Chapter 194: 194. Chapter 191: Foundation Establishment Prototype

194. Chapter 191: Foundation Establishment Prototype

Ding Huan was now emaciated, his mind circling endlessly around one question.

How could he ensure his foundation did not limit his future height in the Dao?

He had fused gene-spirit roots; was this spirit root different from ordinary ones?

Originally, he had fused the injured-recovery gene, the toxin-transforming gene, the Illusory Eye…

Ding Huan suddenly froze—hadn't he already solved this question before?

He had once considered that no matter which gene ability he fused, the resulting gene ability would be fixed at the level it was when acquired.

As his cultivation advanced, this ability would become insufficient.

To solve this, he dissolved useless gene fragments and identified the gene fragments he needed—these were the hetero-gene ability shards.

Transforming these hetero-gene ability shards into his own skill abilities was not merely borrowing the hetero-gene's innate talent.

It was using the hetero-gene's expression pattern to turn that gene ability into his own intrinsic attribute.

He had succeeded, and created entirely new genes.

These new genes were his own innate gene abilities, rising with his cultivation level.

Otherwise, how could he use the ordinary white-faced thick-tailed ape's toxin-resistance gene to resist the Frost Ghoul's illusionary poison?

Because the toxin-resistance gene on his body was no longer the white-faced thick-tailed ape's toxin-resistance gene—it was his own toxin-transforming gene, which strengthened as his power grew.

If so, the foundation he forged could follow the same method.

He needed to forge a foundation that grew stronger as his cultivation advanced.

He absolutely could not let all later advancement rest solely on his early-forged foundation; if he did, no matter how deep that foundation, it would eventually collapse.

Then how could he make his forged foundation grow with his cultivation?

No—it should be that every time he cultivated, his foundation improved along with it.

He was different from others—he had a gene-spirit root…

Gene-spirit root?

If so, why cling to ordinary people's cultivation methods? What use were refining essence into Qi, refining Qi into spirit—what did they have to do with him?

He only needed to make his gene-spirit root stronger, and his cultivation technique must align with his gene-spirit root.

Fusing the white-faced thick-tailed ape's toxin-resistance gene gave him the toxin-transforming gene; fusing the fire lizard's recovery gene made his healing stronger…

But he couldn't constantly think about fusing every possible gene to increase his gene variety and abilities?

How many genes were there in the vast universe?

If he extracted every single gene, even if each extraction took only one minute, he'd never finish.

Could he create a technique that, no matter where he cultivated, would let him choose whether to fuse or not fuse any gene present in that location?

Like opening Pandora's box, when Ding Huan reached this thought, endless gene knowledge and cultivation methods flooded his mind.

Even Ding Huan's formidable willpower was overwhelmed and dizzy from this torrent of information.

After who knew how long, when Ding Huan spat out a jet of blood, he finally regained clarity.

Rubbing his still foggy head, Ding Huan swallowed a handful of energy capsules.

He had no Qi-Purification Pills and could only rely on energy capsules.

This couldn't continue.

Relying solely on the Luo Shi Jing could never realize his idea.

The reason was simple: for Ding Huan now, the Luo Shi Jing was too narrow—it simply couldn't contain his wildly imaginative thoughts.

He needed a broader cultivation platform, on which his ideas could blossom and bear fruit.

Even fusing billions of genes would not cause this cultivation platform to collapse.

Such a boundless cultivation platform existed only in one place: the vast universe.

No matter how many genes, species, or lives, all existed within this vast universe.

As long as he had not yet mastered this vast universe, his technique would have no end, and his foundation would never collapse.

Ding Huan's spiritual sense had been forged in the boundless universe.

Now, as he thought again of this boundless universe, he sought within it the direction of his Dao foundation.

The cosmic map from his two-year spiritual sense forging in the universe appeared in his mind—fuzzy, then clear, then layered…

In this vast universe, he was like a speck of dust.

The instant a speck of dust appeared in his consciousness, Ding Huan felt a clear star map emerge in his mind.

Yes—he was now a star speck.

He would begin cultivation from the speck.

His first step on the Dao was Star Dust—a single speck drifting aimlessly through the vast universe.

To cease drifting in the vast universe, he must make this speck grow larger, stronger, become a nebula.

At this moment, Ding Huan felt as if he had become a newborn universe.

His blood, flesh, bones—even his hair and breath—were all within this vast universe.

"The greatest square has no corners, the greatest vessel is empty, the greatest sound is silent, the greatest form has no shape, the Dao is hidden and nameless…"

(Meaning: the universe is boundless, the stars like woven baskets, the countless stars soundless and formless, concealing infinite mystery and cosmic laws… from the Dao De Jing.)

Ding Huan unconsciously sensed his first Zhou Tian pathway—now he was the universe, his Zhou Tian was the Zhou Zhou Zhou Tian, and the Dao he perceived was his own cosmic law…

When the first Zhou Tian ended, that profound sensation vanished instantly.

