Cultivation begins with alchemy and collecting runes.

Inside the Jia Yi Cave.

Rumble!

Li Xiuyuan placed a heavy brick of gold and iron ore down, made a hand seal, and the token shone with light, completely refining the array restrictions of this cave and beginning to seal the great array.

Five-colored light shimmered on the stone gate before finally disappearing.

"Hmm, the defenses of this cave are such that even a pseudo-core cultivator could hold out for a while... Just in case, I'll set up another array."

Li Xiuyuan flung the array flags of the Green Wood Vine Armor on his body in all directions, and placed the array plate at his feet.

Brush brush!

The cave was illuminated by bursts of green spiritual light from all sides, and a faint green shield of fluorescent light firmly locked the cave.

"And this too!"

As if remembering something, Li Xiuyuan patted the storage bag at his waist and released the Migu Rat.

"Migu Migu".

Before he could speak, a golden-jade-colored light swiftly flew into his arms and vigorously rubbed against his chin.

"Alright, alright, it's just that I haven't seen you for half a year because I put you in a bag. Why are you acting so cute?"

Li Xiuyuan stroked the shiny, smooth fur of the Migu Rat, soothing the little guy.

Over the past few years, with Li Xiuyuan feeding it all sorts of spiritual medicines and elixirs regardless of cost, the Migu Rat has finally developed its bloodline power.

The Migu Rat's cultivation level had actually reached the late stage of Qi Refining.

He even learned a bloodline spell, the Earth and Wood Prison.

It can draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to quickly unleash a spell that traps enemies, no less powerful than the Green Wood Vine Armor Formation.

"You keep watch for me. If there is any unusual activity outside, send me a message through your spirit."

Li Xiuyuan stroked the tuft of fur on the Migu rat and whispered.

"Migu Migu".

The Migu Rat nodded and dashed toward the stone gate, quickly digging a hole in the ground and hiding there.

"Yeah, I feel much more at ease now."

Li Xiuyuan observed that the cave dwelling was not large, containing only a table, a chair, and a futon.

Inside the cave, the spiritual energy was incredibly dense, and just one breath was enough to make the already pent-up magical power within one's body surge.

This place is undoubtedly a second-tier top-grade spiritual vein.

"Forty years of cultivation, the foundation is laid today!"

Li Xiuyuan sat cross-legged, silently adjusting his energy and spirit.

At the same time, Crimson Sun Grass, Refining Spirit Grass, Fire Lotus Spirit Fish Soup, and a jade bottle containing Foundation Establishment Pills were placed in front of him.

"In theory, I have two great Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures, along with a first-order perfect body refinement and a perfectly refined spiritual consciousness, which is more than enough for me to establish my foundation."

Li Xiuyuan planned to try using a Foundation Establishment item to establish his foundation on his own first, since he would need to establish his foundation four more times later, so he wanted to save time if possible.

His mind was racing, and he began to meditate.

In an instant, he went from a child to an adult, experiencing curiosity about the world, excitement and exhilaration as he embarked on the path of immortality alone; the disappointment of not being able to join a sect, followed by the hardship of struggling to survive in the marketplace...

Past events flashed through his mind like flowing water.

Time passed without Li Xiuyuan realizing that his energy and spirit had reached their peak.

"Now is the time!"

The three stages of foundation building.

The physical body barrier.

The process of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage requires an extremely high level of spiritual energy from the massive vessel of heaven and earth, placing exceptionally high demands on the cultivator's blood and qi.

If one has suffered a serious injury, leaving hidden ailments or damage to one's foundation, the physical body will be unable to withstand the transformation of the physical body during the foundation building process.

Li Xiuyuan used his magic to capture the Crimson Sun Grass.

Open your mouth and swallow.

Splash!

The immense power of Qi and blood was mobilized, and the original Qi and blood rapidly refined the power of the Crimson Sun Herbs, transforming it into nourishment for the original Qi and blood of the user.

Splash!

