left?!”

The Huang Family was also a nearby Foundation Establishment Family, bordering the Zheng Family’s Moon Cliff Mountain. Due to conflicting interests, the two Families often clashed.

However, in the past, they had some reservations due to the Old Ancestor’s presence and dared not act too recklessly.

But now they appeared near the Zheng Family territory, which was an undisguised provocation to the Zheng Family.

Zheng Yaoxing’s face was extremely grim.

He slapped his Storage Pouch, and a Flying Sword flew out. Zheng Yaoxing stepped onto it, transforming into a streak of sword light that shot into the sky.

Upon arriving outside the Family territory, Zheng Yaoxing found two groups of people in a standoff, the atmosphere tense, seemingly ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

One side consisted of the Zheng Family’s Elders and disciples, while the other was made up of Huang Family Cultivators.

“Huang Moyuan, what is the meaning of this from your Huang Family?! Do you intend to go to war with my Zheng Family?!”

Zheng Yaoxing stood in mid-air, stepping on his Flying Sword, and angrily shouted at the leader of the Huang Family.

Huang Moyuan, a middle-aged man in a black robe, merely picked his ear and said casually.

“Brother Zheng, you exaggerate. Our Huang Family has no ill intentions. You shouldn’t think so poorly of people.

This Huang is merely following Old Ancestor’s orders to visit the Zheng Family and extend greetings to the Old Ancestor of Zheng Family.”

“Heh heh, visit?”

A sneer appeared on Zheng Yaoxing’s lips.

A weasel paying respects to a chicken; he didn’t believe Huang Moyuan’s lies.

Who knows what schemes he was plotting!

“Old Ancestor is currently in seclusion and cannot see anyone. Fellow Daoist Huang, please return!”

“Oh? Is he truly in seclusion… or has something happened, preventing him from showing his face?”

Huang Moyuan said with a hint of mockery.

“Huang Moyuan, you go too far!”

Seeing Huang Moyuan humiliate his Zheng Family like this, Zheng Yaoxing was furious, and the Flying Sword beneath his feet buzzed.

The Zheng Family Cultivators below also had unpleasant expressions, taking out their Magical Artifacts and circulating their magical power.

Looking at Zheng Yaoxing’s extremely grim face and the Zheng Family Cultivators who seemed ready to act.

Huang Moyuan showed no panic, further convinced that the Zheng Family was merely putting on a brave front.

It was possible for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to be in seclusion for several years or even more than a decade.

Originally, the Huang Family wouldn’t have acted so aggressively, as provoking a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had severe consequences.

But after the Heavenly Star Immortal City auction, Huang Moyuan sensed something unusual.

With the Zheng Family’s usual domineering nature, they had been repeatedly humiliated at the auction.

Afterward, not only did they not retaliate, but they didn’t even make a sound.

Something out of the ordinary must be afoot. Coupled with the rumors, the Huang Family was essentially certain that the Old Ancestor of Zheng Family had a major problem.

And so, today was a test. If the Zheng Family was provoked to this extent, and the Old Ancestor of Zheng Family remained unmoved, then….