Shen Xuan devoted himself to cultivation.

Half a year later, he noticed that his Spiritual Power growth had stagnated.

Even the Spiritual Power from refining demon beast meat with Devouring All Things couldn't merge into his Dao Foundation Origin Spiritual Power.

It seemed as if there was a layer of intangible obstruction.

This feeling was quite subtle.

As if bound by something.

Shen Xuan knew that this was the bottleneck at the pinnacle of the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Although it was just a minor realm, in the Foundation Establishment Realm, minor realm bottlenecks were equally formidable.

Many Foundation Establishment Cultivators remain at the Early Stage for their entire lives.

Earlier, Lv Zhengying had hesitated and considered giving up on breaking through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

He was concerned about the cost of failure.

Generally, when a minor realm breakthrough fails at the Foundation Establishment Realm, the backlash is not severe.

With careful recuperation for a while, most can return to their pre-breakthrough state.

However, the chances of succeeding in another breakthrough after failing are significantly lower.

The ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Cyan Cloud Sect are mostly stuck in the Middle Stage.

They never break through to the Late Stage in their lifetime.

Much less achieve Foundation Establishment Perfection or condense an Inner Core.

That is something only a Golden Core Inheritor can accomplish.

Shen Xuan was not worried about the bottleneck at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

His Spiritual Power was pure, his Divine Soul strong, his flesh body formidable, and his Divine Sense powerful.

He believed he could easily break through this bottleneck.

However, to establish a solid Dao Foundation, he was not in a hurry.

Instead, he went with the flow, waiting until success came naturally.

...

After moving to Shuiyue Residence on the small solitary peak, Su Xue'Er's mood improved greatly.

She even couldn't help singing to herself while cooking.

Within Shuiyue Residence, there were three practice rooms.

Each practice room could automatically adjust the amount of Spiritual Qi supplied.

Su Xue'Er, during cultivation, used the minimum amount of Spiritual Qi.

Even so.

She could feel a significant improvement in cultivation efficiency.

For her.

The Spiritual Qi in the practice room was extremely dense.

She felt as if she were immersed in a sea of spirituality, floating like an immortal.

Unfortunately, Su Xue'Er's talent was too poor.

Her Lower Grade Spirit Roots retained too little Spiritual Qi within her body.

One day.

Su Xue'Er habitually cultivated.

She never paid much attention to cultivation.

After all, reaching the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer was her limit.

As long as she wasn't too slack.

It was only a matter of time.

"Crack!" The sound echoed.

Su Xue'Er opened her eyes.

Today's cultivation felt somewhat unusual.

It seemed particularly smooth.

Running the cultivation technique, the Spiritual Power in her body increased by two tenths.

She felt an inexhaustible energy all over her body.

"Did I break through?"

Su Xue'Er was delighted.

After a brief operation to consolidate her realm.

She eagerly went to find Shen Xuan to share her joy.

"I'm only thirty-nine years old and have broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!"

"In a few more years, I can reach the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer."

"By then, I wonder if I can withstand my dear husband's…"

Su Xue'Er blushed slightly.

She could feel the flexibility of her body improving after the breakthrough.

Her strength had increased somewhat.

However, her husband was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

And a very powerful one!

Yet, her husband wasn't in the inner residence.

"Is he still practicing?"

"At this time, he should have finished his practice!"

Su Xue'Er went to the best practice room outside.

She faintly sensed a powerful Spiritual Power aura surging dramatically upwards.

...

Shen Xuan was in the process of breaking through to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

The practice room was filled with dense Spiritual Qi.

The amount of Spiritual Qi here could be automatically adjusted.

It could simulate a Tier Two Top Grade practice site at its peak.

Shen Xuan sensed the stirring of his Dao Foundation Spirit Sea.

He performed a Daoist Technique.

He turned the Spiritual Qi switch of the practice room to its highest level.

Dense Spiritual Qi spewed out from the Spirit Vein nodes.

Within mere moments.

The whole practice room felt like a sea of clouds and mist.

Shen Xuan increased the operation of the Divine Hidden Sea Technique.

The Dao Foundation Spirit Sea within him surged with waves, turbulent and mighty.

Liquid Spiritual Power circulated along his vital organs and all his meridians, flowing unceasingly.

Shen Xuan was like a massive whirlpool.

The dense Spiritual Qi seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, rushing madly into his body.

