Northern Yan Chapter Twenty: The Foundation Pill

When Mo Hao awoke, he found a bonfire already blazing before him, with a large pot hanging over the flames. A rich aroma wafted from the pot. Tanya then emerged from behind him.

It was clear Tanya was not very happy. But given the fate that had befallen their clansmen, who could be? Holding a bowl, she scooped some soup from the pot and blew on it before taking a sip. Mo Hao looked at her curiously.

“What kind of soup is this?”

“Wild chicken soup,” she replied. “With your injuries so severe, we couldn’t find an old hen. So I had to hunt a wild chicken to stew and help replenish your vitality.”

A faint smile tugged at Mo Hao’s lips, but he forced it back under her expectant gaze. Cultivators’ bodies could be repaired gradually with alchemical pills, while mundane grains from the secular world only added impurities. Nevertheless, Mo Hao took the bowl and drank every drop.

He noticed a rare smile appear on Tanya’s face. Sitting cross-legged, he wanted to ask what exactly had happened.

Before he could speak, Tanya began to recount the events. She explained that her clan descended from the Celestial Bird and human ancestors, but over the years their bloodline had grown weak and diluted. In their ancestral hall was a ritual mat concealing a Celestial Bird Token. Anyone with the Thunder-Fire Spiritual Vein who shed blood on it could inherit the legacy. However, the Thunder-Fire Spiritual Vein had become scarce over the years. Even cultivators with just the Fire Spiritual Vein were rare among clans.

What Tanya had done seemed fated—there was a karmic cause. The token contained the clan’s martial arts, and the Celestial Bird ranked just below the ancient twelve beast spirits. Receiving all these martial legacies was truly a stroke of great luck for her.

She then said to Mo Hao, “I feel like the bloodline restriction on me has vanished. Shall we try again?”

Mo Hao looked at her and shook his head. Not only had the Celestial Bird glared at him in the past, but even setting aside such coercion, Tanya’s care for him without ill intent spoke volumes. He could trust her now.

“What are your plans then?” Mo Hao asked slowly.

Tanya paused, seeming not to have considered this before. Intelligent and perceptive, she understood his question stemmed from the disappearance of the bloodline restriction. Resting her jade hand under her chin, she appeared to be deep in thought.

Mo Hao stared and was momentarily lost in her expression. Suddenly, Tanya turned to him, about to say something. Their eyes met, but Mo Hao quickly looked away, and Tanya lowered her head, nervously clutching the hem of her clothes.

“I’ll go with you to the Virtual Sword Sect,” she finally said.

The silence was broken. Mo Hao thought it over and nodded.

“That’s possible. But if you reveal the Dark Thunder Spiritual Vein, things will get complicated. After all, cultivation sects respect strength; they don’t concern themselves with the morality of righteous or evil like martial arts sects do. Most restrictions on cultivators revolve around interests. If you expose your Dark Thunder Vein, it could cause trouble. But given the Celestial Bird’s affinity with thunder and fire, you only need to reveal your Fire Spiritual Vein.”

Tanya said nothing further. What Mo Hao said was true. Going to another sect now might be more troublesome than heading to the Virtual Sword Sect.

After circulating the Pure Origin Technique for a full cycle and channeling his spiritual power throughout his meridians, Mo Hao still found it insufficient.

Suddenly, he remembered something. Taking it from his spatial pouch, a brilliant golden light burst forth. It was a magical artifact left by the foundation-building elder, resembling a miniature pocket dimension. Due to the urgency before, Mo Hao hadn’t examined its contents carefully.

Now that the matters outside the sect were mostly resolved, he finally had leisure to explore the treasures inside. He took out the items from the bell one by one, finding only a pill bottle, a jade box, a spatial pouch filled with spirit stones, a bamboo slip, a wooden bow, and several feathered arrows.

How could these common items cause such fierce disputes among the Luminous Glass Palace cultivators? Mo Hao infused spiritual power into the bow and discovered it was a mid-grade magical weapon. But even so, it was unlikely to be the sole cause of such contention.

Looking into the spatial pouch, Mo Hao saw over a thousand spirit stones, with more than two hundred each of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Opening the bamboo slip, he found it blank. He guessed it required the foundation-building cultivator’s divine consciousness to read, so he tossed it aside.

He opened the pill bottle and sniffed—it was unlike any pill he knew. The jade box was plain but made of fine jade, indicating something special inside. Gently opening it, a strong medicinal fragrance emerged, revealing three pills inside.

Mo Hao studied the pills and formed a tentative idea, though unsure. He quickly consulted his Hundred Treasures Chart. Midway through, he swallowed nervously, his eyes burning with a fierce light. So that was what the Luminous Glass Palace cultivators had come for—those three pills.

“Foundation-Building Pill!” Mo Hao whispered.

This pill was coveted by cultivators in the fasting phase. Advancing to foundation-building was dangerous, with a high risk of spiritual damage. Many cultivators feared the step because failure exacted a heavy price. The Foundation-Building Pill increased the chance of success and protected the spirit during the breakthrough.

