Chapter 221: Foundation Establishment

After leaving the Shenmu Sect and instantly reappearing at Chicheng Mountain, Chen Mobai attended classes for another two months.

Although he appeared to win the sect competition with ease, in reality, each drop of liquid spiritual power he expended required his full effort. If not for his foundational mastery of the Divine Control Art and his spiritual sense being more potent than that of a typical ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, he might not have been able to control the formidable power of the rainbow-like sword qi.

With spirit stones readily available, his depleted spiritual power quickly recovered. However, restoring his spiritual sense would take some time. Coincidentally, he used these two months to review all sixteen volumes of the 'Eternal Life Scripture' Foundation Establishment insights gifted to him by E Yun. He also studied several Foundation Establishment texts on wood-attribute cultivation methods from the academy.

Only after confirming his complete understanding did he call his academy teacher to request leave and apply for Foundation Establishment.

"Didn't you attempt that just last year, at the end of the semester?" asked Che Yucheng, sounding puzzled.

Back then, Chen Mobai had applied for his allocated set of the Three Foundation Establishment Treasures and used academic credits to acquire two portions of Profound Fire Spiritual Liquid. He had successfully completed the first step, "Marrow Cleansing and Muscle Strengthening," but got stuck at the second step, "Qi Condensation to Liquid," using the Critical Method.

"This morning, when I woke up, I had a sudden epiphany, a profound and mysterious feeling that told me my moment for Foundation Establishment has arrived," Chen Mobai explained.

Chen Mobai could only fabricate a story; he certainly wouldn't reveal that he had spent over three years secretly cultivating in a sect in another realm, painstakingly acquiring an extremely rare Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Alright then, I'll approve your leave. If you succeed in Foundation Establishment, everything will be fine, of course. But if you fail again, you'll still be responsible for all 10 academic credits this year, or else don't blame me for taking disciplinary action."

Che Yucheng found himself unable to argue against Chen Mobai's vague and mystical inspiration. It was widely known that cultivators often succeeded in breaking through realms when they experienced such profound premonitions. However, conventional wisdom dictated that after a failed Foundation Establishment attempt, it was best to wait a year before trying again. Yet, with the Foundation Establishment Pill now in his possession, Chen Mobai genuinely felt certain of success this time. This wasn't merely a vague premonition; it was based on solid reasoning.

At the front desk of the cultivation rooms in Building Nine, two girls in school uniforms were seated. They were students participating in a work-study program. Chen Mobai recognized the short-haired girl, who seemed a year his senior and was thus an upperclassman. The other girl, with long hair cascading over her shoulders, looked unfamiliar; she was likely a newly admitted freshman.

Chen Mobai handed his student ID to the junior student who approached him. Her round face was adorned with a smile.

"Hello, Senior. Are you here to rent a room?"

"Yes, a peak-grade Tier 3 spiritual vein room."

Upon hearing this, the junior, who was about to process the request, couldn't help but show surprise and turned to look at the other upperclassman.

"Peak-grade Tier 3?"

The upperclassman, who had been engrossed in her phone, took the student ID and confirmed the request. This was the highest grade of spiritual vein a student could apply for, requiring a teacher's signature from the academy.

"That's right."

Chen Mobai nodded, then showed them a photo of the document Che Yucheng had sent him on his phone. On the document, the reason for the application was clearly stated: Foundation Establishment.

The short-haired upperclassman's expression shifted to one of realization. She looked him up and down in surprise, scrutinizing this seemingly ordinary yet refined junior.

"You're only a fourth-year student, yet you've already mastered the Critical Method."

"A fortunate comprehension," Chen Mobai replied modestly.

Chen Mobai said no more, and under the junior's admiring gaze, he proceeded to arrange for the peak-grade Tier 3 spiritual vein room with an unlimited usage duration. This meant that as long as he remained in the cultivation room and had sufficient merit points on his student ID, he could continue cultivating indefinitely.

"Here you go, Senior, this is the key."

After reviewing the document, the short-haired upperclassman handed the process back to the junior. Chen Mobai nodded and took the key.

Upon entering his room, he sat on the meditation cushion, took out his phone, and opened the "Foundation Establishment Assistant" app.

