The news that Li Guanqi had breached the fifteenth floor of the Sword Tower while still in the Qi Refinement realm quickly spread across the sect's peaks.
Meanwhile, Li Guanqi quietly returned to his detached courtyard alone.
The days slipped by one after another, and his swordsmanship steadily sharpened.
The blade in his hand grew faster and faster; slashing three strikes in a single breath was his current limit.
Even when the sword spirit held him to the most exacting standards, Li Guanqi managed to meet them in the shortest possible time.
Throughout this period, Li Guanqi profoundly felt just how terrifying her comprehension and unique insights into the sword path truly were.
She would even have him sweep his bare hand out to summon the crushing force of ten thousand jun.
Or she would have him wield the sword casket to unleash a fierce flash of sword light.
In the end, no matter what he tried, Li Guanqi could not achieve it, and he could only ask,
"Why are we doing this?"
Leaning against a stone pillar, the sword spirit murmured, "Momentum.
"Matters like this cannot be rushed; comprehend it slowly.
"Even monstrous geniuses far greater than you only comprehend sword momentum amid slaughter and growth along the path."
At this, the sword spirit paused slightly before adding, "Lately, you can begin preparing for Foundation Establishment.
"Your thirteenth layer is already at perfection. There is no need to delay your Foundation Establishment any further."
Li Guanqi shrugged, recalling what his master had told him yesterday.
In half a month, the spirit ruins would open, and before that, they had to travel to another sect.
Pulling out a jade slip, Li Guanqi said softly, "Master, I am ready to establish my foundation."
Upon receiving the message, Li Nanting hurried back from Tianzi Peak.
The moment he entered, he saw the mountain of round logs piled up in the backyard and Li Guanqi drenched in sweat.
The old man could not help but say, "You brat, you push yourself far too hard in cultivation! Take a break once in a while!"
With that, Li Nanting reached out to examine the youth's body.
That look of admiration surfaced once more, only this time, the old man discovered that the youth's dantian was already brimming to the limit.
A vast expanse of yuan qi virtually occupied the entire colossal dantian qi sea.
Li Nanting said gravely, "Then meditate properly tonight, and prepare for Foundation Establishment tomorrow."
Having said his piece, the old man rose and left.
After all, Li Guanqi was the very first among the newly admitted disciples about to break through to Foundation Establishment.
A mere five months!
Such speed was practically unprecedented in the entire history of the sect.
Even Ye Feng of Tianjin Peak had only just broken through to the tenth layer of Qi Refinement.
Still, it seemed Ye Feng would likely make it in time to join him for the opening of the spirit ruins.
Li Guanqi was about to break through to Foundation Establishment!
This news swiftly spread throughout the entire sect. Senior brothers and sisters from Tianlei Peak all came seeking Li Guanqi, offering their own past breakthrough experiences.
Someone even began sharing how to break through again after failing, only to receive a harsh scolding from Gu Ran.
The group made a boisterous racket until Gu Ran finally chased them all away.
Before leaving, Gu Ran left behind a Heart-Clearing Pill for Li Guanqi, patted his shoulder, and smiled.
"Don't worry, Little Junior Brother. You'll definitely succeed!"
Li Guanqi nodded with a smile. Once everyone was gone, a wave of excitement surged within him as well.
The sword spirit scoffed, "Foundation Establishment is merely taking the very first step onto the road to immortality. What is there to be nervous about?
"With me around, the absolute minimum you will achieve in this lifetime is Void Refinement."
Li Guanqi twitched his lips upon hearing that and retorted, "Stop, stop, stop. If you want to boast, boast on your own—don't drag me into it.
"Void Refinement as a starting point, indeed... I'm only establishing my foundation tomorrow, alright? Foundation Establishment! In front of a Core Formation cultivator, I'd still be as fragile as an ant."
Li Guanqi got up and returned to his room, but tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.
The mere thought that he would soon be able to fly on a sword kept him too excited to rest.
In the end, he simply sat up to meditate and cultivate, settling his breathing and state of mind.
Early the next morning.
The plaza on Tianjian Peak was already packed with crowds; everyone wanted to see how this genius, who had entered the sect just five months ago, would establish his foundation!
Across the vast plaza stood a colossal light screen spanning a hundred zhang.
And within the screen was a live display of the Spirit Ascension Platform on Tianzhu Peak.
For Li Guanqi's Foundation Establishment, the Sect Master had specially granted permission to open an Earth-grade Spirit Ascension Platform!
One had to know there were only three Earth-grade quiet chambers in total. Under normal circumstances, Master of Law Qin Xian occupied one, while the other two were reserved almost exclusively for elders entering secluded cultivation.
From this, one could imagine how much importance Lu Kangnian attached to Li Guanqi's breakthrough.
Inside the quiet chamber, only Li Guanqi and Li Nanting were present.
Li Nanting smiled and said, "No need to be nervous. I have gone over the details of establishing a foundation with you many times. Put your mind at ease.
"This is a Heart-Calming Pill. Swallow it, and begin cultivating once its medicinal power takes effect."
Li Nanting handed the Heart-Calming Pill and a Foundation Establishment Pill to the youth.
Li Guanqi clearly felt the sweat on the old man's palm and grinned. "Master, don't worry."
The old man drew a deep breath and said solemnly, "Focus on your breakthrough! Your master will stand guard right outside the door for you."
As the old man exited the quiet chamber, Li Guanqi's breathing gradually stabilized.
Standing together with Zhong Lin and the others, Ye Feng watched the scene in silence.
Ye Feng could not help but secretly rejoice, *Thank heavens I didn't make that bet with him back then! His talent is truly defying the heavens!!*
"*Hu...*"
Li Guanqi took a deep breath, then swallowed both the Heart-Calming Pill and the Foundation Establishment Pill together!
*Boom!!*
The dantian qi sea within Li Guanqi's body spun into motion in an instant.
A mysterious power enveloped him, and almost immediately, the medicinal power of the Heart-Calming Pill dissolved.
His entire state of mind promptly grew far calmer.
The sword spirit's voice rang softly in his mind: "Guard your spiritual terrace; embrace the origin and unify as one!"
Li Guanqi's focus snapped inward, and his divine sense surged into his dantian.
In his heart, he growled, *Come on!!*
*Boom!!*
Following the sword spirit's guidance, Li Guanqi began fiercely running his cultivation art, battering against the yuan qi in his dantian qi sea.
Terrifying pressure crushed the misty yuan qi. This step was precisely the most critical one:
To liquefy the yuan qi within his dantian!
Furthermore, he had to forge the entire dantian into an impregnable vessel!
Soon, the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill took effect, and the impact force grew noticeably more potent.
Gradually, signs of liquefaction appeared in the yuan qi within his dantian.
Meanwhile, the sword spirit manifested thirty-six special acupoints in Li Guanqi's mind.
"Ramming open these thirty-six acupoints will bring immense benefits to your future cultivation path!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Li Guanqi began mobilizing his internal yuan qi to batter against those acupoints.
Though the sword spirit had not explained why, Li Guanqi chose to trust her.
For Li Guanqi could sense that from the moment he accepted the sword casket, his destiny had become tightly bound to hers.
Unless she did not wish to restore her power, she could not possibly harm him.
Besides, Li Guanqi did not even need to think to guess that his grandfather had surely left behind contingency plans.
*Then... let's go all out!!*
Chapter 63