The Unprecedented Breakthrough

——In a private room in a restaurant somewhere——

“Little brother, I’m a few years older than you, you can call me Sister Ziya!”

The speaker was a woman with flowing black hair and a delicate, beautiful countenance, clad in the white uniform of a sect. She laughed as she spoke, unmindful of her image as she heartily devoured fish. She then picked up a bottle of fine wine, poured herself a glass, and began to drink.

After conversing for a while, Bai Qiuyuan learned that the woman before him was named Lin Ziya, a Foundation Establishment Stage First Level cultivator.

The two men beside her, similarly dressed in white uniforms, were also cultivators.

The one who had thrown the stone earlier was Sun Ning, an Eighth Level Qi Condensation cultivator, while the one who had shattered the large rock was Zhou Meng, a Ninth Level Qi Condensation cultivator.

It seemed the three were disciples from a cultivation sect, out on a training expedition.

Since Bai Qiuyuan had given them such a generous amount of gold earlier, the trio felt somewhat undeserving of it.

Thus, using the money they had earned from their street performances, they invited Bai Qiuyuan to dine at the finest restaurant in the city as a token of their gratitude.

Bai Qiuyuan then spoke, posing a question.

“Sister Ziya, I’ve encountered a few minor issues with my cultivation recently. Would it be possible to seek your guidance?”

“Of course, little brother. What level of Qi Condensation have you reached now?”

Lin Ziya took another sip of wine after speaking, a smile playing on her lips as she thought to herself.

‘[Indeed, at this age, he’s likely just beginning to grasp the basics of cultivation. It’s only natural to have questions.]’

‘[He’s just a child; his questions won’t stump a Foundation Establishment cultivator like me!]’

‘[This truly is the best restaurant in the city! Even the wine is exceptionally good!]’

Bai Qiuyuan replied.

“Ninth Level Qi Condensation.”

“…”

“Cough, cough!!!”

Hearing this, Lin Ziya, who had been savoring her fine wine, nearly spat out a mouthful and began to cough incessantly.

She appeared to have choked quite severely.

Sun Ning and Zhou Meng, who had been quietly eating their meal nearby, also stared at Bai Qiuyuan with expressions of profound shock.

Both men, nearing twenty years old yet still at the Eighth and Ninth Levels of Qi Condensation respectively, suddenly felt as though the meat in their mouths had lost all its flavor.

Sun Ning: ‘[So young, rich, handsome, and his talent is actually this terrifying??]’

‘[Is he even going to let others live?]’

Zhou Meng: ‘[Is this what a genius truly is…]’

“What did you just say?! Ninth Level Qi Condensation? Little brother, how old are you this year?”

Having recovered her composure, Lin Ziya asked, still reeling from shock.

Bai Qiuyuan, after a momentary silence, replied.

“Eight years old.”

Instantly, a profound silence descended upon the private room.

Lin Ziya: ‘[He’s even younger than I thought?!]’

‘[I thought he was at least ten!]’

It was natural for Lin Ziya to think this way, as the maturity and composure Bai Qiuyuan displayed were far beyond what one would expect from an eight-year-old child.

The Qi Condensation Stage, though considered the simplest period in cultivation…

…the journey of discovering how to cultivate correctly from scratch stumped many children.

After all, not everyone is born knowing how to cultivate.

The human meridians are intricate, and a single misstep in cultivation could lead to devastating consequences, even qi deviation (TL Note: A state where a cultivator’s spiritual energy becomes chaotic, often leading to mental instability or physical harm).

The speed of cultivation during the first five levels of the Qi Condensation Stage essentially determined a person’s cultivation talent!

The latter five levels, however, required the accumulation of time.

It necessitated not only abundant resources but also patience and innate talent.

Ninth Level Qi Condensation, in the mortal world, represented an absolutely invincible existence among ordinary martial artists!

It was the pinnacle of mortal martial arts!

The younger one was, and the closer their cultivation was to the Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation (TL Note: The highest possible level within the Qi Condensation stage before breaking through to the next stage), the higher their cultivation talent was proven to be.

In the Upper Realm (TL Note: A higher plane of existence or cultivation world), the youngest known individual to reach Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation was Nangong Qingxia, a genius from the Nangong Clan, who achieved it at fourteen!

Yet, Bai Qiuyuan had reached Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation at the age of eight! This was utterly unprecedented!

Even a demon cultivator (TL Note: A practitioner who cultivates using demonic energy or a non-human entity that cultivates) could not possibly achieve Grand Perfection of Qi Condensation within eight years of their birth!

“A monstrous talent…”

Sun Ning muttered, gazing at Bai Qiuyuan with a somewhat dazed expression.

Following this, the three of them began exchanging glances.

Bai Qiuyuan: ‘[Should I have perhaps understated my age or cultivation level?]’

As a newcomer to the cultivation world, Bai Qiuyuan had absolutely no understanding of the cultivation speeds in this realm.

Ignoring the trio’s silent communication, Bai Qiuyuan continued to speak, asking.

“Sister Ziya, I’ve recently hit a bottleneck in my cultivation. For some reason, my cultivation has stopped progressing. Why is that?”

Upon hearing this, Lin Ziya, looking puzzled, moved to Bai Qiuyuan’s side, took his hand, and said.

“Don’t resist. I’ll use my True Qi (TL Note: Spiritual energy or vital essence cultivated by practitioners) to examine your body.”

Bai Qiuyuan nodded upon hearing this and relaxed.

In Bai Qiuyuan’s subconscious, he did not perceive Lin Ziya as a cunning villain.

After all, Bai Qiuyuan had never encountered a villain who would perform feats like ‘chest-shattering a large rock’ on the streets simply because they lacked money for a meal.

Soon, Bai Qiuyuan felt a warm current flow from his wrist into his body.

‘[Is this True Qi?]’

‘[I’m at Ninth Level Qi Condensation and haven’t produced True Qi yet. Could it be that True Qi can only be cultivated after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage?]’

Just as Bai Qiuyuan was feeling puzzled, Lin Ziya suddenly exclaimed with a grave expression of surprise.

“You truly are at Ninth Level Qi Condensation!”

“With such incredible talent, you actually have no spirit root (TL Note: A spiritual conduit or innate aptitude for cultivation, essential for absorbing spiritual energy and advancing beyond the Qi Condensation stage) within your body?!!!”

Hearing these words, Sun Ning and Zhou Meng, who were nearby, also showed expressions of astonishment, but quickly turned to look at Bai Qiuyuan with profound pity.

It was only then that Bai Qiuyuan remembered his modifier had a ‘Spirit Root Modification’ function. Since he didn’t know what a spirit root was, he hadn’t modified it yet, leaving it blank.

Bai Qiuyuan asked, still perplexed.

“What is a spirit root?”

Lin Ziya withdrew her hand and explained.

“A spirit root, as it’s known, is an innate presence within the human body.”

“Spirit roots are categorized into five elemental attributes: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. Additionally, there are mutated spirit roots.”

“Examples include mutated Lightning Spirit Roots, mutated Ice Spirit Roots, mutated Wind Spirit Roots, and so on.”

“Depending on one’s spirit root, after successfully establishing one’s foundation (TL Note: The process of breaking through from the Qi Condensation stage to the Foundation Establishment stage, forming a spiritual foundation within the body), one can learn spells (TL Note: Magical abilities or techniques used by cultivators) corresponding to their spirit root’s attribute.”

“Anyone with a cultivation method can learn Qi Condensation; family disciples and sect laborers alike can reach Ninth Level Qi Condensation with enough effort…”

“However… without a spirit root, it is eternally impossible to establish one’s foundation.”

At this point, Lin Ziya began to feel a pang of sorrow for Bai Qiuyuan.

After all, in Lin Ziya’s eyes, Bai Qiuyuan possessed a talent unmatched even by that super genius from the Nangong Clan in the Upper Realms (TL Note: A higher plane of existence or cultivation world).

But such a genius lacked a spirit root!

Even if Bai Qiuyuan were to set a precedent and successfully establish his foundation, without a spirit root, he wouldn’t be able to learn any spells!

