Chapter 141-142 (Patreon)

141. The Secret of Foundation Establishment

Lin Fei's gaze was as sharp as a saber. He stared intently at Liu Yibai.

This was not the first time Lin Fei had heard this term. Martial artists also needed to build their foundation, but it was different from Qi Condensation practitioners. Martial artists build the foundation of their martial arts.

This martial arts foundation was even more difficult than the immortal dao foundation! Even the Nine Profound Sect's founder, who once suppressed the world and was peerlessly brilliant, ultimately failed to build his foundation successfully. This showed how difficult foundation building was!

"Which martial artist in the world doesn't want to build their foundation? However, the difficulty of foundation building is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. Could it be that Elder Liu has a way to build the foundation?" Lin Fei spoke slowly, word by word.

Liu Yibai did not speak. He waved his hand.

"Clang clang."

The broken swords on the Sword Tomb all vibrated. Then they were buried underground.

"Elder Lin, this is where the predecessors of our Hidden Sword Sect buried their swords. Let's not disturb the swords of our predecessors. How about going to my cave dwelling to talk?"

Lin Fei nodded and said, "In that case, I will respectfully comply!"

Lin Fei had no problem becoming a martial arts Grand Master with his perfected saber intent and saber energy.

Even Lin Fei believed that he would not be inferior to the founder of the Nine Profound Sect in the future, but it was the foundation building that Lin Fei had no confidence. After all, even the Nine Profound Sect's founder failed to build his foundation successfully. He didn't know any information about foundation building. He was naturally very interested in Liu Yibai's invitation.

Liu Yibai glanced at the surrounding martial arts masters and spoke calmly, "I ask that today's matter not be spread by the elders present."

Liu Yibai was not afraid that others would know he couldn't handle Lin Fei. It was just that the current situation in Great Chang was unfavorable for martial artists. What he and Lin Fei were going to do was not a trivial matter. The news must not be leaked.

"Elder Liu, rest assured, we understand and will not spread the news!"

The surrounding martial arts masters also responded one after another. At the same time, their hearts gradually settled down. Foundation building was the pursuit of martial arts masters. Even if Lin Fei, the Number One Saber Under Heaven, was strong, so what?

Once Liu Yibai successfully built his foundation. Their Hidden Sword Sect would have been the only Martial Saint in Great Chang for the past three hundred years.

A Martial Saint is a saint in martial arts! Once they achieved the status of a Martial Saint, they would be much stronger than ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

More importantly, martial Saints had a long lifespan. They could protect the Hidden Sword Sect for hundreds of years, allowing the Hidden Sword Sect to remain at its peak and flourish during this time.

Thus, talents would continue to emerge and there would be no fear of the sect's decline. The two hundred and fifty meters of saber energy that Lin Fei had unleashed earlier had shocked the martial arts masters, but they gradually calmed down now.

Their Hidden Sword Sect's Grand Elder Liu Yibai had already achieved sword intent perfection and True Qi perfection. He was now ready to start building his foundation.

Even if Lin Fei were really another founder of the Nine Profound Sect, if the Hidden Sword Sect gave birth to a Martial Saint, there would be no fear of being suppressed for an era.

Everyone left the Sword Tomb one after another. Lin Fei followed Liu Yibai, flying towards his cave dwelling. Soon, the two arrived at Liu Yibai's cave dwelling. This cave dwelling was located on Soaring Skies Peak, which was Liu Yibai's mountain.

Entering the cave dwelling, Lin Fei saw that the surrounding arrangements were very simple. There was no unnecessary clutter. Everything was practical and minimalist to be able to cultivate.

In such a cave dwelling for thirty years, Lin Fei admitted to himself that he couldn't do it. How strong and determined must one's spirit and will be? It was no coincidence that Liu Yibai achieved sword intent perfection.

The two sat down cross-legged. Liu Yibai was the first to speak, asking, "Elder Lin, do you know the conditions for foundation building in martial arts?"

"Conditions?"

Lin Fei shook his head and said, "I'm not hiding anything from Elder Liu. Nine Profound Sect has never produced a Martial Saint who has built its foundation. Thus, I know nothing about foundation building in martial arts. Please enlighten me, Elder Liu!"

Liu Yibai nodded slightly and said with a smile, "The so-called foundation building, those Qi cultivators say it's like a carp leaping over the dragon's gate, it's the foundation for 'becoming immortal' or 'achieving dao.' It sounds profound and mysterious.

However, in the eyes of us martial artists, foundation building is actually very simple. It's a metamorphosis, allowing our bodies to transform anew. The human body has its limits. This is a natural restriction; we can't infinitely increase our Innate True Qi, nor can our physical bodies be infinitely strengthened.

What should we do when our bodies reach their true limits? That's when we build our foundation! Once the foundation is successfully built, it's equivalent to a different level of life, a sublimation of life.

That's why those Qi cultivators call those who have built their foundation 'True Person.' And we martial artists, after building our foundation, are called Martial Saints, transcending the mundane and becoming holy in martial arts!"

