Foundation Establishment Opportunity

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Mo Yuan adjusted his condition to its peak.

His Qi Refining ninth-layer spiritual power was dense and refined, nearly liquefied. Nourished by the Soul Cleansing Banner and numerous fortuitous encounters, his divine sense far surpassed that of his peers, and his control over his own strength had reached an exquisite level.

He felt that the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment was clearly visible. With just one more catalyst, he could induce his spiritual power to liquefy, open up his Purple Mansion, and establish his Dao Foundation.

The night before their departure, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Mo Yuan sat quietly in the courtyard of the Listening Thunder Abode. He wasn't cultivating but instead emptied his mind, reviewing every moment since his transmigration.

From the naive youth in the Ren Family Town mortuary, to making a name for himself at the Three Sects Tournament, then fighting bloody battles in the Burial Demon Valley, and now being ranked among the true disciple candidates, preparing to participate in a great war that concerned the fate of all living beings.

All of it felt like a dream, yet it was undeniably real.

His Dao heart, forged through countless life-and-death trials and power enhancements, was already as firm as a rock.

What he sought was not mere strength, but transcendence, longevity, the ability to protect those around him, and the determination to carve out a path to the heavens in this era of declining magic.

"Foundation Establishment is the first step to shedding mortal flesh and forging a Dao Foundation. Spiritual power transforms into True Essence, divine sense gives birth to a Purple Mansion, and lifespan increases by two hundred years... I must overcome this hurdle!" Mo Yuan's eyes shone with a brilliant light; he no longer hesitated.

He did not choose to go into seclusion to break through. Instead, he decided to use the Azure Wood Boat to traverse the sea of clouds on his way to the Ancient Demon Ruins. The unique environment near the nine heavens' thunder would help him draw upon heavenly lightning, combined with his own accumulated power, to break through the bottleneck in one go!

The next morning, at the Stone Bamboo Shoot Mountain plaza.

The team assembled to go to the depths of the Burial Demon Valley to stop the blood sacrifice was truly a star-studded lineup.

Led by three elders in the late Foundation Establishment stage: the Enforcement Elder Xuan Ji, the Merit Transmission Elder Qing Ming, and an Ancestral Martial Uncle who had been in seclusion for years, exuding an aura as profound as an abyss.

Below them were ten true disciple or quasi-true disciple candidates, including Mo Yuan. The lowest cultivation base was Qi Refining ninth-layer. Chen Feng, Zhao Gan, and others were among them, and there were even two senior disciples who had already reached the early Foundation Establishment stage.

The teams from Dragon Tiger Mountain and Ge Zao Mountain had also arrived, with equally formidable lineups. The disciples from the three sects merged into one force of nearly thirty people, all elites, exuding an aura of deadly intent that filled the plaza.

Sect Leader Shi Jian personally saw them off. His gaze swept over everyone, pausing slightly on Mo Yuan, and he said solemnly, "The Ancient Demon Ruins are of great importance. You must work together wholeheartedly to stop the evil cult's wicked deeds! Return safely!"

"We will obey the Sect Leader's decree!" everyone responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Three standard flying boats (Mount Mao's Azure Wood Boat, Dragon Tiger Mountain's Yellow Turban Warrior Boat, and Ge Zao Mountain's Flowing Cloud Boat) soared into the sky, transforming into three streaks of light, heading once again towards that land shrouded in death and evil.

The flying boats pierced through clouds and mist, moving at extreme speed. Mo Yuan sat cross-legged at the stern of the Azure Wood Boat, casting aside distracting thoughts. He sank his consciousness into his body, beginning to guide his surging spiritual power towards the invisible bottleneck of Foundation Establishment, launching his assault!

He had not consumed the precious mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. He wanted to rely on his own strength to lay the most solid foundation!

"Rumble..."

Spiritual power surged and roared within his meridians, constantly compressing and converging towards the core of his Dantian's sea of Qi.

