The Bing Region was the true heart of Cloud Mist Market.
Unlike the bustling outer districts filled with wandering cultivators, rogue martial artists, and temporary stalls, the Bing Region represented stability, wealth, and status.
Rows of immortal abodes stretched across the district.
Some belonged to major establishments such as the Dan Dao Alliance, Talisman Guild, and Hundred Flowers Alliance.
Others were gifted to high-ranking personnel whose skills were indispensable to the market.
Alchemists.
Talisman Masters.
Artifact Refiners.
Formation Masters.
Each possessed value capable of attracting countless cultivators.
The remaining residences were available for rent.
Naturally, the prices were outrageous.
The spiritual qi density within these abodes far surpassed ordinary cultivation rooms.
Rank-1 High Grade spiritual veins were common.
Some premium residences even reached the threshold of Rank-2 spiritual qi density.
Such environments were sufficient for supporting the cultivation of late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators and even certain Foundation Establishment True Persons.
At this moment—
Inside one of the highest-grade residences within Bing Region—
A breakthrough that would shake the entire market was taking place.
---
Within the cultivation chamber sat an old man.
Shen Xiuyong.
The veteran alchemist who had spent most of his life pursuing immortality.
The room was filled with spiritual mist.
Several formation flags surrounded him.
Spirit stones continuously dissolved into streams of pure spiritual qi.
The atmosphere was extremely solemn.
Shen Xiuyong's face was calm.
But beneath that calmness lay decades of unwillingness.
Decades of regret.
Decades of persistence.
He had started too late.
That fact had haunted him his entire life.
Born within a remote mortal village surrounded by kingdoms where even Acquired Realm martial artists were considered legends, he had never known immortals existed.
Not until he met that wandering Daoist.
Not until he learned that he possessed Medium Grade Spiritual Roots.
For ordinary people, Medium Grade Spiritual Roots were considered good talent.
Not extraordinary.
But sufficient.
A cultivator with such talent who began cultivating around the age of twelve would normally reach Foundation Establishment somewhere between forty and fifty years old.
Leaving ample room for future advancement.
Unfortunately—
He had started at twenty.
By the time he reached a true cultivation environment, another ten years had passed.
Thirty years old.
Qi Refinement First Layer.
When others were preparing for Foundation Establishment—
He was just beginning.
By the time he became a Rank-1 Alchemist—
He had already reached forty years of age.
Every step afterward was spent racing against time.
Against aging.
Against mortality.
Against himself.
Fortunately, alchemy talent became his saving grace.
His cultivation speed was ordinary.
His combat talent was mediocre.
But his understanding of alchemy was exceptional.
Decade after decade.
Year after year.
He slowly climbed.
Rank-1 Low Grade.
Rank-1 Mid Grade.
Rank-1 High Grade.
Eventually reaching the peak of Rank-1 Alchemy.
Only half a step away from Rank-2.
Yet despite all this—
His cultivation remained stuck at Qi Refinement Perfection.
The age of sixty loomed closer.
His qi and blood began declining.
His vitality weakened.
Hope gradually faded.
Until—
The Dragon Lock Pill appeared.
---
A faint smile appeared on Shen Xiuyong's face.
The effects of the Dragon Lock Pill were still present.
He could feel it clearly.
The decline that had once begun spreading throughout his body had been forcibly suppressed.
His viscera felt vigorous.
His blood flowed powerfully.
His body had seemingly become younger.
Not truly younger—
But restored to peak condition.
This alone was enough to make him endlessly grateful toward the mysterious creator of the pill.
Many Rank-2 Alchemists had already attempted to reverse engineer it.
All had failed.
The formula seemed completely foreign.
As though someone had taken known medicinal theories and reconstructed them into an entirely new path.
Even Shen Xiuyong could only marvel at its brilliance.
Slowly opening his eyes—
A sharp light flashed within them.
"It begins."
---
Boom!
Spiritual qi erupted.
The surrounding formations activated instantly.
Countless streams of heaven and earth spiritual qi poured into the chamber.
From above—
A massive spiritual cyclone gradually formed.
The breakthrough to Foundation Establishment had begun.
---
The first barrier.
The Barrier of Qi and Blood.
This was the first great obstacle standing before countless cultivators.
Without sufficient vitality—
The body could not withstand the transformation required for Foundation Establishment.
Many elderly cultivators failed here.
Their bodies simply lacked the strength.
Yet Shen Xiuyong felt no difficulty.
The Dragon Lock Pill continued displaying its heaven-defying effects.
His blood surged like a river.
His organs operated at peak condition.
His meridians remained resilient.
The first barrier shattered smoothly.
---
Boom!
A surge of power erupted from within his body.
Spiritual qi flowed faster.
The cyclone outside expanded further.
---
The second barrier.
The Barrier of Qi.
Foundation Establishment required transforming gaseous spiritual qi into a higher-quality form of energy.
Magic Power.
Mana.
Different regions called it by different names.
But the principle remained the same.
The cultivator's spiritual qi had to reach an extremely refined state.
Those with poor cultivation methods often failed here.
Fortunately—
Shen Xiuyong had spent decades polishing his cultivation.
Though his technique was not exceptional, his proficiency was astonishingly high.
Years of repeated refinement had already pushed his spiritual qi close to liquefaction.
Within his dantian—
The gaseous qi rapidly condensed.
Drops of liquid energy slowly formed.
One drop.
Two drops.
Ten drops.
Twenty-five drops.
Soon—
The entire dantian began transforming.
The second barrier broke.
---
Outside the immortal abode—
The phenomenon grew larger.