Lin Fei understood. Both Immortal Dao Qi cultivators and martial artists could build their foundation. Although the foundation-building methods were different, in fact, both were the sublimation of life. Otherwise, it would not be possible for one's lifespan to increase significantly upon building their foundation.

It was equivalent to a different level of life. Only in this way could they break free from the original constraints of the human body and continue to enhance their strength.

"Martial arts foundation building requires one to reach their limit. The limit, which we also call perfection, requires three perfections! Physical Body Perfection, True Qi Perfection, and Mental Perfection.

In fact, these three perfections represent the essence, qi, and spirit of the human body, and none can be lacking. True Qi Perfection is when Innate True Qi reaches perfection, which is commonly known as a martial arts Grand Master.

The mind is unfathomable. Martial artists use their will to represent the mind, so martial artists need to comprehend Martial Dao True Intent. Once Martial Dao True Intent reaches perfection, it represents mental perfection.

The last one, physical body perfection, refers to the body. We, martial artists, have been refining the body from the beginning, which, in a sense, is actually laying the foundation for physical body perfection. However, is the ultimate Body Refining, giving birth to inner power, truly the ultimate?

Not necessarily. That is not the ultimate physical body; if we want to build our foundation, we must cultivate the physical body to the extreme and elevate it to the extreme.

And this is actually very difficult. Because physical body perfection is the only one that cannot be achieved solely by the martial artist. It also requires the help of external objects."

"External objects?"

Lin Fei's heart was moved.

"Yes, external objects. All kinds of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, rare birds, exotic beasts, etc. In short, it is about sparing no effort to nourish one's own body to make it reach perfection."

"What characteristics represent physical body perfection?" Lin Fei asked.

Liu Yibai paused for a moment. Then, he said solemnly, word by word: "Skin like a baby, body exuding a unique fragrance, flawless and pure, untainted golden body! This is physical body perfection!

Once the physical body reaches perfection, it is like the legendary Buddha or a holy being. The physical body is impervious to swords and spears, invulnerable to water and fire, unsinkable in water, and immune to all diseases!"

Lin Fei stretched out his hand. His hand had fair and tender skin, but there was still a significant difference compared to a baby's skin.

As for the unique body fragrance, that was even more impossible. Not to mention being impervious to swords and spears, invulnerable to water and fire, and unsinkable in water.

This was almost like a myth. Such a person with this kind of physical body, even without building their foundation, would be free from diseases and live a long life for hundreds of years! Because this represents the limit that a mortal body can reach!

Lin Fei knew that his physical body had reached its limit. No matter how much he practiced hard martial arts or Body Refining techniques, it would be of no use.

Achieve physical body perfection, it was almost impossible for martial artists to do it on their own. External objects were needed.

"Elder Liu, please tell me straight. What kind of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, rare birds, and exotic beasts? How much effect can they have? To truly reach physical body perfection, what exactly is this external object?"

Lin Fei's gaze was fixed on Liu Yibai. He knew that this was the key.

142. The Key of Foundation Establishment

"Exotic beasts!" Liu Yibai spoke directly, "To truly achieve physical body perfection, one must consume the flesh and blood of exotic beasts. Actually, martial arts were very prosperous thousands of years ago, not inferior to Qi cultivators, and even more flourishing.

At that time, there were many treasures that could help achieve physical body perfection. It wasn't necessarily required to consume the flesh and blood of exotic beasts. After all, exotic beasts are too powerful. Most adult exotic beasts are comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators or Martial Saints."

Unfortunately, later martial artists and Qi cultivators seemed to have had a great war. The specific reason for that war is unknown. But since that war, the number of experts in Great Chang sharply decreased. There were even powerful beings above the Foundation Establishment realm left, and it's unknown where they went.

Perhaps they went to the outer seas, or perhaps to the northern countries. After that war, it seemed that various heavenly and earthly spiritual objects gradually decreased. In the beginning. some Martial Saints could hunt exotic beasts to prepare their flesh and blood for their younger disciples.

However, as time went by, the number of exotic beasts became fewer and fewer, and eventually, they were almost extinct. When there were no exotic beasts, even the most astonishingly talented people could not establish their foundation and become Martial Saints.

Do you think that there hasn't been a Martial Saint born in Great Chang for three hundred years since the Sword Saint of my Hidden Sword Sect passed away because martial artists are not talented enough?

Elder Lin, Nine Profound Sect's founder was talented enough, right? Even among the Martial Saints that my Hidden Sword Sect has produced, I'm afraid none can compare to the talent of the Nine Profound Sect's founder.

Even Foundation Establishment cultivators praised the Nine Profound Sect's founder. If he became a Martial Saint, the Nine Profound Sect's founder might have been even more powerful than the Great Chang's founding emperor and even had the potential to surpass the Foundation Establishment level.

Unfortunately, the Nine Profound Sect's founder was born in the wrong era. By the time his unparalleled talent dominated the world, exotic beasts had already become extinct.

Even if he traveled the world, he couldn't find a single exotic beast. Without the flesh and blood of exotic beasts, the physical body could never achieve perfection. Even if one forcefully established their foundation, it would be futile. In the end, he could only be depressed and regretful until their time was up."

