The Three Transformations Realm and Foundation Establishment

"What?"

"You actually want me to submit to you, a worthless person whose end is near?"

"I am the fourth prodigy of the Outer Sect of Xuanqing Palace?"

"How dare you treat me like this?"

...

Upon hearing Wang Jianqiang's words, Ye Qingxue felt a surge of humiliation.

Her face was resolute.

"So, you're choosing the path of death?"

Wang Jianqiang's icy voice interrupted her angry words.

The sword Cloud Water Cold Light flashed in his hand, thrusting towards her heart.

Before the sword even reached her, the chilling aura emanating from the blade made Ye Qingxue shiver.

She snapped back to reality instantly.

"Wait!"

"I submit..."

"I am willing to submit..."

Fearing Wang Jianqiang might not react in time, she anxiously repeated herself several times.

The flying sword in Wang Jianqiang's hand halted instantly, its tip already having grazed her skin.

A wave of cold enveloped her, forming a layer of frost on her fair skin.

Luckily, Wang Jianqiang stopped in time; otherwise, her heart would have been pierced if he were even a tenth of a second slower.

Ye Qingxue's face turned pale.

She once thought of herself as proud and pure, untouchable.

But when faced with imminent death, she suddenly realized dignity and purity were meaningless.

Only survival mattered.

Fortunately, she reflected just in time.

Wang Jianqiang withdrew his sword and said calmly, "Since you've agreed, then open your mind."

"You want to control me?"

Ye Qingxue's expression changed.

Once her soul was controlled, she'd lose her sense of self, becoming a complete puppet.

If that were the case, she'd rather die!

"No, just leaving a mark in your soul sea," Wang Jianqiang shook his head.

Ye Qingxue breathed a long sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Having a soul mark meant her life was under his control, but at least her personality wouldn't be manipulated.

"You better be telling the truth, or I'd rather self-destruct my soul than endure this."

"Oh, still quite defiant. You seem to not fully grasp the situation."

Wang Jianqiang slapped her hard across the face, leaving a bright red handprint on her fair skin.

Ye Qingxue's face turned beet red, mortified and furious.

"Open your mind."

Wang Jianqiang commanded sharply, sending a wisp of spiritual consciousness into Ye Qingxue's brow, leaving a mark on her soul.

With this,

He only needed a thought.

The mark would explode, and Ye Qingxue's soul would explode with it.

Her soul would scatter.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the formation dissipated.

Ye Qingxue relaxed, immediately jumping to her feet.

She instinctively took several steps back.

Thinking of her life and death now in the hands of this old man, her face was filled with complex emotions.

There was resentment, shame, but more so fear and apprehension.

"Call me Master."

Wang Jianqiang glanced at her indifferently.

Her expression fluctuated, finally whispering, "Master."

"That's better."

Wang Jianqiang smiled and walked over to Wang Yuyao.

The pill he had placed in Wang Yuyao's mouth had already dissolved, and her injuries were completely contained. However, it would still take some time for her to regain consciousness.

Thinking of this, she hoisted Wang Yuyao onto her back and beckoned with her hand, drawing five storage bags into her palm.

These were the storage bags belonging to the disciples of the Xuanclean Palace.

Ye Qingxue opened her mouth to speak but ultimately dared not utter a word.

Wang Jianqiang glanced at her, "Follow me."

With that, he flew off in a certain direction.

Ye Qingxue hesitated for a moment, then sighed lightly and quickly followed.

Half an hour later.

Wang Jianqiang returned to the cave, took out some spirit stones, and activated the formation within the cave.

He placed Wang Yuyao on the ground and gave her a perfect Earth Pill to swallow.

Pressing his fingers against her chest, he helped refine the medicinal power, then turned to look at the silent Ye Qingxue.

"What level is your strength now?"

Ye Qingxue looked at him, "First level."

Wang Jianqiang nodded and continued, "What about Lin Xian'er and Xiao Wuya?"

"They are both at the third level, same as you."

Although, from Wang Jianqiang's words, he didn't seem like a cultivator at the third level of spiritual power.

But considering his strength, Ye Qingxue ultimately concluded that he was indeed at the third level of spiritual power.

Otherwise, his overwhelming combat power wouldn't make sense.

Only Wang Jianqiang knew that his combat prowess was so exceptional because of the perfected Small Five Elements Sword Formation.

However, he was too lazy to explain this to Ye Qingxue, simply nodding.

It seemed that the first and second ranks of the outer sect of the four major cultivation forces were likely at the third level.

As for the third rank, it was uncertain.

Thinking of this, Wang Jianqiang suddenly had a new question, "How to compress spiritual power?"

After entering the Cold Pool Secret Realm, although he hadn't deliberately cultivated,

The cultivation during his rest had steadily improved his strength, and now he was very close to reaching the peak of Qi Refinement.

Knowing about the third level,

He naturally needed to understand the method of compressing spiritual power.

Ye Qingxue froze, looking at him in disbelief, "You haven't compressed your spiritual power yet?"

"Would you believe me if I said I hadn't?"

Wang Jianqiang shrugged.

Gulp~

Ye Qingxue swallowed hard.

Before, she might have doubted.

But now, she somewhat believed him.

Wang Jianqiang shook his head, "You haven't answered my question."

Ye Qingxue snapped out of her daze, giving Wang Jianqiang a deep look, "There's no method for compressing spiritual power; the only way is to take Foundation Establishment Pills."

"Oh?"

Wang Jianqiang raised an eyebrow, "So, each Foundation Establishment Pill allows for one compression?"

"How could that be?" Ye Qingxue shook her head, "There's a significant chance of failure when compressing spiritual power."

"Some with extremely strong talent might manage to compress with one Foundation Establishment Pill, or even succeed in establishing a foundation with just four pills, but that's merely the ideal scenario, which most people can't achieve."

Hearing her explanation, Wang Jianqiang nodded in realization.

At the same time, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

Previously, he had worried that if Wang Yuyao took a Foundation Establishment Pill and broke through, she wouldn't be able to enter the Cold Pool Secret Realm, so he advised her not to take the pill temporarily.

Turns out he made a blunder.

If Wang Yuyao had taken the Foundation Establishment Pill then, she might have completed the first compression of spiritual power.

Perhaps he wouldn't have been hunted down to this extent today.

With this thought, he glanced at Wang Yuyao.

Just then, Wang Yuyao awoke.

"How are things?"

Seeing this, Wang Jianqiang got up and walked over.

"Senior Brother Wang."

Wang Yuyao tried to get up upon seeing Wang Jianqiang.

Wang Jianqiang immediately stopped her, "You've just woken up, and your body is still very weak. Don't move yet."

Wang Yuyao nodded.

At that moment, she suddenly noticed Ye Qingxue approaching, her expression changed, "Why are you here?"

Before Ye Qingxue could respond, a voice suddenly echoed in their ears.

"I've already planted a soul imprint on him, making him my soul slave."