When Life Runs Out, the Fun Begins-Chapter 50 – Elder Mu! It's bad! Something has happened!

Having decided to participate in the Sect Grand Tournament and even set his sights on the once-a-decade "Xiaoque Dynasty Dao Discourse Gathering," Mu Xiaochuan felt invigorated by a newfound motivation, his entire being brimming with vitality. After bidding farewell to Liu Ruyan, who was still caught in a mix of excitement and worry, he couldn't even spare a moment to enjoy the comforts of Su Yao and Ye Lingxuan at the Listening Bamboo Pavilion, as he prepared to immediately enhance his cultivation base!
After all, there was only a month left until the Sect Grand Tournament, and he was currently only at the first stage of Foundation Establishment. Although he could easily dominate among the Outer Sect Elders with his Earth-tier Spiritual Artifact, when it came to the entire Foundation Establishment stage of the Qingling Sect, or even the geniuses and powerhouses of the entire Xiaoque Dynasty he might face in the future, his current strength was clearly far from sufficient!
Within the Qingling Sect, there were quite a few elders in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment (fourth to sixth stage), and in the late-stage (seventh to ninth stage), there were two Vice Sect Masters, each peak's Peak Master, and a few Inner Sect Elders. To secure a spot in the Sect Grand Tournament, he must defeat a late-stage Foundation Establishment Peak Master, and his current strength was still lacking.
"I must break through quickly!" Mu Xiaochuan sat cross-legged on a meditation mat in the quiet room of the Listening Bamboo Pavilion, his eyes resolute. "I need to at least reach the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment to have some confidence!"
With a thought, he communicated with the Thrill System.
Host: Mu Xiaochuan
Thrill Points: 425
Realm: Foundation Establishment first stage
Cultivation Technique: Withered Tree Revives Technique (Minor Accomplishment), Dragon-Subduing Staff Technique (Mastery)
Secondary Cultivation: None
Spiritual Artifact: Azure Dragon Soul-Suppressing Wood (Earth-tier Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact)
Equipment: Black Tortoise Ink Scale Armor (Earth-tier Low-Grade)
In this month of indulgent "decadence," he had accumulated 425 Thrill Points! Even Mu Xiaochuan was a bit surprised; it seemed that handling a myriad of affairs was indeed an easy way to earn Thrill Points!
"System, check the Thrill Points needed to advance in the Foundation Establishment stage!"
[Thrill System Explanation (Foundation Establishment stage): Each stage advancement in the early Foundation Establishment (first to third stage) requires 100 Thrill Points. Each stage advancement in the mid Foundation Establishment (fourth to sixth stage) requires 200 Thrill Points. Each stage advancement in the late Foundation Establishment (seventh to ninth stage) requires 300 Thrill Points. Breaking through from the peak of Foundation Establishment to the Golden Elixir stage requires 1000 Thrill Points.]
The cost of advancing in the Foundation Establishment stage was indeed a level higher than the Qi Refining stage! Just advancing from the first to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment would require 400 Thrill Points!
"Since it's enough, advance directly to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment!" Mu Xiaochuan decided without hesitation. "System! Upgrade me! Target: Foundation Establishment fourth stage!"
"Ding! Confirm consuming 400 Thrill Points to advance the host's cultivation from the first stage to the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment?"
"Confirm!"
"Boom——!!!!"
A surge of pure spiritual energy, countless times more vast than any previous breakthrough, rushed into Mu Xiaochuan's limbs and bones like a celestial river, flooding into his dantian and qi sea!
At that moment, Mu Xiaochuan felt as if his body was about to be torn apart by this violent power! His meridians felt like they were being scorched by fire and frozen by ice, emitting unbearable "crackling" sounds! The Foundation Establishment seed in his dantian, originally radiant, spun and expanded wildly under the impact of this terrifying energy!
The barrier between the first and second stages of Foundation Establishment was shattered almost instantly!
Immediately after, even more turbulent energy continued to pour in! The Foundation Establishment seed seemed to be infused with endless vitality, beginning to take root and sprout at a speed visible to the naked eye! A phantom sprout, difficult yet determined, broke through the top of the seed!
The barrier between the second and third stages of Foundation Establishment shattered in response!
But it wasn't over yet! The vast spiritual energy continued to flow in, like top-grade spiritual liquid, frantically nourishing the newly emerged phantom sprout! The sprout grew and rose at an astonishing speed, branching and leafing out, though still phantom, it already had the embryonic form of a "spiritual root seedling"!
At the same time, Mu Xiaochuan felt his physical body undergoing a monumental transformation! His bones became more crystalline and translucent, like jade carvings; his muscles were filled with explosive power and resilience; his internal organs were repeatedly cleansed by the pure spiritual energy, bursting with vitality! Even his soul seemed to have undergone a baptism, becoming more solid and clear!
"Break through!!" Mu Xiaochuan roared in his heart! He fully operated the Withered Tree Revives Technique, guiding the nearly out-of-control vast spiritual power within him to launch a final assault on the formidable barrier between the third and fourth stages of Foundation Establishment!
"Crack——!!!!"
A sound like the shattering of a soul echoed!
That solid barrier was finally blasted open!
The "spiritual root seedling" in his dantian suddenly burst into dazzling light, as if it had gained life, its branches and leaves swaying gently, and a far more solid and vast aura than the early Foundation Establishment stage erupted from Mu Xiaochuan's body!
Foundation Establishment fourth stage! Achieved!
"Ah..." Mu Xiaochuan exhaled a long breath of turbid air, which fell to the ground with a "sizzle," as if it had corrosive properties! This was a sign that the impurities in his body had been completely expelled!
He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance flickering in his gaze, and his entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation! If the previous Mu Xiaochuan was sharp and a bit unruly, now he exuded a calm and majestic aura like a grandmaster! Of course, the "showy" and "crafty" nature in his bones was still hidden deep in his eyes.
Feeling the spiritual power within him, now several times stronger and surging like a river, and the verdant, vibrant "spiritual root seedling" in his dantian, Mu Xiaochuan felt an unprecedented sense of power!
"Mid Foundation Establishment! Hahaha! This feeling of power is just too thrilling!" He couldn't help but laugh out loud!
"Ding, cultivation base increased, body and mind refreshed, gained 40 Thrill Points."
Not bad, with his cultivation base enhanced and some points replenished, Mu Xiaochuan began to assess himself. He had 65 Thrill Points left.
"With the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment, combined with the Earth-tier Spiritual Artifact and armor, plus the mastered staff technique, I should be able to hold my own against higher-stage Foundation Establishment opponents. However, to secure victory in the Sect Grand Tournament, or even make a mark at the 'Dao Discourse Gathering,' it seems I'm still lacking..."
He opened the Thrill System Shop again and began to browse carefully.
In terms of cultivation techniques, the Withered Tree Revives Technique was only a Low-Grade Technique, though it showed good effects in healing and 'certain specific areas,' it was quite limited in enhancing a warrior's combat power. The Dragon-Subduing Staff Technique, although mastered, was only a Low-Grade Technique, and if faced with higher-level opponents, its power might be insufficient, leaving him feeling inadequate.
As for Spiritual Artifacts, the Azure Dragon Soul-Suppressing Wood and Black Tortoise Ink Scale Armor were already Earth-tier Low-Grade, so there was no need to replace them for now.
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"It seems I need to focus on improving my cultivation techniques," Mu Xiaochuan pondered.
Just as he was immersed in planning for a bright future, a slightly anxious voice from Su Yao came from outside the quiet room:
"Elder Mu! Something's wrong!"