Atop the verdant peak, white clouds drifted on a gentle breeze.
Two figures sat across from each other, wisps of tea fragrance curling between them.
The look of shock on Nangong Jin's face still showed no signs of fading.
"Did you truly succeed?"
His voice held a hint of disbelief.
Luo Chen smiled faintly, blowing away the steam rising from his teacup.
Pursing his lips, he took a gentle sip.
"Phew... Fellow Daoist, you can see it with your own eyes. Could this be false?"
As he spoke, a ferocious wave of spiritual sense burst outward in an instant.
Nangong Jin's expression turned solemn, and he released his own spiritual sense in response.
It lasted only a single breath.
The two clashed and retracted the moment they made contact.
"Ugh!"
Nangong Jin let out a muffled grunt, a flicker of pallor flashing across his face.
Shock filled his features as he stared at Luo Chen in sheer astonishment.
"Newly stepped into Foundation Establishment, yet the foundation of your soul is already this profound!"
Luo Chen offered an apologetic smile.
"My apologies. My cultivation has yet to stabilize, and I cannot yet rein in my edge. I've offended you, Fellow Daoist."
Waving his hand, Nangong Jin did not mind.
The two had merely engaged in a simple clash of spiritual sense.
It was like ordinary people arm-wrestling—not an exchange of blades—so there was no real injury to speak of.
What truly shocked him was how immense Luo Chen's spiritual sense was, despite having only just achieved Foundation Establishment.
Releasing spiritual sense was an extension of the soul.
Such powerful spiritual sense could only mean that Luo Chen possessed a soul foundation far surpassing his peers.
He gave a wry smile. "No wonder you succeeded in a single attempt. You must have already achieved great completion of the soul back in the Qi Refinement stage.
"That way, when breaking through to Foundation Establishment, you could calmly mobilize the spiritual power in your body and precisely breach the barrier of your dantian."
Indeed, that was the only explanation.
How else could Luo Chen have reached the heavens in a single leap!
One had to know that many outstanding rogue cultivators and sect elites would be struck bewildered and helpless by the violent medicinal power when attempting Foundation Establishment.
At such a moment, how could they even speak of breaching the dantian barrier to reforge the foundation of their Grand Dao?
Even if one were fortunate enough to break through the barrier, the lack of time would prevent them from gathering the rampaging torrent of spiritual power, causing immense harm to their body.
Luo Chen smiled without speaking, though he sighed softly in his heart.
If only it were truly that simple!
He, too, had made it through only after suffering repeated failures.
A powerful soul foundation had indeed granted him endless benefits.
Without such a formidable soul, he never could have used Foundation Establishment Pills and Emperor Flowing Liquid in succession to push for his breakthrough.
Moreover, beyond his soul, his physical constitution was another vital factor in his success.
Ordinary people could easily injure their foundation after a single attempt at Foundation Establishment.
Yet over the years, he had persistently consumed Peiyuan Spiritual Liquid and Golden Quality Jade Liquid, alongside an unbroken diet of demon beast meat and spiritual rice.
As a result, he possessed an exceptionally strong physique.
By Wang Yuan's standards, Luo Chen was already infinitely close to the Vajra Physique.
In other words, he was nearly at the perfection of the first realm of body refinement.
With this two-pronged approach, combined with the accumulated medicinal power of one Foundation Establishment Pill and Emperor Flowing Liquid after another, all three hurdles—spiritual power, soul, and physique—had far exceeded standard requirements.
Succeeding in one go was only natural!
If Nangong Jin knew that Luo Chen had consumed five portions of Foundation Establishment spirit medicine in one breath, he would probably curse and shout that Luo Chen bloody well deserved to succeed!
Naturally, Luo Chen would not recount these details to Nangong Jin.
At the moment, another problem troubled him.
"Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have the Yimu Medicine King Scripture in your possession?"
"The Yimu Medicine King Scripture?" Nangong Jin raised an eyebrow, quickly realizing. "You don't have a second-tier natal cultivation method yet?"
Seeing Luo Chen nod, he asked in bewilderment, "That shouldn't be. The Duan clan is a Foundation Establishment clan with a three-hundred-year heritage. They surely had corresponding cultivation methods in their collection!"
"They do, but unfortunately, none of them suit me very well," Luo Chen replied, a look of vexation appearing on his face.
