After transforming into a fairy, I, in my simulation, wreaked havoc in the cultivation world.

Your act of stealing food went undetected, and half a month later, you and your group safely returned to Bailu City.

[You will no longer be distracted by the metal ore veins; all opportunities must give way to the advancement of your cultivation. Everything will be re-planned after you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.]

Three more days passed, and after restoring your physical condition to its peak, you stood before a stone gate.

"Qian'er, are you really sure?"

Bai Shouzhuo's face showed worry.

[After all, when you entered the city and displayed your peak Qi Refining cultivation, your excuse was the Profound Origin Ascension Fruit. Once you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, there's a very high probability that you'll attract the tribulation lightning that only Golden Core cultivators need to face.]

Furthermore, the tribulation lightning attracted by a breakthrough in cultivation can only be overcome by oneself. If one relies on others, the power of the tribulation lightning will increase several times over, inevitably resulting in a backlash.

That means that if you encounter this while breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, there is basically no chance of survival.

"Hmm, if I cannot break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, how long can I stay with my husband?"

Your words were sincere and earnest, effectively shutting down all the rebuttals he wanted to utter.

"Oh well, never mind."

Bai Shouzhuo tried to speak several times, but seeing your resolute gaze, he could only shake his head helplessly.

He then gently touched the storage pouch at his waist, took out a jade bottle containing half a bottle of silver-blue liquid, within which faint electric light flickered.

"This is the Thunder Tribulation Dew. After consuming it, it can stabilize your heart meridian when the thunder tribulation strikes, reducing the shock of the thunder's power to your soul. You have a perfected Body Refinement cultivation level, and your physical body is no weaker than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator. You may be able to fight for that sliver of survival."

"Thank you, my husband~"

Your gaze darkened slightly, but your fingertips remained completely still as you steadily caught the jade bottle, which then instantly entered your system space.

Only then did you reveal a genuine, gentle smile.

[Thunder Tribulation Dew, a top-grade item among third-tier spiritual objects!]

This item not only helps cultivators overcome tribulations, but also enhances their sensitivity to the lightning attribute in the world, making it an excellent treasure for practicing lightning magic.

[As expected, older cultivators know how to care for people!]

Thinking of this, you winked at Bai Shouzhuo, a hint of allure in your eyes.

"My lord, wait patiently for me to emerge from seclusion~"

You tiptoed and gave him a light, fleeting kiss on the cheek, then turned and fled into the secret room.

[Boom!]

The stone gate fell shut, and the shyness on your face vanished instantly.

Take a deep breath, sit cross-legged on the futon in the center of the secret room, and hold a Foundation Establishment Pill in your palm.

The elixir was semi-transparent, a deep blue-green color, with subtle cloud-like patterns flowing across its surface. Inside, a wisp of silvery-white mist coiled like a dragon, revealing a sealed primordial energy within.

Without further hesitation, you swallowed it whole.

The moment the Foundation Establishment Pill entered the mouth, it transformed into a warm, nourishing spiritual stream that flowed directly into the dantian. In an instant, the meridians throughout the body thawed like a spring river, becoming interconnected and beginning to frantically absorb the surrounding spiritual energy.

Upon seeing this, you unhesitatingly waved your hand and took out a large number of spirit stones, directly covering the entire secret chamber.

[You reaped considerable rewards from the Hundred Cities Martial Arts Tournament. In terms of spirit stones alone, you acquired over 700,000 low-grade spirit stones, over 5,000 mid-grade spirit stones, and 200 high-grade spirit stones.]

[This is after you voluntarily gave up some of the gains for your own safety.]

[With the spiritual energy replenished, the body's absorption rate becomes even faster.]

[After the massive spiritual energy surged into the body, it no longer went directly into the dantian as before, but instead flowed into the limbs, bones, and eight extraordinary meridians. At the same time, the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill gradually dissolved within the dantian.]

