Longevity through Upgrading Buildings Chapter 761 - 320: Fake Pill Realm; Level 3 [Beehive]_2

With his eyes tightly sealed shut, Ji Yuan remained oblivious to the passage of time.

Eventually, the numbers he had been fixated on, invisible yet present on the stone wall before him, silently underwent a transformation.

["Canglan Nine Tribulations Sword Manual"]

[Proficiency: 100/100]

had reached its zenith.

Thus, the Foundation Establishment stage was successfully completed.

A potent wave of Spiritual Qi suddenly emanated from Ji Yuan, and the mana within his Dantian seemed to confront an overwhelming force, promptly collapsing.

"Condense... for me!"

Ji Yuan executed a hand seal, channeling his cultivation, and instantly, the mana inside his Dantian appeared to diminish... albeit only slightly.

'Damn it, wasn't it stated that the initial compression could reduce it by at least two to three-tenths?'

'How is it that for me, not even a tenth has vanished!'

Though inwardly incensed, Ji Yuan inherently grasped the underlying reason... the multitude of Tri-colored Spirit Eggs had not been consumed in vain.

The consumption of the eggs brought fleeting gratification.

The breakthrough, however, meant facing a trial by fire.

This was precisely the sentiment Ji Yuan was experiencing at that moment.

Having ingested so many Tri-colored Spirit Eggs, his mana not only surpassed that of cultivators at the same level but its purity was also far beyond ordinary practitioners.

Consequently, the task of compressing and condensing it into a solid Golden Core was naturally far from simple.

... If one attempt falters, then another must be made!

Beads of sweat formed on Ji Yuan's forehead as he reactivated his cultivation technique, undertaking a second compression of his internal mana.

Following this was the third attempt.

And then the fourth.

...

A full day elapsed, and Ji Yuan lost count of the number of attempts he had made.

All he was conscious of now was a pervasive numbness.

His sole thought was one of profound gratitude, gratitude for having undergone Body Refinement.

Were it not for the formidable physique serving as his foundation, this "iron-forging-like" compression technique would have compelled him to abandon the effort after fewer than ten attempts.

This very hurdle is the reason why the majority of cultivators find themselves ensnared at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

To dedicate half a lifetime and succeed in condensing a Fake Pill is already considered a significant stroke of fortune.

Cultivation technique, luck, physique, talent, spirit root, aptitude... each of these factors represents an impediment, a formidable roadblock upon this path of cultivation.

Ji Yuan assessed his cultivation technique as decent, his luck as fair, and his physique as acceptable.

As for the remaining attributes... there was no need for further elaboration.

At present, his ability to repeatedly compress the mana within his Dantian relied entirely upon his exceptionally robust physique.

Similar to this moment, while temporarily managing the mana in his Dantian, he achieved a brief period of respite.

However, the sensation of internal pressure soon resurfaced in his Dantian, compelling him to act without delay, turning his focus inward and resuming the compression.

At this juncture, within the confines of his Dantian.

The initial vast ocean of mana had vanished, replaced by a substantial spirit ball, the color of blue-water, suspended in the air.

If a proper Golden Core is comparable in size to an egg, then Ji Yuan's current Spirit Ball was roughly the size of a fist.

The objective remained arduous and distant!

Nevertheless, a sliver of hope persisted within Ji Yuan's heart: what if, just perchance, fortune smiled upon him, and he were to forge the Golden Core in a single endeavor?

Thus, bypassing the Fake Pill Realm entirely and becoming an authentic Core Formation Cultivator.

Yet, there were whispers that Earth Spirit Roots rarely possessed such exceptional luck; although their tenure in the Fake Pill Realm is brief, rarely exceeding ten years before achieving breakthrough into the Core Formation Stage.

Those with True Spirit Roots tend to linger longer within the Fake Pill Realm.

As for Pseudo Spirit Roots... Ji Yuan had not accumulated much information regarding them.

This was primarily because individuals who successfully formed cores with Pseudo Spirit Roots are exceptionally rare.

To speak nothing of core formation, merely achieving Foundation Establishment with Pseudo Spirit Roots is a daunting feat, let alone progressing from the initial to the peak stages.

Even for Ji Yuan... this experience truly illuminated the profound difficulties inherent in core formation.

To be candid, if his body cultivation had not attained the Bone Forging Realm, he would stand no chance today of entering this Fake Pill Realm; after merely two or three compressions, he would have been forced to concede.

Concerning the subsequent stage of core formation... without the presence of the Pill Essence Fruit, he would not dare to attempt it at all.

The item he presently held was considered Ji Yuan's trump card.

Should the Fake Pill prove unattainable, his plan was to first consume this Pill Essence Fruit, thereby guaranteeing his cultivation would advance to the Fake Pill stage, regardless of the circumstances.

Anything beyond that would be considered at a later juncture.

Consequently, another hour slipped by.

Even with Ji Yuan's formidable physique, honed to the Bone Forging Realm, he found himself struggling against the mounting pressure of this breakthrough, sensing that if the compression continued without forming a Fake Pill, his Dantian teetered on the precipice of utter destruction.

'There is no alternative; resources left dormant only serve others; only when transmuted into strength do they truly become mine!'