The gaseous spiritual power began to thicken, showing signs of liquefaction, but it always lacked that final push, as if separated by a tenacious membrane, making a complete breakthrough impossible.

Outside the flying boat, above the clouds, the sky gradually darkened, and faint thunder could be heard. They were traversing a cumulonimbus cloud.

Mo Yuan's heart stirred, and inspiration struck! He suddenly activated the lightning-summoning secret art from the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Grand Codex, while simultaneously releasing the essence of his understanding of the Great Dao of Thunder, especially the aura of that sliver of Fragment of the Law of Thunder, without reservation!

"With my will, I summon the thunder of the nine heavens! Aid me in breaking through, and forge my Dao Foundation!"

As if sensing his call, the clouds above the flying boat suddenly churned! Countless lightning bolts crisscrossed, and the low rumble of thunder transformed into deafening roars!

"What's going on?"

"Why is the thunder in the sky so violent?"

The other disciples looked up in astonishment.

The three leading elders, however, narrowed their eyes and looked towards Mo Yuan at the stern of the boat.

"This brat... intends to use lightning to achieve Foundation Establishment here?!" Elder Qing Ming's face showed surprise.

"Such courage! Such an opportunity!" A flicker of admiration flashed in the eyes of the Ancestral Martial Uncle who was a formation master.

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji's expression remained unchanged, but his fingers were already forming seals within his sleeve, ready to protect the flying boat at any moment.

At this very moment!

"Crack--!!!"

A nine heavens divine lightning, as thick as a water bucket and a deep purple hue, seeming to contain the might of heaven and earth, tore through the clouds. It ignored the flying boat's protective light shield (Mo Yuan had actively guided it, so the shield did not obstruct), and like a sword of divine punishment, it ferociously struck down at the meditating Mo Yuan!

"Excellent!"

Mo Yuan stood up, neither dodging nor evading. Instead, he spread his arms wide, as if to embrace this destructive lightning!

All the power within his body erupted at this moment! Geng Metal Thunderous Evil, Primordial Thunder Essence, Chaotic Thunder Source Dao Rhythm, Dragon Essence, Innate Spiritual Energy... numerous high-level powers, unified by the Fragment of the Law of Thunder, transformed into an invisible vortex, meeting the nine heavens thunderous aura!

"Boom--!!!"

Lightning coursed through his body!

Mo Yuan was instantly engulfed by blinding lightning! The rampaging power of the lightning poured madly into his limbs and bones, tearing through his meridians, scorching his flesh and blood, bringing unparalleled pain!

But his will was like a rock. He maintained a clear mind in his spiritual platform, using the Divine Dragon Body Refining Art to resist the damage and the Nine Heavens Thunder Talisman Grand Codex to frantically guide and refine this supremely yang and supremely rigid power!

"Break for me!!"

He let out a silent roar in his heart, guiding this torrent, which combined heavenly lightning and all his own foundations, to violently collide with that solid barrier of Foundation Establishment!

"Buzz--!"

A resonance, like the creation of the universe, sounded from within him!

That tenacious membrane shattered in response!

Within the Dantian, the vast gaseous spiritual energy instantly collapsed and condensed, transforming into a drop of crystal-clear, purplish-gold liquid containing immense vitality and the destructive intent of lightning—True Essence!

Following that, a second drop, a third... a rain of True Essence poured down, converging into streams, and finally forming a miniature lake of purplish-gold True Essence in the center of the Dantian!

Above the lake, mist swirled, a manifestation of highly condensed divine sense power, which was opening up and nurturing the nascent form of the Purple Mansion!

Simultaneously, his Sea of Consciousness was also expanding violently, becoming more stable and clear. The Soul Cleansing Banner floated within it, its pure radiance becoming even more condensed.

An aura far more potent and pure than that of the Qi Refining stage, carrying a trace of the majesty of heaven and earth, surged from Mo Yuan, reaching for the sky!

