Chapter 129: Chapter 118: Breaking Through, The New Peak Leader!

Cultivation knows not the passing of years.

In the blink of an eye, three months had gone by.

In front of Qianyuan Cave, the crowd grew larger, yet with time, an undeniable hint of anxiety appeared in their expressions.

"Why hasn’t he come out yet? Could Senior Brother Gu have failed?!"

In the crowd, a humble lineage cultivator asked anxiously.

No wonder he was so nervous; breaking through to Foundation Establishment is an endeavor of life and death, requiring bold and relentless advancement.

Typically, if one cannot breakthrough after two months, the chance of Foundation Establishment becomes exceedingly slim.

Yet, Gu Yuan has been in seclusion for a full three months now, without any news.

"Impossible, what kind of prowess does Senior Brother Gu possess? Even when besieged by six noble family members, he defeated them one by one and claimed eight Spiritual Qi. Such a figure hasn’t been seen for years in the Daoist School; how could he fail at mere Foundation Establishment?"

Among the crowd, a humble lineage disciple quickly rebutted.

"It’s hard to say; Foundation Establishment differs from Magical Combat, as it requires a particular root bone and insight. I heard Senior Brother Gu possesses merely a Five-Aperture Body, with seemingly average talent?"

Yet some were pessimistic, their faces dim.

"Senior Sister Bian, Senior Brother Ji, Senior Brother Feng, all contending with Senior Brother Gu in the Secret Realm, have successfully established their foundations a month ago and have allocated their Spiritual Qi, even those who were defeated under his hands have four people who established their foundation, yet Senior Brother Gu..."

The three-month period tempered numerous expectations.

They initially believed Senior Brother Gu would, like in the Secret Realm, astonish everyone, emerge first, and become the new leader of the Daoist School’s peaks.

But now, the entire Qianyuan Cave was eerily silent, without a single anomaly manifesting, causing alarm.

"Brother Su, if Gu Yuan meets his end, what should be done with the additional streams of Spiritual Qi he possesses?"

Among the noble family disciples, someone whispered, asking those around.

"...This matter has no precedent in the Daoist School; this Flowing Cloud Banquet’s Secret Realm contest is also a first. By his leading methods, it shouldn’t be, right?"

"It can’t be confirmed; nothing is absolute, this matter relies on root bone and insight!"

"If that’s the case, we may have to follow the Daoist Academy Decree and wait thirty years to contend for this Cave Mansion..."

"Thirty years, how can we wait that long, is there no way to directly break the Cave Mansion and seize the Spiritual Qi?"

"Difficult!"

"I have a method, but it is somewhat..."

"Boom!"

Right at the whispered discussions, a massive vortex appeared above Qianyuan Cave; it seemed the entire Spiritual Qi of Golden Yuan Island was drained in an instant, compelled by a strange force, suddenly backflowing into Qianyuan Cave.

An indescribable momentum from the Cave Mansion continually climbed, seemingly unstoppable even across the Grand Array.

Furthermore, beneath everyone’s feet, the once-trampled and miserable Spirit Grass, shattered flowers, and bamboo forests suddenly bloomed everywhere, with Spirit Grass fragrant, and the bamboo sea flowing.

Every pivotal Spirit Wood flourished, as if spring had arrived, and all living things were vying for life.

Moreover, in the sky, there seemed to hover moist water vapor, faintly resembling a sprinkle of rain, drizzling gently.

And above, unseen by the crowd, strands of brilliant golden light shimmered.

But the latter two anomalies seemed desperately suppressed, unnoticed by the spectators.

At this moment, all their heart and spirit were drawn to the continuously growing spirit flowers and strange grass beneath their feet, along with the ever-rising force from the Cave Mansion.

"He did it..."

"Senior Brother Gu made it!"

All distracting thoughts were cast aside as everyone watched the Cave Mansion intently, with strong anticipation in their hearts.

