Inside the cave dwelling in Qingya Town, Meng Bai slowly woke up.
At this moment, in reality, he had already broken through to Foundation Establishment.
Feeling the power within him, Meng Bai muttered to himself, "This isn't an ordinary Foundation Establishment; the power from the dream has been brought back. But I mustn't become arrogant—this is merely Foundation Establishment, so I still need to cultivate diligently and steadily."
Spring passed and autumn came, and in the blink of an eye, Meng Bai was twenty-one years old.
Nearly a year had passed since his advancement to Foundation Establishment, yet Meng Bai remained at Level 1 Foundation Establishment.
Meng Bai had anticipated this long ago; the cultivation speed of the *Great Dream True Scripture* was never outstanding, and its miraculous nature did not lie in the speed of cultivation.
After advancing to Foundation Establishment, Meng Bai could already sense his lifespan. At this moment, his lifespan was four hundred years, whereas an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator's lifespan was only two hundred years.
Meng Bai could not help but sigh with emotion, "It seems the *Great Dream True Scripture* also has the effect of prolonging life. No need to go out, no need to brave dangers, except that the time required for cultivation is a little long. Not bad, it suits my tastes quite well."
"Is the Guardian Meng present? Zhao Zhongming of the Zhao family has come to pay his respects."
The Zhao family was one of the three major immortal-cultivating clans of Qingya Town, and Zhao Zhongming was the current head of the Zhao family.
Meng Bai frowned. As early as a year ago, he had stated that unless something important happened, the three major clans should not come to disturb him. Why had this Zhao Zhongming come today?
Outside the cave dwelling, Zhao Zhongming waited anxiously and cautiously outside the door with a fluttering heart.
In Zhao Zhongming's impression, Meng Bai was a bitter ascetic who had hardly stepped out since arriving in Qingya Town a year ago, and his cultivation was at Level 7 Qi Condensation.
As for himself, he was only at Level 7 Qi Condensation, and in Qingya Town, the only ones whose cultivation could rival Meng Bai were the ancestors of the Zhao, Qian, and Sun families.
Of course, what made him most wary was Meng Bai's identity as an outer sect garrison disciple of the Taixu Sect, since Qingya Town was under the jurisdiction of the Taixu Sect after all.
The stone door slowly opened.
Meng Bai's voice came from within the cave dwelling, "Come in."
After Zhao Zhongming walked into the cave dwelling, Meng Bai asked, "What is your purpose in coming?"
"Guardian Meng, a few days ago our ancestor was wandering at Wanghai Cliff and discovered a Spirit Nourishing cave dwelling belonging to a predecessor. Inside, there is a Foundation Establishment fortuitous encounter, and he invites you to go together."
Wanghai Cliff was right near Qingya Town, and Meng Bai being stationed in Qingya Town did not mean he had to stay there every single moment. Making a trip would do no harm, but Meng Bai had no intention of going.
He had no relation or ties to the Zhao family's ancestor, and for that ancestor to be so kind as to share a Foundation Establishment fortuitous encounter with him—there must be something fishy going on.
A wave of Foundation Establishment coercion emanated from Meng Bai.
Zhao Zhongming instantly felt a tremendous pressure, and his expression changed slightly.
"Leave. Tell your ancestor I have already advanced to Foundation Establishment, and I am not interested in the Spirit Nourishing cave dwelling."
Zhao Zhongming smiled bitterly and said, "Understood, Guardian. I have disturbed you greatly, and I hope you will forgive me."
Watching Zhao Zhongming leave, Meng Bai's heart remained completely undisturbed as he continued his cultivation.
According to Meng Bai's own estimate, if he proceeded step-by-step with his cultivation for another two years, he would be able to advance to Level 2 Foundation Establishment.
By then, his three-year garrison term would also have just come to an end.
At the Zhao family estate.
The Zhao family ancestor was conversing with a blue-robed cultivator, his attitude extremely flattering.
"Immortal, I have already sent Zhongming to lure that Guardian Meng. With a Foundation Establishment fortuitous encounter right before him, I don't believe he won't go to Wanghai Cliff."
He Xin gave a cold smile. "Furthermore, the deaths of my nephew and Huashi are inextricably linked to this brat. If it weren't for the fact that this brat has a sect identity and it wouldn't do to directly break in and kill him, he wouldn't have lived until now."
"Immortal, regarding what you promised about the Foundation Establishment Pill after that Guardian Meng dies..." the Zhao family ancestor asked cautiously.
