Becoming an Immortal Emperor, All Thanks to the Efforts of My Enemies

Chapter 19: Foundation Establishment Methods

The power of a Golden Core cultivator felt like a sharp smack to Liu Shunyi’s head, silencing his previously restless thoughts.

It had been three days since the commotion he caused, and finally, some calm returned. Hardly anyone mentioned the incident anymore, which put Liu Shunyi at ease.

It’s worth noting that he hadn’t seen Chen Qiaoli lately. After dropping him off at the courtyard, his senior sister seemed to have vanished into thin air. He couldn’t help but worry a bit.

“Isn’t she going to get into any trouble?”

But then he shook his head. No way. His careful senior sister would be the last person to get herself in a jam.

With no need to fret about her safety, Liu Shunyi devoted his time to alchemy. He had been churning out Qi Recovery Pills one after another, and each one bore exquisite pill patterns.

He knew full well that these were top-tier pills. After all, he had read enough novels to know how valuable such items could be, imagining the kind of frenzy they’d spark if sold.

However, he steered clear of putting them on the market. If a powerful individual got wind of his skills, they’d drag him off to imprison him, forcing him to concoct pills for them instead.

And let’s not even get started on his secret ability to dodge death and shrug off negative statuses. That knowledge could never leave his lips. If any sinister cultivators caught wind of that, it would be barbecue time for Liu Shunyi—blood drawn, marrow sucked, kidneys harvested!

Liu Shunyi understood the rules of survival in the realms of cultivation: Be a coward when necessary, or just endure. He couldn’t afford to get too big for his britches. No matter how many cheat codes he had, without growth, they would just be someone else’s ticket.

But now, Liu Shunyi faced a pressing issue. He had been gulping down pills and absorbing thunderstorms like a sponge, reaching ultimate heights in his skills—be it techniques, swordplay, or body techniques. But alas, he found himself at a dead end with no pathway to Foundation Establishment.

“This damn it! How on earth am I supposed to break through?!”

He furrowed his brow in despair. Finally, after much deliberation, he decided to take a stroll. Who knows, maybe he’d stumble upon some foundation-building tips along the way?

With that in mind, he donned a wide-brimmed hat with a veil that covered half his face and stepped out.

————

Kangzhuang City was a hub for cultivators. As Liu Shunyi walked through the streets, his eyes were bombarded with an assortment of magical tools, techniques, and spirit herbs. There were also heaps of animal bones and hides, an eclectic mix.

Everything was everywhere, and pricey. Even with his 8,000 spirit stones, he could only snag one or two things he wanted from this marketplace. That realization made him sigh internally.

But wait! He was an alchemist! And Qi Recovery Pills were a necessity for every cultivator. They would fly off the shelves!

However, after some thought, Liu Shunyi shook his head. “Too flashy. That wouldn’t end well!”

Eventually, he scrapped that idea, but he quietly pulled out a premium Qi Gathering Pill, a staple in cultivation.

Sure, he couldn’t sell pills for a profit, but sometimes, for alchemists, pills could serve as currency.

With that figured out, he wandered aimlessly around, checking out the various items on offer, but he grew increasingly dissatisfied. Most of the techniques and spells were second-rate, some even incomplete.

That wasn’t even the worst part; the prices were ridiculous! If he traded his precious Qi Recovery Pills at Qinglian Sect, he could pile up a mountain of points. Buying one or two spells would just be an insult for these wandering cultivators.

At this rate, Qinglian Sect really was top-notch.

As for artifacts, he glanced at those too, but ultimately decided against them. Most were subpar, and many didn’t even stack up to the wooden sword artifacts handed to him by Qinglian Sect’s outer disciples.

That was just embarrassing.

After adding it all up, Liu Shunyi suddenly felt there was no need to waste his money. He had sufficient tools for self-protection as it was.

After wandering for half a day and feeling smug about his decision to refrain from wasting money, he finally learned about Foundation Establishment methods.

He encountered an old man who was also at the peak of Qi Refinement. The old fellow was at his wits’ end and requested a top-quality Qi Gathering Pill in exchange for an eighth-tier pill furnace.

Liu Shunyi happened to have just what the old man sought, so they struck a deal. The old man nearly cried tears of joy upon seeing it was a premium Qi Gathering Pill.

Along with that, he eagerly shared the Foundation Establishment methods with Liu Shunyi.

Once the exchange was complete, the old man hurried off to enter his secluded training, while Liu Shunyi raced back to his quarters to pore over the methods.

Once he laid eyes on them, Liu Shunyi was dumbfounded.

Foundation Establishment required specific foundational items, and the quality of those items defined the potential battle strength and future achievements after the establishment.

In essence, Foundation Establishment was like laying detailed highway signs for your future cultivation journey. To go further and steadier, one needed better treasures.

That was just the surface of it.

He also needed Foundation Establishment methods, as these determined one’s success or failure in the process.

But it wasn’t that hard, really. If one had just a couple suitable heavenly materials, any foundation-building method could be a go for cultivators.

Those chasing the path of becoming stronger weren’t just about brawling; many sought longevity as well.

Yet here was Liu Shunyi, the cheat code player, who definitely wasn’t going to settle for ordinary Foundation Establishment.

Finding superior Foundation Establishment methods was no picnic. Aside from sects, he couldn’t figure out where else to obtain them.

Even if he somehow got his hands on them, they would cost a fortune in spirit stones. Given his pitiful stash, pursuing his ideal of Foundation Establishment felt utterly impossible.

“Oi! Studying Foundation Establishment, huh?”

Suddenly, Ji Suying appeared beside Liu Shunyi, catching him off guard.

He jumped and quickly bowed.

“Greetings, Senior Sister!”

Ji Suying waved her hand, sipping from a teapot in her other hand. After a refreshing gulp, she remarked, “If you want to establish your foundation, Qinglian Sect has top-tier foundation items and methods. If you make a significant contribution, they can be offered to you for free. Why look elsewhere?”

Liu Shunyi scratched his head and grinned like an idiot. “I was just, um, doing a bit of research!”

Ji Suying rolled her eyes. “Unlike other sects, Qinglian Sect is sometimes a bit immersed in the world of cultivation, but they won’t cast a greedy eye on the opportunities of their disciples, nor engage in any sinister business. Rest assured, but it doesn’t hurt to be a bit discreet.”

“By the way, do you know why I came looking for you?”

It finally clicked for Liu Shunyi.

“Why are you here looking for me?”

Spotting the bewildered look on Liu Shunyi’s face, Ji Suying shook her head in exasperation.

“Chen Qiaoli has been captured!”

Liu Shunyi was shocked. “You’re not joking, are you?”