C14 This Treasure Is Not Bad I'll Eat It!!

Under Wu Zhi's leadership, everyone had a blast that day. It wasn't until the evening lanterns were lit that Wu Zhi contentedly declared the day's fun was over. "Time to head home, everyone!" he said, waving his chubby paw to signal the end of their gathering.

By day's end, Wu Zhi had truly taken on the role of a big brother. Big Black, Scarface, and the others had become utterly devoted to him. Although Scarface and his group couldn't enter the Imperial Palace, they left their messaging jade tubes behind, vowing that whenever their big brother—or their big big brother—needed them, they'd be ready to brave any danger without hesitation.

After escorting Wu Zhi and Zhuang Banxue back to their chambers, Big Black departed. Now, Zhuang Banxue could finally attend to her important task: Foundation Establishment. "Foundation Establishment may not be difficult for me, but I still need a protector. I'm entrusting this to you, as my natal spirit beast. I trust you won't let me down," she said.

Wu Zhi didn't respond verbally but hummed in acknowledgment, nodding his head in agreement. He saw Foundation Establishment as merely the first hurdle in the journey of cultivation, hardly a challenge at all. Moreover, they were in the Lee Dynasty's imperial palace, with numerous masters at the ready. And if needed, he could summon Big Black, the unparalleled powerhouse of the Lee Dynasty. An accident? Unthinkable.

Zhuang Banxue soon sat down cross-legged, ready to begin her cultivation technique. But then, as if remembering something, she called Wu Zhi over. He had been lying nearby, seemingly on guard but actually struggling to stay awake, ready to sneak in a nap. "You had me running around all day; I nearly forgot about this," she chided. "Take care of this treasure I found this afternoon." She handed over the pearl and briefly described its powers to Wu Zhi.

After ensuring that she hadn't missed anything, she closed her eyes, formed a seal with her hands, and sealed off her consciousness, focusing intently on advancing to Foundation Establishment.

This is why one needs a protector when attempting such a breakthrough.

Once her consciousness was sealed, Zhuang Banxue became oblivious to the outside world.

At that moment, even a mere child could have ended her life with a simple blow.

Her vulnerability was at its peak.

Unbeknownst to her, Wu Zhi was up to something.

He examined the orb he had received from Banxue.

Thanks to her explanation, he had come to appreciate the orb's value.

"This is the divine artifact for idle cultivation!"

"It's the perfect item for a slacker like me!"

"How did Banxue manage to dig this up!"

The more Wu Zhi toyed with the orb, the more he felt it was made for a lazybones like him.

While Wu Zhi was thoroughly enjoying the orb, a bizarre thought popped into his head.

"Swallow this bead!"

The thought was as random as the day he wandered into Banxue's chambers and, in a haze, consumed the last bit of her immortal Qi.

It was the instinct of a top-tier immortal creature like the panda, driven to claim the world's rare treasures.

"Swallowing this pearl will surely benefit me!" Wu Zhi was certain of it.

But he had no idea what would happen after ingesting the orb.

He glanced slyly at Zhuang Banxue, who was deep in meditation.

After all, we've made a pact.

I'm her Accompanying Spirit Beast.

She wouldn't harm me.

Well then...

What's there to fear?

If I mess up with this orb, at worst, I'll just have to make a sacrifice and bond with her!

I am a panda, after all!

Getting me to sign a contract was a bargain for her!

With that thought, Wu Zhi hesitated no more. He opened his mouth and effortlessly swallowed the orb.

After swallowing the pearl, Wu Zhi was struck by an indescribable sensation. Unlike other times when he ingested something, the pearl didn't make its way to his stomach. Instead, it vanished without a trace, only to reappear within his Dantian in a sudden, mysterious fashion.

To his astonishment, the spiritual energy within him stirred to life—a stark contrast to its usual dormant state. Wu Zhi was not one to practice cultivation; his daily routine consisted solely of consuming a single pill. Typically, it was only the pill that would briefly activate the spiritual energy inside him. But now, the energy was moving of its own accord, as if it possessed a consciousness, responding to the pearl's presence.

The more spiritual energy that flowed, the stronger the connection Wu Zhi felt with the pearl, almost as if they were fusing together. Initially bewildered, Wu Zhi's recollections of the fantasy novels about immortal cultivation he had read in his past life led him to a moment of clarity. "I think..." he mused, "I've refined this pearl!"

As time went on, Wu Zhi's conviction grew stronger. The moment he could wield the pearl's power effortlessly, he knew he had successfully refined it. A wealth of information about the pearl flooded his mind, and, crucially, the pearl's capabilities had significantly improved post-refinement.

This wasn't merely due to the pearl's inherent power, but rather a testament to Wu Zhi's innate talent as a panda. The rare treasures he refined had the potential to become amplified. And indeed, this pearl had received such a boost!

"According to Banxue's earlier explanation, this pearl is akin to the constant cultivation of two or three Divine Ruins Stage cultivators," Wu Zhi pondered. "But now, its efficacy has vastly surpassed its previous state. I'm not entirely sure of the specifics, but it could be four or five times more potent than before."

After marveling at the pearl's enhanced power, Wu Zhi couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Truly worthy of me!" With that, the pearl was irrevocably linked to Wu Zhi. He could now reap the benefits of an endless stream of spiritual energy without lifting a finger, content to lie back and bask in his newfound strength.

As Wu Zhi was deeply engrossed in examining the pearl, the spiritual energy of the world began to surge wildly, infusing itself into Zhuang Banxue's body with a frenzy.

The tumultuous flow of spiritual energy soon came to a halt.

Zhuang Banxue, at last, opened her eyes.

"Whew..."

"Is this the difference between establishing one's foundation with Immortal Energy versus ordinary Spiritual Energy?"

"Quite good, indeed."

Murmuring to herself, Zhuang Banxue couldn't help but let a smile spread across her face.

She was thoroughly pleased with the outcome of her Foundation Establishment using Immortal Energy.

Looking up, she saw that the panda was still there, steadfastly standing guard as her protector.

Her smile widened even further.

"Though this panda may not seem all that serious, it proves to be dependable when it matters most."

Yet no sooner had this thought crossed her mind,

She caught sight of Wu Zhi slowly turning towards her, stifling a yawn.

It was only then that Wu Zhi suddenly realized Zhuang Banxue had awakened.

After a brief moment of surprise, he awkwardly opened his mouth and then...

Out popped a bead.

As Zhuang Banxue recognized the bead,

The smile that had graced her face became rigid.

"Thud, thud..."

The bead hit the ground and rolled to a stop in front of Zhuang Banxue.

Illuminated by the candlelight within the room,

The bead, now glistening with Wu Zhi's saliva, sparkled brilliantly.

In that moment, Zhuang Banxue fell silent.