Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Perilous Illusion Skill Trial
The tranquil moonlight stone cast a wide swath of faint light, illuminating the already transformed spirit gathering array.
Several middle-grade spirit stones above began to rotate, and amidst the glittering spiritual light, an array larger than before activated.
The surrounding spiritual energy instantly seemed to be drawn by a wind eye, towards the room.
Ye Jingcheng sat cross-legged on the stone bed, all preparations completed.
The meridians within his body had become very large over this month, his spiritual power had condensed much further, and it was not limited to fire phase spiritual power.
Foundation Establishment is a process of the San Yuan transformation.
Qi, divine sense, and spiritual power—missing any of the three makes Foundation Establishment impossible.
Without strong divine sense, one cannot condense a spirit platform; without enough qi, one cannot bear a stronger liquid spiritual power.
And without sufficient spiritual power, even condensing into liquid spiritual power cannot be achieved.
During his days at Sha Yun Mountain, enduring the array in the Qi Blood Sect trained his qi, alchemy study enhanced divine sense, and beast hunting improved spiritual energy condensation.
According to the requirements of Ye Xuefu’s jade talisman, Ye Jingcheng has now accomplished all.
Additionally, he could also use fire phase spiritual power to stimulate the emergence of liquid water phase spiritual power and earth phase spiritual power.
Everything is ready, lacking only the east wind.
Within the room, Ye Jingcheng brewed all the remaining spring tea.
He took a sip, letting the rest diffuse in the room, that rich vitality and spring ambiance were always pleasing to the senses.
That feeling was very similar to Lingyun Peak.
Although there was no Lingyun Peak here today, he held the intent of Lingyun within his heart.
Once again activating the Four Phase Celestial Essence Scripture, the highly condensed spiritual power in his body, under the pull of fire phase spiritual power, instantly condensed into liquid.
The room’s spiritual energy continuously surged towards Ye Jingcheng.
Forming drop by drop of liquid spiritual power.
This process was extremely difficult; once reaching a certain level, the liquid spiritual power filled his body, without a spirit platform, becoming a burden.
Yet the spirit platform is also condensed from liquid spiritual power.
This process is extremely challenging and tests one’s mental fortitude; for ordinary cultivators without communication beasts, they often have to consume Foundation Establishment pills or other spirit medicine after condensing a few drops.
Otherwise, relying solely on absorbing spiritual energy from the air is utterly inadequate.
It was Ye Jingcheng’s use of Red Flame Fox’s liquid spiritual power that allowed him to achieve this.
But after condensing thirty drops, Ye Jingcheng began to consume the Foundation Establishment pill.
With the consumption of the Foundation Establishment pill, it was as if a dammed waterfall had cascaded down, countless spiritual power surged into his body, rushing through all the meridians.
Ye Jingcheng concentrated his mind, fully exercising the Four Phase Celestial Essence Scripture, the spiritual light of the four phases flashed emphatically, and the highly condensed spiritual power easily transformed into liquid spiritual power.
But in an instant, it was as though countless torrents flooded his entire being, the spiritual pressure made him feel like he was bearing a mountain, excruciatingly painful.
This pain somewhat resembled that inside the Qi Blood Sect.
For many cultivators over sixty, this is the hurdle they cannot overcome.
They cannot sustain so much liquid spiritual power, directly rupturing the meridians, unable to even comb through the spiritual power.
And you must realize, this is still the spiritual power of the Foundation Establishment pill; even without refinement, it is already somewhat gentle. If he chose other spirit pills or absorbed spiritual energy from the air, he wouldn’t have time to refine it deeply, naturally making it even more like a storm.
Failure would bring the risk of exploding and dying.
Aside from the changes in spiritual power, Ye Jingcheng also felt a hint of clarity in his mind.
The Foundation Establishment pill, besides providing pure spiritual power, can also enhance divine sense, maintaining an ongoing clarity.
Ensuring that cultivators, even under immense spiritual pressure, will not panic.
And under this strengthening of divine sense, Ye Jingcheng also began to slowly condense the spirit platform.
The method of condensing the spirit platform is included in the cultivation technique, and Ye Jingcheng seeks to condense the Four Phase Spirit Platform.
This aspect is more challenging for him than others.
But once successfully condensed, his Four Phase Spirit Platform’s future prospects are unmatched by other cultivation techniques—the only trouble is, once he wishes to breakthrough to the Purple Mansion, when the Four Phase Spirit Platform transforms into the Purple Mansion, he needs to have all four phase spiritual powers at their peak; lacking even one is unacceptable.
Moreover, during breakthroughs to the Middle Stage and Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, there will be some influences.
Condensing the spirit platform is undoubtedly a long process, and there is no shortcut.
That colossal liquid spiritual power is the cornerstone.
As time passed, the stone chamber became exceptionally silent.
Apart from Ye Jingcheng, Ye Jingyu also entered seclusion three days after Ye Jingcheng did, similarly breaking through Foundation Establishment.
The Qi Blood Sect began its perennial closure.
