Chapter 33: Foundational Three Treasures

“I’m 57 years old this year, with only three years left until the 60-year deadline. Although I know the chances of successfully establishing my Foundation are slim, this is my only opportunity in life. I can’t give up without giving it a try.” Chen Xinglan said with a look of regret at the dinner table.

In the Immortal Sect, every cultivator who reaches the ninth level of Qi Refining before the age of 60 will typically attempt Foundation Establishment.

“Dad, I hope to see you become a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.” Within the Immortal Sect, only after successfully establishing one’s Foundation is one considered to have truly crossed the threshold into immortal cultivation, earning the title ‘True Cultivator.’

“It’s just a pity you reached the ninth level of Qi Refining so late,” Tang Pancui said, her face filled with regret. “If it had been a few years earlier, you might have been able to prepare more.” While one can attempt Foundation Establishment upon reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining, the success rate is undoubtedly higher after achieving the Great Perfection of the ninth level.

“It’s alright,” Chen Xinglan said, looking very optimistic. “I know my success rate is less than ten percent, but I still have to give it a try. After breaking through yesterday, I already informed my boss of my resignation. For the next three years, I’ll go into secluded cultivation at Crimson Cloud Academy and use my Foundation Establishment opportunity.” Chen Mobai and Tang Pancui, mother and son, exchanged glances and could only nod in agreement. After all, this was Chen Xinglan’s sole chance for Foundation Establishment in his lifetime, and they were determined to support him fully.

“You’ve been graduated for almost thirty years now; I wonder if Crimson Cloud Academy will still recognize you as a student!” Tang Pancui said, her face filled with hesitation and anxiety.

Within the Immortal Sect, all formally admitted students—whether from the Four Great Dao Academies, the Ten Great Academic Palaces, or the 120 smaller prefectural academies—are granted one opportunity for Foundation Establishment. This opportunity includes not only a third-tier, low-grade spirit vein cave dwelling but also elixirs designed to improve the success rate of Foundation Establishment. While the Immortal Sect prohibits the refining of Foundation Establishment Pills, it has developed a complete set of medicinal formulas to replace them. These are the Pulse Protection Pill, the Spirit Ascension Powder, and the Qi Condensation Liquid!

The Pulse Protection Pill can save the life of a cultivator who fails Foundation Establishment. The Spirit Ascension Powder, when consumed, temporarily enhances a cultivator’s spiritual sense, enabling them to better control surging spiritual energy. The Qi Condensation Liquid promotes the liquefaction of a cultivator’s spiritual energy; if all the spiritual energy in the dantian fully liquefies, it signifies successful Foundation Establishment. This entire set of elixirs is known as the “Three Foundation Establishment Treasures”!

Batches of these elixirs are periodically released in the Immortal Sect’s official flagship store, available for free acquisition using accumulated points. In contrast, online pharmacies like those of the Jumang Dao Academy’s Grand Medical Academic Palace require the use of merit points for purchase, with each type averaging 800,000 merit points. Even at such a high price, they remain in short supply and must be quickly purchased as soon as they become available. This is because after each successful refining of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures, all Dao Academies and Academic Palaces, big and small, first claim their allocated portions, with only any remaining surplus entering the market. These portions claimed by the academies are, naturally, reserved for their own students.

Although Chen Xinglan graduated thirty years ago, because he had never reached the ninth level of Qi Refining before, this Foundation Establishment opportunity remained unused at the academy. If he were to never successfully break through in his lifetime, the opportunity would automatically become void, as the Dao Academies and Academic Palaces do not permit descendants to inherit such chances. After all, resources in the Immortal Sect are scarce. Thus, even if it were only to avoid wasting the opportunity, Chen Xinglan was determined to attempt Foundation Establishment.

“Dad, which of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures will you choose?” Chen Mobai asked. Crimson Cloud Academy only provides one of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures, so the choice ultimately rests with the cultivator.

“Choose the Pulse Protection Pill.” Tang Pancui spoke first, noting that this was the choice made by ninety-nine percent of cultivators in his situation. After all, given Chen Xinglan’s circumstances, the likelihood of successful Foundation Establishment was indeed very low. In such a case, the life-saving Pulse Protection Pill was undoubtedly the preferred choice.

“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you,” Chen Xinglan replied. This was also Chen Xinglan’s own inclination, as he genuinely lacked confidence in his chances.

“We still have nearly 300,000 merit points in our family account,” Tang Pancui continued. “If we apply to the bank for another 500,000 merit points as a Foundation Establishment loan, you can then purchase a Qi Condensation Liquid from the academy. With that, you’ll at least be able to reach the crucial Foundation Establishment step.” Tang Pancui explained that a benefit of being a student of a Dao Academy or Academic Palace was that during one’s first attempt at Foundation Establishment, if one had enough merit points, they could purchase the other two of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. Of course, this opportunity was only available for the first attempt. If one failed Foundation Establishment and wished to try again later, the academies would no longer provide assistance; cultivators would have to find their own way to acquire the elixirs on the market.

Chen Xinglan, however, shook his head. Although he and his wife had toiled diligently their entire lives to accumulate merit points, originally intending to use them for Foundation Establishment, Tang Pancui had been stuck at the sixth level of Qi Refining for over thirty years and had given up hope herself. And while Chen Xinglan had now reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, his chances of successful Foundation Establishment were exceedingly slim, making him reluctant to squander their savings.

“No, don’t,” Chen Xinglan insisted. “Keep this money for our son to use when he attempts Foundation Establishment in the future. He’s at the sixth level of Qi Refining now, so he’ll definitely be able to enter an academy. If your mother and I work hard for another decade or so, we can accumulate around 800,000 merit points, and with a bank loan, we can get him a complete set of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. Perhaps then, after a century, our Chen family can finally produce another True Cultivator.”

Chen Xinglan’s words brought tears to Chen Mobai’s eyes, but he quickly stood up and shook his head. “Dad, you should use it yourself,” Chen Mobai said. “I’m going to test into a Dao Academy, and when I do, they’ll provide the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. You won’t need to prepare them.” As the Immortal Sect’s most prestigious and ancient universities, the Four Great Dao Academies naturally offer the best student benefits, including a complete set of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. The Ten Great Academic Palaces, on the other hand, provide two of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures. The 120 prefectural academies, such as the local Cinnabar and Crimson Cloud Academies, only provide one. This is precisely why every student strives to enter one of the Four Great Dao Academies. According to sampling data from the Grand Medical Academic Palace, a cultivator who has achieved the Great Perfection of the ninth level of Qi Refining has a ten percent chance of successfully establishing their Foundation after consuming a complete set of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures.

After much persuasion, Chen Mobai finally convinced Chen Xinglan to use their savings to purchase the Qi Condensation Liquid.

“Alright, alright,” Chen Xinglan conceded. “Since my son has such lofty aspirations, then I, his old father, won’t refuse.” Seeing the deep affection between father and son, Tang Pancui’s eyes welled up, on the verge of tears. Chen Mobai quickly changed the subject.

“So, Dad, when will you be heading to Crimson Cloud Academy?” The third-tier, low-grade spirit vein cave dwelling provided by the academy for Foundation Establishment comes with two years of usage rights. Chen Xinglan certainly wouldn’t waste this time, likely waiting until the very last day to trigger the qi mechanism for his attempt.

“The day after tomorrow, I think,” Chen Xinglan replied. “I’ve already informed Baolan and Yulan about this, and I want to say goodbye to them.” Chen Mobai’s grandparents passed away early, but they had three children: Chen Xinglan, Chen Baolan, and Chen Yulan.