Chapter 251: The Gap Between Qi Refining and Foundation Building

While Bai Zhenzhen was fiercely battling numerous Qi Refinement masters, Zhang Yu also planted the acquired Heavenly Spiritual Root into his Dantian, initiating the fusion of the spiritual root with his physical body.

The Heavenly Spiritual Root Zhang Yu chose for his Foundation Establishment this time was the Qi Sea Spiritual Root.

Fu Ji said, "Different spiritual roots yield vastly different effects after Foundation Establishment."

"If you use a combat spiritual root for Foundation Establishment, your combat power will increase more rapidly afterward. However, in the long run, a cultivation-oriented spiritual root holds more promise."

"But you'll need to fight immediately after completing Foundation Establishment, so some purely cultivation-focused spiritual roots... wouldn't be very suitable for your current situation."

"After considering everything, the Qi Sea Spiritual Root is still the best fit for you."

Zhang Yu agreed with Fu Ji's recommendation.

The Qi Sea Spiritual Root, nicknamed "Wall-Piercing King," had its greatest advantage in its vast coverage, capable of penetrating various walls, buildings, mud, and earth to absorb spiritual energy over a wide area.

It could both enhance the efficiency of his future mana cultivation and improve his mana recovery during combat.

Using the Qi Sea Spiritual Root for Foundation Establishment combined the benefits of increased cultivation potential and enhanced combat power.

As Zhang Yu introduced the Qi Sea Spiritual Root into his Dantian, the root seemed to sprout, extending crystal-like rootlets that burrowed into the surrounding mana.

Instantly, spiritual energy from the surroundings swarmed in, pouring into his Dantian with Zhang Yu's breathing.

As Zhang Yu continuously infused the Qi Sea Spiritual Root with mana, the spiritual root seemed stimulated, continuing to sprout and spread throughout his Dantian.

When Zhang Yu injected 60 units of mana into the spiritual root, it underwent a qualitative change, as crystal-like tendrils spread and grew along his meridians.

The entire Qi Sea Spiritual Root began to merge with his meridians, using Zhang Yu's Dantian as its origin, gradually becoming a part of his body—a new organ.

With each step of the spiritual root's fusion, more and more spiritual energy surged in, and Zhang Yu could feel the range of his spiritual energy absorption expanding.

From an initial 50 meters, it expanded step by step to 60 meters.

80 meters...

100 meters!

At this moment, Zhang Yu felt as if he had become a giant funnel between heaven and earth, frantically devouring spiritual energy within a hundred-meter radius.

"After becoming a part of my body... is this the true power of the Qi Sea Spiritual Root?"

Simultaneously, as the Qi Sea Spiritual Root fully rooted and sprouted within his Dantian and its tendrils merged with his meridians, Zhang Yu felt that with every breath, the pores all over his body were absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The circulation speed of spiritual energy and mana within his meridians instantly surged by several times.

If the original mana circulation in his meridians was like a car driving on a winding mountain road,

then from this moment on, when Zhang Yu circulated mana through his meridians again, it was like a car speeding on a highway.

The efficiency of mana absorption, circulation speed, mobilization scale, and output scale... all surged at this moment.

With this explosive increase in mana efficiency, Zhang Yu's immortal cultivation also underwent a qualitative change.

A realization flashed in Zhang Yu's mind: "Mana... is like the power source of immortal cultivation."

"As the efficiency of this power source rapidly increased, the operation of all my cultivation techniques and the beneficial effects they provided were also enhanced."

"It's like attaching an engine to a bicycle..."

As spiritual energy flooded in, the mana Zhang Yu had just begun to deplete due to the spiritual root fusion also started to recover rapidly.

Even after his mana recovered to 100 units, the mana refinement continued without stopping.

In an instant, the previous limit was broken; Zhang Yu's mana directly surpassed 100.1 and then continued to surge upwards.

Clearly, with the fusion of the spiritual root, Zhang Yu's mana limit was also broken.

This rapid increase in mana only slowed down after reaching 180, eventually stopping at 198.4.

After this surge of mana beyond its previous limit, driven by the mana, Zhang Yu's Dao Heart also began to stir.

So Zhang Yu meditated on the image of the crippled ox in his mind and began to circulate his mental cultivation technique.