Lightning flickered around his body, faintly forming a blurry but imposing phantom behind him, exuding an infinite pressure of thunder. That phantom seemed to have existed since ancient times, wielding lightning and looking down upon all beings!

Foundation Establishment stage, achieved!

And not just ordinary Foundation Establishment, but a Dao Foundation of thunder that had undergone the baptism of the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder, integrated multiple supreme powers, and possessed an unimaginably solid foundation!

The quality of his True Essence far surpassed that of his peers, nearing the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment!

On the flying boat, there was dead silence.

Everyone stared, dumbfounded, at the young man whose lightning light was gradually receding, whose aura was as deep as the sea, and whose extraordinary phenomenon behind him slowly dissipated.

Foundation Establishment... just like that? And in such a shocking manner?

What was that thunderous phantom? It evoked a feeling of wanting to prostrate and worship!

"The... Thunder Emperor's phantom?"

The most knowledgeable Martial Grand-Uncle, the array master, spoke with a hint of disbelief in his trembling voice, "This child's Foundation Establishment actually managed to draw upon a trace of the ancient Thunder Emperor's Dao rhythm for empowerment?!"

The three elders exchanged glances, seeing the shock and elation in each other's eyes. Mount Mao had produced a true dragon!

Mo Yuan slowly opened his eyes, as if worlds of lightning were being born and dying within them.

He felt the True Essence surging like rivers within his body, and the broader, tougher Sea of Consciousness. An unprecedented sense of power filled his heart.

He had successfully reached Foundation Establishment! And it seemed even more perfect than he had imagined.

"System, sign in!"

[Ding! Sign-in successful! Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Top-Grade Spirit Stone x10, Great Dao Treasure Bottle (Fragment) x1, Five Thunder Righteous Method - Heavenly Heart Scroll Introductory x1, Remnant Aura of the Primordial World: A wisp of the immortal Thunder Emperor's Will (weak)!]

[Great Dao Treasure Bottle (Fragment)]: A fragment of the Innate Spiritual Treasure "Great Dao Treasure Bottle," containing a incomplete space within. It can slowly condense and purify Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, nurturing spiritual essence (requires substantial resources and time for repair).

[Five Thunder Righteous Method - Heavenly Heart Scroll Introductory]: An introductory chapter to the supreme art that directly points to the origin of the Thunder Dao. It is an orthodox inheritance of the ancient Thunder Department.

[A wisp of the immortal Thunder Emperor's Will (weak)]: A wisp of the ancient Thunder Emperor's immortal will, scattered throughout heaven and earth. It can be integrated into the Dao Foundation, greatly enhancing the authority and power of thunder techniques, suppressing all thunder, and possessing absolute dominance over yin and demonic creatures (requires slow integration).

"Thunder Emperor's Will! Five Thunder Righteous Method!" Mo Yuan's heart trembled violently! This time's rewards had already surpassed the scope of magical artifacts and items, directly involving supreme inheritances and primordial will! What kind of origin did this system possess?!

He forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately study the rewards and cupped his hands towards the three elders and the many dumbfounded fellow disciples, "This disciple was fortunate enough to break through, disturbing all my esteemed teachers."

Elder Qing Ming clapped his hands and laughed heartily, "Disturbing? How could it be disturbing! This is the fortune of my Mount Mao! Heaven blesses Mount Mao, bestowing this exceptional talent!"

Martial Uncle Xuan Ji also revealed a rare smile, "Foundation Establishment is complete. This journey will have a few more points of certainty. Mo Yuan, quickly stabilize your realm. Ahead lies Burial Demon Valley!"

Mo Yuan nodded heavily, sat down cross-legged, and began to familiarize himself with the power of the Foundation Establishment stage. At the same time, he carefully guided that wisp of the immortal Thunder Emperor's Will, integrating it into his newly formed Thunder Dao Foundation.

The flying boat's speed did not decrease, speeding towards that darker, more dangerous region.