Chapter 92: Foundation Establishment (Part 2)

The process of Foundation Establishment is also a process of rebirth.

The spiritual energy vortex above the dantian continuously condenses gaseous magic into liquid magic; this is a very long process.

It seems the volume of magic has shrunk compared to before, but now a single strand of magic is stronger than a whole bundle previously.

Most second‑tier artifacts, even if a Qi Refining Realm cultivator can use them, can only exert a fraction of their power, because the magic is too weak per unit to drive them.

Therefore, for low‑level cultivators, even if you give them divine artifacts, they are useless.

Otherwise, the descendants of high‑level cultivators could be granted a few Magic Treasures and then roam the world without rivals.

This is also why the Cao family Senior Elder, and even Cao Hao, truly do not hold Xiao Zhangqing in high regard.

Between the Qi Refining Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm, there truly is a massive chasm hard to cross.

"The absorption speed of spiritual energy has accelerated again!"

"If the original Yi-10 Cave Dwelling is still being drawn by the Mountain-Guarding Formation, I'm afraid it won't be enough, right?"

"This is a good omen, right? It should mean the Foundation Establishment is developing positively."

"If this continues, the formation of our Jia-1 Cave Dwelling will no longer be concealed and will spread to the Yi-shaped Cave Dwelling area."

The Lin sisters felt the surrounding spiritual energy, over‑extracted, was dropping to a lower‑mid tier of the first stage, and they had no idea which step Xiao Zhangqing's Foundation Establishment had reached or what was happening.

They were only Qi Refining Realm cultivators, with little insight, and did not understand the steps of Foundation Establishment or the phenomena of each step.

After another three days, the magic inside Xiao Zhangqing was almost fully converted, all turned into liquid.

At this point, Xiao Zhangqing no longer felt discomfort; his flesh had fully adapted to the liquid magic, moving without a scorching blockage, and under this higher‑level magic envelope he felt a warm, soothing sensation, like soaking in a hot spring with the Lin sisters—warm, soft, and enveloped.

Even his divine consciousness became clearer under these conditions, as if breaking free from previous shackles, his thoughts becoming unprecedentedly ethereal.

Boom! Xiao Zhangqing's speed of absorbing heaven and earth spiritual energy surged another third, making a final sprint to completely transform his internal state.

Thus the massive disturbance of absorbed spiritual energy overwhelmed the Jia-1 Cave Dwelling; its formation could no longer conceal it and began spreading outward.

From the outside, the sky above the Jia-1 Cave Dwelling almost formed a tangible spiritual energy vortex, and above the vortex strange phenomena began to appear.

Although the phenomenon was not large, just a veil of colored clouds, it signified auspiciousness.

But to a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator, or a discerning Qi Refining Realm cultivator, it was clear what was happening.

"What the heck, someone is breaking through the Foundation Establishment Realm at this moment?"

"Who? Who is breaking through!"

"Is it Han Yu? Or Ruan Qingzhu? Or Mu Chunfeng?"

Although Nanshan Fang has many cultivators, with nearly two thousand recruited by Taohua Fang and still over ten thousand in total, few have reached ninety percent Qi Refining completion.

As for those under sixty with decent spiritual root talent, only a handful of a dozen or so.

"No, no, that's the location of the Jia-level Cave Dwelling!"

"There should be only one cultivator at the ninth Qi Refining layer living in a Jia-level Cave Dwelling, right?"

"Xiao Symbol Master is striking the Foundation Establishment Realm? How could that be! Though his talent is extraordinary and his battle record astonishing, almost impossible. Yet he only has a low‑grade spiritual root! A low‑grade spiritual root daring to Foundation Establishment?"

"Although I also don't believe it, the facts are indeed so! Moreover, it seems the Foundation Establishment steps are more than half done; perhaps the toughest hurdles have already been passed! Otherwise, the sky wouldn't show strange sounds and auspicious signs!"

"Could it be that, after four hundred years, the Da Yu Cultivation World will again see a legendary low‑grade spiritual root achieving Foundation Establishment?" "I never expected we would witness this in our lifetimes. Truly worth commemorating…"

The sudden disturbance caused the Nanshan Fang cultivators, previously engulfed by war and unable to spare attention, to shift their focus slightly.

The cultivators ranking high in the Yi-shaped medium Cave Dwelling were both surprised and envious.

They were all top‑tier figures of Nanshan Fang, yet their lifelong pursuit was to one day achieve Foundation Establishment, to differ from mortals and truly walk the immortal path.

Unfortunately, it is far too difficult.

Even the most promising, such as Ruan Qingzhu and Han Yu, have little confidence.

……

Cao family residence.

Family head Cao Hao and the Cao family Senior Elder, both Foundation Establishment cultivators with prior experience, naturally sensed the disturbance immediately and even discerned which step Xiao Zhangqing's Foundation Establishment had reached.

The Cao family Senior Elder widened his eyes, staring in disbelief at the distant sky's colored clouds, murmuring, "Spiritual energy vortex, colored clouds forming… this Xiao Zhangqing has already reached the final threshold of Foundation Establishment, his magic almost fully converted! He actually can succeed in Foundation Establishment? How could that be!"

Just a few days ago he was mocking Xiao Zhangqing as clueless; no matter how arrogant, he was only in the Qi Refining Realm, unfit to be compared with their Foundation Establishment Realm.

Yet in the blink of an eye Xiao Zhangqing is about to ascend to the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Cao Hao, also thoughtful, frowned and said, "The second low‑grade spiritual root to Foundation Establishment in four hundred years? It seems this Xiao Symbol Master truly is a prodigy with extraordinary fate! But where did his Foundation Establishment pill come from?"

Low‑grade spiritual roots achieving Foundation Establishment are one in ten thousand, yet not impossible.

But without a Foundation Establishment pill, it would truly be impossible.

Thus Xiao Zhangqing reaching the final threshold must have taken a Foundation Establishment pill.

The Cao family Senior Elder, not wanting to speculate about the pill, urgently asked, "Family head, should we stop him?"

Cao Hao quickly shook his head, saying, "He is already at the final step. The colored clouds have already appeared, indicating his entire magic could completely transform at any moment! Stopping him now is too late, it won't affect him. Moreover, we are guarding Nanshan Fang behind him; we can't do without him. Senior Elder, think positively—consider it as an extra Foundation Establishment, which will increase Nanshan Fang's safety by a point."

He paused, then smiled reassuringly, "Even if a low‑grade spiritual root succeeds in Foundation Establishment, its innate endowment remains flawed. Strength will be weaker, and even with ambitions, he cannot shake the Cao family."

The Cao family Senior Elder nodded.

Both are in the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, yet there is still a gap! As for the terrifying divine consciousness secret technique rumored about Xiao Zhangqing, it has little credibility.

……

……

"The magic has finally fully transformed."

Xiao Zhangqing felt the thick liquid magic inside him, with no trace of gaseous form, couldn't help but smile, his heart filled with joy.

Next is the final step of Foundation Establishment: the divine consciousness leap!

This step carries virtually no danger, for ascending Foundation Establishment entails no heavenly tribulation nor Heart Demon Tribulation, only benefits.

"Before my breakthrough, my divine consciousness already extended twenty zhang outward, nearly comparable to a slightly weaker Foundation Establishment Initial Stage."

"After breakthrough, how far can it reach? Forty zhang? Then, with the Prison Dragon Bracelet's amplification, it could double..."

"By then, will the power level of the Dragon Chant Technique not directly rise to the third tier?"

Xiao Zhangqing began using the brand-new liquid mana, nurturing and expanding his divine sense, completing the final step of foundation establishment transformation! (End of chapter)