Foundation Establishment Success Rate: 31%!

Chen Mobai had already used this software during his time in the Sky River Realm, and the results were already available. He tapped the small arrow to expand and view the detailed calculation results.

Perfected Qi Refinement Layer 9, Marrow Cleansing and Muscle Strengthening completed, Qi Condensation to Liquid partially completed: Foundation Establishment success rate increased by 16%.Critical Method mastered, no danger from Foundation Establishment failure, positive mindset: Foundation Establishment success rate increased by 1%.Divine Control Art foundational mastery, spiritual sense trained: Foundation Establishment success rate increased by 5%.Peak-grade Tier 3 spiritual vein: Foundation Establishment success rate increased by 9%.

He hadn't included the Foundation Establishment Pill in the calculations because its formula was prohibited from being refined in the Immortal Sect, and listing it might attract unwanted attention from the system's backend. However, according to statistics from the Sky River Realm, a single Foundation Establishment Pill offered a 30% chance of success. His beast-derived Foundation Establishment Pill, however, was only 80% as effective as a standard one, so he calculated it as an additional 24%.

Adding these together, his total Foundation Establishment success rate was 55%.

That was sufficient.

While Chen Mobai typically conducted himself with caution, he was exceptionally decisive when it mattered most. He knew that the alchemical toxins in this Foundation Establishment Pill were certainly excessive. Nevertheless, if he succeeded in establishing his foundation, he would have ample time to slowly refine and eliminate them.

He retrieved his storage bag from his backpack and poured the Foundation Establishment Pill into his palm. He gazed at the pill, which resembled a piece of blood jade. His eyes suddenly sharpened, and he promptly opened his mouth, swallowing the precious spiritual medicine he had spent over three years painstakingly acquiring.

As the pill slid down his throat, a potent medicinal force immediately surged forth. However, Chen Mobai had long since completed the Marrow Cleansing and Muscle Strengthening process, so his body perfectly absorbed the potent medicinal force. It coursed along his strong and clear twelve main meridians, flowing through his internal organs and bone marrow. Finding no further areas to strengthen, it then converged once more, transforming into a powerful surge of heat that directly rushed into his Dantian Qi Sea.

Because the medicinal power of the Foundation Establishment Pill wasn't being consumed by the Marrow Cleansing and Muscle Strengthening process, Chen Mobai's spiritual power vortex was momentarily overwhelmed by such a vast torrent. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he activated the Divine Control Art.

With his spiritual sense fully engaged, Chen Mobai continuously circulated the tenth-level mental technique of the Eternal Life Scripture, while simultaneously reviewing the Foundation Establishment insights he had studied. Predecessors had encountered similar situations. Individuals with Heavenly Spiritual Roots or even Innate Dao Bodies were naturally born with their Marrow Cleansing and Muscle Strengthening already complete. When faced with such potent medicinal force, they only needed to guide the portion they could refine into their Dantian, allowing the remainder to flow through their meridians, internal organs, and bone marrow. This allowed the residual energy to slowly circulate, enhancing their physical strength while buying crucial time.

The spiritual power vortex began to spin, and a crystalline clear light shimmered on Chen Mobai's face. The rich, peak-grade Tier 3 spiritual energy transformed into a mist that surged into his seven orifices, neutralizing with the Foundation Establishment Pill's medicinal power. Using the Eternal Life spiritual power as a catalyst, he began to condense the third drop of liquid spiritual power, then the fourth, the fifth…

Quickly, he condensed the ten drops of Eternal Life spiritual power necessary for Foundation Establishment. At this point, only seventy percent of the Foundation Establishment Pill's medicinal power had been utilized, but Chen Mobai hesitated to convert any more. He felt a heavy sensation in his Dantian Qi Sea, recognizing that he had reached his current limit.

Only the final step remained.

In a single surge of effort, the remaining thirty percent of the medicinal power transformed into a warm current that surged into his Purple Mansion Sea of Consciousness.

With a resounding boom!

A dull, thunderous tremor seemed to reverberate within his mind! Chen Mobai felt his spiritual sense instantly being propelled out of his Heavenly Spirit!

His spiritual sense had left his body!