Ling Tian returned to his cave dwelling above the Tier-8 Spirit Vein Branch. The spiritual energy here was intensely pure and dense, enveloping his body like mist. For a normal cultivator, this spot would guarantee a quick breakthrough. For Ling Tian, it was merely fuel.
He sat cross-legged in the center of the cave, closing his eyes. In his Dantian Sea, the dark-violet Primordial Chaos Qi was swirling fiercely, refusing to be condensed into a regular Spirit Foundation.
The Spirit Foundation Realm is the stage where a cultivator condenses their Qi into a solid Foundation, a preliminary core before the Golden Core. The quality of this foundation heavily depends on the Spirit Root and the quality of the Qi.
An ordinary person's Foundation is a Crystal Foundation. A genius's is a Jade Foundation. Only a Divine-Tier Spirit Root can forge a Truly Perfect Foundation, the instructions from the Absolute Immortal Lineage thundered in his mind.
Ling Tian began to activate the cultivation technique. He didn't just draw the Sky Cloud Sect's Qi; he drew the very energy from the Spirit Vein Branch itself.
ROAARR!
The stable Tier-8 Spirit Vein Branch suddenly let out a massive roar. All the spiritual energy in that Branch, which was supposed to be distributed among thousands of Core Disciples, was abruptly rerouted and sucked into Ling Tian's cave dwelling.
The surrounding Core Disciples were stunned.
"What is happening? My spiritual Qi is rapidly thinning!" shouted a Core Disciple who was mid-practice.
"Look! The energy around Honorary Core Disciple Ling Tian's cave is insane! He's draining it all!" another disciple pointed in horror.
Inside the cave, Ling Tian was at the center of the energy maelstrom. His Primordial Chaos Qi clashed with the Sky Cloud Sect's spiritual Qi, grinding and purifying the sect's Qi until it was the purest essence.
Ling Tian's breakthrough process was not condensation; it was Creation.
Every drop of Primordial Chaos energy within him refused to form a Foundation, instead shaping itself into a Miniature Sea of Chaos in his Dantian.
After three hours of terrifying suction, during which the Tier-8 Spirit Vein Branch was nearly depleted, the energies coalesced.
Not a Crystal Foundation, nor a Jade Foundation.
In the center of Ling Tian's Dantian Sea, a small, pea-sized object, radiating a violet-golden light, began to form. The object wasn't a solid shape, but a Liquid Core pulsing with cosmic power.
The Golden Chaos Foundation.
This Foundation vastly surpassed any ordinary Spirit Foundation. The Golden Chaos Foundation signified that Ling Tian had condensed his Primordial Chaos energy to a level equivalent to a Divine-Tier Perfect Foundation.
As the Golden Chaos Foundation formed, a shockwave of energy radiated out from Ling Tian's body. The power of the Early Spirit Foundation Realm flowed into every meridian, yet his true strength was comparable to a normal Peak Spirit Foundation cultivator.
Ling Tian opened his eyes. A streak of violet light danced in his gaze.
"Spirit Foundation Realm," he murmured. "I have done it in less than a month after gaining the Inheritance. This is a speed that even the Star Emperor couldn't have imagined."
He sensed the difference. He now had far greater control over his Primordial Chaos energy. His physical strength and reaction speed had multiplied.
He tested his new Foundation by activating a simple Sky Cloud Sect sword technique—the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.
Whoosh!
His Sword Qi shot out, but it was unlike normal Sword Qi. Ling Tian's Sword Qi was deep purple, leaving a minor trail of chaos in the air that corrupted the surrounding spiritual Qi.
"The Sky Cloud Sect's techniques, even with a Golden Chaos Foundation, are too weak," Ling Tian scoffed. It is time to master the techniques of the Absolute Immortal Lineage.
He stood up, stepping out of his cave dwelling. The surrounding Spirit Vein Branch would take a week to recover from his ravenous draining.
Outside, watchful Core Disciples and Elders awaited him, their faces filled with apprehension and curiosity.
"Honorary Core Disciple Ling Tian," an Elder greeted, "are you well? Your Qi consumption..."
"I am well," Ling Tian cut him off coldly. "I have reached the Spirit Foundation Realm. Do not worry about the Sect's Qi. I shall return it tenfold when I bring glory to this Sect."
With his new Divine-Tier Spirit Foundation, Ling Tian was now a true King among the Core Disciples. Arc II had begun, and the stage was set for his absolute domination of the Sky Cloud Sect.