Chapter 2069 : Qilin Divine Sovereign

In an instant, the 8 divine forms of the True Spirit soared into the sky, transforming into supreme manifestations that surged forth. Following the trajectory of the Black Abyss Emperor Spear as it pierced through the heavens, they struck directly at the chest of the Quasi-Dragon Emperor.

"Damn it—"

In the blink of an eye, the Quasi-Dragon Emperor's expression twisted violently.

He abruptly channeled his power to block with his war spear, yet the single blow still sent him hurtling through the air, blood spraying from his lips. No 1 could tell how many of his divine bones had been shattered.

"Pfft—"

In the fleeting moment of bloodshed, the Wild Dragon Quasi-Emperor steadied himself with his war spear, then turned to gaze at the Black Abyss Emperor, an involuntary look of awe flashing across his face.

Around the Black Abyss Emperor, 8 divine forms of True Spirits surged and roiled. Among these 8 divine forms were the Primordial Thunder Crow, the 9 Heavens Thunder Spear, and the Chaos Primeval Fierce Beast.

These divine spirit forms rose and fell, each emanating a wisp of ultimate aura that nearly transcended a certain extreme.

"This... this is the power of a Half-Step Ultimate Divine Form? You’ve cultivated the Chaos God Runes?"

"Impossible, this is impossible."

The Quasi-Emperor of the Desolate Dragon roared in despair, his face etched with utter disbelief.

The Ultimate Divine Rune represents the highest pursuit on the path of physical sanctification. Any being who attains physical sanctification may take pride in cultivating even a single Ultimate Divine Rune.

Once this unique Chaos God Form is cultivated to completion, it will be more than sufficient to dominate the realm of Chaos Heavenly Emperor in the future.

Since time immemorial, among those who achieved sainthood through physical cultivation, virtually all who set foot in the second realm of chaos had mastered an ultimate divine form.

You must understand, in the vast expanse of primordial chaos, the Third Realm of Chaos is virtually a legend.

Those capable of entering the 'Chaos Undivided' realm were almost exclusively beings who had existed since the dawn of primordial chaos.

Since time immemorial, across countless kalpas numbering in the tens of millions, scarcely any new Chaos Third Realm practitioners have emerged.

In other words, even the most prodigious newly-ascended Chaos Heavenly Emperor emerging after the Primordial Chaos’s dawn could ultimately only reach the second realm of Chaos at most.

This is the ultimate destination that all beings in the vast chaos can reach, and also represents the pinnacle of this current era of primordial chaos.

The Black Abyss Emperor had already mastered the ultimate divine patterns, granting him the theoretical qualification to touch the second realm of chaos—the ultimate domain.

For this reason alone, his potential far surpassed that of the Primal Dragon Quasi-Emperor by thousands of times.

It must be understood that among the dozens of chaos realms centered on the Chi Yang Chaos Realm, while there were at least several 100 Chaos Heavenly Emperors, only 1 had reached the second realm of chaos—the revered Dao Unity Supreme.

The Black Abyss Emperor had successfully cultivated the Chaos God Runes, and his potential could no longer be spoken of in the same breath as before.

"Hah—"

The Black Abyss Emperor let out a cold sneer, his expression serene as he spoke, "Today, I shall let you witness the power of Chaos Divine Runes."

As the words fell, Emperor Black Abyss erupted with his full power, his combat prowess nearly transcending the mortal realm's limits.

With his own strength, he single-handedly fought against 7 Quasi-Saints, including even the Infinite Quasi-Saint Desolate Dragon Progenitor, yet he completely overwhelmed them, pummeling all 7 Quasi-Saints without restraint.

He displayed combat prowess that could truly be described as earth-shattering and awe-inspiring, astonishing even Eldrin (Person Name) himself.

"His strength has already far surpassed mine."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, finally grasping the profound might of the Black Abyss Emperor.