As the acquired energy recedes like a tide, the primordial energy quietly emerges from the depths of the dantian, gradually sweeping across the entire body.

The three stages of Foundation Building—Essence, Qi, and Spirit—correspond to Body Refinement, Qi Cultivation, and Divine Sense.

Although your physique is now comparable to that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, you have not yet been tempered by innate energy.

However strong one's bones and muscles may be, without the innate Qi flowing throughout the body, it is like a tall building without a foundation. Even with immense strength, it will ultimately be difficult to bear the weight of countless spiritual energies, let alone the burdens of the Dao path.

Those who cultivate Qi defy fate, while those who cultivate the body defy their own nature. Although these are different paths, they also complement each other.

The stronger a cultivator's physique, the more stable and expansive their "inner world" becomes when breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. The opening of this "inner world" is also the biggest difference between physical cultivation and magical cultivation.

Therefore, the physical body of a Qi Refining cultivator after successfully establishing their foundation is also known as the "Dao Body."

But everything comes at a price.

[After a warm current came excruciating pain, as every inch of my meridians and flesh was being purified by the innate energy, feeling as if a thousand blades were slowly scraping across my entire body.]

The stronger the physical body, the longer it can last.

[Your temples are bulging with veins, and cold sweat soaks your clothes like a fine beaded curtain, yet you grit your teeth and maintain the posture of facing upwards, concentrating all your spiritual energy and constantly adjusting your physical state.]

This process is destined to be long and arduous.

【...】

[A year later, in the secret room, you slowly open your eyes. A bluish light seems to flow within them, your gaze clear and serene.]

[Looking inward, one sees the meridians within the body seemingly enveloped in a layer of silver light, shimmering brightly while also appearing resilient; the breath flowing between the lungs is long and continuous, like a never-ending river.]

Most importantly, the original dantian seemed to have formed a separate space, within which acquired spiritual energy and innate energy were clearly distinct yet intertwined.

Each time they intertwine and separate, this inner world quietly grows a little larger.

Having safely passed the most perilous physical trial, the "Dao Body" is now complete. The remaining task is to guide spiritual energy into the inner world, accumulating reserves and liquefying the spiritual energy.

You slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, looked around, and saw that the mountain of spirit stones had long since turned into grayish-white dust.

Without a trace of heartache on your face, you calmly raised your hand and waved it, causing another batch of spirit stones to pour out of your storage bag, their soft glow illuminating the stone chamber.

[Any price can be paid as long as the foundation is established.]

You close your eyes again, your body, like a glutton, begins to devour the surrounding spiritual energy once more...

Spring has turned to autumn, and the secret chamber behind the city lord's mansion has remained closed for three whole years.

"Dad, are you sure Qianqian will be alright?"

The girl in the pink dress gazed sadly towards the back mountain.

"Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators need to spend about a year in seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Bai Shouzhou stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calm, but his hands inside his sleeves were clenched into fists.

"Qian'er's foundation is much stronger than that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators. If... if she doesn't attract a heavenly tribulation, it should take about three years."

【"Can..."】

Just as Bai Youyou was about to continue speaking, a wildly arrogant laugh echoed from the back mountain.

"Hahaha! I've succeeded!!!"

The next moment, a streak of azure light, like a sword, pierced the sky and shot straight into the heavens.

The azure light moved with incredible speed, darting back and forth through the air like an arrow released from a bow, traversing freely.

"Qian'er."

The shouts from below caused the figure in mid-air to pause slightly, then it swooped down towards the ground, abruptly stopping about ten feet above the ground in the blink of an eye.

The blue light dissipated, transforming into a slender figure.

You are now barefoot, floating in the air, your robes fluttering, your body radiating spiritual energy, and every gesture exuding an otherworldly grace.

[Having washed away the dust of the mortal world, only smoke remains; a spark of spiritual light leads first to the Dao.]

Foundation Establishment Realm, achieved!

...