txolops Chapter 17 Family Cultivators, Foundation Establishment Pill
Chapter 17 Family Cultivators, Foundation Establishment Pill
Legend has it that the Heavenly Mist Platform was built by seven powerful cultivators who leveled the top of Heavenly Mist Mountain, something Zhang Tie initially didn't quite believe.
But now, looking at the smooth, mirror-like ground, I'm about 70-80% convinced.
Perhaps only a Core Formation cultivator or even a Nascent Soul cultivator could possess such power!
Zhang Tie and Han Li were not the first to arrive; in fact, they arrived quite late.
At this moment, a huge crowd had gathered in the central square of Tianwutai, several times more than the number of people they had met at the Tainan Small Meeting.
Zhang Tie was shocked by the sea of people before him.
Nearly ten thousand Qi Refining stage cultivators—these are not ordinary people, but Qi Refining stage cultivators!
"There are so many people!" Han Li's voice was also a little tense.
Zhang Tie glanced at the areas shrouded in restrictions on both sides; those must be the arenas of the seven factions. He took a deep breath: "Let's go. Let's find a place to wait for the tournament to begin!"
The two walked into the square.
In the square, many cultivators sat cross-legged in a corner, while others gathered together and talked in hushed tones. These people had different accents, and some even came from neighboring small countries to participate in the conference!
Zhang Tie's eyes swept around, and he was secretly alarmed.
At least 10% of them were at the 12th level of Qi Refining, many of whom had reached perfection. 50% were at the late stage of Qi Refining, and the rest, those at the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, were probably just here to broaden their horizons.
The two found an open space in a corner of the square and sat down cross-legged.
People around him were chatting, and Zhang Tie pricked up his ears to listen.
"I've heard that the competition for this conference is even fiercer, with cultivators from the Yuanwu Kingdom even coming to participate. Our chances are slim!"
"The Hidden Moon Sect is still the same as always. I heard they only accept those with outstanding appearances; anyone who's ugly is eliminated in the first round. Fellow Daoist, you should think carefully!"
What do you mean by that?!
"Fellow Daoists, please refrain from your verbal sparring. The situation at this gathering is dire. Look at those groups over there; they are all disciples of cultivation families from the Yue Kingdom..."
"What? What are they doing here?! Doesn't that mean there are fewer spots for us independent cultivators?!"
Zhang Tie followed without changing his expression.
On the east side of the platform, there was an area where more than ten cultivators stood. They were dressed in uniform blue robes with the same longsword symbol embroidered on their cuffs. Their cultivation levels were generally above the tenth level of Qi Refining, with most at the eleventh or twelfth level. Compared to the mixed quality of the rogue cultivators, their group was quite formidable.
But what distinguishes them from rogue cultivators is not their cultivation level, but their demeanor and eyes.
His condescending, arrogant demeanor made him look at the surrounding rogue cultivators as if they were a group of country bumpkins.
"Are they cultivators from a cultivation family?" Han Li asked in a low voice.
Zhang Tie nodded.
I had heard before at the Tai Nan Small Meeting that many cultivation families under the Seven Sects would send people to attend this meeting, but I didn't expect that the rumor was actually true.
The disciples of these cultivation families almost never lack resources such as cultivation techniques, elixirs, and magical artifacts from the moment they begin their cultivation, making them far superior to rootless and adrift cultivators.
These cultivation families have sent people here this time, clearly to grab a spot!
"They're from the Golden Sword Ye family, an affiliated family of Tianque Fortress! And the Ye family patriarch is a pseudo-core cultivator!" A rogue cultivator nearby recognized the group of more than a dozen people and whispered to his companion.
"I heard that the Ye family sent five disciples at the twelfth level of Qi Refining this time. The one leading them has been at the Great Perfection realm for many years and also possesses a top-tier magic weapon!"
"A top-tier magical artifact?" His companion gasped.
Very few rogue cultivators possess high-grade magic weapons; most use mid-grade or even low-grade magic weapons. With such unequal magic weapons, how can they fight?
"The fact that these disciples from cultivation families are vying for the spots is tacitly approved by the seven sects. For the seven sects, it doesn't matter who gets the Foundation Establishment Pill; it's better to give it to a more loyal affiliated family. Rogue cultivators are just there as decorations!"
