Xiantian Foundation Establishment

Morning.

Han Zheng rose from his cross-legged position and opened his eyes.

A full night of cultivation hadn't drained his spirit or stamina; instead, he felt brimming with energy.

Such were the benefits of a Xiantian cultivation method.

Those martial artists who trained in Houtian methods had to sleep and rest at night, and struggle to make a living by day, leaving them pitifully little time for cultivation.

And even when they did cultivate, they couldn't just focus on the method—they also had to hone their Martial Skills and sharpen their combat prowess, which naturally slowed their progress in realm advancement.

The path of martial arts was inherently unfair.

Martial artists from major sects or noble families didn't just win at the starting line.

Once the race began, they could ride carriages and horses, leaving you in the dust before you even saw them vanish.

Glancing at the empty courtyard, Han Zheng wondered if he should follow Li Jingzhong's example and set up a few iron posts to practice the White Ape Through-Arm Fist.

For ordinary Houtian martial artists, wooden posts were enough for fist practice, with stone posts being the upper limit. Iron posts would just break their bones.

But Han Zheng, thanks to his cultivation of the Dragon Elephant Prajna Skill, possessed formidable strength. Coupled with the White Ape Through-Arm Fist's extreme demands on arm power, he could handle iron posts just fine.

Mulling it over, Han Zheng munched on a steamed bun as he headed to the martial arts school.

It wasn't that he loved buns, but in a small county like Black Stone County, breakfast options were sorely lacking—nothing beyond buns, flatcakes, and steamed bread.

On top of that, prices had been soaring lately. Small vendors couldn't afford ingredients, and common folk were reluctant to eat out, so few breakfast stalls remained.

When he arrived at the school, Han Zheng noticed that Song Tianqing and Guo Mingyuan were both absent. Only Chen Zhao, despite his injuries, had shown up to train.

Han Zheng pulled Li Sancheng aside and asked, "Guo Mingyuan and Song Tianqing aren't here? Did losing one match make them quit the school entirely?"

Li Sancheng chuckled. "Guo Mingyuan's a practical guy. Since he can't learn the White Ape Through-Arm Fist anymore, why bother coming? As for Song Tianqing, he's always been arrogant. He looked down on everyone here, only ever exchanging a few words with Lin Qing. He might have accepted losing to Lin Qing, but losing to you? That's a blow to his pride he can't stomach. How could he show his face here again? Still, it's fine—without them, the school's quieter."

In truth, the Zhenwei Martial Arts School had always had two factions.

One was the disciples from humble backgrounds, like Han Zheng. The other was the wealthy and influential ones, like Song Tianqing.

But those were always a minority, and without the big shots like Song Tianqing, the rest kept a low profile.

Once Li Jingzhong arrived, everyone settled into their training. Han Zheng, meanwhile, headed to the back courtyard to practice the White Ape Through-Arm Fist on the iron posts.

His current realm and strength were on a completely different level from the other disciples; there was no point in training together.

In the back courtyard.

Han Zheng steadied his mind and breath, his arms swinging like a white ape leaping through the forest.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

His arms slammed into the iron posts, producing a series of dull, heavy sounds.

He realized he was perfectly suited for this kind of martial art.

Other Houtian martial artists training like this would be writhing on the ground in agony by now.

But Han Zheng had sacrificed his sense of pain to the Gluttonous Crucible. Even when his arms turned bright red, he only felt touch, no pain at all.

He just had to control his force carefully to avoid breaking his own bones.

As each Meridian opened up, his control over his body grew stronger, gradually allowing him to achieve 'inner vision.'

This inner vision wasn't sight—it was a sensation.

So even without pain, he knew his limits and wouldn't end up fracturing himself.

Just then, Li Jingzhong walked out from the inner hall. Seeing Han Zheng training so diligently, hammering the iron posts without flinching, he nodded in approval.

Han Zheng wasn't just gifted in comprehension—his perseverance was top-notch too.

When Li Jingzhong had trained in the White Ape Through-Arm Fist as a child, his father had watched over him with a rattan cane. If he didn't hit the iron posts, he'd get hit with the cane instead. Either way, it hurt.

"Han Zheng, take a break. Li Feng from Shenghe Hall is here to see you."

Han Zheng withdrew his fist stance, took a deep breath, and suppressed the surging blood and qi in his body.

Entering the hall, Li Feng was already seated, waiting for him.

"Congratulations, Young Master Han. I've heard from School Master Li that you defeated the other disciples and came out on top, earning the White Ape Through-Arm Fist. I said it before—among this batch of disciples at Zhenwei Martial Arts School, no matter their background, none can match you. At such a young age, you've already received the true teachings from School Master Li. There's bound to be a place for you in Black Stone County in the future!"

Han Zheng: "..."

Why did Li Feng's words sound like a curse, trapping him in Black Stone County forever?

"You flatter me, Li Yaoshi. What brings you here?"

Li Feng said with a chuckle, "The shopkeeper promised you a medicinal bath a while back, but I've been busy sorting the spiritual medicines we brought back and haven't had the chance. Now that I've finally wrapped things up at Shenghe Hall, I came to find you and prepare a custom medicinal bath."

Han Zheng's eyes lit up. "Then I'll trouble you, Li Yaoshi."

Without relying on the Gluttonous Crucible to cheat, the best way for Han Zheng to boost his cultivation right now was a medicinal bath. Cultivation was forged through hard work, but it could indeed be piled on with resources. Someone like Guo Mingyuan—a useless waste with mediocre talent, average comprehension, and little diligence in training, who Li Sancheng said even frequented brothels—had still managed to stack his cultivation higher than Han Zheng's just because his family had money. That alone showed the power of medicinal baths.

