Chapter 89: Limit: What Is Foundation Establishment?

Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!

The seven‑catty divine sense hammer ceaselessly struck deep in Wang Ping's mind, over and over.

His will transformed ever more quickly; the heavenly‑earthly resistance that once made even a single step difficult for him was no longer so immovable!

The entire transformation process lasted seven days.

After seven days, the crystalline light at Wang Ping's brow vanished, but deep in his mind, amidst wisps of divine‑sense mist, there seemed to be a crystalline, glowing star, half‑real, half‑illusory.

This is a phenomenon that can arise only after breaking the limit of will, though for now it can appear only in his mind.

With each breaking of will, that star becomes ever more real.

In the cave dwelling, Wang Ping slowly opened his eyes; the first breaking of the will limit felt somewhat like a natural culmination, even though he had endured great pain in the process.

This once again proved that Wang Ping's willpower potential is high.

He wondered whether he could break the second limit, Wang Ping muttered.

That day, he had once heard Xiao Yang say that cultivators capable of breaking the second will limit were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns even in the Spirit Realm.

After the first limit is broken, one can condense another six hundred strands of spiritual power, meaning Wang Ping can surpass the two‑thousand‑strand threshold and draw earthly qi to undertake Foundation Establishment.

At that time, it might allow his spiritual root to undergo an upgrade.

Breaking the second will limit can condense three hundred strands of spiritual power.

This truly is the limit, the limit of Qi‑Refining cultivators, the limit through the ages.

Wang Ping realized that after breaking the will limit, his cultivation would not improve, nor would his combat strength increase significantly.

His body showed no other changes.

By now, Wang Ping also understood why Xiao Yang said that cultivators who break the second limit are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

The first breakthrough was so painful, yet at least it added six hundred strands of spiritual power; the second, risking the shattering of will, yields only three hundred strands.

Moreover, it contributes nothing to strength increase; anyone would deem it not worth it.

Furthermore, after breaking the first limit, one can basically condense over two thousand strands of spiritual power, meeting the requirement for refining the spiritual root.

Under such circumstances, almost no cultivator will train their will.

After all, in the long years of cultivation, will is passively honed, thereby increasing its strength.

Wang Ping had once held this view while listening to lectures in the Xiao Family Lecture Hall, but Xiao Yang's deliberate words finally steadied his resolve to break the second limit.

He said: "Qi Refining Great Perfection is a special realm, a minor realm opened up again by the ancients under the extreme limit of late‑stage Qi Refining Great Perfection."

Though called a minor realm, it is actually a path of transcendence: if a low‑grade spiritual root cultivator undergoes three transformations in the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm, his spiritual root will be reforged at Foundation Establishment—certainly becoming medium‑grade, with a 50 % chance to become high‑grade, and a 1 % chance to become ultimate‑grade.

If it is a heaven‑grade spiritual root, it is likely to turn into a Great Dao Mark; such cultivators are called Immortal Seeds.

He paused, then spoke again:

What is Foundation Establishment?

Why must this realm exist?

It is to reshape the cultivator's foundation, letting them undergo a metamorphosis.

Unfortunately, the essence of this realm has now been lost.

Cultivators everywhere think that turning spiritual power into liquid and mental power into divine sense constitutes Foundation Establishment, but that is merely the most inferior kind.

True superior Foundation Establishment is metamorphosis, then rebuilding the foundation!

That foundation is the spiritual root; the strength of the spiritual root affects not only cultivation speed but also later comprehension of the Heavenly Earth's Great Dao.

Remember, the spiritual root is the cultivator's foundation; if your spiritual root is too poor.

Foundation Establishment is perhaps the only chance in a lifetime to reshape one's foundation.

Speaking of this, Xiao Yang once said with regret:

"His greatest regret in life was not taking one step further in the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm—a pity. Even if he discarded his cultivation and started anew, he could not persist; each cultivator gets only one chance in a lifetime, and even those who return through reincarnation are the same."

It was precisely after hearing Xiao Yang's words that Wang Ping resolved to undergo a second breakthrough no matter what.

