Chapter 293: Chapter 291: Commotion ’Scratch scratch scratch!’ ’Pop pop!’ ’Puff puff!’ A figure dressed in black cloth was bent over in the field, weeding and loosening the soil, performing the actions with familiarity and mechanical precision. There seemed to be almost no pause for rest, as if his stamina were endless. His appearance was somewhat peculiar, without hair, beard, or eyebrows. The bare skin connecting his bald head to his neck was adorned with numerous complex black lines, extending into areas unseen beneath his clothes. After finishing his tasks in the field, he silently walked behind a youth clad in a gray Daoist robe, standing motionless. Lou Yi looked at the freshly loosened and weed-free field before him. Rows of green rice-like plants, each two feet tall, were evenly planted, growing vigorously, prompting him to nod in satisfaction. "Diligent in work, tireless, without complaints. This Lifebound Corpse, placed in the world of my previous life, would be the top-tier laborer, and if widely adopted, those doing manual labor would all be out of work." "Of course, in this life it’s no less remarkable. It helps with farming, assists in cultivating the Profound Yin Technique, and stands in front of its master during combat..." Lou Yi had to admit, the founder of the Corpse-Driving Sect was a genius. Then he turned his gaze to the field before him, focused his mind, and silently practiced the Profound Yin Technique. Simultaneously, he deftly formed hand seals, muttering incantations. The Spiritual Qi stored in the Yin Vein was drawn out like by an extractor, flowing to his fingertips and smoothly dispersing with the spell about to be cast. "Rain Technique!" A refreshing wind first swept through the air. Then, above the field, a pale white cloud appeared. In the blink of an eye, the cloud turned into a gentle drizzle, falling down. A few droplets were blown by the wind onto Lou Yi’s face, cool and slightly tingling, surprisingly carrying a hint of sweetness. ’The rain from this Rain Technique should contain a small amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, or be infused with my Spiritual Power, otherwise the Spirit Rice wouldn’t be growing so well,’ Lou Yi speculated. He looked at the Spirit Field before him, seeing the Spirit Rice heads full, each grain resembling a child’s tooth. And this was just the result of a little over a month’s planting. ’Not bad, not bad, at least I won’t be dragging behind in this quarter’s evaluation.’ In ten days, Lou Yi would have been in the sect for almost three months. All the outer disciples who joined during this period were to undergo a unified comprehensive evaluation. Those who ranked lower wouldn’t face any punishment, but those at the top would receive considerable rewards. Lou Yi, a slacker in his past life, hoped with a cheat in hand he might become a top student in this life. After farming and pest control, Lou Yi left the fields of Zone Wujiu with Lou Er to return to Disciple Peak. Halfway along the path. Suddenly, fierce winds whipped up around them, the temperature drastically dropping. Lou Yi quickly turned his head towards the direction of the commotion. In the distance, on a towering peak of unknown distance. A swirling, semi-transparent vortex of Spiritual Qi had formed, visible to the naked eye. The vortex shimmered with a rainbow of dazzling lights, pouring entirely into a seemingly vast gap on the mountain. "Hahahahahaha!" After a dozen breaths, a loud laugh echoed, resonating throughout the entire sect. "With the sea of Qi tumultuous, the Spirit Rain forms, the Dao Foundation lays as the rainbow haze appears. In one day, shedding mortal bones, from this moment, the immortal path treads on clouds and sand!" The reciting voice was a clear male voice, a tone indescribably free and joyful. Such an uproar soon attracted attention throughout the Corpse-Driving Sect. At this moment, whether they were disciples like Lou Yi on the road, or those cultivating in caves, they all paused their activities, looking towards the towering peak in the distance, eyes filled with incomparable envy. "That mountain is Wendao Peak, a senior brother has broken through to Foundation Establishment!" "With a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, one’s lifespan extends to three hundred years, becoming a living immortal among mortals, and a great cultivator admired among Qi cultivators!" "Judging by the sound, he’s still a young senior brother, and might be a prospective Sect Leader in the future, showered with abundant resources, a true leap to the top!" ’Swish swish swish!’ The scene in the sky was now quite lively. Various flying magical artifacts appeared mid-air, causing waves of Spiritual Qi to ripple around them, light scattering spectacularly in all directions. Elders stood on shabby grass mats as gray as ash, hovering with a swaying motion that seemed slow yet was in fact rapid, disappearing in the blink of an eye; A female Daoist sat atop a massive alchemy furnace several zhang in diameter. The furnace, a brilliant red-gold, was etched with lifelike depictions of divine beasts such as dragons and phoenixes. Below, a fierce fire seemed to be blazing, the awe-inspiring heat perceptible even from a distance; A middle-aged man stepped on an abacus slightly larger than his feet. Causing one to worry he might fall any moment, a trail of two visible black exhaust streams trailed behind; Another transformed into a humanoid rainbow light with features unrecognizable... The emergence of a new Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator in the Corpse-Driving Sect was a major event, indeed a joyous occasion, stirring the long-sequestered elders. It wasn’t long before the sect announced that to celebrate the birth of the new Foundation Establishment, all disciples were granted a day of rest. Though in practice this notice meant little; those who needed to cultivate would continue, and those with tasks still had to complete them. But from this, the status of Foundation Establishment can be discerned, starkly different from the Qi Cultivation Stage. On Disciple Peak, these new entrants were excited, sharing in the honor. "Foundation Establishment! Once achieving it, one’s family can dominate locally," exclaimed the round-faced little chubby boy who had bribed the steward when reclaiming fields. "Dominating locally is nothing; a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator is at least an elder in our sect. In the future, he can continue to support family members, ensuring the family’s prosperity for hundreds of years isn’t an issue," Wang Wenbai retorted with a sneer. Unperturbed by the rebuttal, the chubby boy continued, "Heh, if that’s what Foundation Establishment is like, what would it be like to achieve the Golden Core?" "A Golden Core Master, don’t even think about it. I’ve heard, the last Golden Core Master in the Corpse-Driving Sect was six hundred years ago. Currently, only the Sect Leader, the Three Corpses Daoist, has any chance of breaking through," Rong Xuejian shook his head. Every Golden Core Master represents the sect’s highest combat power and greatest foundation. "Achieving a Golden Core, living eight hundred years; truly witnessing dynasties fall while remaining unmoved," even the usually aloof You Qingyi couldn’t help but utter a sentiment. Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but show expressions of longing. Lou Yi remained silent, his concerns diverging from the others. ’Foundation Establishment is indeed formidable; judging from my encounters, if they targeted me, I’d stand no chance, escaping would be difficult.’ ’Unless encountering special terrain, like large rivers or lakes, but I’d need to withstand their first strike and survive. With Fireproof and Wind Stabilization talents, my chances are slightly higher against Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Fire Element and Wind Element...’ Lou Yi regarded the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators as hypothetical adversaries, mentally simulating confrontations with them. Currently, perhaps he could contend with Late-Stage Qi Cultivators. But between Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation, there existed a chasm as vast as the sky. ’Still need to train, see if elevating Martial Arts Cultivation to its peak brings any significant change,’ Lou Yi pondered. ...