Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 135 - 135 0145 Half-step Foundation Establishment

Chapter 135: Chapter 0145: Half-step Foundation Establishment Chapter 135: Chapter 0145: Half-step Foundation Establishment Li Hongbin was kicked so hard that he lay on the ground, unable to stand up. Cheng Guirong and Lin Xugang hurriedly ran over, about to help Li Hongbin up when Qitian’s voice coldly drifted over, saying, “You two really never learn. Do you want me to teach you another lesson?”

If earlier, Cheng Guirong and Lin Xugang had looked down on Qi Tian a bit, believing that as long as Li Hongbin made his move, they could easily deal with Qi Tian, now, the two of them didn’t dare harbor such thoughts anymore. They looked at Qi Tian with a bit of fear, then at Li Hongbin on the ground, not knowing what to do for a moment.

Qitian slowly walked towards Li Hongbin, crouched down, and patted Li Hongbin’s face, saying, “Hey, didn’t you feel great calling me a brat earlier? Why aren’t you talking now?”

Li Hongbin wished he could immediately dig a hole in the ground and crawl in. But obviously, this was just a wishful thinking. Under everyone’s scrutiny, if he didn’t do something, his reputation and the dignity of Hongmen would be utterly lost. “Kid, I only lost because I exhausted too much. Once I recover, you won’t stand a chance.”

“Exactly, Brother Li only lost because he exhausted too much. That’s why he fell victim to such an easy trick. My brothers, did you know? Brother Li is so great, so responsible. To bring more brothers back to the Imperial Master Mansion, he braved the isolation zone four times, bringing back nineteen brothers. Who wouldn’t admire such merit?” One of Li Hongbin’s cronies desperately tried to sing his praises.

“So that’s what it was. I was wondering why Brother Li was so easily defeated. It turns out it was due to his efforts to save more brothers, exhausting himself. Such a Brother Li is our role model.”

“Exactly, Brother Li is so selfless. But there are people who dared to invade his territory, publicly humiliate him, it’s simply disgraceful.”

Seeing the public opinion turning, and people starting to sympathize with Li Hongbin and point fingers at Qi Tian, Wang Haiyan stood up and said, “What do you guys know? The reason Qi Tian wanted to take Hongmen’s territory is because…”

Just as Wang Haiyan was about to reveal the truth, Qi Tian waved his hand to stop her. The fact that Cheng Guirong, Lin Xugang and their group tried to rob Wang Haiyan and the others was only known to a few. If Wang Haiyan revealed it now, it would become common knowledge that they were carrying valuable goods. This might attract ill intentions, leading to trouble. Although he himself didn’t mind trouble, that didn’t mean Wang Haiyan and others felt the same.

“I’m taking this territory. If anyone disagrees, you’re welcome to challenge me. If anyone can defeat me, I’ll hand over the territory.” Qi Tian looked at those accusing him, saying calmly.

The moment Qi Tian’s gaze swept over them, almost everyone consciously lowered their heads. While many chose to believe that Li Hongbin was so easily kicked down due to exhaustion, they had to admit that Qi Tian had the strength comparable to Li Hongbin. Unless they had the power to challenge Qi Tian, it was better to avoid making a spectacle of themselves.

As for the leaders of powers like Li Yuman, they were not too interested in the piece of land originally belonging to Hongmen. It was just a safer place to stay, and they were leaving Lianying Realm tomorrow anyway. There was no need to fight over this worthless piece of land right now, especially considering the risk of falling out with Qi Tian.

The safe house lapsed into silence. Seeing this scene, Hao Zhigang and Bi Ji shook their heads; these apprentices weren’t good enough. Qi Tian put it so bluntly, anyone with a bit of blood or aspiration should have taken up the challenge without hesitation. The value of the territory or other considerations didn’t matter; what mattered was doing what makes you feel good. If one always represses themselves, what’s the point of cultivating?

On the other hand, Qi Tian, despite young in age, not only possessed astounding strength but was also willing to act on his desires. He showed no signs of fear or hesitation, like a young lion fearless and unyielding. This was how a cultivator should be.

At that moment, a cultivator strode in from outside. He shouted, “Everyone, listen! Brother Chu Yang orders everyone to gather outside the safe house. There’s something important to discuss.”

Upon hearing Chu Yang’s command, Hao Zhigang and Bi Ji, who had remained uninvolved until then, quickly stood up and declared, “Stop gawking around, hurry and gather outside.”