Spiritual clouds gathered overhead.
Cultivators throughout Bing Region began noticing.
"What happened?"
"Someone is breaking through!"
"A Foundation Establishment breakthrough!"
Countless shocked voices echoed.
Soon more cultivators arrived.
Then more.
And more.
The streets gradually filled with spectators.
---
Inside the chamber—
The third barrier arrived.
The Barrier of Spirit.
This was where countless talented cultivators met their end.
Many possessed sufficient qi.
Many possessed sufficient vitality.
But their spirits remained weak.
Without enough spiritual strength, they could not stabilize the foundation platform.
Thus they failed.
However—
Shen Xiuyong was an Alchemist.
For over twenty-five years, he had continuously refined pills.
Analyzed medicinal properties.
Controlled flames.
Manipulated spiritual energy.
Each process tempered the spirit.
Strengthened concentration.
Refined perception.
Over time—
His spiritual sense had already condensed significantly.
Perhaps not comparable to true Foundation Establishment cultivators.
But sufficient.
The moment the spiritual barrier appeared—
His spiritual sense surged forward.
Boom!
The final barrier shattered.
---
At that moment—
Only the final step remained.
The most important step.
The Foundation Platform.
---
Within the dantian—
The liquefied spiritual energy gathered together.
Slowly compressing.
Slowly condensing.
Forming something entirely new.
A platform.
A foundation.
The cornerstone of future cultivation.
The quality of this platform would determine future potential.
Inferior Foundation.
Low Foundation.
Mid Foundation.
High Foundation.
Perfect Foundation.
Each represented vastly different futures.
Someone possessing a High Foundation could advance smoothly until Foundation Establishment Perfection.
A Mid Foundation cultivator could normally reach Late Foundation Establishment.
Low Foundation cultivators often struggled throughout their entire lives.
As for Inferior Foundations—
They represented the majority.
Shen Xiuyong understood this clearly.
His breathing became slightly heavier.
He did not dare hope for a High Foundation.
That would be unrealistic.
A Mid Foundation would already satisfy him.
---
The condensation continued.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
The pressure within the room increased steadily.
Crack!
Several spirit stones exploded into dust.
Boom!
Another wave of spiritual qi entered his body.
The platform slowly solidified.
Layer after layer.
Stone upon stone.
Like constructing an immortal palace.
---
Outside—
The phenomenon reached its peak.
The spiritual cyclone now stretched hundreds of meters.
Many cultivators stared upward in shock.
"Who is it?"
"Which senior is breaking through?"
"Could it be someone from the Dan Dao Alliance?"
Speculation spread everywhere.
Even Foundation Establishment experts within the market began paying attention.
---
Finally—
Inside the cultivation chamber—
The platform stabilized completely.
Boom!!
A terrifying wave of pressure exploded outward.
The spiritual cyclone collapsed inward instantly.
All spiritual qi rushed into Shen Xiuyong's body.
The room fell silent.
Then—
A powerful aura emerged.
Foundation Establishment.
True Foundation Establishment.
Shen Xiuyong slowly opened his eyes.
The world appeared different.
Clearer.
Sharper.
More vivid.
His spiritual sense expanded effortlessly.
One hundred meters.
Two hundred meters.
Three hundred meters.
He could perceive details previously impossible to detect.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
Success.
He had succeeded.
After decades of struggle—
He had finally crossed the gate of immortality.
---
Moments later—
He examined his dantian.
A shocked expression appeared.
"Peak Mid Grade Foundation..."
His voice trembled slightly.
Peak Mid Grade.
Only half a step from High Grade Foundation.
For someone who began cultivating at twenty years old—
This result was unbelievable.
At this level, reaching Late Foundation Establishment should no longer be a major obstacle.
His future path had expanded dramatically.
For the first time in many years—
Shen Xiuyong felt genuine hope.
---
Over the following week, he remained inside the residence stabilizing his cultivation.
Transforming spiritual qi into magic power.
Adapting to his new realm.
Consolidating the foundation platform.
Meanwhile—
The news spread throughout Cloud Mist Market.
Shen Xiuyong had successfully broken through.
The famous peak Rank-1 Alchemist was now a Foundation Establishment True Person.
The entire market shook.
---
Outside his residence—
Representatives gathered continuously.
Cultivation families.
Merchant organizations.
Rogue cultivator alliances.
Even the Dan Dao Alliance sent emissaries.
Each carried gifts.
Each hoped to establish relations.
After all—
A Foundation Establishment cultivator was valuable.
But a Foundation Establishment Alchemist nearing Rank-2?
That was a treasure.
An existence worth fighting over.
---
Several days later—
The gates finally opened.
Shen Xiuyong emerged.
The old appearance remained.
Yet his bearing had changed completely.
The invisible pressure of Foundation Establishment radiated naturally.
Countless waiting representatives immediately bowed.
"Congratulations, Senior Shen!"
"Congratulations on establishing your foundation!"
"May Senior's immortal path prosper!"
Voices echoed one after another.
Shen Xiuyong smiled lightly.
Yet inwardly—
A certain figure appeared in his thoughts.
The mysterious creator of the Dragon Lock Pill.
Without that pill—
His breakthrough probability would have been reduced drastically.
Without it—
This day might never have arrived.
Looking toward the distant sky, Shen Xiuyong silently clasped his hands.
Though he did not know who the person was—
He owed them a great favor.
A favor equal to granting him a second life.
And somewhere within Cloud Mist Market—
The creator of the Dragon Lock Pill remained hidden.
Watching.
Waiting.
And continuing to grow stronger.