Tian Yuan War Chronicles: The Path of Artifacts to Ascension – Chapter 22

Ch 22: Mid-Cultivation Foundation Establishment

Since Princess Lin Lan was brought to White Lotus Residence for closed-door cultivation, Lin Yu and Hua Kong have been living a life of cultivating and cleaning the courtyard during the day, and resting and tinkering with small gadgets at night.

Hua Kong naturally improved his bird shooting tube, while Lin Yu became fascinated with studying various unorthodox ways of the cultivation world ━ illusion techniques, illusion formations, soul techniques, poisons, elixirs, talismans, and so on.

Obviously stimulated by the Nine Nether Sect incident last time, while Hua Kong made considerable progress in making bird shooting tubes, Lin Yu’s illusion techniques also achieved considerable results. Now he can use illusion techniques to fight Hua Kong, who is one level lower than him in cultivation.

Although Hua Kong was not interested in these, he did not dare to take it lightly after suffering a loss last time.

He specially sought some coping methods. For example, he spent three mid-grade spirit stones to buy the Illusion Dispelling Flute used by the princess last time ━ so that every time he practiced using it, Hua Kong could hear the sound of his heart bleeding.

After becoming proficient in using the Illusion Dispelling Flute, Hua Kong was able to fight back and forth with Lin Yu, who used illusion techniques.

Hua Kong’s bird shooting tube has also been improved to be more sophisticated, with a higher success rate of launching, and the strength of the small hammer and crossbow is becoming more and more stable.

The arrow wrapped in the small steel pipe is becoming more and more refined, and the range has reached a distance of half a kilometer, and the accuracy is quite good.

Hua Kong also improved the installation method of the small steel pipe. Now, just open a button to open an iron block, which can jam the small steel pipe when closed.

A hole is drilled in the middle of the iron block, and an iron nail and a steel spring are installed in the hole. Now, just use a small hammer to strike this iron nail,

It will hit the Mortal Fire Crystal Powder at the bottom of the steel pipe, and then ignite the bird shooting powder, and launch the arrow in the small steel pipe.

If you want to launch again, just open the iron block, and the used small steel pipe will pop out, and you can use it by replacing it with a new one.

After Lin Yu tried it a few times, he also put forward some suggestions for improvement. As a general who had led cavalry, Hua Kong still valued his opinions.

After several more improvements, Lin Yu was finally more satisfied, so Hua Kong made two and gave them to him, and also prepared a hundred small steel pipes filled with medicine and arrows for him.

However, the cultivation of the two did not fall behind. The two still practiced tirelessly during the day. Seven months later, Lin Yu’s cultivation was already at the Great Perfection of the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, while Hua Kong was in the mid-stage of the Eighth Level of Qi Refining.

A few days ago, the two suddenly received news from White Lotus Residence that Lin Lan should be leaving closed-door cultivation soon.

In this way, the two rushed to White Lotus Residence during the day to wait for Lin Lan, and still returned to the small courtyard at night to live.

More than ten days later, Lin Lan successfully left closed-door cultivation and advanced to the mid-cultivation of the early stage of Foundation Establishment, but Lin Yu and Hua Kong did not see Lin Lan immediately.

Old Ancestor Lin Lian then guided Lin Lan on how to stabilize her state of mind and realm for more than ten days, and after confirming that there was nothing wrong, she let Lin Yu and Hua Kong take Lin Lan away.

After Lin Lan came back, life in the small courtyard returned to normal.

However, Lin Yu and Hua Kong felt that Lin Lan’s temperament was very different from before. There was no other reason than the silent deterrence brought about by the gap in realm.

After staying in the small courtyard for less than ten days, Old Ancestor Lin Lian came again, confirmed that Lin Lan’s state had stabilized, and then decided to hold an Ascension Banquet to celebrate.

In August, Old Ancestor Lin Lian invited familiar friends and their inner sect disciples to hold an Ascension Banquet at White Lotus Residence.

Lin Lan met with Old Ancestor Lin Lian and her friends, while Lin Yu and Hua Kong guarded outside the small hall, occasionally helping the disciples who served the dishes.

“Junior Sister Lian is really good at hiding! Is this the highly talented junior in your family?”, a middle-aged male cultivator with a square mouth and big ears joked.

“Senior Brother Zhou, don’t make fun of me. Where is the hiding! It’s just that Xiao Lan is still young! I’m afraid her state of mind is unstable, so I’m staring at her to let her cultivate properly.”, Old Ancestor Lin Lian said with a rare smile.

“That’s right! That’s right! Have you heard? That kid from the Wen Family actually auctioned off a Spirit Fox Clan female servant from the Three Yang Realm! It made Old Man Wen’s nose crooked! Haha~~cough cough~~”,

The male cultivator surnamed Zhou laughed wildly, so much so that he was choked by his own saliva.

“That’s really audacious!”, a scholarly male cultivator said.

“That’s right!”, everyone joked one after another, and the scene suddenly became a little out of control.

“Let’s not talk about that kid, today is to celebrate the success of Xiao Lan’s Foundation Establishment”, a dark-faced cultivator said.

“Yes! Yes!”, everyone came back to their senses.

“Xiao Lan, now that you are at the Foundation Establishment cultivation level! Do you have a position in the sect?”, the dark-faced cultivator asked.

“Senior Brother Feng, this matter, my Old Ancestor has arranged it, so I won’t bother you”, Lin Lian quickly stopped him, fearing that he would snatch Lin Lan away.

“Junior Sister Lian doesn’t have to be like this, how can I be someone who doesn’t understand the rules, I’m just asking”, the dark-faced man quickly explained.

