Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 96: Evil Cultivator

Of course, in addition to external assistance, the formation of the Dao foundation is also related to the solid foundation that the cultivator has accumulated during the Qi Refining stage.

Although the jade slip does not provide specific descriptions of the growth requirements for crystal gourds, their rarity is self-evident.

Even the direct descendants of the Chen family, the local overlords, had never discovered other areas where crystal gourds grew, let alone a rogue cultivator like himself.

The fact that Liu Guangqing obtained the area where this crystal gourd grew was probably just a coincidence, and such an event is completely impossible to replicate.

"Since it has already been refined and cannot be undone, what's the use of feeling guilty and regretful here? At least the remaining four crystal gourds have not yet been sold. Refining them in the future can at least guarantee the formation of a second-grade Dao foundation."

"If I hadn't used the crystal gourd to advance to the seventh level of Qi Refining, I probably wouldn't know anything about these records about the crystal gourd."

After a long while, Tong Bingfeng finally managed to suppress the pain in his heart, and his mind returned to its proper calm.

In any case, faced with something that is already beyond repair, all we can do at this stage is to solidify our foundation and keep moving forward.

As for whether one can forge a foundation of Dao at the third rank or above in the future, it is still a distant future that is worth striving for. In the later stages of Qi Refining, one can also seek other spiritual objects as supplements and do one's best to strive for them.

From Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, it is not only an increase in cultivation strength, but also a leap in life level, with a lifespan of three Jiazi (60 years). However, the chasm between these stages is far beyond what Qi Refining stage cultivators can compare to; the best description is that only one in a thousand survives.

If we limit our focus to the group of independent cultivators, it is already a stroke of luck that three thousand late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were able to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, and the difficulty involved is unimaginable.

Therefore, for the vast majority of independent cultivators, the only expectation is to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, and they dare not even dream of forging a Dao Foundation of Grade Three or above.

Currently, Tong Bingfeng has only stabilized his Qi Refining Level 7 cultivation. He is still quite a distance away from the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Level 9, let alone Foundation Establishment.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, there seem to be several cultivators lingering outside the great formation, and they haven't left for a long time. Please come out of seclusion and help us as soon as possible."

On this day, Liu Zong urged him on with a rather anxious voice.

"It seems that the location of the spirit ice mine has been leaked, attracting the attention of some evil cultivators deep within the ice domain."

"Fellow Daoist Liu, why are you in such a hurry? How many cultivators are outside the great formation? What is their strength? We can simply deal with whatever comes our way."

Upon hearing this, Tong Bingfeng did not delay and immediately activated the vigilant array that had been closed for over a month. However, he showed no concern whatsoever for the evil cultivators outside the array.

He has never been afraid of battle. After advancing to the late stage of Qi Refining, with the help of the combined effects of the Azure Wave Overturning Mountain Formation and the Concealing Spirit Formation, he is confident enough to defeat his opponents. If there is a suitable opportunity, he can even hunt down one or two of them to obtain spoils and replenish his increasingly empty storage bag.

"Three cultivators, two at the late stage of Qi Refining, one at the mid stage of Qi Refining, accompanied by a first-grade high-quality spotted snake spirit beast."

Under his calm and composed influence, Liu Zong also breathed a slight sigh of relief and summarized the number and cultivation level of the cultivators lingering outside the mine.

"The spotted snake is non-venomous and fangless, and not good at direct combat, but its sense of smell is among the best of all first-tier snake-like demonic beasts. Its main purpose must be to find the exact location of the spirit ice mine. These three cultivators must have obtained accurate information."

"Fellow Daoist Liu, once it enters the range of the great formation, activate it immediately. I will enter the formation at the same time and hunt down the spotted snake as soon as possible."

Information about the spotted spirit beast flashed rapidly through Tong Bingfeng's mind, yet his words sounded even more certain.

As for how the location information of this miniature spirit ice vein was leaked, there is no need or value in continuing to investigate it at this point.

With large quantities of high-quality spirit ice continuously appearing at the trading points, this day will inevitably come. Only by having sufficient strength to quickly defeat and kill the lurking evil cultivators can one truly establish a foothold in the depths of this icy domain.

The reputation and deterrent power of the Chen family had little effect in the remote, icy regions far from the reach of the emperor.

For Tong Bingfeng and Liu Zong, the only way to demonstrate their strength was by taking the heads of the evil cultivators who came to test them. Their path in the depths of the Ice Domain would gradually widen in the future.

"Wouldn't it be dangerous to let them directly enter the formation? Wouldn't it be more effective for us to join forces and defeat them head-on?"

As his emotions stabilized, Liu Zong proposed a more straightforward idea, but this required a more overwhelming and dominant strength.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, are you confident you can hold back a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator and a high-grade first-tier spotted snake?"

Tong Bingfeng did not directly and simply object. Instead, he presented a more brutal reality: although the spotted snake was not good at direct combat, it was still a genuine first-tier high-grade demon beast with thick skin and immense strength. Once it coiled around its target, it would hunt it down using the most primitive methods.

"I will follow Fellow Daoist Tong's lead in everything. I will now prepare to activate the formation to ensure that once he enters the formation, we can use it to divide and surround him."

Liu Zong had no further objections and immediately turned and walked quickly into a stone chamber that had been specially built later to control the great formation.

Although the arrays set up on the spirit ice mine are all made of array flags, if the two arrays are to be activated at the same time, some simple linkage and coordination are still required. This stone chamber was created for this reason.

Inside is a simple chessboard with a dozen or so pieces of various sizes arranged in an orderly fashion. Cultivators can control it simply by moving the pieces using their magic power.

"Azure Wave Overturning Mountain Formation, Concealing Spirit Formation, activate, divide, trap."

When three unknown evil cultivators and a spotted snake spirit beast stepped into the range of the great formation, Liu Zong decisively activated the formation inside the stone chamber.

The Concealing Spirit Array is of low grade, has few array flags, consumes little spiritual power, and responds immediately. The main function of this array is to isolate the senses between different cultivators.

The Azure Waves Overturning Mountains Formation followed closely behind, with a layer of deep blue, rich, and pure water-attribute light shield quickly covering the area. Layers of aquamarine halos rapidly formed, and wave-shaped water flows were also orderly. This great formation was primarily for killing and destruction.

"There is another unnamed formation besides the Azure Wave Overturning Mountain Formation. Although it is troublesome, it is only guarded by two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators, so it is not a big deal. Fellow Daoists, do not be anxious. Fight on your own and focus on destroying the great formation."

Despite appearing flustered and losing track of his companions under the cover of the great formation, the leader of the evil cultivators still moved with orderly efficiency, transmitting his voice to a trumpet-shaped spiritual object on his left shoulder.