It must be understood that Eldrin, relying solely on his physical strength, possessed only the level of a top-tier Quasi-Saint. The reason he could wield the combat prowess of an invincible Quasi-Saint was due to the Path of Self-Sacrifice and the empowerment of his 7 True Spiritual Roots.

Yet even with the full support of his foundation, without employing the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, Eldrin's combat prowess could only rival that of an Anarcho-Saint who commanded 12 great divine forms.

Yet, the Black Abyss Emperor, relying solely on his physical strength, could rival a Wuji Demi-Saint who commanded the divine forms of 20-4 great daos. The disparity in combat prowess between them was already immense.

The reason for this was that the Black Abyss Emperor had successfully cultivated the 9 True Spirit Runes, and his physical body realm was also 1 level higher than Eldrin's.

Most crucially, his 8 True Spirit Divine Forms had been amplified and empowered by the Chaos Divine Form, elevating them to the half-step Chaos Divine Form realm.

However, Eldrin (Person Name) only had 5 Great True Spirit manifestations empowered, so the disparity between the 2 sides was naturally not insignificant.

According to Eldrin's (Person Name) estimation, once his physical body broke through to the Great Emperor realm, its combat prowess would rival that of a Non-Polarity Sub-Sage with 12 grand divine manifestations.

If he could cultivate the True Spirit God Runes, his physical combat prowess would advance yet another step, rivaling that of a Quasi-Sage with 18 Grand Dao Divine Forms.

At that time, only by incorporating the Path of Self-Sacrifice and various True Spiritual Roots would Eldrin's power surpass that of the Black Abyss Emperor.

"Peerless Sub-sage, also known as the Limitless Sub-sage."

This domain knows almost no bounds, even containing the innate Great Dao with its 70-2 divine manifestations of the grand path.

"If 1 were to command such boundless Great Dao, they would likely break through to the Half-Step Chaos Third Realm in a single breath after merging with the Primordial Chaos Qi, wouldn’t they?"

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured softly, shaking his head faintly.

Such primordial Great Daos that lead directly to the half-step Third Realm are cultivated by at least several Unity Supreme Masters, and some are even practiced by Chaos Third Realm existences. They could never be controlled by a mere Quasi-Sage.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin withdrew his focus and once more gazed upon the celestial battle raging across the heavens.

Yet they discovered that the Black Abyss Emperor, relying solely on his own power, had nearly driven the 7 Quasi-Sages to flee like desperate, beaten dogs.

But at that very moment, Eldrin's brow furrowed slightly. With conditioned reflex, he summoned the Return to Void Seal, materializing a chaotic cauldron that enveloped the meditation chamber where Patriarch Tai Zhuo was in seclusion.

Clang—

Almost simultaneously, several killing rays slammed into the great cauldron, yet all were firmly blocked by the ancient vessel.

Blocking this strike, Eldrin swept his sleeve and shattered the void, forcing out several supremely powerful divine forms.

Observing the several powerful figures before him, Eldrin (Person Name) slightly furrowed his brow.

"It's the Sub-Sage of the Heavenly Prison, the Fallen Heaven Demon Venerable, the Quasi-Emperor of the Imperial Halberd, and the 10 1000 Tribulations Divine Venerable."

The Ancient Spirit Emperor at the side immediately announced the revered titles of these 4 individuals.

In an instant, Eldrin recalled the information about these 4 individuals. Among these 4 Demi-Saints, the Heaven Prison Demi-Saint originated from the Primordial Saint-Devil Domain and was an ancestral elder of the Heavenly Derivation Great Emperor's lineage.

The Fallen Celestial Devil Venerable also hailed from the Primordial Sacred Demon Realm. It was said he was the corrupted incarnation of a Destiny God Emperor, standing as a pinnacle Demonic Path Demi-Sage.

The Halberd Emperor-Designate hailed from the Primordial Realm of Taihu, having reincarnated through cultivation as the incomplete reincarnation of a Chaos Spiritual Artifact. His cultivation had already ascended to the pinnacle of the Quasi-Sage realm.

