Chapter One Hundred: Mid Foundation Establishment

Seeing that Master Changchun seemed intent on testing his cultivation progress, Ye Yun immediately reached out and gathered a wisp of primordial energy from the world. In an instant, he transformed it into Changchun True Qi. Sensing the rich and pure energy condensed in Ye Yun’s palm, Master Changchun’s heart leapt with joy. He thought to himself, “Who would have thought that the disciple I happened to pick up would have such remarkable talent?”

Although the Changchun Daoist Scripture was incomplete, it was nonetheless exquisitely profound and notoriously difficult to enter. Yet Ye Yun, in such a short span of time, had already comprehended and cultivated the method to the second level. This genuinely surprised Master Changchun.

“I only took him as a disciple on a whim,” he mused. “No wonder the legendary Grand Ancestor took notice of him. Since his talent is so extraordinary, I must teach him well.”

While reflecting thus, a sudden flare of blazing fire erupted from Ye Yun’s palm. The Changchun True Qi rapidly dissolved under the searing flames, which only grew in intensity. Master Changchun’s eyes shone as he stroked his white beard. “Indeed, it is the method of cultivating fire by borrowing the strength of wood! Not bad, not bad. Your talent and comprehension are truly impressive. Mastering cultivation techniques based on the mutual generation and overcoming of the five elements is beyond the reach of ordinary people.”

Ye Yun simply smiled and dispersed the condensed energy in his hand.

Seeing the smile on Ye Yun’s face, Master Changchun immediately felt a pang of displeasure. By nature, he was a moody and eccentric man, prone to exaggerated behavior. He thought to himself, “I am, after all, his master. I can’t let the boy become too smug, or how would I maintain my authority? I need to put him in his place!”

“But I am a cultivator at the Golden Core stage. If I suppress Ye Yun with sheer strength, he will only be resentful. I must strike at what he’s most proud of—his talent and comprehension—so he recognizes his own shortcomings and the gap between us. Only then will he truly respect my words.”

With these thoughts in mind, a meaningful smile appeared on Master Changchun’s face.

“Come with me, boy,” he said.

Master Changchun led Ye Yun out of the inn and into the wilderness outside the city. On a barren mountain, he spoke: “Back then, I personally witnessed you, with only early Foundation Establishment cultivation, slay both a peak Foundation Establishment and a late Foundation Establishment opponent.”

His tone became solemn. “Killing more advanced foes does prove your talent and aptitude. But you must not become arrogant or complacent. Remember, the world is full of extraordinary individuals—anyone who walks the path of cultivation has their own means.”

“You are right, Master,” Ye Yun replied with a nod.

“So, in my view, you need more tempering. If you continue south from Luzhou City, you’ll reach a primeval forest known as the Wildlands. It is a rare place for trials and training. You should try your strength there,” Master Changchun instructed.

“The Wildlands?” Ye Yun had never heard the name before.

“Indeed. With your early Foundation Establishment cultivation, you ordinarily wouldn’t be qualified to train there. However, your strength rivals that of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, so you should be able to gain a foothold on the outskirts of the Wildlands,” Master Changchun said with a smile.

Seeing Ye Yun’s interest, Master Changchun flipped his hand and produced a jade slip. “This contains the route to the Wildlands, as well as a map of its outskirts.”

“In addition, as the sect leader’s disciple, you must carry a token. This Skywind Token of mine is now yours.” He unfastened a blue-glowing token from his waist and handed it over.

The Skywind Token was a special artifact, forged from wind-attuned materials. Wearing it amplified the power of wind-based spells. With it, techniques such as Wind Riding would be swifter, and Wind Blade would strike with greater force than before.

“With this Skywind Token, I am now equipped with nothing but the finest treasures,” Ye Yun thought with delight. With the Spirit Marrow, the Relic, and mastery of the Wood and Fire Daos to hasten his cultivation, the Golden Bell and three flying swords for combat, the Crimson Flame Demon Body, the Ninefold Mystic Arts, the Aurora Sword Technique—so many secret powers and arts—he was confident he could face any cultivator below the Golden Core stage.

After a few more words of advice, Master Changchun vanished without a trace, as elusive as a legendary recluse, revealing only the dragon’s head but never its tail.

Ye Yun followed the route described in the jade slip and set out for the Wildlands.

Once he had gone far, Master Changchun’s figure reappeared, gazing at his disciple’s departing back. Stroking his white beard, he chuckled, “The Wildlands are somewhat perilous after all. It would be best if I protect him in secret. It would be a real pity to lose such a prodigy.”

Outside the cities where cultivators and mortals dwelled, the boundless world was mostly vast mountains and ancient forests, where great beasts lurked with fearsome claws and fangs.

Half a day later, Ye Yun entered a mountain forest and slew a Foundation Establishment-stage beast. Intending to enjoy a meal, he was interrupted beside a mountain stream by the appearance of a peak Foundation Establishment demon beast.

“What a fine young human—he must taste delicious.”

It was a giant mottled python, dozens of meters long, lazily stretched out in the sun by the stream. The moment it spotted Ye Yun, it raised its head and, with a sudden surge of its massive body, lunged at him. As it advanced, earth and stone were flung aside. With a flick of its long tongue, it struck at Ye Yun like lightning, its speed astonishingly swift.

“Buzz!”

Ye Yun immediately summoned the Golden Bell to shield himself. With a metallic clang, sparks flew. The python’s tongue carried immense penetrating force, pushing Ye Yun back several steps.

“This one is much stronger than most peak Foundation Establishment demon beasts,” Ye Yun noted calmly. Moving like a crimson-flame roc, he launched himself at the python.

With the Golden Bell protecting him, he was already invincible. In just a short exchange, the peak Foundation Establishment demon beast was slain on the spot, its blood flooding the earth.

At nightfall, the wilderness belonged to demon beasts, and Ye Yun dared not wander. He concealed his presence and hid in a mountain cave.

Instead of resting, Ye Yun devoted himself wholly to meditating on his cultivation techniques and magical arts.

By dawn, a powerful and majestic aura erupted from his body. Flames blazed high, and the moment Changchun True Qi arose, it was devoured by crimson fire, fueling his strength.

“Mid Foundation Establishment!”

Opening his eyes, a crimson gleam flashed and faded. A smile appeared on Ye Yun’s lips. Since the backlash from his last magical mishap, his cultivation had finally advanced once more.

Had it not been for that incident, he would have reached late Foundation Establishment by now.