Chapter 94: Patriarch, This Is Terrible
Chapter 94: Chapter 94: Patriarch, This Is Terrible
Zhang Chi was undoubtedly delighted by his successful Foundation Establishment, but not the least bit surprised.
This was because the Foundation Establishment Pill was not only a requirement for the process but also increased the success rate by twenty percent.
Zhang Chi himself had a Middle Grade Spirit Root and practiced a Fire Element Cultivation Technique, which in itself boosted the success rate by another ten percent.
Furthermore, the Top Grade Cultivation Technique he practiced added another thirty percent. The Nine Flames Unification, his powerful Divine Soul, and his strong physical body all significantly raised his chances as well.
As a result, Zhang Chi’s success rate for breaking through had long surpassed one hundred percent. Failure was impossible even if he wanted it.
Now, instead of leaving, Zhang Chi immediately circulated his Magical Power and began to condense the Blood Flames once more.
Soon, he had successfully formed eight Blood Flames. Together with the one left over from the previous fusion, he once again had nine.
These nine Blood Flames were hotter and more solid than before, providing an even greater boost to Zhang Chi’s Combat Power and Cultivation.
With the Jade Pendant’s help, the process was incredibly fast and completely smooth.
Afterward, with a flicker of his body, Zhang Chi flew into mid-air powered by Magical Power alone, without the aid of any Magic or Magical Artifacts.
This was one of the key differences between the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment realms.
SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Zhang Chi formed a Spirit Technique with his hands, and in the blink of an eye, he put away the Array and the Eye of the Spirit Spring. His speed was far greater than before.
Then, Zhang Chi recalled the Four-legged Spirit Snake and Corpse Puppet No.1.
The Four-legged Spirit Snake had grown a bit rebellious under the influence of the Demonized Spring Water, but now it was filled with fear toward Zhang Chi, no longer daring to show the slightest defiance.
WHOOSH!
Zhang Chi then summoned a black Flying Boat, which turned into a streak of rainbow light and sped into the distance.
But Zhang Chi didn’t head straight back to the Sect. Instead, he flew toward the Xie Family’s territory.
The small Flying Boat Zhang Chi piloted was an Upper Grade magical artifact. It had originally belonged to Song Xinghai, but Zhang Chi had long since altered its color and shape.
Zhang Chi’s Artifact Refining skill wasn’t high enough to upgrade the Furnace Carbon, but changing the appearance of a few Magical Artifacts was still an easy task.
He had even changed Song Xinghai’s Upper Grade white magical artifact robe to black.
’First, I’ll create a helper.’
Along the way, considering the Xie Family had six Foundation Establishment Cultivators, including one at the Middle Stage, Zhang Chi took out the Black Coffin and threw in all the Spirit Stones he had on him.
He had chosen to pilot the Flying Boat instead of using Sword Control or flying directly precisely so he could easily access the Black Coffin.
Thanks to his high proficiency in the Hundred Skills of Immortal Cultivation, even though he was only Tier One, he had managed to accumulate over forty thousand Spirit Stones in a year after all his expenses.
The shimmering Spirit Stones fell into the Black Coffin, instantly shattering with a CRACKLE and transforming into a vast amount of Spiritual Qi, which the Black Coffin absorbed.
The Black Coffin’s light swirled as Evil Qi churned within. A powerful energy surged violently into Corpse Puppet No.1.
ROAR!
Corpse Puppet No.1 let out a roar as a powerful pressure erupted from its body. It frantically absorbed the black light and Spiritual Qi, undergoing a violent transformation. In just a few moments, it broke through to Tier Two Early Stage.
Of course, this was also because the Corpse Puppet already had a good foundation. Otherwise, relying on the Black Coffin alone would have required at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones.
After its breakthrough, the Corpse Puppet’s appearance hadn’t changed much, but it now radiated a ferocious and chilling aura.
Its physical strength, power, and Corpse Evil had all increased by more than tenfold, and its Combat Power was on a completely different level.
’Not bad. It just burns through Spirit Stones a bit. I hope the Xie Family doesn’t make me take a loss this time!’
With this Tier Two Corpse Puppet, Zhang Chi’s confidence instantly soared.
His trip to the Xie Family was, without a doubt, to avenge them for obstructing his path, and to pick up some Spirit Stones and other resources while he was at it.
