Chapter 142: A Catastrophic Explosion

“Yes, yes, yes! Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Chen.” Wang Tianji eagerly stepped forward first to receive his Foundation Establishment Pill, unable to suppress the excitement on his face.

After enduring for so many years, he finally saw hope for reaching Foundation Establishment.

“The pills turned out high-grade, resulting in only one per batch,” Chen Luo explained as he stood up. “If I had prioritized quantity, more could have been produced, but the quality would have suffered. Considering your circumstances, I focused on perfection and created just three.”

“However, these Foundation Establishment Pills have some flaws.”

In reality, the number of pills produced depended on the balance of medicinal properties. If there was excess material, additional pills might form, but with precise proportions, only one pill naturally resulted. The Mind-Focusing Grass collected by these three differed from what Chen Luo obtained; apart from its basic efficacy, it contained a faint trace of malevolent qi. Even the spirit flame could not eliminate this subtle impurity.

Now, it had seamlessly integrated into the pills.

On the surface, they appeared identical to ordinary Foundation Establishment Pills. However, internally, these pills were entirely different from those Chen Luo previously refined, making their effects uncertain.

Chen Luo couldn’t provide a detailed explanation and simply offered a vague warning.

“No worries! A high-grade pill is sufficient,” Wang Tianji responded while holding the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Suddenly, he turned to Chen Luo and asked, “Fellow Daoist Chen, would you mind if I attempt my breakthrough here?”

Beside them, Lu Zhaotian and the dried-up old ghost were taken aback, not expecting Wang Tianji’s haste.

“Please feel free; there’s plenty of space here.”

Seeing their reaction, Chen Luo decided against further persuasion. He didn’t share a deep bond with Wang Tianji. Moreover, witnessing his breakthrough could help Chen Luo gather insights on Foundation Establishment, as well as observe the effects of ‘Demonic Possession’—whether it can be resolved during this stage. With the ‘Evil Curse’ affecting him, gathering such experiences was crucial.

“All right, then I won’t hesitate.”

Wang Tianji promptly swallowed the freshly refined medicinal pill without delay. He sat down cross-legged, beginning the process of refining and surmounting the barrier. This unguarded action left the others momentarily stunned.

Both the dried-up old ghost and Lu Zhaotian sensed something amiss.

Regardless of how one viewed Wang Tianji, he never seemed rash. Why, after obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill, did he abandon even basic caution?

As Wang Tianji began his breakthrough attempt, all three observers’ attention became fully focused on him.

“Once the evil fiend enters the soul, even deities cannot save,” echoed the mummified brain’s assessment in Chen Luo’s mind.

Chen Luo observed Wang Tianji and attempted to sense his condition. However, to his perception, Wang Tianji seemed perfectly fine, with no apparent issues. It was unclear how the mummified brain detected anything amiss.

With the digestion of the Foundation Establishment Pill, Wang Tianji’s internal spiritual energy rapidly intensified.

The hundred little spiritual energy snakes swiftly came alive, spreading layers of spiritual power outward as Wang Tianji vigorously circulated his cultivation technique. Invisible forces converged within him, starting to form his Dao Foundation. The process appeared tense, causing pain evident on Wang Tianji’s face. His spiritual energy grew chaotic, hinting at a potential failure for his breakthrough.

Fortunately, the power of the Foundation Establishment Pill protected his vital organs, pulling him back just as he neared losing control.

Next came the burning of blood and qi.

At sixty-nine years old, Wang Tianji naturally had insufficient blood and qi reserves. After completing one circulation cycle, his body quickly withered, his vitality diminishing, and age spots emerged on his face.

This was a sign that with insufficient blood qi, his life force began to deplete.

“Break through!”

Wang Tianji, well-prepared, swiftly reached into his bag of holding and retrieved several Blood and Qi Pills. As he consumed them, their potency rapidly dispersed throughout his body. The external power gathered momentum, revitalizing the flow of his internal spiritual energy.

Once, twice…

By the tenth cycle, Wang Tianji’s aura dramatically shifted. The scattered spiritual energy of the Qi Refinement stage coalesced at a single point, converging upon his Dao Foundation to reshape his being. A pressure surpassing the Qi Refinement stage radiated from him.

