Now This Is Foundation Establishment!

Hearing the name Old Demon Black Chicken, Qi Yuan felt his heart tighten. It could be said that Old Demon Black Chicken had always hung over Qi Yuan's head like a sharp sword. A middle Divine Infant cultivator who was suspected of being on the verge of breaking through to late Divine Infant gave him immense pressure. From the moment he slew Chu Tianxiong to the destruction of the Black Mountain Sect, Old Demon Black Chicken had remained a thorn in Qi Yuan's side. Now, seeing the intentions of the nine Divine Infant experts in the room, a delightful suspicion welled up in his heart. He then heard the old man leaning on the cane speak: "Old Demon Black Chicken belongs to the demonic path. In our Great Shang cultivation world, he has brought disaster upon the common people and slaughtered our fellow Daoists without cause. "The Black Mountain Sect has acted with even greater tyranny—raping, looting, and committing every manner of evil. "Now, we have located Old Demon Black Chicken's whereabouts. We must strike with thunderous force and slay him!" Old Demon Black Chicken was one of the few middle Divine Infant cultivators in the Great Shang cultivation realm, just a single step away from late Divine Infant. Moreover, he had no sect, excelled in escape techniques, and kept his movements elusive. Thus, hardly any of the great sects in the Great Shang cultivation world were willing to offend him. Now, however, his cave abode had been discovered while he was in secluded meditation attempting a breakthrough, prompting them to organize this assembly to eliminate him together. Of course, Qi Yuan felt the primary reason was that Old Demon Black Chicken was close to breaking through to late Divine Infant. Once he broke through, the landscape of the Great Shang cultivation world would truly shift. These grand cultivators were unwilling to see another domineering powerhouse looming over their heads. "Slay Old Demon Black Chicken, execute justice on Heaven's behalf—this is the wish of us cultivators!" "Old Demon Black Chicken must die!" The nine Divine Infant experts voiced their agreement one after another. The Origin Core cultivators standing off to the side also had excitement stirring in their eyes. Qi Yuan felt the same. With so many Divine Infant masters present, Old Demon Black Chicken was bound to perish. A voice transmission reached Qi Yuan's ears. "Old Demon Black Chicken has many disciples and grand-disciples, ranging from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Origin Core stage. "No matter what methods you use, as long as you slay an Origin Core cultivator, you will pass my test. "Slaying Old Demon Black Chicken this time is fraught with extreme danger; even Origin Core cultivators might fall. It is not too late for you to withdraw now." "No need." Qi Yuan would not back out. Back in the Heavenly Dragon Immortal Realm, he had slain so many Origin Core cultivators. To him now, Origin Core cultivators were practically beneath notice. And with nine Divine Infant experts handling Old Demon Black Chicken, Qi Yuan had nothing to fear. "Good. Slay an Origin Core cultivator, and you shall pass the test. "When that time comes, this old man will discuss a certain matter with you. If you agree, a tremendous fortune will be yours; if you decline, I will still grant you a different opportunity," True Monarch Kumu said. Qi Yuan sent back his agreement without objection. After the time it took an incense stick to burn, the nine Divine Infant experts had finished discussing their plan to slay Old Demon Black Chicken. They signed an agreement among themselves. Neither Qi Yuan nor the other Origin Core cultivators signed it. "Let's go," the cane-wielding old man declared, sweeping his broad sleeve. A concealing spell was cast over all twenty-odd cultivators present, and they took flight toward the depths of Ten Thousand Demons Ridge. Before long, the cane-wielding old man halted his steps. "This place is known as the Six Demons Grotto, possessing six cave entrances in total. "We shall enter through the center to strike straight at Old Demon Black Chicken!" The nine Divine Infant experts raised no objections. Covered in disguises, they entered through the central cave mouth. At this moment, an Origin Core cultivator spoke up: "There are still five entrances left. Thirteen of us remain, to be divided into five teams. We may form them freely." Following his words, five