**Boom! Boom!**
As soon as the Foundation Pill entered his mouth, it transformed into a surge of immense energy. Li Feng’s aura instantly multiplied several times over.
His expression shifted slightly, and he hurriedly circulated the Nine Heavens Heart Sutra. Li Feng had been at the peak of the second level of Qi Refining, and with the boost from the Foundation Pill, his aura surged dramatically. He knew this was the critical moment for a breakthrough.
The Nine Heavens Heart Sutra ran at full speed within his body, and the aura emanating from him grew stronger.
**Boom!**
Li Feng’s body trembled as he broke through.
In just a few seconds, his cultivation successfully advanced to the third level of Qi Refining, without any side effects.
“Third level of Qi Refining!”
Feeling his body brimming with energy in an instant, Li Feng’s eyes revealed a trace of disbelief. He had heard of the power of medicinal pills, but experiencing it firsthand, he found it hard to believe such a miraculous thing existed in the world.
Li Feng had always heard how extraordinary pills were, but he had been skeptical. If pills were so miraculous, why was there no legacy of alchemists? Now, he understood that pills were even more incredible than he had imagined.
Though not as potent as natural treasures, their effects far surpassed the medicinal brews he had used. At the peak of the second level of Qi Refining, breaking through would have taken ten days to half a month of cultivation, or at least a week with a brew. This was why Li Feng had ventured into the Hundred Thousand Mountains to find the Golden Cicada Fruit. He never expected a single Foundation Pill to enable a smooth breakthrough.
Even without the Golden Cicada Fruit, Li Feng was thoroughly satisfied with this trip.
Opening his eyes, he found Ge Feng and Ge Ying staring at him intently.
“What’s wrong?” Li Feng asked, puzzled.
“Li Feng, you broke through?” Ge Feng asked in disbelief. Li Feng’s strength was already greater than his, and if he had broken through again, how strong was he now?
“Yes,” Li Feng nodded.
“That’s too unfair! How could you break through so easily?” Ge Feng said incredulously.
“I took a Foundation Pill,” Li Feng replied. Without it, such a swift breakthrough would have been impossible.
“You actually took a Foundation Pill? But even with one, it shouldn’t be that easy to break through. Li Feng, what’s your strength now?” Ge Feng asked.
“Third level of Qi Refining,” Li Feng answered.
“Third level of Qi Refining?” Ge Feng and Ge Ying looked confused.
“That’s equivalent to the third level of the Acquired Realm,” Li Feng clarified.
“That’s impossible! You’re so strong, how could you only be at the third level of the Acquired Realm?” Ge Feng didn’t believe it. If Li Feng was now at the third level, he must have been at the second level before. How could someone with a lower realm than him have such strength? Ge Feng had witnessed Li Feng’s combat prowess—how could it be so formidable?
“Realm doesn’t equal combat strength,” Li Feng said to Ge Feng. “Though my realm is lower than yours, my cultivation technique is different, and combat strength can’t be judged by realm alone. Ge Feng, how about a spar?”
For a martial artist, techniques, skills, weapons, experience, and realm all determine combat strength, with realm being just one factor.
“No way I’m fighting you,” Ge Feng shook his head. Though proud, he had to admit Li Feng was stronger. Whether killing the one-eyed man or the tiger, Li Feng’s performance was beyond his reach. Now that Li Feng had broken through, Ge Feng knew he was even less of a match. Though curious about Li Feng’s strength, he wasn’t eager to get beaten.
Li Feng didn’t know what Ge Feng was thinking. Hearing his refusal, he felt a bit disappointed. He had wanted to test his post-breakthrough strength, but Ge Feng had no intention of fighting. Still, it was only a slight disappointment. In the Hundred Thousand Mountains, there would be plenty of chances to showcase his abilities.
“Li Feng, is the Foundation Pill really that effective?” Ge Feng was more interested in the pill than Li Feng’s strength. Though it pained him that Li Feng used it so casually, he wanted to know its effects.
Li Feng nodded. “The Foundation Pill is a rare treasure for us, no less valuable than ordinary natural treasures. I suggest you both take it and cultivate to boost your strength. That’s what matters most.”
