25: You can't imagine my power!

The moment the invisible barrier within Li Dong's body shattered, an aura far surpassing any previous moment erupted from him without warning!

It was no longer the surging Qi and blood of the Body Tempering Realm, but a more condensed, heavier, and qualitatively different sense of power! Foundation Establishment! This was the unique aura of a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator!

The power of this aura was so immense, it was as if a giant Dragon that had slept for a thousand years had suddenly opened its eyes, and a vast wave of Qi, centered on Li Dong, swept aggressively in all directions!

The entire Land of Baptism, the air itself, stagnated!

Those Geniuses in the Body Tempering Realm who were still struggling to hold on were the first to bear the brunt! They only felt an irresistible immense force pressing down on their hearts, making it difficult to breathe. Many were even shaken by this sudden pressure, their Qi and blood surging, almost making them kneel on the spot!

What... what is going on?!

Everyone was stunned, their minds blank.

And at the same time this aura erupted, the chaotic energy torrent that Li Dong had forcibly intercepted and condensed in reverse had already transformed into a dim stream of light, carrying a sharp, ear-piercing sound of tearing air, and shot straight towards Zhao Zhen on the high platform!

Fast! Too fast!

The speed, the angle, were so tricky it made one's scalp tingle!

The sinister smile on Zhao Zhen's face hadn't completely faded before he was startled to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering by this sudden turn of events! He never imagined that his sure-kill move, which he was certain would succeed, not only failed to kill Li Dong but was instead sent back by the opponent in such a bizarre manner!

"Bastard!"

Zhao Zhen was both shocked and enraged. It was impossible to completely dodge, so in his haste, he could only desperately circulate the Spiritual Qi within his body, condensing a thick Spiritual Qi shield in front of him! He was, after all, a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and this shield's defensive power was not weak!

However—

Pfft!

A soft sound, like cloth being torn.

That dim stream of energy light collided with Zhao Zhen's shield with almost no pause! Zhao Zhen's proud Spiritual Qi shield, in front of this hybrid of the altar's violent energy and Li Dong's newfound Foundation Establishment power, was as fragile as a sheet of window paper, shattering with a crisp sound!

Immediately after, the remaining energy solidly slammed into Zhao Zhen's chest!

"Pfft—!"

Zhao Zhen felt as if his chest had been violently struck by an invisible sledgehammer. A sweetness rose in his throat, and a mouthful of rebellious blood could no longer be held back, gushing out! He staggered back several steps, his face instantly turning as pale as paper, and the Spiritual Qi circulation within his body became chaotic and sluggish for a moment, clearly having suffered no minor backlash and internal injuries!

He tried to steal a chicken but lost the rice!

His meticulously planned fatal blow ended up injuring himself! This was simply a great humiliation!

Zhao Zhen was furious and resentful, looking in Li Dong's direction, his malice almost solidifying.

But what shocked him, and everyone else, even more, was yet to come!

Buzz— Buzz— Buzz—!

The entire Baptism Altar, this ancient and mysterious stone platform, suddenly vibrated violently after Li Dong successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment and counterattacked Zhao Zhen!

Ancient runes engraved on the surface of the altar, at this moment, actually lit up on their own, emitting dazzling light!

Immediately after, a pillar of light, more brilliant, purer, and more powerful than any previous energy infusion, suddenly descended from the energy vortex in the sky, piercing through layers of obstacles, and precisely landed on Li Dong!

But this pillar of light was not a violent energy infusion; it was more like a gentle Baptism, a recognition, a... commendation?

The pillar of light enveloped Li Dong, radiating a gentle and sacred aura, covering his entire being, as if heaven and earth were celebrating his Breakthrough!

This... what is this again?!

How could the altar have such a reaction?!

Everyone was dumbfounded!

Not to mention the young Geniuses still struggling in the Land of Baptism, even the presiding elder and Zhang Wu on the high platform showed expressions of disbelief.

