"Indeed, practicing martial arts within the family offers protection, preventing death. But engaging with demonic beasts means constantly facing life-or-death crises, and the speed of improving combat power is naturally faster... Even understanding these principles, I couldn't make such a decision, yet Lin Xuan could. This shows he truly surpasses me."
Lin Junjie sighed in admiration.
...
The story splits into two threads.
"We are entering the depths of the Taihang Mountain Range now," Fang Ming's expression grew slightly solemn.
After separating from the others, he had come to the Taihang Mountain Range.
The Taihang Mountain Range is divided into an outer and inner region.
What Fang Ming had visited before was merely the outer region; he was now entering the inner region.
The depths of the Taihang Mountain Range's inner region are different from the outer region. The outer region has demonic beasts at most up to the tenth level of the Condensing Pulse realm, while the inner depths are home to numerous Foundation Establishment realm demonic beasts, and even Golden Core realm demonic beasts.
For Fang Ming, this indeed posed some danger.
However, since he had searched the outer region thoroughly and found no Hidden Moon Blood, coming to the inner region to search, and the depths of the Taihang Mountain Range, seemed like a natural course of action.
"The spiritual energy of heaven and earth is becoming increasingly dense here," Fang Ming could feel that from the outer region to the depths was a critical point. The further inward he went, the denser the spiritual energy became. Demonic beasts of high cultivation naturally gravitated towards the denser spiritual energy, making it a more suitable habitat for them.
This was why the demonic beasts in the outer region were weaker, and those in the depths were more powerful.
The mountains on both sides sloped gently, and the cries of various demonic beasts echoed. Fang Ming's movements were no longer careless but cautious.
This was a place where Foundation Establishment realm demonic beasts frequently appeared, so he had no choice but to be careful.
Currently, his strength was indeed unrivaled within the Condensing Pulse realm, but against a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, he was only equivalent to an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
With such strength, caution was naturally necessary.
In the depths of the Taihang Mountain Range, even if he didn't encounter a Golden Core realm demon king, there were still plenty of late-stage or peak Foundation Establishment realm existences.
A gentle breeze brushed past, carrying a hint of floral fragrance. Fang Ming sniffed, detecting the scent of heavenly treasures.
This was a usage of the treasure-seeking secret technique from the original Lin Xuan's memories.
Having practiced this treasure-seeking secret technique for a long time, Fang Ming had become quite proficient. He had now reached a level where he could discern the scent of heavenly treasures with a single sniff.
"It seems to be some kind of precious herb. I'll go take a look."
"This scent, it might be a high-grade heavenly treasure, a spiritual medicine."
Unfolding the treasure-seeking secret technique, Fang Ming gently walked in the direction from which the fragrance emanated. Not far away, he soon saw a flower that was entirely purple and tinged with blue.
Beside the flower lay a giant tiger, four to five zhang in size, seemingly asleep.
"Purple Gold Flower, one of the three main ingredients needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills!"
Fang Ming's eyes lit up, and he rejoiced inwardly.
This spiritual medicine was too well-known, making it easy to identify. Normally, any ordinary cultivator would recognize it immediately, let alone Fang Ming?
Fang Ming recognized it at a glance: this was an essential component for refining Foundation Establishment Pills!
Foundation Establishment Pills, as the name suggests, are pills that help cultivators at the tenth level of the Condensing Pulse realm to establish their Foundation. They can increase the success rate by as much as three levels. In Liangchen County, this was arguably the most precious pill, difficult to obtain even with vast wealth.
For cultivators who had spent decades cultivating, were white-haired, and were stuck at the tenth level of the Condensing Pulse realm with no further progress, the Foundation Establishment Pill was most needed! With it, they could live for another hundred years and become revered Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Even young spiritual body geniuses would go mad for it. While they possessed sufficient talent, let's not forget that breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm carried a risk of death!
Who wasn't afraid of death? For those old cultivators with white hair, they might still choose to gamble on establishing their Foundation without a Foundation Establishment Pill – after all, their lives were nearing their end, and the hope of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill was slim, so they might as well risk it.
However, for young geniuses and prodigies, who were only in their twenties or thirties and had reached the great perfection of the tenth level of the Condensing Pulse realm, only one step away from Foundation Establishment – they certainly wouldn't want to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm at such a young age, only to fail and perish due to the lack of a Foundation Establishment Pill to protect their heart and soul.
Therefore, compared to those old cultivators with white hair, the Foundation Establishment Pill held a stronger allure for young prodigies!
What lay before Fang Ming was one of the main ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills, and its revelation would drive the world into a frenzy of competition! For example, if Lei Jian, a top prodigy under thirty who had reached the great perfection of the tenth level of the Condensing Pulse realm, knew about the Purple Gold Flower, he would undoubtedly fight desperately to obtain it!
Of course – whether he could defeat the giant tiger was another matter entirely!
"Although it's not Hidden Moon Blood, it is undoubtedly something I want!"
Fang Ming's eyes shone brightly, two beams of light flashing out!
His original intention was simply to find a reliance to practice the Profound Star Sword Art.
But since he had unexpectedly found one of the three main materials for Foundation Establishment Pills, he naturally couldn't miss it!
Fang Ming had also reached the fourth level of the Condensing Pulse realm in this world's cultivation system.
Although he possessed the strength of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, that was the result of combining multiple cultivation systems, not solely practicing this world's system.
Currently, he had only opened four spiritual meridians within his body.
According to the understanding of cultivators in this world, he was merely a cultivator whose magic power had reached the fourth level of the Condensing Pulse realm!
So, to progress in this world's cultivation system, would he need a Foundation Establishment Pill?
The answer was a definitive yes!
Absolutely needed!
Although consuming a Foundation Establishment Pill was something that could only be done at the tenth level of the Condensing Pulse realm, Fang Ming could prepare in advance.
Upon encountering such a fortuitous encounter, Fang Ming instinctively did not want to let it go!
"This giant tiger is a Foundation Establishment realm demonic beast... early-stage Foundation Establishment is still within the range of victory."
A startling light flashed in Fang Ming's eyes.
This terrifying aura startled the giant tiger awake!
Roar!
Condensing Pulse realm demonic beasts possessed only bestial nature, while Foundation Establishment realm demonic beasts had already opened their intelligence!
At this moment, this Foundation Establishment realm demonic beast, having been awakened by Fang Ming, instinctively sensed Fang Ming's malice!
This human wants to snatch my Purple Gold Flower!
Intelligent demonic beasts could naturally think.
At this moment, the giant tiger immediately realized Fang Ming's purpose.
As a demonic beast that accompanied the Purple Gold Flower, and one that coexisted with it, relying on it to forge its Foundation, the giant tiger instinctively viewed the Purple Gold Flower as its own possession. How could it tolerate Fang Ming snatching it?
Therefore, the giant tiger's roar was a form of innate profound technique, possessing soul-capturing power. As soon as it was unleashed, Fang Ming felt as if his soul was being dragged out of his body!