"No trouble at all, Young Master Han, you've earned it. Let me take your pulse first. Also, in your usual training, do you focus more on building raw strength or on advancing your internal energy realm?"

Han Zheng extended his hand and thought for a moment. "Both, I'd say. They complement each other."

Li Feng placed his fingers on Han Zheng's wrist, carefully examining his pulse and sensing the flow of power through his meridians. After a moment, a hint of surprise flickered in Li Feng's eyes. "Young Master Han, your foundation is remarkably solid and deep. I've prepared medicinal baths for some disciples from the Song and Shen families before, and even though they come from martial arts clans, their accumulated foundations aren't as robust as yours."

Though Han Zheng had the Gluttonous Crucible as a cheat, he had still been training constantly within it, and he practiced in accordance with Martial Intent, so his foundation was naturally strong. "Just steady progress. Does a solid foundation have any benefits for later cultivation?"

"Of course it does—enormous benefits!" Li Feng said. "Martial arts training is like building a house. The foundation is the base. A solid foundation means a well-laid base. You might not notice it on the first floor, or even the second. But by the third or fourth floor, a deep foundation keeps your realm stable, while a weak one can cause breakthroughs to go wrong, even making the whole structure wobble. With your foundation, Young Master Han, you could even start preparing for Foundation Establishment in the Innate Realm."

Han Zheng was taken aback. "I haven't even reached the Peak Acquired Stage yet, and I should prepare for Innate Foundation Establishment?"

Li Feng nodded. "If you wait until you reach the Peak Acquired Stage, it'll be too late. The Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm is the first major threshold on the martial path. To cross it, you must cultivate both internally and externally. A solid foundation makes it easier to succeed in shedding mortality. I already know how to configure the medicinal bath—it will focus on strength and realm, with some spiritual medicines to stabilize your foundation. Young Master Han, you can start asking Master Li about the secrets and experience of breaking through to the Innate Realm right now. I believe that day isn't far off."

Li Feng stood to leave. "Then I'll trouble you, Li Yaoshi."

Han Zheng saw Li Feng out of the training hall. When he returned, Li Jingzhong was sitting in the inner hall drinking tea. "Li Feng came to prepare a medicinal bath for you?"

Han Zheng nodded. "Last time, Shopkeeper Chen said he'd gift me a medicinal bath. Li Yaoshi said he'd wait until he was free to personally examine my meridians and configure it."

Li Jingzhong swirled his teacup, a faint smile on his face. "Li Feng wants to build a good relationship with you. Martial artists need pharmacists to assist their cultivation, and pharmacists need to befriend martial artists to secure their status and safety. Customizing medicinal baths for different levels also sharpens their skills. Back then, Chen Baiqing and I had that kind of relationship. I never got involved in the conflicts of the jianghu, but I helped Shenghe Hall out of a few troubles. Li Feng is a decent man, and among the pharmacists at Shenghe Hall, he's quite capable. There's no harm in being on good terms with him."

Han Zheng nodded. He had already picked up on Li Feng's intent. "By the way, Master, Li Feng said my foundation is solid enough to start Innate Foundation Establishment now, to prepare for breaking through to the Innate Realm."

"Li Feng said that? Let me see your hand."

After probing the power within Han Zheng's meridians and acupoints, Li Jingzhong was also slightly startled. He only knew Han Zheng's combat prowess was outstanding; he hadn't expected his foundation to be this deep. "Li Feng is right. Your foundation is indeed solid and deep—even a bit stronger than disciples from martial arts clans like Song Tianqing. Starting Innate Foundation Establishment now to prepare for the Mortal Transformation Realm is just right. Tell me what you know about the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm."

Han Zheng thought for a moment. "I only know that the Innate Realm requires using the internal energy in acupoints and meridians to constantly scour every inch of bone and every shred of flesh in the body, a process of immense pain. And the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm is divided into four minor stages: early stage, Bronze Skin Iron Bones; middle stage, Golden Muscles Jade Meridians; late stage, Mercury Blood Silver Marrow. After reaching great completion, the body becomes like flawless white jade, called the Water-Fire Immortal Robe, granting immunity to ordinary fire and water. I haven't learned about the Innate Realm from outside—everything I know is what you taught me, Master."

Li Jingzhong nodded and said solemnly, "Those are just the basics. In truth, the barriers and secrets of the Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm are already contained in the name of the realm itself. Before birth, a person in the womb is in the innate state. After birth, breathing the turbid air of this world gradually turns the body into an acquired one. The Xiantian Mortal Transformation Realm is about returning from the acquired to the innate, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, shedding the mortal shell to achieve an innate body."

So this Fourth Realm of Xiantian can only be considered true Xiantian upon reaching the perfected stage of the Water-Fire Immortal Robe.

And the first step from Houtian to Xiantian is Bronze Skin Iron Bones—it requires mobilizing the power of the Meridians and Acupoints to impact the flesh, blood, and bones.

There is no shortcut here. One must use inner force to violently and domineeringly impact and temper them, only then can the flesh, blood, and bones completely shed the mortal state and achieve Bronze Skin Iron Bones.

You've seen Gao Kaiyuan's Shattered Jade Hand—that is a Xiantian martial artist's perfect control over sinews, bones, flesh, and blood.

With that, Li Jingzhong drained the tea from his cup in one gulp, then began grinding it between his hands.

After a few rubs, the teacup had completely turned to powder in Li Jingzhong's hands. His pair of hands were like millstones!

"This... is Bronze Skin Iron Bones."