Most of the disciples from Imperial Master Mansion who were there for experience knew the identities of Chu Yang, Hao Zhigang and others. They did not dare delay, and quickly dropped whatever they were doing to head outside the safe house.

Qi Tian had no idea who Chu Yang was, and took the opportunity to ask Wang Haiyan as he walked out.

Wang Haiyan had no idea why Qi Tian didn’t even know about the famous Chu Yang, but he still patiently explained to Qi Tian. A total of five second-level attendants were dispatched by the Imperial Master Mansion to guard the safe house, and Chu Yang was at the top of them.

Chu Yang was no ordinary man. At the age of twenty-eight, he had already opened twenty-five meridians and began the attack on the Foundation Establishment Stage. It was said that Chu Yang, without taking a Foundation Establishment pill, had already fused half of his meridians together. He was stuck between the Foundation Establishment Stage and Qi Cultivation Period, which could be considered as a half-step foundation. Given enough time, it was believed that Chu Yang stood a high chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Furthermore, Wang Haiyan heard that Chu Yang possesses tremendous power now. Without any assistance, he could easily throw a punch with the force of thousands of pounds.

Without exaggeration, Chu Yang was an overwhelming existence in the Lianying Realm, which had the power to deter native cultivators of the Lianying Realm, serving as a ballast preventing them from going too far.

This was the first time Qi Tian had heard of the level of “half-step foundation”. He always thought that above the Nine Levels of Qi Cultivation, was the first level of Foundation Establishment. He didn’t expect that there was also a transitional stage. Qi Tian was curious about the real purpose of gathering everyone in the safe house, by the senior brother who had the highest cultivation level in the entire Lianying Realm.

Soon, all the disciples of the Imperial Master Mansion assembled outside the safe house. Qi Tian glanced around. The number of people was too small. He estimated roughly that there might not even be a hundred.

This number was pitiful. More than five hundred people had registered to participate in the Lianying Realm trials, and now only such a few remained. Where were those who didn’t come? It was almost self-evident.

Qi Tian’s gaze landed on a man who stood proudly in front of everyone, his aura was sharp like an unsheathed sword. Anyone would be unable to ignore him wherever he stood.

“Junior Brother Qi Tian, that is Senior Brother Chu Yang.” Wang Haiyan whispered. “I don’t know when I will be able to cultivate to the state that Senior Brother Chu Yang is in now.”

Wang Haiyan couldn’t help but envy him. His emotion wasn’t spontaneous. Though the number of meridians he had opened only differed by a mere four from Chu Yang, the gap might be one he could not close up in his whole life. Whether a cultivator can open how many meridians largely depends on his talent. Without talents, efforts in later years would be in vain. There were only a few like Hao Zhigang who could open twenty-two meridians during the Qi Cultivation period. As for Chu Yang, who had opened a total of twenty-five meridians, they were even rarer.

At this time, Chu Yang began, “Brothers and sisters, follow me. Hao Zhigang, you guys, leave two to guard the safe house, and the rest come with me.”

Everyone wondered what Chu Yang was up to, they could only follow behind him.

Chu Yang didn’t head anywhere else, but towards the barrier created by the native cultivators of the Lianying Realm. Seeing this, many people were wondering what Chu Yang was trying to do. Was he planning to lead them to break through the barrier and completely defeat the native cultivators? But that seemed a bit unrealistic. Their side from the Imperial Master Mansion was left with less than a hundred people, while the native cultivators could be replenished anytime, they had at least a few thousand people. If necessary, this number could even increase by tens of times. Attacking them, even if Chu Yang was at the half-step foundation, would be a suicide mission.

Some people’s legs began to tremble, contemplating escaping back to the safe house. They could return safely to the Imperial Master Mansion tomorrow, and they really didn’t want to risk any more. However, these people only dared to think about it in their hearts. No one dared to turn around and leave without Chu Yang’s approval. Even if they were unwilling, they could only follow the crowd and march forward with Chu Yang.

Before long, Chu Yang and Qi Tian and others arrived at the isolation zone set up by the native cultivators. The barrier which caused severe losses to the Imperial Master Mansion had disappeared, but the native cultivators in charge of guarding the barrier area did not disperse. There were still about two or three thousand of them gathered, all of them casting uneasy glances at the disciples of Imperial Master Mansion.

At the forefront of these native cultivators stood three people, the one leading them was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had an elegant temperament, a long beard under his chin, and an aura that was quite dignified.