And that Calamity Immortal Sovereign was the foremost of the 5 Great Quasi-Sages from the Myriad Gods Primordial Domain, also a top-tier Quasi-Sage.

Thus, the 4 supreme powerhouses, each only A Step Away (Time & Distance) from the realm of Chaos Heavenly Emperor, had clearly come for the Primordial Chaos Qi.

Eldrin instantly grasped the cause and effect, a cold sneer curling his lips as he said, "Fellow Daoists, as distinguished Demi-Sages of your generation, why not face me in an honorable battle?"

"Sneaking around like this hardly seems appropriate, does it?"

Elder of the Returning Abyss.

In an instant, those few Demi-Sages revealed icy expressions.

The Quasi-Emperor of the Imperial Halberd spoke, his gaze icy as he declared, "If you know what's good for you, step aside."

"We shall take the Primordial Chaos Qi and will not disturb a single blade of grass. Why risk life and limb for others?"

The Fallen Demon Sovereign also cast a cold gaze toward Eldrin (Person Name), his voice brimming with boundless killing intent as he declared, "Those who stand in the way of my path shall perish, body and soul."

"Either you let me take the Primordial Chaos Qi, or I'll take it after killing you."

Eldrin smiled faintly and said calmly, "There is only 1 strand of Primordial Chaos Qi, yet there are 4 of you. How do you intend to divide it?"

With an icy glint in his eyes and an expression of frosty detachment, the Monarch of 10 1000 Calamities declared, "How we divide the spoils is our affair. It requires no interference from you."

Eldrin shook his head and spoke again, "Why don't you discuss it among yourselves first? There will be plenty of time to act after you've reached an agreement."

"I can see you're stalling for time."

The Heaven-Prison Demigod roared in fury, instantly summoning myriad divine weapons to soar through the air as they descended to suppress Eldrin.

Eldrin (Person Name) furrowed his brow slightly and sighed, "Alas, you've found me out."

As the words fell, Eldrin instantly activated the grand formation. In that very moment, the Abyssal Seal divided into 12 Primordial Supreme Treasures.

These 12 Primordial Treasures merged with the Kylin Ancient Domain, transforming into the 12 Celestial Guardians Formation that firmly shielded the entire realm.

Not only that, but the overwhelming formation also trapped the 4 Sub-Sages within it.

Not long before, Eldrin had set up a Grand Chaos Formation using the Abyssal Pearl as its core, augmented by the power of the Kylin Ancient Domain and a portion of the Heavenly Dao Authority.

The power of the Guixu Seal was already comparable to a Chaos Spiritual Treasure, and with the amplification of the formation, it was almost as if a Chaos Heavenly Emperor were personally channeling its force.

For a time, even with the combined efforts of the 4 Sub-Sages, they struggled to breach the grand formation's seal.

"Not good."

Seeing that they could not break through the blockade, the 4 Demi-Sages' expressions changed drastically.

While resisting the grand formation with all their might, they roared into the chaotic void, "Fellow Daoists, if you won't act now, then when will you?"

Eldrin's brow furrowed slightly as he gazed into the chaotic depths.

Yet they discovered over 20 Quasi-Sages emerging, their gazes tinged with varying degrees of greed.

"Quite a few are trying to fish in troubled waters. Just how many of the demon race have been allowed in?"

Eldrin's expression grew increasingly grave. Ever since the Wild Dragon Quasi-Emperor had escaped, he had long anticipated attracting the covetous gazes of numerous Demi-Sages.

But for over 30 Quasi-Sages to arrive all at once was truly beyond exaggeration.

You must understand, this is the Primordial Immortal Realm. Outsiders who have not attained the Sage realm cannot simply enter as they please.

The fact that so many Demi-Sages could come this time was largely due to the efforts of the Demon Court, and even the 3 Heavenly Emperors, who secretly allowed them to enter.

"The demon race is so treacherous and vicious, they truly cannot be trusted as allies."

Eldrin's expression turned slightly cold as he could only channel his full power to control the grand formation, enveloping the Qilin Ancient Domain to withstand the assaults of these Quasi-Sages.