All spells after Foundation Establishment require True Qi to activate the spirit root for use!

Nearby, Sun Ning and Zhou Meng also understood this fact, yet they inexplicably felt a sense of balance in their hearts.

Just as Lin Ziya, thinking that heaven must envy such talent, prepared to offer words of comfort, Bai Qiuyuan spoke again.

“Among spirit roots, which one is the strongest?”

Seeing that Bai Qiuyuan wasn’t disheartened, Lin Ziya patiently explained.

“Mutated spirit roots. Among them, the Lightning Spirit Root is exceptionally formidable, and lightning spells possess potent penetrative power.”

Lin Ziya lamented inwardly.

‘[He knows he can’t establish his foundation, yet there’s not a hint of wavering? …]’

‘[Alas… such an unwavering Dao Heart (TL Note: The resolute will and mental fortitude of a cultivator on their path to immortality)… if only he had a spirit root, then in the future, among the many young venerables of the Upper Realms, he would surely have a place…]’

BOOM!!!!

Lin Ziya was midway through her lament when suddenly, an immense pressure manifested within the private room!

This pressure was one Lin Ziya, who had only established her foundation a few months prior, knew all too well!

Lin Ziya: ‘??’

‘[This is the pressure of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!]’

‘[Could it be Junior Brother Zhou?! Junior Brother Zhou Meng has been stuck at Ninth Level Qi Condensation for a long time, and he’s due for a breakthrough soon.]’

‘[But why did Junior Brother Zhou suddenly establish his foundation?]’

Lin Ziya immediately turned her perplexed gaze towards Zhou Meng.

Zhou Meng, however, looked equally bewildered.

Lin Ziya: ‘???’

‘[It’s not Junior Brother Zhou? Then it’s…]’

Following Zhou Meng’s line of sight, Lin Ziya saw Bai Qiuyuan, who was forming a ‘sword incantation’ (TL Note: A hand gesture or mantra used to activate sword techniques), having successfully broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and was now closing his eyes to gather his aura.

Lin Ziya: ‘???’

Zhou Meng: ‘???’

Sun Ning: ‘???’

“W-what the f*ck!!!”

The three of them simultaneously blurted out an expletive, staring at Bai Qiuyuan with expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

Just moments before, they had been lamenting Bai Qiuyuan’s lack of a spirit root, believing that no matter how great his talent, he would never break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage in this lifetime…

…yet the very next second, Bai Qiuyuan established his foundation right before their eyes?!

The trio felt as though their emotions had suddenly become completely disjointed.

Having reined in his breakthrough aura, Bai Qiuyuan slowly opened his eyes…

A faint purple glow shimmered within his pupils!

Simultaneously, Lin Ziya sensed the air around Bai Qiuyuan growing dry.

Suddenly! Tiny purple lightning bolts materialized out of thin air, crackling and snapping around Bai Qiuyuan!

Bai Qiuyuan’s personal attribute window appeared beside him:

[Myriad Realms Chronicle – Modifier]

Name: Bai Qiuyuan (Modifiable)

Age: 8 (Modifiable)

Gender: Male (Modifiable)

Charm: 10 (Maxed!, Cannot modify…)

Position: *%#& (Cannot modify…)

Spiritual Root: Mutated Lightning Spirit Root (Modifiable) new!

Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Stage First Level (Modifiable) new!

Skills: [Lightness Art] (Spell), [Quieting Heart Art] (Cultivation Technique), [Splashing Ink Sword Art] (Rare Sword Art) new!

Spirit Stones: 0 (Modifiable)

Money: 50 taels of gold (Modifiable)

Physique: None (Modifiable)

Equipment: {Demonic Sable Fur Coat (Rare)}

Items: [Ink Severing Sword], [Snow Bear Meat] (Modifiable)

Seeing the purple lightning flickering around Bai Qiuyuan, Lin Ziya and the other two could only stare in speechless astonishment: “…”

‘[Eight years old and Foundation Establishment? A mutated Lightning Spirit Root?]’

‘[Perhaps I’ve been cultivating a false immortality…]’

‘[Master above, your disciple today… has truly encountered a ghost…]’