The Duan clan's library pavilion indeed held three second-tier cultivation methods:
Vast Ocean Wave-Severing Art
Ding Fire Single Qi Method
Nether Spring Dark Fire
The first two were the primary cultivation methods of the Duan clan, one water and one fire, suited for artifact forging.
Duan Qiankun and Duan Feng had both cultivated these methods.
The last one, however, had been sought out by Duan Qiankun specifically for his young grandson, Duan Rui.
It was reputed to allow the dual cultivation of water and fire, granting peerless combat prowess!
With Luo Chen's five-element spiritual roots, switching to any of these three methods would not pose much of a problem.
Nether Spring Dark Fire in particular would provide an immense boost to his combat prowess if mastered.
Furthermore, he was not worried about whether the method would suit him.
With the panel, as long as he ground out the proficiency, it would gradually align with him.
What kept Luo Chen from making up his mind was the Eternal Spring Art!
This method was already at Great Perfection. If he could seamlessly transition into the Yimu Medicine King Scripture, it would save him a vast amount of time gathering foundational progress.
Quick entry would be a certainty!
If he switched to Nether Spring Dark Fire, which had different elemental attributes, getting started would become a major problem.
He had no idea how much time it would cost him.
Therefore, after weighing his options, he still intended to choose the Yimu Medicine King Scripture.
Faced with Luo Chen's inquiry, the past Nangong Jin would most likely have refused outright.
Yet now, times had changed!
Luo Chen was now at Foundation Establishment, standing on equal footing with him.
Moreover, the Luotian Association possessed a second-tier explosive ape, as well as Wang Yuan, who could contend with Foundation Establishment cultivators.
With such strength behind him, Nangong Jin had to treat him with utmost care.
After a moment's thought, Nangong Jin's eyes shifted.
"I do not possess that scripture. After all, my Nangong family hails from Snow Lotus Market, where the most widespread cultivation methods are water, ice, and wind.
"However, there is someone in Great River Market who might carry what you seek."
Luo Chen's eyes lit up.
"Who?"
"Li Yixian!"
Nangong Jin slowly uttered the three words.
"Li Yixian?"
Murmuring the name, Luo Chen recalled the female Foundation Establishment cultivator whose true face he had never seen.
***
The meeting with Nangong Jin lasted only until dusk, when Luo Chen used the excuse of needing to enter seclusion to stabilize his realm.
Naturally, before Nangong Jin departed, Luo Chen informed him that a Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony would take place in three days.
He insisted that Nangong Jin attend as a guest.
Nangong Jin readily agreed and promised to help contact Li Yixian.
As for whether it would succeed, that would depend on what price Luo Chen could offer and Li Yixian's personal willingness.
After Nangong Jin left, a figure dragging a chain arrived on the mountain carrying two large wine gourds.
"Sure enough, drinking wine is far more satisfying than sipping tea!"
In the presence of a friend, Luo Chen had no reservations.
No longer maintaining the transcendent, sage-like demeanor from the afternoon, he sprawled lazily in his chair, watching the clouds gather and disperse beyond the mountains as weary birds returned home.
Wang Yuan raised his gourd.
"Congratulations!"
"Heh, congratulations to us both!"
Luo Chen lifted his large gourd and clinked it against his.
His mention of mutual congratulations was not without reason.
With his current perception, he could clearly sense Wang Yuan's present condition.
His spiritual power fluctuations were no longer erratically rising and falling; instead, they had stabilized at Qi Refinement Great Perfection.
Though he had yet to reach Foundation Establishment, he could at least reliably bring out stable strength in combat.
"Speaking of which, Brother Wang, now that you're at Qi Refinement Great Perfection, you ought to be able to attempt a pill-assisted Foundation Establishment, right?"
Yet Wang Yuan shook his head at the suggestion.
He set down his wine gourd and sighed.
"Once you step onto the path of blood-dao Foundation Establishment, there is no turning back."
Luo Chen was surprised. "Is that truly the only way?"
"Mm. And I only have two chances left."
At those words, both fell somewhat silent.
The method Luo Chen spoke of was naturally the Blood Fiend Spirit Seizing Array that Wang Yuan had previously fused.
Using it to establish his foundation would allow him to reach the heavens in a single leap.
However, the technique had immense flaws, and his first failure had brought severe aftereffects.
Though Wang Yuan appeared in good shape now, the chain piercing through his body proved that his condition was far from ideal.
The Soul-Fixing Oath only helped him hold fast to his mind so that he would not be disturbed by Duan Qiankun's remnant soul.
