Chapter 72: Phoenix Cry Body
Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Phoenix Cry Body
"That’s right. My trip to Yuan South was actually just a routine mission, a formality before I could receive my Foundation Establishment Pill. I just never expected a supposedly foolproof mission to run into complications."
"I even suspect there was a traitor in my Sect who leaked information to your Cangwu Sect."
"But even so, as long as I return, I can still claim that Foundation Establishment Pill. If you need it, Master, I can pretend my Foundation Establishment failed and offer the pill to you," Lan Xuan said, nodding obediently.
Despite her words, her face paled slightly.
Clearly, she was reluctant to part with the Foundation Establishment Pill.
She even began to suspect that Zhang Chi was only willing to let her return for this very Foundation Establishment Pill.
"Heh, no need to be nervous. That’s not what I meant. You should use the Foundation Establishment Pill yourself when you get it. In fact, it’s crucial that you succeed in reaching Foundation Establishment. That way, you can help me get another one when I need it."
"Of course, I’ll give you the Spirit Stones for it when the time comes. After all, all I need is another channel to acquire one," Zhang Chi said with a smile.
She was already at the Qi Cultivation Peak and could attempt her breakthrough to Foundation Establishment at any time. He, on the other hand, clearly needed to wait a while longer, so there was no need to seize her Foundation Establishment Pill.
’Of course, if I’m really short on Spirit Stones when the time comes, I wouldn’t mind letting her shoulder some of the cost.’
As for the Foundation Establishment Pill, he had three ways to obtain it.
First, he could redeem one from the Cangwu Sect.
The problem with this method was that he would need to use Spirit Stones to purchase a large number of Contribution Points, which would draw too much attention.
It would also expose his unnaturally fast cultivation progress.
Second, he could acquire one at an auction.
This route was relatively discreet but would require even more Spirit Stones—perhaps forty or fifty thousand.
The third option was precisely to have Lan Xuan help him acquire one.
This was also a good alternative.
In fact, he had already considered this when he first enslaved Lan Xuan.
After all, Lan Xuan was an Inner Sect Disciple of the Spirit Control Sect, and she had connections. Helping him get a Foundation Establishment Pill shouldn’t be difficult for her.
"That’s no problem. You can rest assured, Master. I will reach Foundation Establishment as soon as I can. Then, whenever you need a pill, you just have to let me know." Lan Xuan couldn’t help but sigh in relief, a smile spreading across her face.
"Besides, I won’t be criticized by others in the sect for this, because I was already planning to pretend my first Foundation Establishment attempt failed. This way, not only can I legitimately redeem another Foundation Establishment Pill, but I can also buy myself more time to cultivate in secret," Lan Xuan continued.
"Why is that?"
Zhang Chi was puzzled.
’She’s not like me. I only have a Middle Grade Spirit Root and no connections, so I have to hide any lucky breaks I get.’
"Don’t you know, Master? After reaching Foundation Establishment, cultivators are given some time before they’re all sent to guard the Demon Abyss," Lan Xuan asked in confusion.
"Something like that happens?"
Zhang Chi was startled. This was truly the first time he had ever heard of it.
"Yes. In Yuan Bei, cultivators have a ten-year preparation period after reaching Foundation Establishment. Then, they must go and guard the Demon Abyss for another ten years."
"Of course, that’s the rule for cultivators from the major powers. For those from small or medium-sized powers, or for Loose Cultivators, the service can be as long as thirty years. The mortality rate for Loose Cultivators is also much higher."
"The defenses at the Demon Abyss are stricter here in Yuan South, so the service is longer. Cultivators from major Immortal Sects serve for twenty years, while Loose Cultivators serve for a full fifty years," Lan Xuan explained earnestly, nodding.
"That long? What if a Foundation Establishment Cultivator just hides?" Zhang Chi was even more astonished.
A Foundation Establishment Cultivator generally has a lifespan of three hundred years. Fifty years was one-sixth of their entire life.
Moreover, some cultivators reached Foundation Establishment late to begin with. After losing another fifty years, they might have less than two hundred years left.
"They can hide, but to advance, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator needs to use a Tier Two Spiritual Land. A Tier Two Spiritual Land can’t possibly remain unknown, so hiding isn’t realistic. Not unless they give up on cultivation and hide for the rest of their lives."
