Chapter 20 – The Path of Foundation and Shadows Beneath

The morning rain fell in a gentle drizzle, mist curling around the White Brilliance Pavilion's carved eaves like ethereal silk.

Inside the main cultivation chamber, Ren Moxi sat cross-legged before his jade cauldron. The Hell Phoenix Flame flickered above his palm, merging golden-red sparks into a condensed sphere of pure heat. Jade-green spirit plants, powdered spirit crystals, and liquefied essences hovered mid-air in alchemical suspension, forming a miniature orbit of ingredients.

Jian Tian knelt nearby, sweat dripping from his forehead as waves of heat radiated outward.

"Master…" he whispered, voice trembling with anticipation.

Ren Moxi didn't turn.

"My fool disciple, hold your breath. One errant breeze from your mouth and this entire cauldron will explode. I shall refine you into a pill instead."

"U-uh…" Jian Tian choked back his voice, eyes widening in terror. I really believe he'd do it too…

At the side of the chamber, Bing Yue placed a fresh pot of Phoenix Jasmine Tea onto Ren Moxi's table. Her icy blue robes fluttered lightly, her frosty aura condensing with each graceful step.

She glanced down at Jian Tian's petrified expression and smiled faintly.

"Young master, control your breathing. For Master, refining a tier three pill like this is as easy as sipping his daily tea."

Jian Tian nearly sobbed.

"His tea almost killed me last time…"

The Pill's Birth

The swirling ingredients inside the cauldron merged into radiant emerald liquid, spiralling with golden runes. Ren Moxi narrowed his gaze, releasing a final controlled pulse of Hell Phoenix Flame. A crystalline chime resonated as five luminous jade-green pills condensed within the cauldron.

With a flick of his sleeve, Ren Moxi sent the pills into a jade porcelain bottle. He turned to Jian Tian.

"Five pills. Acceptable. Here, my fool disciple. This is your Foundation Establishment Pill."

Jian Tian received it with shaking fingers, feeling the surging spiritual energy within each pill. His throat constricted.

"Thank you… Master…"

Formation Preparation

Bing Yue unrolled two formation flags – the Emerald Qi Gathering Formation Flag and the Radiant Protection Array Flag – planting them with graceful precision. Frost lotus patterns illuminated the floor, ambient spiritual qi thickening like morning fog.

"Here, young master," Bing Yue said softly. "You may begin your breakthrough whenever you are calm."

Jian Tian swallowed hard.

"Calm… calm… calm my ass…"

He glanced at Ren Moxi, who sipped his tea with half-lidded indifference.

"My fool disciple, do not die. I put effort into making those pills."

"…Yes, Master."

The Breakthrough Ritual

He swallowed the pill. Instantly, spiritual qi erupted within him like molten steel poured through his veins.

"ARGHHH…!"

His scream echoed, muffled by the Radiant Protection Array. His meridians felt as if they would rupture at any moment.

Bing Yue hovered nearby, her frosty aura stabilising the formations.

"Young master, endure it. You have survived worse."

Outside the array, Ren Moxi flicked ashes from his tea with a languid sigh.

"Fool disciple… if you die here, I will use your bones to fertilise Bing Yue's ice orchids."

"MASTER…!" Jian Tian roared through clenched teeth, tears streaming down his face. "I… WON'T… DIE…!"

Hours to Days

Days passed. His hair plastered to his skin, blood trickled from his nose, and every breath felt like inhaling molten knives.

On the fourth day, as darkness engulfed his consciousness, an explosive BOOM erupted within his dantian. Emerald-gold brilliance surged out, forming a crystalline core of pure qi.

Jian Tian collapsed, tears mingling with sweat, his chest heaving.

"I… finally… Foundation Establishment…"

Bing Yue knelt beside him, wiping his brow with her cold palm.

"Congratulations, young master. You've succeeded."

Ren Moxi rose, flicking his sleeve to dissipate the formation.

"Acceptable. You did not die this time."

Jian Tian wheezed, glaring up weakly.

"Master… your tea almost killed me again…"

Bing Yue giggled softly.

"For Master, refining such a pill is as easy as sipping his tea."

His tea is the real killer… Jian Tian thought before fainting.

Far below Dragon Tale City, within stone halls lined with poisonous runes, knelt hooded figures before three skeletal thrones.

"Report."

A trembling youth spoke.

"Elders… Ren Moxi has refined tier three pills. His disciple Jian Tian broke through Foundation Establishment within four days."

A cold chuckle echoed.

"We also received word Black Starmoon Commercial is observing them," said another elder, drumming skeletal fingers upon stone. "Their flames, manuals, and pills… all will be ours."

"Prepare the Nascent Soul Shadows," the head elder rasped. "Let Black Starmoon think we merely watch. When the time comes… we strike."

Their laughter coiled through torchlit shadows, fangs of darkness lurking in silent anticipation

That night, under rainfall's rhythmic whisper, Ren Moxi polished the Dragon Blood Sword beside an open window. Its broken blade pulsed faintly under moonlight.

"Soon… old friend. Your fangs will pierce heaven once more."

Bing Yue brewed tea nearby, her ice phoenix qi filling the chamber with crisp clarity. She glanced at Jian Tian, sleeping with drool pooling at his cheek.

"Young master looks peaceful," she said softly.

Ren Moxi sipped his tea, eyes half-lidded.

"Hmph. My fool disciple's peace will end soon. Foundation Establishment is merely the beginning."

Outside, lightning silently illuminated Dragon Tale City rooftops, shadows of underground sects and commercial guilds coiling like serpents, awaiting the dawn when blood and fate would entwine.