groups quickly formed. As the lone Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qi Yuan was left by himself; no one was willing to team up with him. After all, entering the Six Demons Caves was perilous. No Origin Core cultivator wanted to be saddled with a Foundation Establishment cultivator, fearing the liability. Furthermore, a Foundation Establishment cultivator participating in such a momentous affair was bound to be a genius valued by higher-ups in their sect. If such a genius accidentally died at their side, they feared incurring the wrath of a Divine Infant old monster. Better to avoid trouble altogether. Qi Yuan felt no particular way about it. If he had to go alone, so be it. Right then, an aged voice spoke. "This old man is willing to team up with this young friend." An elderly man cloaked entirely in a black robe stepped forward, walking toward Qi Yuan. The others present watched the old man without saying a word. "In that case, the five teams are set. Let us enter the caves." The five teams of Origin Core cultivators entered through their chosen cave mouths. Qi Yuan and the old man ventured into their cave as well. Their surroundings grew dim. The cave was vast, measuring fully ten to twenty meters in diameter. Its terrain was peculiar, composed not of ordinary stone, but an exceptionally sturdy rock. The old man addressed Qi Yuan with great courtesy: "This humble one is surnamed Liu, a middle Origin Core cultivator. If we encounter danger, we shall look out for one another." Old Man Liu spoke with immense politeness. A middle Origin Core cultivator and a Foundation Establishment cultivator looking out for each other? Hardly. It was purely the middle Origin Core looking after the Foundation Establishment junior. Old Man Liu spoke this way solely to curry favor with Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan nodded. "All right." A respectful expression surfaced on Old Man Liu's face. He was a rogue cultivator who had struggled dearly to reach the Origin Core realm, qualifying as a formidable figure in Great Shang. Yet compared to the three great sects and the mid-sized sects backed by Divine Infant masters, an Origin Core cultivator like him amounted to nothing. Now advanced in years with many children, having laid low his entire life, he wanted to build ties with more prodigies. That was why he had taken the gamble to enter the same cave as Qi Yuan. He had already resolved to protect this young man's safety no matter what. Of course, this was entirely a gamble. If this prodigy turned out to be cold-hearted, ungrateful, or sinister, his bet would fail completely. The two flew through the cavern. "Who dares trespass into the Six Demons Caves?!" Just then, a cold shout rang out ahead. Three Foundation Establishment cultivators wielding dharma artifacts stepped forward, blocking Qi Yuan and Old Man Liu's path. The leader wore a savage expression and radiated a thick bloody aura; one glance showed he had slaughtered many. At this moment, a flicker of uncertainty passed through his eyes. Seeing this, Old Man Liu did not make a move, instead watching Qi Yuan's reaction. Foundation Establishment opponents were nothing to this genius before him. He could not steal the prodigy's limelight. Qi Yuan took a step forward and bellowed, "Your grandfather!" He thrust out a bare-handed punch. Before the three Foundation Establishment cultivators could even react, they were shattered into mincemeat by that single strike. Qi Yuan moved with swift, decisive violence, wasting no breath on idle chatter. At the sight, Old Man Liu's eyes widened in shock. Three Foundation Establishment cultivators? Insta-killed in a single punch? Even as a middle Origin Core cultivator, he could never pull that off so effortlessly, could he? This wasn't merely a genius—this was an absolute paragon! Perhaps not even the Great Shang Ten Paragons were this strong. Old Man Liu's heart thumped wildly. His gamble had paid off; this truly was an extraordinary talent. "Fellow Daoist's strength is truly terrifying. Even this old man feels inferior!" Old Man Liu stepped forward to flatter him. He spoke out of humility; an Origin Core cultivator's greatest weapon was their Golden Core. Once a Golden Core was summoned, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator had no power to resist. Qi Yuan merely sighed. "It's actually nothing special. I know an older sister who is also at Foundation Establishment, and she's far more formidable than me." Qi Yuan was referring to Iceberg Overlord Woman. Now she was a genuine big shot. Hearing Qi Yuan's words, Old Man Liu felt utterly bewildered. *If this is nothing special?