Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation-Chapter 101 - 96: Assaulting Foundation Establishment

Chapter 101: Chapter 96: Assaulting Foundation Establishment

Wilderness Islands.

In the Council Hall, Patriarch Mu Yesheng paced back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back, his brows knitted and his expression grim.

His son, Mu Shun, as well as Core Elders Mu Wenxiu, Mu Yuanqing, and Mu Zhongning, stood silently to the side.

"...Has the Bai Family’s envoy gone to the Ling Family’s Longhuan Island again?"

After a long silence, Mu Yesheng’s voice finally echoed, betraying no emotion.

Mu Wenxiu, who was in charge of intelligence and espionage, nodded and replied:

"Yes. The one responsible for contacting the Ling Family’s upper echelon is Bai Tinglan. She has already taken up residence on Longhuan Island and appears to be planning a long-term stay."

A long-term stay meant that the secret alliance between the Bai Family and the Ling Family had been formed, and its target was, naturally, their Mu Family.

Mu Yesheng snorted coldly, a menacing glint in his eyes. "These fools don’t know what’s good for them! They’re facing their own doom and don’t even realize it. One day, I will eradicate them, root and stem!"

The enmity between the Bai and Mu Families ran deep. In the past, the two families had been evenly matched, locked in a stalemate for over a hundred years without a clear victor.

But now, Mu Yesheng had reached the True Pill Realm, while the Bai Family’s old ancestor had failed in his attempt to break through to the Golden Core Realm. The power gap between the two sides had widened in an instant.

Ignoring external factors, the Mu Family now possessed the strength to cripple, or even destroy, the Bai Family’s entire foundation.

Naturally, the Bai Family’s leaders couldn’t just sit back and await their doom. So, they sought out the Ling Family’s Female Patriarch. Forging an alliance was the logical course of action.

Moreover, the Bai Family wasn’t the first power to cozy up to the Ling Family. Throughout the vast Feiyu Sea Region, most of the forces unwilling to submit to the Mu Family had flocked to the Ling Family’s side.

The remaining factions were still hesitating, content to be fence-sitters and wait until a victor emerged between the two families.

Core Elder Mu Yuanqing spoke up. "Besides taking in the Bai Family, have the Ling Family’s leaders made any other moves?"

Mu Wenxiu replied, "None that we’ve discovered so far. Lately, that Female Patriarch has spent all her time Opening the Furnace and Refining Pills and selecting and training new recruits.

Oh, and just recently, another batch of new Foundation Establishment Cultivators emerged from within the Ling Family—three of them."

As soon as he said this, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Mu Zhongning frowned. "How many batches is that now? Including the ones who broke through before, doesn’t that mean the Ling Family has more than double the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators we do?"

Mu Shun couldn’t help but ask, "Where did the Ling Family get so many Foundation Establishment Pills? Even if their Patriarch is a Second Rank Pill Master, the raw materials for refining Foundation Establishment Pills aren’t that easy to gather, are they?"

In the past, the Mu Family’s foundation was far superior to the Ling Family’s, but even they couldn’t have produced so many resources for Foundation Establishment in such a short time.

Mu Wenxiu said in a low voice, "That question is no longer important. Perhaps they’ve received secret support from some outside power?

In any case, the result is the same for us. If we don’t take effective measures to suppress and restrict them, we will most likely be the ones who lose in the future."

The elders looked at each other, speechless. The current situation was already extremely unfavorable for the Mu Family.

Without a clear advantage in hard power, there was very little the Mu Family could do.

One wrong move could lead to an all-out confrontation, and the Mu Family would have almost no chance of winning. Even if they called upon all their allies and vassal forces, the outcome would be the same.

Mu Yesheng frowned, weighing his options. Suddenly, he asked, "What’s the situation on Desolate Spirit Island? Has the Ling Family sent anyone to investigate?"

Mu Wenxiu replied, "Our people have been keeping an eye on it. There’s been no unusual activity so far."

A look of confusion crossed Mu Yesheng’s face. "The map to the undersea Spirit Stone Deposit has already reached the Ling Family. Can it be that their Female Patriarch isn’t the least bit tempted?

Even if she suspects the treasure is a trap and doesn’t dare act for now, she should at least send a few people to scout it out, right?"

If the Ling Family’s leaders didn’t take the bait at all, the elaborate trap the Mu Family had gone to such great lengths to set would be meaningless.

Mu Wenxiu said helplessly, "They haven’t made a move. There’s nothing we can do."

’We can’t just urge them on, can we? Even a fool would be able to see something was wrong then.’

At this point, the Mu Family’s leaders had no idea that Ling Qiyue had already visited the undersea deposit and safely brought back a large quantity of Spirit Stone Raw Ore.

Mu Yesheng’s face was grim as he deliberated for a long time. Finally, he spoke:

"No matter what, we cannot let the foundation passed down by our ancestors be ruined in our hands! 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Starting tomorrow, mobilize the entire family to gather resources for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. I myself will also go into the sea to work."

The Ling Family maintained a large team of Pearl Gatherers, and the Mu Family had one as well, and on an even larger scale.

They worked day and night, diving into the sea to collect all sorts of valuable resources from the ocean floor to support the family. This was the most important source of income for all the powers in the Feiyu Sea Region.

The elders had no objections, and so the matter was settled.

***

Longhuan Island.

In the inner chamber of the boudoir, Ling Changqing, now fully dressed again, was kicked out of the room. He touched the scratch marks on his neck, still shaken, feeling that his earlier actions had indeed gone a bit too far.

’That peerlessly beautiful woman, always so gentle, dignified, elegant, and charming, is actually quite terrifying when she gets rough. If I had known it would be like this, I would have... would have...’

