Chapter 106: The Fifth Layer of Foundation Establishment

Li Guanxuan had never really considered this matter before. But now, hearing Qin Jiyue’s words, he felt the possibility was quite high. After all, he now possessed the entire essence of the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree, not the flawed version he had before.

After years of dual cultivation, the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree had undergone some changes. Although he had not yet fully comprehended or mastered them, with time and the advancement of his cultivation, these mysteries would inevitably become familiar to him, and then under his control.

At this moment, he was the master of the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree.

Planting velvet flowers was no difficult matter.

“This matter is still in its infancy,” Li Guanxuan said.

“That beginning stroke will probably come soon,” Qin Jiyue said with a smile, then added with some concern, “But what worries me more is, once Master finds out about your opportunity, will she harbor some ulterior motives?”

Qin Jiyue then looked at Li Guanxuan and said, “I remember the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree has the divine ability to control others’ consciousness… However, if Master has no affection for you, then controlling her consciousness won’t work. That path is a dead end.”

Li Guanxuan was speechless. So you know as well.

He said, “These things can’t be rushed. It’s better to be sincere. For now, Master is still very kind to us. If, as you say, she does have feelings for me, then once I successfully form my core, I can slowly reveal this matter to her.”

The Velvet Flower Spirit Tree was their family’s greatest secret and trump card; it could not be disclosed over something so trivial. Even with a close relationship to Liu Xiaoxian, such matters could not be casually mentioned.

Qin Jiyue nodded slightly and said, “Although Shui Mo Pavilion has a false core immortal stationed there, if we help Master form her golden core, she will still be able to protect us.”

Compared to their own breakthrough to the late Foundation Establishment or peak Foundation Establishment in the short term, it was more realistic for Liu Xiaoxian to successfully form her core first.

After all, Liu Xiaoxian had been at peak Foundation Establishment for many years, lacking only a bit of opportunity.

Coincidentally, Li Guanxuan’s body was filled with immortal fate.

If their identities were ever exposed and Shui Mo Pavilion came to settle scores, their only choice would be to help Liu Xiaoxian form her core.

With a true immortal’s protection, they could at least gain a few decades. During that time, they could accumulate more means to counter the false core immortal and remain unafraid.

“Water Mo Pavilion won’t find our true identities anytime soon,” Li Guanxuan said, glancing around. “Let’s find a place to hide for a while. Shui Mo Pavilion has lost nearly ten Foundation Establishment cultivators—they must be furious. We should lay low and avoid combat… Also, I want to train a bit more and see if I can reach the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiyue cast a seductive glance at Li Guanxuan and suggested, “Then let’s go to the outskirts? There are only first-level demonic beasts there, and as long as we use sealing talismans, no one can disturb us.”

Li Guanxuan nodded in agreement.

...

Five days later.

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators from Shui Mo Pavilion arrived at the scene of the incident.

The bloodstains had long since dried.

The bodies had been completely devoured by demonic beasts, which had since fled.

“It was a swordsman,” said a senior cultivator at peak Foundation Establishment, his face darkened as he examined the sword marks on the ground and the faint sword intent lingering in the space. He concluded the swordsman’s strength was undoubtedly no less than late Foundation Establishment.

“Weren’t Steward Zhai and the others here to hunt the Flame Demon Bear? How did they suddenly provoke such a terrifying swordsman?” asked a graceful female cultivator, puzzled.

If Li Guanxuan were here, he would instantly recognize this woman as Immortal Bai Wei.

“Probably a struggle over something,” someone replied.

“Struggle? Most likely that fool was short-sighted, thinking the swordsman was easy to bully and set a sneaky trap,” sneered the Shui Mo Pavilion elder at peak Foundation Establishment.

“Could it have been someone from the Mingyue Sword Sect?” someone asked.

“Not from the Mingyue Sword Sect,” the elder shook his head. “This is not the Mingyue Sword Intent. It is far more domineering and straightforward, filled with sharp killing intent, like a razor hanging above people’s heads.

The opponent must have worn a disguise artifact, even masking the sword intent aura, so I cannot discern the swordsman’s true identity.”

Disguise artifact...

Bai Wei and the others understood.