Soon, Shen Xuan felt as if he were stuffed full.

His entire body swelled uncomfortably.

Shen Xuan continued to accelerate the circulation of his inner Spiritual Power.

His Dao Foundation Spirit Sea in his dantian gradually absorbed and merged the Spiritual Qi within his body, beginning to expand.

The light blue color of the Water Spiritual Power became more vivid.

The cycling liquid Spiritual Power around him was full of life, with a touch of the ancient passage of time.

At a certain moment.

Shen Xuan's Dao Foundation Spirit Sea suddenly surged.

The abundant Spiritual Qi in the practice room was all absorbed by the Dao Foundation Spirit Sea and integrated into one.

Shen Xuan's body appeared like a glowing Spirit Body.

The Spiritual Light dazzlingly bright.

An hour later.

The Spiritual Light gradually dimmed.

Shen Xuan settled into calmness, returning to a state of deep tranquility.

He slowly concluded his practice and opened his eyes.

"One hundred and eight years old, Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. Took twenty-three years."

In the practice room, sensing the expansion of liquid Spiritual Power in his dantian to eighty percent, Shen Xuan felt extremely pleased.

It took eight years from the first layer to the second layer of Foundation Establishment.

Foundation Establishment Second Layer to Third Layer, eight years.

Foundation Establishment Third Layer to Fourth Layer, seven years.

Logically, the further you progress, the slower your realm cultivation advances.

However, Shen Xuan's speed only increased.

During this period, there was first [Water Spirit Absorption].

Later on, it was [Devouring All Things].

These two talent skills played a major role.

As for the negative effects of the Divine Thunder Treasure Talisman,

under the effect of perfected [Self-Healing Technique], it was barely noticeable.

In twenty-three years, he broke through from the early stage of Foundation Establishment to the middle stage.

This speed was even seven to eight years faster than Qin Yuehan with her solidified Cyan Wood Spirit Body.

Even among all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Cyan Cloud Sect, this progress was considered fast.

Moreover, his main cultivation technique was the [Divine Hidden Sea Technique], which was known for its slower speed.

However, once he reached the middle stage of Foundation Establishment,

his cultivation speed would slow down.

The effects of [Water Spirit Absorption] and [Devouring All Things] were, after all, limited.

Spirit Root talent was the key to determining cultivation efficiency.

Above the Celestial Spirit Root, there are Abnormal Spirit Roots and Immortal Spirit Roots.

The effect of absorbing and converting Spiritual Qi is better than the Celestial Spirit Root.

Shen Xuan glanced at his lifespan.

[Lifespan: 108/255]

It increased by twelve points at once.

At Foundation Establishment Fourth Layer, he had the lifespan of an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Shen Xuan was satisfied.

If there was a chance, he would surely go hunt a high-tier turtle demon.

Preferably one with a concentrated Black Tortoise bloodline.

In this way, there would still be room to increase his lifespan.

Generally speaking, a small barrier in the Foundation Establishment realm increases spiritual power by two to three tenths.

A small realm, then, is five tenths to a full doubling.

This breakthrough for Shen Xuan increased his spiritual power by a full eighty percent.

It was three times what it was at the beginning of Foundation Establishment!

Previously, when he engaged in magical combat with late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators,

he was at a disadvantage in terms of spiritual power.

He relied on fearless corpse beasts, highly potent Water Ice Thunder Techniques, numerous Thunder and Poison Talismans, as well as a physically strong body full of talent skills, to suppress the opponent.

Now, his spiritual power was comparable to that of an ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He no longer needed to fear the opponent's spiritual power suppression.

Theoretically, Shen Xuan could easily handle two of himself at Foundation Establishment Third Layer.

"Since I've broken through, those talent skills that have long been stagnant should be advanced directly!"

Shen Xuan inspected the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

With over sixteen thousand Dao Rhyme Points, if they weren't used now, then when?

Main Cultivation Technique: [Divine Hidden Sea Technique], Great Success!

Technique: [Immortal-Slaying Water Qi Technique], Great Success! [Ice Soul Cold Water Technique], Great Success! [Soul-Devouring Demon Flame], Great Success! [Vigorous Shock], Great Success!

The previous [Thunder God's Fury], [Water Spirit Gathering Essence Technique], and [Condensed Water Blade Technique] were already at Great Success, so no Dao Rhyme Points were wasted.

