Chapter 106: Chapter 15: Foundation Establishment Celebration

Li Jizhou wasn’t surprised by Duan Tianxing’s approach.

Years ago, during the Spirit Pearl Mountain marketplace, standing behind the Wen family already evidenced his identity and background.

He must have been recruited by the Golden Sun Sect, or perhaps he was a pawn placed within the Inverted Mountain by the Golden Sun Sect all along.

“A quasi-third tier Vajra Puppet can defeat a Fake Pill Master, showing the undeniable value of puppet arts!” Li Jizhou was even more eager for Hua Yanshi’s puppet legacy.

Thinking of this, he turned around and left the Upper City District, heading to the Central District’s Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.

Puppet arts require him to master a Metal element cultivation technique to originate the puppet’s raw form with Metal element magical power.

In his previous life, he only had Wood and Fire Spirit Roots and no Metal element cultivation technique at all.

Fortunately, the Immortal City doesn’t lack cultivation techniques.

There are hundreds of Metal element cultivation techniques at the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, even top-grade ones.

However, their prices were rather steep, so after browsing around, Li Jizhou restrained his impulse for now.

He thought to wait until he had the puppet legacy in his hands, there was no rush.

“Unknown grade Fire element cultivation technique sale, only ten spirit stones, no need for Divine Soul Contract, don’t miss it if you pass by!”

As he stepped out from the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion, shouts rang out from a small cultivation technique shop across the street.

A crowd had already gathered, drawn by the shouting.

“An unknown grade Fire element cultivation technique for ten spirit stones? No need for a Divine Soul Contract?” Li Jizhou couldn’t help but pause as he walked past.

On the market, Fire element cultivation techniques were the most sought-after, used for attack, alchemy, puppets, and artifact refining, all requiring Fire element magical power.

Therefore, even a lower grade Fire element cultivation technique would cost at least ten spirit stones, and one would need to sign a Divine Soul Contract to prevent replication and resale by the buyer.

“Senior!”

“Greetings, Senior!”

“Please, Senior, this way.”

As Li Jizhou approached, a group of small cultivators in the Qi Cultivation stage quickly made way for him.

Initially not intending to join in the commotion, he found himself now awaited eagerly by all.

Even the shop attendant quickly brought over the jade talisman with both hands.

“Please examine, Senior!”

“Alright.” Li Jizhou nodded and took the jade talisman.

A quick scan with his Divine Sense, and his brows slowly furrowed.

“Nine Nether Anxious Flame?”

“This is clearly more than a lower grade Fire element cultivation technique!”

Li Jizhou was slightly surprised, as this was much more powerful than the ’Flame Phosphorus Skill’ he had luckily obtained in his past life.

The cultivation technique detailed that if practiced to perfection in Qi Cultivation, one could birth a Nether Anxious Flame, which could instantly melt metal and stone!

At the Foundation Establishment stage, two Nether Anxious Flames could be birthed…

“This type of cultivation technique, capable of cultivating True Flame and advancing in spells, must be graded above top-grade!”

Ultimately, Li Jizhou judged based on his previous life experience with Fire attribute cultivation techniques.

Nonetheless, the next moment, he returned the jade talisman to the shopkeeper without any emotional fluctuation, leaving without a word.

There must be a trick to this!

Leave decisively.

——

A day later, Steward Chen sent word inviting Li Jizhou to Miaodan Tower.

True to expectations, Elder Xu had handled matters well.

“Pill Master Li, please forgive us. Your current strength doesn’t meet the true second-tier Honored Guest Elder threshold, which is exceptional and already raised discontent among many elders, violating the Golden Sun Sect’s residency rules.

As a last resort, Elder Xu had to recommend you to the Outer Peak.

Even securing this Outer Peak dojo took Elder Xu considerable effort.

But rest assured, the Outer Peak has a quasi-third tier Spirit Vein land, and it’s quite deserted; currently, each of the five peaks has only one person,” Steward Chen explained to Li Jizhou tirelessly.

Yesterday, Li Jizhou had proposed conditions to resolve the dojo situation, thinking to enter the Golden Sun Sect’s Miaodan Peak.

