Chapter 195: Preparing for Foundation Establishment

Chapter 195: Chapter 195: Preparing for Foundation Establishment

Zong Ziqi also seemed a bit unsure, hesitating.

"I forget where I heard the name... Oh, right! I remember now. There’s only one Sect in the entire Demon Spirit State: the Beast Taming Sect!"

"The Beast Taming Sect is incredibly powerful. It’s the only Sect I know for certain to have a Nascent Soul Great Power. What’s more, the Beast Taming Sect has a Sect Guardian Demon Beast that’s supposedly also in the Nascent Soul Realm!"

"Two Nascent Soul Great Powers?!" Jiang Xu’s eyes widened.

That was truly incredible.

It was the first time Jiang Xu had ever heard of a Nascent Soul Great Power within the Great Qi, let alone two at once.

"I’ve heard the Beast Taming Sect is very strange."

"Basically, any Cultivator within the Demon Spirit State who commands a Demon Beast can claim to be a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect."

"However, to truly join the Sect, the Demon Beasts, Spirit Beasts, or Exotic Insects one has must meet their standards—they have to be either sufficiently rare or sufficiently powerful."

"I’ve heard the Beast Taming Sect has existed since Ancient Times, though they went through a major period of decline. Since Ancient Times, the Sect has had one ultimate goal: to find a Divine Beast and form a contract with it."

Jiang Xu was somewhat taken aback as Zong Ziqi rattled on and on.

"How do you know so much about the Beast Taming Sect? Have you had dealings with them before?"

"My master must have mentioned it. He’s very familiar with the Beast Taming Sect and warned me not to provoke their members lightly."

"Don’t provoke their members lightly? We’re in Dinghai State. How could we possibly provoke them? Don’t tell me they operate outside of the Demon Spirit State?" Jiang Xu mused.

After a moment of thought, Jiang Xu used his Spiritual Eye Technique to scan the surroundings, confirming there were no other Cultivators nearby.

Right then and there, Jiang Xu set up an Array that provided Stealth, an alarm, and Defense.

"You still haven’t recovered, so don’t come with me. Stay put right here. I’m going to scout the area."

With that, Jiang Xu departed, leaving Zong Ziqi alone inside the Array.

’What on earth did Brother Jiang go through these past few years?’

Zong Ziqi marveled, clicking his tongue as he looked at the Array Jiang Xu had just set up.

After all, becoming an Array Master was considered one of the most difficult of all Cultivation Techniques.

Yet Jiang Xu’s Array Formation had been as smooth as flowing water. He made it look effortless, a clear sign that he had already grasped the fundamentals.

But what Zong Ziqi just couldn’t wrap his head around was...

How could Jiang Xu be skilled in Talisman Making, Array Formation, escaping, *and* healing, all while his Cultivation was soaring?

And most importantly, all of this had happened in the short span of just three or four years.

’Could it be... because he’s so overly cautious? Did he learn so much, so quickly, all for the sake of self-preservation?’

Zong Ziqi shook his head, closed his eyes, and focused on healing, pushing aside such stray thoughts.

...

「A day and a night later.」

Jiang Xu returned to Zong Ziqi’s location.

Zong Ziqi noticed that ever since Jiang Xu had returned, he had kept his head lowered, lost in thought, his expression grave.

"What’s going on?" Zong Ziqi grew nervous seeing Jiang Xu’s demeanor. "Is there really a dangerous place nearby?"

Jiang Xu shook his head.

"I’m not worried about that. I just find certain things... very interesting."

"Interesting?" Zong Ziqi was confused. "What do you mean?"

"Heh, it’s nothing. Just a wild thought of my own." Jiang Xu didn’t answer Zong Ziqi’s question, instead changing the subject.

"After I help you take care of those three Demon Cultivators, I’ll probably be leaving Dinghai State."

Zong Ziqi was taken aback.

"If you’re not in Dinghai State, where will you go...? You mean... to another State Domain?"

Jiang Xu nodded.

"The idea wasn’t very strong before yesterday, but today, I’ve made up my mind."

"What did you see today that made you suddenly change your mind? Which state do you plan on going to?"

"I’m planning to take a trip to the Demon Spirit State."

"The Demon Spirit State..." Zong Ziqi was completely baffled. He truly had no idea what Jiang Xu was thinking.

Jiang Xu said no more, instead throwing himself wholeheartedly into modifying the temporary Array.

First, he adjusted the position of the Array Hub, cleverly merging the original Stealth Array and Alarm Array, and further reinforcing its defensive capabilities.

Beyond the three main functions of Stealth, alarm, and Defense, Jiang Xu also added effects for Gathering Spirit, Trapping the Enemy, and offense.

Finally, Jiang Xu decided to create an even more secure and hidden shelter.

He dug a cave beneath the Array, reinforcing the walls with his Magical Power to ensure they were stable and would not collapse.

The cave was simple, but it was sufficient to serve as a temporary immortal’s abode.

Afterward, Jiang Xu laid down another Array, integrating the entire immortal’s abode with the formation above. This created a dual-layered defensive system, coordinated from the inside out and equipped for both offense and defense. It ensured that as long as the Array remained unbroken, whoever was inside would be perfectly safe.

"Are you preparing for your Foundation Establishment?" Zong Ziqi asked.

"No." Jiang Xu shook his head.

"Then what are you doing?"

"This is just a diversion."

After saying this, Jiang Xu led Zong Ziqi to another location, one even more hidden than the previous spot.

There, Jiang Xu set up another Array identical to the first one.

But once again, he didn’t settle in.

Instead, he found a third location and set up preparations there as well.

Seeing the confused look in Zong Ziqi’s eyes, Jiang Xu smiled.

"A crafty rabbit has three warrens. You should never have just one way out."

Ultimately, Jiang Xu dug tunnels connecting the three locations underground. Then, right in the center of the underground network, he carved out another immortal’s abode. From this central chamber, one could escape through any of the three exits at any time.

"This is where we’ll have our real seclusion."

"But won’t this increase our chances of being discovered? Couldn’t we just dig a single immortal’s abode underground?"

"That’s where you’re wrong. This method provides multiple layers of security. When they discover the flaw I’ve intentionally left in the first layer, they’ll let their guard down. That will make it much harder for them to find my second layer of preparations. And even if they do, it doesn’t matter. By then, I’ll have already been alerted to their presence and will be long gone."

Finished, Jiang Xu clapped Zong Ziqi on the shoulder.

"Don’t get it? Then it’s time to learn! The Art of Laying Low is a path with no end. I’d call it the most profound and useful of all the Hundred Skills of Cultivation!"

"The Art of... Laying Low?" Zong Ziqi had no idea when this had been added to the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

Zong Ziqi and Jiang Xu entered the completed immortal’s abode together.

The space was divided into two parts.

Jiang Xu took the left side to prepare for his Foundation Establishment. Zong Ziqi took the right side to begin his recovery, and also took on the duty of standing guard for Jiang Xu.

Though Jiang Xu more or less trusted Zong Ziqi, he still silently set up numerous defensive and alarm measures on his side of the abode.