How many sessions of the Demon Suppression Division's Baptism had been held? They had never heard of, nor seen, anyone who could directly Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm during the Baptism process! Let alone trigger such a strong, almost "celebratory" anomaly from the altar itself!

What kind of monster is this kid after all?!

Those top Geniuses, like Zhou Xian and others, who had originally thought highly of themselves, believing that even if Li Dong could kill a Foundation Establishment Stage Demon Beast, it was just good Luck, now had all the arrogance wiped from their faces.

They could clearly feel the newly born yet already stable and powerful Foundation Establishment pressure emanating from Li Dong, and then looking at themselves still struggling in the Body Tempering Realm, desperately absorbing the energy that seemed "not enough" for Li Dong, an emotion called "despair" quietly arose.

Can the gap between people really be this great? How can they ever catch up? It's simply an insurmountable chasm!

And Li Dong, at the center of the light pillar, felt it most truly.

That gentle and pure energy, like the most nourishing nectar, continuously washed over his newly broken-through body and Meridians. The hidden injuries originally left by his forced Breakthrough and resisting the energy torrent were rapidly repaired and healed under the nourishment of this light pillar.

The nascent Foundation Establishment Spiritual Qi solidified and purified at an astonishing speed. His newly entered Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Realm also quickly stabilized, with a Foundation far more solid than that of ordinary newly broken-through Foundation Establishment Cultivators!

Even the Heavenly Pill Rifting Demon Seal and Black Scale Armor he mastered seemed to have undergone some kind of sublimation under the cleansing of this peculiar energy, operating more smoothly and harmoniously, and their power seemed to have subtly increased!

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Initial Stage!"

"Detected that the host, during the Breakthrough process, perfectly fused and absorbed the spirituality fragment, triggering the 'Spirituality Enlightenment' effect!"

"Mental perception range increased by 30%!"

"Energy affinity additionally increased by 15%!"

"Bone Root +10, Comprehension Ability +5, Luck +2!"

The System's prompt sounded in due course, confirming the fact of his Breakthrough and revealing the important role played by those spirituality fragments at the critical moment—not only providing energy but also bringing a mysterious "enlightenment," allowing his potential and perception to receive additional enhancement!

This wave... was a huge profit!

Li Dong slowly opened his eyes.

In those eyes, there was no longer the previous sharpness and forbearance, but rather a profoundness and composure, as if containing a sea of stars. After Foundation Establishment, his life level had undergone a leap, and his way of looking at the world had changed.

His gaze slowly swept across the entire scene, taking in the expressions of everyone present—the pain of the struggling Geniuses, the dejection of Zhou Xian and others, Zhang Wu's surprise and worry, the presiding elder's suspicion and uncertainty... Finally, his gaze fell on Zhao Zhen on the high platform, whose face was ashen and distorted, with traces of blood still on his lips.

Their gazes met in the air.

Li Dong's face showed no expression, only calmly looking at the other party, but beneath that calmness was a silent mockery and absolute confidence.

He did not speak, but Zhao Zhen seemed to hear the most piercing words: "Your methods are nothing more than this. And my power, you cannot imagine!"

Just then, the torrent of energy surrounding the Baptism Altar began to weaken and recede at a visible speed.

The energy vortex in the sky also gradually subsided, signaling that this thrilling and eventful Demon Suppression Baptism was finally coming to an end.

The special pillar of light bathing Li Dong also slowly dissipated.

He stood in place, although his clothes were tattered and stained with blood from the previous battle and energy impact, his posture was exceptionally tall and straight, like a long spear piercing the sky!

That powerful aura belonging to the Foundation Establishment Realm, though he deliberately restrained it somewhat, still made the surrounding, disheveled and almost exhausted Body Tempering Realm participants feel suffocated.

He gently stretched his muscles and bones, feeling the Spiritual Qi surging within his body, far more powerful than that of the Body Tempering Realm.

Li Dong lifted his foot and took a step forward.