158: Impact on the late stage of foundation building

The middle-aged Cultivator glanced at him a few times. Seeing that Lin Feng was indeed only at the Foundation Establishment Mid-stage, and that apart from some lingering traces of battle and a somewhat eye-catching flying Magical Artifact, there was nothing else worthy of attention, he nodded slightly and asked no more.

The two seemed to exchange a brief message via sound transmission, then ignored Lin Feng. With a flicker of their figures, they transformed into beams of Escaping Light and headed deep into the Badou Mountain Range.

Not until their Escaping Light vanished on the horizon did Lin Feng slowly straighten his body and gently exhale a breath of turbid air. As his tense nerves relaxed, he realized his palms were covered in sweat.

Unlike the exhilaration of slaying a powerful enemy just moments ago, an indescribable sense of stifling frustration welled up in his heart. In front of true powerhouses, his level of cultivation could only remain cautious.

He took a deep look in the direction they had left, transforming this sense of suppression into a deeper determination. He must break through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage as soon as possible! Without lingering further, he urged his Flying Sword and sped off in the direction of the Sect.

Lin Feng returned to his Immortal Cave on Baoyue Peak. After activating all the Restrictions, he sat quietly for three days, carefully sorting through the insights gained from the battle in the Badou Mountain Range. The life-and-death struggle against the two Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators had given him a deeper understanding of his control over his own power.

On the morning of the fourth day, after adjusting his state to the Peak, he took out an ice fire pill. The surface of the Medicinal Pill shimmered with radiant colors, with faint signs of ice and flames intertwining. He took a deep breath and swallowed the Medicinal Pill.

Once the Medicinal Pill entered his abdomen, a gentle, warm current initially spread, nourishing his Meridians. But soon, the true power of the medicine erupted.

Half of his body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar; the chill was bone-piercing, and his Meridians felt as if they were about to freeze. The other half, however, felt as if it were placed in a furnace; it was intolerably scorching, and his blood and Qi boiled.

The extreme pain and sensation of the dual heavens of ice and fire instantly swept through his entire body. Even with Lin Feng's firm will, he could not help but let out a muffled groan, the veins on his forehead bulging.

Inside the Immortal Cave, the Spiritual Qi around Lin Feng fluctuated violently. At times, cold air permeated, condensing into frost; at other times, heat waves rolled, distorting the air. His face turned alternately blue and red, his body trembled slightly, and sweat beads were evaporated or frozen the moment they seeped out.

However, seven days passed, and although his spiritual power had improved, the barrier of the Late Foundation Establishment Stage remained solid. Lin Feng realized that the power of a single ice fire pill was not enough to break through the barrier.

He took a moment to regulate his breath, a flash of determination in his eyes, and took out a second ice fire pill. This move was extremely risky; if the ice and fire powers of the two Medicinal Pills overlapped, any slight carelessness could lead to an imbalance of Yin and Yang, resulting in severe damage to his Meridians. But the Opportunity for a Breakthrough had arrived, and he had no other choice.

After swallowing the second Medicinal Pill, the massive medicinal power erupted like a mountain flood. The intense pain far exceeded the first time, almost tearing his Divine Sense apart.

He kept his Sea of Consciousness clear and fully circulated the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art. The unique inclusive and transformative nature of this Cultivation Technique was crucial at this moment.

He mobilized all of his original multi-attribute spiritual powers—Fire, Lightning, Ice, Wood, and others—to form an inclusive "furnace," actively guiding and containing the violent power of the ice fire pill.

Next, he let the extreme cold power refine the Impurities in his spiritual power, let the extreme heat power forge the resilience of his spiritual power, and urged his own multi-attribute spiritual powers to begin a deeper fusion under this extreme pressure.

This process was extremely dangerous. His Meridians constantly felt tearing pain, and his Divine Sense became dazed under the alternating shocks of extreme cold and extreme heat. He even experienced Heart Demon hallucinations; the tragic scenes of past battles, the fear of Core Formation Cultivators, and worries about failing the Breakthrough all came rushing in.

But his Dao Heart was firm. After an unknown amount of time, the violent energy within finally gradually calmed down and transformed into a pure and harmonious, massive torrent.

"Now!"

Lin Feng shouted inwardly, guiding this newborn torrent to rush toward that solid barrier.

"Boom!"

As if the galaxy were reversing, the barrier shattered at the sound.

Late Foundation Establishment Stage, achieved!

