152: Chapter 152 Foundation Establishment Success

At the peak of the Main Peak, clouds and mist swirled.

The Shelter Platform stood silently amidst the mist, the Spirit Stones on the nine jade pillars emitting a soft glow.

Around the stone platform, over a dozen people were already standing.

There were Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters of the Foundation Establishment Stage, Elders of the Golden Core Stage, and some Disciples at Qi Refining Level 9, all here to observe the ceremony.

Liu Qingchen was also there.

He saw Li Changsheng and nodded slightly.

Li Changsheng also nodded, took a deep breath, and stepped onto the stone platform.

In the center of the stone platform, he sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

A white-haired old man walked onto the stone platform and stood before him.

It was the same Guardian from when Mo Han underwent Foundation Establishment.

"Are you ready?"

The old man asked.

Li Changsheng opened his eyes and nodded.

The old man also nodded, took a few steps back, and waved his hand.

The nine jade pillars lit up simultaneously, and streams of spiritual energy gushed from the pillars, pouring into the stone platform.

The spiritual energy converged above the stone platform, forming a faint barrier of light that enveloped Li Changsheng.

The Shelter Array was activated.

Li Changsheng closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his Dantian.

Within his Dantian, the pale green spiritual energy was as ethereal as mist, slowly circulating.

This was spiritual energy of the Qi Refining Stage; although abundant, it was not solid enough.

Foundation Establishment was about compressing this mist into a liquid state.

He took a deep breath and, following the method recorded in True Lord Xuan Yun's insights, began to condense his Divine Soul power.

That invisible force surged from the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, slowly permeating his Dantian and enveloping the ethereal mist.

Compression.

The mist trembled slightly and began to slowly contract.

Pain followed.

It was an indescribable sensation, as if an invisible hand were tightly squeezing his Dantian. Every bit of spiritual energy compressed was accompanied by a tearing pain.

Li Changsheng gritted his teeth, not making a sound.

He knew this was only the beginning.

Time passed minute by minute.

One stick of incense, two sticks, three sticks.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

His brow was furrowed, and the muscles in his face twitched slightly. Yet his mind remained submerged in his Dantian, meticulously controlling the compression process.

The mist within his Dantian grew thicker and denser.

They began to condense, transforming from ethereal mist into a viscous liquid. One drop, two drops, three drops...

The liquid was pale green and crystal clear, containing spiritual energy several times more concentrated than the mist.

They slowly dripped to the bottom of the Dantian, gathering into a small puddle.

Foundation Establishment was nearing success.

Just then, an image suddenly surfaced in Li Changsheng's mind.

It was the scene of the Blood Moon Night in Qinghe Town, where countless townspeople died tragic deaths.

Those twisted faces, those shriveled corpses, and those desperate screams surged toward him like a tide.

Following that was Zhou Yuan's gaze before death, the instructions from True Lord Xuan Yun's fading phantom, the confrontation between True Lord Three Swords and Ancestor Xue Ming, and the Elderly Sect Master of Jinyang Sect's remark: "To serve as cannon fodder for your Qinglan Sword Sect."

The images became faster and more chaotic, assaulting his mind.

Heart Demon.

Li Changsheng was startled.

He remembered what Luo Qinghan had said.

"Foundation Establishment is not just a Breakthrough in cultivation, but also a test of one's state of mind."

"If the Dao Heart is not firm and there are lingering attachments, the Heart Demon will take advantage during the critical moment of compressing spiritual energy, and all efforts will be in vain."

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He thought of the Spirit Tea Tree.

That Spirit Tea Tree he had planted with his own hands swayed gently in the sunlight, its leaves rustling.

That was his root, the root he had brought out from Qinghe Town.

He remembered his Master's words.

"Cultivation is like planting a tree; only with deep roots can the leaves flourish."

His roots were already planted very deep.

Those images and voices gradually receded.

He opened his eyes, his gaze resolute.

Within his Dantian, the last wisp of mist condensed into liquid and merged into that puddle.

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted from within him, impacting the surrounding barrier of light!