Around Sha Yun Mountain, calmness was rare, and groups of Black Armored Scorpions rarely left their nests.
Day by day passed, within the stone chamber, Ye Jingcheng once more took out two middle-grade spirit stones, fused them into the spirit gathering array, making the previously dim array shine again.
Ye Jingcheng continued to tightly guard his heart spirit, while his body at this moment had already condensed into a square Four Phase Spirit Platform.
Upon the spirit platform, the four-phase spirit patterns began to be carved.
These four-phase spirit patterns appeared in red, green, blue, and yellow colors, tending towards the forms of the Cyan Dragon, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, and Qilin.
And as the drawing of spirit patterns became more complete, most of his body’s liquid spiritual power had already been consumed.
At this point, on the crimson side of the spirit platform, drop by drop of liquid spiritual power began to condense.
Ye Jingcheng couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy in his heart.
At that moment, Ye Jingcheng suddenly noticed a brilliant white light appear before his eyes.
...
"Ye Jingcheng, do you know the crime of concealing a secret technique?" A cold voice rang in Ye Jingcheng’s ear.
Ye Jingcheng’s body trembled, and he found himself standing inside the Punishment Hall on Lingyun Peak.
In front of him stood Ye Haiyi.
"The family nurtures you and raises you, yet you conceal a secret treasure, harboring narrow thoughts. How can you pursue the Immortal Dao? Today, hand over the secret treasure, or else you will not leave this family’s Punishment Hall!" Ye Haiyi’s eyes narrowed into a straight line.
As he spoke, he struck a palm toward Ye Jingcheng’s face.
At that moment, it seemed as if Ye Jingcheng was rendered speechless, his body frozen.
He watched helplessly as the palm descended, and at that moment, a flash of clarity passed through his mind.
He suddenly jumped forward and spoke righteously.
"Indeed, the family nurtured me, but I have equally repaid my gratitude. I contributed to Pill Formulas, healed Spirit Beasts, and have a clear conscience!"
"Moreover, our Ye Family stands tall and proud, with broad aspirations. How could it be that your Heart Demon can falsely wield authority!"
"Begone swiftly!" Ye Jingcheng shouted loudly.
The silhouette of Ye Haiyi shattered abruptly!
...
The scene shifted again, transforming Ye Jingcheng into a young boy from the wild mountains.
The boy stood before a grand hall, his whole body disheveled, his hair a tangled nest of grass.
He stumbled, weak within.
In his eyes, it seemed he saw the Grim Reaper, he was starving.
Starving to the extreme, he hadn’t eaten for nearly three days.
This year was a severe drought, with Demon Beasts rampaging through the forests, a natural disaster, compounded by human misfortune.
Many like him existed in the town, all pitiable people.
It was said that the Ye Family was of the Immortal Race, but even the Immortal Race could go hungry.
How could Immortals attend to so much?
In the next moment, Ye Jingcheng saw an elderly man in loose green satin, stepping toward him. The elder raised Ye Jingcheng, bringing him into the hall.
He pulled out several steamed buns.
"This is the Immortal Hall; from now on, you will guard this Immortal Hall, cleaning it day and night!"
"Three meals a day, all provided by this old man!"
"Thank you, old town chief!" Ye Jingcheng thanked repeatedly, gripping the steamed buns tightly.
He was determined to repay the old town chief, looking forward to the moment he would become an Immortal Master.
The Immortal Masters’ assembly occurred once every three years, and the next one was tomorrow. He felt an unfounded confidence; he would become a cultivator.
Yet before daylight arrived, under the moonlight, the town was ablaze.
Accompanied by wild, unruly shouting, countless fierce bandits riding steeds charged in from outside the town!
Countless townfolk surrendered in terror, but it only earned unbridled laughter in return.
It was a laughter Ye Jingcheng had seen next door when the butcher slaughtered pigs!
"Slash!" Blades fell upon flesh, and streams of blood soared!
Ye Jingcheng stood up, only to suddenly realize that his body was still frail; he was merely a ten-year-old child.
Fear and panic!
The next moment!
"No!" Ye Jingcheng howled, rushing toward the long blade.
In front of him was the old town chief!
"Save me!" The old town chief cried out continuously.
Ye Jingcheng reached the front, ready to shield with his body.
He didn’t know many words, but he knew he must repay kindness!
And in the next moment, his mind became clear once more.
His eyes shone bright, and a magic skill formed in his hand, a fireball blasting everything apart.
In an instant, all images vanished, and Ye Jingcheng fell into a stone chamber, his entire body drenched in sweat!
This Foundation Establishment Illusion Technique Barrier was indeed terrifying; if not for the final strand of clarity from the Foundation Establishment Pill.
He would have been trapped in a self-negating false death state.
Though the Foundation Establishment Pill protected his meridians, his consolidated Spirit Platform would have dispersed in an instant, resulting in failure!
Ye Jingcheng still felt a lingering fear, but in the next moment, looking at the square Spirit Platform within his body and the Spirit Liquid flowing through him, his face was instantaneously filled with joy.
Foundation Establishment, achieved!