“Is the process of strengthening the dantian and meridians always this agonizing?” Wang Hao muttered, his teeth clamped shut in a tight grimace. “First the dantian, and now the meridians—surely the pain will only intensify.”

Just as he predicted, as the searing ache in his dantian began to ebb, a new pressure mounted against his meridians. It wasn’t sharp pain this time, but an insufferable, crawling numbness. It felt as though he had been injected with a paralyzing venom, or as if ten thousand ants were gnawing at his very essence.

The sensation was subtle yet relentless, a slow-burning torment that tested his sanity. As the medicinal efficacy of the Foundation Establishment Pill seeped deeper, the itch spread beyond his meridians, infecting his muscles and skin.

He fought the desperate urge to claw at his flesh, clenching his jaw until it ached. He endured the ordeal through sheer force of will.

After two agonizing hours, the crawling numbness finally dissolved. In its wake, a wave of warmth and profound comfort washed through him, so soothing he nearly cried out in relief.

When Wang Hao reached up to wipe the sweat from his brow, his hand came away coated in a thick, black sludge. He looked down in disgust to find his entire body draped in the same foul-smelling substance. It emitted a stench so pungent it stung his nostrils.

“Marrow cleansing?” Wang Hao curled his lip. With a quick flick of his fingers, he performed a cleansing technique to wash away the filth.

Once clean, he returned to a cross-legged position, his focus sharpening. The most treacherous hurdle of Foundation Establishment lay ahead: the condensation of spiritual power.

Drawing upon his spiritual sense, Wang Hao began to gather the pure energy released by the pill, attempting to compress it with the existing spiritual power in his body. Forcing gaseous energy into a liquid state required immense, steady pressure.

This was where his superior spiritual sense became a decisive advantage. Where an ordinary cultivator might spend half a month and hundreds of attempts, Wang Hao’s progress was swift.

On his fiftieth attempt, after five days of grueling concentration, he succeeded. A single drop of liquid true essence condensed within his dantian.

As it fell, a clear, resonant sound echoed in his mind—like a single drop of water hitting a still pool.

With the first drop formed, he began to circulate the true essence throughout his body. This was necessary to acclimate his meridians to the higher density of power, serving as a secondary tempering process.

Even with his preparation, the moment that highly compressed essence surged from his sea of qi, it felt like liquid fire and needles racing through his veins. He grimaced, a fresh layer of cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

Fortunately, the Meridian Protection Pill he had taken earlier held firm. Combined with the protective properties of the Foundation Establishment Pill, his meridians remained intact despite the unbearable heat.

The most critical threshold had been crossed. The tension that had coiled in Wang Hao’s chest finally began to loosen.

Moments later, he resumed his cultivation technique, finding the flow unprecedentedly smooth. His dantian and meridians, now ravenous for power, began to pull spiritual energy from the environment with frantic intensity.

The surrounding spiritual energy grew so thick it manifested as a heavy mist. Sensing a vacuum, the energy rushed toward Wang Hao at a violent speed. From the base of Ruojun Mountain, observers could see the clouds and mist above the peak swirling in a massive, backward-flowing vortex.

“Spiritual energy infusion! Hao’er has done it!” Outside the stone chamber, Wang Yanzhao felt the sudden shift in the atmosphere and bolted to his feet. His face radiated a mixture of pure excitement and fatherly pride.

In the distance, clan members tending to the spirit fields stopped their work. They stared at the mountaintop in confusion, whispering among themselves.

“What is happening? Why is the energy rushing toward the summit like that?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps the Foundation Establishment ancestor is practicing a new secret technique?”

Deep within his own seclusion, Wang Yanfeng opened his eyes. He hurried outside to investigate the disturbance. “Someone is establishing their foundation?”

A flash of disappointment crossed his face. He had been ready for this step for a long time, even possessing a pill of his own, but fear had kept him stagnant. He had spent years refining his power, too timid to take the final leap.

“It is Wenhao. If he can succeed with five spiritual roots, why should I be afraid?” Determination replaced his doubt. His confidence solidified as he watched the phenomenon.

He decided then and there that once Wang Hao emerged, he would ask Wang Yanzhao for permission to use the mountaintop cave for his own breakthrough. He quickened his pace toward the summit, eager to offer congratulations and pick the young man’s brain for insights.

Upon reaching the peak, he saw Wang Yanzhao standing guard. Wang Yanfeng slowed his pace and spoke softly.

“Congratulations, Second Brother! Now that both father and son have established their foundations, this will surely become a legend within our clan, told for generations.”

“Haha, Eighth Brother, you’re too kind!” Wang Yanzhao laughed heartily, making no effort to hide his joy. “I see your own power has reached its limit. What are your plans?”

“Thank you for asking,” Wang Yanfeng replied solemnly. “I used to think I should wait a few more years while I was still young. But seeing Wenhao charge ahead fearlessly has shamed me. I cannot hesitate any longer.”

He paused, looking earnestly at his brother. “I hope you will allow me to use your cave dwelling for my attempt.”

Wang Yanzhao nodded with approval. The two had studied alchemy together since they were children; he truly wished for his brother’s success.

“Pure spiritual power is helpful, but a firm Dao-heart is the true foundation. Yours is steady, which already doubles your chances. As long as you remain cautious and cast aside greed and fear, you will succeed. You may use the cave as soon as Wenhao finishes. I will personally stand guard for you.”

Wang Yanfeng bowed in gratitude and took a place to the side. Both men fell silent, waiting for the process inside to conclude.

It took another five days for Wang Hao to refine the massive influx of energy. The single drop of true essence in his sea of qi grew into a puddle, then expanded into a small, shimmering pond. He had officially solidified his cultivation at the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

While a Qi Refining cultivator might hope to live one hundred and twenty years, a Foundation Establishment master earns a massive increase in lifespan, truly transcending the limits of mortality.

Wang Hao felt his reserves were deeper than the average cultivator’s. According to the records he had read, the duration and intensity of his energy infusion had been exceptional.

As he stretched, he felt a strange vitality in his limbs. He conjured a water mirror to inspect himself. The reflection showed a man who looked barely twenty years old.

Combined with his Ice Jade Bone Technique, his appearance was now that of a peerless, jade-like gentleman. While he wasn’t vain, he couldn’t help but appreciate the change.

Moreover, his new stage had granted him his own True Fire. Depending on one’s roots and technique, these fires varied in power. The flame he had birthed was the Red Lotus True Fire.

It was an extremely potent, domineering flame, perfectly suited for both combat and the refinement of pills and artifacts.

The Red Lotus True Fire possessed a fierce Yang attribute, making it the ultimate bane of demonic cultivators and Yin-aligned energies. At its peak, it was said to be capable of incinerating entire mountain ranges.

“With this power, I wonder if I can finally unlock the Earth Chaos Seal,” Wang Hao mused.

He had been obsessed with the seal’s secrets ever since he discovered them, but his previous flames weren’t strong enough to burn away the residual materials. With the Red Lotus True Fire at his disposal, he was ready to try again.