Chapter 383 : The Perilous Path to Foundation

Old Patriarch shook his head. "The most critical issue with Self-Guided Foundation Establishment [a method of advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm without external aids] lies in the cultivator's meridians being unable to withstand the backlash of condensing Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] into liquid."

"Once the condensation of True Essence [the refined, liquid-state energy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator] fails, the True Essence will erupt within the body's meridians, shattering them completely and leading to the cultivator's demise."

"The sages of antiquity created the Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm] to solve this conundrum. This pill possesses two primary effects."

"First, it temporarily doubles the strength and resilience of the meridians, significantly reducing the likelihood of meridian damage."

"Second, it tempers the True Qi [the refined gaseous energy cultivated by Qi Refinement stage practitioners] within the body, making it gentler. This lessens the backlash from a failed breakthrough, but it also renders the resulting True Essence less potent and vigorous."

"Among the ancient sages, more than one sought to isolate the first effect, yet none throughout the ages succeeded."

"For once separated, the enhancement to meridian resilience would diminish to a mere thirty percent. A paltry thirty percent increase offers little defense against the violent backlash of Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where Qi condenses into liquid True Essence]."

"While the Essence Gathering Pill [a pill that thickens and purifies a cultivator's True Qi] can increase one's chances by a tenth, its principle is merely to make the cultivator's True Qi more abundant. If the failure stems from insufficient True Qi, then it indeed raises the probability somewhat."

"However, should the breakthrough fail regardless, the cultivator will still perish from the inevitable backlash."

"The principles behind all other auxiliary medicines for this purpose are nothing more than two types: one enhances meridian strength, and the other tempers the True Qi." Official source: audio . novel . com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

However, strengthening a cultivator's meridians is an exceedingly difficult feat. Even the most potent auxiliary Pill [a refined medicinal pellet used for cultivation], aside from the Foundation Establishment Pill [a rare pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm], can only increase the resilience of a cultivator's meridians by thirty percent.

"Even tempering with a world-shaking divine substance like Primordial Essence [the purest, most fundamental energy of creation] can only double the strength of the meridians."

"If crafted from ordinary treasures, it is nearly impossible for a Pill to achieve such a degree of efficacy."

Eldrin Chen pondered for a long moment before speaking. "Perhaps we can seek another method, one that does not rely on medicinal aids?"

"What method?" A faint light gleamed in Old Patriarch's eyes as he could not help but ask, "Do you have an idea?"

"It is not yet certain if it will succeed. I shall research it further in the coming days."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and replied calmly.

After moving past that topic, Eldrin Chen took a sip of tea and inquired, "By the way, I heard Uncle Lior consumed a Golden Core Formation Pill [a precious pill that assists in forming a Golden Core] some time ago. What was the outcome?"

"He entered the False Core Realm [a quasi-realm where a cultivator has formed an unstable, inferior Golden Core]."

Old Patriarch said with a smile. For Lior Chen to use a single Golden Core Formation Pill to break through into the False Core Realm was a result that could be considered satisfactory, neither exceptional nor disappointing.

Upon careful calculation, Lior Chen is still a few years shy of three hundred years of age. For a False Core Cultivator at this stage of life, the hope for a future breakthrough into the Golden Core Realm remains quite substantial.

Chen Thalion took a sip of tea and began recounting the news. "In recent years, Feiye the Night's Bane successfully refined several batches of Golden Core Formation Pill [a rare and potent elixir that aids cultivators in forming their Golden Core]. It is estimated that Ji Continent has gained a number of new Golden Core Cultivator."

"Setting aside the other kingdoms for a moment, the Violet Abyss Sect has gained one more False Core cultivator. The Verdant Immortal Sect welcomed another Golden Core True Person, and the Firmament Sword Sect also added a new False Core to their ranks."

"Furthermore, Su Mingwei made her third attempt with a Golden Core Formation Pill three years ago and, as expected, successfully ascended to the Golden Core realm."

"Then there are Xavier Xu, Percival Pan, and others who also made their attempts…"

As the Old Patriarch continued his detailed account, Eldrin Chen gained a clear understanding of the shifting landscape across the various kingdoms of Ji Continent.

Following the recent Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic and devastating invasion by hordes of demonic beasts], the number of Golden Core Cultivator in the Ji Continent Cultivation World began to swell. Qi Kingdom received compensation of over a dozen Golden Core Formation Pill, and it is estimated that within a century, they will add six or seven new Golden Core Cultivator.

The other kingdoms are also expected to see some increase. The changes in Chu Kingdom are even more pronounced. The newly ascended False Core Cultivator are likely to receive further support from their respective factions over the next century, giving them a significant hope of breaking through to Golden Core.

Yet, as some rise to prominence, others inevitably begin their slow descent into obscurity.

Take Percival Pan, for instance. He attempted to breach the Golden Core realm again in recent years. At the venerable age of three hundred and eighty, he sought to achieve the breakthrough unaided by external treasures. In the end, he could not even reach the False Core Realm, his hopes dashed upon the unyielding cliffs of cultivation.

