Breakthrough

"Only this array could give that monster pause... Junior truly had nowhere else to take refuge." Watching Li Xuanfeng's expression, the youth offered a subtle compliment before untying a storage bag from his waist and presenting it with both hands. "This was taken from that monster's cave dwelling. Junior is willing to hand it all over to Senior!" Li Xuanfeng cast a glance at it. Who knew what arrangements Yuansu might have placed inside? He made no move to open it, merely waving a hand. "Keep it. What you took is yours." Zhong Qian looked at him in disbelief. Seeing his cold, severe countenance and domineering, fearsome attire, the youth felt he had grasped something of Li Xuanfeng's nature. He bowed respectfully. "Junior obeys!" He paused in slight embarrassment, dropping his voice very low. "Only... Junior hopes he might remain on the island for a short time... Leaving now, I fear I would only fall prey to that monster..." Having said that, Zhong Qian immediately added, "Junior will not stay for free. Whatever losses this monster has caused... Junior is willing to compensate for them in full..." "No need." Li Xuanfeng's blunt response caused the youth's face to pale, but he then added casually, "Once I leave the island and shoot it dead, you may go on your way." "What?!" Zhong Qian was utterly shaken. He stared at him in astonishment, taking in the menacing dark-gold armor, the calm, razor-sharp eyes, and the exaggerated longbow resembling a pair of eagle wings slung across his back. He muttered inwardly, 'Which slaughterous star from the demonic sects is this... so domineering...' *** Zongquan Island. In recent years, large-scale construction had taken place on Zongquan Island, resulting in many new halls and grand formations, along with several more cultivators. Thanks to the resources and legacies Li Yuanjiao had left behind before entering seclusion, Zongquan Island had finally established a solid foundation and begun to thrive. High upon the mountain at the island's center, the stone doors remained tightly shut while springs chimed softly. At sunrise, pale-green misty rain would surge up from the peak and drift gently down—a phenomenon born of Foundation Establishment seclusion. The islanders had gradually come to call this peak Mount Zhaowu. After all, only with a Foundation Establishment cultivator watching over them could the island's inhabitants count as true residents rather than passing snacks for monsters. Looking up at dawn each day to see that pale-green misty rain brought peace of mind to young and old alike. Time slipped away unnoticed in the mountains. Li Yuanjiao had been in seclusion for three years. The Vast Sea within his qi ocean had grown increasingly dense, surging upward to condense into two bared-claw water jiao that soared and coiled through the expanse. "Mid Foundation Establishment... achieved." Rarely had he been able to settle down and cultivate in peace; exhaling a breath, he felt completely refreshed. Given Li Yuanjiao's temperament, after breaking through to Foundation Establishment he ought to have sought a blessed land to cultivate in seclusion for a decade or two, but his current circumstances left no room for such indulgence. The breakthrough itself had not been arduous. Li Yuanjiao was, after all, a prodigy who had attained Foundation Establishment at forty. The Vast Sea—or rather the Dragon King of Jing River—already cultivated rapidly in the Eastern Sea, so advancing to mid Foundation Establishment was a natural progression. 'Mid Foundation Establishment... My dharmic powers have doubled once more, and I can now summon two water jiao at the same time...' Li Yuanjiao examined his condition and felt reasonably satisfied. In the end, the River Unity Qi Formula was merely a third-rank cultivation technique. During Qi Refinement, it provided an edge over loose cultivators, but after reaching Foundation Establishment, those he encountered were disciples of immortal sects, against whom it paled considerably. In Jiangnan, sect disciples typically practiced fourth-rank techniques, while certain direct scions and descendants of Violet Palace masters practiced fifth- or even sixth-rank ones. Li Yuanjiao's mere third-rank technique had already decreed the moment he reached Foundation Establishment that the subtleties of his immortal foundation would be somewhat inferior. Li Yuanjiao did not dwell on it. He rose and emerged from his cave dwelling. Zong Yan and the others were already waiting before the gate; as soon as the mountain's phenomenon vanished, Zong Yan knew Li Yuanjiao had exited seclusion and stood respectfully outside. Beside him stood only a monk with narrow eyes and a long face, dressed in plain robes. His slightly pale lips parted. "Congratulations to Senior!" Li Yuanjiao nodded slightly. Seeing that Kongheng also seemed to have made progress, he offered congratulations in return, then rode the wind outside, where everything was bustling and vibrant. Li Yuanjiao glanced around, yet he did not see a single temple or stone statue. He looked at Kongheng beside him, a hint of perplexity in his expression, and said softly, "It is quite an immortal scene." Having left the island unattended for several years with a Buddhist Master like Kongheng overseeing it, he had fully prepared himself to find temples scattered everywhere upon emerging. This was somewhat unexpected. Discerning his thoughts, Zong Yan lowered his voice: "Master Kongheng does not build temples... We tried persuading him... even if just to cast a golden statue to receive veneration..." Over the years, Kongheng had treated the sick and saved lives across the island, earning deep reverence. The islanders had vied to cast a golden statue and build a temple for him, but he had refused every offer. Seeing master and servant discussing the matter, he chanted softly: "Casting massive gilded statues is using grand and terrifying forms to intimidate the common people; erecting vast temples is using burning incense and delusions to bewitch the populace. This, our Liao River does not do." Lost in thought, Li Yuanjiao glanced at him and asked, "If so, how does Master pass down your lineage?" Kongheng narrowed his eyes slightly. His years of good deeds and cultivation on the island seemed to have further deepened his attainments. Pressing his palms together, he said softly, "The World-Honored One's Dharma requires no transmission, no form, and no sutras. Observe me with wisdom, and one attains the lineage of our Liao River. We of the Liao River do not worship others; we cultivate our own nature." Zong Yan stroked his beard in thought as he listened, then said in a low voice, "Master... No wonder the Liao River lineage has fallen out of favor... In this day and age... everyone seeks profound arts that yield daily progress. The Liao River lineage... sigh!" Zong Yan smiled wryly. He had an adopted son who admired Kongheng and wished to become his disciple, which was why he had inquired with Kongheng several times. Shaking his head, he said, "The Liao River lineage is simply too difficult... I hear practitioners of the Seven Manifestations gain a measure of cultivation just by chanting the Maha title once... whereas Liao River requires experiencing every facet of the world just to barely step through the door. How can they compare..." Kongheng said nothing, merely lowering his gaze with a smile. Li Yuanjiao was reminded of the Wang clan's sword immortals in the north, having heard their lineage was just as arduous. Putting that aside, he asked, "Did something happen? Why is the sky so gloomy... stretching across ten thousand li?" Li Yuanjiao gazed into the distance; dark clouds stretched endlessly. Zong Yan merely shook his head and replied, "How could people like us be qualified to know such things...? Zongquan Island is remote, and we rarely visit the markets, so we have no way of learning the news." Li Yuanjiao released his spiritual sense, two azure water jiao swirling beneath his feet. Sensing carefully, he felt the circulation of his immortal foundation was not quite as smooth and swift as it had been years ago. 'In the past, cultivating in the Eastern Sea was over five percent faster than in Jiangnan, but now it is less than five percent...' He rose on the wind, watching the lightning flash among the clouds. Beside him, Zong Yan continued: "That weed viper, Huiyao, came by half a year ago, saying he wanted to inquire about news. We told him My Lord was in seclusion and sent him away." "A cultivator from outside also came a few days ago... claiming to be from inland... and delivered a letter." He retrieved a letter from his sleeve. Li Yuanjiao nodded and took it. That monster had accepted his gifts and felt his threats, yet still found time to wander about. Li Yuanjiao unsealed the letter with a secret art and read it closely.