It had been three and a half years since he joined the Sect. He had hidden his claws and fangs, cultivating bitterly day and night, waiting far too long for this day.
Now a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Zhang Chi flew at incredible speed. In just a single hour, he arrived at the Xie Family’s territory.
Located about a thousand li from the Cangwu Sect, this place was a massive valley called Red Leaf Valley. The land within the valley was fertile, and it was home to over a hundred thousand people, all of whom were Xie Clan Members and their relatives.
The valley was named for the many red-leaved shrubs that grew there.
At the heart of the valley were vast Spirit Fields and a Tier Two Low Grade medium-sized Spiritual Vein. The Xie Family had built a city directly upon this Spiritual Vein, naming it Red Leaf City.
This city was inhabited by members of the Xie Clan.
Today happened to be the New Year festival, so every household in Red Leaf City had hung up lanterns and colorful decorations. Chickens were slaughtered and sheep were butchered, creating a jubilant atmosphere.
In truth, Cultivators cared little for such holidays. But the city was also home to many mortals, and as an Immortal Cultivation Clan, the Xie Family had to use these rituals to foster unity. Thus, they had always placed great importance on such festivities.
Every New Year, clan members would return to Red Leaf City for a reunion, unless they had exceptionally important matters to attend to.
This was precisely why Zhang Chi had chosen today to make his move.
Only today would all of the Xie Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivators—especially Xie Yu and Xie Huaiyuan—have left the Sect.
Furthermore, knowing he would be breaking through soon, Zhang Chi had long since planted his Phantom Beetles in Red Leaf City to lie in wait.
Right now, through the eyes of the Phantom Beetles, he could "see" the six Xie Family Foundation Establishment Cultivators gathered in the inner city—the district of Red Leaf City reserved for Cultivators—drinking and making merry.
And, as it happened, these six Foundation Establishment Cultivators were talking about him.
—
"Xie Yu, Chen Bufan is heading to the Demon Abyss next month. That ant, Zhang Chi, has been in the Sect for over three years now. It’s time to carry out the task Song Youdao gave us back then."
Patriarch Xie, a tall and imposing old man with sharp, piercing eyes, spoke suddenly from the head of the table.
"Rest assured, Patriarch. I’ve already made a plan. The moment Chen Bufan leaves, I’ll kill that Zhang Chi," Xie Yu replied with a smile.
Normally, they would have long forgotten a minor figure like Zhang Chi, but in fact, they hadn’t.
The reason was simple: killing Zhang Chi was an order from Song Youdao.
A year ago, Song Youdao’s grandson, who had shown promise for Foundation Establishment, had died. As a result, Song Youdao had been in a foul mood ever since.
The Xie Family was trying to curry favor with the Song Family, so naturally, they had to carry out every one of Song Youdao’s commands with precision.
"Oh? What plan? Tell us about it," Patriarch Xie asked, his curiosity piqued. The other Foundation Establishment Cultivators all turned to look.
"I’ve already investigated. The Outer Disciple Qin Susu and her group have contracted a Spirit Field, and Zhang Chi is involved. He goes with them every time they harvest."
"Besides, they’re very close. Zhang Chi is also an Alchemy Master, so he must have some savings. There’s no reason he wouldn’t participate."
"The next harvest is only a few months away. When the time comes, I’ll hire some Qi Cultivation Late Stage Loose Cultivators to attack with me. Not only can we kill Zhang Chi, but we can also get rid of his friends, Qin Susu and the others, at the same time," Xie Yu said, full of confidence.
"An excellent plan. The Sect’s purge a year ago hurt many Loose Cultivators and Demon Cultivators. It’s perfectly reasonable that some of them would hold a grudge and come back to retaliate against our Cangwu Sect a year later," Patriarch Xie said, nodding in satisfaction.
The others all chimed in with their approval.
With that, the group stopped paying attention to Zhang Chi’s matter and returned to their chatting, drinking, and merrymaking.
"Patriarch! Elders! This is terrible! A huge fire has broken out in the Spirit Fields! It’s massive, burning in several places! We can’t put it out on our own! You have to go take a look!"
But soon, the joyous atmosphere was shattered. A clan member rushed in, his face etched with panic.