In the mundane world, mortals live their entire lives, only to remain stagnant at the mere Body Refining realm. Due to modern genetic mutations and harsh environments, many are born frail, struggling even to achieve a robust physique, let alone cultivate Qi.
Even among cultivators, nine out of ten spend their lives in mediocrity, stuck at the threshold of Qi Cultivation due to the scarcity of spiritual energy.
Those who truly manage to reach the Foundation Establishment realm are already extremely rare among cultivators.
The masked man had already reached the peak of Qi Cultivation, lacking only the crucial catalyst to enter the Foundation Establishment realm!
And the current moment presented that catalyst.
He intended to open the door to Foundation Establishment amidst the struggle with his opponent!
Foundation Establishment methods are varied, yet all ultimately hinge on enlightenment. Sometimes, cultivators can ponder endlessly without glimpsing the door to Foundation Establishment, while other times, they might find a path amidst life-threatening danger, or while wandering through mountains, observing clouds, or listening to the roar of waves in the sea—achieving it without a teacher!
The masked man drew his saber, feeling his entire True Qi surge madly towards his Dantian, then feedback to his whole body, circulating endlessly. A strange heaviness erupted from within, making him feel ethereal and light at times, and like the crushing weight of Mount Tai at others.
His True Qi billowed outwards, the surrounding gale-force wind transforming into a colossal vortex, fiercely churning. The masked man stood at the center of this vortex, the swirling currents sharp as knives.
Ren Yuanhao's presence had reached its limit. He now noticed the bizarre changes in his opponent. Having cultivated the "Three Points Return to Origin Qi" and "Azure Sea Surging Tide Art," he possessed a keen insight into the flow of True Qi. He felt as if the masked man was now a 'core,'
devouring the surrounding energy!
The forest rustled, branches trembled, the cold moon hung high, soft clouds drifted, and an indescribable pressure permeated the heavens and earth.
The masked man let out a few wild laughs, the airwaves surging, kicking up dust!
"I never imagined that the path to Foundation Establishment, which I pondered endlessly, would suddenly dawn upon me during a battle with you. To speak of it, I must thank you. Therefore, I shall use your death to commemorate this moment!"
The masked man's body was enveloped in fierce energy. The moment he took a step forward in a furious charge, the surging energy, like a tidal wave, followed him. His "Blazing Sky Saber Technique" slashed through the waves, saber energy crisscrossing, wide and bold. Ren Yuanhao blocked with a flick of his sleeve, feeling his own True Qi influenced, uncontrollably flowing towards his opponent!
Where the saber energy passed, straw danced wildly, and plants flew. This change was too sudden. Ren Yuanhao lightly tapped his feet, his "Blazing Sky Saber Technique" also dancing with his will.
Sabers clashed against sabers, sparks flying brilliantly and dazzlingly. In an instant, the two had exchanged dozens of rounds within the torrent of energy. Each strike produced a soul-stirring impact, like the roar of thunder.
Maple leaves drifted, dead branches trembled, and in the distance, the roar of a waterfall striking rocks could be heard. The moon hung horizontally in the sky, as bright as water, and True Qi spread like water. With the ebb and flow, Ren Yuanhao knew that if they continued like this, his inner Qi and True Qi would eventually be devoured by his opponent's strange transformation. A sudden realization struck him, and he instantly channeled the "Star Absorbing Great Law" with frenzied intensity to contend with him!
With the "Star Absorbing Great Law" unleashed, the situation instantly reversed. The Mermaid's Tear that Ren Yuanhao obtained from the system was originally a second 'reservoir' for storing True Qi. Coupled with the miraculous 'expansion' effect of the "Star Absorbing Great Law," when this was activated, the two 'engines' naturally unleashed more power than one. The vortex of energy that his opponent had triggered with Foundation Establishment was immediately turned against him!
"Brat, the Star Absorbing Great Law!" The masked man's face turned ashen. "You are that Ren Yuanhao who is making waves on the 'Hunter's List'!"
The masked man should have guessed it earlier. After all, within Yun Jin City, there were only a handful of young talents who could match him in strength, perhaps even fewer. Moreover, Ren Yuanhao had recently defeated the patriarch of the powerful Jiang clan, making him incredibly prominent.
Ren Yuanhao did not reply. With a two-on-one advantage, boosted by the "Star Absorbing Great Law," after the situation persisted for over a minute, the scales of victory had tipped in Ren Yuanhao's favor!
—Damn it, if this continues, all my cultivation might be absorbed by his demonic art!
For the first time in his life, the masked man felt such helplessness. Fear, like dark clouds hanging over a rainy night, slowly descended, consuming him bit by bit. His first reaction was, once again, the word 'escape.'
In fact, before coming here, he had prepared the assassin's "Mirror Transference Technique." He had originally thought it wouldn't be needed, but unexpectedly—
Once True Qi became unbalanced, it was like in a tug-of-war when one side's main force falls; the other side would plunder relentlessly. His True Qi was already being snatched away by Ren Yuanhao before him like a bursting dam. Even more terrifying was that the opponent, after consuming so much True Qi, showed no signs of blockage. If it were any other esper or cultivator, such a massive amount of True Qi would likely have exploded the practitioner.
With the intention to retreat, the masked man hesitated no longer. A mirror suddenly appeared in his hand, and he muttered a few words. His entire being transformed into a wisp of white mist, suddenly drilling into the mirror's surface, and he fled.
At this moment, Ren Yuanhao was already at the end of his strength. If he hadn't activated his second personality in a critical moment, he would have died at the hands of the masked man long ago.
Ren Yuanhao sat cross-legged, enduring for another minute or two, before finally slumping backward and falling unconscious.
At that moment, a sinister wind gradually picked up, the demonic moon grew faint, the sound of water subsided, and the True Qi lingering in the air continued to surge into his body. His face twitched intermittently, appearing quite uncomfortable.
A moment later, the brother and sister, whom he thought had escaped, suddenly emerged from the grass and slowly moved towards Ren Yuanhao. Their faces were devoid of any fear, appearing as indifferent as an old person of eighty or ninety.
"Sister, what do you think of this person?"
"He's a good prospect, but unfortunately~"
"Unfortunately, he has a dual personality ability, making him difficult to control, right?"
As he spoke, the boy placed his hand on Ren Yuanhao's forehead. Suddenly, his hand was forcefully repelled by a strange force. He frowned, ultimately shaking his head.
"It's best if we don't bother him. At least, not now."
The sister showed displeasure. "Is it because he saved our lives?"
The boy withdrew his hand, took out a glowing object from his怀, and placed it within Ren Yuanhao's abdomen. Ren Yuanhao's body completely absorbed it. "Not entirely. I can feel a strange power within him, resisting my intrusion. I have already planted that thing. No matter where he goes, we can follow. Let's observe the situation."
"Mm."
The figures of the two siblings flickered, disappearing into the long night's moonlight as stealthily as ghosts.