Chapter 877 - 712: Foundation Establishment – Taking the Stage

In just a few short days, the dangerous forbidden lands of the first layer of the Celestial Abyss, some with a history spanning thousands of years or more, were leveled by the Red Hero, causing a huge sensation in the Main World.

It is foreseeable that this event will also be written in storybooks and passed down to future generations.

Lou Yi, however, found himself with nothing to do.

The monsters and vengeful individuals from the Human Race either fled or were slain, virtually disappearing from the first layer of the Celestial Abyss.

Of course, his gains were not insignificant either.

His body’s defensive power and strength had increased by twenty to thirty percent compared to before.

His speed had gone from the extreme of three thousand times the sound speed to over four thousand times.

Various attributes had essentially stabilized at the Third Realm.

If he were to encounter the magic mosquito demon technique’s body again, Lou Yi was confident he could kill it instantly.

Other than that, the total energy value had naturally surged by a considerable amount, more than enough for him to squander now.

Additionally, the Yin Affinity had reached its limit, unable to rise further, likely stronger than even a Super Grade Spirit Root.

The effect was that his Qi Cultivation improved tremendously, reaching a qualitative change in just a few days.

Qi Cultivation Level Nine (600/600) → Foundation Establishment Early Stage (0/600)

With the change in the attribute panel’s realm category.

A vast amount of Spiritual Qi flooded into Lou Yi’s body from the world, even forming small vortices overhead.

The Qi Vortex within his Dantian began expanding rapidly, filling up the entire Dantian in no time.

For ordinary cultivators at the peak of Qi refining, this step is extremely dangerous; if slightly careless, the Spiritual Power could go out of control, leading to a ruptured Dantian, setback in cultivation, or even a life-threatening situation.

But under the immense pressure of Lou Yi’s Divine Sense and Gang Qi, they obediently solidified.

Turning from gas to liquid, becoming a small river of Spiritual Power, also known as Spiritual Essence.

The breakthrough from Spiritual Power to Spiritual Essence is one of the hallmark changes when transitioning from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment.

And then there’s the change from Spiritual Sense to Divine Sense.

’Screech!’

In Lou Yi’s mind, an eagle kept circling, baptized by a mysterious energy of a different root but same origin in a blue mist, its size visibly increasing by a circle.

’Finally, Foundation Establishment achieved.’

Lou Yi glanced at the attribute panel:

[Name: Lou Yi]

[Age: 30/520]

[Realm: Martial Saint Late Stage (519/600, Four Acupoints (499/600)), Three-star Body Cultivator (457/600), Foundation Establishment Early Stage (0/600)]

The most notable change was the age, increasing from 450 years to 520 years.

Generally, Foundation Establishment cultivators have a lifespan of around three hundred years, and now he had nearly doubled it, truly remarkable.

Though Qi Cultivation advanced to Foundation Establishment, his overall strength hadn’t increased significantly, the biggest gain being the increase in lifespan.

Moreover, his Second Realm hadn’t reached the limit yet, and he was eager to see the ultimate potential lifespan he could achieve.

But, the crisis wasn’t over yet.

Lou Yi rubbed his forehead, the stabbing pain growing deeper, feeling as if his head could split in two.

An imminent threat could arrive at any moment, and even though he had reached Third Realm’s combat power, it still wasn’t secure.

Yet, what could be done to enhance his power further?

As Lou Yi pondered, a sudden ethereal Buddhist chant reached his ears.

In the distant high sky, transparent golden Buddhist light surged like uninterrupted waves, exuding a calming and serene aura.

"Old monk Liao Fan, greets Patron Liu."

Amidst the Buddhist light, a red-robed old monk descended slowly, standing on a lotus-shaped magic treasure, gazing at Lou Yi with a warm smile.

The old monk’s brows and beard were all white, his eyes turbid, with wrinkled facial skin, yet his right sleeve was empty, revealing he was a one-armed man.

His cultivation seemed about the Fourth Layer of the Spirit Platform, not standing out on the first layer of the Celestial Abyss.

But Lou Yi dared not underestimate him.

His gaze fixated tightly on the golden stone, the size of a quail egg, in the monk’s hand.

The Buddhist light and ethereal chant had originated from this mysterious stone.

"A relic?"

"Patron Liu has sharp eyes; this is left by a recent Arhat of my Lotus Sect."

Lou Yi heard this and felt a shock in his heart.

The Arhat of the Lotus Sect is above the Fourth Realm and equivalent to a Demon Clan’s Demon Emperor, a renowned figure within the Human Race, breaking through realms to ascend and be invincible in the present era.

The relic left behind naturally holds extraordinary power, able to bypass the limits of the first layer of the Celestial Abyss to enter.

"What brings the master here?" Lou Yi courteously inquired.

Because of Formless Buddha Son, he held a favorable impression of the Lotus Sect.

