Chapter 117: Ten Spirit Beasts Stolen, Foundation Established at Twenty and a Half

“This is… someone’s forming their foundation?”

“They’re drawing on the natural energy of heaven and earth to build it!”

“No Foundation Establishment Pill… What talent…”

Three shocked exclamations whispered through the air.

The remaining two—Cultivators surnamed Sun and Hu—both furrowed their brows.

All five of them had reached Foundation Establishment through pills—the only difference was how many pills each had consumed.

Naturally, encountering a genius who could attract heavenly energy solely through personal cultivation, comprehension, and willpower stirred feelings of envy.

Right now, they had an overwhelming urge to rush forward and interrupt, sabotage, and destroy the Foundation Establishment of the unknown cultivator undergoing breakthrough.

But a genius like this—who could raise eight spirit beasts—was almost certainly under someone’s protection. A master, or at least a powerful guardian.

And who was that guardian? Foundation Establishment? Or a Golden Core cultivator?

Even the Sun-surnamed cultivator, who was at mid-Foundation Establishment, hesitated.

The moment they had landed on the island, the person inside must’ve sensed their presence. But for the sake of protecting their disciple during such a critical moment, they hadn’t made a move—choosing silence over conflict.

But if they dared interrupt the breakthrough, they were prepared to act instantly—like a lightning bolt.

To sabotage someone’s Foundation Establishment… that was a lifelong enmity—a grudge not easily forgiven.

At this moment, all five cultivators could feel a cold, killing intent hovering above them, like invisible eyes watching from the void.

As if someone was ready to strike them down the moment they crossed the line.

Inside the wooden hut…

Yu Xian’s entire body was wrapped in a dense green mist, flowing like a river.

Within his dantian, in the vast eight-zhang, eight-chi-wide sea of Qi, a six-zhang, six-chi-wide crystalline core shimmered like an emerald jewel.

From its surface, a small elm sapling began to sprout.

The Foundation Establishment had begun.

Yu Xian, though aware of intruders on the island, could not stop now—any interruption would mean failure, and damage to his crystalline core, making future breakthroughs even harder.

This wasn’t like consuming a Foundation Pill, where one could prepare in advance. This was a natural breakthrough, triggered by the completion of his cultivation technique—Longevity Wood Spring Scripture, after achieving the Fourth Layer of the Wood Spiritual Art.

He had never imagined he’d achieve this rare fortune. He had always assumed he would need to rely on pills.

But fate had smiled, and now he had to grab this chance with both hands, no matter who arrived.

He focused everything into his breakthrough.

The tiny elm tree grew steadily in the core of his Qi sea, while torrents of spiritual energy were drawn into it, nourishing it.

At the same time, under the influence of heavenly laws, Yu Xian’s body began to transform.

His flesh became stronger, and his youth was frozen in time—he would forever retain the appearance of a twenty-year-old unless something extraordinary happened.

His lifespan expanded—from a mere 100 years as a mortal, to 300 years as a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This was the dividing line between mortals and cultivators.

Without Foundation Establishment, even a perfected Qi Condensation cultivator would eventually grow old and die, as their spiritual energy slowly dispersed over time.

But Yu Xian had trained in body-tempering techniques—including a Great Elixir Tempering Method—and had already entered the Condensed Elixir Body Realm. Thus, the transformation was smooth and natural.

Most of the heavenly energy quickly redirected to the formation of his foundation platform.

The elm sapling grew more radiant, green and lively, swaying with life like a real tree.

But it grew slowly. Foundation Establishment was not something that could be rushed. There was still time needed for it to fully complete.

Outside, the five cultivators stood frozen.

They didn’t know what to do.

Hu turned toward Sun. “Fellow Daoist Sun, what now? Do we advance… or retreat?”

To advance meant risking everything to seize the spirit beasts and test whether the hidden cultivator would stop them.

To retreat meant simply leaving, avoiding confrontation, and hoping the hidden master wouldn’t pursue them.

Sun narrowed his eyes, calculating.

But he made up his mind in just a heartbeat, his gaze flashing coldly.

“There’s no formation around the island. That person hasn’t shown themselves or even released any pressure or voice transmission to warn us. Hmph, even if they’re guarding their disciple’s breakthrough, they’re being too cautious. I suspect they’re no more than a late Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

Hu and the others agreed.

If the guardian were a Golden Core expert, they would’ve felt it already. Such a presence would have shaken them just from proximity.

The fact that no pressure had been released gave them confidence.

“We strike now!” Hu said sharply. “Let’s seize the beasts before the kid finishes his breakthrough. Once he succeeds, it’ll be too late.”

“Agreed! Act fast.”

The five instantly scattered.

The island wasn’t large. The eight spirit beasts were easily located and swiftly captured.

Just twenty breaths later, they reconvened.

Sun held a Yellow Jade-Eyed Bird in one hand and a Four-Colored Spirit Cat in the other.

Hu sat proudly on the Blue Star Wolf, dragging a fat, yellow Three-Colored Pig behind.

The others had captured the rest.

Sun gave one last glance toward the wooden hut, smirking.

“As expected. The guardian dares not move.”

The others grinned in triumph.

Sun didn’t delay. “Let’s go. This place won’t be safe for long.”

The five soared into the sky, carrying the ten-plus-spirit-beast bounty worth over a hundred thousand spirit stones.

Silence returned to the island.

But within the wooden hut, the heavenly energy continued to condense, like rivers flowing toward the breakthrough.

Yu Xian’s eyes remained closed, unaware of what he had just lost.

Even if he had known, he might not have cared.

At this moment—nothing was more important than forming his Foundation.

The tiny elm tree continued to grow joyfully, finally stopping at eight chi, eight cun.

Eight zhang, eight chi Qi sea.

Six zhang, six chi Foundation Platform.

Eight chi, eight cun Elm Tree.

Yu Xian’s eyes suddenly opened, green light flashing within.

The mist of spiritual energy that had surrounded him was instantly drawn into his body.

Three years of bitter cultivation.

At the age of twenty years and six months—

Yu Xian successfully formed his Foundation!