Chapter 91: The Battle for Foundation Establishment

Go home!

This has always been Jiang Min’s deepest obsession.

She had often asked herself if she regretted her decision to leave Weishui Village years ago, to journey thousands of miles to the Eastern Spirit Sect, severing all worldly ties for solitary cultivation.

Every answer she gave herself was: no regret.

But—

Not regretting did not mean she felt no sorrow.

Her father and mother had raised her, never letting her go hungry, teaching her the principles of life, the skills to survive, the ways to earn a living. And her grandmother—since she could remember, her grandmother had cared for her dearly, always bringing her wild greens and fruits from the mountains with a smile, always saving the best food for the children at every meal.

Her childhood had been harsh and poor, but the whole family made the days pass well enough. Even though they faced hardship after hardship, they had endured together.

But she—

She had left before she could repay their kindness…

“This time, when I return, I must repay Father, Mother, and Grandmother for their love and raise our family to good fortune. I will find my elder sister and brother, so we can all live good lives together.”

With this thought, Jiang Min’s eyes were resolute. She raised her hand and pressed a hidden mechanism.

A secret door appeared, and she stepped through.

She planned to visit the market first to purchase a small flying boat, and then ride it back to Weishui Village. Flying on a sword or other magical implements looked impressive, but it required time to master and was not suitable for long journeys. A flying boat would make future travels much easier.

As she walked through the winding, complex tunnel, a thought crossed her mind: “I wonder where Jiang Ziyi is now. Is she still obsessed with killing me? If I could settle that trouble before going home, I would feel much more at ease…”

Once the chamber’s mechanism was activated, it completely cut off all outside sound, protecting cultivators from disturbance—and the risk of losing control in their practice. Thus, when Jiang Ziyi had attempted to dig through the mountain months ago, making a great commotion, Jiang Min had remained unaware.

Yet part of her hoped Jiang Ziyi would come looking for her.

They were both at the early Foundation Establishment stage. Jiang Min had survived heavenly tribulation, wielded a peach branch as her sword, and had mastered the Thunderfire Myriad Sword technique that grew even stronger after her breakthrough. If she met Jiang Ziyi again, who could say who would live or die?

At the end of the tunnel, Jiang Min carefully closed the door behind her, parted a thicket taller than herself, and stepped out.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling her body.

A gentle wind swept by. Dry leaves fell in a rustling cascade.

“It’s been so long since I’ve felt the sun,” Jiang Min murmured, eyes half-closed in enjoyment. After Foundation Establishment, sunlight did not just feel warm—it was rich with fire spirit energy, making her feel intimately comfortable.

Suddenly, her gaze darkened. The easy smile vanished, replaced by fierce determination. A pale ribbon shot out from the dense forest, lashing toward her.

“So, the troublesome one has come at last,” she said coldly.

Jiang Min opened her mouth and spat out a peach branch, which split off a twig and landed in her hand. She swung it in a swift arc; thunder and fire sword energy fused with the branch’s devouring power, transforming into several fierce sword beams that shot toward the ribbon with a piercing howl.

The thunderfire sword energy collided with the pale ribbon in an instant.

With a thunderous sound, the ribbon was flung backward, its once-lustrous glow now dimmed and battered—it had clearly sustained heavy damage, unlike before, when it had been untouched.

“You’ve reached Foundation Establishment?!” came a furious, astonished voice from the woods.

Jiang Ziyi emerged, controlling her Heaven Net Ribbon as she flew out, her proud and cold eyes now filled with disbelief.

As Jiang Ziyi scrutinized Jiang Min, Jiang Min was appraising her in return.

“Early Foundation Establishment?” Jiang Min was not surprised that Jiang Ziyi had broken through. Instead, she considered the aura emanating from her.

After all—

The pressure from Jiang Ziyi’s cultivation seemed no different from her own.

“Five spiritual roots provide far more power than most at the same stage. Plus, I’ve survived the Five Elements Tribulation and been strengthened by heavenly thunder. I’m stronger than others at my level.”

“Even if my rank is technically lower than hers, my true cultivation is no weaker.”