Generally, cultivators who wear disguise artifacts are scattered practitioners who have offended sects or powers.

Only such individuals would alter their appearance and aura, concealing the details of their cultivation methods.

Bai Wei asked, “Elder, what shall we do next?”

“Investigate the swordsman’s true strength. If it’s a scattered practitioner…”

The elder’s tone was calm.

But everyone more or less understood.

If it was a scattered cultivator, they could have the other party help test the power of their talismans.

“Let’s go. The Flame Demon Bear has long since eaten and fled. Staying here is pointless, we can’t even retrieve the bodies,” the Shui Mo Pavilion elder shook his head. To him, the death of a steward was not a major concern.

The key was whether they could obtain the five-hundred-year-old Golden Sun Ganoderma.

...

One year later.

The energies of the fifth and sixth levels of Foundation Establishment slowly broke through the sealing talisman and spread out, only to be quickly absorbed by someone’s body.

After a year of focused cultivation, Li Guanxuan finally reached the fifth level of Foundation Establishment.

Qin Jiyue also smoothly stepped into the sixth level, her eyes shimmering with autumn waves, radiating charm. She stretched languidly, revealing a slender, sinuous waist and an alluring figure, her hips full and curves graceful. Her bones cracked softly like popping beans.

Li Guanxuan embraced her intoxicating figure, departing silently from the area.

After all, the breakthrough aura had just surfaced here; to prevent others from coming, it was better to leave first.

Now Li Guanxuan was sixty-eight years old, in the tenth year since forming his Foundation Establishment.

With the bloodline Foundation Establishment cultivation method, his progress was no longer slow as before.

Though his earth spiritual root remained inferior, the superior wood spiritual root helped accelerate his cultivation.

“I wonder if my sister has broken through to the ninth level of Physical Refinement, and if little Zhiqiao has managed to keep the household in order…”

Qin Jiyue nestled in Li Guanxuan’s arms.

Having been away from home for a year and a half, she deeply missed Wen Rongxin and Song Zhiqiao.

“Don’t worry. In a few days, Master will send me a message. With her watching over things in Silver Maple City, Rongxin and Zhiqiao will be fine,” Li Guanxuan reassured her.

Mentioning their beautiful Master Liu Xiaoxian, Qin Jiyue blinked, her sultry mature voice floating beside Li Guanxuan’s ear, breath fragrant as orchids.

“Husband, everyone says merchants are cunning. When we return, you must work hard to show me just how cunning merchants really are.”

“Is that something I should work on? Clearly, it’s you who should be working hard!” Li Guanxuan said seriously. “I have to take care of the three of you daily and keep you fed. Where do I have the leisure to investigate just how cunning merchants are?”

“Dead husband, you’re the one who ultimately benefits, aren’t you?” Qin Jiyue coquettishly rolled her eyes, eagerly adding, “Master’s sect is the largest I’ve ever seen...”

Li Guanxuan was speechless. No wonder she liked disguising herself as a man—it was her preference.

If Master knew that her darling disciple’s wife was scheming against her, who knew what she would think.

...

Li Guanxuan found the Flame Demon Bear that led the group a year ago.

The bear was also engaged in dual cultivation with its mate, low growls echoing through the mountains.

Li Guanxuan did not disturb them but waited until they both let out a low roar before using his divine sense to pluck some bear fur from the late second-level Flame Demon Bear.

The bear’s fur bristled instantly; it pulled back and looked skyward, eyes full of caution.

When it recognized Li Guanxuan, its caution immediately turned into docility. It waved its massive paws enthusiastically, warmly welcoming the master to inspect its territory.

There was no hint of anger at being spied on.

Li Guanxuan did not descend but continued to ride his sword through the air.

After all, who knew what the Flame Demon Bear’s intentions were? It was at least a late second-level beast, comparable to a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Moreover, its aura seemed even stronger than a year ago—almost at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

“Brother Bear, was that meal a year ago satisfactory?” Li Guanxuan sent a mental message.

“Awwooo,” the Flame Demon Bear nodded its massive head and rubbed its belly, letting out a contented burp.

Seeing this humanlike behavior from the bear, Qin Jiyue couldn’t help but smile.

Though a late second-level demonic beast, it was so affectionate and docile toward her husband.

