Dawn's light crept through the wooden vines covering the cave entrance, illuminating the dim interior. Thick layers of white powder covered the floor, and at its center sat a motionless figure, dusted like a statue.
Hours passed. As sunlight intensified, the figure finally stirred. Powder cascaded from his body as he slowly opened his eyes…
"Haa…"
Lin Feng exhaled a turbid breath. Flickers of flame-like light vanished from his pupils. He raised his hands, studying them intently, then clenched his fists.
"Foundation Establishment… This is Foundation Establishment! I've finally succeeded!"
His thoughts swirled, but one truth crystallized: he had broken through.
Torrents of true essence surged through his meridians, incomparable to the feeble spiritual energy of his Qi Refining days. In his dantian, a warm vortex spun steadily—a second heart, brimming with latent power.
Without testing, he knew his strength had multiplied.
"Now… the storage ring!"
His father's ring flashed into his mind. He yanked the cord around his neck, pulling the obsidian-black ring into his palm.
Eyes narrowing, he channeled true essence into it.
Humm—!
A violent recoil struck his mind. His hand numbed as if electrocuted, nearly dropping the ring.
"Still… blocked?!"
Stunned, he stared blankly before gritting his teeth and forcing another surge of energy into the ring.
Again, failure. The ring's seal repelled all efforts.
"Even at Foundation Establishment? Must I reach Core Formation? Nascent Soul? Father… What did you leave here? Why such a powerful seal? What truth am I chasing…?"
He slumped, defeated, murmuring to the empty cave.
The ring's impenetrability suggested its secrets were monumental—and perilous. Core Formation might be the key.
"No matter the danger, I'll uncover the truth. I will find my parents!" He gripped the ring fiercely. "Core Formation… I'll reach it!"
Disappointment faded into resolve. Tucking the ring away, he surveyed the cave.
"How many spirit stones did I burn through…?"
The floor lay buried under knee-deep powder—the remains of vanished spirit stones. Panicked, he checked his pouches.
Four pouches originally held 28,000 stones. Now, three were empty. The last held barely 8,000.
"Twenty… thousand? In one night?!"
His voice cracked. Foundation Establishment shouldn't demand such absurd costs. This was abnormal—uniquely his burden.
"It started normally… Two premium Foundation Establishment Pills were reasonable. But then…"
Memories resurfaced: the collapsing vortex, the stolen energy, the intruder.
His gaze snapped downward. Between his crossed legs, a small mound of powder shifted—as if hiding something.
"What the—?!"
He plunged his hand into the dust, grabbing a fistful of fur.
"Kyuu!!"
A shrill cry erupted as he lifted a squirming, golden-furred creature—round as a ball, with luminous black eyes and rabbit-like ears.
"A… Gluttonous Spirit Rat?!"
Recognition struck like lightning. This creature—legendary for devouring spiritual energy—had stolen his resources during breakthrough!
"You… you caused the energy leaks?! You ate twenty thousand stones?!"
The rat blinked innocently, then licked his thumb with a tiny pink tongue.
Lin Feng's jaw dropped. The absurdity of battling a glorified energy thief during his life's pivotal moment left him speechless.
Yet, as the creature nuzzled his palm, an unexpected thought emerged: What if this thief… could become an ally?
Outside, sunlight bathed the mountain—a new day for a new Foundation cultivator… and his uninvited, gluttonous guest.