Li Xiuyuan groaned as he felt a powerful surge of spiritual energy flow into his body, tempering his flesh and bones.

Li Xiuyuan's physical body shone with a layer of blood-red, bewitching blood aura, reaching perfection as the Yi Jin Jing (Muscle/Tendon Changing Classic) began to circulate on its own.

The original Qi and blood transform into a stabilizing force, directly suppressing the Qi and blood throughout the body.

"Bang bang bang!"

The essence and spiritual energy in his body opened up the hidden meridians in his body, and the physical acupoints that he had never cultivated before were also opened.

boom!

A powerful aura of physical strength emanated from Li Xiuyuan.

"Second-tier Body Refinement!"

The Qi and Blood Circulation Barrier was easily overcome.

Then, Li Xiuyuan brought over a bowl of spirit fish soup brimming with spiritual energy.

Drink it down in one gulp.

Whoosh!

A surge of intense, fiery spiritual energy flowed from his mouth and permeated his entire body.

The next moment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into a vortex, frantically pouring into the dantian and dantian of the body, circulating within the meridians, compressing and liquefying magical power.

Bang bang bang!

Li Xiuyuan gritted his teeth and persevered, forcibly enduring the excruciating pain brought on by the expansion of his meridians and Qi Sea.

The blazing golden flames of magic power surged and surged, constantly being tempered and compressed... This process put his meridians to a great test; the slightest carelessness could cause them to burst.

"Now."

Li Xiuyuan mobilized his qi and blood to protect the meridians in his body.

But then a layer of warm, blood-red color slid out from the bone marrow, flowing around the meridians and firmly protecting them.

"good!"

With his meridians functioning normally, Li Xiuyuan focused all his spiritual sense on the transformation of magical power within his dantian.

Gradually, the gaseous magical power in the dantian was compressed and transformed into wisps of magical liquid.

With his strong spiritual sense, Li Xiuyuan had a significant advantage in this challenge. The Golden Flame Burning Heaven magic power controlled by Li Xiuyuan's spiritual sense obediently transformed from nine strands into one strand, then from nine strands into one, and finally from nine strands into a drop of crimson gold liquid magic power.

Li Xiuyuan smiled. His Golden Flame Burning Heaven Technique was known for its powerful magic and its ability to outpace those of his peers.

He easily transformed his entire gaseous mana into refined and pure liquid mana.

Currently, three drops of true mana liquid have condensed within his body, each drop of which is equivalent to the entire mana of a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator.

"The mana barrier was also easily overcome."

……

"Only the spiritual consciousness challenge remains!"

Li Xiuyuan used the same trick again, activating his magic to capture the Divine Refining Herb.

He opened his mouth and swallowed the spiritual herb. As soon as it entered his mouth, it transformed into an invisible and intangible gentle medicinal power, flowing towards the purple mansion between his eyebrows.

But then, his divine sense cheered and leaped for joy from between his eyebrows, leaving his body and riding the power of the refining herbs downstream to merge with the power in his dantian.

The "Divine Consciousness Barrier" was easily overcome.

Having successfully reached this point, Li Xiuyuan smiled nonchalantly.

He immediately activated the [Golden Flame Burning Heaven Technique] within his body, and after a few breaths, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth outside the cave began to converge madly towards Jia Yi.

Instantly, a vortex of spiritual energy, tens of feet in diameter, was formed.

……

Wenxin Hall.

"Look, another vortex of spiritual energy has formed."

The disciple surnamed Zhu and his junior brother stood aside, gazing at the towering peak in the distance.

"Judging from the location of the cave, it is a Class A 5 cave, which seems to belong to that top-grade alchemist from the Lingbao Pavilion... This alchemist Wang Ming failed to establish his foundation once before. He is an old man in his fifties. This time, I don't know where he got a foundation-establishing pill and tried to establish his foundation for the second time. He is really ignorant and dares to defy fate."

The junior brother sighed, his tone revealing no attempt to conceal his disgust and contempt for rogue cultivators.