With this realization, a thought flashed through Jiang Min’s mind:

“The Five Elements Heavenly Tribulation isn’t a curse for those with five spiritual roots. On the contrary, it actually benefits cultivation.”

What nonsense about curses.

At this moment, she felt that undergoing tribulation was the true path of cultivation…

All these thoughts flashed through Jiang Min’s mind in a split second—such was the speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Jiang Ziyi, upon seeing Jiang Min, instantly confirmed she had broken through as well.

This only strengthened her conviction that Jiang Min had acquired some great opportunity—either from this mountain or a hidden tomb—allowing her to succeed in Foundation Establishment.

But she herself had also broken through, and still held the upper hand.

“Jiang Min, this time, no matter what, you won’t leave here alive.”

Jiang Ziyi’s voice was cold. She formed a seal with her hands, and her ribbon stretched out, blocking Jiang Min’s escape on both sides. Portions of the ribbon trembled, transforming into powerful spears—the Heaven Net’s most lethal technique: the Heaven Net Spear of Divine Terror.

She stared icily at Jiang Min, who now stood with her back to the mountain, both sides blocked. There was nowhere to run.

As Jiang Ziyi attacked, Jiang Min raised her peach branch, letting it hover before her, channeling sword energy. Countless threads of thunder and fire burst from the branch, weaving together in sheets, each thread laced with a fierce devouring force. Like a surging tide, the sword threads swept toward Jiang Ziyi’s ribbons.

Thunderfire Myriad Sword Technique—Ten Thousandfold Thunderfire.

The Heaven Net Spear of Divine Terror and the Thunderfire Myriad struck in an instant.

The impact was tremendous. The shockwaves snapped several nearby trees in half. Yet Jiang Ziyi’s pupils shrank in disbelief—for her Heaven Net Ribbon, a mid-grade magic treasure, should have been invincible, especially when empowered by her arts. Even most cultivators at her level could not withstand it. But now, faced with someone who had only just reached Foundation Establishment, she was being suppressed.

“This one must die, or she’ll become a disaster in the future.”

With this resolve, Jiang Ziyi’s eyes flashed coldly. Just as she was about to summon back her Heaven Net Ribbon and unleash an even greater treasure, a resounding sword cry erupted from Jiang Min.

With Jiang Min’s sharp gaze, countless thunder and fire sword threads shot from the peach branch, forming a dense, ever-shifting sword formation that surrounded Jiang Ziyi in the blink of an eye.

The Nine Palaces Thunderfire Sword Web.

Sensing the killing intent of the formation, Jiang Ziyi recalled her ribbon and spat out a glowing light. Within the radiance appeared a shimmering, water-like sash—not quite water, not quite ribbon, with the spectral shadow of a flood dragon swimming within the waves.

It was her life-bound treasure: the Water Flood Dragon Ribbon.

Refined from rare materials such as the Heavenly Dragon’s Ren Water, a flood dragon’s demon soul, spirit spring of water, and phantom silk, it was, however, still only an embryo—not yet fully formed.

Yet even as an unfinished treasure, it was much stronger than the Heaven Net Ribbon.

Jiang Ziyi would never bring out a half-formed life-bound artifact unless her life was truly at stake. Using it prematurely would harm it, and she would need long nurturing to restore it.

But now, Jiang Ziyi felt the situation had grown dire and had no choice but to summon the Water Flood Dragon Ribbon, determined to kill Jiang Min here and now.

The Nine Palaces Thunderfire Sword Web twisted and transformed, becoming a sea of thunder and flames, surging from all sides toward Jiang Ziyi.

Composed and grim, Jiang Ziyi formed seals, unleashing the Water Flood Dragon Ribbon. Like waves, it met the sword formation head-on. Within the rippling water, the dragon’s shadow leapt and roared, hurling itself at the sea of swords.

The Flood Dragon’s Roar—her ultimate water technique.

Originally, this battle was meant to be resolved within a single chapter. But as the fight unfolded, it became clear there was more to tell—the duel would need another chapter to reach its end.

Little Jiang’s five spiritual roots seemed, at first, to be the mark of a hopeless talent. But as long as she broke free from the shackles of slow cultivation (with the help of the peach branch), her strength would only grow—eventually dominating her peers, no matter their realm.