Chapter 78

Chapter 78: Surging into the Foundation Establishment Realm After five days of focused cultivation, Xia Changge finally reached the limit of a normal Qi Refining cultivator and reached the eighth level of the Qi Refining realm. Five more Gathering Qi Pills were consumed, leaving only two remaining. For Xia Changge, a master at playing dirty tricks, this breakthrough in cultivation did not result in a significant increase in combat power. However, it definitely added to his intimidating aura. Xia Changge immediately went to Xiao Family's Kongsang Mountain. The good news amidst the unfortunate was that Yang Zhe was still alive. But Yang Zhe, at this moment, appeared even more dispirited, with a heavy sense of desolation. "It's you, Friend Xia. What brings you here?" Yang Zhe still had some memory of Xia Changge. His arrival gave Yang Zhe a slight sense of delight. After all, being able to have someone visit him before his death at least meant that there was someone who still remembered him. If he were to die without anyone remembering him, then his existence would truly fade into dust and the world would leave behind no trace of him. Xia Changge pondered for a moment and took out the Extreme Flame Technique, channeling spiritual energy into it before presenting it to Yang Zhe. At first, Yang Zhe casually observed it. But after a moment, his spirit suddenly became animated, and even his aged and withered hands began to tremble. "Where did this come from? Did the clan leader show mercy and give this to me?!" Trembling, Yang Zhe looked at Xia Changge. Previously, he had begged several times, but Xiao Yun didn't spare him a glance. Now, Xia Changge personally brought it to him, and Yang Zhe immediately thought it must have been Xiao Yun's act of mercy, sympathizing with this pitiful man. Shaking his head, Xia Changge said softly, "No, I obtained it as a reward for my achievements. Considering your long-cherished wish, I have brought it to you. But this is just the cultivation technique, nothing else." Tears filled Yang Zhe's eyes. "It's enough, it's enough. Having a cultivation technique is more than enough! Thank you, Friend Xia!" In his remaining years, Yang Zhe wanted to fulfill his lifelong wish. At the same time, his admiration for Xia Changge reached a whole new level. He had thought that Xia Changge, like him, had been oppressed by the Xiao Family for many years, even requiring several generations to make a breakthrough. Never did he expect Xia Changge to acquire a Foundational Establishment cultivation technique so quickly. Yang Zhe was truly awed and envious, filled with genuine gratitude from the bottom of his heart. He had no relationship with Xia Changge, yet Xia Changge was willing to give him such a precious Foundational Establishment cultivation technique. How could Yang Zhe not be excited? "Elder, what is your choice..." Xia Changge looked at Yang Zhe expectantly. Naturally, he hoped that after obtaining the Foundational Establishment cultivation technique, Yang Zhe would choose to make a last stand instead of quietly accepting his fate. Of course, if Yang Zhe chose the latter, Xia Changge couldn't say anything either. Although Yang Zhe's eyes appeared dim, they were firm. "Rather than barely hanging on for two more months, I would rather...make a desperate attempt. If I don't make a move, it would be like I've wasted my entire life!" It was clear that Yang Zhe intended to directly surge into the Foundational Establishment realm. If he succeeded, he would naturally become the second cultivator in Hua Ying Immortal Town to reach the Foundational Establishment realm. If he failed...for someone who was on the verge of death, there would be no surprises, and he would die on the spot! For a cultivator at the ninth level of the Qi Refining realm, even if they were still in their prime and didn't have any Foundational Establishment Pills, attempting to surge into the Foundational Establishment realm was extremely arduous. After a failed attempt, their vital energy and blood would be depleted, their meridians would be severely damaged. Not to mention bleeding from the seven orifices, even bleeding from three or four orifices would be an accurate description. They would need a long period of time for recuperation. It was also common for those with bad luck to die on the spot. "Friend Xia, I beseech you to lend me one thousand five hundred spiritual stones. I need to absorb the spiritual energy from them while surging into the Foundational Establishment realm." After making preparations, Yang Zhe turned to Xia Changge and made his request. This surprised Xia Changge. This Yang Zhe...didn't he have any savings? Yang Zhe seemed to see Xia Changge's doubts and explained bitterly, "Most of my savings have been given to the Xiao Family, so that they can give me a decent ending after my death. Now, what's left is not enough. Friend, rest assured, if I succeed, I will repay you tenfold. If I fail, everything I have left will belong to you. Actually, if I fail, I won't be able to consume much of the spiritual stones." After considering for a moment, Xia Changge finally brought out the spiritual stones. "Take more, Friend. I humbly request that you stay here for a few days." Yang Zhe, being shrewd, knew that Xia Changge was giving him the Foundational Establishment cultivation technique in the hope of learning from his attempt to break through. Yang Zhe had no objections to this and took the initiative to invite Xia Changge. He happened to need someone to protect him and provide a stable environment. Now it seemed that only Xia Changge could help him. "Well then!" Xia Changge went along with the flow and sat down thirty meters away from Yang Zhe, observing everything that happened next. Yang Zhe began to familiarize himself with the Extreme Flame Technique. As a ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator and a Xiao Family servant, he had been cultivating the first half of the Extreme Flame Technique. Two days later, with his preparations complete, Yang Zhe began his official attempt to surge into the Foundational Establishment realm. Xia Changge's attention also became fully focused. The spiritual stones placed next to Yang Zhe gradually dimmed, as the spiritual energy within them was completely depleted. Xia Changge remembered what Xiao Wan had said before. When he could make a breakthrough into the Foundational Establishment realm, she would temporarily lend him her cultivation spot at home. It seemed that it was for this reason. After being distracted for a moment, Xia Changge continued to carefully observe. Yang Zhe, being quite old, Xia Changge had not expected him to succeed from the start. After only a day and a half of attempting, Yang Zhe's body could no longer hold up, and he spewed out a mouthful of old blood, signaling his failure. Yet Yang Zhe didn't immediately perish, he hung on to his last breath. "I failed in the end, but I'm content. I hope you can succeed in the future, Friend!" Even at the moment of his death, Yang Zhe did not show any expression of fear. Instead, he looked particularly content. His eyelids slowly closed, signaling the arrival of his end. "Ah! Elder, since you already said it before, that you would let me handle it if you failed, then I'll try again...in your place!" After a brief internal struggle, Xia Changge finally took action. In an instant, he intruded into Yang Zhe's spiritual world. Yang Zhe's spiritual world was already on the brink of collapse. In his final moments, Xia Changge stabilized it and implanted his own mental content into it. Xia Changge wasn't certain if the current Yang Zhe was the same as before. His physical body remained the same, and there were no changes in his mental state, but the consciousness had indeed undergone a tremendous transformation. He had become a semi-simulated machine created by Xia Changge. After completing this central task, Xia Changge transmitted his Longevity True Qi, aiding the severely wounded "Yang Zhe" in recovering rapidly. Under Xia Changge's treatment, Yang Zhe's broken body began to rapidly heal, gaining the qualifications for another attempt to surge into the Foundational Establishment realm! (End of this chapter)