45: Chapter 45: Initial Formation of Magical Power, Dramatic Changes in Space, Planning the Path Forward

With Foundation Establishment complete, Ye Qing sat quietly at the core of the "Five Elements Void Prohibition Formation," carefully experiencing the earth-shaking changes within his body.

Mana—this was a power entirely different from the spiritual energy of the Qi Refining Stage.

It was more refined, more condensed, like mercury and syrup; heavy and dense. As it circulated, it naturally generated wind and thunder, with stars faintly visible within. With a mere thought, mana could be directed as he pleased—released to protect his body, internalized to empower Divine Abilities, and manipulated with ease. His efficiency in sensing and absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi had increased more than tenfold.

If the spiritual energy of the Qi Refining Stage was a babbling brook, then the mana of the Foundation Establishment Stage was a rushing river, possessing the power to swallow and exhale winds and clouds.

Ye Qing attempted to circulate his Cultivation Technique. His Dao Foundation was stable, and his mana surged; the speed and efficiency of his circulation cycle far exceeded the past. The circulation route of the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Technique was more complex and profound, but with his current Comprehension Ability and control, understanding, mastering, and executing it all came naturally.

He slowly raised his right hand, his mind slightly moved.

A point of pale golden mana quietly condensed at his fingertip, immediately transforming into a "golden needle" only the size of a soybean, yet condensed to the extreme, emitting a sharp aura that caused one's heart to palpitate.

"Go."

The golden needle shot out silently, sinking into a piece of hard mountain rock several feet thick in front of him.

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a faint "hiss."

The mountain rock was pierced through, leaving a tiny, incredibly smooth, transparent hole. The edges of the hole were neat, without a single crack spreading out.

"With mana condensed to this point, its power and control are incomparable to the Qi Refining Stage. Using this to cast 'Pseudo-Fireball Technique', 'Wind Spirit Wings', and other Spells, the power will surely skyrocket, and the consumption will be greatly reduced."

Ye Qing nodded in satisfaction. The strength of the Foundation Establishment Stage was a qualitative change in every aspect.

He looked inward at his Dantian. The inch-wide Chaos Dao Foundation floated quietly, emitting five-colored brilliance. Wind and thunder patterns appeared and vanished, stars dotted the surface, and the essence of the Void Realm flowed, deep and unfathomable. Wisps of pure mana were continuously produced from the Dao Foundation, merging into his Meridians and circulating throughout his entire body.

Next, he sank his consciousness into his internal space.

Boom!

Upon entering, Ye Qing was shocked by the scene before him.

The space had undergone an unprecedented, drastic change!

The space, originally eighty-five zhang in radius, had now expanded to nearly one hundred and fifty zhang! The gray mist at the edges churned, thick and solid, like a true world barrier, slowly expanding outward. Although the speed had slowed, it was still continuing.

The black soil in the center had surged to over forty zhang square! The soil no longer had a jade-like luster, but instead presented a warm, chaotic color that seemed capable of nurturing all things. Spiritual Qi was dense, almost turning into tangible spiritual mist, gathering in low-lying areas of the ground into several small pools of spiritual liquid, shimmering and brimming with intense Spiritual Qi.

The moonlight jade tree seemed to have received feedback from Ye Qing's Foundation Establishment; silver radiance shot into the sky, the tree trunk grew another three feet, and its branches and leaves became even more lush. The three moon essence fruit that had been gestating for a long time now had their brilliance circulating to the extreme, emitting an alluring fragrance and immense vitality, as if they could fully ripen and fall at any moment.

The "void wind seed" floated beside the moonlight jade tree, its surface spiral rotating ceaselessly, the wind and spatial fluctuations it emitted in greater harmony with the space. Beside it, two new, rice-grain-sized, pale green "Wind Spirit Seed" phantoms had quietly condensed. Although faint, they contained the pure true meaning of wind.

At the edge of the space, the "Void Turbulence Zone" had expanded to ten zhang in radius! The turbulence was more distinct and stable, and occasionally, tiny silver spatial cracks flashed and vanished, emitting a heart-palpitating tearing sensation. Deep within the turbulence zone, chaotic air currents surged faintly, as if gestating even more terrifying rules.

What surprised Ye Qing even more was that in the space near the center, about three zhang above the black soil in the "air," there was a small patch—about three zhang square, thin as a cicada's wing, slowly circulating with chaotic air currents and starlight points—a strange "Floating Landmass"!

This landmass was not solid soil, but rather seemed to be formed from highly condensed chaotic Spiritual Qi, starlight power, and spatial Origin mixed and solidified, like a miniature, nascent "floating island"!

