Seclusion
Seclusion . . .
Currently, Qin Wentian stood on a remote cultivation platform nestled within Princess Changping's estate. This platform was perched atop a solitary mountain peak, surrounded by the vast expanse of open sky, offering an unparalleled view of the starry heavens. It was the perfect setting for focused cultivation. Meanwhile, Qing'er had returned to her residence within the Emperor Palace, where she would embark on her own closed-door seclusion in pursuit of the Immortal Foundation realm. With the Evergreen Immortal Emperor personally overseeing her protection, her path to greatness was assured.
On the cultivation platform, three divine inscription diagrams, painstakingly etched by Qin Wentian, resembled sacred altars. These diagrams gleamed with a resplendent astral radiance, intricate runic lines interweaving to create a complex network that channeled astral energy toward the center of each diagram.
Qin Wentian, along with his loyal companions Little Rascal and Purgatory, approached their respective diagrams.
Once the inscriptions were complete, Qin Wentian conjured a veritable mountain of Yuan Meteor Stones with a casual wave of his hand. The sheer quantity of these stones was staggering, to say the least. Additionally, numerous sparkling objects exuding an awe-inspiring aura accompanied them—these were none other than immortal crystals, a vital necessity in the establishment of an Immortal Foundation.
The resources required for a stellar martial cultivator to forge their Immortal Foundation could only be described as "astronomical." In his preparations for this momentous undertaking, Qin Wentian had traded a multitude of immortal weapons with Princess Changping to amass the necessary treasures.
In the preceding days, he had meticulously combed through ancient scrolls and tomes, absorbing the accumulated knowledge. Combining this newfound wisdom with the insights gained from listening to the experiences of those who had already achieved Immortal status, he had become intimately familiar with the process. He was well aware that the journey to establish his Immortal Foundation would be a long and arduous one.
Mo Xie, Yang An, and Mu Feng—these were the Immortal Foundation experts Qin Wentian had previously faced in battle. However, he recognized that, despite their possession of immortal might, they had not fully solidified their footing within the Immortal Foundation realm. They could not be classified as genuine Immortal Foundation experts.
At the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, martial cultivators underwent a transformation, evolving their astral souls into celestial constellations. However, reaching the Immortal Foundation Realm required a more profound change, with one's astral souls forming the foundation of the Immortal Foundation itself. Mo Xie, Yang An, and Mu Feng had indeed established their Immortal Foundations, but they had only infused a single astral soul into the process. These Immortal Foundations were far from complete and were not even on par with the lowest-grade Immortal Foundations possessed by true Immortal Foundation experts.
However, achieving this initial success in Immortal Foundation establishment was a significant milestone. It was well understood that this process couldn't be rushed; it required gradual progression. Once the first step succeeded, the rudimentary structure of the Immortal Foundation would take shape. This indicated that the cultivator had already embarked on the path to the Immortal Foundation realm. Barring unforeseen accidents, their Immortal Foundation would naturally mature and develop over time.
For many, building an Immortal Foundation was a protracted endeavor, demanding an investment of substantial time. Those who aspired to create higher-tier foundations faced even greater challenges.
Immortal Foundation experts with incomplete foundations posed formidable challenges. Even a formidable figure like Qin Wentian had to summon his full strength to confront them. For those with fully established Immortal Foundations, no matter how humble the grade, Qin Wentian would find it impossible to engage them in combat. Such was the stark disparity in power dictated by cultivation realms.
With a deep inhalation, Qin Wentian gazed up at the sky before moving to the center of his intricate runic diagram. There, he settled into a cross-legged posture. An overwhelming aura radiated from him, and in an instant, his constellations bathed the entire space in their resplendent light.
Meanwhile, Little Rascal and Purgatory occupied the other two runic diagrams. Being demonic beasts, they possessed their own unique methods of cultivation, requiring no supervision from Qin Wentian.
From the vast astral expanse above the Nine Heavenly Layers, beams of luminous energy cascaded upon Qin Wentian. The five original constellations from which he had forged his astral souls—Heavenly Hammer, Dreamsleep, Demon Sovereign, King Sword, and Towering Giant—glowed brilliantly. Their radiance deepened the connection between them and Qin Wentian.
Qin Wentian's perception surged forth, following this connection, and he entered the astral space where the five original constellations resided. His gaze fixated upon his fifth constellation, the imposing golden figure of suppression from the 7th Heavenly Layer. This colossal entity possessed a divine-like physique, its entire form suffused with awe-inspiring law energy. Every trace of this energy harbored a profoundly oppressive force, one that Qin Wentian could now discern with even greater clarity.
"The law energy circulating within the 7th Heavenly Layer constellation feels remarkably distinct. It appears that the higher the heavenly layer from which a constellation is derived, the smoother the Immortal Foundation establishment process becomes." Qin Wentian pondered this insight. His towering giant astral soul would serve as the foundation for his Immortal Foundation. Likely, the process would prove swift.
Qin Wentian immersed himself fully in this state of profound self-absorption, ready to embrace the challenging journey ahead.
Beside Qin Wentian, Little Rascal occupied another runic diagram formation. The mischievous creature tilted its head to observe the heavens. Soon, it closed its eyes, and radiant beams descended from the sky, enveloping it. Demonic beasts differed from humans in their ability to innately connect with specific constellations, allowing them to absorb energy more directly.
In a distant, secluded realm known as a particle world, a colossal tower-like structure reached towards the heavens. At its peak, a figure sat in quiet meditation. This extraordinary individual bore an uncanny resemblance to Qin Wentian himself.