Suddenly, his expression changed: "Huh, here we go again?"

In his gaze, another powerful vortex of spiritual energy formed, drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and pouring it into the Jia Yi Cave.

"So fast? Fortunately, the spiritual veins here are comparable to the third rank, with abundant spiritual energy, and there are also formations to regulate the veins. Even if ten cultivators were to establish their foundations together, they could withstand it."

"The Jia Yi Cave? That must be Senior Brother Li from the Pill Hall? To begin his breakthrough so quickly, even achieving the Foundation Establishment stage, shows his solid foundation!"

The junior disciple surnamed Zhu exclaimed in admiration, "We'll see the outcome in less than five days."

Three days later.

The vortex of spiritual energy above the Jiawu Cave trembled in waves before finally dissipating and disintegrating, turning into specks of starlight that scattered away.

"He failed again! He failed twice in a row after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill. A rogue cultivator is just a rogue cultivator, born from humble beginnings. This Wang Ming is truly a waste!"

That junior brother made no attempt to hide his disdain.

"Alas, Foundation Establishment is difficult, even more difficult than ascending to the heavens."

The disciple surnamed Zhu felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

Several hours later, the spiritual energy vortex in Jia Yi Cave rapidly expanded and then compressed, its momentum vast and boundless. Suddenly, it contracted and disappeared entirely into the cave.

A short while later, a violent and righteous surge of magical power emanated from the secret chamber of the cave, exuding an overbearing aura capable of incinerating heaven and earth, and emitting bursts of firepower.

An incomparably powerful aura of spiritual energy spread out.

"Hoo hoo... This senior brother... no, this junior uncle is done. We need to get ready quickly for good luck."

……

"After forty years of arduous cultivation, I have achieved Foundation Establishment today!"

Hearty, cheerful laughter echoed from inside the cave.

After breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Li Xiuyuan quickly consolidated his realm by utilizing the remaining pure mana in the cave.

He activated the ancient breathing technique to gather his own magical power.

He estimated that as long as he didn't release his divine sense and had close conversations with Core Formation cultivators, it would be very difficult for them to detect him, making him extremely safe.

Li Xiuyuan dispersed his aura and walked out of the cave.

"Congratulations, Martial Uncle! Congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment! May you achieve Core Formation in the future and attain eternal immortality!"

The two disciples immediately stepped forward, their attitude humble, polite, respectful, and obedient.

The difference in cultivation levels among cultivators is comparable to an insurmountable chasm.

Li Xiuyuan felt inexplicably pleased and casually tossed out two bottles of Spirit Awakening Pills: "That sounds nice, a reward is due!"

"It's actually a Spirit Awakening Pill? This senior uncle truly lives up to his reputation as an alchemist; his generosity is astounding!"

The disciple surnamed Zhu exchanged a glance with the disciple beside him, his tone becoming even more enthusiastic: "After Master Uncle achieves Foundation Establishment, he can go to the sect's General Affairs Hall to collect the offerings for Foundation Establishment cultivators..."

He also specifically mentioned a few unspoken rules: "Since the sect leader is not currently in the mountain, you can find the acting sect leader."

"Um!"

Li Xiuyuan nodded, and just as he was about to fly away in his escape light, he saw the inner gate of Jiawu Cave open.

An elderly man, covered in blood, flew out from the crowd, clearly seriously injured.

"It's him!"

Li Xiuyuan stepped forward, about to speak, but the man spoke first: "Li Xiuyuan... no... junior Wang Ming greets senior, congratulations on your successful Foundation Establishment!"

"Hmm, you're badly injured. Go back to your cave and heal properly."

Li Xiuyuan's expression shifted, as if he had thought of something. He hesitated for a moment, then turned and left.

Wang Ming, looking utterly disheveled, muttered to himself in a delirious manner, "He actually succeeded in Foundation Establishment and even became an inner disciple of the Blazing Fire Sect. Truly, fortunes change..."