"Junior Brother Li Zongyin is quite the fine young man, and since he was personally introduced by Junior Brother Li Ye, I'm more than happy to make his acquaintance…"
In a private room at a tavern in the marketplace.
Cai Shiwei held a cup of spirit wine, a warm and friendly smile on his face.
Li Zongyin had arranged the feast, and Li Ye had extended the invitation. They were hosting Cai Shiwei right here in the tavern.
To win this man's favor, Li Zongyin had spared no expense in ordering both spirit wine and rare demonic beast meat!
With a few drinks in him, Cai Shiwei seemed to be in high spirits. He gestured toward Li Ye as he continued,
"You know, back when we were all still weak and unknown, it was by sticking together with Junior Brother Li Ye that we managed to get to where we are today…"
"We low-ranking cultivators had no one to rely on in the sect. Supporting one another and forging ahead together that's always been the way for me and my companions…"
"Sadly, most of them are no longer with us…"
As he touched on this sorrowful memory, the smile on his face faded, and the once-cheerful atmosphere in the room turned somber.
Li Zongyin looked toward Li Ye, hoping he might say something to lift the mood.
But Li Ye had no intention of joining in. He withdrew his gaze from Cai Shiwei, silently drank his wine, and gnawed on his meat, all the while ranting internally.
Support each other? Forge ahead together?
Sounds more like using others' lives to pave your way forward!
Even in death, he's still milking those poor guys for clout…
Wait a second… I'm alive and he's still using me for the same purpose!
Tsk… does this guy pull the same routine with everyone he meets?
Watching Li Zongyin's earnest and emotional expression, Li Ye nearly lost control of his own.
This Cai Shiwei is no good egg!
The more sincere his words sounded, the more determined Li Ye became to steer far, far away from him.
Cai Shiwei… acting all noble while secretly calculating…
Li Zongyin, however, was deeply moved by Cai Shiwei's sentiments. Thankfully, he still remembered the purpose of today's meeting and quickly said,
"Please, Senior Brother, don't grieve! We cultivators walk the path of Dao falling along the way is but part of the journey. Even if it means death, we have no regrets!"
"Well said! No regrets even in death! Let us drink to that!"
Cai Shiwei laughed heartily, raising his cup and clinking it with Li Zongyin's.
The heavy atmosphere lifted, and the gathering became lively once again.
From that point on, Li Ye didn't need to do much just the occasional polite nod and smile was enough to keep things going smoothly until the banquet came to an end.
After eating and drinking their fill
Cai Shiwei, with a slight flush from the alcohol, stood up and gave Li Zongyin a firm pat on the shoulder, speaking solemnly,
"Junior Brother Zongyin, we should stay in touch from now on. If you ever run into trouble you can't handle come find me."
"I'll do everything in my power to help."
Li Zongyin was flattered and quickly clasped his hands in return,
"Such generosity, Senior Brother! I would be honored to stand by your side… to support one another and forge ahead together!"
A clear pledge of allegiance.
"Good!"
Cai Shiwei nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Li Ye. "And you as well, Junior Brother."
"Oh, I wouldn't dare!"
Li Ye stepped back slightly. "With Zongyin by your side, you already have all the support you need. As for me, I'm just a simple farmer tending to spiritual fields, hardly fit for anything greater…"
Another refusal.
As Li Ye's words fell, a faint flash of coldness crossed Cai Shiwei's eyes but it vanished just as quickly.
His expression returned to that same slightly tipsy, friendly smile as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Li Zongyin was both surprised and secretly pleased by Li Ye's tactful retreat.
That inheritance wasn't taken for nothing, after all!
Even the resentment Cai Shiwei felt from Li Ye quietly devouring most of the spirit wine and demonic beast meat began to fade.
"You, you…"
Cai Shiwei pointed at Li Ye with a faint smile, then shook his head.
"Forget it."
"I've matters to attend to outside the sect gates, so I'll be taking my leave first. No need to see me off, you two…"
Once Cai Shiwei had left, only Li Ye and Li Zongyin remained in the private room.
Suddenly, Li Zongyin stood up, raised his cup, and said with a serious expression,
"Elder Brother, your resolve is admirable. Even with Senior Brother Cai's invitation, you were able to refuse…"
"Earlier, I misjudged you with a petty heart. I sincerely apologize!"
With that, he downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.
This whole act caught Li Ye completely off guard.
What the heck is wrong with this kid?
"You…"
Li Ye opened his mouth, but in the end, just waved his hand dismissively.
"I've done what I promised."
"With this, we're square there's nothing owed between me and your third branch anymore!"
…
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of dark, clotted blood surged up and was spat out.
Li Ye's face lit up with excitement as he wiped the corner of his mouth.
He immediately absorbed a wisp of spiritual energy from the Emerald Bud Essence, its gentle essence nourishing his body as he sat back down to resume his cultivation.
Moments later
He opened his eyes again, and within his clear black-and-white pupils gleamed a brilliant light. His whole presence had leaped forward mind, body, and spirit.
"Finally healed…"
Feeling the complete absence of discomfort in his body, Li Ye's expression was filled with joy.
The injuries he had once suffered, though mostly treated by over-drafting his vitality with rare medicine, had left behind deep internal wounds.
But over time, by continuously refining the essence of the Emerald Bud, his vitality had slowly been replenished. Alongside his gradually recovering cultivation, his body also began to heal.
Today, after a full meal of spirit wine and demonic beast meat, his blood and spiritual energy had been fully replenished. One round of refining and cultivation later, not only had his magical power improved tremendously
His injuries were completely healed!
And now, with the nourishment from the demonic beast meat still being digested, Li Ye felt his blood and energy surging, to the point where it almost became overwhelming.
He couldn't help but get up and go outside to the open courtyard, where he began practicing the basic body-strengthening fist technique he had learned at the start of his cultivation path.
Again and again, he cycled through the form.
By the time his clothes were drenched in sweat and steam rose from his head, he finally stopped, breathing heavily as he slowly withdrew from his stance.
Even in this short period, he could feel that his physical strength and vitality had strengthened a little more.
Returning to his room, he cleaned himself up and sat down again, refreshed, and deep in thought.
Today's recovery and boost in vitality got him thinking seriously about the Foundation Establishment.
"There are three hurdles to Foundation Establishment Essence, Energy, and Spirit!"
"Blood vitality, magical power, and mental strength none can be too lacking, or you risk failure during the breakthrough…"
"Your body's vitality determines whether you can withstand the shock of spiritual energy flooding your system, as well as endure the pain of marrow cleansing and body refinement. That's why there's a common saying in the cultivation world if you haven't reached Foundation Establishment by age fifty, it becomes almost impossible!"
"Then there's magical power how deep and pure your reserves are determines if you can support the transformation… and your spiritual strength decides if you can control the vast new power. Each of these is a gate!"
Li Ye carefully evaluated his condition.
"My attitude is terrible. My past self took all kinds of pills to speed up cultivation, which left my magical power a chaotic mess…"
"Fortunately, after I began refining the Emerald Bud Essence, things have improved. If I keep this up, that issue should eventually be resolved."
"But as for my vitality and mental strength… only my mind might be slightly better, perhaps thanks to inheriting memories from before I transmigrated…"
"My vitality was actually in a deficit until today until I ate that meal of spirit meat and wine, I'd been physically weak all along."
"Even now, I'm only barely on par with other cultivators at the same stage."
"Still lacking so much… With my kind of poor aptitude, if I want to reach Foundation Establishment, I'll need to eliminate every single weakness."
"Time to start planning!"