Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

Ever since he stepped into the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment, Chen Li’s strength had undergone a drastic change.

In particular, when his Phantom Skill underwent a qualitative transformation, he could control phantoms to cast spells, allowing various second-order spells that were relatively slow to cast, to find their application in battle.

With just two phantoms cooperating in combat, defensively he possessed a water barrier comparable to that of a second-grade second-order, while at a range he had the True Fire Skill comparable to an eighth-grade second-order. Combined with the "Basic Swordsmanship" refining his entire body and the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill’s body strengthening, he was without weakness, whether in close-quarters or at a distance.

Even if he was up against a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, as long as he made thorough battle preparations, he had the power to fight.

But this was still somewhat risky.

For one, that most dangerous man with the square face had unclear strength, lacking intelligence. It was not clear what magic artifacts he possessed or his exact level of cultivation. Rash actions could be dangerous, especially if the opponent had charms or similar treasures.

Secondly, there were three people who had come this time, making a total of four including Lin Qing. At least one more person hadn’t shown up. All this required investigation to ensure there were no fish that slipped through the net. He had to be absolutely certain before he could strike like thunder.

Leave no loose ends!

...

Waiting for this group to come out would clearly take some time. While waiting, Chen Li simply took the Evil-Slaying Sword out of his storage bag and began to practice his swordsmanship by the lake. Meanwhile, every so often, he would cast a Phantom Skill.

As soon as the phantom appeared, it would swiftly turn invisible, leave the courtyard quietly, and carefully monitor the neighboring residence.

More than two hours passed in waiting.

Finally, the phantom outside saw the group coming out of Lin Qing’s courtyard.

Chen Li immediately cast two more Phantom Skills and silently followed them.

This time, he was much more cautious. The two phantoms merely shadowed them from a distance. Midway through their journey, the three split up. The two phantoms then divided to follow each one separately, and soon he had located their residences.

Looking at the courtyard surrounded by formation.

Chen Li stayed for quite a while.

Not until the limit of the phantom’s existence ended did they disappear on the spot.

...

Early morning.

Inside the quiet room.

Chen Li regulated his breathing and concluded his cultivation for the day.

"Level: Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer: 12/100"

"I’ve made another small improvement," he noted to himself as he calculated.

"Last time, when it was 11 points, that was ten days ago. It seems I’m progressing every ten days."

The effects of Return Yuan Elixir were much stronger than that of Harmonizing Qi Elixir.

Originally, it would take thirteen days to progress one point, but after switching to Return Yuan Elixir, it took three days less.

"Alas, these saved days were all bought with Spirit Stones!" Chen Li sighed, quietly calculating his current expenses.

Return Yuan Elixir, twelve Mid-grade Spirit Stones per bottle.

He needed to consume six bottles every month, at a total cost of seventy-two Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

In a year, that amounted to eight or nine Top-grade Spirit Stones.

But this was not the biggest expense.

The cost of the medicinal baths for cultivating the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill was even higher; the prices of herbs here were slightly more expensive than at the Returning True Sect. The ingredients necessary for one medicinal bath that would cost eleven to twelve Mid-grade Spirit Stones at the sect now required thirteen here.

The yearly cost of the medicinal baths was 23 Top-grade Spirit Stones.

Plus the Spirit Rice, Demon Beast Meat, as well as various other expenses for his wives’ and concubines’ cultivation and other miscellaneous costs.

In a year, he would need at least forty or so Top-grade Spirit Stones.

And these expenses were all essential; not a bit could be spared.

Take the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill, for example.

Although he hadn’t yet perfected any of the three levels: Immortal Muscles, Jade Bones, or Gang Viscera, this was because the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill was continuously optimizing. From beginner to now Grandmaster level, the route of cultivation was becoming more complex, and his Body Refinement was ever deepening.

To reach completion always seemed an elusive dream, always missing by just a little.

In fact, in terms of effects alone, he had already reached the realm described by the cultivation technique.

