Lord Shenxiu-Chapter 957: Dan Ding Sect

Three years later.

It was time for the Dan Ding Sect's once-a-decade Inner Sect Disciple competition.

On the arena stage.

Lu Wen Yuan extended his hand and flicked continuously, as if he had an endless supply of first-grade superior spirit talismans, unleashing endless spell attacks.

Under such 'extravagant and ruthless' strikes, a disciple on the other side at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Perfection could only hold out for a moment before being knocked off the arena along with his shield.

"Thank you for letting me win, Junior Brother!"

Three years had passed, bringing little change to Lu Wen Yuan.

He wore a green robe representing the Inner Sect disciples of Dan Ding Sect, his demeanor becoming even more gentle.

"Winner, Lu Wen Yuan!"

The Foundation Establishment Master serving as the judge nodded, allowing Lu Wen Yuan to step down.

Lu Wen Yuan bowed and walked to the edge of the arena, hearing constant discussions around him.

"Is this Brother Lu? They say his talisman techniques are so miraculous!"

"What's so miraculous? It's just burning spirit stones! I could do it too if I had them!"

"But you need that many spirit stones first. Brother Lu is a first-grade superior Alchemist, earning dozens of spirit stones from a single furnace, which allows him to buy so many talismans..."

"Having won this fight, Brother Lu is secured among the top twenty, making the Foundation Establishment Pill within reach. Another win, and he could compete for the title of top ten disciples, couldn't he?"

...

Amidst various discussions, Lu Wen Yuan sneered inwardly, indifferent.

In fact, he had no intention of continuing to fight and planned to use the excuse of running out of talismans to concede the next match.

After all, according to the information he had gathered, being in the top twenty was sufficient to earn a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Moreover, his next opponent had a significant background, seemingly a descendant of a Golden Core Ancestor within the sect.

As for the empty title of top ten disciples, he had no interest whatsoever.

"So... it's better to take gains and stop."

He thought silently, noticing Xu Chang, the Alchemy Room Manager, walking over with a smile: "Congratulations, Junior Brother Lu, for breaking into the top twenty, Foundation Establishment is hopeful!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother, but I've run out of talismans, so I fear I'll have to concede the next match..."

Lu Wen Yuan said with a wry smile.

Xu Chang hadn't expected him to say this and instead let out a long sigh of relief: "That's good too. To be honest, the talismans you used in the previous rounds were quite astonishing, I fear you poured all the savings from your three years of alchemy into them? Nevertheless, it's worth it for Foundation Establishment!"

Currently, Lu Wen Yuan was a first-grade superior Alchemist.

The only reason he could surpass the progress of his family was due to the importance of a platform.

In the Dan Ding Sect, countless rare spirit grasses from outside are available, along with various 'Dan Yuan Small Meetings' initiated by Pill Masters, where they invite fellows to evaluate the properties after crafting a good pill.

Lu Wen Yuan managed to get his share of spiritual medicine and spirit pills, even managing to touch a Foundation Establishment Pill.

These were treasures inaccessible to his family!

Thanks to these valuable spiritual medicines, he could, like a prodigal, continuously attempt to refine first-grade mid-grade and superior elixir pills, becoming quite a capable Alchemist among the qi cultivation disciples, fulfilling his plan to conceal the true source of his abundant talismans.

Of course, most of the talismans used in this competition were bought, draining a painful amount of spirit stones.

However, although he could already summon a Foundation Establishment Pill, he still needed to obtain one from the sect to cover the truth of his Foundation Establishment.

Therefore, he had to participate in this Inner Sect competition.

At this point, it felt like trouble was always lurking.

"Junior Brother's strategic withdrawal is a testament to the art of self-preservation. However, among those you defeated, some are rather dissatisfied..."

Xu Chang hinted: "For instance, Xu Xiaotian, though originally a Loose Cultivator, early on joined the faction of Elder Jin. And Xia Mingxian, who secretly got involved with Elder Ma's daughter, is said to be planning a Dual Cultivation celebration after Foundation Establishment, both of whom were disrupted by Junior Brother..."

"With the path ahead, it's unavoidable. I must ask Senior Brother for more consideration."

Lu Wen Yuan solemnly clasped his fist.

"Haha, naturally, naturally, my Tang Family of Liang Feng doesn't fear any Elder Jin or Elder Ma..." Xu Chang responded excitedly.

He had been wooing this promising disciple because, although Lu Wen Yuan's spirit root aptitude was average, he had already reached Qi Refining Perfection. As a skillful Alchemist among the qi cultivation disciples, no faction would push away such talent.

In reality, Lu Wen Yuan received many openly and secretly invitations and only after much deliberation did he decide to join the Tang Family faction, as it was the most unintrusive and had the support of a Golden Core Elder!

"Rest assured, Junior Brother, with your confirmation, regardless of the Jin or Ma families' schemes, I'll guarantee you that Foundation Establishment Pill, nothing and no one can take it away..."

Now, with Lu Wen Yuan's affirmative response, Xu Chang was extremely excited, pounding his chest in assurance.

"Then thank you, Senior Brother."

Lu Wen Yuan offered heartfelt thanks, when suddenly, from arena number one, a terrifying wave of mana was felt.

Bang!

A bolt of Heavenly Thunder descended from the sky, striking the opponent's protective shield, instantly shattering it and sending the disciple behind it into unconsciousness.

"Winner, Dongfang Qing!"

...

Witnessing this scene, even Xu Chang, couldn't help showing a hint of envy and melancholy: "This Dongfang Qing, possessing a rare thunder attribute spirit root, is only inferior to the Heavenly Spirit Root. Her thunder system spell is unmatched in its ferocity, and she herself is a descendant of a Golden Core Ancestor. She is the undisputed champion of this Inner Sect competition!"

"Besides, there's Wang Qiao from the Wang Family, who possesses the 'Fiery Sun Body', having cultivated the Fiery Flame Technique to the peak of the tenth layer at the age of eighteen..."

"And Yan Nanfei, who knows a spell to self-detonate a magic artifact, along with possessing one offensive and one defensive top-tier magic artifacts..."

"These are the true Heavenly Pride, for them, Foundation Establishment is just the beginning, Core Formation is the real pursuit..."

Xu Chang, having consumed Foundation Establishment Pills yet failed to establish his foundation, was left to manage mundane affairs, his melancholy intensifying as he spoke.

Lu Wen Yuan, however, had no feelings of inferiority, quietly marking these people as trouble, whirlpools, and other such labels.

He only longed to complete Foundation Establishment, then to cultivate diligently... Core Formation, Nascent Condensation...

Becoming an unnoticeable presence within the sect would be the best outcome.

Interacting with these influential figures would inevitably invite trouble, so he always avoided them.

As for the sect-assigned tasks, he accepted only those completed within the sect or simply Alchemy tasks.

As a promising Alchemist, he had at least this privilege.

'In this Foundation Establishment, I will surely succeed, and then I will cultivate within the sect until I reach Core Formation before venturing out!'

Lu Wen Yuan silently set a resolve in his heart.