Chapter Ninety-One: Advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage

Ge Qian dared not be negligent; he immediately swallowed the Foundation Establishment Pill and began the second step—refining qi into liquid. This step was extremely perilous, requiring him to slowly condense spiritual energy into liquid, thereby enhancing the quality of his magical power. No matter how vast the Purple Mansion, without improved quality, Foundation Establishment would be impossible.

After three months, the liquid power in Ge Qian’s dantian surged and flowed gently; he had successfully refined qi into liquid. Seizing the momentum, he proceeded to the third step—molding the cultivation technique. The shaping process differed according to the method used.

After six more months of arduous cultivation, six vortices of different colors rotated slowly within Ge Qian’s dantian, each following a distinct trajectory. These six vortices represented the Six Paths of Reincarnation. The dark-white vortex was the Heavenly Path, containing thirty-three sword energies, symbolizing the Thirty-three Heavens Sword. The dark-green vortex was the Asura Path, with four sword energies representing the Four Great Asura King Swords. The dark-yellow vortex was the Human Path, containing thirteen sword energies, representing the Swords of Seven Emotions and Six Desires. The dark-blue vortex was the Animal Path, with twelve sword energies—Four Spirit Swords, Four Saint Swords, and Four Fierce Swords. The dark-red vortex was the Hungry Ghost Path, with ten sword energies, representing the Ten Yama King Swords. The smoky-gray vortex was the Hell Path, with eighteen sword energies, symbolizing the Eighteen Layers of Hell Sword.

In total, eighty-nine sword energies, each unique, yet forming the Six Paths of Reincarnation, ceaseless and eternal.

At the moment of successful molding, Ge Qian’s aura changed dramatically. The oppressive force of the Foundation Establishment stage shot skyward, nearly piercing the cave’s roof. Under this pressure, Hongmei trembled all over, unable to withstand it, and took refuge in the Demon Gourd.

At that instant, Ge Qian’s sea of consciousness was invaded by countless beauties, each as lovely as jade, their skin snowy white, pure and adorable, causing uncontrollable heat and surging blood. The beauties laughed charmingly, rushing to embrace him, but Ge Qian snorted coldly, saying, “A bunch of illusionary demons dare to disturb me during my advancement? Seeking death, are you?”

With these words, he recited a nameless Heart Sutra. The chanting stopped abruptly, and the illusionary demons let out anguished cries, turning into blue smoke and vanishing without a trace.

Ge Qian suddenly opened his eyes. Having passed the trial of inner demons, he finally advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage. His divine sense was now so powerful it could probe a hundred miles—a regular Foundation Establishment cultivator could barely reach twenty or thirty miles. His magical power was eighteen times that of ordinary practitioners, and his lifespan had reached three hundred years.

Ge Qian rose and stretched his limbs, elated. He was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, with a three-hundred-year lifespan, and no longer needed to worry about longevity for the time being.

At that moment, Hongmei emerged from the Demon Gourd, transformed and joyful. “Congratulations, big brother, on advancing to Foundation Establishment. Now you may continue pursuing the path to immortality, right?”

“The road of cultivation is long. Advancing to Foundation Establishment is but the first true step. There’s still a long journey ahead,” Ge Qian mused.

“Brother Ge, your strength is terrifying. I am a second-tier vengeful spirit, yet I have no power to resist you at all,” Hongmei exclaimed in awe.

Ge Qian shook his head. “Because you are my spirit companion, my aura naturally suppresses you. You’ve worked hard these past months. Next, I must condense the King of Six Paths, or I’ll never be able to contend with Cui Yun. His realm is Foundation Establishment, but his power rivals an early Core Formation cultivator. Will you guard me?”

The King of Six Paths was a combat manifestation of the “Six Paths Sword Technique,” akin to a clone, incredibly powerful, and fought alongside the true body. However, condensing it was fraught with difficulty. Yet, to face Cui Yun, Ge Qian could only risk it all.

