Chapter Sixty: Breaking Through to the Foundation Establishment Stage (Part Two)

Despite enduring the excruciating pain brought on by the expansion of spiritual energy, Lin Yanghao did not forget to use his divine sense to observe the situation within his dantian. Thus, he spent an entire day in agony, and signs of the formation of the Dao Platform had begun to appear within him.

The Foundation Establishment stage is the most critical hurdle on the path of cultivation, so Lin Yanghao dared not be careless. After much time had passed, the spiritual energy in his dantian finally ceased to be as violent as before, and he could not help but marvel at the powerful effects of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

A month swiftly slipped by. During this period, Lin Yanghao remained in meditation, striving to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. The Dao Platform within his dantian had taken shape, albeit incomplete, and he felt as though something unknown was lacking, preventing the condensation of the platform.

Upon careful consideration, Lin Yanghao realized that the spiritual energy in his dantian was far from sufficient for the formation of the Dao Platform. Risking the danger of his body exploding, he gradually stored the gathered spiritual energy into his meridians. At that moment, the spiritual energy in his meridians reached perfection.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Lin Yanghao hastened to operate the “Chaos Divine Spirit Technique” at full speed. The spiritual energy in his meridians surged toward his dantian, while the surrounding spiritual energy also rushed toward him once more. Indeed, Lin Yanghao had been waiting for this opportunity, hoping to condense the Dao Platform in one fell swoop.

A thunderous boom resounded as the spiritual energy in his meridians merged with the nascent Dao Platform. Lin Yanghao’s face turned pale, but instead of sorrow, he was filled with joy. This signaled that he had successfully formed his Dao Platform, marking him as a genuine cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

He let out a long breath, not daring to relax, and quickly operated his technique to consolidate his newly achieved cultivation.

A month later, Lin Yanghao slowly opened his eyes and swept his divine sense across his dantian. A crystalline Dao Platform appeared before him, resembling a round disc, with a small amount of true essence within it. Foundation Establishment not only laid the foundation, but also transformed spiritual energy into true essence. After a month, Lin Yanghao had successfully completed this transformation.

Moreover, all his meridians had become much thicker and tougher than before. Lin Yanghao unleashed his divine sense to its fullest, finding that it extended terrifyingly for hundreds of meters—dozens of times stronger than cultivators at the same stage. He then operated his true essence, and struck the stone cave with his palm.

A series of explosive sounds echoed as the mountain walls shattered. Overjoyed, Lin Yanghao realized that his divine sense and strength surpassed those of his peers. Although he had never witnessed a full-force attack from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the power of his strike was beyond what such a stage could normally produce. The true essence coursing through him was ten times more robust than during the Qi Refining stage, making him acutely aware of the vast difference between Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining—truly worlds apart.

Lin Yanghao took out his soul-nourishing wooden dagger, his first magical tool. Yet its offensive power was lacking, so after a simple refinement, he returned it to the Chaos Ring. Next, he produced the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sword. Previously, he had not dared to flaunt this sword, but upon repeated examination, he found it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary flying sword artifact, which put his mind at ease.

Cultivators can only refine magical treasures and artifacts upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, so the first thing Lin Yanghao did was refine the soul-nourishing dagger and the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sword.

He dripped a drop of essence blood onto the sword, unleashing his divine sense to subdue it. Yet the sword resisted fiercely, refusing to acknowledge him as its master. Angered, Lin Yanghao forced his divine sense into the sword once more, only to encounter even stronger resistance.

He mused, “Indeed, it deserves to be called a divine sword. Though it is damaged, its pride remains unbroken.”

“Do you look down on a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like me? I have overcome countless hardships and setbacks, relying on my own strength to ascend from an ordinary mortal with a crippled Five Element Spiritual Root to the Foundation Establishment stage in just a few years. Which of those so-called geniuses can match me now? Give me time, and I shall conquer the heavens and rule the world! If you submit to me, I promise to restore you to your past glory!” Lin Yanghao declared resolutely, then looked at the Heaven-Shaking Divine Sword.

A crisp chime sounded, and the sword ceased its resistance. Lin Yanghao wasted no time in establishing his ownership. As expected, the process was successful!

Unable to contain himself, Lin Yanghao grasped the sword and waved it in the air. He sensed the immense power within, feeling that if his strength were sufficient, the sword could cleave the world itself.

“Chongzhou City, the grandest cultivation city in the flourishing Central Continent. Let me enter and inquire about the latest developments in the cultivation world.” With his cultivation breakthrough, Lin Yanghao’s speed had increased dramatically, and in half a month, he arrived at Chongzhou City—the largest cultivation city in the Central Continent, ruled by the Ye Family, one of the four great cultivation clans.

“Have you heard? Just a few days ago, the newcomers’ grand competition in the cultivation world was attacked by spirit beasts from the Beast Domain. Countless genius disciples perished, and it’s said that a war between the cultivation world and the Beast Domain is imminent.”

“I heard that too! When they battle, it’s us low-level cultivators who will suffer. What are we to do?”

“Not just us—even the whole cultivation world may not escape this calamity! Should we flee to the Northern Domain?”

“What! Are you mad? The Southern and Northern Domains are separated by the Endless Sea. How many powerful cultivators have tried to cross, only to perish? How could we, mere low-level cultivators, succeed?”

Listening to the conversation between these two Qi Refining cultivators, Lin Yanghao was stunned and alarmed. He already knew about the Beast Domain’s attack on the newcomers’ competition, so that did not surprise him. Yet hearing about the Southern and Northern Domains sent a chill through him. Only now did Lin Yanghao realize that his spiritual world was but the Southern Domain, and beside it lay the Northern Domain.