Chapter Seventy-One: The Secret of Building Heaven’s Foundation

Ge Qian gained much from the grand competition, first and foremost gaining an understanding of Bai Ruyu's abilities, so he could be prepared. He rode his sword straight toward Five Peaks City; originally, he wanted to see the little white fox, but fearing it might disturb his state of mind, he decided against it.

Bai Ruyu headed directly for Fire Wave Peak, but was intercepted by Ye Yu along the way.

Bai Ruyu stopped, standing on her sword, her face expressionless. No joy or sorrow could be discerned, and she spoke with calm dignity, "Elder, why do you stop me?"

Ye Yu, her face veiled in black gauze, replied gently, "Sister, from now on, let us address each other as sisters. You possess the bloodline of the Ice Phoenix, and your future will surely surpass mine. Advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage is only a matter of time, and your potential is immense. This time, you won the 'King of Spirit Fruits' at the small arena; combined with your Ice Phoenix bloodline, you will surely build a Celestial Foundation, or at the very least, an Earth Foundation. Then you will become the treasure of our Heavenly Star Sect, and the sect leader will certainly nurture you greatly."

Bai Ruyu smiled faintly. "Building a Celestial Foundation is no easy feat. I will do my best."

"Don't be so formal with me. I just want to say, during this trip to the small arena, you must be wary of one person—he is your greatest threat." Ye Yu spoke with concern.

Bai Ruyu's heart stirred. "Is it that the other four sects have produced some outstanding talents?"

"The other four sects have just a few worth noting. With your strength, you can handle them. I am talking about a disciple of our own sect—how much do you know about Ge Qian?" Ye Yu spoke slowly.

Bai Ruyu was slightly taken aback. "Ge Qian is a disciple managing the medicine garden. He has great talent in alchemy, and advanced to the sixth layer of Qi absorption thanks to a large number of pills. As for his combat experience, it is poor."

Ye Yu’s tone grew grave. "You don’t know him nearly well enough. Let me give you some real information: Ge Qian is a master of disguise, hiding his strength and playing the fool. He’s extremely formidable. He did not participate in the grand competition, but if he had, it's hard to say who would have taken first place. During the competition, he deliberately held back and suffered a crushing defeat, deceiving everyone. When entering the small arena, who would pay attention to an unknown disciple with such weak strength? The other four sects will only focus on the Heavenly Star Sect’s elite—Bai Ruyu. He will wait until you and the others exhaust yourselves in battle, then suddenly strike to seize the 'King of Spirit Fruits,' build a Celestial Foundation, and gain the sect leader’s favor. Even if his treachery is discovered, with the sect leader’s protection, who could do anything to him?"

Bai Ruyu shivered at the thought. If things were as Ye Yu described, Ge Qian was truly terrifying—silent until a thunderous rise.

She pretended to ponder. "Even if he is skilled in scheming, before overwhelming power, such tricks are meaningless."

"Let me tell you honestly, Sister. Ye Feng, to help you secure first place, challenged Ge Qian and used the forbidden technique 'Earthen Spirit Blood Armor,' but was easily defeated and lost the precious spirit artifact 'Earthen Spirit Pearl.' You know Ye Feng relies heavily on this Pearl to advance to Foundation Establishment. I dare not intervene, lest others think I bully the young. With Ye Feng's temperament, he won't try to reclaim what he lost. So, Sister, when you enter the small arena, clear your obstacles and return the 'Earthen Spirit Pearl' to Ye Feng. That way, he’ll have nothing to complain about," Ye Yu said earnestly.

Bai Ruyu replied with gratitude, "Since you have told me this, I will certainly seize the 'Earthen Spirit Pearl' and return it to Ye Feng. You can rest assured."

Ye Yu nodded in comfort. "Good, I await news of your Celestial Foundation. I have other matters to attend to, so I must leave now."

With that, she rode her sword and flew away.

Bai Ruyu exhaled softly and muttered, "Ye Yu, you think I don't see through your schemes? You want me and Ge Qian to wear each other down so you can benefit. Ge Qian is using me as a shield, but it won’t be so easy."

Then she too flew away on her sword.

