Chapter 95: Second Level of Foundation Establishment (Please Subscribe)

Including this bid, he has now brought out over eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones...

Many people looked at Li Guanxuan, this thought crossing their minds. For any Foundation Establishment cultivator, eighty thousand low-grade spirit stones was a staggering sum. Only the treasuries of established Foundation Establishment cultivation families could accumulate two or three hundred thousand spirit stones over time; Li Guanxuan had produced the equivalent of a family treasury single-handedly.

Li Guanxuan remained calm and composed. He was determined to win the Purple Feather Tear Gold for Liu Xiaoxian. After all, both he and Qin Jiyue had received immense help from her during their own Foundation Establishment, and he would not let this opportunity to repay the debt slip by. According to his estimation, the price of the Purple Feather Tear Gold should peak at around thirty-two thousand; any higher, and it would not be worth it.

"Which faction does this fellow Daoist belong to? To carry so many spirit stones on his person," a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't help but ask. The others were equally puzzled; they should have heard of such a formidable Foundation Establishment expert.

"Merely a rogue cultivator," Li Guanxuan replied with a smile. "But I have deep ties with the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion."

Hearing this, everyone understood. This man must be a guest elder of the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion. It was indeed possible for a merchant cultivator to possess such liquid assets.

"Thirty thousand five hundred," someone pressed, unable to resist bidding again.

"Thirty-one thousand," Li Guanxuan said, his expression unchanged. Seeing his determination to secure the item, the other cultivators thought it over and shook their heads, giving up.

"Sold!" The old auctioneer’s eyes crinkled with delight. If every auction had someone like Li Guanxuan who didn't skimp on spirit stones, there would be no fear of a lack of atmosphere.

After the palace-dressed attendant brought the Purple Feather Tear Gold over, Li Guanxuan inspected it, tucked it into his storage bag, and handed over three hundred mid-grade spirit stones and one thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"Time to leave..." Li Guanxuan thought. There were too many big shots in this auction hall. An old acquaintance, the Sect Master of Joyous Mountain, was present. Although the man had stared at him for a few moments, his face showed no unusual reaction. Li Guanxuan knew he would eventually return to Joyous Mountain in Qing'an City, where a confrontation would be inevitable. And if he visited the former site of the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree... as long as the Sect Master wasn't a fool, he would certainly piece the truth together. Therefore, if the chance arose, he would have to eliminate him. The Velvet Flower Spirit Tree was his greatest secret and his greatest reliance.

Once the transaction was complete, Li Guanxuan left the venue. With only two thousand low-grade spirit stones left in his bag, there was little point in staying. As he exited, several Foundation Establishment cultivators followed, curious to see his next move. After all, he was carrying items worth over eighty thousand spirit stones.

...

Li Guanxuan did not hide; he stayed openly at the inn. This large-scale auction was hosted by the Hua family, who were responsible for the safety of the bidders. If a bidder were assassinated immediately upon leaving, no one would ever attend their auctions again. He could wait here in peace for Liu Xiaoxian.

"I can discard the clone, but it would be best to keep these two Grade 2 mid-tier puppets..." Li Guanxuan retrieved a storage ring. It was a gift from Liu Xiaoxian, possessing a vast internal space. He placed all his belongings inside and tucked it into the body of the 'Explosion No. 1' puppet. "Just need to wait for Master."

After finishing, he sighed. He was still too weak, and his cultivation speed hadn't improved much; it would be better if the little green tea-drinker had reached late-stage Qi Condensation by now.

"Hmm?" Li Guanxuan suddenly sensed something, his expression shifting in surprise.

...

At that moment, his true body in Silver Maple City sensed a mid-stage Foundation Establishment aura erupting into the sky. It came from the guest room.

"Sister Jiyue has broken through!" Song Zhiqiao exclaimed in astonishment. Li Guanxuan stepped out of the meditation chamber, overjoyed. In truth, Qin Jiyue had spent a long time consolidating her foundation at the early stage. Given her top-tier Wind and Sword spirit roots, she should have easily reached the mid-stage long ago. Her delay had puzzled him, but seeing her break through now, he realized she had been biding her time to ensure a smoother path to the later stages.

Qin Jiyue emerged, her eyes shimmering with charm, her lithe waist swaying. She smiled, "Husband, would you like to celebrate this mid-stage breakthrough?"

The seasoned "massage therapist" Li Guanxuan felt a flame ignite in his belly. He picked up the white-haired witch and headed back into the room.

...

The two women outside, Wen Rongxin and Song Zhiqiao, blushed, knowing the couple wouldn't be joining them for dinner. Inside the room, the brush danced as they painted a vivid picture of a sword demon ascending to immortality.

Late the next morning, as the battle concluded, Li Guanxuan felt a shift in the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree within him. His heart jolted, and he plunged his consciousness into the dark space.