Meanwhile, the Quasi-Sages above the heavens nearly descended into madness. With overwhelming battle intent, they surged forth to breach the grand formation and plunder the Primordial Chaos Qi.

Fortunately, the grand formation composed of 12 Primordial Treasures possessed truly extraordinary power, remaining unscathed even when facing assaults from several dozen Quasi-Sages.

Thus, for who knew how long, Eldrin suddenly sensed an aura of supreme chaos emanating from behind him.

Immediately after, the vast Dao Sea was torn asunder.

A supreme Great Dao ascended from the cavern abode, enveloped in a wisp of Primordial Chaos Genesis Qi. 9 divine manifestations of the Great Dao bloomed like a lotus flower.

Then, that wisp of Primordial Chaos Qi began to be slowly absorbed, gradually merging into the refinement process, cloaking the Divine Form of the Great Dao with a layer of chaotic radiance.

Until that moment, the 9 great divine forms slowly merged, ultimately transforming into a lotus seed brimming with primordial chaos qi.

Boom—

In an instant, Daoist Taizhuo soared into the air, merging as 1 with the Chaos Lotus Seed.

Right after, an indescribable supreme aura erupted. Daoist Taizhuo, wreathed in boundless immortal light, tore through the Sea of Dao and vanished into the endless origin of the Great Dao.

No 1 knew how much time had passed. Amidst the interweaving of countless divine chains of the Great Dao, an ancient Divine Emperor clad in violet robes emerged, striding forth from the Sea of Dao.

He transformed into a handsome young man, whose grace and bearing were unparalleled in this world. His tall, straight figure was draped in a noble robe of imperial purple.

Merely standing there, he seemed to be the very center of the entire world, like an ancient Divine Sovereign from the dawn of chaos gazing down upon the primordial void.

"He has broken through."

In the vast expanse of primordial chaos, countless supreme beings whispered, a trace of chill flickering in their gazes.

Beyond the Primal Immortal Domain, the 6 Divine Emperor Celestial Sovereigns ceased their warfare. From the depths of the Southern Abyss's 7 realms, the eyes of various Chaos Celestial Sovereigns turned their gaze—some fraught with worry, others bearing joy, and many remaining as tranquil as ever.

Even the 6 Domains of the Northern Abyss, and even the vast Primordial Sea of Dao, cast 1 gaze after another.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Taizhuo, on attaining the Chaos Dao."

"Congratulations, Qilin (Daoist), on attaining the Divine Sovereign Realm."

"Fellow Daoist, you have set foot in the Chaos Realm. The 7 Domains of Southern Abyss have gained another master."

"Fellow Daoist, you are actually of my Kirin race. Perhaps we can exchange insights more frequently in the future."

"Hahaha, so I am not alone on the path of enlightenment."

As the Kirin Ancestor broke through, congratulations poured in from 1 supreme powerhouse after another in the Realm of Chaos.

Some hailed from the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss, while others had journeyed from the Chaos Great Dao Sea.

With the exception of a handful of Chaos Heavenly Emperors who held grudges against Elder Tai Zhuo, the vast majority extended a measure of goodwill.

The vast majority of them were merely spectators, bearing no personal grudges against Daoist Tai Zhuo.

After all, the Primordial Qilin had already achieved his breakthrough, making it impossible to thwart his path to enlightenment. To antagonize him now would be to court enmity without reason.

Since there is no enmity between us, why not seize this opportunity to forge a favorable connection?

After all, we are all eternal beings beyond the cycle of reincarnation. It would be quite pleasant to forge friendships in the absence of enmity.

To these individuals, Daoist Taizhuo offered his congratulations 1 by 1, then cupped his hands in salute before returning to the front of the Qilin Ancient Domain.

Eldrin snapped back to his senses and discovered that the numerous Demi-Sages blocking his path had all fled, with quite a few even resorting to using Chaos Void-Breaking Talismans in their desperation.