To resolve this issue entirely, he had to successfully establish his foundation.
Furthermore, the Blood Fiend Spirit Seizing Array granted only three opportunities in total.
Wang Yuan had already failed once. If the remaining two attempts also failed...
"One can only say that taking shortcuts always carries risk," Wang Yuan said calmly.
Looking at Luo Chen, whose aura was sharp and whose spiritual power surged from time to time, he advised, "You must never repeat my mistake. Every single step must be taken solidly!"
Luo Chen nodded heavily.
How could he not understand this truth?
Wang Yuan had tried to take a shortcut and failed. Yet Luo Chen, in relying on vast quantities of pills to bypass decades of bitter cultivation, had also walked a shortcut in his own way.
The consequence was the pill poison barrier that still lingered outside his dantian.
Until he resolved that hidden danger, he dared not rashly consume pills again.
Moreover, the pressing matter at hand was not accelerating his cultivation, but consolidating his realm.
"After the Foundation Establishment Grand Ceremony, I'll go into seclusion for a while to stabilize my realm.
"When the time comes, I'll have to trouble you, Brother Wang, to keep an eye on the Luotian Association for me."
This was only natural, and Wang Yuan did not refuse.
Besides, petty trivialities would not trouble him now.
With Sima Huiniang, Murong, Gu Caiyi, and the others handling matters, he only needed to serve as the pillar of stability to deter outside forces.
Furthermore, the Luotian Association no longer had just one pillar!
Luo Chen—a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator!
That title carried immense weight.
"Aren't you going to meet Qin Liangchen and the others?"
Luo Chen shook his head. "It's not time yet. For the next few days, I can't leave the vicinity of the Green Thatched Cottage."
True enough!
Wang Yuan could tell that Luo Chen's condition was not entirely steady.
He truly needed to stabilize his realm.
Seeing this, Wang Yuan did not linger. After chatting for a few more moments, he strolled down the mountain.
Watching Wang Yuan's silhouette fade into the night, Luo Chen let out a soft sigh.
Perhaps these past few years had been a rare period of quiet cultivation for Wang Yuan.
In their conversation just now, the man had lost much of his past high-spirited vigor, becoming far more grounded.
Once Wang Yuan was gone, Luo Chen did not head inside. Facing the mountain wind, he slowly closed his eyes.
At once, his gaze turned toward his dantian.
The reconstructed dantian was ten times larger in volume than before!
Tier upon tier, it seemed partitioned into distinct layers.
Calling it a dantian was no longer appropriate.
According to the classics, it should now be called a "Sea of Qi."
The dantian transformed into a sea, embracing a hundred rivers.
The Sea of Qi possessed nine heavens, each layer a hurdle.
If one could achieve perfection across all nine layers, a Golden Core would coalesce—hence the origin of the Golden Core stage.
Thus, the Foundation Establishment stage was divided into nine layers just like Qi Refinement, with the third, sixth, and ninth layers demarcating early, mid, and late stages.
For now, none of that was pressing.
What Luo Chen cared about was his current condition.
After completing Foundation Establishment, his rebuilt Dao foundation was exceedingly solid!
Luo Chen did not know what others' Dao foundations were like, but for himself, relying solely on bitter cultivation to reach Foundation Establishment Great Perfection would take at least several centuries, perhaps even a millennium!
And that was only a rough estimate.
Because he lacked a natal cultivation method, he could only rely on his Great Perfection Eternal Spring Art to refine the spiritual power within him.
At the bottom of his Sea of Qi lay a thin layer of spiritual liquid.
Aside from the outward projection of spiritual sense, this was the other defining hallmark of Foundation Establishment—spiritual power liquefaction.
Only when spiritual power liquefied could a True Cultivator execute grand techniques, effortlessly manipulate peak-grade magical artifacts, and even wield magic treasures to a limited extent.
Luo Chen did not possess much spiritual liquid yet.
However, that was not all he had.
Within the first layer of his Sea of Qi, dense clouds of spiritual energy still drifted.
Those were the remnants from consuming five portions of Foundation Establishment spirit medicine.
Whether it was the violent potency of the Foundation Establishment Pill or the gentle nature of the Emperor Flowing Liquid, the spiritual energy they contained was colossal.
In pushing for Foundation Establishment multiple times in quick succession, Luo Chen had inevitably failed to absorb every bit.
Now, it all lingered within his newly opened Sea of Qi.