The barrier flickered violently but steadily blocked the impact!

Foundation Establishment successful!

Below the platform, thunderous applause and cheers erupted.

Li Changsheng opened his eyes and stood up.

He looked down at his hands, feeling the surging power within him, and a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

He had established his Foundation.

He had finally reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Below the platform, Liu Qingchen looked at him and nodded slightly, a trace of relief in his eyes.

Li Changqing's eyes were red, Shi Tiezhu grinned broadly, and Li Xiaocao hopped around, her small face full of pride.

The white-haired old man walked onto the stone platform and patted his shoulder.

"Not bad."

"A solid Foundation and a firm Dao Heart. Your future prospects are limitless."

Li Changsheng bowed.

"Thank you, Senior."

The old man waved his hand and turned to leave.

Li Changsheng stepped off the stone platform and was surrounded by a crowd.

Some were congratulating him, some were seeking advice, and some were just curious.

He responded to each with a nod, but his gaze pierced through the crowd, looking into the distance.

That was the direction of Qinghe Town.

And also the direction of the upcoming battlefield.

He took a deep breath and clenched his fists.

Achieving Foundation Establishment was only the beginning.

Seven days after the successful Foundation Establishment, late at night.

Li Changsheng was regulating his breathing in the Tool Storehouse when he suddenly heard a rapid tolling of bells from outside.

The bells were dull and hurried, one after another, making one's heart tighten.

The Warning Bell.

He snapped his eyes open and pushed the door open.

In the sky, a golden Message Talisman streaked through the air, trailing a long tail of flame, falling straight toward the Council Hall on the Main Peak.

Immediately after, a second, then a third—a total of seven Message Talismans fell one after another into various parts of the Sect.

Something had happened.

Li Changsheng's heart tightened as he walked quickly toward the Martial Arts Field.

On the Martial Arts Field, over a hundred Disciples had already gathered.

Some were disheveled, clearly just startled awake from sleep; some looked panicked, looking around for news; others had solemn expressions, silently gripping their weapons.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know, the bells just suddenly started ringing."

"I saw many Message Talismans flying in from the north."

"The north? Isn't that the direction of the Jinyang Sect?"

Discussions rose and fell, mixed with tension and unease.

A moment later, a figure descended from the sky, landing on the high platform in the center of the Martial Arts Field.

It was Elder Qin of the Hall of Law Enforcement, at the Golden Core Middle Stage, his face grim.

He raised his hand to suppress the chatter, his voice low and powerful:

"Everyone, listen to me."

The Martial Arts Field fell silent instantly.

Elder Qin's gaze swept over the crowd as he spoke slowly:

"Half an hour ago, the Jinyang Sect was ambushed by the Blood Fiend Sect and the Demonic Cult Alliance."

"Their mountain gate is in peril, and casualties are heavy. Their plea for help has just arrived."

The entire field broke into an uproar.

"The Blood Fiend Sect is attacking?!"

"So soon?!"

"The Jinyang Sect is a major Sect, how could it be..."

Elder Qin raised his hand again, suppressing the noise.

"Now, all Disciples at or above the Foundation Establishment Stage, assemble at your respective halls immediately."

"Golden Core Stage Elders, gather at the Council Hall."

"In one stick of incense's time, the first wave of reinforcements will depart to aid the Jinyang Sect."

His gaze fell upon the Disciples in the crowd who had just reached Foundation Establishment, and he paused.

"You all will go as well."

Li Changsheng's heart sank abruptly.

He had only successfully established his Foundation seven days ago; he hadn't had time to consolidate his cultivation, adapt to the power of the Foundation Establishment Stage, or even think clearly about his next step.

Now, he was going to the battlefield?

In the crowd, someone whispered.

"We've just reached Foundation Establishment, and we're being sent to our deaths?"

The person next to him quickly covered his mouth.

Elder Qin heard it but did not get angry. He simply looked in that direction and said calmly,

"In the face of war, there is no distinction between new recruits and veterans."

"Those who survive are the veterans."

Having said that, he turned and left.

On the Martial Arts Field, there was a dead silence.