“Hahaha! At nine years old, I embarked on the path; sixty arduous years of cultivating the immortal way, and now, finally, I have shattered the barriers, establishing my Dao Foundation!” Wang Tianji abruptly opened his eyes.

With a flash, he appeared outside, then soared into the air, suspended amidst laughter echoing loudly.

In the instant of Foundation Establishment, the little spiritual energy snakes characteristic of the Qi Refinement stage condensed into one point, merging with his Dao Foundation to reforge his body. The surge of Foundation Establishment power instantly swept across the entirety of Woodmount City.

Zhu Jie, who had been handling affairs at the Loose Cultivators Union, felt her expression change, dropping everything as she swiftly emerged outdoors.

“Someone has achieved Foundation Establishment?”

As she gazed towards Chen Luo’s little courtyard, a hint of shock flickered in her eyes.

She never expected someone to achieve Foundation Establishment in Woodmount City, especially within Chen Luo’s courtyard. The implications were immediately clear to her.

Pill Master Chen could concoct Foundation Establishment Pills!

Realizing this, Zhu Jie became immensely excited.

It was truly a case of ‘seeking high and low only to find it effortlessly.’ An alchemist capable of creating Foundation Establishment Pills would be highly sought after anywhere, often unattainable despite diligent efforts. Zhu Jie herself was at the Peak Qi Refinement Realm, although not yet reaching the thirteenth layer, but already contemplating her future Foundation Establishment. Chen Luo’s presence undoubtedly pointed her in a promising direction.

“I just wonder if this newly-ascended Foundation Establishment senior is approachable.”

Initially intending to visit Chen Luo’s courtyard, Zhu Jie forcibly restrained herself. With an unfamiliar Foundation Stage cultivator, caution could never be too great.

Inside the courtyard,

Wang Tianji, after reveling briefly in his newfound power, began to suppress his aura, preparing to descend from the sky. However, before he could move, the recently formed Dao Foundation inside him suddenly started to destabilize.

“Hm?”

Wang Tianji’s expression suddenly shifted; his left side contorted, and he emitted a bizarre cackle. Strikingly, despite being from the same person, the voice sounded entirely different.

“Heh heh”

This sight caused the expressions of all three observers below to change dramatically, especially the dried-up old ghost who knew the reason behind it. His entire face paled, as he never expected even the newly ascended Wang Tianji to be unable to resist the ‘evil fiend’.

“Who are you?”

In mid-air, Wang Tianji seethed with rage, desperately trying to regain control of his body. However, oddly enough, no matter how hard he struggled, his body remained unresponsive, instead gradually swelling under the influence of the unseen force.

“My magical power…”

“I won’t spare…”

The expression on Wang Tianji’s right side slowly transformed from anger to fear, until finally…

Boom!

The recently ascended ‘new Foundation Establishment cultivator’ exploded instantly, sending a shower of blood raining down and staining the courtyard vegetation red.

Dead?

Lu Zhaotian and the dried-up old ghost jolted, simultaneously coming back to their senses.

In an instant, Wang Tianji, who had been so full of ambition, was gone. As a cultivator at the Thirteenth Layer of Qi Refinement and Perfection, he was no weakling even among solo practitioners.

“Is this what they call an evil fiend?” The dried-up old ghost asked with a raspy voice.

“What evil fiend?”

Lu Zhaotian seized upon the key term, his attention now fully focused. He desperately wanted to understand what had happened; how could Wang Tianji suddenly die when he seemed perfectly fine just moments ago? Especially during his greatest achievement, Foundation Establishment, without any apparent enemy, only to self-destruct in such a bizarre manner.

“I’m not entirely sure, but this entity definitely followed him from Guo Mountain County.” Chen Luo shook his head, acknowledging his limited knowledge about evil fiends.

Even knowing its name was thanks to the mummified brain. Chen Luo’s understanding of this brain, acquired from the Yue Kingdom’s Great Mausoleum, grew increasingly deeper, realizing now that Core Formation might have been an underestimate.

“Guo Mountain County?” Lu Zhaotian quickly grasped the source of the problem.