He then stowed away the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and cupped his hands in salute to Elder Taizhuo. "Congratulations, Elder. With this breakthrough into the Chaos Realm, you have now joined the ranks of those who command a commanding view over the Chaos Sea."

Elder Taizhuo quickly helped Eldrin (Person Name) to his feet, his expression turning solemn as he said, "Between you and me, there is no need for such formalities."

"Let us continue as peers from now on, and spare this old man such undeserved honor."

Eldrin smiled faintly, offering no further words.

Seeing this, Daoist Taizhuo turned to the Ancient Spirit Emperor and the Black Abyss Emperor, saying, "You have rendered me such great assistance this time, yet this old man has nothing worthy with which to repay you."

"These fragments of the Primordial Chaos Great Dao shall serve as our gratitude to the 3 of you."

As he spoke, Grand Daoist Taizhu took out 3 strands of Chaos Great Dao Origin and handed them to Black Abyss Emperor and Ancient Spirit Sovereign.

A flicker of light passed through Eldrin's eyes. The origin of the Chaos Dao was bestowed by the Sea of Dao upon Grandmaster Taizhuo when he ascended to the Chaos Dao, in recognition of his contributions to perfecting it.

Such a supreme treasure was a priceless, top-tier Chaos Marvel, yet there were only 9 strands in total. He had given 3 of them to the 2 of them—a clear sign of his considerable regard.

After bestowing rewards upon the 2, Elder Taizhu led Eldrin into the cavern abode. With a grave expression, he handed Eldrin a cluster of primordial qi.

"This is..."

The moment he laid eyes on that wisp of Origin Qi, a subtle shift crossed Eldrin's expression as he murmured.

Elder Taizhuo nodded slightly and spoke, "This is a Primordial Dao Stone born of the Great Dao Sea. I came upon it purely by serendipity."

It is the essence of the boundless Great Dao condensed into form, possessing near-limitless profundity. By using this object as a foundation, 1 can refine a supreme Chaos Spiritual Treasure.

A slight heaviness settled in Eldrin's heart, and a contemplative expression involuntarily surfaced on his face.

The so-called Primordial Dao Stone is a supreme treasure coalesced from the very essence of the Great Dao, ranking among the finest of Chaos Wonders, and serving as a universal embryo.

With this Primordial Dao Stone, Eldrin could theoretically use it as an embryo, supplemented by the Primordial Chaos Qi and the Divine Dao Patterns, to forge a Chaos Spiritual Treasure of any attribute.

For instance, if Eldrin (Person Name) were to encounter a certain opportunity, he could utilize this embryo to forge a Chaos Spiritual Treasure possessing ultimate attributes.

Chaos Spiritual Treasures of ultimate attributes refer to those embodying Destruction, Space-Time, Chaos, Fate, Tribulation, and Causality.

You must understand, such Chaos Spiritual Treasures born of the supreme Primordial Chaos Dao are exceedingly rare, each 1 possessing an ineffable value.

"I must acquire the 4 great Chaos Spirit Treasures—Time-Space, Annihilation, Chaos, and Returning Abyss—to cultivate the 4 ultimate divine forms."

"This object is something I must have."

Eldrin murmured softly, a glint of resolve flickering in his eyes.

Among these 4 types of Chaos Numinous Treasures, those of the chaos attribute are considered the most common.

Since Chaos Spiritual Treasures all possess some degree of chaotic attributes, ordinary Chaos Spiritual Treasures could serve as substitutes, provided their chaotic attributes reached a certain threshold.

As for Chaos Spiritual Treasures of the Returning Abyss attribute, Eldrin could also forge them by harnessing the power of the Returning Abyss Pearl—it merely required Chaos Primordial Qi and the catalyst of a primal domain’s annihilation.

However, Chaos Spiritual Treasures with time, space, and destruction attributes were exceedingly rare.

Even a Chaos Spiritual Treasure with only the spatial attribute is already an exceedingly rare find. How much more of a heaven-defying treasure, then, is 1 that possesses both the time and space attributes?

