46: planning

Inside the Spiritual Spring Grotto, warm, milky-white spiritual mist lingered, and in the center of the lotus platform, the seven-colored Spiritual Spring Eye slowly rotated, silently spreading pure vitality and Spiritual Qi throughout the entire space.

Lin Feng's gaze did not immediately turn to the core of this blessed land, but instead, with a hint of solemnity, landed on the jade skeleton sitting cross-legged in the corner.

Formation Madman Hermit.

This Senior from a thousand years ago, who explored the Dao of Formations with his life's work, finally passed away here. His remains were a testament to Lin Feng's acquisition of the supreme Formation Legacy, and also his "neighbor" on Xuanlei Island.

"Senior, this place will be the Foundation of my Daoist temple. Your eternal rest here, accompanied by this grand Formation, must also be your wish."

Lin Feng murmured softly, his tone filled with respect.

He no longer merely bowed as he had before.

He stepped forward, carefully wrapping the Formation Madman Hermit's skeleton, along with a few dull Ores scattered in front of him, in a clean, blue cloud-patterned cloth.

Afterward, he found a dry, sheltered, and relatively calm Spiritual Qi corner outside the grotto, and using his finger as a sword, he carved out a square tomb in the solid rock wall.

He solemnly placed the wrapped skeleton inside, and then placed the few Ores that had accompanied the Formation Madman Hermit for a thousand years beside it as burial offerings.

Finally, he found an uncarved bluestone and, with his finger strength, inscribed upon it:

Tomb of Formation Madman Hermit

—Erected respectfully by Lin Feng, a humble Junior.

There was no lengthy epitaph, only the most concise commemoration.

Lin Feng bowed deeply to the bluestone tablet: "Senior's Legacy is a kindness akin to rebirth. Junior Lin Feng, having received this gift today, will surely not fail Senior's painstaking efforts. I will exhaust my abilities to glimpse the wonders of the Dao of Formations and embark on the path to eternal life. Rest in peace."

...

Lin Feng began to set up his Cultivation Immortal Cave.

He first cleared a dry and flat area. Then he took out the "Cloud Mist Azure Jade" and "Ink Star Jade" blanks he had purchased at the Jinshi Workshop.

Spiritual power gathered at his fingertips, like the most precise carving knife, sketching basic Spirit Gathering and defensive Talisman runes from "Basic Formation Explanation" and the Formation Madman Hermit Jade Slip onto the Cloud Mist Azure Jade; on the harder Ink Star Jade, he carved the core protective and isolation Formation base runes.

Although his technique was still somewhat unpracticed, with his powerful spiritual sense and the insights from the Formation Madman Hermit Legacy, he managed to carve them quite well.

He buried the carved Cloud Mist Azure Jade Formation bases according to specific Bagua directions at key leyline nodes in the grotto entrance passage and outer areas.

As Spiritual power was injected into the Formation Plate and activated, a thin but sufficient water mist barrier, capable of distorting light and confusing sensory perception, silently rose, enveloping the entire grotto entrance and part of the passage, providing both basic concealment and slight defense—this was the first gateway to the Immortal Cave.

He buried the carved Cloud Mist Azure Jade Formation bases at key nodes in the grotto entrance and passage according to specific directions, which, when activated, formed a thin water mist barrier, providing both concealment and slight defense.

The core Ink Star Jade Formation base, however, he placed around the Spiritual Spring pool, creating a faint resonance with the lotus platform. When activated, it formed a smaller but more robust Spiritual power shield, protecting the Spiritual Spring Eye and the lotus platform area beneath it. This would be his core area for future closed-door meditation and breaking through Bottlenecks.

With the Immortal Cave initially complete, Lin Feng sat cross-legged beside the lotus platform, surrounded by the Ink Star Jade Formation bases, and began to assess himself and plan his future Dao path.

Qi Refinement Stage seventh layer Peak, Body Refining seventh layer Peak, far surpassing his peers, and an exceptionally keen spiritual sense.