Dao Body: [Ice Soul Spirit Body], Great Success! [Absolute Thunder Dao Body] Great Success!

Flesh Body: [Devouring All Things], Great Success! [Sharp Teeth and Fangs], Perfection!

Moreover, [Concealing Breath], [Invisibility], [Water Control], [Water Repellent], [Critical Strike], [Iron Bone], [Longevity], [Insight], [Self-Healing], [Immune to Poison], [Water Escape], etc. are all at Perfection.

[Divine Hidden Five-Thunder Escape Technique], [Infinite Strength], [Overturning Rivers and Seas], [Sharp-eyed], [Illusion-Breaking Spirit Eye Technique], [Soaring Clouds and Mist], [Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Evil], [Wealth Attraction], [Pufferfish Poison], [Silver Hook Poison], [Deep Sea Stealth], etc. are all at Great Success.

Some less useful talent skills, like [Sea-Covering Thunder], [Soaring Glide], [Stonefish Poison] are only at Minor Success, Shen Xuan plans to abandon them.

"Only when you need money do you regret having so little!"

Shen Xuan sighed to himself.

[Dao Rhyme: 8]

Having spent over sixteen thousand Dao Rhyme Points, only his main cultivation technique and a few of the most powerful techniques had advanced.

Looking at the array of talent skills, Shen Xuan felt quite satisfied.

"Today, I can finally stand firm in the Cultivation Realm."

It's no exaggeration to say.

That in an ordinary middle stage of the Foundation Establishment realm, he could truly take on ten.

Even in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

As long as there are no particularly powerful magical treasures.

He can completely crush them easily.

...

Shen Xuan was in the practice room, secluding himself for more than ten days.

After stabilizing his realm,

only then did he come out of seclusion.

Su Xue'Er, upon seeing her husband, asked joyfully, "Husband, have you?"

"Broken through."

Shen Xuan replied with a smile.

"Oh, Xue'Er has also broken through!"

"Double happiness!"

Su Xue'Er blushed.

"I've only reached Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, that doesn't count as a breakthrough!"

"Husband is amazing! Breaking through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment!"

Shen Xuan had told her about his realm cultivation.

"Make more dishes, five pounds of demon beast meat, husband is hungry. It's been a long time since I've eaten the meal you cooked!"

"Okay! Husband, I'll go cook right now!"

When Shen Xuan broke through, Shuiyue Residence experienced some minor phenomena of heaven and earth.

Although the commotion was small.

In Little Gu Peak, it could still be detected.

"Middle stage of Foundation Establishment?"

"Senior Brother Shen broke through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment?"

Gu Jinqin looked toward Shuiyue Residence, her heart full of uncertainty.

She had seen Shen Xuan's records.

A Qi Cultivation disciple from the outer sect of Cyan Cloud Sect, discovered as an immortal seed in the mortal world.

Unfortunately, his talent was too poor, failing the sect's test, left stranded in the small market.

Later, he awakened his ancestral bloodline, combined with extraordinary comprehension, making rapid progress at the advanced age of sixty.

At eighty-five, with help from Qin Yuehan and Lv Zhengying, he established his Dao Foundation at Moon Cold Pavilion on Little Gu Peak.

Now it seems only twenty-three years have passed.

Shen Xuan broke through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment?

Moreover, during this period, he had been residing at Cyan Yang Prefecture's Feiyun Mountain.

The cultivation conditions there were far inferior to those at Little Gu Peak.

"No wonder Master was willing to take Shen Xuan in and even agreed to transfer him as a direct disciple."

"Master must have seen something extraordinary in Shen Xuan."

"Little Gu Peak is so poor, Master would never take a useless person as a direct disciple!"

Gu Jinqin couldn't help but feel envious.

"Speaking of which, I must immerse myself in cultivation too! The chores and big pit at Little Gu Peak will have to trouble this Senior Brother Shen!"

"I'll no longer deal with this mess! Once I achieve success in cultivation, I'll follow the lead of Senior Sister!"

"Borrow some Spirit Stones, record them on the public account! Under the guise of wandering, travel through various countries, leaving Master and Senior Brother Shen to worry!"

Thinking of this, Gu Jinqin's mood brightened.

For this newly advanced Senior Brother Shen, who replaced her in falling into the giant pit of chores, she felt a slight pang of guilt.

"But, there's no choice! Senior Brother Shen, if you don't fall in, this junior sister can't climb out!"

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