Chapter 14: Perfect Foundation Establishment
Elder Guo sat quietly on the master armchair, his gaze hollow and distant, as if traveling through time back to that heart-wrenching past. His complexion gradually grew dim, memories surging into his heart like a rising tide.
"That truly was a day too agonizing to look back on!" Elder Guo muttered to himself, his voice low and laden with endless sorrow.
"Think back to those years: the Guo Clinic traced its lineage to an ancient and mysterious medical sect—Ancient Medical Apricot Forest. This medical art had a long and enduring history, passed down for a thousand years, renowned throughout the world for its exquisite craftsmanship and miraculous healing effects. However, eighteen years ago, a sudden disaster befell this once incomparably glorious sect.
"At that time, Ancient Medical Apricot Forest encountered their mortal enemies—the Miaojiang Poison Sect. Deep-seated grievances had long existed between these two sects, and they had engaged in covert struggles all along. Yet no one expected that this conflict would turn out so tragic and fierce. The two sides launched a thrilling battle of life and death; for a time, swords flashed, flesh and blood flew, and casualties were countless.
"In the end, although Ancient Medical Apricot Forest fought with all their might, they still could not withstand the fierce onslaught of the Southwest Poison Sect. After this intense battle, Ancient Medical Apricot Forest suffered heavy vitality damage and never recovered. The once prosperous and thriving sect began its decline, gradually losing its former glory. To preserve the spark of their lineage, they withdrew from the Kunlun Barrier and came to the mortal realm.
"As time passed, the name of Ancient Medical Apricot Forest gradually faded from people's memories, leaving only this small Guo Clinic of today, silently bearing that heavy history." Whenever Elder Guo recalled this past, a sense of desolation and helplessness could not help but well up in his heart.
Yet fate was fickle. In the midst of that horrific catastrophe, Guo Yufu's parents unfortunately gave their lives heroically, leaving this world forever. Pitiful Guo Yufu not only lost her beloved parents, but she herself also suffered ruthless poisoning. That terrifying poison eroded her delicate body, plunging her into excruciating agony, making every single second feel like torment in the abyss of hell. Yet even so, Guo Yufu stubbornly fought against fate; she gritted her teeth, enduring the dual torture of body and mind, vowed to survive, and swore to avenge her parents.
Only at this moment did Qin Yongping gain a profound understanding of the Guo Clinic. No wonder Junior Sister's complexion looked like a withered flower on a sickbed, exuding an unhealthy aura.
"Master, can even you not cure Junior Sister?" Qin Yongping asked anxiously.
"This is Gu poison of the highest order from the Miaojiang Poison Sect," Elder Guo sighed repeatedly. "Its toxins are like bone-gnawing maggots, having deeply invaded the bone marrow. As your master, my talent is limited, and I can only help Fuer slightly alleviate her pain. In the Kunlun Realm, perhaps there are those capable of bringing the dead back to life, but in this mortal realm, it is as difficult as ascending to the heavens... And to enter the Kunlun Realm, one must at least be a figure akin to an earthly immortal to be qualified... Alas..."
"Master, rest assured. Once my cultivation reaches that of an earthly immortal, I will definitely find a way to cure Junior Sister," Qin Yongping said sincerely.
Subsequently, Elder Guo carefully handed the precious, centuries-old fleeceflower root, aged through a hundred years of time, to Qin Yongping. Receiving this rare spiritual medicine, Qin Yongping thought to himself: With such a hard-to-find centuries-old fleeceflower root in hand, if I do not seize this opportunity to try and break through my realm, wouldn't that be a terrible waste of heaven's gifts? Thus, he made a prompt decision to immediately utilize this fleeceflower root to charge toward a higher level of cultivation.
Having made up his mind, Qin Yongping earnestly requested Elder Guo to help prepare the remaining various rare medicinal herbs needed, along with a spacious and large wooden tub. Seeing that his mind was made up, Elder Guo did not say much more and quickly set off to gather the remaining ingredients for the medicinal formula. Before long, all the items were fully prepared and placed before Qin Yongping.
Everything ready, Qin Yongping strode without hesitation into the practice room—a secret chamber specially designated for cultivation. As soon as he entered, he eagerly engaged in an in-depth exchange with the mysterious artifact spirit senior who had always guarded this place. This artifact spirit senior possessed profound knowledge and rich experience, and could rattle off the many key points requiring special attention during the foundation establishment process to Qin Yongping one by one like a family treasure.
Once Qin Yongping firmly imprinted these crucial points in his mind, he began to methodically process the medicinal herbs he had just gathered. He clumsily placed the various medicinal herbs one by one into the prepared medicinal bowl and lit the furnace fire to simmer them slowly. Time ticked by second by second; the medicinal liquid in the bowl gradually grew thick and emitted wisps of exotic fragrance. Finally, after a long period of meticulous simmering, all the medicinal herbs were fully fused, and the concoction of the medicinal liquid was a complete success! Then, he poured the medicinal liquid into the large wooden tub, added a large amount of prepared boiling water, and diluted it at a ratio of 1 to 200.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qin Yongping quickly stripped off his clothes and leaped with a single bound into the steaming wooden tub. The moment he came into contact with the scalding medicinal liquid, a fierce wave of heat instantly swept through his entire body. Yet he gritted his teeth to endure the discomfort, adjusted his respiration, and circulated the true qi within his body according to the unique method recorded in the White Tiger Heart Scripture.
As the cultivation method continuously operated, Qin Yongping began to greedily absorb the formidable medicinal power within the surrounding liquid. Those medicinal powers, containing endless vitality and energy, poured endlessly into his meridians, nourishing every corner of his body. He concentrated all his focus on guiding this majestic power, causing it to circulate through his entire body along a specific route, and finally converge at the dantian.
Thus, through Qin Yongping's persevering efforts, the medicinal power was refined and absorbed bit by bit, and his aura accordingly grew increasingly robust and steady. Gradually, he felt as though he had merged into one with the entire heaven and earth, and the external spiritual qi rushed toward him frantically like a tidal wave. Finally, at a certain moment, Qin Yongping felt his entire body suddenly shake; the previously obstructed meridians within his body instantly unblocked without hindrance, and a brand-new, formidable power spontaneously emerged!
At this point, Qin Yongping successfully achieved Perfect Foundation Establishment, completed the first level of the White Tiger Heart Scripture, and stepped onto a new journey on the path of cultivation!
Qin Yongping sensed his own state, feeling as though he had been reborn. Both his vision and hearing had become incomparably sharp, which thrilled him immensely. Forcibly suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, he eagerly entered the jade pendant space.
"Artifact spirit senior, I have successfully established my foundation. Are there any combat techniques or cultivation methods suitable for me?" Qin Yongping asked with a broad smile, as brilliant as a blooming flower.
"Stabilize your cultivation first. You are now able to project your true qi outward, like a fierce dragon bursting out of the sea. I will naturally select a few suitable cultivation methods for you," the artifact spirit senior's voice resounded like a great bell by Qin Yongping's ear.
Hearing this, Qin Yongping immediately sat cross-legged and meditated like an old monk entering samadhi.
When Qin Yongping opened his eyes, the artifact spirit senior gave him two cultivation methods: Tiger Fist and Tiger Eye.
"Tiger Fist has nine forms, each movement changing infinitely. When matched with the White Tiger Heart Scripture, its power is boundless! Tiger Eye is the divine heavenly eye ability of the White Tiger clan, divided into Copper Tiger Pupil, Silver Tiger Pupil, and Gold Tiger Pupil. Combined with the White Tiger Heart Scripture, it is the supreme pupil technique."