The dried-up old ghost did not withhold information and shared everything he knew.

After hearing the explanation, Lu Zhaotian’s eyes turned red with anger.

After all his efforts, he never anticipated such an outcome. How could he accept this fate?!

“The Mind-Focusing Grass you brought also has issues; those two Foundation Establishment Pills should not be consumed.” Chen Luo had closely observed Wang Tianji’s entire breakthrough process and sensed the allure the pills held over him.

Without consuming the Foundation Establishment Pill, Wang Tianji would have at least three more months to live.

However, taking the pill instantly burned through that remaining lifespan, granting him a fleeting moment of transcendence before… Boom!

“I won’t die! A mere evil fiend shall not hinder me!” Lu Zhaotian’s eyes turned bloodshot as thoughts raced through his mind, seemingly recalling something crucial. He swiftly grabbed the Foundation Establishment Pill meant for him, transformed into a streak of light, and flew away without even bidding farewell.

“If I do perish…” The dried-up old ghost looked at Chen Luo and suddenly spoke, his expression akin to someone making final arrangements.

“You’re not much better off than me,” Chen Luo interrupted, revealing the curse-inflicted marks on his body. As soon as these signs appeared, the dried-up old ghost’s words trailed off.

Although Chen Luo didn’t know what this mark entailed, it was clearly a significant issue. It seemed that neither party had emerged unscathed from their encounter in Guo Mountain County.

“I’m taking the medicinal pill; if I reach my final moments, at least I’ll die attempting to achieve the Foundation Establishment Realm.”

The dried-up old ghost picked up the pill, placed it in his bag of holding, and swiftly flew away.

This time, he had no intention of returning to the Mass Grave Mound. There were still many tasks left undone, and his enemies remained alive.

In no time, the once bustling courtyard became empty again, leaving only Chen Luo behind.

Truthfully, Chen Luo did not want to hear the rest of the dried-up old ghost’s words. Such matters were always troublesome; whether intervening or ignoring them would lead to complications. The best course of action was to prevent him from revealing more. Perhaps by suppressing this last breath of resentment, the dried-up old ghost could endure through this ordeal.

Surveying the bloodstained ground, Chen Luo sighed.

With a wave of his hand, spiritual energy flowed forth, gathering all the dust and blood mist within the courtyard towards his palm, coalescing it into a sphere.

Fwoosh!

A burst of spirit flame erupted from his hand, incinerating the sphere into black ash.

Once done, Chen Luo dug a hole in a corner of the yard and buried Wang Tianji’s ‘ashes.’

Consider it a proper resolution.

With Wang Tianji’s incident, Chen Luo gained a deeper understanding of the ‘evil curse’ within him. Although different from being possessed by an evil fiend, it would undoubtedly affect his breakthrough.

“Has that Foundation Establishment senior left?”

As soon as Chen Luo finished burying the remains, Zhu Jie’s cautious voice echoed outside the door.

“Yes, they’re gone.”

Chen Luo glanced at the freshly filled soil in the corner.

In a way, he was right.

Hearing Chen Luo’s response, Zhu Jie entered the room. To the Loose Cultivators Union, Foundation Establishment cultivators were considered top-tier figures; even their alliance leader was at that realm.

“Weren’t you just given a batch of medicinal pills two days ago?” Chen Luo casually asked upon seeing Zhu Jie enter.

“It’s not about the pills. There’s something I wanted to ask you,” Zhu Jie hesitated before speaking up.

“Can you refine a Foundation Establishment Pill?”

“I can.”

Chen Luo did not hide this fact, as he had deepened his cooperation with Zhu Jie, often purchasing various items through her.

“Once I gather the necessary materials, could you help me refine one then?” Zhu Jie’s spirits lifted immediately, and she promptly requested.

“At market price, no problem.”

Chen Luo agreed without hesitation, as refining a Foundation Establishment Pill posed little difficulty for him now. Overjoyed by Chen Luo’s consent, Zhu Jie suddenly remembered something else and added:

“Oh, there’s some good news for you. The Three Sects Competition has concluded, and the leader of your Divine Lake Immortal Sect has emerged from seclusion.”