"Besides, if they hide and get caught, the penalty is even harsher—their service time guarding the Demon Abyss will only be extended."
"Fortunately, it’s not impossible to reduce the time by handing over a large sum of Spirit Stones or finding other methods. Besides, Master, you must be a member of a top-tier Immortal Sect. Foundation Establishment Cultivators from top-tier Immortal Sects rarely perish there, so twenty years is completely acceptable."
"Of course, I still suggest you do what I’m planning: hide your cultivation for a while after you reach Foundation Establishment. That, combined with the preparation time the sect gives you, will allow you to develop some self-preservation skills before you have to go. Then you’ll be truly safe," Lan Xuan said.
"I see."
Zhang Chi nodded slightly.
He wasn’t particularly afraid of guarding the Demon Abyss.
For one, as a cultivator of the Cangwu Sect, his situation was better than a Loose Cultivator’s. Plus, by then, he would definitely be stronger than he was now.
For another, he heard there were many Demonized High Tier Spiritual Veins over there, which would undoubtedly be more suitable for him.
But it was still too early to think about these things.
It was even possible he might have left the sect by the time he reached Foundation Establishment.
"By the way, Master, I have a gift prepared for you," Lan Xuan said.
As she spoke, she waved her hand, and a corpse and a black Jade Scroll immediately appeared before her.
The corpse was tall and burly, its muscles firm, and it gave off a faint, barbaric aura. It was the barefoot man from the Spirit Control Sect.
But now, he was dead.
"Wasn’t he from your sect?" Zhang Chi asked, confused.
"That’s right. This guy was my senior brother. He acted quite simple and foolish, but it was all an act."
"Earlier, when I broke the formation and escaped from the canyon, he suddenly rushed out and ambushed me, so I had no choice but to kill him. His corpse, however, is quite good. I thought I would offer it to you, Master, so that you can refine it into a Corpse Puppet to command."
"This Jade Scroll contains the Corpse Manipulation Technique I prepared especially for you, Master. Of course, if you can’t be bothered to refine him, you can just feed him to a Spirit Beast or extract a Blood Spirit Pill from him."
"I recommend refining him into a Corpse Puppet, though. Not only was this guy at the Qi Cultivation Peak and accomplished in Body Refining, but he also had a trace of a barbaric bloodline. You could say he had bones of steel and was born with Innate Divine Power. He’ll definitely be a powerful Corpse Puppet."
"A corpse like this would definitely sell for a lot of Spirit Stones back in Yuan Bei!" Lan Xuan said with a faint smile.
She spoke of killing her sect brother without a hint of remorse, as if it were a trivial matter.
In fact, only she knew what had really happened back then and whether it was truly as she described.
"Alright, this is very thoughtful. I’ll accept it. Now, tell me what you really want from me. If you don’t say it, I’ll just assume there’s nothing!"
Realization dawned on Zhang Chi, and he gave a slight nod.
He had been planning to find a suitable corpse.
But in Yuan South, finding a good one depended on luck and would be very expensive.
Having Lan Xuan buy one for him in Yuan Bei would be troublesome and also risked exposing the Black Coffin.
But now, Lan Xuan had delivered a ready-made one. Its quality seemed quite good, and she had even prepared the Corpse Manipulation Technique. He couldn’t have asked for more.
However, such unsolicited kindness was always suspicious. He could tell at a glance that Lan Xuan must have a request.
"You are wise, Master. I was originally going to ask you to let me return, but since you have already made such arrangements, I’d like to change my request: Please, Master, do not take my Primordial Yin."
"I wish to wait until after I’ve achieved Foundation Establishment to offer myself to you. It would be more beneficial for both of us that way."
"I won’t hide it from you, Master. I actually have the Phoenix Cry Body. The higher my cultivation, the greater the aid my Primordial Yin will provide for a breakthrough."
Lan Xuan didn’t dare to hide anything. Gritting her teeth, she told the truth, feeling incredibly nervous all the while.
She knew that Foundation Establishment was very difficult for many cultivators. If Zhang Chi happened to be one of them, he would most likely take her before he attempted his own breakthrough.
Revealing her physique made her request more persuasive, but it simultaneously increased her risk.