Di Tian, too, had embarked on the path to establishing his Immortal Foundation, aiming to achieve immortality alongside his original self.
...
In yet another far-off particle world, an eerie desolation stretched as far as the eye could see. Stellar martial cultivators in this realm donned ancient attire and congregated before a grand hall. They gathered as if to pay homage to a deity, all eyes fixed upon the highest point in the sky. There, a young man sat cross-legged.
"Is our King about to ascend to immortality at last?" An elderly man with a scepter waved it excitedly within the grand hall. He knelt on the ground, hope gleaming in his aged eyes. Behind him, numerous figures joined him in kneeling, their gazes riveted to the youthful figure suspended in mid-air.
Among the onlookers stood an aged immortal expert, his countenance serene. He gazed upon the crowd and the young man with an air of solemnity.
"Mengchen, you are a born king. For you, establishing an Immortal Foundation is a transformation. Once this transformation is complete, you shall surpass countless Immortal Foundation cultivators. Your evolution will far outshine others of your generation. I pray that you may attain a saint-grade Immortal Foundation." The elder's eyes remained fixed on Jun Mengchen as he silently beseeched the heavens for success.
To many, establishing an Immortal Foundation marked a transformation, an evolution. However, they understood that for Jun Mengchen, this event held greater significance than for anyone else. It wasn't merely a step up in cultivation but a complete rebirth.
Similar scenes unfolded with Zi Qingxuan and Hua Taixu. In various locations throughout the immortal realms, they prepared for their journeys to immortality.
...
In the blink of an eye, two months elapsed. During this time, Qin Wentian's presence mysteriously vanished from the royal palace of the Evergreen Immortal Empire. Princess Qing'er seemed to have disappeared as well. Reports from the imperial palace suggested that she was in seclusion, preparing for her Immortal Foundation breakthrough. People soon made the connection—Qin Wentian must also be undergoing the same preparations.
In the past, both Yang An, whose throat had been silenced by a single sword strike, and Mu Feng, whom Qin Wentian had engaged in battle, had also entered seclusion. As Qin Wentian suspected, neither of these two had achieved complete Immortal Foundation status. Yang An, in particular, was still in the early stages of his Immortal Foundation journey; only his second astral soul had merged, and he could hardly be considered half-way to Immortal Foundation. Mu Feng had made comparatively better progress, reaching the halfway mark after several years of dedicated effort. A few more years, and he would attain a complete Immortal Foundation.
At this moment, on the cultivation platform within Princess Changping's estate, Qin Wentian's entire focus remained on the towering golden giant divinity. Motes of astral light streamed incessantly onto his astral soul, creating a formidable vortex that surrounded him. The cascading light, no longer mere astral energy, now contained the potent force of law energy. As his astral soul absorbed it, his body underwent a thorough purification, expelling all impurities and directing the energy toward his Yuanfus.
This advantage of having a constellation from the 7th Heavenly Layer was apparent. The law energy fluctuations around it were clearly perceptible, and the initial step of forming an Immortal Foundation could be achieved relatively quickly. As time passed, the resources prepared for this endeavor were swiftly depleted. In the air, law energy continued to flow, refining the embryonic Immortal Foundation. Radiant immortal light emanated from Qin Wentian's body, creating a multi-hued brilliance. His constellation in the sky also gleamed brightly, brimming with the power of law energy.
Qin Wentian was bathed in immortal light. He extended his perception to another astral soul, the formidable giant king sword. Though it lacked law energy, Qin Wentian had already grasped a fragment of sword law energy. His next task was to analyze and comprehend the law energy fluctuations from the original constellation in the starry expanse, drawing it down and infusing it into himself—an endeavor requiring exceptional comprehension ability.
He knew that establishing a complete Immortal Foundation in a single leap would take an extensive amount of time. Becoming an immortal wasn't a matter of leaping straight to the peak. He continued his seclusion, engrossed in his understanding, oblivious to the passage of time.
Cultivating at the immortal level was a time-consuming pursuit. The higher one's level, the slower the progress. Achieving immortality within a hundred years was an arduous task even for geniuses. Becoming an immortal king within 10,000 years was considered highly impressive. Once the Immortal Foundation was established, further advancement required even greater effort.
...
In the royal palace of the Evergreen Immortal Empire, a grand mansion stood adjacent to the Emperor's Palace. Within its confines, a figure cloaked in white robes exuded an air of transcendence. This enigmatic figure gazed skyward, their eyes seemingly capable of penetrating the secrets of the heavens.
In the distance, the melodious cry of a blue luan echoed through the air. The figure in white robes withdrew his contemplative gaze from the heavens, shifting his attention to the graceful figure perched atop the blue luan.
"Father," the exquisite figure was none other than Princess Glaze, the same princess from the Evergreen Immortal Empire whom Qin Wentian had met during the Eastern Sage Immortal Sect's hundred-year immortal banquet recruitment event.
"You've returned," the white-robed figure greeted her, his eyes radiating gentleness and warmth.
"I heard that Qin Wentian is here in the royal palace," Princess Glaze inquired.
"Yes," replied the White Emperor. "He has been here for some time now. He returned with Qing'er, and I believe it was thanks to your information about Qing'er's whereabouts."
"Is he the one we've been searching for?" Princess Glaze pressed.
The White Emperor tilted his head, his gaze drifting skyward before he smiled. "It appears so."
"Should we inform His Majesty?" Princess Glaze asked.
The White Emperor shook his head. "We shall abide by the celestial destiny written in the stars. If we were to inform him, human intervention might alter the course of events. You need not interfere either—let nature take its course."