But yesterday, after negotiation with the upper echelons, Elder Xu only managed to secure the Outer Peak.

Steward Chen was somewhat worried that Li Jizhou might be dissatisfied.

Li Jizhou was, however, secretly delighted, as it suited his interests perfectly.

“If it is so… then… thank you Elder Xu, thank you Steward Chen.”

“Good, good, rest assured Pill Master Li, once the promotion succeeds, Elder Xu will surely compensate you well!” Steward Chen let out a long breath.

“Thank you!”

Subsequently, following Steward Chen’s guidance, Li Jizhou personally composed a narrative of a lowly and destitute loose cultivator, determined to ascend despite adversity.

It detailed the miserable conditions before encountering Miaodan Tower and the soaring success brought by the great medicine from Miaodan Tower.

Moreover, he vividly described the thrilling journey of Foundation Establishment.

In the end, he obtained a second-tier Honored Guest Elder jade pendant and the entry key to one of the five peaks of the Golden Sun Sect’s Outer Peak, and signed the identity contract.

To Li Jizhou’s satisfaction, it even included free lodging.

This role as a spokesperson was exceptionally beneficial.

Both sides rejoiced, a genuine win-win cooperation!

Two days later, the small Foundation Establishment celebration officially commenced.

That day, the Upper City District was bustling.

Even many neighbors who rarely socialized surfaced upon learning Pill Master Li was hosting a Foundation Establishment banquet.

They presented congratulatory gifts.

Having already advanced to Tier Two Pill Master at the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation, he could at least become a Middle Level Tier Two Pill Master post-Foundation Establishment, capable of concocting any standard Tier Two pill.

Most importantly, Li Jizhou had the Miaodan Tower’s second-tier Honored Guest Elder jade pendant hanging from his waist.

If not quickly befriended, once he formally enters the sect, they would miss their chance to associate with him.

At once, the place brims with distinguished guests and renowned friends.

Just from the Foundation Establishment stage loose cultivators, there were already twenty-one attending, and cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation exceeded fifty.

Moreover, many of them were owners from various industries within the Immortal City.

This grand scene, in the entire Immortal City, was unmatched in fame for a time.

“Pill Master Li… Oh no, now I should call you Elder Li, haha, Elder Li, this old man toasts to you, wishing your Immortal Dao to thrive, and your Pill Skill to reach new heights.” An elder at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment laughed as he toasted from afar.

“Elder Li, if there is anything in the future that Liu can handle for you, feel free to ask. There will surely be more instances where I will trouble you in the days to come.” A bold owner from a cross-Immortal City escort agency remarked.

“Elder Li…”

…

Being a second-class Honored Guest Elder of the Golden Sun Sect, and externally regarded as an honorary elder, elevated Li Jizhou’s status once again.

However, amidst all these compliments, Li Jizhou remained calm.

He did not become overly self-satisfied.

The others merely needed his alchemy skills, and everyone was essentially in a cooperative relationship.

The memory after Foundation Establishment in the previous life, lost amidst endless praises of being called a senior, was still vividly remembered by him, a mistake he would definitely not repeat.

Li Jizhou raised a cup of wine and held it high towards everyone below the hall: “Thank you fellow Daoists for your recognition. I, a mere loose cultivator, have reached today thanks to the help of friends along the way, the protection of the Golden Sun Sect, and the nurturing of the Miaodan Tower…

Even though I have now established my foundation, my strength is still low, and my magical power is ordinary, truly unworthy of the high regard you all have shown. Ashamed, truly ashamed.

To all of you, I drink this cup to the fullest!”

With wine glasses clinking and interchanging, the atmosphere reached its peak.

At this moment, the cultivators present with the Celestial Secret Tower’s bulletin all felt a slight tremor from their jade talismans.

They instinctively took out their jade talismans to have a look.

“Hey, it’s being sent nationwide?”

The loose cultivators in the Upper City District almost all had the habit of subscribing to the bulletin, especially some business owners, who must always have a grasp of the big picture dynamics.

