27: Build foundation!

Deep within the valley, Xu Qi'an's cave dwelling was hidden behind a thick patch of vines.

Inside the cave dwelling, the spiritual energy was so dense it almost solidified, and the ling stones embedded in the stone walls emitted a soft light.

Xu Qi'an sat cross-legged on a futon, a row of crystal-clear Foundation Establishment Pills laid out before him. The surface of the pills was covered in complex patterns; some had three patterns, some four, some five, and a few even reached the rare nine-pattern level.

"A nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill is indeed extraordinary."

Xu Qi'an muttered softly to himself, his fingertip gently stroking the surface of a nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill.

The patterns on the pill flickered slightly like living things, emitting a heart-palpitating spiritual energy fluctuation.

Over the past month, using the Omnipotent Treasure Basin, he successfully gathered a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills.

Initially, the gathered Foundation Establishment Pills only had three patterns, but as the number of gatherings increased, four-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills appeared. Xu Qi'an then used the four-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills to gather five-pattern ones, and so on, up to eight-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills.

Now, Xu Qi'an had finally gathered a few nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills!

Not to mention nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills, even six-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills were difficult for the Alchemy masters of the three major markets to refine, and each one was priceless.

Markets like Jinshi Bazaar would only put three-pattern Foundation Establishment Pills up for auction; as for four-pattern or five-pattern ones, don't even think about it.

They were extremely scarce even within their own ranks.

Xu Qi'an had learned about the effects of Foundation Establishment Pills; it was said that a six-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill could achieve the effect of three layers of Foundation Establishment success.

"I wonder what kind of effect this nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill has!"

Xu Qi'an took a deep breath, his heart filled with excitement.

Foundation Establishment, the second hurdle on the path of cultivation, and also the step towards becoming a strong expert!

As long as Xu Qi'an stepped into Foundation Establishment, he would have a place in this Yue Country; not to mention establishing a sect, he would have the strength to establish a clan.

Xu Qi'an sat cross-legged, adjusting his state to its Peak.

A quarter of an hour later, Xu Qi'an opened his eyes.

"It's time."

Xu Qi'an took a deep breath and placed a nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill into his mouth.

The pill melted upon entering his mouth, transforming into a vast surge of spiritual energy that instantly flooded into his limbs and Meridians.

Xu Qi'an closed his eyes and began circulating his Cultivation Technique.

His spiritual sense introspected, clearly feeling the spiritual energy surging like a tide within his body, impacting the Bottleneck of Foundation Establishment.

With each impact, his Meridians faintly ached, but he gritted his teeth and did not retreat.

"Boom!"

After an unknown amount of time, a low rumble came from within Xu Qi'an's body.

In his Dantian, the originally thin spiritual energy gradually condensed, forming a spiritual sea.

In the center of the spiritual sea, a crystal-clear Foundation Establishment Dao base slowly formed, emitting a dazzling light.

"Foundation Establishment, successful!"

Xu Qi'an suddenly opened his eyes, a hint of wild joy flashing within them.

He felt the surging spiritual energy within his body, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.

Becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator was finally no longer an unattainable dream!

"I didn't expect that just one nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill allowed someone with a Low Grade wood spirit root like myself to successfully establish my foundation!"

"Clang, clang, clang!"

The moment Xu Qi'an broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, he discovered that the Omnipotent Treasure Basin within his Sea of Consciousness showed an unusual movement!

The spiritual pattern on the basin's body changed from the original one pattern to two patterns!

"Has this Omnipotent Treasure Basin evolved?!"

Xu Qi'an was secretly delighted and quickly consolidated his cultivation.

The spiritual energy around was thin and could not support the vast spiritual energy required for Xu Qi'an's Foundation Establishment Realm.

Without a word, Xu Qi'an took out another nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill and swallowed it.

If others saw Xu Qi'an's extravagant behavior, they would probably dig up the graves of his ancestors for eighteen generations.

One must know, this was a nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill!

Foundation Establishment Pills of this grade could not be refined even by Alchemy masters; it depended solely on luck.

Yet, Xu Qi'an used this Foundation Establishment Pill to supply spiritual energy.

The pill transformed into vast spiritual energy, surging into his thin spiritual sea, causing his spiritual sea to continuously grow stronger.

After spending a day and a night, Xu Qi'an finally stabilized his Realm at the early Foundation Establishment Stage.

More precisely, it was the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

There are a total of nine major Realms in cultivation, and each major Realm can be divided into four minor Realms: early, middle, late, and Peak.

But many Cultivators, in order to precisely measure their cultivation Realm and increase their motivation, would further subdivide each major Realm into ten layers.

Layers one to three are Early Stage, four to six are Middle Stage, seven to nine are Late Stage, and layer ten is the Peak.

After successfully establishing his foundation, Xu Qi'an was not in a hurry. He found that high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills were still effective for his cultivation in the early Foundation Establishment Stage, so he seized every moment to improve his cultivation.

Two years passed like this.

During this year, Xu Qi'an had been taking Foundation Establishment Pills with seven or more patterns for his cultivation.