Yet for the Chaos Spiritual Artifact of the Annihilation attribute, Eldrin only had a faint notion and a trace of an idea, with no certainty whatsoever.

Now that he possessed this Primordial Dao Stone, a glimmer of insight dawned in Eldrin’s heart.

"If this piece of Primordial Dao Stone could absorb sufficient traces of time and space, supplemented with Primordial Chaos Qi, could it be refined into a Chaos Supreme Treasure of temporal attributes?"

"Or, if we allow the Primordial Dao Stone to absorb sufficient power of destruction, or even directly imprint the traces of the Dao of Destruction, could we then refine it into a supreme treasure of destruction?"

Eldrin murmured softly, a look of comprehension dawning on his face.

In a daze, certain previously incomprehensible encounters from the past seemed to gradually unveil a trace of mystery.

In the future timeline where events have yet to unfold, they should theoretically be alterable if detected in advance.

Yet over these years, Eldrin drifted along the upper reaches of the River of Time, quietly observing the entirety of his own temporal river.

Yet he was astonished to discover that the scene he had witnessed back then—that moth flying into the flame—seemed to persist into the future, never having changed in the slightest.

Eldrin knew full well that having witnessed what he had, the man would likely not throw his life away needlessly.

What was it that drove him to face the blade of annihilation with unwavering resolve, even as he knew it was a moth flying into the flame?

"To attempt the impossible despite knowing the odds—is it born of absolute confidence, or the pursuit of that elusive sliver of hope?"

"Or perhaps, the future me faces unimaginable pressure, leaving no choice but to take this desperate gamble?"

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured softly, before finally withdrawing his thoughts.

He dared not speculate further, for matters involving that indescribable existence could very well bring unforeseeable variables upon his future self—or even his present self.

