Brilliant golden light suddenly erupted from the shadowy figure!

  Crack!

  The red chains shattered instantly. The shadow retreated at lightning speed back into the three-foot boundary. Golden radiance flowed over its form as it solidified, becoming noticeably more substantial.

  Yun Che’s expression darkened. His right hand formed seals, ready to cast another spell—

  But the now-solidified shadow—Teng San’s remnant soul—revealed terror on its face and rasped out human words:

  “If you destroy my soul, my grandfather will never spare you! He is a Golden Core grand cultivator! Kill me, and you will surely die as well!”

  A cold gleam flashed in Yun Che’s eyes. Without a word, he spat out a massive mass of primal spiritual energy, his hand seals striking it like a raging storm.

  The spiritual energy compressed violently, condensing into a crystalline filament.

  Teng San’s remnant soul panicked even more, shrieking, “My grandfather has already sensed my calamity! He will arrive any moment! You—”

  Before he could finish, Yun Che flicked his left hand!

  Whoosh—!

  The filament shot forward like an arrow, plunging into the Three-Foot Soul Prison, wrapping tightly around the remnant soul and yanking outward!

  “AH—! Grandfather, save me!!” the remnant soul screamed. Golden light exploded from its body as it struggled, locked in stalemate with the filament!

  Without hesitation, Yun Che slapped his storage pouch, splashing out the final half bottle of Cold Marrow Spirit Liquid and merging it into the filament!

  The filament instantly swelled to the thickness of a finger, its pulling force multiplying!

  “No—!!!”

  The remnant soul howled as the golden light shattered inch by inch, forcibly dragged beyond the three-foot boundary!

  The moment it left the Soul Prison’s range, the remaining golden light on the soul exploded, transforming into a surging cloud of golden mist.

  Within the mist, a vague yet imposing elderly figure emerged. His thunderous voice rolled forth:

  “Fellow Daoist, please show mercy! We can—”

  “Annoying.”

  Yun Che cut him off coldly. His fingers formed a sword as he pointed toward Teng San’s bound remnant soul, now curled into a tight mass.

  The soul let out a shrill scream, rapidly compressing until it finally condensed into a soul pearl radiating flowing violet light.

  The elderly figure in the golden mist sensed Teng San’s soul being refined and roared with deep hatred:

  “You have slain a member of the Teng bloodline—may the Blood Curse bind you! No matter where you flee, across the Nine Heavens or Ten Earths, I, Teng Huayuan, swear to tear your soul apart and imprison you forever in the Nether Springs!!!”

  Before the threat ended, the golden mist churned violently and slowly dispersed.

  Tens of thousands of li away, deep within an ice-and-snow palace.

  An elderly man in a black python robe suddenly opened his eyes, blood light exploding from them!

  “Li’er…!”

  His face twisted viciously. He smashed the cold jade table before him with one punch, every word soaked in blood:

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “I swear—whether across heaven or hell—I will make the murderer pay in blood!”

  With that, he slammed his palm against his chest and spat out a mouthful of Nascent Soul essence blood, radiating terrifying cold!

  His hands moved rapidly. The blood writhed in midair, transforming into countless twisted, dark-red runes that densely filled the chamber.

  Next, a one-foot-tall, jade-white Nascent Soul burst from his crown and hovered in midair.

  The tiny Nascent Soul’s face was solemn. Its hands formed seals as its divine sense split into thousands, merging into every rune.

  “Curse, arise!”

  All runes flared with demonic blood light!

  “Curse, bear!”

  The Nascent Soul visibly withered, shrinking by an entire circle as massive amounts of Nascent Soul essence poured into the runes. The runes shone brighter, flying upward and arranging themselves into a gigantic formation covering the entire chamber.

  The formation rotated as the heavens changed color. Thunder rumbled across the chamber ceiling as blood-red lightning formed and intertwined, ultimately shaping a complex, ferocious diamond-shaped curse seal!

  “Curse, turn!”

  The formation contracted. Blood lightning surged into the seal, which became increasingly solid and ominous.

  “Curse… merge!”

  The Nascent Soul roared, spitting another mouthful of essence. The formation completely fused into the seal, which slowly descended and branded itself upon the Nascent Soul’s brow.

  The Nascent Soul’s face was pale, yet it revealed a chilling grin.