He sat cross-legged, drew in all the spiritual energy in the room with a single breath, and began consolidating his cultivation, for the advancement to Foundation Establishment had exhausted all his pills.

After four months of meditation, his realm was finally stabilized.

Now, Ge Qian was a proper Foundation Establishment cultivator, with no danger of regression. He exhaled a thumb-sized primordial spirit, distinctly black and white. Black as hell, seemingly able to devour all living things; white as the blazing sun in paradise, with lightning flickering—such that even a fallen demon would transform into an angel before it.

This was the combined primordial spirit of the Calamity Dao Sovereign and the Fire Thunder Divine Ape. Ge Qian weighed it for a long time, muttering, “The Calamity Dao Sovereign said only by refining a trace of his calamity divine origin can I cultivate the ‘Calamity Divine Technique.’ I won’t risk it. True, cultivation would soar, but who knows what schemes this old fox, alive for nearly ten thousand years, may harbor? I refuse to borrow your calamity divine origin. I’ll use it to condense the King of Six Paths instead!”

Using it to condense the King of Six Paths was not a sudden whim. Ge Qian had pondered long and hard—without a powerful technique, he could never defeat Cui Yun. Thus, he settled on the King of Six Paths.

Calming himself, Ge Qian declared, “Whether I succeed or not, I must give it my all!”

He began to cast spells, fixing the thumb-sized black-and-white primordial spirit in midair. Though small, it contained astonishing power.

Following the method for condensing the King of Six Paths, he proceeded.

As each incantation was cast, the black-and-white primordial spirit spun ceaselessly.

Ge Qian’s gaze sharpened. “With Calamity Dao Sovereign’s dark primordial spirit, I shall form the three evil paths: Hell, Hungry Ghost, and Animal. With Fire Thunder Divine Ape’s bright primordial spirit, I shall form the three good paths: Heaven, Human, and Asura. Yin and yang revolve, transforming into the Six Paths—when the Six Paths unite, the manifestation is formed!”

As Ge Qian’s words and incantations resonated, the black-and-white primordial spirit in the air trembled. From the boundless void, the six great realms governing the Six Paths projected their powers.

These powers merged into the black-and-white primordial spirit, which began to writhe and radiate dazzling light, eventually separating into two flows—black as eternal ice, white as thunderous punishment.

A vortex of about a yard soon formed, with the powers of the six realms pouring in madly.

Ge Qian’s expression grew increasingly grave; his incantations fired like wheels. Days passed as he operated at full capacity—no one could endure such strain.

He found that breathing alone could not keep up with the consumption. He cast the spell “Twists and Turns,” and swept his divine sense over everything within a hundred miles.

Suddenly, he noticed not far away, in the pill refinement chamber, a medium-built elder in late Foundation Establishment, with a long, lustrous black beard—clearly well cared for. Many spiritual herbs were arrayed before him; his hand signs transformed rapidly, and the furnace blazed fiercely as he refined some kind of pill.

Ge Qian sneered inwardly, recognizing this man as Jade Mountain of Fire Wave Peak, who had once schemed to exchange his useless “Six Paths Sword Technique” for Ge Qian’s cultivation method. Had it not been for his many fortuitous encounters, he would have forever lost hope of attaining the Dao. Now, it was time for payback. The opportunity had come after much effort. A murderous intent flashed across his face.

He cast the powerful divine ability, “Drawing Water from Under the Cauldron”—a technique he had long understood but could not use without Foundation Establishment. Today, he would finally test its power.

Jade Mountain was elated. Once he succeeded in refining the Spirit Command Pill, he could freely manipulate all kinds of spiritual power. Advancing to the Core Formation stage would be a gamble, combining the five elements to condense the core and solidify his foundation—a much greater chance of success.

If not for the preciousness of this pill, he wouldn’t have risked refining it himself. Ten years of studying pill arts had led to this moment.

Jade Mountain suddenly drew more earth fire, knowing it was a desperate measure. But at this critical juncture, if he didn’t extract the fire with abandon, all his precious materials would be wasted.