"Shed the mortal glow of fireflies, cleanse the worldly splendor, and establish the Dao Foundation!"

At that moment, a long sigh sounded from within the Cave Mansion, and afterward, a youth in a Daoist Robe, with a Jade Hairpin, walked out slowly.

With each step he took, countless flowers and grass bloomed and burst forth beneath his feet, in such a moment that he resembled the incarnation of the Cyan Emperor, holding sway over the growth of Heaven-Earth Spirit Woods.

In places unseen, raindrops of golden light continued to flicker without pause.

He slightly raised his head and with just one glance, the crowd felt their bodies stiffen, as though their soul spirits were seized, unable to move.

The force of Foundation Establishment far surpasses the mundane, granting four hundred and fifty years of life, shedding the existence of mere fireflies.

"Senior Brother Gu, no—Junior Martial Uncle Gu, I have top-grade treasures, Primordial Profound Water offered, only seeking a stream of Taiyin Moonlight Qi..."

"Martial Uncle, Martial Uncle, I’m willing to serve you for a hundred years, merely for a stream of Spiritual Qi!"

"Willing to follow under Martial Uncle’s command, aiding Martial Uncle in gaining True Inheritance Position, only asking for a stream of Spiritual Qi..."

"Junior Martial Uncle Gu, Junior Martial Uncle Gu!"

The noise was incessant, seeking the path to achievement made these normally composed Qi Refining Perfection cultivators appear like mundane folks scrambling for groceries, entirely devoid of demeanor.

But Gu Yuan didn’t turn his head, his figure flickered, and without the aid of any Dharma Artifact, he vanished instantaneously like flowing light, leaving no trace.

...

...

Countless sceneries flashed by like floating shadows behind him, the world bright and clouds billowing, Gu Yuan felt a profound sense of relaxation, indescribably carefree.

Without piloting any Dharma Artifact, relying solely on mana, his body traveled across the vast sky like flowing light.

It was unimaginable freedom, with a mere thought he could soar with the wind, gliding over endless clouds.

Distance seemed no longer capable of binding him.

And in his Dantian, an unusual Dao Foundation—resembling clouds, mist, a confluence of water, yet also forged with metal—floated unsteadily, continuously absorbing spiritual qi circulating with the universe.

The turbulent turquoise sea crafted flows of water, the towering green wood cast shadows like a canopy, and the golden sword like a great sun casting brilliant rays as three distinctly different scenes were gathered by an extraordinary might, alternately flickering between illusion and reality.

Within this vast scene, a vague silhouette sat cross-legged. Though extremely blurry, with eyes slightly raised, it seemed to reflect the shadow of Gu Yuan.

This was the Three Dharma Dao Foundation that Gu Yuan cultivated!

Gathering three Qis into a single Dao Foundation, wielding extraordinary power surpassing ordinary people.

"It is finally accomplished!"

Feeling the changes within his body and observing the flowing clouds beside him, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

After years of arduous cultivation, receiving countless great and minor fortunes, it was finally achieved.

Four hundred fifty years of lifespan, no longer ordinary mortal life, capable of glimpsing the heaven and earth’s great power.

As he freely floated and roamed, a towering and majestic Spirit Peak was already within distant sight.

The escape light of Foundation Establishment, even without relying on external aids, vastly exceeded the Qi Refining Cultivator.

Gu Yuan had yet to fully experience the joy of roaming the vast world, but the destination was already reached, so he halted his escape light, landing before the thick fog of Ancient Mountain Peak.

Sensing his presence, the fog slowly parted, revealing a misty small path.

Gu Yuan’s figure moved like light, instantly traversing through the misty path, landing in front of a Bamboo Courtyard.

Above the Bamboo Courtyard hung a green plaque inscribed with the words "Bamboo Heart."

Inside the courtyard, two elderly Daoists were sipping tea and playing chess.

Seeing Gu Yuan’s arrival, one of them laughed aloud, "The new leader of the mountain peaks has arrived!"