Dao Foundation Early Stage

Atop the mountain peak.

Within Chen Xuan's body, the spiritual essence, Heavenly Dao Qi, and spirit sea fused completely.

The Golden Spirit Sea transformed into a Golden Dao Platform, condensing and manifesting within his dantian.

The Golden Dao Platform radiated the aura of the Heavenly Dao, signifying a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

Dao Foundation Realm, achieved!

Chen Xuan opened his eyes, and the aura of the Dao Foundation Realm erupted outward in all directions.

He had long since sensed that many people had gathered nearby.

He intentionally released his aura to intimidate the surrounding cultivators.

In the outside world or within the sect, a Dao Foundation Realm cultivator was nothing special.

But here in the Green Spirit Secret Realm, he was currently the strongest.

The surrounding cultivators felt Chen Xuan's aura and were shocked; some even felt as though they couldn't breathe.

"Everyone, have you seen enough?"

After intimidating them, Chen Xuan withdrew his aura and spoke with a smile.

"Senior Brother, our apologies. We shall leave at once."

The surrounding cultivators hurriedly cupped their hands in salute and scrambled away.

Chen Xuan did not stop them.

After all, they were all disciples of the Cloud Sea Sect. Regardless of whether they had harbored ill intentions, they had not made a move.

Since they hadn't attacked, he naturally couldn't attack them either.

Now that his Foundation Establishment was complete, it was time to leave.

Chen Xuan retrieved his White Cloud Artifact and steered it toward the exit of the secret realm.

When entering the Green Spirit Secret Realm, one is randomly teleported to various locations.

However, there is only one exit.

Not long after, Chen Xuan arrived at the exit, which was a purple vortex.

Stepping through the vortex, after a dizzying sensation, Chen Xuan returned to the great hall.

The Green Spirit Sect's hall-guarding elder saw Chen Xuan emerge; he still had a strong impression of him, as he had stayed inside for three months.

"Junior Brother has finally come out."

The hall-guarding elder said with a smile.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting, Senior Brother."

Chen Xuan nodded politely.

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all."

The hall-guarding elder waved his hands repeatedly.

After the two exchanged a few words, Chen Xuan took his leave.

Not long after Chen Xuan departed, news emerged from the secret realm that another wisp of Heavenly Dao Qi had appeared, but it had already been claimed by a disciple from Danxiao Peak, who had even completed his Foundation Establishment.

Based on the descriptions of the person who obtained the Heavenly Dao Qi provided by the disciples in the realm, the hall-guarding elder was startled; he had not expected it to be Chen Xuan.

He stayed for three months and actually waited for it—was it luck or strength?

Regardless of whether it was luck or strength, this Junior Brother was certainly not simple.

In the past, it wasn't as if no one had ever waited inside the secret realm.

However, the time and location of the Heavenly Dao Qi's appearance were random. Some had waited for years without ever seeing a single wisp.

Others had waited for years and did manage to see the Heavenly Dao Qi, but the secret realm was vast; the Heavenly Dao Qi didn't appear near them, but was instead picked up by a disciple who had only just entered a few days prior.

Encountering such a situation was even more agonizing for the disciples who had been waiting than the former scenario.

Slowly, fewer and fewer people bothered with such thankless tasks.

Waiting bitterly for years was not as good as having good luck.

After all, they were not like Chen Xuan, who could determine the time and location of the Heavenly Dao Qi's appearance.

Thus, people had always said that spiritual items and Heavenly Dao Qi were all about luck, especially the latter.

Cloud Sea Sect.

Chen Xuan's return journey was much faster this time.

With his Dao Foundation Realm cultivation driving the artifact, the flying vessel erupted with astonishing speed.

However, for a Dao Foundation Realm cultivator, the artifact was already becoming somewhat obsolete.

Even for a top-grade artifact, this holds true.

After returning to the sect, it is time to refine a few magic treasures.

Magic treasures are an existence one level higher than artifacts.

Like artifacts, magic treasures are divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and top-grade.

To use a magic treasure, one requires at least the cultivation of the Dao Foundation Realm.

With Chen Xuan's level-five artifact refining skill, he can currently refine up to top-grade magic treasures.

However, the materials required for top-grade magic treasures are by no means cheap.

Normally, only Nascent Soul Cultivators use top-grade magic treasures.

Since Chen Xuan wants to get them, he will certainly get the best to avoid having to replace them later.

After Chen Xuan returned to the sect, he first went to the Affairs Office to update his Disciple Token.

The disciple at the Affairs Office had a strong impression of Chen Xuan, who had placed first in the Floating Cloud Trial last year and subsequently won the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

How has it only been a few months, and he's already at Foundation Establishment?

And is this really a Mortal Body?

"Senior Brother, remember to head over to the Technique Hall. You can use your Disciple Token to claim the first volume of the Nine Firmaments Cloud Sea Scripture."

The disciple at the Affairs Office reminded him.

Chen Xuan nodded. He was definitely going to go; although his Flowing Cloud Technique had already evolved into the Nine Firmaments Cloud Sea Scripture, there was no cost to register it officially, so he might as well do so.

"Also, Senior Brother can choose a spot near Danxiao Peak to establish your own cave dwelling. This is a set of the Flowing Cloud Protection Array, which can be set up around your dwelling."

"If the place you choose doesn't have existing structures and you require them, you can let us know, and we will send people to build a complete cave dwelling according to your requirements as soon as possible."

As the disciple at the Affairs Office spoke, he took out an array disk and handed it to Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan examined the disk. It wasn't a particularly high-level array, but it was a tier-three array that provided soundproofing, spiritual sense isolation, spiritual energy gathering, and defensive effects.

"Understood."

Chen Xuan put the items away, then returned the top-grade alchemy furnace he had borrowed from the Affairs Office last year.

Since he could refine artifacts now, he planned to refine a magic-treasure-grade furnace later, so he returned this one to the Affairs Office so it could be used by new disciples in the future.

After completing the procedures, Chen Xuan returned to his residence to pack up all his belongings.

This residence would be allocated to new disciples in the future.

Once he had cleared out his things, Chen Xuan left Danxiao Peak.

He then steered his White Cloud Artifact to circle the area near Danxiao Peak, activating his Heaven-Observing Divine Eye to its full extent to meticulously examine the terrain and the flow of spiritual energy in the surrounding mountains.

Before long, his gaze locked onto a side peak some distance away from Danxiao Peak.

The mountain had a unique, elegant shape and was covered in lush forests.

At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but under Chen Xuan's divine eye, he could see faint spiritual energy gathering at the summit, forming a light mist of clouds.

The spiritual energy here was significantly denser than on other peaks, making it perfect for establishing a cave dwelling.

Furthermore, it was unclaimed land. To his surprise, Chen Xuan also spotted a courtyard within the mountain.

Though the courtyard was not large, the layout was elegant and the main structure remained intact. There was only a layer of dust under the eaves and on the stone steps, with sparse moss growing in the corners, clearly indicating it had been uninhabited for a long time, but it could be moved into immediately with a little cleaning.

Chen Xuan landed directly in front of the courtyard gate, pushed open the ajar wooden door, and stepped inside.

He inspected the interior and exterior, becoming increasingly satisfied.

"This place is truly excellent."

Chen Xuan had already made up his mind to choose this spot as his cave dwelling.

He took out the Flowing Cloud Protection Array disk provided by the Affairs Office and walked to the center of the courtyard.

Injecting his spiritual power to activate the disk, the profound patterns on it lit up one by one. Then, several array flags flew out from the disk, transforming into streaks of light that shot toward the perimeter of the dwelling, vanishing into the ground and the mountain itself.