"Holy—!"

The moment his consciousness entered, a blinding golden light erupted, so intense it forced a curse from his lips. He glanced at Qin Jiyue, who was fast asleep. Even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't withstand eight hours of high-intensity activity. Seeing the golden immortal energy filling the space, he was stunned.

As he began to absorb it, the unexpected happened: his blood boiled like a turbulent sea, his skin turned crimson, and his eyes bloodshot. His perfected "Green Profound Manual" began to circulate on its own.

"What is happening?" Li Guanxuan was both panicked and amazed. He had never encountered this! Outside, Wen Rongxin and Song Zhiqiao watched in surprise as the perfected Green Profound Qi leaked uncontrollably from the room.

Two hours later, his boiling blood calmed, and his skin returned to normal. As he opened his eyes, a faint, sharp sword intent swirled in his pupils. His cultivation had miraculously reached the second level of Foundation Establishment—a natural progression. This was half a year ahead of schedule.

Qin Jiyue had already woken up and was watching him silently. When she saw the faint sword intent on him, she whispered, "Bloodline power?"

Li Guanxuan realized why the Li family sent their less-gifted disciples out to train: as a sword-cultivating family, they prized struggle. Only through combat could the bloodline awaken and one could grasp the sword intent within the manual.

"This sword intent can only be comprehended during Foundation Establishment, provided the manual is perfected..." he mused. The cultivation families were truly calculating. They weren't worried about these disciples not returning, as the necessary follow-up techniques were held by the family. Those who survived the trials were resilient; once they returned, they could become a formidable force for the family. The Song family, another ancient scholarly clan, was clearly doing the same.

"So, for the sake of the follow-up techniques, I must return and bow to the family." Li Guanxuan lowered his gaze. He had little emotional attachment to the Li family. If he could get the manual, he would just leave again.

"With my second-level cultivation, awakened bloodline, and sword intent, facing a mid-stage expert is now well within my reach." He considered his options. With the Velvet Flower Spirit Tree's energy, reaching the third level within a year or two was certain.

Qin Jiyue leaned against him, her eyes soft. "I have reached the peak of my talent and manifested the Taiyin Sword Body. Average late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators are no match for me now."

"That damn talent... truly enviable," Li Guanxuan sighed. This peerless beauty had still lost to him—what was there to be proud of?

"I may be ahead now, but by the Golden Core stage, you'll likely leave me in the dust," she teased, knowing he practiced dual cultivation with three women.

Li Guanxuan looked at the temptress and decided, "The materials for the Fate-Closing Pill aren't even at the Myriad Phenomena Pavilion. You may need to go to the Scarlet Refining Mountain Range... but remember, do not venture deep. If there is danger, flee immediately. I will prepare defensive and movement talismans for you."

"I understand," she whispered.

...

In Hua Jing Immortal City, cultivators remained outside Li Guanxuan's inn. After three days, the clone hadn't dissipated, and the puppets remained inside. It was clear he was waiting for reinforcements.

On this day, Fairy Bai Wei of the Ink and Water Pavilion came to visit. She offered to trade 250-year-old spirit wood for his 300-year-old Fierce Tooth Wood, promising to pay the difference later and owe him a favor.

Li Guanxuan refused firmly. "Fairy Bai Wei, the wood is as important to me as it is to you."

"Many experts are watching you. With my help, you might survive this crisis... I only want the wood," she pressed.

"The Myriad Phenomena Pavilion will deal with this. I am but a clone; it matters not. Good day, Fairy."

After she left, Yan Mingyao visited. "I won't take advantage of you. I'll buy the Iron Essence for two hundred mid-grade spirit stones and pay the rest within two months."

"I cannot part with it, Yan," Li Guanxuan replied, suppressing his anger.

Yan Mingyao sealed the room with a wave of his hand. "Sell it to me, and it will cost you your life!"

Li Guanxuan narrowed his eyes. "If I am robbed in Hua Jing City, do you think the Hua family will sit by?"

"I am not the one who will rob you," Yan Mingyao said calmly. "Only I can save you. You don't believe it now, but soon, you will bring that Iron Essence to me, begging me to take it."

As Yan Mingyao left, Li Guanxuan was left in confusion. Why was he so confident?

Just as he decided to have his true body in Silver Maple City seek help, a terrifyingly powerful divine sense descended upon Hua Jing Immortal City.

"A... a False Core expert?!" Li Guanxuan paled. Two False Core experts were dueling above the city!

"Haha... interesting. The ancestor of the Thunder Fire Sect has come to spar with True Person Huajing..."

"They are old rivals," the crowd murmured.

Li Guanxuan felt his heart sink. He realized what Yan Mingyao had meant. Hua Jing Immortal City was about to descend into absolute chaos.