’Well, if I could do it all over again,’ Ling Changqing thought, ’I still wouldn’t be able to resist trying. Even if Tang Qiuyao pinned me down and beat me up afterward, it was worth it, wasn’t it?’

’It’s just that my new wife is angry now. Coaxing her back into a good mood won’t be easy. I’ll probably be sleeping alone for the next few days.’

’Oh well. Seeing as my Qi Cultivation 9th Layer is gradually approaching Great Perfection, shouldn’t I start preparing for Foundation Establishment?’

With this in mind, Ling Changqing said a word to the head Maid, Longyun, and then returned to his own Cave Mansion Hall.

Back in the inner chamber, after cleaning up the battlefield, Tang Qiuyao was soaking in a hot spring bath, her beautiful face flushed crimson.

"How outrageous... That shameless bastard..."

Recalling the earlier scene that filled her with both shame and anger, the peerless beauty couldn’t help but grit her teeth.

’He usually looks so righteous and clear-eyed, so heroic and extraordinary—a perfectly respectable man. Who would have thought that with his clothes off, he’s an out-and-out lecherous scoundrel!’

’If I’d known this earlier, I would have... would have... never agreed to be with him!’

"Mistress!"

Longyun, dressed in a white gauze skirt, entered softly, her charming face blushing like a sunset as she called out in a low voice.

Tang Qiuyao composed her Mind, her voice turning soft and sultry. "Has... that guy left?"

"Yes, he’s already gone back!"

Longyun replied, "He said he was going back to prepare for seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. He wants you to go and stand guard for him."

"In his dreams!"

Tang Qiuyao said, annoyed. "After he just tormented me like that, he turns around and wants me to stand guard for him? What does he take me for?"

"But..."

Longyun said weakly, "The Young Master’s Foundation Establishment is imminent. If he’s disturbed and fails, the consequences could be very serious!"

"Hmph!"

Tang Qiuyao pressed her cherry-red lips together and said no more.

’Anger is one thing, but he is my Dao Companion, after all. How could I truly ignore him?’

After hastily washing up, she had Longyun help her change. Once she was dressed and ready, Tang Qiuyao stormed out the door.

When she arrived at Ling Changqing’s Cave Mansion Hall, she couldn’t find any sign of him.

’He isn’t angry too, is he? After all, I was a bit rough with him earlier.’

Suddenly not seeing him, Tang Qiuyao felt a pang of panic. Her bright, clear-as-water eyes darted around.

"Elder, the Young Master has already entered the Cultivation Chamber."

Song Xuelan, dressed in a pink skirt with a bright, jade-like face, approached gracefully, bowed, and reported.

"I see,"

Tang Qiuyao breathed a sigh of relief. Then, in the manner of the mistress of the house, she commanded:

"Seal the Cave Mansion Hall and activate all the Array Restrictions. For the next month, no visitors are allowed!"

"Y-yes!"

Song Xuelan replied with some reluctance, but she knew that the dignified and elegant beauty before her was the Young Master’s official Dao Companion. She had no reason to disobey her orders.

A moment later, a faint azure light screen enveloped the Cave Mansion Hall. Hundreds of family guards took up positions in key areas, sealing it off from the outside world.

The guards had, of course, been sent by Ling Qiyue. Tang Qiuyao had already informed her via a Communication Jade Talisman, and the Patriarch had immediately arranged for more than enough manpower.

A few moments later, Ling Qiyue herself arrived, dressed in snowy white, her beauty cold and captivating. Following her were three other women as beautiful as paintings: Ling Yulu, Qin Yun, and Ling Yuzhu.

"Senior Sister, why did you come in person?"

Tang Qiuyao hurried forward to greet her. In the past, there had never been a candidate for Foundation Establishment who had the Patriarch personally stand guard for them.

Of course, given Ling Changqing’s special status, it wasn’t entirely surprising.

"I was still a little worried, so I came to see for myself!"

Ling Qiyue smiled faintly. Ling Changqing was the future hope of the family; his breakthrough couldn’t be treated casually.

Tang Qiuyao said, "His luck has always been good. I’m sure he won’t disappoint. Let’s just wait out here."

Ling Qiyue nodded slightly and sat down with the other women. Song Xuelan quickly directed the maids to serve tea and snacks, attending to them with great care.

Inside the Cultivation Chamber.

On the Cold Jade Bed, Ling Changqing took out the High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill he had treasured in his Storage Pouch, along with various other elixirs and resources to replenish his vitality and Spiritual Power.

Years ago, Ling Qiyue had already prepared all the resources he would need for Foundation Establishment, including three High-quality Foundation Establishment Pills.

Even a cultivator with mediocre or dull aptitude could be brute-forced into the Foundation Establishment Realm with three High-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, to say nothing of the current Ling Changqing, who no longer had useless talent.

Physical body, Spiritual Power, Divine Soul.

These were the three hurdles a cultivator at the Peak of Qi Cultivation needed to cross to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Each one had to meet the standard; there could be no weaknesses.

Strictly speaking, no matter how powerful a cultivator in the Qi Cultivation Stage was, they were, to put it bluntly, still on the level of mortals.

The consensus in the Cultivation Realm was that only a cultivator who successfully achieved Foundation Establishment was considered to have laid the foundation of their Dao path and truly embarked on the road of Cultivation.

Of course, for the vast majority of low-level cultivators, even this most basic step required a lifetime of struggle, with no guarantee of success.

Once his mind was calm and his spirit still, Ling Changqing took out a High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, slowly consumed it, and began to circulate his energy to refine it.

A short while later, the sky above the cave mansion stirred. Billowing Spiritual Qi surged forth, and a Spiritual Energy Vortex nearly one hundred zhang in diameter quietly formed, an immense Spiritual Pressure bearing down on everything.