Zhang Tie frowned slightly upon hearing this and turned to look in another direction.
Sure enough, there were similar small groups of cultivators scattered throughout the platform, totaling at least two or three hundred people!
It's likely that family cultivators will occupy half of the seventy spots in this Ascension Ceremony!
It's all because of the Foundation Establishment Pill that people are so moved!
Nowadays, the resources of spiritual herbs in Tiannan are scarce. If a Qi Refining cultivator wants to establish a foundation, except for those with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, 99% of them must take Foundation Establishment Pills, otherwise the success rate is pitifully low.
In Yue Kingdom, the Foundation Establishment Pills are basically controlled by the Seven Sects, and the raw materials for refining the Foundation Establishment Pills are also monopolized, making it almost impossible for independent cultivators to obtain them.
The Ascension Tournament is the only way for independent cultivators to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills. There are seventy winning spots, and each spot is linked to a Foundation Establishment Pill, which is why the Ascension Tournament can attract so many independent cultivators!
"I'm afraid resources within that Crimson Forbidden Land are becoming increasingly scarce. Foundation Establishment Pills have become a hot commodity. No wonder these family cultivators are willing to risk their reputation to snatch them from rogue cultivators! They don't lack cultivation techniques or magic weapons, what they lack are Foundation Establishment Pills!" Zhang Tie thought to himself.
However, for Zhang Tie, the Foundation Establishment Pill was not a necessity.
Besides being able to deduce cultivation techniques, the Book of Cause and Effect also has the function of breaking through bottlenecks. It only requires consuming cause and effect points to allow one to enter the Foundation Establishment stage. However, it requires a lot of cause and effect points, a full three thousand points!
Although he had the Book of Cause and Effect as a backup plan, Zhang Tie naturally wouldn't let go of the opportunity to get a Foundation Establishment Pill for free.
......
Ten days later, more and more rogue cultivators gathered on the Heavenly Mist Platform. Fortunately, the Heavenly Mist Platform was large enough to accommodate so many cultivators.
However, over the past ten days, the atmosphere between independent cultivators and clan cultivators on the platform has become increasingly tense.
The clan cultivators occupied the best spots on the platform, and some rogue cultivators who got close were directly injured by them, but the rogue cultivators could only endure it.
"Why are these guys allowed to disregard the rules and hurt people?" a young rogue cultivator said indignantly.
"Because they are family cultivators, with Foundation Establishment cultivators and even Core Formation cultivators in their clan, and seven sects backing them up. In this world, might makes right!" The older cultivator next to him sighed. That's how it is for rogue cultivators.
Some young, independent cultivators clenched their fists, but they were powerless to do anything about it.
Zhang Tie witnessed all of this, his face expressionless.
The world of cultivation is all about big fish eating small fish. As long as you have big enough fists and are powerful enough, even your farts will be praised by a bunch of people.
Han Li, standing beside him, once again witnessed the true nature of the cultivation world and was secretly alarmed.
Early the next morning, several streaks of light flew across the sky.
The streak of light approached rapidly, reaching the sky above the Heavenly Mist Platform in the blink of an eye. As the light dissipated, it revealed the figures of more than a dozen cultivators, who stood on spirit swords or flying magical artifacts, their auras refined.
The people from the seven factions have arrived?!
The leader was a middle-aged cultivator with a kind face, but his eyes were unusually sharp. Behind him were more than a dozen cultivators dressed in different clothes, who were obviously representing the seven major sects!
The more than 10,000 cultivators on the Heavenly Mist Platform fell silent instantly, their eyes burning with anticipation as they watched this scene.
Foundation Establishment cultivators! Only the seven sects can send out so many Foundation Establishment cultivators at once.
The aura of Foundation Establishment cultivators spread out. Although they did not release their spiritual pressure, the aura that they unintentionally leaked had a natural suppressive effect on Qi Refining cultivators.
That sense of oppression made it hard to breathe.
"This is the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator..." Zhang Tie took a deep breath and steadied his mind.
The difference between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining is much greater than he imagined!