In the instant of the Breakthrough, his Divine Sense suddenly opened up, and his spiritual power surged like a river. The previous stagnation in the circulation of his spiritual power vanished, and his control over his power reached a new height. The aura around him suddenly climbed, then slowly restrained itself, finally returning to a quiet and profound state.

Lin Feng continued to Cultivate in seclusion for several months to thoroughly consolidate his Realm and familiarize himself with his newly gained power. Only when he felt his cultivation was smooth and unimpeded did he slowly open his eyes, his gaze shining with a brilliant light. This Breakthrough was a brush with death, but fortunately, it was successful.

The news of Lin Feng breaking through to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage quickly spread among the Inner Sect Disciples. On this day, following the Sect's etiquette, he went to Yunmiao Peak to pay respects to his Revered Master, Lu Yuchan.

Inside the Cloud Vast Pavilion, Lu Yuchan wore white clothes, unblemished by a speck of dust. When Lin Feng walked outside the pavilion and bowed respectfully, her fingers, which were holding a teacup, paused slightly, and then she slowly raised her eyelids.

She did not speak immediately; her gaze, like a gentle stream of water, brushed over Lin Feng's body, as if sensing his spiritual power fluctuations. After a moment of silence, there was only the faint crackling sound of sandalwood incense burning nearby.

"Late Foundation Establishment Stage..." She finally spoke, her voice as peaceful as ever, yet with a hint of imperceptible fluctuation more than usual. "Your progress has truly far exceeded this Revered Master's expectations."

She gestured for Lin Feng to sit on the meditation cushion nearby and continued: "But you must know, the path of Cultivation is like sailing against the current; the further you go, the more difficult it becomes. The gap from the Late Foundation Establishment Stage to Core Formation seems to be separated by only a thin layer of window paper, but in reality, it is like a chasm; it cannot be crossed without great perseverance and great Opportunity."

She looked toward the distant Void Realm. "How many brilliant talents have exhausted a century of heart's blood, yet in the end, failed to condense that single Origin of the Golden Core, forced to watch helplessly as their Lifespan ran out, turning into a handful of yellow earth, leaving only regrets."

Then, she analyzed the difficulties of Core Formation for Lin Feng in detail. Not only does it require the main Cultivation Technique to be flawless and round, the Divine Sense to be as refined as steel, but the spiritual power must also be purified to the Peak.

And what is most elusive is that sliver of Opportunity concerning the clarity of the Dao Heart and the resonance with Heaven and Earth. This Opportunity is ethereal and untraceable; it may originate from an Epiphany while walking on the edge of life and death, or it may be tied to a unique spiritual item of Heaven and Earth. It cannot be forced; only when the Opportunity arrives can it be accomplished naturally.

Lin Feng lowered his head and listened quietly, engraving every word of his Revered Master's admonitions into his heart. He silently smoothed out the slight ripples that had risen due to his rapid Breakthrough. The previously hidden trace of impetuousness dissipated without a trace, turning into a calm, water-like state of mind.

He knew deeply that the road must be walked one step at a time. The matter of Core Formation could not be rushed; he could only solidify his Foundation and wait quietly for the Opportunity.

...

In the afternoon at Liuyun Market, Lin Feng sat in the simple quiet room of an inn, holding a dull-colored Jade Slip between his fingertips. This was a communication talisman he had intercepted the day before. The Restriction on it was quite strange, and it took him quite a bit of effort to unlock it.

The information inside the Jade Slip was simple, but it made his heart skip a beat: Three thousand li to the northwest, deep in the Foul Abyss Marsh, the houtu blood marrow is about to mature. The signature was a mark of Jueqing Valley.

houtu blood marrow... This earth-type supreme treasure could just be used to Cultivate the earth-attribute Sword Essence of the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art.

A sharp light flashed in Lin Feng's eyes, but he immediately frowned.

The Cultivation Technique of Jueqing Valley Cultivators is strange and can stir up the seven emotions and six desires, making them extremely troublesome.

The Foul Abyss Marsh has an even harsher environment, filled with poisonous miasma and lurking Vicious Beasts.

Going alone is extremely dangerous.

He pondered for a moment and decided to take the risk. Just as he was preparing to leave Liuyun Market quietly, the door was gently knocked.

Lin Feng scanned with his Divine Sense, paused slightly, and opened the door.

Standing outside the door was none other than Xiao Qinghan, dressed in a light yellow long dress.