* *Then what does that make every Foundation Establishment cultivator in Great Shang, including the Great Shang Ten Paragons? Dogshit?* His thoughts scrambled, unsure how to even describe Qi Yuan. He continued his flattery: "Those whom Fellow Daoist befriends must all be peerless paragons." Having dispatched the Foundation Establishment cultivators, they briefly looted the spoils. Old Man Liu said, "With their deaths, the cultivators deeper inside will certainly notice. We must hurry in and give them no time to prepare." The two hastened deeper into the cave. Suddenly, Old Man Liu halted his steps, gazing at the cages ahead with a look of pity. "Old Demon Black Chicken truly deserves to die!" In the cages ahead, the left side held over a hundred naked young women, while the right side held over a hundred naked young men. Confined there, their eyes were blank and hollow, bearing the marks of unimaginable horrors. Even the arrival of Qi Yuan and Old Man Liu failed to draw their attention. A single glance showed they had completely lost all hope in life. Qi Yuan's expression turned inscrutable. Right then, Old Man Liu slapped his forehead as realization struck, a trace of dread flashing in his eyes. "Not good! This cave is guarded by Old Demon Black Chicken's disciple, True Person Zuyuan! "True Person Zuyuan takes both men and women; imprisoning mortal youths here is definitely his doing! "He is a late Origin Core cultivator and Old Demon Black Chicken's most cherished disciple, possessing profound Dao arts and terrifying combat prowess!" A feeling of impending doom gripped Old Man Liu's heart. With True Person Zuyuan holding this cave, they had to leave immediately. "Fellow Daoist, we must run, quickly!" At a time like this, survival was paramount. Unless a Divine Infant old monster intervened, True Person Zuyuan was practically invincible. "Heh, you have some eyes, but unfortunately, it's too late." A contemptuous voice rang out as True Person Zuyuan appeared, robed in emerald green, looking rather like a transcendent immortal. In the two cages, the youths' previously lifeless eyes instantly filled with sheer terror. They trembled violently, as if beholding an earthly demon. Old Man Liu's expression grew exceedingly grim as he stared at True Person Zuyuan. Escape... was impossible. Gritting his teeth, he said to Qi Yuan, "I'll hold him off, you run first! "My name is Liu Guan, a cultivator from Bloodless City." This way, at least one of them might survive. If he fled alone, True Person Zuyuan would never let him get away. A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like Qi Yuan could never hold True Person Zuyuan back. Therefore, before facing death, he gave his name in the hope that if Qi Yuan escaped, the young man would repay this favor by looking after his clan. As for exposing his identity... Once he was dead, True Person Zuyuan would find out who he was anyway. Clenching his teeth, Liu Guan charged toward True Person Zuyuan as if marching toward martyrdom. True Person Zuyuan wore a sneer of disdain. Holding nothing back, he directly manifested his Golden Core. With an unexpected intrusion underway, he needed to end this swiftly. Seeing this, Qi Yuan grew anxious. "Old Liu, that's not cool! You're stealing my kill!" True Monarch Kumu had explicitly told him to slay an Origin Core cultivator. True Person Zuyuan was the only one in this cave right now; he certainly couldn't let Liu Guan have him. He drew his kitchen cleaver. "Die!" Qi Yuan's speed far outstripped Liu Guan's. Before Liu Guan could even register Qi Yuan's shout, Qi Yuan's figure had already materialized right next to True Person Zuyuan. Liu Guan's eyes widened in sheer disbelief. *How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator be this fast?!