Chapter 380: Chapter 378: Scheming If you want to counter the Foundation Establishment Elders, there are basically two plans. One is to enhance your own strength. Lou Yi looked at the Attribute Panel: [Name: Lou Yi] [Age: 23/160] [Realm: Martial Master Peak (126/?), Martial Artist Peak (101/?), Mid-tier Anomaly (20/600), Three-star Body Cultivator (88/600), Qi Cultivation Third Level (360/600)] [Cultivation Technique: Yellow Extreme Breathing Technique (Stage Two, Perfection)... Starlight Body Tempering Technique (Proficient 0/1000+1 Starlight Herb), Demon Summoning Scripture (Mastered 0/2000+1 Dragon Saliva Grass)] [Skill: Lou’s Axe Skill (Perfection)...] [Magic: Corpse Control Technique (Perfection), Yin Qi Arrow... Blood Feeding Spirit Transformation Technique... Palm Flame (Minor Achievement 0/10000), Gold Needle Technique... Wall Building Technique (Minor Achievement 0/10000)] [Talent: Petrification (Major Achievement 0/10000+1 Ice Soul), Swift (Mastered 0/800+1 Wind Riding Fruit), Disguise (Mastered 0/2000+1 White Ape), tenacity (Mastered 0/1000+1 Spirit-devouring Vine), Venom...] [Energy: 3822] Currently, his strength is composed of four major parts: Qi Cultivation, Body Refinement, Martial Arts, and Talent. As for Qi Cultivation and Body Refinement, there certainly won’t be significant changes within a year. In terms of Martial Arts, the Breathing Technique and Skin Refining Technique are almost stagnant, with only Mutated Martial Arts progressing. Currently at the Mid-tier Anomaly stage, it would take more than a year and a half to advance to the High-tier Anomaly. In the initial stage of Anomalies, Lou Yi communicated with a strange tumor that formed within his body, absorbing its energy to transform himself. By the end of the Mid-tier Anomaly stage, one must devour the tumor to become indistinguishable. As for the High-tier Anomaly, it involves constantly devouring newly formed tumors to achieve a transformative state throughout the entire body, reaching the Non-human Realm. If he advanced to a High-tier Anomaly, his martial strength would undoubtedly leap, with a significant increase in Qi-blood. According to previous insights, once Qi-blood reaches a certain height, it will react mysteriously with Divine Sense, potentially causing a qualitative transformation in strength. Therefore, he should focus a lot of his energy on finding the Dragon Saliva Grass needed for the advancement of the Demon Summoning Scripture. As long as he can elevate the Demon Summoning Scripture to the Small Success Level, he should be able to break through to a High-tier Anomaly within a year. As for Talent. Against Elder Wang of the Foundation Establishment Level, Petrification and tenacity are the most effective. If Petrification advances, it could not only improve his defense but also potentially increase the cultivation speed of the Starlight Body Tempering Technique, achieving two benefits in one move. tenacity can absorb damage, enhancing his survival capability. Thus, the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like Ice Soul and Spirit-devouring Vine should also be prioritized. Besides enhancing personal strength, the second method to counter the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator is to rely on external help. If he could find a powerful patron, his situation would significantly improve. Bi Yaoyao’s father, Elder Bi, cannot help him forever. But if he quickly breaks through to the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, he will qualify to find a mentor. As long as he apprentices to someone stronger than Elder Wang, it will surely give the latter pause. Currently, his cultivation at Qi Cultivation Third Level (360/600) is increasing by three proficiency points per day, and he could break through to the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage in a little over two months. Thinking of this, Lou Yi couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. He glanced at the Attribute Panel again, noticing the Sword Control Technique, which had always been gray, was now usable. After all, his Body Cultivation had broken through, giving birth to Spiritual Sense. Sword Control Technique (Uninitiated 0/20) → Sword Control Technique (Initiated 0/80) → Sword Control Technique (Proficient 0/400) → Sword Control Technique (Mastered 0/2000) → Sword Control Technique (Minor Achievement 0/10000) Unfamiliar memories appeared in his mind. In these memories, Lou Yi became