Foundation Establishment Pills with seven or more patterns were quite effective for cultivation in the early Foundation Establishment Stage, while those below six patterns had minimal effect.

With the Omnipotent Treasure Basin, he could obtain a large number of high-grade Foundation Establishment Pills every day.

Unknowingly, Xu Qi'an's cultivation had advanced to the third layer of Foundation Establishment.

With the help of Foundation Establishment Pills, Xu Qi'an's cultivation speed was incredibly fast. If others were to Cultivate to the third layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm with decent spirit root Aptitude, it would take at least about ten years just by breathing exercises.

But Xu Qi'an only took two years.

"Foundation Establishment Pills are indeed good things."

Xu Qi'an muttered softly to himself, playing with a Foundation Establishment Pill in his hand, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

In these two years, he ate Foundation Establishment Pills like candy, and his cultivation speed far surpassed ordinary people.

However, as his cultivation improved, the effect of the Foundation Establishment Pills gradually weakened.

By the end, even taking a nine-pattern Foundation Establishment Pill could no longer provide any spiritual energy support.

"It seems it's time to look for pills and pill recipes that can help break through to the fourth layer of Foundation Establishment."

Xu Qi'an stood up, calculating in his mind.

In addition, having reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, he must also plan for items suitable for a Foundation Establishment expert.

For example, Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifacts. Only with Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifacts could he exert his proper strength in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Although he was currently at the third layer of Foundation Establishment cultivation, if he encountered a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the first layer who possessed a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Artifact, he would likely find it difficult to win.

Xu Qi'an pondered for a moment, then opened his map and glanced at the nearest market, which was Lingmiao Market.

Then, Xu Qi'an transformed into a handsome young scholar and headed there.

Lingmiao Market is one of the three major markets in Yue Country, focusing on water-attribute Cultivation Techniques and water-attribute Spirit Medicine.

There is a large lake nearby, rich in spiritual energy, hence the name.

Xu Qi'an wore a green robe, his face stern, walking on the streets of the market, not revealing his cultivation.

But to others, Xu Qi'an's cultivation felt like a vast ocean, profound and unfathomable!

Xu Qi'an did not hesitate and came to the Pill Spirit Pavilion in Lingmiao Market.

As soon as he entered, an old man came forward to greet him.

"Fellow Daoist, what do you need?" The greeter asked enthusiastically, a professional smile on his face.

As Chen Yanzhi spoke, he carefully probed Xu Qi'an's cultivation, but detected nothing, causing his heart to suddenly tremble.

"This... Could this person be a Foundation Establishment cultivator? I've only felt this kind of sensation when facing the market owner."

Xu Qi'an nodded and said calmly, "Does your shop have any pill recipes that can promote the improvement of cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Realm?"

"He really is a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

Chen Yanzhi suppressed the shock in his heart and smiled warmly, "Senior is joking. Such pill recipes are rare even in our Pill Spirit Pavilion."

"However... Senior, are you a Foundation Establishment cultivator?!" Chen Yanzhi paused for a second and asked tentatively.

Xu Qi'an naturally didn't intend to hide it. He also knew that pill recipes that could promote the improvement of cultivation in the Foundation Establishment Realm would naturally not be sold in a shop.

Only by revealing his Foundation Establishment cultivation could he attract the attention of this market owner.

He smiled slightly, noncommittally.

Chen Yanzhi instantly showed a respectful expression, bowed, and said, "Senior, please wait a moment, I will go invite the market owner!"

Xu Qi'an nodded.

Just as Chen Yanzhi was about to leave, a clear, cold female voice came from behind him: "No need, Elder Chen."

Xu Qi'an looked towards the sound.

He saw a woman wearing a light blue long dress slowly walking over.

She had fair skin and a beautiful face, her eyebrows and eyes like a painting. She exuded faint spiritual energy fluctuations, clearly possessing cultivation at the middle Foundation Establishment Stage.

"I am Water Lingmiao, the owner of Lingmiao Market."

The woman smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of friendliness: "I heard Fellow Daoist is looking for pill recipes for the Foundation Establishment level, is this true?"

Xu Qi'an's heart tightened, but his expression remained calm: "Precisely. May I ask if Market Owner Shui has any guidance?"

Water Lingmiao smiled, her gaze sweeping over Xu Qi'an, as if trying to see through his disguise: "If Fellow Daoist is interested, why not come inside with me for a chat? Perhaps we can reach some cooperation."

Xu Qi'an pondered for a moment, and finally nodded: "It would be impolite to refuse."

The two then came to a delicate pavilion.

Water Lingmiao personally poured Xu Qi'an a cup of spiritual tea and smiled, "I observe that Fellow Daoist has an extraordinary bearing, you must not be an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"If Fellow Daoist is willing to do me a favor, I can present the pill recipe to you with both hands."

Xu Qi'an picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and said calmly, "May I ask what kind of favor Market Owner Shui needs me to do?"

A hint of slyness flashed in Water Lingmiao's eyes, and she whispered, "I need Fellow Daoist to retrieve a Spirit Medicine with me."

"This item is located within a Mystic Realm. If Fellow Daoist is willing to help, I will certainly not mistreat you!"