The second Foundation Establishment Pill brought significant relief. Spiritual energy continued pouring into Lin Feng from the surroundings. Guided by his cultivation art, it transformed into spiritual energy and surged towards the vortex in his dantian. The expanding vortex gradually filled, growing denser and more stable, showing signs of solidifying completely.
He sensed the ambient spiritual energy weakening. Without opening his eyes, he knew the external spirit stones were depleted again. Without hesitation, he waved his hand, scattering another thousand stones.
A thick layer of dust – remnants of drained spirit stones – already surrounded him. The Spirit Gathering Array Disk before him was cracked, its stones exhausted. As the new stones landed, the disk seemed to exert a pull, drawing several nearby stones onto itself, reactivating the formation.
The cave was now scorching hot, like an oven. Yet, Lin Feng felt an indescribable comfort within it. As the fresh stones settled, he immediately sensed the spiritual energy around him replenishing. Simultaneously, the vortex in his dantian finally ceased its expansion, the unbearable pain subsiding, replaced by a tingling numbness spreading through his limbs.
Almost there… success is near…
Feeling the vortex's transformation, excitement surged within Lin Feng. He focused entirely on his art, absorbing the surrounding energy, determined to fill the dantian vortex completely. Once full, it would undergo a qualitative change, converting the absorbed spiritual energy into true essence before releasing it. That moment would mark true Foundation Establishment success.
But then…
Pop…
A faint, bizarre sound echoed – within his body, or perhaps his mind. He felt the vortex in his dantian suddenly rupture at its base. The energy, nearly at capacity, began draining away uncontrollably and without warning!
The change was terrifyingly abrupt. In an instant, the vortex was emptied. What horrified Lin Feng most was that he couldn't sense where this vanished energy had gone!
It had disappeared into thin air. No trace, no sign!
"What's happening?! Why?!" Panic seized him, nearly shattering his composure. Instinctively, he tried searching his body for the lost energy. But the next moment, excruciating pain erupted in his dantian. The abruptly 'emptied' vortex trembled violently, teetering on the brink of collapse!
"No!!" Horror-stricken, Lin Feng abandoned his search. He frantically channeled his cultivation art, sucking in external spiritual energy with desperate urgency, trying to stabilize the crumbling vortex.
Acting on sheer desperation, Lin Feng gritted his teeth. He flipped out a third Foundation Establishment Pill and tossed it into his mouth. Simultaneously, his right hand swept out, scattering spirit stones without regard for quantity. So many poured out he felt his legs might be buried; he had no idea how many he'd just thrown…
The pill took effect. Lin Feng felt the vortex's violent trembling lessen considerably. Simultaneously, massive amounts of spiritual energy flooded in through every pore – trickles converging into torrents that surged violently through his meridians, finally converging at his dantian.
He repeated the entire arduous process. Only when he felt the vortex gradually refilling did he dare to breathe a sigh of relief.
Swoosh…
But just as the vortex approached completion for the second time, Lin Feng's ears caught a faint whistling sound. Then, he distinctly felt something burrow into his robes, right against his chest…
At this critical juncture, distraction was fatal. Lin Feng didn't dare open his eyes to see the intruder. The mere disturbance caused his internal energy to waver. He tried desperately to refocus. But then, something utterly horrifying and infuriating happened, shattering any hope of calm.
"Kyuu…"
A soft, contented sigh seemed to reach him. Immediately, he felt the vast stream of spiritual energy surrounding him – the energy meant for him – suddenly divert its course. It all converged onto his chest, absorbed by the unknown entity nestled there!
Worse, pressed against him, the thing acted like a powerful magnet. Not only did it steal the ambient energy, but the half-converted, unstable true essence within his own body began leaking uncontrollably through his skin, sucked away by the creature!
This shock was profound. Lin Feng almost lost control, causing the vortex to collapse completely. Fear and fury warred within him, cold sweat pouring down his face.
