The Ascent to Foundation Establishment

In this vast world of cultivation where powerful people abound, entering the foundation-building stage is not out of reach for cultivators with a little talent.

It’s just a matter of time.

Over the long stretch of time, as eras shifted and changed, the paths of cultivation and immortal cultivation underwent countless transformations and evolutions.

Compared to yesteryear, the world had truly been turned upside down.

Recalling the past, cultivators who yearned for higher realms and sought to enter the Foundation Establishment stage relied solely on their unwavering perseverance and extraordinary, transcendent talent.

Now, with the advancement of the times, various pills had become widely popularized, sprouting up like mushrooms after rain.

Among them, the Foundation Establishment Pill, with its unique efficacy, had become an indispensable item for every Qi Condensation cultivator striving to enter the Foundation Establishment stage.

As a crucial breakthrough pill, the Foundation Establishment Pill had undergone tens of thousands of years of inheritance and development.

Through the meticulous refinement and research of countless alchemists, it had been perfected to be almost entirely free of side effects, non-toxic, and harmless.

Its emergence provided countless Qi Condensation cultivators with a reliable aid on their path to breakthrough, making it the unparalleled choice for many.

There was a time, long ago, when a group of obstinate old-timers still existed within the cultivation world.

Clinging to ancient and traditional beliefs, they held that cultivators should conform to heavenly principles and follow the natural dao.

In their view, whether it was the Foundation Establishment stage or the more advanced Nascent Soul stage, one should rely solely on their own strength and insights, never on pills.

They would often gather, shaking their heads as they discussed these ancient philosophies, scoffing at cultivators who used pills to aid their cultivation.

However, the tide of the era was unstoppable.

Such rhetoric had now gradually faded from memory, no longer garnering any attention.

After all, in this fiercely competitive cultivation world, strength reigned supreme.

Lin Xingjian and Li Xingtong both possessed extraordinary talent and solid foundations.

Had they waited patiently for another three months, they could have naturally entered the Foundation Establishment stage, their success as inevitable as water flowing into a channel when the time is right.

Lin Xingjian, caring deeply for his junior sister, wished only to provide her with the very best.

To him, three months, while not excessively long, was incredibly precious on this cultivation path where every second counted.

Why waste it needlessly?

Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting dappled shadows.

Within the tranquil courtyard of the Shadow Sect, an atmosphere of quiet anticipation permeated the air.

Lin Xingjian retrieved the Foundation Establishment Pill.

The pill was smooth and round, its color warm and lustrous.

As he prepared to tilt his head back and swallow it whole, Li Xingtong, seeing this, rushed forward to stop him, her expression filled with concern.

“Wait, Senior Brother, shouldn’t we ask our master to examine it first? That would be much safer.”

“Master?”

Lin Xingjian’s face was etched with helplessness and a wry smile.

“Who knows where that old rascal has run off to enjoy herself this time. The moment I managed to give her some spirit stones, she immediately squandered them on lavish entertainment, buying all sorts of candied hawthorns and other trinkets.”

Mentioning his master, whose personality was so wild and whose childlike innocence remained untouched, filled Lin Xingjian’s heart with annoyance.

Before, he had often tried to seek Yao Guang’s help, but each time she was nowhere to be found, having likely vanished to some hidden corner for enjoyment.

“Alright then.”

“Go, Senior Brother! I’m sure you’ll successfully reach Foundation Establishment.”

Lin Xingjian nodded slightly, taking a deep breath.

He gently cupped the Foundation Establishment Pill in his hands, his gaze intently examining it.

This pill had cost him a full fifty spirit stones, painstakingly accumulated through countless arduous missions.

It had to be said, Foundation Establishment Pills of the highest quality were indeed expensive, yet in Lin Xingjian’s heart, every expense was worthwhile.

Spirit stones were meant for cultivation and enhancing strength; as long as he could achieve Foundation Establishment without any side effects, it was well worth the cost.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was small, perfectly sized to be placed in his mouth.

Instantly, the Foundation Establishment Pill transformed into a warm medicinal liquid, slowly sliding down his throat and into his stomach.

In that very moment, he felt an indescribable wave of heat surge through all his limbs and bones.

This heat wave, as if alive, carried immense power as it slowly permeated his meridians.

The spiritual energy within his meridians, awakened by this heat wave, began to stir, flowing turbulently like a surging river.

The heat wave then spread to his spiritual root and dantian; his spiritual root subtly trembled under its nourishment.

Within his dantian, spiritual energy also began to continuously gather, poised to erupt like a dormant volcano.

Experiencing this for the first time, Lin Xingjian felt a slight tremor of nervousness in his heart.

Propelled by this heat wave, the previously loosened bottleneck began to vibrate violently.

The so-called ascent through cultivation realms was akin to a person slowly climbing a steep cliff, a process that was always exceedingly slow and arduous.

Each time one sought to advance to the next realm, they would encounter an obstruction resembling a solid barrier.

Imagine the difficulty of trying to shatter such an upward-facing barrier while in the midst of climbing.

With an awkward posture and difficulty exerting force, every attempt carried the risk of failure—this was the essence of a bottleneck.

The vibrating force emanating from the Foundation Establishment Pill was precisely the crucial power that aided in shattering this barrier.

From initial faint cracks to gradually expanding fissures, the barrier swayed precariously under the impact of the vibrating force.

The system had previously bestowed upon Lin Xingjian a superior cultivation talent, which allowed his comprehension and control of spiritual energy to far surpass that of ordinary people.

For him, the next realm was as effortless as stepping over a shallow stream.

In an instant, the air around Lin Xingjian stirred without wind; the fallen leaves that had been calm moments before now floated and swirled around his body.

Above Lin Xingjian’s head, an ethereal pillar of light, roughly the thickness of a bowl’s mouth, shot skyward, condensed into a column of dazzling brilliance.

This was the distinct mark of entering the Foundation Establishment stage.

The pillar of light pierced the heavens, startling the birds and beasts in the surrounding mountains and forests, causing them to cry out in alarm.

“He succeeded, Senior Brother is amazing! He actually succeeded so quickly.”

Li Xingtong gazed excitedly at the sky-piercing pillar of light, her eyes filled with envy and admiration.

This pillar of light was thicker than many she had witnessed, clearly demonstrating her senior brother’s unparalleled talent.

Lin Xingjian slowly roused, and everything around him returned to normal.

He excitedly stood up, feeling his entire body significantly lighter, as if he had broken free from worldly constraints.

With a gentle clench of his fist, he could feel a surge of immense power within his palm.

“Is this the Foundation Establishment stage?”

“It’s like gaining a whole new level of power! Junior Sister, you should quickly establish your foundation too; this feeling is beyond words.”

Lin Xingjian looked at his junior sister, his heart brimming with joy.

The feeling of Foundation Establishment was wonderful, yet…

‘Why had he felt an extremely brief pain in his stomach just now during Foundation Establishment?’

‘Could it be from something he ate yesterday that upset his stomach?’

‘Surely not.’