Seeking Truth, The Secret of Foundation Establishment!

[You went to the Pill Hall and found Mu Xinger. Looking at the pure and lovely Mu Xinger before you, her eyes sparkled as she stared at you, making you even more embarrassed to speak.]

[You handed her the gift you had prepared in advance, a beautifully crafted medicinal jade bottle that you had specifically chosen. Mu Xinger happily accepted it.]

[Mu Xinger asked if there was anything else you needed her for. She naturally knew you wouldn't have come just to give her a gift, and your hesitant behavior earlier only strengthened her guess.]

[You could only scratch your head and look at the lively girl, who was like an elf, murmuring, "Xinger, I'm going to have an arranged marriage with the Zhang Family..."]

[Mu Xinger's eyes widened upon hearing this, but she quickly recovered after a moment. She came to your side, scanned you from head to toe, then clasped her hands behind her back and said with a smile, "Brother Xingqi is so handsome, it seems your future wife will be very fortunate..."]

[Looking at Mu Xinger, who was smiling at you, a sudden wave of dizziness washed over you.]

[Perhaps, Xinger has always seen you as a brother?]

[You wanted to pat Mu Xinger's head, but she dodged nimbly like a kitten, turned her back to you, and said, "Little sister still needs to refine pills, Brother Xingqi, you should go back first."]

[You turned and left, but you always felt that Mu Xinger was a little strange at the moment, though you couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.]

[You returned to your room and continued to immerse yourself in cultivation.]

[You have now convinced both the Zhang Family Ancestor and your Grandfather, which means you have thwarted the Wang Family Ancestor's plan. Will you be able to change the fate of your family next?]

[One month later, the New Year arrived.]

[This year, you were alone again. Your parents were both busy, and Mu Xinger had also declined your invitation, citing a pill refining task.]

[You weren't too disappointed, just like usual.]

[In January of the third year, with the help of the Yellow Grade High Rank Qi Gathering Pills, one of which you took each month, you successfully broke through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation!]

[With your current strength, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to serve as an elder in the clan.]

[Among the six elders in the clan and your father, the clan leader, only five had reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.]

[In February of the third year, the Wang Family Ancestor visited again, wanting to invite your Grandfather to explore a Secret Realm. This was the third time he had come to find your Grandfather, as if someone was forcing him to bring your Grandfather along.]

[Thinking of this, you wondered if it was the Fire Cloud Evil God in the Secret Realm who was forcing the Wang Family Ancestor to bring your Grandfather and the Zhang Family Ancestor? But if that were the case, what would be the Fire Cloud Evil God's purpose?]

"Blood Food!"

Mu Xingqi seemed to have thought of something. He clearly remembered that in one of his simulations, he and his Fifth Sister had entered the third level of the Palace and were eaten as Blood Food by the Fire Cloud Evil God.

Coupled with the fact that the old man who bore a striking resemblance to the Fire Cloud Evil God was likely a Golden Core Demonic Cultivator from the Blood Demon Sect, everything made sense!

He seemed to have found the answer!

The old man might be unable to leave the Secret Realm, so he found the Wang Family Ancestor to help him bring his Grandfather and the Zhang Family Ancestor into the Secret Realm to devour them.

After all, Foundation Establishment cultivators would be a great tonic for a Golden Core Demonic Cultivator like him.

But upon closer thought, Mu Xingqi immediately found a flaw: why didn't the Fire Cloud Evil God simply leave the Secret Realm? Why was he staying there?

Was he trapped in the Secret Realm and unable to come out? Or would something happen if he did?

These questions, he couldn't explain at the moment. He might as well continue to observe the simulation panel and see if the simulated him could unravel all these mysteries.

He felt that these questions were getting closer and closer to the truth, and the coincidences were piling up, as if it were a meticulously laid trap.

[The result, naturally, was that the Wang Family Ancestor was sent away by your Grandfather. Before leaving, the Wang Family Ancestor did not forget to shout loudly, "Mu Changde, you will regret your decision today! And that old fossil from the Zhang Family, you two just wait and see!"]

[The Wang Family Ancestor's voice was very loud, as if done intentionally, so much so that you, who were about to visit your Grandfather, could hear it clearly.]

[You went to your Grandfather's side and asked curiously, "Grandfather, why does the Wang Family Ancestor seem a little afraid of you?" You could feel that although the Wang Family Ancestor's tone was forceful, it was only to mask his inner fear.]

[Upon hearing this, your Grandfather chuckled proudly, "Of course that old fellow is afraid of me. It's because your Grandfather's cultivation and strength are higher than his. In the entire Jinzhou County, only the Zhang Family Ancestor can match me."]

[You didn't know if your Grandfather was bragging or telling the truth. After all, from your interactions, you found that your Grandfather and Father had similar personalities; they both liked to brag a little.]

["Oh! Good grandson, you've already broken through to the ninth level of Qi Cultivation!" Your Grandfather exclaimed in surprise as he sensed the spiritual energy leaking from you.]

[Perhaps because you had just broken through, you couldn't fully control your spiritual energy yet, which allowed your Grandfather to see it at a glance.]

[You then remembered the purpose of your visit: wasn't it to ask your Grandfather about Foundation Establishment? So you spoke frankly and asked about the secrets of Foundation Establishment.]

[Your Grandfather patiently explained to you: Foundation Establishment means building the foundation of the Dao. The Foundation Establishment Realm signifies that a cultivator has progressed further from the Qi Cultivation Realm. It requires compressing and liquefying the gaseous spiritual energy within the body to form liquid spiritual energy in the Dantian, which then gathers like a small lake to become the Dantian Sea. This is the main difference between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Qi Cultivation Realm.]

[The Foundation Establishment Realm is usually divided into early, middle, late, and great perfection stages. The early stage requires opening up the Qi Sea and condensing one layer of Spiritual Terrace to begin, with three layers reaching perfection. The middle stage requires four layers of Spiritual Terrace to begin, with six layers reaching perfection. The late stage is from the seventh to the ninth level, and great perfection is achieved by successfully condensing ten layers of Spiritual Terrace.]

[The liquid spiritual energy of Foundation Establishment cultivators is far superior in both purity and density to that of Qi Cultivation cultivators. This is the fundamental reason why Qi Cultivation cultivators cannot contend with Foundation Establishment cultivators, as the purity and density of spiritual energy directly relate to the power of techniques. Furthermore, Foundation Establishment cultivators possess Spiritual Terraces, which can continuously restore spiritual energy to the cultivator, a point that further guarantees the absolute advantage of Foundation Establishment cultivators.]

[You nodded, understanding simply that Foundation Establishment cultivators have increased attack power and spellcasting prowess, and they also have a "mana potion" called the Spiritual Terrace.]

[Moreover, Foundation Establishment cultivators have lifespans of over two hundred years. Don't think your Grandfather is old; I'm only 68 years old, which is considered middle-aged for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.]

[Having often read novels in your previous life, you easily understood these settings.]

[You learned that to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, one needs to condense their spiritual energy, transform gaseous spiritual energy into liquid spiritual energy, and condense a Spiritual Terrace. Only then can it be considered a true breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.]

[Your Grandfather handed you a jade slip, and you obtained the cultivation insights of the Foundation Establishment Realm summarized by the Mu Family's ancestors.]

[In addition, you also learned...]