"Damnit!! What the hell is going on?!" Lin Feng was on the verge of madness, a silent curse echoing in his mind. His face contorted, teeth grinding audibly. With a final surge of ruthless determination, he pulled out the last Foundation Establishment Pill, swallowed it, and flung out yet another immense wave of spirit stones – uncountable this time.
"I cannot fail during Foundation Establishment! Absolutely not!!" The repeated setbacks didn't break him; they ignited a savage resolve. Fueled by the new pill's power, he began absorbing spiritual energy with reckless abandon, simultaneously fighting with all his might to prevent his nascent true essence from being stolen by the thing on his chest.
Humm…
The air within the cave distorted visibly. The temperature reached unimaginable heights. Sweat evaporated instantly from Lin Feng's skin. Pure spiritual energy drawn from the stones mixed with fiery red energy pulled from the void surged towards the center like converging rivers – half disappearing into Lin Feng, the other half vanishing into the small yellow form nestled against him.
Forming the vortex for the third time, Lin Feng sensed his meridians were several times wider than before. The speed of absorption far exceeded previous attempts. Hope flickered. He endured the agony of meridians threatening to burst, frantically absorbing energy while simultaneously attempting to impose control over the dantian vortex, forcing it to spin according to his will.
Finally, as the vortex brimmed with energy once more, an indescribable sensation radiated from it. It stopped merely absorbing. It began to output a type of energy Lin Feng had never experienced – vastly more potent than spiritual energy. True essence!
"Success!!" Elation washed over him, but caution prevailed. He immediately guided this true essence through his limbs and torso, circulating it through his meridians according to his art's pathways for one full cycle before returning it to the dantian vortex.
Then, an even larger surge of true essence flowed out, completing another cycle before returning. The process repeated…
After nine complete minor cycles, Lin Feng felt the true essence within him had established a stable, self-sustaining flow. The vortex in his dantian was finally completely stable, rooted firmly within its center.
This… meant Foundation Establishment was successful!!
Pop…
Yet, just as triumph flooded his heart, a soft pop sounded deep within him. He felt a sudden burst of flame erupt inside the dantian vortex! The true essence flowing out seemed to ignite, transforming into countless tiny serpents of flame that surged outwards from his dantian, spreading through his entire body!
"Aaaahhh!!!" Lin Feng couldn't withstand this new, searing agony. A tortured scream tore from his throat. He felt consumed by inner fire, burning from the inside out!
This wasn't a mishap. It was a crucial, universal stage every cultivator faced upon Foundation Establishment – Spiritual Root Purification!
Lin Feng cultivated the Profound Fire Art, a fire-attribute technique. Consequently, his Fire Spiritual Root was now undergoing purification.
During Foundation Establishment, spiritual root purification is heavily influenced by the attribute of the primary cultivation art. If the cultivator's innate spiritual root aptitudes are relatively balanced, the root matching the art's attribute is purified. Exceptions occur if one root is significantly stronger, leading to its purification instead – potentially causing conflict with the cultivation art. This usually only plagued unguided rogue cultivators; major sects tested disciples' roots early, guiding their cultivation path accordingly.
Lin Feng had always walked the path alone, relying solely on his own deductions. Though he had recently studied cultivation texts and knew purification brought pain, he hadn't anticipated its intensity – rivaling the agony of expanding his dantian. Yet he understood: each second endured meant deeper purification, paving a smoother path forward. After the initial scream, he choked back further cries, gritting his teeth against the inhuman torment. He poured his will into his art, accelerating the purification process.
...
At this moment, the small mountain housing Lin Feng was entirely enveloped in a crimson glow. From afar, it looked as if the entire hill was ablaze, a stark beacon against the dark night sky.
This phenomenon persisted for most of the night. Finally, as dawn approached, the crimson light covering the mountain suddenly churned violently. It contracted inward, as if drawn back to its source.
Within moments, all traces of the red glow vanished. The mountain returned to its ordinary state, showing no sign of the extraordinary events that had transpired within…