Mo Hao rejoiced quietly. Despite some difficulties, his venture to Yue City had been fruitful. Besides slaying Xiao Huan, he had gained many treasures. Looking at the small pill bottle again, it seemed to match the description of the Potential Dragon Pill—a medicine that directly stimulates a cultivator’s potential. Though it had no major side effects, after using it one could not use spiritual power for three hours.

He guessed this pill was reserved for the final moments of cultivation battles. The foundation-building elder likely used it, but having reached the end of his life, he passed away after the effect ended.

After storing all items back in the spatial pouch, Mo Hao discussed plans with Tanya. They headed toward the Virtual Sword Sect, carrying dozens of spirit stones. The sect’s contribution task had a ten-day time limit, and they had already lost several days. Upon arrival, Mo Hao summoned Han Qing and instructed Tanya to conceal her aura.

Since arriving at the Virtual Sword Sect, Han Qing had not exactly thrived but had earned the favor of his respected master. With Tanya’s talent, a word from the master would secure her a rightful place on Ren Peak.

Mo Hao whispered instructions to Han Qing and rushed toward the outer gate of Ren Peak. Inside the task hall, unlike the usual self-service jade slip tasks, there was a dedicated attendant. Mo Hao handed over the city lord’s letter.

Scratching his head, Mo Hao noticed the sect disciples whispering about him. His task acceptance had already been known, and now his submission of a secondary hall task caused even more curiosity.

The attendant’s face was cold and expressionless. Only upon seeing Mo Hao did he raise his eyes slightly. Taking the letter, his eyes widened with surprise, but he said nothing.

Mo Hao presented his jade token, and as light flared from it, he instantly received 200 contribution points. The attendant then pushed forward eighteen low-grade spirit stones. Mo Hao took sixteen and returned two. The attendant’s eyes narrowed briefly before his expression brightened, becoming remarkably warm. Smiling, he nodded.

“My surname is Li. You can call me Senior Brother Li.”

Mo Hao nodded silently. He was not ignorant of social etiquette; such exchanges were necessary within the sect.

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Passing through a verdant bamboo grove, Mo Hao soon heard the steady, powerful snores of the elder. Approaching quietly, he saw an old woman gently fanning the elder, a breeze bringing a hint of coolness.

Seeing Mo Hao return, the woman nudged the elder, who awoke groggily. His cloudy eyes brightened upon seeing Mo Hao. Hastily standing, he inquired about Mo Hao’s journey with concern.

Mo Hao smiled faintly and asked, “Where is Tanya?”

The elder pointed to a side room next to Mo Hao’s quarters, indicating Tanya was there.

Mo Hao nodded, producing two translucent spirit stones and offering them to the elderly couple. Surprised, they expressed heartfelt thanks.

Smiling, Mo Hao shook his head and turned toward the side room.

This time fortune had favored him greatly. Compared to thousands of spirit stones, two was a small gift. He had expected Han Qing to take more time arranging things but was surprised the connections had been smoothed so quickly, allowing Tanya a smooth residence. Han Qing’s efficiency was impressive.

Knocking on the side room door, Tanya opened it. Seeing all settled, Mo Hao returned to his own room. Thoughts turned to the empty counter he’d seen in the main hall and the words “Ying Wu Pill” flashing in his mind. Having unexpectedly obtained three foundation-building pills, securing these auxiliary pills was essential. Though far from breaking through the fasting stage, preparation was wise.

Now a mid-fasting cultivator, the Awakening Pill had little effect on him. But Wind Xing had said a bottle cost 400 contribution points and greatly enhanced the spiritual power of mid-fasting practitioners. Two hundred points only bought half a bottle, but for Mo Hao, contributions were scarce—spirit stones could make up the difference.

He planned to exchange more for five-element spells. On his journey, he realized his practical experience was severely lacking—barely adequate. With over twenty days until the Wraith Beast Mountain expedition, Mo Hao doubted his current ability to face the beasts.

The ten-day limit passed swiftly. With Awakening Pills and several fasting-stage sword techniques in hand, cultivation became smoother.

That day, Wind Xing returned from outside and knocked on Mo Hao’s door. Opening it, Mo Hao found Wind Xing’s plump face trembling with excitement.

“Junior Brother, I heard you returned and came immediately. Senior Brother was tied up and couldn’t accompany you to the Ghost Market. How was your trip to Yue City? Did you find any favored magical weapons?”

Mo Hao nodded.

“Thanks for your help. Though I saw many weapons, you know my resources—I only bought a low-grade defensive magical weapon to join the fun.”

He produced the Cold Iron Token and handed it to Wind Xing, who instead pushed it back.

“Keep this token, Junior Brother; it may be useful later. I have another token too.”

“Junior Brother, I actually came to discuss the Wraith Beast Mountain expedition. Wait a moment; Li An will be here soon.”

After a brief wait, Li An arrived. The three discussed the departure date and then parted ways.