Now, Chen Li’s skin was soft and smooth, appearing delicate but astonishingly resilient. Low-grade magic artifacts could hardly harm him, and his bones had also greatly crystallized, shining brilliantly and being three to four times denser than those of ordinary people. Now, even if he exerted his full strength, he would no longer suffer from pulled muscles or broken bones.

As for the "Gang Viscera" part, Chen Li practiced it the least, but it also received quite a bit of strengthening. Whether it was his digestive ability, the function of his viscera, or his heart, all saw a tremendous enhancement, which outwardly manifested as an increased appetite and astonishing physical strength.

He could practice swordsmanship for a whole day and still not feel overly tired.

And, as the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill neared max level, it seemed that the completion of each part was not far off.

...

"Ah, even after becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I still have to worry about daily necessities!"

Chen Li shook his head.

Following that, he cast the Phantom Skill, and six phantoms successively left the quiet room to start a new day’s work.

The construction of the underground shelter had already begun.

But this time, there was no need for Chen Li to do the work himself, as his phantoms took over...but, in reality, there was no difference.

The phantoms were under his control. Other than not consuming physical strength, neither spiritual power nor mental energy was spared; in fact, they consumed more.

After all, the Traction Skill used for digging was only a First Order Fifth Grade skill, whereas the Phantom Skill was a Second Order Third Grade skill. The spiritual power consumed by one use of the Phantom Skill was equivalent to that of sixteen or seventeen Traction Skills.

As for the mental energy consumed, that goes without saying.

Every use of the Phantom Skill was like dividing himself into several parts, each with their own senses, each with different tasks to perform. The amount of information that the brain had to process multiplied greatly. Even for Chen Li, it was no easy or comfortable task.

If he did it for too long, he would feel mentally drained.

Chen Li had always been consciously training this ability, and the results were quite good. With continuous conditioning and habituation, he could control his phantoms effortlessly most of the time; often only needing a single thought for a phantom to accomplish tasks, as if it possessed its own intellect.

...

As days and months passed, time in Red Pillar City slipped by unnoticed.

Like a hidden predator, Chen Li constantly honed his claws and fangs.

During this time, Lin Qing visited twice, and each time Chen Li politely dismissed him.

Every visit from Lin Qing put great pressure on him, and there were moments when he began to waver, but he quickly reaffirmed his resolve.

He had to force himself to be ruthless; there was no room for the slightest soft-heartedness in surviving in this world.

He was not alone.

He had his wives and concubines.

Not only for himself, but also for them.

...

That day, after Chen Li had just finished dinner, Lin Qing came over to visit again.

"Fellow Daoist, have you heard of the Returning True Sect?" Lin Qing entered with an expression of joy.

An attendant was still present, and Chen Li quickly gestured with his eyes for her to leave promptly, then replied nonchalantly, "I have heard of it, it seems to be a small, remote sect. Why does Fellow Daoist ask about it?"

"Does Fellow Daoist remember I once mentioned that my clan was destroyed? One of the enemies was the Returning True Sect, hahaha, the heavens have eyes, now the Returning True Sect has also met its end..."

Perhaps he was too excited, or maybe he truly considered Chen Li a friend, as he let down his guard completely.

Without waiting to be asked, he gushed on and on like spilling beans.

"Yesterday, one of my senior sect brothers saw a remnant of the Returning True Sect on the street. He followed them, and eventually caught the person in a secluded place. After some severe interrogation, we learned of this matter."

Chen Li tensed up.

Who had met with disaster?

He looked at Lin Qing with complex emotions, "Congratulations to Fellow Daoist for avenging a great enmity."

"Avenging a great enmity? Hehe, it’s still too early. The Returning True Sect ruined my clan, killing over a hundred members of my family. My youngest son was just five years old. How could such an abounding blood feud be settled so easily? Even if all the people of the Returning True Sect died, it wouldn’t be enough to compensate!" Lin Qing said through gritted teeth.

His eyes were filled with bloodlust and murderous intent. At this moment, there was no trace of the refined and cultured demeanor he usually carried; he was completely a different person.