  “Whoever kills a descendant of the Teng family… shall suffer the Bloodline Curse—eternal damnation!”

  Severed Blade Mountains. Inside the ice cave.

  Before Yun Che floated four radiant orbs—blood, flesh, bone, and soul. He cast the final few hand seals toward Teng San’s remains.

  Specks of crystalline, jade-like light drifted out.

  “Spiritual roots…” Yun Che’s eyes sharpened. He knew these motes were the cultivator’s innate foundation.

  The moment they left the body, one-third dissipated into the world.

  Yun Che dared not delay. He spat out spiritual mist to envelop the remaining motes and absorbed them with full force.

  Violent rejection erupted. During absorption, another third collapsed and vanished.

  In the end, only one-third of the spiritual root essence successfully merged into the mist and was slowly absorbed into Yun Che’s body.

  At the instant the spiritual roots entered—

  Yun Che’s brow burned!

  A dark-red, diamond-shaped curse mark silently appeared!

  Yun Che raised a hand to touch it. The mark felt warm, faintly painful.

  Li Han cried out immediately, “Bloodline Soul-Tracking Curse! Ruthless indeed! That Teng old monster burned Nascent Soul origin to curse you!”

  Yun Che’s face turned grim. “Can it be undone?”

  Li Han pondered, then chuckled darkly. “Don’t panic. This curse has no killing power—it’s purely a tracking mark. Once the caster enters a certain range, he can lock onto you instantly.”

  “However…” his tone shifted, smug. “Back in the day, I studied such curses deeply. With my remnant soul concealing you, unless you run straight under that old bastard’s nose, he won’t sense you at all.”

  “Even better… I once obtained an ancient secret art. Using the curse as a bridge, you can reverse the backlash onto its caster! It requires Golden Core cultivation and several rare materials. Once successful, you can seize half of his cultivation!”

  “Golden Core…” Yun Che murmured, resolve flashing in his eyes. “Then after Foundation Establishment, I must form my core as soon as possible.”

  He wasted no time.

  With a guiding motion, the four orbs—blood, flesh, bone, and soul—began to revolve around him. Sitting cross-legged, Yun Che followed the final incantations of the Foundation-Seizing Art, circulating his spiritual power.

  The four orbs spun faster and faster, transforming into streaks of light that plunged one by one into Yun Che’s chest!

  BOOM—!!

  A sea-like torrent of spiritual power exploded inside his body! Yun Che’s body convulsed violently. Veins bulged across his skin as if living things were writhing beneath!

  He let out a muffled groan, blood seeping from his lips, yet he clenched his teeth and stabilized his mind, fully circulating the Nine Nether Frozen Prison Art.

  Within his dantian, the liquid vortex of perfected Qi Condensation疯狂 absorbed the surging power, expanding and compressing again and again…

  Outside the ice cave, above the Severed Blade Mountains, dark clouds gathered as icy winds howled.

  Within a hundred-li radius, frigid spiritual energy was drawn by an invisible force, forming visible pale-blue streams that rushed toward the ice cave!

  Inside, Yun Che’s aura rose steadily.

  The barrier of perfected Qi Condensation shattered instantly!

  The gate of Foundation Establishment burst open!

  Three days later.

  The ice cave exploded, shards flying everywhere!

  A figure slowly walked out.

  His long hair hung loose. His eyes were deep as frozen pools. His aura was vast and profound like an abyss. His skin gleamed faintly like jade, and icy spiritual energy flowed naturally with every movement.

  Foundation Establishment—complete.

  Yun Che raised his right hand, thought stirring.

  In his palm, a wisp of Spectral Azure ice flame ignited silently. Deep within the flame’s core, a faint dark-red curse mark flickered in and out of sight.

  He clenched his fist. The flame dissipated.

  He lifted his gaze toward the south—toward Cold Crow City, and the territory of the Teng family.

  “Teng Huayuan…” he whispered, fear absent from his eyes, replaced only by glacial calm.

  “Half your cultivation…”

  “I’ve already reserved it.”

  turning point.

  Yun Che not only establishes his foundation, but officially steps into a path of great karma, great enemies, and great destiny.

  ?? If given the chance to seize half the cultivation of a Nascent Soul powerhouse, would you dare take the risk?

  ?? After Foundation Establishment, who do you most want Yun Che to face first?