a swordsman in the mortal world, eager to uphold justice, accidentally stumbling upon an evil cultivator’s deeds, and joined forces with a Daoist priest to eliminate him. The priest, gravely injured, passed on a Flying Sword and a mantra before dying: channel Qi into the blade, moving the sword with the mind, stepping on constellations to summon wind and thunder, while a green snake flies from the sleeve towards the moon... Thus, relying on this mantra and the Flying Sword, he transformed from a sword hero to a sword immortal, frequently upholding justice and leaving countless legends in the mortal world... In reality, Lou Yi’s Divine Sense underwent another baptism. The hawk absorbed most of the energy, its size expanding once more. As for the white ape formed from Spiritual Sense and the black snake in the tumor, they quietly remained in a corner without any action. A wealth of experience in controlling the Flying Sword and other Magical Artifacts materialized out of thin air in Lou Yi’s mind. With a thought, Lou Yi brought forth all the Magical Artifacts he could now control. The black Flying Dagger treasure embryo, named Moyuan; The Spiritual River Ruler obtained from the patriarch of the Li Family of the East Sea; The Yuan Magnetic Pearl and Fire Element Fan seized from Young Master Yun of the Red Sun Sect; the Upper Grade Treasured Armor obtained from Geng Yao of the True Blood Sect; The Mother-and-child Black Nail taken from an Evil Cultivator; the silver Flying Sword acquired from a Female Cultivator of the Five Elements Sect... Generally, Qi Cultivators often focus their energy on refining a single Magical Artifact, rarely exceeding two. But Lou Yi’s Spiritual Sense was extraordinary, surpassing the Qi Cultivation Level, thus the limitations were much lesser, deciding to refine as many as possible. As for their power. ’Swish!’ The barely refined Flying Dagger treasure embryo turned into a streak of black light, flying out with a sharp sound of an air explosion, its power far surpassing an average Flying Sword! The power of a Flying Sword depends on the user’s Spiritual Sense and Spiritual Cultivation. With strong Spiritual Sense, the Flying Sword’s speed increases, strong Spiritual Cultivation makes the combat last longer. Although Lou Yi was only at the Qi Cultivation Third Level, limiting his use of the Flying Dagger. Once activated, its powers were truly astonishing, easily cutting down an unprepared peak Qi Cultivator! As for the Spiritual River Ruler, being of the Spiritual Artifact Level, it consumed too much Spiritual Power. Lou Yi couldn’t even unleash a single strike with it, temporarily putting it aside. Of course, there was a treasure Lou Yi dared not overlook, the combined Array Plate he obtained from the Li Family patriarch’s Storage Bag. This was not simple, filled with an aura of slaughter, causing a piercing pain in Lou Yi’s forehead, definitely a significant asset. ’I need to find Bi Yaoyao for help, see if it can be utilized.’ Just as this thought flashed through Lou Yi’s mind, he heard a crisp voice outside the cave. "Lou Wood, Lou Wood, the fairy has arrived, are you not rushing out to greet?" Hearing such a joking voice, Lou Yi’s mouth couldn’t help but curve slightly upwards. Stepping out of the cave, he saw a bright figure full of energy with sparkling black eyes looking at him. Who else could it be but Bi Yaoyao? "Eh, it seems you’ve grown stronger again." Bi Yaoyao remarked in surprise after glancing at Lou Yi. The cultivator’s senses were quite sharp. Moreover, having just broken through, Lou Yi’s aura was slightly expressive, thus easily noticed by Bi Yaoyao. However, she didn’t take it too seriously, grabbing Lou Yi by the wrist and leading him back into the cave. "Let’s talk inside." ’This girl now truly doesn’t treat me as an outsider.’ thought Lou Yi. Once inside Lou Yi’s cave, Bi Yaoyao transmitted via Spiritual Sense: "The Divine Sense of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can extend outward, if they deliberately probe, they can hear our conversations. It’s safer to transmit important messages via sound." "Alright." Lou Yi hadn’t expected the usually bold and uninhibited Bi Yaoyao to be so cautious, responding in kind with his newly developed Spiritual Sense. "Qingyi told me about that day. You must be wary of Elder Wang. My father said this person is vicious, always seeking revenge for small grievances!" Bi Yaoyao’s eyes were filled with concern. ...