At the Five Peaks City inn, Ge Qian spent all his savings—tens of thousands of spirit stones—buying a large quantity of talisman papers and cinnabar. He planned to devote the whole year to nothing but crafting more 'Fire Python Talismans.'

A single 'Fire Python Talisman' was equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator's full-force attack. Though it could not compare to the 'Purple Fiend Thunder,' its power was not to be underestimated. Most importantly, he could craft the 'Fire Python Talismans' himself. The success rate was extremely low, but they were his only means of survival.

Compared to life, everything else was insignificant—wealth, immortality, it all becomes empty talk once a person dies.

Therefore, spending spirit stones did not bother Ge Qian in the slightest. Bai Ruyu’s trump card could not possibly be 'Phoenix Song Slash.' Whatever it was, a handful of 'Fire Python Talismans' would be enough to deal with her. As for Ye Yu, she was sly and treacherous, and knowing his details, might inform Bai Ruyu, prompting him to use the 'Purple Fiend Thunder' to kill Bai Ruyu, only for her to turn around and deal with him later—a cunning plot.

Ge Qian thought of this and gave a cold laugh. "Once I reach Foundation Establishment, I won't need the 'Purple Fiend Thunder.' I can kill you outright."

Without delay, Ge Qian threw himself into his grand talisman-making endeavor that very day.

In the blink of an eye, eleven months passed, and Ge Qian had achieved remarkable results: twenty 'Fire Python Talismans,' and one 'Great Fire Python Talisman' crafted by fusing two talismans together—a breakthrough in his talisman arts and a deadly trump card.

Now, Ge Qian was utterly penniless. Had he not paid the rent in advance, he would have been thrown out. But it was all worth it; with these talismans in hand, he felt he could roam the small arena at will.

A month slipped by swiftly. Ge Qian sat cross-legged, analyzing the Celestial, Earth, and Mortal Foundations for the Foundation Establishment stage, drawing on the insights of the Daoist Lord of Robbery and his own understanding. After the small arena, Foundation Establishment awaited, and naturally, he wished to build a Celestial Foundation, paving the way for his future cultivation.

To Ge Qian, the Mortal Foundation meant not having shed worldly airs; Earth Foundation was shedding those airs but still tied to the earth for survival; Celestial Foundation was shedding all worldly airs, breaking free from the earth’s constraints, soaring through the sky to remake oneself.

He understood the principle, but how to cast off worldly airs and break free from the earth was a difficult problem.

After three days and nights of deep contemplation, Ge Qian’s eyes suddenly brightened. "If I take karma as my path, then as long as I resolve all my karma with the world and the earth, that is the moment I build a Celestial Foundation."

Enlightened, Ge Qian realized that Bai Ruyu entered the Dao through ice, Yingxue through fire—every cultivator followed their elemental roots.

Though his own talent was poor, he too could enter the Dao, through karma.

With this thought, he rose and left Five Peaks City, riding his sword straight toward Yufu Mountain, where he was born and raised.

Yufu Mountain stood a hundred zhang high, spanning a hundred li, with clear waters, lush forests, and abundant wildlife.

In the mountain was a village of a hundred households, all descended from hunters. Today, a blue rainbow streaked across the sky, revealing a youth in blue robes.

It was Ge Qian—this place was intimately familiar to him. His father had been the village hero, sacrificing himself to save the villagers.

He longed to return to the thatched hut and reminisce, but he restrained himself, for he came to resolve his karma, to cast off worldly ties.

The demonic path, in pursuit of a Celestial Foundation, would kill all witnesses and destroy the past, thinking this cast off worldly ties, not realizing it only sowed greater evil and karma, making true freedom impossible.

Instead, Ge Qian chose to sow good karma, resolve ties, and seek a celestial opportunity to transcend the past.

His voice resonated like thunder, "Hear me, people of Hunter’s Village! The sect leader of the Heavenly Star Sect, merciful and compassionate, cares for all living beings and has sent me as an envoy to bestow gifts upon the villagers, so that you may live in abundance, free from want, and enjoy a lifetime of happiness!"

With that, he shook his storage bag, and countless treasures of gold and silver rained down from the sky, scattering across the streets.