Lin Fei's heart was moved. Liu Yibai mentioned the Nine Profound Sect's founder. It turns out that the Nine Profound Sect's founder couldn't find an exotic beast. In the end, his physical body couldn't achieve perfection. That's why he couldn't establish his foundation and become a Martial Saint.

No wonder the royal elders mentioned after the Nine Profound Sect's founder had read the martial arts secret records left by the Great Chang's founding emperor, he had shouted several times "I don't believe it!"

Most likely, the Nine Profound Sect's founder had also seen in the martial arts secret records, that to achieve Martial Saint, one's physical body must achieve perfection. And to achieve physical body perfection, one must consume the flesh and blood of exotic beasts.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to successfully establish one's foundation and become a Martial Saint. Both the founding emperor of Great Chang and the Sword Saint of Hidden Sword Sect from 300 years ago most likely had the fortune to consume the flesh and blood of exotic beasts. That's why they were able to successfully establish their foundation and become Martial Saints.

"So, Elder Liu knows the whereabouts of exotic beasts?"

A glint flashed in Lin Fei's eyes as he stared intently at Liu Yibai. Without any information on exotic beasts, Liu Yibai would not have wasted time telling Lin Fei so many secrets.

"That's right, I accidentally encountered an exotic beast decades ago. Later, I tracked it several times and discovered that there were actually several exotic beasts. I can't do it alone, I can't kill the exotic beasts. So, I need to find someone. Now in the entire Great Chang, there is probably no martial artist who can surpass you and me.

Only by joining forces with Elder Lin can we have a glimmer of hope to kill that exotic beast and obtain its flesh and blood. By then, both of us can achieve physical body perfection and have the hope of successfully establishing our foundation and becoming Martial Saints!"

Lin Fei's mind was shaken. As expected, Liu Yibai knew the whereabouts of the exotic beasts.

"But, exotic beasts are at the Foundation Establishment level. Do you know how difficult would it be to kill one? Those Martial Saints in the past were usually from powerful families or sects, capturing exotic beasts to have a chance to consume their flesh and blood.

But now there are no Martial Saints. Elder Liu, can we two handle a Foundation Establishment level exotic beast?" Lin Fei was still very clear-headed.

Liu Yibai nodded appreciatively and said in a deep voice, "Indeed, if it's a Foundation Establishment level exotic beast, even if we join forces, the odds are against us. However, decades ago, I tracked down those exotic beasts, and they gave birth to two young ones.

After decades of growth, those two exotic beasts have grown up but have not yet reached adulthood, and their strength is not comparable to that of adult exotic beasts. If we join forces, there might be some chance.

But, we can't delay any longer. Those two exotic beasts are about to reach adulthood. Once they become adults, we will have no chance left!"

This was the real reason why Liu Yibai urgently told Lin Fei about the secrets of the Martial Saint Foundation Establishment and exotic beasts.

Liu Yibai couldn't wait any longer! If he waited any longer, those two exotic beasts would become adults. By then, he would completely lose the opportunity to kill the exotic beasts. Which is equivalent to completely losing the chance to establish his foundation and become a Martial Saint.

Lin Fei was also considering it. If the matter about the exotic beasts was true, he absolutely could not miss it. Even though Lin Fei's saber intent and True Qi had not yet reached perfection, that didn't matter. It wouldn't affect his physical body's attainment of perfection.

Once his physical body reached perfection first, after his True Qi and saber intent reached perfection, Lin Fei could directly attempt to establish his foundation and challenge the Martial Saint realm.

If he missed this opportunity, even if Lin Fei had confidence in his Saber Qi, what if he still couldn't kill an adult exotic beast? That would be troublesome.

"When do we set off?"

Lin Fei didn't think too long. He raised his head and asked. He had already made a decision.

"At the beginning of the third month, when the weather turns warmer, those adult exotic beasts seem to migrate to give birth to new exotic beasts. Those two immature exotic beasts are most likely to stay behind. That will be the best opportunity we have in a year!"

Lin Fei calculated. There were still more than four months from now. In these four months, Lin Fei could make some preparations. He could even learn more about Martial Saints, Foundation Establishment, and exotic beasts to see if what Liu Yibai said was true.

He couldn't rely solely on Liu Yibai's words. Lin Fei had to have his own judgment.

"Alright, let's set off at the beginning of the third month," Lin Fei agreed, "By then, I'll give you a letter to confirm the specific location and time."

"No problem."

With that, the two discussed some more details. Lin Fei then bid farewell to Liu Yibai and left the Hidden Sword Sect.

Watching Lin Fei's departing figure, Liu Yibai's eyes became deeper.

"'Immortal Slayer Saber' Lin Fei. I didn't expect that the Nine Profound Sect would give birth to such a powerful martial artist. In terms of talent, he is no less than the Nine Profound Sect's founder. However, this is a good thing. With Lin Fei, the chances of slaying that exotic beast are even greater."

Liu Yibai knew very well. This was almost his last chance. If he didn't succeed, once detected by the exotic beasts, there would be no chance for the next attempt. Therefore, this time, success was the only option; failure was not allowed!