Feng Zikang was regarded with doubtful eyes by Luo Lianxin as she looked at the collection of swords. Even in the True Man Realm, she had assumed Feng Zikang possessed numerous treasures, so she couldn't fathom why he still utilized a mere Yellow-rank, Grade Two broken sword.

Now, the fact that he intended to use this very weapon as his Natal Artifact only deepened Luo Lianxin’s astonishment.

She gently traced the blade, noting several prominent fissures. This sword, she mused, must have sustained countless injuries. Seeing her pale fingers brush against the cracks, Feng Zikang chuckled softly. “When I first acquired this sword, the fissures were as dense as a spider’s web. After consuming the souls of many artifacts, it gradually settled into this state.”

“It’s just an ordinary Yellow-rank, Grade Two sword,”

The sword possessed no inherent divine abilities; even its Yellow-rank, Grade Two designation, Luo Lianxin felt, was an overestimation.

He intended to use this as his Natal Artifact? Just as Luo Lianxin was about to offer counsel again, a sudden realization dawned upon her.

“I see now!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. “Junior Brother, you have truly grasped the spirit of not relying on external objects. You understand that one’s own cultivation is the true path. Choosing this piece of junk as your Natal Artifact is, in itself, a profound method of enlightenment. Remarkable!”

Feng Zikang could only offer a wry smile. He was purely drawn to the Sky-Swallowing Ancient Sword’s potential for gradual evolution. Though currently only Yellow-rank, Grade Two, once refined as his Natal Artifact and frequently fed the souls of other artifacts, it would eventually recover its former glory.

“In life, I do not slay nameless travelers, only claim famed swords to warm my soul.”

Recalling how even the Zen Master Wule felt his meditative heart tremble with fear upon seeing this sword, an immense surge of heroism welled up in Feng Zikang’s chest.

Naturally, none of this needed explaining to Luo Lianxin. If she wished to misunderstand, so be it. In the end, Feng Zikang would use this simple iron sword regardless.

With Luo Lianxin delivering the Five Elements Wonders, his preparations for Foundation Establishment were complete. Feng Zikang dared not delay; he observed ritual fasting and bathing, regulating his breath and circulation to bring his body to its optimal condition.

After three days thus, he ascended the Sunset Peak once more.

Achieving Foundation Establishment through a God-tier Merit Task was, in the Dragon-Tiger Mountain School of the Military Arts, considered a momentous occasion.

Feng Zikang’s intent to establish his foundation even alerted the Sect Master, Yuan Buhuan, who sat waiting for him in the Merit Hall, clad in full formal attire.

“Oh my, Nephew Feng, achieving Foundation Establishment via God-tier Merit today is a grand event unseen in the Dragon-Tiger Mountain Military School for many years. I had planned to gather all disciples to cheer you on, but I feared disturbing your state of mind, so I relented,”

Yuan Buhuan, rosy-cheeked and garrulous, seemed as excited as if he himself were establishing his foundation for the first time.

After all, only two third-generation disciples had previously reached Foundation Establishment: one, Liang Si’an, had perished; the other, Huo Zhongguang, had fallen to demonic cultivation. Finally, there were two more prospects, and these were disciples achieving the stage via a God-tier task—how could he not be thrilled?

Feng Zikang offered polite smiles in response, but Elder Yun showed him no such courtesy.

“Enough, enough! Don’t disturb the process. Little Yuan-zi, say less!” He addressed everyone in the same familiar manner. Even General Lu, when he was around, had to tolerate it, let alone the current Sect Master. Yuan Buhuan sighed bitterly and ushered Feng Zikang into the inner chamber.

“Martial Uncle, this lad is the hope of our Military School. You must cultivate him well!”

“Must I be told?” Elder Yun scoffed disdainfully, leaning on the table, amusedly teasing a turtle he’d somehow procured from an unknown source. Reincarnation Foundation Establishment was a top secret; even he couldn't enter, leaving Feng Zikang to proceed alone.

Yuan Buhuan wrung his hands, visibly agitated. He paced back and forth, unable to settle, like a father waiting outside a delivery room—the emperor wasn't anxious, but the eunuch was beside himself.

Feng Zikang held immense significance for him now, offering a chance to reestablish the Military School’s prestige. The silent disappearances of the two previous top disciples were too difficult to speak of.

Currently, Feng Zikang’s reputation among the third generation was at its zenith. Setting aside the recent events in the Southern Barbarian lands, the news of him slaughtering the myriad demons of Mangcang Mountain was slowly spreading. While many staid, prudent elders criticized him for excessive killing, which fueled continuous conflict in the southwest, the majority of the younger generation were ecstatic, viewing him as a great hero.

The Military School’s influence had waned since General Lu’s departure. The emergence of Feng Zikang offered a rare chance, and Yuan Buhuan naturally wished to cultivate him diligently and take him as a trusted confidant, hence extending veiled overtures of goodwill frequently.

However, Feng Zikang remained oblivious to all this. His mind was utterly clear, focused solely on the Foundation Establishment process.