“Xiao Lan! You have worked hard in cultivation these past few years! I have seen it all! A little girl like her left her parents and relatives and came to a strange world. Her family must be worried!

I am her elder, and I promised to take her back to see her family. I can’t go back on my word!”, Old Ancestor Lin Lian transformed into a confidante again, sighing.

“That’s right! Xiao Lan is only seventeen years old! Alas! The younger generation surpasses the older generation!”, the scholarly cultivator sighed.

“Yes! I was forty-two years old when I successfully established my foundation!”, the male cultivator surnamed Zhou also sighed.

“Xiao Lan is indeed gifted and works hard in cultivation!”, a wave of rainbow farts came.

“Okay! Okay! Everyone, stop talking! Lest Xiao Lan become impatient!”, Lin Lian interrupted everyone’s flattery.

“Senior Sister Lian is still so careful!”, a red-clothed female cultivator said.

“Oh! Junior Sister Ke is laughing at me! The hardships we have gone through from the One Yang Realm to the Seven Yang World are not enough for outsiders to understand!”, Old Ancestor Lin Lian said with emotion.

“Relax! Master is about to enter the late stage of Golden Core! Her right to speak in the Council of Elders has also increased a lot! Although it can’t compare to Old Man Wen, our lineage is not weak!”, the red-clothed woman said.

“Junior Sister Ke is right!”, the male cultivator surnamed Zhou echoed.

“It’s better to be careful, it’s better to be careful!”, the scholarly cultivator disagreed.

“Junior Brother Shen and Junior Sister Lin Lian are a good match!”, the male cultivator surnamed Zhou said ambiguously.

“Yes! Yes!”, everyone booed again.

The younger generation at the next few tables, seeing their masters so relaxed, also pushed cups and exchanged drinks, and were very happy. They also ran over to find Lin Lan for a drink from time to time, as a way of getting to know her.

Lin Lan sat quietly to the side, cooperating with everyone’s frolic. When her senior brothers and sisters came over to invite her, she held her wine glass and drank with them.

Everyone drank and made merry until late at night, and White Lotus Residence returned to its usual quietness.

“What Old Ancestor said is true? Are you really going to take me home to see my family?”, Lin Lan asked Lin Lian before leaving.

“Of course! You are already at the mid-cultivation of the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and now it is most important to stabilize your state of mind and realm! You go back to Great Zhou and live with your family for a while!

When your realm is stable, the sect should assign you a task! Let’s not talk about this for now! You should go back to the small courtyard and rest for a while! After I finish dealing with some things, we can set off soon!”, Lin Lian said affirmatively.

“Okay!”, Lin Lan responded. She called Lin Yu and Hua Kong to return to the small courtyard.

Learning that they could return to Great Zhou, the three of them were in a good mood. After all, this trip had been seven years long, and their family members were probably unable to recognize them.

Lin Lan’s realm has had a major improvement, and now cultivation is not the top priority, so she will take time to guide Lin Yu and Hua Kong’s cultivation, and both of them have benefited greatly.

Lin Yu used illusion techniques to compete with Lin Lan, but the Foundation Establishment stage cultivator’s mastery of spiritual power and spells was not comparable to the Qi Refining stage. His illusion techniques were always easily seen through.

Hua Kong then took out his bird shooting tube, and Lin Lan was very surprised. She tried it and found that if she was not careful, she might be hit.

She specially studied this bird shooting tube, and was even more surprised after confirming that it was a Mundane Artifact. She praised Hua Kong fiercely.

She specially asked Hua Kong for a bird shooting tube, as well as a hundred small steel pipes filled with medicine and arrows.

Although this cleared Hua Kong’s stock, he was still elated for several days because of it.

After Lin Lan advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, the sect’s attention to her increased. During the time they came back, people kept sending invitations, trying to get to know her, but without exception, they were politely rejected by Old Ancestor Lin Lian.

Finally, after another ten days of ordinary life, Old Ancestor Lin Lian sent a message, asking them to prepare and set off soon.

Learning this news, a faint smile finally appeared on Lin Lan’s calm face, which also affected Lin Yu and Hua Kong.

Since starting cultivation, life has become a bit monotonous. After practicing the 《Heart-Clearing Mantra》, the state of mind has gradually become a bit different, as if losing the joys, sorrows, and happiness of mortals.

Today’s events let the two know that they are still mortals, although they are not ordinary mortals anymore.

In September, Old Ancestor Lin Lian finally arranged everything, summoned the few people to White Lotus Residence, and summoned the Black Ship to fly towards a direction in the high sky.

This time, Lin Yu and Hua Kong were not forbidden to go to the top floor, and they could often go to the top floor, of course, to serve the two with tea and water.

From this, the two saw scenes they had never seen before, saw the stars twinkling above the high sky, and the terrifying scene when the Flying Boat tore through space and entered a circular passage.

“This!?”, the scene in front of them was accompanied by the creaking sound of the Black Ship, and both of them were shocked.

“What are you afraid of? This is just the beginning? This Flying Boat was obtained by Old Ancestor Mu Yan at the cost of his life. It can travel through the Star Sea! Only Nascent Soul Elders in the sect have it!”, Lin Lian said with rare pride.

“So that’s how it is!”, Lin Yu and Hua Kong had never heard of this, so of course they were shocked.

About half an hour later, the anomalies and vibrations disappeared, and the Flying Boat entered a pitch-black sky full of stars.

“We’ve arrived at the One Yang Realm where Great Zhou is located! It’s still night!”