Unless he completely refined it, he could not begin true cultivation in Foundation Establishment.
"So, the Yimu Medicine King Scripture must be obtained!"
After inspecting his internal state, Luo Chen deftly opened his status panel.
[Lifespan: 32/150]
[Spiritual Roots: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Level One (10/100)]
[Cultivation Methods: Eternal Spring Art (Great Perfection), Spirit Lucid Fiend Severing (Perfection 351/500), Myriad Beast Scripture (Entry 10/100)]
[Spells: Fireball Art (Great Perfection), Carefree Wind Riding (Great Perfection), Traction Art (Great Perfection), Breath Concealment Art (Great Perfection), Spirit Eye Art (Great Perfection), Entanglement Art (Great Perfection), Cleansing Art (Great Perfection), Healing Art (Master 625/1000), Earth Mountain Technique (Perfection 315/500), Surging Waves Technique (Perfection 309/500), Soundproofing Art (Perfection 312/500), Soul Intimidation Art (Proficient 179/200)]
[Alchemy Arts: Folding Jade Hand (Great Perfection), Pure Heart Hand (Master 513/1000), Washing Brook Hand (Proficient 125/200), Cloud Transformation Hand (Proficient 112/200)]
[Martial Arts: Mountain-Cleaving Stele-Shattering Palm (Master 880/1000), Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers (Perfection 357/500)]
[Skills: Second-Tier Alchemist: Fasting Powder (Great Perfection), Myriad Wonders Pill (Great Perfection), Jade Marrow Pill (Great Perfection), Blood Burning Pill (Proficient 150/200), Nether-Passage Pill (Entry 80/100), Emperor Flowing Liquid (Entry 3/100)]
[Achievement Points: 3]
His gaze fell first upon the lifespan column.
150!
"It finally changed!"
Seeing this, Luo Chen could not help letting out a long breath.
All along, his lifespan had differed from ordinary people.
Whenever a human embarked on the path of cultivation, their body would gradually undergo metamorphosis through the tempering of spiritual energy.
A normal Qi Refinement cultivator could reach a lifespan limit of around one hundred and twenty.
Take Sun Shou of the Jade Cauldron Sword Pavilion: clearly over ninety, he was still cheerful every day and walked with brisk steps, showing no sign of decrepitude.
Or Granny Yuan of the Luotian Association, who was well past a hundred years old.
Yet in her daily affairs, she showed only slight signs of aging.
One could say that as long as a cultivator suffered no grievous wounds, their lifespan would steadily grow with each breakthrough.
This was a gradual transformation of life's essence.
It was not accomplished in a single stroke, but through steady progression.
The saying "achieve Foundation Establishment in a single morning, gain two hundred years of life" was merely a general phrase.
Yet for Luo Chen, from the third level of Qi Refinement all the way to Great Perfection, his lifespan had never changed.
Luo Chen guessed that this likely had to do with his transmigration.
His lifespan had been inherited from his past life!
Back then, as a corporate drone working diligently from nine in the morning to nine at night, six days a week, living peacefully to seventy-five was already quite good.
Put into the cultivation world, however, that was truly a short life.
Now that his maximum lifespan had jumped to one hundred and fifty, it was truly cause for celebration!
"Moreover, as my cultivation advances and my realm breaks through, my lifespan should change again.
"After all, the recorded maximum lifespan for a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator is three hundred years!"
Luo Chen had previously researched the lifespan of Foundation Establishment True Cultivators.
Generally speaking, the limit was two hundred and fifty years.
Compared to a Qi Refinement cultivator, it was more than double, with a dozen extra years to boot.
It was precisely because of this that major sects looked so favorably upon disciples who broke through to Foundation Establishment before sixty.
That way, they would have a full one hundred and ninety-some years to calmly attempt a breakthrough into the Golden Core stage.
As for the recorded three-hundred-year lifespan?
Naturally, that was not the standard case.
It only happened when someone consumed longevity-extending spirit pills or miraculous herbs.
Back then, the Mountain Breaking Gang had once found a Six-Leaf Heavenly Emperor Lotus.
It was said that each leaf granted ten years, and all six leaves together added a full sixty-year cycle of life—truly a wonder of heaven and earth!
Mi Shuhua had relied on that very herb to trade for a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
Luo Chen naturally hoped to obtain such spirit herbs as well.
That way, he would have more time to prepare for the Golden Core stage.
For now, however, there was no rush.