* However, upon seeing True Person Zuyuan's summoned Golden Core, he cried out in alarm, "Don't touch the Golden Core!" The greatest distinction between an Origin Core cultivator and a Foundation Establishment cultivator was the Golden Core. A Golden Core was built upon a Golden Core spirit object as its foundation, coalescing boundless dharmic power into physical form. A Foundation Establishment cultivator's power within the dantian was merely a pool of liquid. A Golden Core, by contrast, was solid power anchored to the spirit object. Being indestructible was merely the least significant of its unique traits. "Hmph, a mere Foundation Establishment ant dares breach the Six Demons Caves? You court death!" The massive Golden Core blazed with dense core radiance. Every ray was concentrated dharmic power. A single wisp was enough to burn a Foundation Establishment cultivator to cinders. Yet the kitchen cleaver in Qi Yuan's hand showed no fear toward the radiance, hacking straight into True Person Zuyuan's Golden Core. "The quality of your Golden Core is pretty shoddy—it can't even take a single strike from my cleaver!" Qi Yuan sneered lightly. A crack suddenly spread across the supposedly indestructible Golden Core. With a sharp *crack*, the Golden Core shattered. Majestic spiritual energy poured down like rain. True Person Zuyuan clutched his chest, eyes wide with horror. "H-How..." The Golden Core he had forged through painstaking hardship had been cleaved apart by a kitchen knife? And by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, no less! "*Pfft!*" True Person Zuyuan coughed up a mouthful of blood. A flash of blade light followed, cutting him dead on the spot. Holding the cleaver, Qi Yuan blew gently across the sharp edge. The blood instantly rolled off the blade. Not far away, Old Man Liu Guan stood completely dumbfounded. What had he just witnessed? A kitchen cleaver had shattered a Golden Core? This was a fucking Foundation Establishment cultivator?! The Great Shang Ten Paragons weren't even worthy of carrying his shoes! This was an absolute peerless prodigy! He swallowed hard, his heart reeling with immense shock and a surge of excitement. His gamble had paid off. He walked toward Qi Yuan, his expression brimming with even greater deference. Yet an abrupt upheaval occurred. A deafening roar echoed from all directions. "You want my Divine Infant, Old Demon Black Chicken's soul?! In your dreams!" Following that roar came a colossal detonation. Liu Guan felt an unspeakable sonic blast reverberate deep within his divine soul. His face turned paper-white, and he collapsed straight to the ground. Meanwhile, Qi Yuan, cleaver in hand, glared around in fury: "Who the fuck ripped such a loud fart?!" Just now, he had heard a colossal fart sound. Unfortunately, no one answered him. He looked over and saw Liu Guan sprawled on the ground, seemingly knocked out cold. "No way, knocked out cold by a fart?" ... Deep within the Six Demons Caves. The nine Divine Infant masters were in tattered clothes, none looking to be in good shape. The old man leaning on the cane had a gaping hole in his chest, blood pouring forth incessantly. "Old Demon Black Chicken truly lived up to his name. Even on the verge of death, his counterattack managed to severely injure three of us!" "If not for Fellow Daoist holding the line when that final divine soul attack fell upon us, at least four of us would have perished here today." The hunchbacked crone looked toward True Monarch Kumu, astonishment in her eyes. For the strength of this cultivator's divine soul had remarkably reached the late Divine Infant realm. Among the nine present, his soul alone was even stronger than Old Demon Black Chicken's. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist!" "Thank you, Fellow Daoist!" The others present expressed their gratitude to True Monarch Kumu one after another. True Monarch Kumu's expression remained impassive. "Let us rest and recover here for a moment before departing." Hearing this, the others nodded. They could not split up. Otherwise, the injured might well be assassinated in secret by one of the others. They did not trust one another at all. "Old Demon Black Chicken is finally eliminated. Our Great Shang cultivation world can finally welcome a century of peace," an old man sighed with immense emotion. The grand cultivators present were filled with mixed feelings. This battle had not only eradicated Old Demon Black Chicken, but all the treasures stored within his cave abode now belonged to them as well. Meanwhile, Qi Yuan glanced at Old Man Liu, seeing that he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon. He suddenly turned around. "This fart is ridiculous! Knocking a living person unconscious was one thing, but it even blew a dead man back to life!" He looked over to see that True Person Zuyuan, whom he had previously slain, had actually come back to life.