On the floating island, there was nothing at the moment, but the Dao rhyme and Spiritual Qi concentration it emitted far exceeded the black soil below. It was simply a natural Immortal Cave, herb field, and even an excellent place for cultivating higher-level Spirit Medicine in the future!

"Space... has this undergone a fundamental leap following my Foundation Establishment? The area expanded nearly twofold, the soil underwent a qualitative change, spiritual liquid pools were born, the Void Turbulence Zone stabilized and expanded, the moonlight jade tree grew, Wind Spirit Seeds were gestated, and even... a Floating Landmass appeared!"

Ye Qing's heart and mind surged. This change far exceeded his expectations. It seemed that the space's growth was not a simple accumulation of area, but rather would undergo phased qualitative changes and function unlocks along with his own Realm Breakthroughs.

The internal space now already possessed the rudimentary form of a "Grotto-Heaven"! The Spiritual Qi concentration far exceeded the outside world, the rules were more complete, and it possessed the potential to Cultivate high-level Spirit Medicine and bear special creations.

He attempted to probe that Floating Landmass with a wisp of Divine Sense.

His Divine Sense merged smoothly, and he could clearly perceive the chaotic and starlight power circulating within it; it was gentle yet vast, having indescribable benefits for nourishing the Divine Soul and comprehending the Dao. He even moved his mind slightly, attempting to transplant a moonlight flower—the one with the best growth, approaching twenty years of quality—from the black soil below onto it.

The moonlight flower, roots and soil attached, successfully "appeared" on the Floating Landmass. Its silver radiance instantly flared, as if extremely joyful; its leaves became more crystalline at a speed visible to the naked eye, and its efficiency in absorbing Spiritual Qi also increased by a notch.

"The Floating Landmass is indeed a top-tier spiritual field! In the future, I can place the most precious Spirit Medicine or items requiring special environments upon it."

Ye Qing exited the space, his heart filled with joy and anticipation. With Foundation Establishment successful, not only had his own strength skyrocketed, but his greatest reliance, the internal space, had also taken a leap forward. The road of Cultivation ahead was now much wider.

He began to plan the next step.

His Cultivation Base needed consolidation; the Foundation Establishment Early Stage Realm needed to be thoroughly stabilized. He also needed to try cultivating one or two Spells usable at the Foundation Establishment Stage, or optimize his existing Spells. The space's new functions needed to be explored and familiarized, especially the utilization of the Floating Landmass and the harvesting timing of the moon essence fruit.

"The Five Elements Void Prohibition Formation" was sufficient for now, but if he were to head to more dangerous areas in the future, it might need further reinforcement. The previously obtained fragment of the "Lesser Five Elements Prohibition Formation," as well as the Jade Slip related to the ancient teleportation array, all required deeper study.

Regarding resources, the spirit plants in the space could provide a stable output, but the resources required for Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation were much greater, so he needed to open up new stable sources. Perhaps he could try using the high-quality Spirit Medicine produced by the space to refine higher-level Medicinal Pills? Or, refine his Artifact Refining and talisman making skills to exchange for resources?

"It is time to leave the Black Water Swamp."

Ye Qing looked outside the Formation. Although this place was good, it was ultimately a secluded corner. After Foundation Establishment, his horizons should broaden. The Cangyun Mountain Range, the Southern Wilderness, and even the broader Human-Demon battlefield held more opportunities, and would allow him to increase his strength faster and find clues regarding the ancient teleportation array and the Xingluo Sect.

"However, before leaving, I need to tidy up the matters at hand. The mature spirit plants in the space need to be harvested and processed. As for Blackwater Market, the connection with Shopkeeper Qian might still be worth keeping, but I need to be more cautious. Additionally, I need to inquire about the external situation, especially the latest developments on the Human-Demon border."

He set his plan, not rushing for the moment.

First, consolidate his Cultivation Base, adapt to his power, handle trivial matters, collect information, and then depart calmly.

Steady development had become an instinct.

Even though Foundation Establishment was complete and he possessed power that surpassed the vast majority of Loose Cultivators, he still maintained caution and rationality.

The road to immortality is long; do not be impatient.

Ye Qing closed his eyes and began to circulate the Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation Technique, consolidating his newly formed Dao Foundation and experiencing his brand-new mana.

Within his body, the one-hundred-and-fifty-zhang Grotto-Heaven had moonlight and starlight flowing, chaotic air currents surging, and infinite vitality.

The legend of the Foundation Establishment Cultivator Ye Qing, from this point on, truly began.