Chapter 176: Chapter 163: Foundation Establishment, Part 2

He clearly felt an invisible shackle within him shatter. His connection to the nature’s spiritual energy became clearer than ever before. He poured all his strength into guiding this transformative power to scour his body, enduring three full hours of excruciating pain, all to enhance his Innate Talent as much as possible.

When the transformation ended and the dust settled, he performed Introspection. His Spiritual Qi absorption speed was roughly seventy percent faster than before!

An immense wave of satisfaction washed over him. His Water Spirit Root Talent had been forcibly elevated from Middle-Grade to a level approaching High-Grade! This laid an even more solid foundation for his future Immortal Path.

Afterward, Lu Zhao entered closed-door cultivation in the Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion for another three months. His goals were twofold: to fully stabilize and solidify his Early-stage Foundation Establishment realm, and to acclimate himself to his new Magical Power and attempt Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation.

Recalling the process of his Foundation Establishment, even now, a sense of lingering fear and relief rose in Lu Zhao’s heart.

’So the so-called "eighty-percent chance" of success was predicated on pouring my all into every single step, with no room for the slightest error!’

’Any misstep along the way would have meant utter doom! My success was only possible because of my Divine Sense, which far surpassed my peers; the tenacious will I’d honed through countless near-death experiences; and the resources I’d spared no expense to accumulate. All three were crucial; the absence of any one would have meant failure.’

But that was all in the past. Now, he had a more pressing headache. With a thought, he looked inward at his Dantian. Nine drops of azure Liquid Magical Power, each containing immense energy, slowly revolved above the Qi Sea in the center of his Dantian. They followed a profound trajectory, emitting immense fluctuations of Magical Power with every rotation.

During the three months he spent stabilizing his realm, he had tried to circulate the Foundation Establishment Chapter of the Little Spirit Rain Technique. He actively absorbed the nature’s spiritual energy within the Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion to try and condense a tenth drop of Liquid Magical Power. However, it was only after this initial attempt that he realized the accumulation required for that tenth drop far exceeded his previous estimates.

Lu Zhao estimated that even within a Tier Two High-Grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion, without using any Tier Two Cultivation Pills, it would take at least two years of arduous cultivation to barely condense a tenth drop of Magical Power.

And the Early-stage Foundation Establishment required a total of one hundred and twenty drops of Liquid Magical Power!

’And this... this is just the beginning! There’s still the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, the late stage... even Foundation Establishment Perfection?’

Throughout the entire Foundation Establishment Stage, Lu Zhao would need to condense a total of three hundred and sixty drops of Liquid Magical Power. And besides the terrifying accumulation of Magical Power required, even more troublesome were the bottlenecks that lay between each minor realm. Getting stuck at one of those could easily cost him decades.

The thought alone was chilling.

"No wonder... a Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Lifespan increases to three hundred years, yet most can only struggle and stagnate in the Early-stage Foundation Establishment for their entire lives..." Lu Zhao muttered to himself. The feeling of elation that had quietly swelled within him—born from being respectfully addressed as "Martial Uncle" by the Outer Sect Stewards and disciples on his way from the Spirit Vein Bureau—was instantly washed away by this cold, hard reality.

Three hundred years seemed like a long time, but when it came to cultivating in the Foundation Establishment Stage, it suddenly felt pale and insignificant. It even seemed... shockingly brief.

’But surely not all Foundation Establishment Cultivators rely solely on such arduous cultivation,’ Lu Zhao thought. ’I wonder how much of a help Tier Two Pills are for cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Stage?’

At this, he lamented how little he still knew about the Foundation Establishment Stage. He was unaware of the various methods to rapidly advance one’s Cultivation and shorten the accumulation process. He knew even less about the specific benefits—both overt and covert—that the Sect provided for its Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

’Patience.’ Lu Zhao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anxiety rising in his heart. His gaze became calm and profound once more. ’The immediate priority is to complete the ceremony to pay respects to the ancestors, obtain my status as an Inner Sect Steward, and rightfully step onto this brand new stage.’

’Then... I’ll go to the Sect’s Library Pavilion! I’ll look up all the secret tomes, the notes from my predecessors, and even records of unorthodox methods related to Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation!’ The thought emerged clearly in his mind. ’I must thoroughly understand the mysteries of cultivating in this realm, grasp its principles, and identify any possible shortcuts!’

’After that, I’ll need to thoroughly investigate all of the Sect’s policies and benefits for Foundation Establishment Cultivators. That includes the choice of Cultivation Techniques, the supply of Pills that can accelerate cultivation, and the channels for exchanging Merit...’

Only with sufficient information could he formulate the most efficient cultivation plan for the Foundation Establishment Stage, one perfectly tailored to his own situation.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhao sighed. "Although the inheritance granted by the Puppet Bead is exquisite, it is ultimately focused on the refinement and application of Puppets. It’s not much help for advancing orthodox Cultivation Techniques, for the ’Water Grinding Skill’ of accumulating Magical Power, or for breaking through the terrifying, chasm-like bottlenecks between realms. For these, I still need to rely on the profound resources and heritage of a behemoth like the Bixia Sect."

After considering all this, he lifted his gaze and swept it across the humble stone chamber. Lu Zhao was intimately familiar with its every detail, yet at this moment, it failed to stir even a shred of attachment in him.

This place was merely a temporary waystation on his long Immortal Path. Beyond this station lay the true journey—cultivating through the Foundation Establishment Stage, a path fraught with endless difficulties. Only by conquering them could he hope to touch that ethereal, illusory prize that haunted the dreams of countless Cultivators... the Golden Core Dao!

’First, secure my position. Then, plan my advance.’ This was the first step Lu Zhao decided upon. Having cleared his thoughts, he closed his eyes again and began to slowly regulate his breathing, adjusting his Qi Mechanism until it was as tranquil and still as an ancient well. He was waiting. Waiting for the arrival of the senior brother who would guide his official entry into the Bixia Sect.

And his journey as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Lu Zhao’s journey, would only truly... begin the moment he stepped out of this old cave mansion.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.