The items in his Storage Pouch flashed past under his spiritual sense one by one:

Priceless Foundation Establishment Yao Beast Core (Mystic Ice Heavy Armor Turtle), two Foundation Establishment Stage Benlei Beast hides, a large quantity of Yao Beast Materials, five Saint Grade longevity and healing Vermillion Fruits, jade emperor nectar, jade emperor honey, newly purchased Talisman Materials, star pattern iron, Formation Master Legacy Jade Slip, Alchemy Legacy Jade Slip, crimson bronze cauldron, incomplete Five Elements Sword Rain Formation, Moon Shuttle, life-saving Azure Astral Sword Talisman and Adamantine Talisman, Overturning Sea Sword Art (incomplete) Jade Slip, Solid Foundation Method Jade Slip, Rock Body Tempering Art Jade Slip...

"Resources are no longer lacking; the key is how to utilize them and transform them into tangible Cultivation and combat power!" Lin Feng's eyes were sharp.

His gaze finally settled on two Jade Slips—"Overturning Sea Sword Art" (incomplete) and "Solid Foundation Method."

He picked up the "Overturning Sea Sword Art" Jade Slip and immersed his spiritual sense within it.

The Cultivation Technique was profound and difficult; the Qi Refinement Stage portion contained exquisite Sword Qi attack and defense techniques, the Foundation Establishment Stage allowed for the cultivation of the immensely powerful "Overturning Sea Sword Formation," and the Purple Mansion Realm even had the method for refining the combined Magic Treasure "Overturning Sea Sword"! Lin Feng's heart surged with excitement.

However, the warning, "Cultivating to the profound depths will automatically draw a large amount of essence blood and Qi from the Cultivator! It cannot be practiced by those whose Physical Body Foundation is not robust or who do not Dual Cultivate both Magic and Body!" was particularly glaring.

"A flaw?" Lin Feng's lips, however, curved into a confident smile.

"Perhaps it's a death warrant for others, but for me, Lin Feng, not necessarily! I have the formidable Physical Body of a Body Refining seventh layer Peak, with a solid Foundation! Furthermore, I have a continuous supply of Saint Grade items like jade emperor nectar and Vermillion Fruits to replenish Qi and blood and nourish the Physical Body! This flaw can be perfectly compensated for by them! I can even use this to further temper my Qi and blood, which will in turn benefit my Body Refining!"

Putting down the Overturning Sea Sword Art, he picked up the Solid Foundation Method Jade Slip.

The core of this method lies in repeatedly tempering and compressing Spiritual power, making it as pure and refined as mercury, greatly solidifying the Foundation. This not only enhances current combat power but also significantly increases the success rate of Foundation Establishment.

A bold, even crazy, idea formed in Lin Feng's mind—disperse Cultivation for Solid Foundation, then re-Cultivate for sublimation!

Since re-Cultivating "Overturning Sea Sword Art" would inevitably require dispersing his current Spiritual power, why not take this opportunity to operate the "Solid Foundation Method," compressing his existing Spiritual power to its extreme, transforming it into the purest "Primal Foundation"?

Then, instead of using this "Primal Foundation" to directly increase his Cultivation, he would disperse it throughout his entire body, nourishing and strengthening his Physical Body, while simultaneously paving a purer and more solid starting point for re-Cultivating "Overturning Sea Sword Art"!

Although he would temporarily drop in Realm and endure immense pain, with a strong Body Refining Foundation as a base, and with the Spiritual Spring Eye, jade emperor nectar, and Vermillion Fruits—these Saint Grade items for replenishing Qi and blood and repairing injuries—his recovery would surely be extremely fast! Moreover, after this ordeal, his Physical Body would be stronger, and the Spiritual power Foundation of the newly Cultivated "Overturning Sea Sword Art" would be unprecedentedly solid! The risk was great, but the reward was even greater!

"My Body Refining Realm has reached the seventh layer Peak. With the Spiritual Qi here and the jade emperor nectar, breaking through to the eighth layer is just around the corner. As for Spiritual power, I will first use the 'Solid Foundation Method' for extreme compression, disperse my Cultivation to re-Cultivate 'Overturning Sea Sword Art,' and then use Body Refining to drive Qi Refining. Coupled with the feedback from Gather Beast and Demon Slayer, I will surely recover to a higher level faster!"

"The Dao is long and arduous, but if one walks, one will arrive!" Lin Feng felt the warm power emanating from the lotus platform beneath him, and a surge of ambition rose in his heart.

Since his Dao path was clear, Lin Feng no longer hesitated.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes...