Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Foundation Establishment Level 2

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, a year had gone by.

On this day, the aura around Lu Xuanji was surging, and he had reached the perfection of the first layer of Foundation Establishment.

The True Essence in his Dantian and meridians was already filled to the brim, unable to increase even a bit more, with the cost of three thousand spirit stones consumed in just one year. Normally, a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s annual income is only between three hundred to five hundred spirit stones. The number of spirit stones consumed was vast, but the corresponding speed of improvement was fast as well.

As for the instability caused by absorbing spirit stones, it was compensated by the Heaven Mending Cauldron.

The Heaven Mending Cauldron can purify True Essence and enhance its quality.

Huff, huff!

Lu Xuanji was urging his True Essence to tear open the Dantian, expanding it.

The volume of the Dantian was expanding, but at the same time, it was shattering, yet the True Essence repaired it; then, it tore through the meridians, widening them and increasing their toughness.

Constant expansion, constant repair.

The True Essence was being consumed violently, and the volume of the Dantian expanded, becoming more solid.

After the Dantian’s volume expanded threefold, Lu Xuanji also stepped into the realm of Foundation Establishment.

Huff, huff!

Streams of Spiritual Qi entered the Acupoints, circulated through the meridians, and after a cycle, refined into True Essence, each droplet settling in the Dantian. Feeling the enhancement of his cultivation, Lu Xuanji was very satisfied.

Only, he was out of money!

In his pocket, there were only three hundred spirit stones left.

“With the Heaven Mending Cauldron, I can continuously absorb spirit stones to enhance my cultivation without worrying about unstable True Essence, but it just costs too much!”

Amidst his joy, Lu Xuanji felt a slight hint of worry.

…

“Brother, you’ve come out of seclusion,”

At the entrance of the cave mansion, he happened to meet Ye Feixue.

“I’ve come out!”

Lu Xuanji said.

“Brother, you’ve reached the second layer of Foundation Establishment.” Ye Feixue observed, a flash of light appeared in her eyes, and a faint pressure swept over.

Lu Xuanji was slightly astonished and said, “That still doesn’t compare to you. What layer are you on?”

Ye Feixue replied, “Just the third layer of Foundation Establishment, my speed is a bit slow!”

Such humble bragging.

You’re flying; even flying isn’t as fast as your speed.

In just twelve years after Foundation Establishment, she’s reached the third layer; this is like having a cheat!

No, Ye Feixue didn’t open any cheats, yet her speed was rapid and extraordinary.

“Xiaoxue, I’d like to lend you something!”

After a brief moment of thought, Lu Xuanji handed over the Heaven Mending Cauldron.

“This is a first-grade Spiritual Artifact, quite ordinary!”

Ye Feixue observed it, frowning slightly.

A first-grade Spiritual Artifact is very useful for a Qi Cultivation cultivator, but not much use for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Foundation Establishment cultivators usually use second-grade Spiritual Artifacts for combat.

“It can purify True Essence!”

Lu Xuanji explained.

With a flash in her eyes, Ye Feixue listened.

Entering the Purple Mansion Realm requires not just an accumulation of quantity, reaching the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment; it also requires enhancement in quality, like purifying True Essence to increase its purity.

Many cultivators fail to break into the Purple Mansion because their True Essence isn’t pure enough.

“Really!”

Ye Feixue received the Heaven Mending Cauldron, infused a thread of True Essence into it, and a moment later, exhaled a thread of True Essence, finding its purity greatly enhanced.

“It is indeed effective, equivalent to half a Purple Mansion Pill!”

Joy appeared on Ye Feixue’s face.

A Purple Mansion Pill costs one hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones, while half a pill equates to seventy thousand, and this “half-pill” effect is reusable; this outcome is quite beneficial.

“Brother, I’ll return it to you in three months!”

Ye Feixue said joyfully.

Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment, each layer is a small bottleneck restrained by the purity of True Essence.

She originally planned to spend three years sedimenting and enhancing the purity of her True Essence before stepping into the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment.