After this failure, he would need to Nurture for a Sixty-Year Cycle [to rest and recuperate for a full sixty-year cycle] before attempting another breakthrough. It could be said that Percival Pan's path of cultivation had been utterly severed.

Even if he consumed three Third Rank Longevity Pill [pills that extend one's lifespan by a significant amount] to gain an extra century of life, there was almost no hope left for him to break through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden core of power] realm.

This caused Eldrin Chen to sigh with regret. Percival Pan possessed a Thunder Spiritual Root [an affinity for the rare and powerful thunder element], so his innate talent was not poor. It was a pity that the great defeat suffered by the Green Sun Sect two centuries ago had led to the complete decline of the Pan Immortal Clan.

Over these years, Percival Pan had devoted himself entirely to pulling his clan back from the brink, neglecting his own cultivation in the process. In the end, he had also failed to obtain a Golden Core Formation Pill [a rare and precious pill that significantly aids in forming a Golden Core] or any other such Core Formation [the process of forming a Golden Core] opportunity.

"This Percival Pan..."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh and said, "There are still quite a few Third Rank Spirit Apricot [a type of spiritual fruit that can extend one's lifespan] left in the Clan Treasury. In a few years, we should send one over to him." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

"Mm," the Clan Patriarch [the leader of the clan] nodded in agreement.

Aside from Percival Pan, there was also Xu Darius. With the support of Xavier Xu, he had consumed a Golden Core Formation Pill and successfully broke through to the False Core Realm [a quasi-Golden Core state, less stable and powerful than a true Golden Core].

Xu Darius had broken through to the Purple Mansion [the second major realm of cultivation] at just over one hundred and ten years of age. He had been a renowned genius throughout the Chu Kingdom back then. Now, several centuries later, he had finally managed to touch the threshold of the Golden Core realm.

This man was about the same age as the Old Patriarch, not yet three hundred and fifty years old. It seemed he still had a fair chance of several tenths to achieve a true Golden Core breakthrough.

Eldrin Chen mused that whether this individual could break through to the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid, radiant core] realm depended entirely on whether the Xu Clan could secure another Golden Core Formation Pill [a legendary elixir that dramatically increases the chances of successfully forming a Golden Core] for him within the next few decades.

After the two had finished discussing matters of the Chu Kingdom, Eldrin Chen spoke up, "In a short while, I plan to journey beyond the borders of the Ji Continent."

"This time, we intend to exchange for some Heavenly Crystal [a purified, high-density form of Spirit Stone used in high-level cultivation and as currency among powerful beings], which will require a significant mobilization of the clan's resources."

"Origin Heaven Crystals?"

The Old Patriarch's eyes flickered slightly. Heavenly Crystal were precious treasures used in transactions with Nascent Soul True Lord [cultivators who have ascended to the fourth major realm, where their spirit gains a separate, independent form].

For Eldrin Chen to seek to exchange for Heavenly Crystal now, the Old Patriarch surmised, was likely in preparation for a future purchase of either Earth Mother Qi [a primordial essence of the earth element, vital for certain advanced cultivation arts] or a Fifth Rank Treasure [an artifact of immense power, suitable for cultivators at the peak of the known realms].

With this thought, the Old Patriarch nodded and said, "I will make the arrangements."

"Then I can rest assured."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile before returning to Spirit Isle Lake.

The Old Patriarch immediately began mobilizing the clan's cultivators, gathering various resources to amass Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation].

Over the years, the Chen Clan had accumulated a substantial reserve of Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]. The Old Patriarch mobilized eight million of them in a single stroke.

Yet, the stockpiled Spirit Stones were merely the smaller portion. The Old Patriarch also required contributions from the clan's cultivators, using Clan Merit Points to repurchase the Spirit Stones they held personally.

The Chen Clan boasted tens of thousands of cultivators. The lesser among them contributed over a hundred Spirit Stones, while the wealthier ones offered thousands or even tens of thousands. This single measure alone reclaimed ten million Spirit Stones.

Then, using the clan's various Spirit Mountains [mountains imbued with spiritual energy] as collateral, they borrowed from every major Immortal Clan [a clan with a long history of cultivation and power] across the Chu Kingdom, amassing another several million Spirit Stones in one fell swoop.

Coupled with selling assets at discounted prices, and after exhausting every method to reclaim Spirit Stones for a full three months, they had finally raised over thirty million Spirit Stones for Eldrin Chen.

"This time, I fear we have drained more than half of the Spirit Stones circulating in the Chu Kingdom,"

Eldrin Chen said with a sigh, gazing at the mountain of Spirit Stones piled within his Storage Bag [a spatial artifact for storing items] on Spirit Isle Lake.

The sheer volume of Spirit Stones withdrawn this time was staggering. For the foreseeable future, the Spirit Stone reserves within the Chu Kingdom would be significantly depleted. Experience the full epic at audi novel.com.