Chapter 1 The mountain peak pierced through layers of swirling clouds, its summit glistening with eternal snow under the moonlight. Lin Feng sat cross-legged on a weathered bluestone, the chill of the night seeping into his bones, yet his focus remained unbroken. Before him lay 3 objects: a faintly glowing spirit stone, a cracked jade slip, and a small, unadorned bottle. "1 100 years," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, carried away by the mountain breeze. "1 100 years of relentless cultivation, and this is all I have to show for it." His gaze fell upon the spirit stone—barely the size of a thumb, its glow feeble and intermittent. It contained just enough spiritual energy to sustain a Qi Refining disciple for a few days. The jade slip, a legacy from his master, was supposed to hold profound insights into the Foundation Establishment realm. Yet, after a century of study, its teachings remained as elusive as the mist shrouding the peaks. With a sigh that seemed to carry the weight of his years, Lin Feng reached for the small bottle. It contained 3 Foundation Establishment Pills—his last hope. Each pill was a treasure beyond measure, capable of increasing a cultivator's chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm. He had spent nearly all of his remaining spirit stones and completed countless perilous missions to acquire them. "30-2 1000 spirit stones," he whispered, the number a heavy burden on his heart. "And countless trials... for just 3 pills." He knew the statistics all too well. For a cultivator with mediocre talent like himself, the success rate of a single Foundation Establishment Pill was less than 10 percent. Even with all 3, his chances wouldn't exceed 20-5 percent. Failure meant not only wasted resources but severe spiritual backlash, potentially crippling his cultivation permanently. The night deepened around him, the moon climbing higher in the star-dusted sky. A cool breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient pines surrounding his secluded spot. Lin Feng closed his eyes, regulating his breathing, circulating his spiritual energy through his meridians in preparation for the attempt. He recalled the words of the Elders, their voices echoing in his memory. "The path of cultivation is a battle against the heavens," 1 had said. "Talent determines the starting point, but determination decides the destination," another had advised. Yet, after a 100 years, his destination seemed no closer than when he had begun. He was stuck at the peak of the Qi Refining realm, unable to take that final, crucial step. He had watched as juniors, once looking up to him with admiration, surpassed him 1 after another, their foundations firmly established while he remained stagnant. A bitter smile touched his lips. "Is this my limit? Am I destined to never reach Foundation Establishment?" Doubt, the cultivator's greatest enemy, gnawed at his resolve. He thought of giving up, of accepting a life as a low-level disciple, managing sect affairs and mentoring newcomers. It would be a peaceful, if mundane, existence. But then, a fire ignited within him—a spark of the same unwavering determination that had carried him through a century of arduous cultivation. His eyes snapped open, reflecting the cold light of the moon with newfound intensity. "No," he declared, his voice firm now, cutting through the silence of the night. "I did not come this far to only come this far." His hand, steady and sure, reached for the small bottle. He uncorked it, and a profound herbal aroma immediately filled the air, so potent it seemed to make the very spiritual energy around him vibrate. He poured 1 of the pills into his palm. It was a deep violet color, marbled with veins of gold, warm to the touch and pulsing with condensed power. Without another moment's hesitation, he threw his head back and swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill. The effect was instantaneous and violent. A torrent of pure, unbridled spiritual energy erupted within his dantian, a dam breaking inside him. It surged through his meridians, not like the gentle stream he was accustomed to, but like a raging flood, scouring and expanding the pathways with excruciating force. His body trembled, sweat beading on his forehead despite the cold. Veins bulged on his neck and temples as he gritted his teeth, channeling all his willpower to guide the chaotic energy. This was the trial. This was the crucible. Failure was not an option. He focused his mind, visualizing the process described in the ancient texts—compressing the gaseous spiritual energy in his dantian into a liquid state, forming the foundational lake that was the hallmark of his desired realm. The pill's energy provided the immense pressure needed, but controlling it was like trying to tame a lightning bolt. Hours passed. The moon began its descent, and the first hints of dawn tinged the eastern sky with pale light. Lin Feng's robes were soaked through, his body pushed to its absolute limit. The initial torrent had subsided into a more manageable, yet still immense, flow. He directed it, shaped it, compressed it with unwavering focus. Just as he felt a profound change beginning within his dantian—a faint coalescence, a hint of liquidity—the energy suddenly faltered. The pill's power was waning. His heart sank. It wasn't enough. 1 pill was not enough. With a roar that was part frustration and part defiance, Lin Feng grabbed the bottle and swallowed the second Foundation Establishment Pill. Another, even more violent wave of energy exploded within him. His meridians screamed in protest, feeling as if they were on the verge of tearing apart. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. The pain was beyond anything he had ever experienced, a white-hot agony that threatened to consume his consciousness. But he held on. He clung to the memory of a 100 years of struggle, of countless days and nights spent in meditation, of the dream that had fueled his entire existence. *Compress!* The command echoed through every fiber of his being. He poured every last ounce of his spiritual sense, his will, his very soul into the task. And then, it happened. A profound silence fell, both within and without. The raging energy in his dantian stilled, collapsed inward, and then transformed. Where there was once a swirling, gaseous sea of Qi, there now existed a small, placid pool of shimmering, liquid spiritual energy. It was calm. It was deep. It was vast. A wave of power, pure and stable, washed out from his core, rejuvenating his weary body and cleansing his meridians. The pain vanished, replaced by a feeling of wholeness, of completion he had never known. Lin Feng opened his eyes. The world was different. The colors were sharper, the sounds clearer, the very flow of spiritual energy in the air was visible to him now, like a shimmering tapestry. He could feel the strength coursing through his limbs, a strength an order of magnitude greater than before. He had done it. He, Lin Feng, after 1 100 years of ridicule and stagnation, had finally established his foundation. A slow smile spread across his face, erasing the lines of worry and hardship. He looked towards the horizon, where the sun was just beginning to crest over the distant mountains, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson. The path ahead was still long, filled with perils and challenges far greater than Foundation Establishment. But in this moment, under the dawn of a new day, Lin Feng felt only an unshakable certainty. He had taken his first true step on the arduous path of cultivation. And he was ready for whatever came next.