Although he was the ancestor of a clan, he was ultimately still in the Qi Condensation Stage, no different from an ant before a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He Xin said indifferently, "Rest assured, as long as that Meng Bai dies, the Foundation Establishment Pill I promised you will certainly be given to you."
He Xin sneered inwardly: How could precious resources like a Foundation Establishment Pill be given to a mere tiny Qi Condensation clan? By then, you will simply die together with that Meng Bai brat inside the cave dwelling.
Amidst their conversation, Zhao Zhongming returned to the Zhao family estate.
The Zhao family ancestor said with delight, "Zhongming, how did it go? Did that Guardian Meng agree?"
Zhao Zhongming shook his head and replied, "Ancestor, that Guardian Meng has already advanced to Foundation Establishment, and stated that he is not interested in the Spirit Nourishing cave dwelling."
"This..." The Zhao family ancestor was stunned for a moment, then looked toward He Xin.
He Xin sneered, "It doesn't matter. If this plan fails, we will simply try another."
Ten days later, Zhao Zhongming knocked on Meng Bai's cave dwelling once again.
With a slightly unkind expression, Meng Bai looked at Zhao Zhongming and said, "What is it this time?"
This time, standing behind Zhao Zhongming were also the heads of the Qian and Sun families.
Zhao Zhongming said anxiously, "Guardian Meng, it's terrible! The fierce beasts in the Qingya Mountain Range have rioted and are heading straight toward Qingya Town. I ask that you step forth as soon as possible to suppress them."
Meng Bai asked with composure, "Have you three major clans sent people to intercept them?"
Zhao Zhongming said, "A beast riot is something that hasn't happened in Qingya Town for a hundred years. Naturally, our three major immortal-cultivating clans immediately dispatched family disciples to intercept them, but in this riot, there is a Level 9 Qi Condensation fierce beast that is beyond what we can stop."
"What about your family's ancestors?"
Zhao Zhongming awkwardly replied, "The ancestors of the three families went together a few days ago to the Spirit Nourishing cave dwelling to seek fortuitous encounters."
Meng Bai stood up and walked outward. "Very well, I'll go make a trip."
The sect had dispatched Meng Bai to garrison Qingya Town, and Meng Bai naturally had the duty to protect Qingya Town. If he didn't even dare handle a Level 9 Qi Condensation fierce beast, he would certainly be held accountable by the sect upon his return.
One hundred miles outside Qingya Town, at the edge of the Qingya Mountain Range.
Meng Bai saw the rioting Level 9 Qi Condensation fierce beast—it was a bear-type fierce beast.
It had thick skin and tough flesh, and was fiercely savage.
Many of the three major immortal-cultivating clan disciples who had gone to stop the beast riot had been injured by this bear beast.
Several Level 7 Qi Condensation cultivators from the three major immortal-cultivating clans were engaged in a difficult struggle with it.
Yet in Meng Bai's eyes, this bear-race fierce beast was nothing special.
This bear beast was far inferior to the members of the Demon race Meng Bai had seen in his dream.
Although fierce beasts and the Demon race differed by only a single character, their strengths were actually worlds apart.
Any member of the Demon race at Level 9 Qi Condensation that Meng Bai had seen was stronger than this bear beast.
Meng Bai had no intention of entangling with this fierce beast. Transforming his vital Qi into a sword—even an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator could easily solve this fierce beast, let alone Meng Bai—he slashed out with a single sword.
The might of that single sword was terrifyingly formidable.
This bear beast was cleaved into two halves, and that sturdy physical body which had given so many clan disciples a headache was no different from a sheet of white paper before Meng Bai.
As Meng Bai turned around and prepared to leave, a cold, gloomy voice arrived.
"Fine swordsmanship. You're the one who killed He Zhi and Huashi, aren't you?" He Xin walked out from the depths of the mountain range.
After He Xin appeared, the disciples of the three major immortal-cultivating clans all quietly retreated by tacit agreement.
Meng Bai frowned and said, "People from the He family. Did you cause this beast riot?"
He Xin sneered, "That's right, I am the one who caused it. Today, you, Meng Bai, will die amidst the beast riot, while I, He Xin, just happened to pass by and quell this riot."
Meng Bai likewise sneered, "Your idea is quite good indeed. I haven't even gone looking for trouble with your He family yet, and you've come looking for me first."
The aura on He Xin surged violently as he said, "Meng Bai, we are both in Foundation Establishment, but you have only just reached it, whereas I have spent many years in bitter cultivation at Level 4 Foundation Establishment. Today, you are destined to die to appease the departed souls of my He family!"