But with the Heaven Mending Cauldron, it would only take three months to purify her True Essence and enter the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment.

“The Grand Elder is summoning us, saying something has happened?” Ye Feixue mentioned her intention for coming: “The Grand Elder knew you were in seclusion and waited for you for a month.”

“What happened?”

Lu Xuanji asked.

“One of our Lu Family mines was attacked by bandit cultivators, the losses were significant, and three late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators perished; fifty-two were killed!” Ye Feixue recounted the events.

At the meeting hall, the five Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lu Family gathered together.

The father and the sixth aunt attended the meeting despite their injuries.

When Lu Xuanji and Ye Feixue arrived, the Grand Elder nodded, gestured for them to sit, and directly stated the topic: “Recently, a red copper ore vein of our Lu Family was attacked, causing significant casualties among our cultivators, and three thousand jin of red copper were lost. The Lu Family suffered heavy losses, and we must retaliate!”

“Who is the culprit?”

Sixth Aunt Lu Jinxiu spoke up.

“Based on the traces of magic at the scene, along with profile analysis, it’s deduced the culprit is the bandit cultivator Zhao Wuji!” the Grand Elder said, “Zhao Wuji is only at the third layer of Foundation Establishment, killing him isn’t difficult. But it’s unknown if he has accomplices, if he has powerful Magical Artifacts, or where he is–as finding his traces is challenging.”

“In a cultivator’s battle, the hardest part isn’t killing the enemy but finding their whereabouts! I intend to personally search for Zhao Wuji’s traces and finish him off.”

As he spoke, the Grand Elder was full of killing intent.

Recently, various industries and mines of the Lu Family have been under continuous attack by the bandit cultivator Zhao Wuji, causing significant losses.

If responses are not made,

other bandit cultivators will continue to attack.

The Lu Family must take action, strike hard, and deter some of the wolves and tigers.

“Not appropriate!”

At this moment, father Lu Jinwen spoke up, saying, “Seventh Uncle, it’s not appropriate, not appropriate at all. Seventh Uncle is already at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment and should focus on breaking through to the ninth layer; that’s crucial. If Seventh Uncle is busy chasing Zhao Wuji outside, it’s a waste of time and not worth the loss.”

“Yes, Seventh Uncle, reaching the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment is the biggest priority. Other matters are unimportant!” Lu Jinxiu agreed, “Why do the bandit cultivators dare to rob our Lu Family if not because they see our family as weak? If a Purple Mansion cultivator is born, even half a step into Purple Mansion means significant strength!”

“If I don’t go, who will?”

The Grand Elder asked, “Both of you are heavily injured, and as for Lu Xuanji and Ye Feixue, they are too young, too inexperienced! I wouldn’t be at ease sending them out!”

“Grand Elder, I believe that mere Zhao Wuji doesn’t warrant your action. Xiaoxue and I are Foundation Establishment cultivators now, sufficient to handle crises independently. Even if we are outmatched, we can still retreat intact!” Lu Xuanji added, “Flowers in a greenhouse, after all, don’t fully grow.”

“But your talent is excellent, with hopes of reaching the Purple Mansion in the future, but still too young. Should you meet your end outside, my Lu Family can’t afford the loss!” the Grand Elder expressed, concerned.

The outside world isn’t safe.

It’s easy for two early-stage Foundation Establishment juniors to meet their demise outside.

If they perish, the Lu Family might fall into a situation of no successors.

Looking at the younger generation, not one can take the lead.

“Grand Elder, I think the two children should venture out, seek opportunities outside!” Father Lu Jinwen spoke up, saying, “Not only is it about Zhao Wuji, but also the Lu Family’s insufficient resources. Currently, every month, I can only provide Xuanji with three hundred spirit stones, and Xiaoxue with two hundred, sometimes not even enough.”

“The Lu Family’s resources are limited, insufficient to nurture a Purple Mansion cultivator. For Xuanji and Xiaoxue to achieve greatness, they must go outside, hunt demon beasts, find opportunities, and only then have a chance to enter the Purple Mansion Realm. Staying within the Lu Family provides no chance at all!”