It was not the Qi Refinement stage's "Crippled Ox Self-Sacrifice Mantra," but rather the Foundation Establishment stage's "Crippled Ox Self-Sacrifice Mantra," which Deng Bingding had authorized this time.

The crippled ox in his mind seemed to let out a roar towards the sky. The surrounding mud churned and surged, as if transforming into pairs of black hands trying to drag it into the depths of the mire.

But the crippled ox's body grew larger, covered in various scars from blades, swords, and burns, yet it radiated a sense of holiness and emitted a faint white glow.

The white crippled ox appeared even more resolute and unyielding amidst the surging black mud.

Dao Heart Level 10 (100.0) → Level 11 (0.1)

After consecutive breakthroughs in mana and Dao Heart, Zhang Yu felt his physical body stirring.

His muscles twitched all over, and the surging mana was converted into Longevity Mana, which he then used to cultivate the Foundation Establishment stage's "Everlasting Spring Autumn Chan."

His physical body, like parched land, frantically absorbed the nourishment of Longevity Mana, then similarly broke its limit, increasing its physical strength to Level 10.01.

Dao Heart Level 11 (0.1)

Mana 198.4

Physical Strength Level 10.01

Feeling the surging power within him, Zhang Yu understood at that moment that he had truly entered the Foundation Establishment realm.

And from this moment on, his Dao Heart, Mana, and Physical Body could continue to improve.

Specifically, the Dao Heart level limit reached 20, the mana limit was 1000, and the physical strength limit was 20.

However, Zhang Yu did not continue to cultivate his Dao Heart, mana, or physical strength, as significant improvements in these areas were difficult to achieve in a short time.

At that moment, he urgently needed to boost his combat power, and the best way to do so was...

Zhang Yu looked at the "Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art" on his phone.

This was the last Foundation Establishment stage cultivation technique Deng Bingding had given him, besides the "Crippled Ox Self-Sacrifice Mantra" and "Everlasting Spring Autumn Chan," also known as a former military-grade cultivation technique.

Combat Technique — Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art Level 0 (0/1)

After switching his Feather Scroll to "Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art," Zhang Yu began cultivating this technique, which was only accessible at the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art... a Foundation Establishment stage technique created by the originator of the Limitless Cloud Hand."

"Like the Limitless Cloud Hand, it doesn't emphasize specific moves; it only has three main forms, which makes it convenient for me to cultivate."

As Zhang Yu completed the first cycle of the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art, countless images flashed through his mind, and he instantly grasped the fundamentals of the technique.

Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art Level 1 (0/10)

"This technique and the Limitless Cloud Hand are completely from the same lineage..."

"It's practically a tailor-made cultivation choice for me. Deng Bingding must have intended this, right?"

When Zhang Yu cultivated the Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art to Level 5, he could feel that the power of this former military-grade technique had already surpassed any of his practical martial arts.

But Zhang Yu no longer had the time or inclination to continue cultivating.

After all, for every moment he spent cultivating, Bai Zhenzhen's danger would increase.

So Zhang Yu's figure flickered, moving at full speed towards Bai Zhenzhen's battlefield.

As soon as Zhang Yu arrived at the battlefield, he witnessed the scene of Bai Zhenzhen being captured by Zhou Yang.

Although he didn't recognize Zhou Yang, whose appearance and physique had been altered, it didn't prevent intense killing intent from surging within Zhang Yu.

198.4 units of mana roared wildly within him, transforming into torrents of milky-white Formless Cloud Aura that surged forth.

He didn't use the newly cultivated Nine Heavens Cloud Void Art; after all, that was his current hidden trump card. At this moment, Zhang Yu merely employed the Limitless Cloud Hand.

When Zhang Yu previously used the Limitless Cloud Hand, his auric energy could only cover a range of a few meters.

But at this moment, after fusing with the Qi Sea Spiritual Root and entering the Foundation Establishment realm, Zhang Yu's mana limit, mana allocation efficiency, and output efficiency all far exceeded the limits of the Qi Refinement stage.

In a blink of an eye, the Formless Cloud Aura enveloped the battlefield for tens of meters around, like a rising thick fog.

Zhou Yang paused, startled by the sound coming from the thick fog. The next moment, he saw his opponent advancing atop a sea of clouds.