Ding Huan opened his eyes in excitement—he knew his location was wrong.

The Star Dust realm he deduced corresponded to the Qi Refinement stage; the Nebula realm he deduced was what others called Foundation Establishment.

He had made the vast universe his Dao foundation—so long as the universe existed, no matter how high his cultivation rose, his foundation would never collapse.

Ding Huan stood up; he had to leave West Wind City and find the place for Foundation Establishment.

Compared to before, he now knew exactly where he needed to go.

That was into the vast starry sky—he would dissolve his Luo Shi Jing through the new technique, transforming his Qi Condensation stage into the Star Dust stage.

As long as he forged the Nebula, his vast universe would take shape—that was his successful Foundation Establishment.

"Huan Ge, you've finally come out of seclusion…"

Seeing Yan Mei looked at Ding Huan as he stepped out, but his words trailed off halfway.

After several breaths passed, he stammered: "Huan Ge, how did you end up like this?"

Others who enter seclusion not only raise their cultivation but also strengthen their essence, energy, and spirit.

Ding Huan spent months in seclusion and emerged looking as if he'd drained months' worth of Joyful Branches.

He was thinner than Peng Peng Leizhi, his hair wild and tangled—could even months of draining Joyful Branches really reduce him to this?

"How long was I in seclusion?" Ding Huan showed no concern.

He even felt that these months of seclusion would determine the height of his entire life.

"More than three months. By the way, Nu Rong came looking for you—more than once."

Almost as soon as Seeing Yan Mei finished speaking, a woman's voice came from outside:

"Commandant Yan, has Daoist Ding come out of seclusion?"

Ding Huan laughed heartily:

"Sister Rong, I've just come out—please come in."

Nu Rong heard Ding Huan's voice and rushed into the courtyard; when she saw his appearance, she was even more stunned than Seeing Yan Mei:

"Daoist Ding, what happened to you…?"

Ding Huan waved his hand:

"I need to go out on some business. What did you come here for?"

Nu Rong hurriedly said:

"I went to Zhen Yun Dao City and found a sect there searching for you—it seems to be the Double Soul Sect."

Hearing this, Seeing Yan Mei instinctively shuddered.

The Double Soul Sect was the sect he feared most.

Ding Huan nodded:

"Thank you. Since they've set their sights on Zhen Yun Dao City, they won't find West Wind City anytime soon."

"Yes, that's why I came to tell you," Nu Rong said, then moved to take her leave.

Ding Huan asked:

"Sister Rong, may I ask—is there a simple way to leave the Threefold Star Continent and enter the starry sky?"

Nu Rong paused, then said:

"There are many places in the Daoist Realm where one can enter the starry sky, but all are controlled by sects or powerful factions—ordinary people cannot enter."

Some merchant guilds can reach the starry sky through the Mortal World, but for Daoists like us, it's difficult…"

Here, she seemed to remember something and quickly added:

"Daoist Ding, I remember telling you before—there's a rumor that in Zang Jianshan, there's a vortex connecting to the starry sky."

But this rumor is widespread, unconfirmed, and Zang Jianshan is now permanently shrouded in toxic mist—no one can even get inside.

Ding Huan's eyes lit up, and he thanked her again at once.

Nu Rong chatted a few more moments before taking her leave; her main purpose in coming was to warn Ding Huan that the Double Soul Sect was searching for him.

She greatly admired Ding Huan. She suspected that his presence in West Wind City was likely due to poor talent.

Otherwise, with Ding Huan's abilities and methods, he would already be a disciple of a major sect.

She came to deliver this warning both to cultivate goodwill with Ding Huan and because she didn't want someone like him taken away by the Double Soul Sect.

"Huan Ge, are you leaving the Threefold Star Continent?" Seeing Yan Mei asked anxiously.

"You've done well—not only have you managed West Wind City excellently, but your cultivation has reached Qi Condensation Fourth Layer."

"I'll go to Zang Jianshan first. If I can leave, I'll return to pick you and Lao Liu up. If I don't come back for you, just wait here." Ding Huan was very satisfied with Seeing Yan Mei.

Seeing Yan Mei beamed: "Thank you, Huan Ge."

Ding Huan patted Seeing Yan Mei:

"Don't worry—the Double Soul Sect won't find this place anytime soon. In fact, they'll never imagine we'd be in such a low-level city."

"I'm just afraid someone, like Sister Rong, went to Zhen Yun Dao City and told the Double Soul Sect about us," Seeing Yan Mei worried.

Ding Huan nodded: "That possibility exists, but it's extremely unlikely. Sister Rong runs real estate and, with our help, has plenty of crystal stones."

"How many ordinary people here even have the means to go to Zhen Yun Dao City?"