“But…” Ge Feng hesitated. To him, a pill like the Foundation Pill should be saved for critical moments, not used casually for cultivation like Li Feng did. He thought Li Feng was wasting it.
“Take it now?” Ge Ying asked, puzzled. “Li Feng, doesn’t the Foundation Pill increase breakthrough chances? Isn’t it wasteful to use it now?”
“Wasteful? Doesn’t it also speed up cultivation? That alone is enough. With increased strength, why worry about breakthroughs? We’re only in the Acquired Realm, not the Innate Realm. If need be, we can find other treasures later,” Li Feng said with a smile. “Besides, we have fifty Foundation Pills. Save a few for breakthroughs and use the rest to speed up cultivation. To me, keeping them unused is the real waste.”
Ge Feng and Ge Ying exchanged glances. Li Feng’s perspective differed from theirs. They thought such valuable pills should be treasured for critical moments, but Li Feng thought the opposite.
Yet, upon reflection, Li Feng’s logic made sense. Though valuable, if they gained strength, couldn’t they find more treasures like the Foundation Pill? The Hundred Thousand Mountains and other forbidden areas in China held countless ruins and caves with treasures, pills, and weapons. With strength, they could explore and seize opportunities. Without it, they could only dream.
“Let’s cultivate,” Ge Feng and Ge Ying said in unison.
“No rush,” Li Feng stopped them. “The tiger meat’s almost done. Eating it before cultivating will be even better.”
He walked to the pot, lifted the lid, and a rich, savory aroma wafted out.
“So fragrant,” Ge Feng and Ge Ying hurried over, swallowing hard at the sight of the tiger meat.
“It’s almost ready,” Li Feng added some seasoning, smiling at the siblings.
After a minute, he opened the pot. “It’s done. Let’s eat.”
“Li Feng, you seem to know everything—even your cooking is amazing,” Ge Ying said excitedly, tasting a piece with chopsticks.
“Of course, you’re talking to me,” Li Feng grinned proudly.
After a hearty meal, the three sat to digest the energy in the tiger meat. Ge Feng and Ge Ying took Foundation Pills and began cultivating.
Li Feng sat nearby, standing guard.
An hour later, Ge Feng and Ge Ying opened their eyes.
“How’d it go?” Li Feng asked.
Ge Feng shook his head. “No breakthrough, but my strength has improved a lot. I think I’ll reach the fourth level of the Acquired Realm soon.”
“Same here. I’m at the peak of the second level now. It’s just a matter of time,” Ge Ying said excitedly. An hour’s cultivation with the pill equaled half a month’s normal training, shocking her with its potency.
“If we had endless Foundation Pills…” Ge Feng mused.
Li Feng smiled and shook his head. “These pills only work for the Acquired Realm. Once we reach the Innate Realm, they’ll be useless.”
“Breaking through to the Innate Realm is so hard. If I can do it within thirty years, I’ll be satisfied,” Ge Feng said.
“Thirty years?” Li Feng was stunned by Ge Feng’s goal. What use was breaking through in thirty years? He didn’t want to wait that long. His goal was to reach the Innate Realm in a year—not just for himself, but for Hu Yuanyuan too.
Otherwise, would he wait thirty years to marry Hu Yuanyuan? He couldn’t wait that long.
But he didn’t say it aloud. If he did, Ge Feng would think he was delusional.
“Yes, the youngest in our Ge family to reach the Innate Realm did so at sixty. I want to surpass that,” Ge Feng said firmly.
Sixty years?!
Li Feng was thoroughly shocked. He hadn’t realized reaching the Innate Realm was so difficult in this era. His goal of breaking through in a year seemed like a pipe dream.
Still…
Li Feng wasn’t ready to abandon his goal. Though difficult, he believed he should overcome the challenge.
“Li Feng, brother, we should get going,” Ge Ying said.
“Alright,” Li Feng nodded.
As they prepared to leave the cave, Li Feng suddenly stopped, turning to the siblings. “Ge Feng, Ge Ying, do you think that tiger, with its wings, could fly? If not, how did it get into this cave? The entrance we used was halfway up the cliff.”