Meanwhile, the surrounding Formless Cloud Aura had imperceptibly attacked, like underwater currents, coiling around Zhou Yang's hands and feet, restricting his movements.

Zhang Yu gently struck out a palm towards Zhou Yang.

Zhou Yang subconsciously met the strike, activating the Zhou family's "Frost Heaven Freezing Qi Field." Waves of palm force, laden with resentment and deathly chill, already surged towards Zhang Yu.

The two palms collided with a soft thud, but Zhou Yang's face suddenly changed drastically. He felt that the opponent's palm strike, seemingly unremarkable, only revealed its immense power upon actual contact, revealing the formidable Formless Cloud Aura it contained.

If the freezing qi from his palm strike was a gentle stream, then the auric energy from his opponent's palm was like a mighty river, surging and powerful.

The Formless Cloud Aura tore through the freezing qi with destructive force, pouring into Zhou Yang's body, rupturing his meridians, and shattering his bones and tendons...

Amidst explosive thuds, Zhou Yang's right arm was utterly pulverized, erupting into a cloud of blood mist.

After being heavily wounded by a single palm, Zhou Yang stumbled and fell to the ground, his heart reeling: "Foundation... Foundation Establishment! This is the level of mana output only achievable in the Foundation Establishment realm!"

Zhang Yu, however, seemed to treat him like air, quietly walking to Bai Zhenzhen's side and gently pulling her into his embrace.

Looking at Bai Zhenzhen's pale face and her injuries, Zhang Yu said, "I'm sorry, I came late."

Bai Zhenzhen smiled faintly and said, "Isn't this perfect timing?"

From Zhang Yu's arrival to his single-strike devastation of Zhou Yang and embracing Bai Zhenzhen, only a few seconds had passed.

In those few seconds, the numerous Qi Refinement masters around them hadn't ceased their actions either, already charging into the thick fog, roaring, and attacking in the direction they remembered Bai Zhenzhen to be.

Facing the encirclement of over a dozen peak Qi Refinement cultivators, Zhang Yu held Bai Zhenzhen with one arm, slightly channeled power into his other palm, and then launched a strike from a distance.

If, moments ago, in his haste to rescue Bai Zhenzhen, Zhang Yu had merely delivered a basic attack to Zhou Yang,

then at this moment, Zhang Yu's palm strike also incorporated the power-channeling techniques of "Back Dragon Overturning Mountain Hand" and "Dragon Elephant Shattering Mountain Palm."

Although both were merely Qi Refinement stage martial arts, under the enhancement of Zhang Yu's Foundation Establishment mana and Martial Dao Sacred Embryo, they unleashed an unprecedentedly fierce palm force.

Everyone felt a crackling explosion in the air first, followed by what sounded like the roars of dragons and elephants.

Ye Mantian felt as if a giant dragon was roaring and charging towards him within the sea of clouds. He unleashed his full power, raising both palms, yet he was instantly overwhelmed. With a bang, he was sent flying, crashing into a small building.

Ye Mantian struggled to stand, but then violently spat out a large mouthful of blood. He felt his internal organs tearing apart and his entire body fractured and torn. With a thud, he collapsed to his knees.

When he looked up, he saw that the thick fog, which had just been so dense, had dispersed with the blast of wind from the explosion, revealing a scene that looked as if it had suffered a massive detonation.

Moreover, none of the numerous masters who had been bravely fighting moments ago were still standing.

Some had crashed into shattered walls, with only parts of their bodies visible.

Others lay on the ground, covered in blood, already unconscious.

And some were reduced to mere severed limbs and scattered remains, without a complete body.

As Ye Mantian looked at Zhang Yu, who stood at the center of the battlefield with one arm around Bai Zhenzhen, he bitterly murmured to himself, "Foundation Establishment..."

Simultaneously, streaks of divine power descended from the sky. Wang Yin's remotely activated surgical talismans had begun healing Chi He, Ye Mantian, and the others.

But even as they felt their injuries rapidly recovering, Chi He, Ye Mantian, and the other masters present felt a chilling dread in their hearts. They dared not move an inch, much less display any fighting intent or hostility.

Because from Zhang Yu's cold gaze, they read the same message:

"Whoever moves, dies."