“If I have the chance, I’ll prepare a few more meals like that for you,” Li Guanxuan smiled, throwing two portraits in front of the bear.

“Send your little Red Gold Rat brothers to help find these two people. If there’s news, notify me immediately. I will reward you with pills.”

“Awwooo!” The bear’s eyes brightened at the mention of pills and it patted its chest in agreement.

“Would you mind if I set up a defensive formation on your territory? Don’t worry, I won’t harm your companions. It’s purely defensive, no offense. As soon as there’s news on these two, I’ll leave immediately,” Li Guanxuan tentatively said.

Unexpectedly, the bear agreed without hesitation.

This surprised Li Guanxuan.

Beasts were fiercely territorial; just stepping into their domain was considered an invasion, often provoking an attack by a pack of beasts.

“Is Brother Bear repaying that one meal favor?” Qin Jiyue asked in surprise.

“Perhaps also sparing its life,” Li Guanxuan shook his head. He wasn’t quite sure himself.

He hadn’t harmed the Flame Demon Bear back then simply because he didn’t want to provoke other beasts and it was taxing on his magic power.

In the perilous Red Flame Mountain Range, running out of magic power could be deadly at any moment.

Li Guanxuan set up the defensive formation in a place convenient for escape and first gave the bear several mid-grade second-level pills as a gesture of goodwill.

“These are stamina recovery pills; keep them. The strength-enhancing pills I’ll give you after I leave,” Li Guanxuan smiled.

He was clearly telling the bear that neither side could fully trust the other yet. If he gave the strength pills now, things might go wrong.

“Roar!” The bear seemed a bit displeased. It threw the pills back, saying it wouldn’t attack Li Guanxuan.

“Keep them. We’ll have many more chances to cooperate. Trust builds slowly; sincerity alone isn’t enough,” Li Guanxuan said with a smile.

Maybe sensing the reasonableness of his words, the bear nodded after shaking its head.

Soon, the bear fetched some spirit fruits, placing them outside the defensive formation, then thundered away.

Li Guanxuan was momentarily stunned but then brought the fruits in. After confirming they were toxin-free, he ate them without worry.

He had to be cautious—he had suffered losses before.

Beasts were beasts; they held innate hostility and fear toward humans.

Unless raised from youth, wild beasts like the Flame Demon Bear were powerful and dangerous. If their ferocity was fully unleashed, an unprepared Li Guanxuan would be in serious trouble.

...

Time passed slowly.

One month later.

Li Guanxuan opened his eyes and exhaled softly in relief.

His divine sense was now comparable to peak Foundation Establishment.

There were thirty-three drops of liquid magic in his dantian energy sea, corresponding to thirty-three strands of Azure Profound Sword Intent.

Once he reached thirty-nine drops and connected the Jade Pillow Pass, a cultivation meridian, he could easily condense the fortieth drop and smoothly step into the sixth level of Foundation Establishment.

“Awwooo.” The Flame Demon Bear trotted to the edge of the defensive formation, pointing eastward, indicating the missing persons were that way.

“Is it far? About how many li?” Li Guanxuan asked hurriedly.

The bear gestured seven times with its paws.

“Seventy li—not too far…”

Li Guanxuan placed several small porcelain bottles down.

“Brother Bear, thanks for your care over the past month. These are all strength-enhancing pills and some physique-enhancing ones, all top-grade second-level. Feel free to use them.”

After speaking, Li Guanxuan and Qin Jiyue mounted their swords and took off, dismantling the defensive formation as they left.

“Awwooo!”

The bear watched Li Guanxuan disappear into the distance, its large, copper bell-like eyes showing a hint of reluctance. It howled a few times, then waved a huge paw.

Then, the bear saw several Red Gold Rats staring at it expectantly. It impatiently tossed a pill to them and roared.

The rats’ eyes gleamed as they each took a pill and vanished underground.

They had a new mission: to follow that human cultivator.

After much thought, the Flame Demon Bear howled a few times to its mate and then ran in the direction Li Guanxuan had gone.

It wanted to see if it could be of help.

Moreover...

It wanted to become the king of this region.

Only then could it avoid the threat of the demonic king deep within the Red Flame Mountain Range.

(End of chapter)