He would also try the third limit, no matter what!

Having thought it over, Wang Ping calmly stepped down from the stone bed and began his silent chant.

Then he walked into the whirlpool!

Spirit Realm, Green Mountain Territory, Heavenly Azure Mountain Range!

Wang Ping, emerging from the whirlpool, appeared directly in a mountain cavern.

He had intended to begin cultivation right away, but suddenly noticed that the stones on the ground felt familiar.

Could it be?

A hint of suspicion rose in Wang Ping's heart; he slowly crouched, reached out, and picked up a palm‑sized stone.

He lifted it lightly, and the stone was grasped in his hand.

Heavy!

Wang Ping felt his right palm sinking downward.

This familiar feeling?

Wang Ping widened his eyes, quickly scanned his surroundings, and realized he had returned to the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range!

His Heaven‑Overturning Seal was damaged, but he lacked good materials to repair it; he had originally wondered when he might ever return to the Heavenly Azure Mountain Range, yet who would have thought he would be transported straight here this time!

Wang Ping couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Could the Silver Stone Gate be trying to curry favor with me?"

He then laughed, thinking it impossible! Casting aside these distracting thoughts, he gathered all the scattered stones on the ground until he had filled nearly two cubic meters, at which point he stopped.

Feeling the stones inside the silver block, Wang Ping couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation, wondering just how powerful the Heaven‑Overturning Seal forged from so many stones would be.

But the next time he forges it, it will be a magic treasure!

His current level is probably insufficient to forge a magic treasure; he must first master the Complete Volume of Introductory Artifact Forging.

Because at the level of magic treasure, it's not just the mutual blending of materials; there's also the problem of infusing Heaven and Earth's mighty power, which involves some treasure patterns formed by that power.

This is the key to a magic treasure's strength or weakness!

Next, he should begin training; although his will overcame the heaven-and-earth resistance, that doesn't mean the resistance vanished—he just no longer feels it.

Six hundred wisps of spiritual power, at twenty times speed, nearly three-quarters of the Spirit World Heaven's time have already been completed.

This time the heaven-and-earth resistance almost reached one hundred fifty times!

Whoosh!

Wang Ping's gaze was solemn; next he would begin to break the second limit, an extremely dangerous breakthrough.

The blow of the eight‑catty Divine Sense Hammer—how many times more painful than the first?

Wang Ping didn't know how he returned to the cave abode, remaining dazed; this time he actually underwent ten days of recovery before regaining consciousness.

However, the pain from the Divine Sense Hammer's strike made him apprehensive, and for a moment he actually wanted to give up.

Then, after another three days, he finally recovered.

In the underground cave abode, Wang Ping's eyes were deep and calm; the pain of the second time exceeded his imagination—this was only the beginning, and the pain would gradually intensify, at which point he felt he could not possibly endure.

If he forced himself to persist, he would likely die of pain right here in this barren land; years later, a fortunate junior would come here, make a fortune, and then thank his skeleton: 'Thanks to the senior for granting this opportunity.'

By then he might already be buried and at peace!

That thought was too terrifying; Wang Ping shook his head hard, casting it aside, and then began to consider his current predicament.

During these three days he contemplated various possibilities, finally settling on two feasible methods!

The first method is to break through the Soul Refining Heart Sutra; the first layer of the Soul Refining Heart Sutra has three stages, and after the first stage reaches perfection, a false divine sense will be born in the Qi Refining Great Completion stage.

Continuing cultivation in the second stage, the divine sense will gradually strengthen, eventually exceeding that of an ordinary cultivator by five to twenty times.

If he can break through the Soul Refining Heart Sutra, his soul will certainly increase again, and at that time his will potential will also rise accordingly.

As for the second method, it is a way of diverting attention.

These two methods can proceed side by side; he has soul fluid to aid his cultivation of the Soul Refining Heart Sutra, which can help him break through.

To divert his attention, he can study the complete volume of Qi Refining Introduction, deeply researching the understanding of heaven-and-earth treasure patterns on it; he can also try to see whether a blue light ring can be integrated into his body.