The Hidden Immortal

Chapter 62 The Scene of Foundation Building

Chu Xun nodded in agreement: "Lord Tang was the second-place scholar in the imperial examination, so he is most familiar with these matters. Listening to him is the right thing to do."

"Do you still live in that little courtyard in Fenggu City?"

Huan'er said, "I'll stay here, but this time when I go back, I'll have to go to Mingxiu's residence."

"It's strange, but ever since the year of the prefectural examination, the old locust tree has never blossomed again. Only its leaves have become increasingly green, as beautiful as precious jade."

"When my uncle has some free time, he can go and admire it."

Chu Xun smiled and nodded: "I'll go again when I have time, no rush."

Huan'er didn't say much. Her uncle was the most patient person she had ever met. No matter what happened, he was never in a hurry or impatient.

The three words I always say are "No rush".

Life is short, and very few people can act in this way.

"When you go back to town, go and see Ah Qiao. That kid didn't pass the provincial examination this year. He came to see me a few days ago looking dejected. Give him some advice."

"When the time comes, let him also live in the courtyard to prepare for the exam, so he can absorb some of your talent."

"Okay, I'll go find him when I get back."

The two chatted casually, and Liu Yuqing, seeing that the animals had indeed not harmed the baby, gradually let go of her worries.

After a long while, a chattering sound came from outside.

Several women with children passed by the gate of the courtyard.

"Oh, Huan'er!"

Upon seeing the people in the courtyard, the women quickly came over to greet them.

Liu Yuqing was the wife that Tang Shijun carefully selected for Huan'er through matchmaking.

My grandfather's generation was a founding viscount, and the highest position he held was Minister of Revenue.

Now, my father is in charge of the household and has risen to the position of Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, the same position held by the Lin family who were executed along with their nine clans.

Although she was the daughter of an official family, Liu Yuqing did not have the airs of a pampered young lady, nor did she look down on these rural women.

Moreover, there was Chu Xun in front of her, a person whom even Tang Shijun praised highly, and who was also her husband's uncle.

Both morally and logically, we cannot afford to be negligent.

The village women rarely saw such a beautiful daughter of an official. The last one with fair skin and delicate features that they envied was Lin Qiaoxi, who was also from a wealthy family.

They all praised her enthusiastically, making Liu Yuqing a little embarrassed.

They agreed to eat at home before leaving, and Zhang Anxiu went to the woodshed to cook with a big smile.

Perhaps because she hadn't seen Huan'er for a long time, Zhang Anxiu became noticeably more talkative during the meal.

Speaking of temple fairs, they say they are even more lively than in previous years.

I heard that many people saw snake spirits under the command of the Pine and Willow Water God when they were worshipping.

It was nearly five zhang long, with scarlet pupils larger than a water vat!

Chu Xun chuckled as he listened. The two pythons were indeed nearly five zhang long, but no matter what, their pupils could not possibly be larger than a water vat.

Several years have passed, and even that green and white snake has grown to nearly two zhang long. Now it has run away with its parents to hide in the Songliu River.

Only occasionally would he sneak out to find Chu Xun.

Huan'er also became interested and started talking about the news she had heard merchants discussing in Fenggu City.

It is said that there is a mountain forest 180 miles south of Songguo Village.

There is a valley in the forest, and in the valley live a ferocious beast that eats people.

Mountain dwellers frequently disappeared in the vicinity, and over time, no one dared to go there anymore.

But recently, a strange fragrance has been emanating from the vicinity of that valley. Several second-rank martial artists ventured there, but have not yet returned. They are likely in grave danger.

As Huan'er finished speaking, she fluttered on the eaves.

Then a dozen or so crows landed at the doorway and cawed at the house.

Zhang Anxiu and Liu Yuqing were both clueless about what was going on, but Chu Xun looked at the crow, who was clearly much more agitated, with a thoughtful expression.

Many years ago, when I married Zhang Anxiu, a crow brought me a few fruits.

Chu Xun tasted one, and besides its sweet and delicious flavor, he felt as if he had more energy, realizing that this fruit was extraordinary.

He made Zhang Anxiu eat the remaining three fruits.

It did improve my wife's health, but it wasn't an amazing effect.

I remember when the crows brought fruit, the flock was a few birds short.

Clearly, something was guarding the fruit, and a fierce battle had taken place.

Now that Huan'er mentioned the mountains and forests 180 miles away, the crows suddenly became agitated, and Chu Xun naturally recalled the past.

"Could the ferocious beast Huan'er spoke of be the one that fought with the crows for fruit back then?"

