The energy of the Foundation Pill was not violent; it was methodical, like a master architect laying the first stones of a grand cathedral.
It surged through Lin Ming's body, reinforcing his Qi channels, soothing his muscles, and preparing his dantian for the immense pressure of the transformation.
His dantian, the spiritual core below his navel, had been a swirling vortex of gaseous Qi. Now, under the dual pressure of his own will and the pill's potent energy, the vortex began to collapse inward.
The Fairy Qi, pulsing with vitality, compressed, its purity ensuring the process was stable. It was like watching a nebula under extreme gravity, slowly condensing into the first stage of a star.
Hours passed. The sun set, and the moon rose, bathing the desolate construction site in a silvery light. Lin Ming remained motionless, a statue in the center of a silent storm of spiritual energy. To an outside observer, nothing was happening. But within him, a universe was being remade.
The gaseous Qi condensed further, turning into a thick, energetic mist. Then, the first drop of liquid Qi formed. It was a single, perfect drop of jade-green energy, glowing with an inner light. It fell to the 'bottom' of his dantian, followed by another, and another. A pool of liquid Qi began to form.
This was the hallmark of the Foundation Establishment realm. His energy was no longer diffuse and inefficient; it was dense, potent, and a hundred times more powerful than before. He could now store vastly more energy and deploy it with far greater speed and control.
[Foundation Establishment... 50%... 70%... 90%...]
[Qi liquefaction complete!]
[Spiritual Sea formed in Dantian!]
[Body is being reforged by liquid Qi...]
A wave of excruciating pain and pleasure washed over him. Every cell in his body was being nourished and remade by his new, higher-quality energy.
Impurities accumulated over sixteen years of life in a polluted world were being forcibly expelled from his pores, forming a thin layer of black, grimey filth on his skin. It was a process known as 'Marrow Cleansing'.
His bones became harder, like jade; his muscles more resilient; his senses pushed to a new, superhuman level.
When the sun began to rise again, the process was complete.
Lin Ming opened his eyes. The world was... breathtaking. He could see the individual dust motes dancing in the morning sunbeam.
He could hear the fluttering of a butterfly's wings a hundred meters away. He could smell the dew on a spiderweb. This was the world as seen by a true cultivator.
[Congratulations, Host! You have successfully reached Foundation Establishment - Early Stage!]
[All physical and spiritual attributes have undergone a qualitative leap!]
[Spiritual Sense Unlocked!]
[Spiritual Sense: An evolution of Qi Sense. Allows the Host to project his consciousness outward, creating a 3D mental map of the surroundings up to a 100-meter radius.
Far more detailed than Qi Sense and can perceive inanimate objects in detail. Consumes a small amount of Qi.]
He tested it immediately. He closed his eyes and pushed his consciousness outward. The world blossomed in his mind.
He could 'see' the rebar inside the concrete pillars, the sleeping lizards in the crevices, the intricate patterns of rust on an abandoned steel beam. It was a true sixth sense.
[The Dragon's Seed has absorbed the foundational energy and has matured!]
[Dragon's Blood Armor (Partial Manifestation) is now available!]
[The unstable Fairy-Dragon energy fusion has stabilized within the newly formed Spiritual Sea!]
[New Skill Learned: Long Tien Cau (Dragon-Fairy Sphere)!]
[Long Tien Cau: A balanced fusion of explosive dragon power and vital fairy energy. It can be used for devastating attacks or potent healing, depending on the Host's intent. Warning: The attack version consumes a significant amount of Qi.]
This was the spherical ball of energy he had manifested earlier. He now knew its name and had conscious control over it.
Lin Ming stood up. He was covered in a layer of stinking black filth, his clothes were ruined, but he had never felt so clean, so powerful. A glance at a puddle showed his reflection. His features had become even more refined, his skin was flawless, and his eyes... his eyes seemed to hold a galaxy within them. His natural charm and good looks had been elevated to an almost otherworldly level.
"Foundation Establishment," he whispered, clenching his fists. A satisfying surge of power flowed through his limbs. This was a new beginning.
He looked at his stats.
[Name: Lin Ming]
[Age: 16]
[Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment - Early Stage]
[Next Milestone: Foundation Establishment - Mid Stage. Requirement: 20,000 Battle Will Points.]
[Battle Will Points: 2110]
[Innate Abilities: Dragon's Blood Armor (Partial), Long Tien Cau (Dragon-Fairy Sphere)]
He used some stored water to wash the grime off his body before heading home. As he walked, he practiced manifesting his new armor. With a thought, iridescent scales, shimmering between crimson and gold, flowed out from his skin, covering his forearms in a pair of draconic bracers. They were light but incredibly durable, harder than any steel he had ever encountered. It was only a partial manifestation, but it was a start.
His return home caused a small commotion.
"Ming! You were out all night! I was so worried!" his mother exclaimed, then paused, looking at him strangely. "Did you... do something to your hair?"
"You look different, brother," Lin An said, circling him. "Taller? And you smell... really nice. Like fresh rain."
His father said nothing, but his eyes, sharp and discerning, saw the truth. He recognized the fundamental shift in his son's aura. It was no longer the aura of a talented student; it was the aura of something more. He pulled Lin Ming aside later.
"You broke through again," he stated, his voice a low, awed whisper.
"Yes, Dad," Lin Ming admitted. "This is a new realm. The 'Foundation Establishment' stage."
Lin Tao stared at his son, seeing a power and potential he could barely comprehend. "What does it mean? What can you do now?"
Lin Ming smiled. He held out his palm. A swirling sphere of crimson and gold, the [Long Tien Cau], appeared, pulsing with controlled power. "It means," he said, his voice filled with newfound confidence, "that I can finally start fighting back for real."