Chapter 117

Two days later, Han Luo resumed pill refining.
Seven days after that, he had successfully crafted three supreme-grade Foundation Establishment Pills—and used up the last of his materials.

Still, he wasn’t quite satisfied.

Three pills just weren’t enough. One would go to Xian’er, leaving him with only two—one for himself and one spare. He really preferred to have another backup. But considering that even one supreme pill already had a 98% success rate, two were enough for now. If they hadn’t been, he would’ve waited until more ingredients arrived, even if it delayed his ten-year plan.

With preparations complete, he summoned Xian’er.

She had been quite busy lately—running around the sect doing tasks with her senior sisters. She’d barely come home at all.

“Are we finally doing Foundation Establishment, senior brother?” she asked eagerly, eyes sparkling.

“You know what that means?” Han Luo raised an eyebrow.

“Of course I do!” Xian’er lifted her chin proudly like a little adult. “A bunch of my senior sisters on Piaomiao Peak are doing it, and I heard that after establishing your foundation, you’re allowed to go down the mountain!”

At that, Han Luo suddenly didn’t want to help her break through anymore.

Going down the mountain ranked third on his personal list of most dangerous things—an act so risky, he only considered it for absolute emergencies. And Xian’er? She definitely shouldn’t leave the mountain. Her talent alone was enough to attract all sorts of twisted scum.

She had seven-grade spiritual roots, had undergone eight spirit refinements, and—most worryingly—possessed a wood-type spiritual root. That made her a treasure trove in human form. Down in the wilds, there were too many despicable old monsters who’d salivate at the thought of capturing her—stripping her of her roots, turning her into a spiritual cow, or even forcibly taking over her body.

Inside Luoxian Sect, the Twin Immortal Swords kept such people in check. No one dared cause trouble on the mountain.

But the moment she stepped off it?

It wasn’t just possible she’d be targeted—it was guaranteed.

Even though a person’s aptitude declined slightly after reaching Foundation Establishment, there were always those shameless enough not to care. To them, Xian’er was a priceless catch—worth any risk.

But after a bit of thought, Han Luo calmed down.

He remembered his mysterious master Wu Dao, who always seemed more profound than he let on. That old man never even showed up in the markets like the others—he simply remained in seclusion year-round.

If his master said it was safe for Xian’er to undergo Foundation Establishment, then he had to trust that it was true. Besides, if she ever did go down the mountain, her master would likely accompany her as a guardian.

In this entire sect, the only person Han Luo truly worried about was Xian’er. After all, he’d used her for so many of his experiments—it was only natural to feel a little guilty.

Having made up his mind, he brought out the pill.

“Xian’er, it’s time to take your medicine.”

She trusted him as much as she trusted delicious food.

In fact, whenever she encountered a meal that tasted awful, she would immediately think, Only my senior brother is truly reliable.
Because everything he cooked tasted heavenly.

“Before you take the pill,” Han Luo said seriously, “let me explain what’s going to happen. You’ll need to follow my instructions exactly. Last time, when you acted on your own, it only cost you a tournament match. But this time, if you mess up, I’ll be angry—and if I get angry, you’ll never get to eat my food again.”

He looked utterly solemn.

Foundation Establishment wasn’t a game—it was a life-altering moment. There was no room for mistakes.

“Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm!” Xian’er nodded furiously like a pecking chick.

“Don’t worry, senior brother! I’ll listen to everything you say! So… after we’re done, can I have something super tasty?”

She never lost sight of what truly mattered—food. As for cultivation? That was just a side bonus.

“Sure,” Han Luo chuckled. “Once it’s done, I’ll cook you something you’ve never tasted before.”

Then, with chalk in hand, he began scribbling on a small blackboard.

He carefully outlined the basic principles of Foundation Establishment and listed detailed steps tailored specifically to Xian’er’s unique spiritual roots and physique. Every precaution, every adjustment—it was all customized for her.

Meanwhile, Xian’er sat obediently on a little stool, eyes wide with anticipation. To her, this was like attending a cooking class where the reward was some never-before-seen dessert. She listened attentively, not daring to miss a word.

After the lesson, the real process began.

Foundation Establishment wasn’t all that difficult in itself—it only became harder depending on how wide you wanted your spiritual meridians to open.

The wider they were, the more difficult it was.

But if you just wanted to open the paths, it was easy.

Inside the breakthrough chamber, Xian’er swallowed the supreme-grade pill and began the process.

Han Luo activated the Tenfold World, transforming the chamber into a lush springtime landscape. Birds chirped, trees blossomed, and gentle breezes carried an abundance of wood-elemental qi—the perfect setting for Xian’er’s cultivation.

He stood beside her, notebook in hand, recording everything:

– Qi concentration
– Flow rate
– Purity
– Saturation levels
– Bottleneck timings
– Optimal flow sequences

Every detail went into the log.

Time passed unnoticed.

Seven days later, Xian’er opened her eyes.

Stars sparkled in her clear, dark pupils. She looked ethereal—more fairy than girl.

A faint green glow enveloped her like starlight on dew, making her look like a little spirit descended from the heavens—so lovely and pure, it was almost wrong to gaze at her too long.

She had done it.

She had stepped into the ranks of true cultivators. Her lifespan would increase, her strength would grow exponentially.

“Xian’er,” Han Luo reminded her, “even though you’ve succeeded, you need to spend the next hundred days stabilizing your cultivation. Don’t go anywhere—stay home and rest.”

“Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm!” she agreed instantly.

During the days that followed, Han Luo didn’t rush into his own Foundation Establishment. While helping Xian’er stabilize her realm, he also used the time to adjust his own condition.

At the same time, he reviewed recordings from the Bronze Mirror—videos of disciples establishing their foundations. Each served as a case study.

Just like with Spirit Refinement, he had spent years taking notes—dozens of notebooks filled with personal observations.

That was why he’d been able to solve problems so effortlessly during Spirit Refinement. And he intended to do the same with Foundation Establishment.

After multiple rounds of careful analysis, comparison, and planning, he was finally ready.

He sent Xian’er off to Piaomiao Peak for a well-deserved break.

Then, alone, he entered Safe Room No. 1, sealing the surroundings completely.

After making sure there would be no interruptions, he took out a supreme-grade Foundation Pill—

—and prepared to change his fate.