So at once, everyone took out their jade talismans.

Li Jizhou was naturally no exception; he felt a tiny tremor from his bulletin jade talisman,

and his divine sense entered it,

Upon seeing it, he couldn’t help but click his tongue.

Miaodan Tower really went all out this time.

The cost for nationwide bulletin distribution would not be low.

Soon, everyone had finished watching the promotional image about the grand medicine from Miaodan Tower.

Although the protagonist’s face in the story was somewhat blurred,

but by combining some of the information, it immediately matched up with Li Jizhou.

In an instant, everyone looked at Li Jizhou with subtly changed expressions.

Several female cultivators present, upon seeing Li Jizhou’s tragic past at Inverted Mountain, even had eyes that were slightly reddened…

Li Jizhou’s expression was as usual, facing it calmly.

“Elder Li, I didn’t expect you to… have such a tragic experience? This… truly a model among us, an inspirational example!”

“Elder Li, your heart towards Dao is admirable, I, Liu, am not as good as you!”

“Elder Li, resilient and persevering, this old man toasts to you once again!”

…

Everyone’s reaction made Li Jizhou slightly pause.

Wasn’t it supposed to be promoting the grand medicine?

How did their focus shift?

This was a bit different from the expected outcome.

But soon he was relieved; mainly because these people all knew Li Jizhou, and they were all shrewd individuals who naturally saw only his strengths and ignored his shortcomings.

Moreover, even if they had any thoughts internally, it’s unlikely they would voice them face to face.

Li Jizhou stood up, uncovering his past once again: “I dared not accept such praise, if it weren’t for taking grand medicine to forcibly squeeze the dantian to improve my realm, perhaps I would still be hovering at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.

Besides, as you all know, although I fortunately succeeded in establishing my foundation, perhaps my potential has already been exhausted, and breaking through further might be difficult.”

“Hey! Elder Li, you shouldn’t belittle yourself. Didn’t Miaodan Tower say that this kind of grand medicine has no hindrance in the path? Perhaps you might continue to make progress by taking Tier Two grand medicines in the future too!”

“Exactly, exactly, the cultivation world is ever-changing. Nothing is eternally the same; you might just be a miracle yourself!”

“Elder Li, don’t harbor such thoughts. No matter what, now that you have successfully established your foundation, you have more longevity, and your Pill Skill can further improve,

be it earning Spirit Stones or the potential for refining grand medicine for yourself, both have greatly increased,

who knows, you might become the first in our Qi Kingdom cultivation world to ascend to Core Formation through pills!

Wouldn’t that ensure your name goes down in history?”

…

Li Jizhou secretly chuckled in his heart,

If it weren’t for knowing his situation,

Another person might have actually been persuaded by these people.

Seeing this, Li Jizhou didn’t want to dwell on this topic, cupped his hands, and said:

“Your encouragement, I shall remember, but, I have self-awareness. Though I have established my foundation, my magical power truly is thin and ordinary,

there’s no need for you all to overpraise me, lest being inflated by your flattery, offending someone strong, fighting to the death, I may not survive to see you all again.”

“Who dares? Who dares to touch Elder Li? Hua’s Tier Two puppet is not a pushover!” Hua Yanshi was the first to jump out; he not only hoped to seek Li Jizhou’s help in alchemy in the future but also hoped Li Jizhou would heal his brother.

“Yes, who dares? They’ll have to see if we consent or not.”

“Elder Li, being a Tier Two Pill Master, such a crude matter as spell combat is not something you should concern yourself with!”

…

Seeing this, Li Jizhou could only thank them one by one, not saying more, and stopped there.

He understood well in his heart that most of these people were just speaking pleasantries, not putting them in their hearts—relying on others for protection in the cultivation world, one is seeking one’s own demise.

Moreover, everyone also knew that Li Jizhou, now esteemed as an honorary elder of the Golden Sun Sect, anyone who made a move on Li Jizhou would be disrespecting the Golden Sun Sect.

Coupled with Li Jizhou’s current fame and inspirational story, anyone who acted against him would undoubtedly invite disdain from the entire cultivation world!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep