Free Web NovelChapter 446: Chapter 374: Rabbit Heroine’s Foundation Establishment
Medicine King Valley, Yao Shi Mountain City.
As the ancestral land of the Yao Family, the prosperity of Yao Shi Mountain City is no less than that of Chang’an County Town. Even its devotion to Buddha surpasses it, with Buddhist pagodas and small temples everywhere, the most frequently seen Bodhisattva tablet being ’Namo the Great Compassionate and Merciful Locking Dragon Bodhisattva’. Statues of the Bodhisattva are seen at intervals along the road, never lacking incense and offerings.
On the street, a herd of leisurely strolling white-tailed deer can be seen, strutting with heads high, forcing both pedestrians and carriages to halt for them. Each deer is glossy, bright, and robust.
Suddenly, a small deer breaks away from the group and approaches a table at a roadside eatery, which has two diners wearing conical hats, one tall and one short, seemingly two sisters from their figures.
The younger sister takes out a piece of cake and hands it to the white-tailed deer, which munches on it and then licks the younger sister’s palm. Nearby diners laugh and say the younger sister has received the white deer’s blessing and that everything she does will go smoothly.
"Why does the white deer give blessings?" the younger sister curiously asks.
"Because the white deer is the messenger of the Locking Dragon Bodhisattva," an old woman says respectfully with her hands joined in prayer. "For centuries, Yao Shi Mountain City has enjoyed favourable weather and abundant harvests, all thanks to the protection of the Locking Dragon Bodhisattva. The white deer, representing the Bodhisattva, patrols the mortal world, possessing great mystical powers. Villains reform upon seeing the white deer, while devout believers turn misfortune into fortune. Little sister, you receiving the blessing means you are connected to the Bodhisattva."
"Thank you for your kind words," the little sister replies with a smile.
Next to her, the older sister in the conical hat chuckles bitterly inside, thinking, this is more than just being connected; they are entangled with the Locking Dragon Bodhisattva in a series of cause and effect, impossible to sever or clarify.
They are even here to confront the Locking Dragon Bodhisattva!
The two sisters wearing conical hats are none other than Pharmacist’s Wish and the Rabbit Heroine. Pharmacist’s Wish looks at the Rabbit Heroine rubbing the white deer’s head, recalling the meeting at noon.
...
When Yan Qing finished introducing the Foundation Establishment Demon Pill, everyone’s first reaction was not curiosity or greed, but fear.
To them, the Foundation Establishment Demon Pill is undoubtedly a deadly poison; consuming it means certain death!
The unconditional transition straight to the Foundation Establishment sounds wonderful, but even a child understands the folly of biting off more than one can chew. If they believed it and took it directly, bypassing the late stage of Third Transformation Great Perfection to enter Foundation Establishment, they might face the potential disaster of not being able to handle such a drastic transformation, with their bodies and spirits collapsing! This isn’t their overthinking; history records instances like ’boiling blood’ and ’sinking soul’, illnesses resulting from rapid power gains. Normally, a single absorption of Celestial Spirits or Earthly Fiends during the Third Transformation takes one to two years to adjust to bodily changes, let alone Foundation Establishment?
Is it feasible to wait until Third Transformation Perfection to consume it? No, it’s not.
Though it’s unclear why the Foundation Establishment Demon Pill grants the ability to wield divine techniques infinitely, it seems like there is no cost, but doesn’t the Heavy Rain Messenger summon heavy rain without cost too? It’s just that the messenger can’t bear the burden of the ’heavy rain’.
If divine techniques are like weapons, to use them infinitely equates to having unlimited strength to wield a weapon. The strength may be unlimited, but can your muscles, bones, and nerves also withstand unlimited use? Shang Xinlei knows this well, as the Five Stone Powder of the Liang Kingdom can achieve a similar effect, granting messengers infinite strength and completely blocking bodily pain, but at the cost of months of rest, causing premature aging.
It’s not the Five Stone Powder directly consuming life, but the unrestrained exploitation of their bodies.
This unlimited power carries a heavy price, so what about unlimited divine techniques?
Were it only this, they wouldn’t be so fearful; if a bit of cost enabled Foundation Establishment, they were ready to risk it all. Alas, the prospect of falling from the Foundation Establishment Realm the very next day seemed terrifying to them.
This isn’t a cost; it’s a path to self-destruction!
No one has witnessed a Foundation Establishment Messenger falling from their realm; thus, no one can predict the aftermath. But if Foundation Establishment is adulthood and mortals are children, growing into an adult is the natural course of the Great Dao; reverting an adult to a child... how do you reverse your bones? How does one reverse their muscles?
Know that the life ascension at Fourth-Turn Foundation Establishment far outshines the previous three transformations; the fall of elevated Qi Blood Divine Soul is akin to chopping a grown adult back to a child’s height. This is no mere illness; perhaps being halved would be a closer description.
This is not an elixir for breaching realms, but a poison brewed from an ephemeral bloom—a fleeting glimpse of Foundation Establishment at the end of life!
"Very well," after a brief silence, Ying Rushi suddenly smiles: "I’ve long wanted to meet the three great ones of the Qi Kingdom, never expecting such an opportunity."
"Stop daydreaming, White Fox," Pharmacist’s Wish takes a deep breath: "Between us, I’m the closest to Third Transformation Perfection. Only I have the right to consume the demon pill, and only I can lead you to victory." She nods at Yan Qing: "Right, leader?"
"This time, the enemy is the three great ones of the Qi Kingdom and Ying Le; it’s my national affair, my family affair, my personal affair." Ying Rushi stands firm: "I must personally—"
Pharmacist’s Wish ruthlessly interrupts: "You haven’t even absorbed Celestial Spirits or Earthly Fiends; you can’t fully exploit the demon pill’s potential, better let Red Snake take it."
"Me?" Shang Xinlei points at herself, surprised: "I... um um um... Oh, by the way, Yellow Dog, didn’t you say your divine technique [Tombstone Inscription] can save people? Is it true that you can save anyone regardless of circumstances?"
"Stop arguing; this demon pill isn’t for you to consume; I only brought it for you to see." Yan Qing declares.
Pharmacist’s Wish considers a possibility: "Do you want your subordinate to consume the demon pill and join us in action on the day of the mission?"
Shang Xinlei frowns slightly, feeling a bit down, but says nothing.
"Why do you think a newly-established Foundation Cultivator can match the four seasoned Foundation Cultivators?" Yan Qing shakes his head: "Even the youngest Ying Le has been at Foundation Establishment for ten years, and the three great ones of the Qi Kingdom might be armed to the teeth with Fourth-Turn Tokens. Even if the demon pill grants unlimited divine techniques, do you think that’s enough for overwhelming power? An instant of unlimited techniques, can it compete with a hundred years of Foundation Establishment experience?"
The thief women shake their heads. Though somewhat unfamiliar with Foundation Establishment, they know that a Fourth-Turn Foundation’s divine technique counts only one, easily avoided, countered, or broken. Moreover, Ying Le and the three great ones of the Qi Kingdom are renowned for combat; can’t they escape if outmatched?
Humans aren’t monsters; with a brain, they can always keep you in check.
"So this demon pill isn’t for accomplishing the mission, but for acquiring resources," Yan Qing tightly grips the box containing the demon pill: "To obtain resources for our Foundation Establishment!"
...
"Need to find a quieter place?" Pharmacist’s Wish surveys her surroundings, "It’s said that during Zhou Taizu’s Foundation Establishment, the scene was grand, with auspicious clouds, a dragon-carried ten-thousand chariot ride, the great sun shining, harmony of heaven and earth."
The eatery they are at is just ahead of a city tower, beyond which lies Medicine King Mountain.
On Medicine King Mountain is Medicine King Valley, within which is Yao Shi Yue; the straight-line distance between them and the True Man of Locking Dragon is less than a mile, which is practically within reach for Foundation Establishment!
"No need, let’s do it here," the Rabbit Heroine boldly declares: "If there’s commotion, even better, it saves the trouble of announcing our presence to the mountain."
"Sister."
"Hmm?"
Seeing Pharmacist’s Wish hesitating to speak, the Rabbit Heroine seems to guess her mind: "Don’t worry, haven’t you suspected? I’m not a waste like my brother... I’m the destiny’s favored child!"
As she speaks, the Rabbit Heroine takes out a jade box, producing a pill exuding a purple aura. Pharmacist’s Wish glances but dares not look again; the fragrance of the pill is intoxicatingly alluring, she feels every drop of her blood thirsting for the nourishment of this demon pill!
This is an existence between a Spirit Pill and deadly poison, a forbidden temptation messengers should not touch!
Messengers in Yao Shi Mountain City are not rare; there are several on this street alone. When the Rabbit Heroine reveals the pill, they all feel their Qi Blood being stirred, as if a natural treasure has emerged nearby. But before they can investigate, the pill’s aura vanishes.
Thud!
A thunderous heartbeat stirs the Qi Blood of all messengers in Yao Shi Mountain City!
Right in front of the temple of the True Man of Locking Dragon, right in the city of the Yao Family, amidst the bustling market, the Rabbit Heroine consumes the demon pill, aspiring for Foundation Establishment!