Stepping into the inner chamber, the Grand Reincarnation Disk sat silently in the room’s center, emitting a heavy pressure and palpable energy. Feng Zikang stood motionless for a long while before slowly approaching and seating himself upon the Disk.

The Grand Reincarnation Disk slowly emitted golden light, beginning to rotate gradually.

Feng Zikang observed clearly that around the jade perimeter of the Disk were five small indentations, each marked with a symbol representing one of the Five Elements—this was where the essence of the Five Elements was to be channeled.

If one did not prepare their own materials, the Disk would provide them, but those provided were invariably somewhat lackluster.

Feng Zikang carefully channeled the Five Elements Wonders gifted by Luo Lianxin into the respective indentations. A thunderous roar echoed from within the Disk—the sound of the Five Elements merging, gradually being shaped and formed through rotation and repetition.

These were the materials for constructing the Dao Foundation. Feng Zikang sat calmly on the Disk, his mind empty, circulating his energies and regulating his breath.

After reaching the tenth layer of the ‘Guiding Tendrils’ peak, the six internal cyclones merged into one, opening the three gates of Heaven, Earth, and Man, establishing a harmonious Grand Cycle.

Foundation Establishment required the mixing of this internal True Essence Qi with the Five Elements Wonders to construct the Dao Foundation, building the Five Towers and Twelve Cities within the body—the basis for achieving the Dao.

Once the Dao Foundation was established, one naturally achieved the Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown and the Five Qi Returning to the Origin, manifesting ethereal Dao energy behind the ears, thus truly becoming a practitioner of immortal cultivation.

However, having slain countless Foundation Establishment cultivators, Feng Zikang did not view this process as overly mysterious. His composure was steady; he simply channeled his vital energy as the Grand Reincarnation Disk turned.

The rotation of the Grand Reincarnation Disk accelerated until its booming sound became incessant.

Feng Zikang felt five streams of warmth gradually flooding his body. Closing his eyes to look inward, he perceived five distinct colors—the very Five Elements Wonders he had just infused.

These Five Elements Wonders churned within him, following the circulation of his vital energy, gradually reforging his meridians and undergoing a complete transformation.

Feng Zikang felt only slight stinging, no profound sensation, but he could see his muscles, bones, and marrow becoming ever more vibrant and crystalline, while his meridians grew sturdier and smoother, vastly different from before.

All impurities expelled from his body were completely absorbed by the Grand Reincarnation Disk, leaving no residue.

If someone could witness his current state, it would be truly bizarre. Feng Zikang sat upon the Grand Reincarnation Disk, emitting a faint, crystalline glow, his skin pale almost to transparency, revealing the subtle fluorescence of his flesh, meridians, and bones beneath.

“Hah!”

Feng Zikang exhaled sharply, expelling a suffocating cloud of energy; the second refinement was complete. From this moment onward, he would truly begin the Foundation Establishment process.

The five streams of colored energy skillfully returned to his Dantian, commencing the construction of the foundation, much like building a house, gradually raising the internal Five Towers and Twelve Cities.

The five colored energies first settled into their five cardinal positions.

Yellow, belonging to Earth, formed from Dragon Blood Yellow Soil, occupied the center, spiraling upward to gradually form a lofty tower.

Cyan, belonging to Wood, born from Myriad Profound True Wood, occupied the East, slowly growing like clinging vines to form a colossal, tree-like citadel.

Crimson, belonging to Fire, derived from Aurora Ice Flame, blazed intensely in the South, constructing a tower forged of flame.

White, belonging to Metal, transformed from inherent Metal Spirit, formed in the West into a sharp, imposing metal fortress.

Black, belonging to Water, manifested from Heavenly River Divine Water, flowed slowly in the North, also gradually completing a towering structure.

With the Five Towers established, they radiated magnificent light that reached outside his body. Feng Zikang felt an unparalleled comfort; within him seemed to be a base constantly supplying True Essence. From then on in battle, he would never fear running out of essence. Foundation Establishment had reached this point—halfway complete.

The True Qi within Feng Zikang, guided by his focused circulation, continued to pour into the Five Towers until they overflowed, gradually taking on the appearance of city pavilions.

Today’s Foundation Establishment was proceeding exceptionally smoothly, greatly satisfying Feng Zikang. As his spirit briefly relaxed, a sudden, twisting pain seized him; the city pavilions formed by his True Qi began to collapse. Even the Five Towers formed by the five energies wavered precariously.

“Not good!”

Feng Zikang was inwardly alarmed. Foundation Establishment inherently had a success rate. Normally, the Grand Reincarnation Disk had already perfected his physique, and its enveloping energy aided the construction of the Five Towers. This Foundation Establishment was already half-finished, yet a flaw had emerged during the formation of the Twelve Cities within his body.

In the end, it was because Feng Zikang cultivated both the Military and Demonic paths. Although his demonic energy was contained within the Demonic Seed, the killing intent within his body was unavoidably tinged with a demonic nature; it lacked sufficient purity. Now, during the construction of the Twelve Cities, obstacles inevitably arose.