Chu Xun knew a thing or two about how powerful a second-rank martial artist could be.

Their skin and flesh are toughened to the point of being as hard as iron, making them difficult to harm even with ordinary weapons.

Only a handful of weak points are the real Achilles' heel.

Once you reach the first rank, and fill in these vital gaps, you can then attempt to become a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm.

Neither Zhangnan County nor Fenggu City had any innate grandmasters; at most, they were first-rank martial artists.

Therefore, Chu Xun had never seen such a person in person, but had only heard that this realm had fourteen characters.

"Qi and blood are like a furnace, and the body is like a cauldron; the vital energy transforms into spirit, thus establishing the foundation."

No one was more sensitive to the words "Foundation Building" than Chu Xun. He had waited for forty years for the Spirit Pearl Grass to bear fruit, so that he could cross the Qi Refining level and reach the Foundation Building stage.

Whether the Foundation Establishment stage of a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm is the same as the Foundation Establishment stage of a cultivator is still unknown.

But even if there are some differences, they shouldn't be too significant.

Theoretically speaking, being a Grandmaster of the Innate Realm represents the ultimate achievement of an ordinary person in realizing their full potential.

Beyond that, it can no longer be called martial arts.

Therefore, if what Huan'er said is true.

The ferocious beast that even several second-rank martial artists couldn't handle was probably no weaker than a first-rank martial artist.

Only a few crows died that year; it's unclear whether they were extremely lucky or the ferocious beast didn't kill them.

Speaking of warriors, Chu Xun thought of Song Jingmin.

After killing their master Cao Yuanhui, the Song family invited a famous doctor from the provincial capital and bought some miraculous medicines.

Song Jingmin has fully recovered from his injuries and is now full of energy.

They seized control of Zhenwei Martial Arts School, becoming the sole dominant force and even more arrogant and domineering than before.

The Song family seized more than 2,000 mu of farmland near the county town through trickery and coercion, forcing many people to become their tenants.

Not only do they collect 50% of the rent, but tenants also have to pay all sorts of miscellaneous taxes themselves.

So much so that after a year of farming, you can barely save a few pounds of grain.

If anyone complains, the entire Song family is used to being arrogant.

At best, they'll injure you; at worst, they might even kill you.

I heard that even Song Jingmin's youngest grandson, who was only four years old, made his tenants kneel down and drink his urine.

Unfortunately, this county magistrate, Li Zhaoming, was not as assertive as Zheng Xiuwen.

Even if they wanted to interfere, the Song family's land holdings were clearly written down in black and white.

Those who committed the assault were all his apprentices, so there was no evidence to hold them accountable and they were difficult to prosecute.

Looking at the crows fluttering at the door, Chu Xun picked up his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

When the time comes for them to establish their foundation, they will be killed!

Those who deserve retribution should go and demand it!

After finishing her meal, Huan'er had to go back.

Zhang Anxiu knew that he would be participating in the imperial examination next year, which was a very important matter, so she didn't try to persuade him too much.

After seeing his nephew's family off, Chu Xun squatted down in the vegetable garden and began to perform a magic incantation.

Unlike before, now when the hand seals are made, no drizzle falls.

Instead, fine water mist condenses directly on the plant's leaves and roots.

This is not a rainmaking technique!

Name: Chu Xun

Lifespan: 44/75

Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Stage (Can be hidden)

[Final Mission Reward: Eternal Immortality]

[Current Stage 1: Cultivate the Spirit Pearl Grass until the fruit matures (remaining time to maturity: 19 years), Reward: Cultivation level increased to Foundation Establishment stage, Rejuvenation, Lifespan increased by 150 years]

Five Elements Spells 2/5:

Water Movement Technique 7/100000: Limited control over the marshes of heaven and earth within a hundred zhang (approximately 33 meters).

Earth Movement Technique 8/100000: Limited control over the earth within a hundred zhang (approximately 33 meters).

During the Foundation Establishment stage, one can acquire the three arts of metal, fire, and wood. Cultivating them to their full potential leads to the attainment of the Five Elements Daoist arts.

Upon seeing the words "Five Elements Daoist Techniques," a figure standing between heaven and earth vaguely appeared in Chu Xun's mind.

They can summon wind and rain, and move mountains and fill abysses.

There were also plants and trees all over the mountain, which, when touched at random, transformed into six kinds of domestic animals, dragons, and tigers.

He may be incredibly wealthy, but he's still just an ordinary person.

Such extraordinary abilities are what it means to cultivate immortality!