Chapter 116 – Relocation to the Lake Island, Arrival of Five Malicious Visitors

Within the herb garden, all kinds of spirit herbs were still in their growing phase.

Even the earliest maturing first-grade herbs needed another two or three months before they were ready.

But abandon them? That was out of the question for Yu Xian.

He would never abandon them. No matter what.

With a wave of his hand, a weapon appeared. Without saying a word, Yu Xian entered the garden and began digging.

Each time, he dug a hole big enough to extract the herb along with a clump of soil around it.

With this ball of soil for protection, the herbs could survive for four or five more days inside a spirit beast pouch.

He would find a new secluded cultivation spot and replant them there.

Yu Xian worked quickly. In just the time it takes three incense sticks to burn, he cleared nearly three mu of land, storing every spirit herb in his spirit beast pouch.

Then, with a flick of his sleeve, he burned the small wooden house and retrieved the small defense array’s formation flags from the surroundings.

With one step, he mounted the Cloud Egret’s back and soared into the skies.

About an incense stick later, four streaks of light approached—Xu Haoming among them.

All four were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But they could only gaze upon the wreckage—charred debris, scorched ground, the smoldering ruins of the wooden house—with helpless expressions.

Yu Xian was long gone.

After flying for two to three hours, the Cloud Egret tired out. Yu Xian dismounted and continued on foot using his Soaring Cloud Technique.

Thus, alternating between flying and walking for another two or three days, he put thousands of miles between himself and White Cloud Sect, finally reaching an area near a stronghold of the Blood River Sect.

He descended in a region filled with forests, the spiritual energy thin, but rich in the sounds of birds and beasts.

About a hundred li to the right was a mortal town.

Yu Xian considered his options. Though he wasn’t picky about cultivation environments, this was too subpar.

The forest was full of poisonous miasma, insects, and wild beasts.

As for the mortal town—it was noisy and full of potential trouble.

Mortals often harbored wild ambitions.

Once they suspected a cultivator was nearby, they would swarm like ants—pleading, begging, kneeling for days, even dying outside the door just to become disciples.

A massive nuisance.

So, he continued searching.

After another full day of travel, Yu Xian finally found a suitable place.

A vast lake, about forty li across.

At its center was a small island about ten li wide.

With no humans living within a hundred li radius, surrounded by mountains and forests—it was well hidden.

Yu Xian was satisfied.

He landed on the island and spent half a day clearing a one-li area to replant the now-wilted herbs.

“Sigh, I wonder how many will survive…”

Looking at the drooping seedlings, Yu Xian sighed and resigned himself to fate.

Next, he built a simple wooden hut and crafted a straw meditation mat.

After an hour, a modest home stood in the clearing.

As night fell, Yu Xian waved his hand.

Four formation flags flew out, embedding themselves around the perimeter—concealment array activated.

Another wave of his hand released eight spirit beasts, who happily roamed the island.

With moderate-to-low spiritual density and natural isolation by the lake and surrounding forests, there was no need to build fences.

Watching the beasts run off, Yu Xian exhaled and entered his hut. Sitting cross-legged on the palm-fiber mat, he closed his eyes.

Spiritual energy began to gather.

Though the island’s spiritual density was low, his supreme-grade storage pouch served as an excellent spirit-gathering array. The energy drawn in was more than enough for cultivation.

An isolated island unknown to the world—perfect for cultivation.

Unknowingly, Yu Xian cultivated for half a year.

Heavy snow fell—it was the start of another winter.

Though his cultivation realm hadn’t increased, his inner reserves had deepened significantly.

His Qi Sea had expanded to five zhang.

Spiritual energy surged like a glowing pond—larger, brighter, and more vibrant. The crystallized core of Qi Condensation perfection floated within it.

Yet, there were still no signs of breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

But Yu Xian wasn’t worried.

His goal was a ten-zhang Qi Sea.

If he still didn’t sense the breakthrough even by then, he would take a Foundation Establishment Pill and force it.

He knew his talent wasn’t great—his upper-grade wood spiritual root came from the Ascension Island’s trials.

So he didn’t expect a “natural” breakthrough.

Taking a pill was the standard route for most cultivators.

Another year passed.

Immersed in cultivation, time flew.

Yu Xian stepped out of his hut, staring at the falling snow that vanished into the lake.

His heart was serene.

The sky was grey, snow heavy, lake black as ink—ominous in appearance.

But the lake held no dangers, treasures, or beasts.

He had checked thoroughly.

Because there was nothing of value, no one ever came here.

Even the occasional Foundation Establishment cultivator flying overhead never gave it a glance.

Exhaling softly, Yu Xian knelt in one direction and called out loudly:

“Father! Mother! Another year has passed! Your son bows before you!”

After bowing several times, he stood and stared ahead with deep eyes.