The Twelve Cities crumbled, and his internal True Qi scattered. Although the mysterious power of the Grand Reincarnation Disk helped to contain it, Feng Zikang was still in unbearable agony. Gritting his teeth, he swallowed a Life-Generating Pill, struggling to reassert control over his True Qi and rebuild the cities.

This was arduous work; recondensing scattered True Qi was no easy feat. This killing energy was violent and fierce. If not for his recently modified meridians and bones, coupled with the miraculous effect of the Life-Generating Pill, he would likely have been instantly torn apart, falling from the Grand Reincarnation Disk, marking the failure of this Foundation Establishment.

Feng Zikang endured the pain, forcefully circulating all his True Qi into the Five Towers. The vital energy churned, gradually forming the semblance of the Twelve Cities, but alas, the effort collapsed and scattered again just before completion—a case of nearly succeeding but ultimately failing.

“Hmph!”

Feng Zikang grunted, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. These two failed attempts at city-building inflicted severe damage upon his body. Fortunately, his physique was resilient; he bit down hard, clinging to the Grand Reincarnation Disk, refusing to fall, and began the third attempt to condense his True Qi, circulating it slowly.

This time, he dared not rush. He let the process flow naturally, gathering True Qi into the Five Towers and relying on the Disk’s power to pile it up slowly, allowing it to form naturally.

※

“How long has he been in there!”

Yuan Buhuan paced back and forth, his steps growing heavier, sweat gradually beading on his forehead, like an ant on a hot pan.

“Why isn’t he out yet?”

A typical Foundation Establishment required little time, at most a day and a night. Feng Zikang had been inside for a full three days and nights; how could those outside not worry?

“What’s the big deal?” Elder Yun, having produced a packet of peanuts from nowhere, tossed one up and caught it, clearly enjoying himself and unconcerned with how long Feng Zikang had been inside. “Have you forgotten? When your senior brother General Lu established his foundation, he was in there for seven days and nights, screaming like ghosts were being tortured. I was sweating buckets listening outside, yet in the end, didn’t he emerge—no, succeed in his Foundation Establishment?”

“That’s completely different,”

Yuan Buhuan shook his head with a bitter smile.

General Lu had been severely injured when he underwent Foundation Establishment, his cultivation nearly destroyed, yet he forcibly pushed through, rebuilding the Five Towers and Twelve Cities seven times through sheer willpower before finally succeeding and becoming a renowned figure.

Feng Zikang’s situation was vastly different. Not only was he hale and full of vigor, but he had also completed a God-tier Merit task, and the Grand Reincarnation Disk had assisted in his physical transformation—he was uniquely favored. By all logic, he should have finished quickly.

“People are different. Why are you so anxious?” Elder Yun shot him a sidelong glance. He had absolute faith in Feng Zikang. With the kid’s skill at trickery, could a mere Foundation Establishment possibly stump him?

Yuan Buhuan found no resonance for his worries and could only fret alone, staring fixedly at the inner chamber door, his face etched with concern.

※

Several days and nights passed. Feng Zikang slumped exhausted on the Grand Reincarnation Disk, his face ashen. The blood flowing from his seven orifices had turned purplish-black, his eyes were swollen, and his injuries were not light.

“Truly…”

It turned out that cultivating both paths simultaneously brought forth such misery at this stage. Feng Zikang had no choice but to swallow his suffering. The assistance from the Grand Reincarnation Disk was contingent on the purity of the power input. His own power was immense, but inherently impure. When amplified, the delicate Twelve Cities, once barely formed, fractured the moment they were disturbed.

He had failed five times already.

“Hmph!”

Feng Zikang gritted his teeth and swallowed another Life-Generating Pill. Despite the extreme difficulty, he had absolutely no intention of giving up!

He painstakingly gathered the scattered True Qi once more, pouring it into the Five Towers. Fortunately, the quality of the Five Elements Wonders chosen this time was superior; despite being shaken multiple times, they remained firm, which significantly eased the difficulty of rebuilding the Twelve Cities.

The True Qi, having been broken down and rebuilt several times, had finally become much purer, slowly churning within the Five Towers, and the nascent forms of the Twelve Cities gradually took shape!

“It’s done!”

Feng Zikang had a premonition; this time, he would succeed!

He forced his limp body upright, straightened his spine, and with all the strength he possessed, let out a resounding shout!

The Five Towers and Twelve Cities within his body formed perfectly. The True Qi circulated swiftly and smoothly, filling him with an indescribable sense of joy and triumph. A purple energy gradually permeated these structures, filling his chest and abdomen—the Three Flowers Gathered at the Crown, the Five Qi Returning to the Origin!

Foundation Establishment!

Foundation Establishment!

After immense effort and exhausting his strength, following five failures, Feng Zikang finally succeeded, truly stepping into the realm of cultivation!

“He did it!”

Outside, Yuan Buhuan cried out in joy, completely abandoning the demeanor of a Sect Master. Elder Yun sighed, shaking his head at Yuan’s lack of composure, but a hint of happiness showed in his own eyes.

After all that arduous effort to reach Foundation Establishment, please reward us with a monthly ticket?