With well over a hundred years of ample lifespan ahead, he could accomplish a great many things.
"My realm is at the first layer of Foundation Establishment, but the progress is different from usual."
In past breakthroughs, whether for spells, alchemy proficiency, or cultivation realms, the progress had usually started at "1."
This time, it had jumped straight to ten points.
Presumably, that was thanks to those five portions of Foundation Establishment spirit medicine.
Luo Chen skimmed down the list, pausing briefly at Spirit Lucid Fiend Severing.
This was an excellent method!
Facing the agonizing pain brought by the Foundation Establishment Pill and the warm, bewildering illusions of the Emperor Flowing Liquid, it had kept him thoroughly clear-headed throughout.
As for the rest, there was nothing extraordinary to dwell on.
Right now, Luo Chen wanted to test what changes had occurred to his spells after reaching Foundation Establishment.
No spell remained static!
As a cultivator's realm rose, even the weakest spell underwent a dramatic transformation in the hands of a Foundation Establishment cultivator compared to a Qi Refinement practitioner.
First was the Fireball Art.
He was familiar with this spell beyond measure, able to unleash or dismiss it at will.
With a thought, a small fireball appeared in his palm.
"Just a sliver of spiritual liquid produces a fireball comparable to my previous full-power cast.
"If I increase the spiritual power input, the power should be several times greater."
This change might seem minor.
However, Luo Chen had also mastered the technique of fusing fireballs to form the Blazing Sun Art, which provided a terrifying magnification!
"If I encounter an enemy now, I won't even need to hide away to rub together a Blazing Sun Art.
"In just a few breaths, I can condense a Blazing Sun Art capable of threatening someone of the same realm."
Luo Chen nodded and dispersed the fireball.
This was an immense leap forward.
It meant that the Blazing Sun Art, once reserved as his trump card, could become a standard combat technique.
Of course, if he wanted to maximize its power, he still needed enough time to fuse multiple fireballs, but that took nothing away from its utility.
Cast normally, the Blazing Sun Art already wielded the power of a second-tier spell.
After the fireball dissipated, Luo Chen tested the other spells in his repertoire one after another.
He even brought out his magical artifacts, such as the sword pill and the Azure Musk Dragon Gathering Banner, to test them.
One had to admit that the transformation after Foundation Establishment was astonishing.
His abundant dharmic power allowed him to easily brandish these magical artifacts that had once drained his spiritual power so heavily.
"No wonder Duan Qiankun could activate the Heluo Sword almost indefinitely against Wang Yuan.
"Now, I too can drive the Azure Musk Dragon Gathering Banner at will!"
Those were all offensive measures.
Luo Chen focused his mind, drawing out strands of spiritual liquid and carefully channeling them into his eyes.
The next instant, bright light burst from his gaze!
With the Great Perfection Spirit Eye Art activated, he snapped his eyes wide.
Standing atop Mount Xiaohuan, Luo Chen's gaze swept over the surrounding wilderness.
A hundred li, two hundred li...
In a flash, Luo Chen could see a thousand li away!
"Clairvoyance?
"This could practically count as a divine ability!"
Luo Chen marveled at the sight. Such a transformation was truly unexpected.
Yet upon careful consideration, it felt entirely natural.
Having cultivated the Spirit Eye Art to Great Perfection, it was already extraordinary.
Over the years, he had ingested plenty of Lucid Fluid, and his supply of Moistening Pearl Liquid had practically never ceased.
Though a qualitative leap had not occurred before, his breakthrough in realm had now brought a delightful harvest.
"With this, I can anticipate the enemy's moves before they even begin!"
Luo Chen's soul foundation was profound, which was why he could contend with Nangong Jin right after entering early Foundation Establishment.
In fact, he had faintly held the upper hand!
Yet when it came to projecting his spiritual sense, his range was only five li.
That was three li farther than ordinary cultivators who had just entered Foundation Establishment.
It was an immense improvement, putting him well ahead from the very starting line.
Yet compared to these thousand-li eyes, it paled considerably.
There was no helping it; he had not consumed many Nether-Passage Pills, so his soul foundation was still not powerful enough.
"Never mind. I've familiarized myself with most of my methods. Once my realm stabilizes, I can practice with them further."
Testing these techniques had consumed a considerable amount of time.
By now, dawn was breaking.
Just as Luo Chen was about to cancel his Spirit Eye Art, his gaze paused in the most familiar direction.
"Eh?"
Chapter 189