Moreover, judging by his divination abilities and Martial Artist’s sixth sense, the monk probably didn’t arrive with malicious intent.

"Patron Liu should be aware that you are already in grave danger.

The Immortal Dao Alliance and Ten Thousand Demon Mountain have decided to dispatch true Third Realm experts.

Even though you defeated the Great Demon’s technique body, surviving is not an option."

The one-armed old monk got straight to the point: "Formless Buddha came to us to plead, so we thought of a compromise."

"But this method might be a bit unjust to Patron Liu. Would you like to hear it?"

"Master, please feel free to speak."

"Patron Liu, have you ever heard of the protector of the Buddhist sect?"

"I have heard a little."

"If Patron Liu is willing to become the protector of our sect, we have the means to ensure your safety.

However, it requires you to swear a spiritual oath, sign a supreme contract with the Arhat’s relic, and spend your life within the sect, without stepping a foot outside." The old monk said slowly.

Lou Yi listened and did not get angry.

The other party clearly wasn’t here to insult him but came with sincerity and a genuine desire to save him.

Though he was exceptionally talented, after all, he was merely a cultivator at the barely Third Realm, a level not uncommon in the Lotus Sect.

Even if he agreed, it would likely require a huge cost for the Lotus Sect to save him.

Becoming a protector of the Buddhist sect was akin to switching allegiances, distancing himself from martial arts, and giving the Lotus Sect a legitimate reason to protect him.

"Your sect’s compassion is much appreciated, but my ambition lies in promoting martial arts, and I cannot become your sect’s protector."

After a slight hesitation, Lou Yi still shook his head, indicating refusal.

The one-armed old monk was not surprised, just sighed.

"Ah, it’s natural not to want to be restrained, especially for someone as talented as Patron Liu. I hope you can safely get through this calamity."

With that, he drifted away without further persuasion.

Lou Yi stood there, his expression unchanged.

Although the Martial Artist’s sixth sense kept warning him of impending doom, he did not believe he was entirely without hope.

Whether he could fight through, whether he could survive, only a trial would tell.

Moreover, he had no intention of placing his life and fortune in another’s hands.

Even though the Lotus Sect was relatively reliable,

becoming their protector meant his life and death would be controlled by them, never being able to leave the sect, which was utterly unacceptable to him.

’There must be a way out; where is the way out?’ Lou Yi pondered hard within his mind.

His fortune-telling talent was also pushed to its limits, looking for possibility after possibility.

Suddenly, he furrowed his brow as another ’guest’ arrived.

From within a red mist, three men walked out, appearing to be in their thirties or forties.

Some wore black short outfits, some wore white tight suits, and one wore a red profound robe.

The common point was their formidable bodies, so much so that the roaring sound of Qi-blood surging within could be heard.

Each one’s cultivation was at the peak of the True Martial Realm, comparable to the level of a Martial Saint.

’People from the True Martial Association?’

In the Main World, the martial arts inheritance often ends at the Second Realm.

Besides the True Martial Association, Lou Yi couldn’t think of any other faction that could send out three martial artists at the peak of the Second Realm at once.

"Are you the Red Hero?" The leading red-faced man asked, casually saluting Lou Yi.

Lou Yi looked steadily at him but said nothing.

"Do you know that a great disaster is about to befall you?" The red-faced man suddenly yelled.

Seeing Lou Yi still showing no reaction, he felt a bit awkward but had to continue his act, so he spoke to himself:

"The Immortal Alliance and the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain both want you dead, right now only our True Martial Association can save you!"

"Oh?" Lou Yi still maintained an indifferent attitude.

Lou Yi’s true identity, due to Instructor Lin, was linked with the True Martial Association, but the identity of the Red Hero had no relation to it.

’Damn it, truly ignorant of impending doom!’ The red-faced man cursed inwardly, but on the surface, he tried to keep his tone relaxed:

"Our Young Master is one of the best heroes in the world.

Upon hearing you’re in trouble, he has secretly brought the Association’s treasured artifact just to save you from your plight!"

"So what do I need to do?" Lou Yi showed a hint of a smile-not-a-smile expression.

The red-faced man felt a shiver in his heart.

Recalling the other’s terrifying achievements, he felt as if he were dancing on the edge of a knife.

But considering the Young Master’s strict orders, he had to brace himself and said: "You only need to pledge allegiance to our Young Master, becoming his protector.

In the future, when the Young Master achieves the Great Dao, you’ll also receive blessings..."

Before the red-faced man could finish his sentence, he flew up powerlessly, spewing blood ceaselessly from his mouth.

Not only him but the other two companions as well.

They had all unlocked more than the Five Acupoints, no weaker than the Fifth Layer of the Spirit Platform among Qi Cultivators.

But under Lou Yi’s casual blow, they were as fragile as children.

"Let him come and speak to me in person."

The three were shocked as they heard Lou Yi’s words.

...