It had been five years since he left Great Elm Village.

In five years, he had grown from a boy into a young cultivator.

Though cultivators must eventually sever ties with the mortal world—especially given their vastly longer lifespans—Yu Xian couldn’t bring himself to cut them off so coldly.

He still held Great Elm Village in a special place in his heart.

One day, he would return.

He would look at the great elm stump one last time and kneel before his parents’ grave.

Then… cut ties completely.

After that, only three goals would remain:

Find his master.

Avenge the destruction of the elm.

And pursue immortality.

But all that could only come after Foundation Establishment.

Otherwise, his speed and strength were lacking. The emotional burden and wandering thoughts could hinder his cultivation.

Yu Xian had matured. He still hadn’t changed—but his thinking had deepened.

With another breath, he turned and reentered the wooden hut.

He resumed cultivation.

He had the Ten Thousand-Year Wood Spring Art.

He had spiritual pills, stones, herbs.

He didn’t even need to touch the mysterious supreme-grade pouch.

Even the contents of his mid-grade pouch were enough to last him years.

So Yu Xian had no need to worry—only to focus on cultivation.

If spiritual density was ever too low, and even the top-grade pouch couldn’t gather enough, he would just use spirit stones. He had hundreds of thousands…

Unlike other cultivators who had to painstakingly absorb ambient Qi, he had resources.

And so… he cultivated.

Winter faded into spring. Spring into summer. Summer into autumn.

On a certain autumn day, five figures flew in from the distance.

They were just passing by—not heading toward the lake.

But suddenly, a resonant cry from the ground caught one of them off guard!

It was a spirit beast—its joyful call.

Ordinarily, this sound would be lost amid the din of birds and beasts.

But one of the five, surnamed Hu, was an expert in spirit beasts.

His body halted in midair.

“What’s wrong, Brother Hu?”

The others stopped as well.

These five Foundation Establishment cultivators were on their way to a secret realm.

But Hu had paused.

He raised a hand. “Silence, friends. Let me listen carefully.”

Though puzzled, the others waited.

Amid the wind at 300–500 zhang above the ground, mixed with cries of birds and beasts, Hu’s ears twitched again.

His eyes lit up.

“I heard it again!”

“It’s down below!”

Within this hundred-li radius… a massive lake, with a ten-li island in the center.

“Fellow Daoists! I’ve discovered a spirit beast!”

Hu laughed and descended rapidly.

The others followed, intrigued.

“What kind is it?”

“A Blue Star Wolf.”

“Oh…”

A decent second-rank beast—good as a mount, worth over 11,000 spirit stones.

Split among five—not much, but still worthwhile.

They soon reached the ground.

Hu moved quickly, identifying the sound’s source.

Within half an incense stick, he arrived at the lake and pointed at the island.

“There! On that island!”

The others were about to act when one spoke up.

“Wait a moment.”

“Hm?”

“Brother Hu… Blue Star Wolves hate water. Why would one be on an island?”

The others frowned.

“You’re saying… it has a master?”

“Exactly.”

“No wild beast would swim to the center of a lake. Someone brought it.”

“And this island, despite low spirit density, is a fine cultivation retreat.”

The group fell silent.

Then Hu said, “You’re probably right… but we should at least check. If there is a cultivator, we’ll leave it be.”

“That’s fair.”

They flew toward the island.

Just as they reached it, Hu’s ears twitched again—and his face changed!

“Huh!?”

He began identifying more cries.

“White Fat Blood Rabbit… Little Phoenix Cat… Tri-Color Pig…”

He named eight in total, including the Blue Star Wolf.

“These eight spirit beasts… worth over 100,000 spirit stones!”

The others were visibly tempted.

Even the cautious one, surnamed Sun, had a gleam in his eyes—but he also grew more certain:

These beasts had to be raised by someone.

There was no way such a mix would exist together naturally.

“Friends,” he said calmly, “they may be valuable, but if they belong to someone, don’t act rashly. Anyone who can raise eight spirit beasts is no weakling.”

The others hesitated but nodded.

Still, desire burned in their eyes.

Sun stroked his beard and smiled. “Of course, if we ask politely—perhaps even buy one or two—surely the fellow Daoist won’t mind. Don’t you agree?”

“Exactly!”

“Haha, of course!”

“Then let’s go pay a visit. I’ve been meaning to get some Doyang Chicken meat.”

The five chuckled and prepared to walk toward the center of the island.

Surely the cultivator, if one existed, lived in the middle.

But just then…

A faint pressure descended from the heavens.

Subtle—yet clear.

The will of Heaven assisting a cultivator’s Foundation Establishment!

And not from a pill—but from natural breakthrough!

“Hmm!?”

All five faces changed.

Someone… was undergoing natural Foundation Establishment right here!

With nothing but their own perseverance, comprehension, and strength!