The first light of dawn seeped through the canopy of the Misty Forest, piercing the thick mist with thin, golden streaks that danced across the quiet valley. Lin Mo stirred from his slumber, his body no longer racked with the searing pain of the Six Realms fusion, but instead humming with a warm, steady current of spiritual energy that flowed through every meridian like a gentle river. He pushed himself up from the moss-covered cloak, his movements light and fluid, far more agile than he had ever been before. The exhaustion of the previous night’s transformation had faded, replaced by a sharp, alert vitality that made every sound, every scent in the forest feel vivid and close.

Beneath him, the ground vibrated faintly with the pulse of Earth’s energy, and the wind carried the crisp whisper of Heaven’s energy—proof that the Path of the Six Realms was now permanently woven into his senses. He glanced at the Forbidden Scroll, which lay limp and lifeless beside him, its ancient runes faded to a dull gray, all its forbidden knowledge now etched into the depths of his soul. Picking it up, he folded it carefully and tucked it back into his waist pouch, knowing it would serve as a reminder of the perilous path he had chosen.

His gaze then fell to the Foundation Establishment Elixir, which glowed softly in the palm of his hand, its pearlescent white light pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. The elixir was a rare grade-three spiritual pill, one that Elder Wang had hoarded for years, meant to smooth the path from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment for only the most talented disciples. Before mastering the Six Paths Immortal Root, Lin Mo would have needed days of quiet meditation to absorb its power, risking failure at any moment. But now, with his expanded meridians and the cosmic energy of the six realms flowing through him, he knew the breakthrough would be swift—and certain.

Lin Mo returned to the center of the valley, crossing his legs once more in a meditative pose, the elixir held firmly between his palms. He closed his eyes, sinking into a state of profound concentration, and channeled the Six Paths Immortal Root to wrap around the pill. The golden veins of the root glowed faintly at his dantian, sending tendrils of energy upward to meet the elixir’s power. With a soft pop, the elixir dissolved into a stream of pure, warm spiritual energy that flooded his mouth and rushed down his throat, spreading through his entire body in an instant.

Unlike the agonizing pain of the Six Realms fusion, this energy was gentle yet overwhelming, nourishing his meridians, strengthening his bones, and converging toward his dantian. His Qi Refining realm, which had been stuck at the peak for months, began to crack like a fragile eggshell. The chaotic spiritual energy in his body condensed rapidly, forming a solid, spinning core of golden light at the center of his dantian—this was the sign of Foundation Establishment, the mark of a true immortal cultivator, no longer a mere outer sect disciple mired in the early stages of cultivation.

Hours passed as the breakthrough continued. The mist around the valley swirled violently, drawn by the massive influx of spiritual energy, forming a vortex that surrounded Lin Mo. The Six Paths Immortal Root blazed brightly, acting as a conduit to stabilize the core, preventing the elixir’s power from running amok. By midday, the vortex collapsed with a soft whoosh, and Lin Mo’s eyes snapped open, revealing a flash of multicolored light—the hues of the six realms—before fading back to his usual deep black.

He could feel it: the Foundation Establishment core spinning steadily in his dantian, his spiritual sense expanded tenfold, able to cover the entire valley and the surrounding forest with a single thought. His physical strength had doubled, and every cell in his body brimmed with power. He stood up, stomping his foot lightly on the ground, and a small crack spread across the earth, a trivial display of his newfound strength that left him breathless. He had done it—he had gone from a hunted Qi Refining disciple to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, all in the span of a single night and a morning.

But his moment of triumph was short-lived.

A sharp, cold spike of danger pierced his spiritual sense, jolting him out of his elation. It was the familiar, oppressive aura of sect cultivators—multiple auras, far stronger than the shadow wolves he had defeated the night before. Lin Mo’s face darkened. He had known the sect would not stop searching for him, but he had hoped to have a few more days to adjust to his new power. It seemed Elder Wang’s wrath was not so easily avoided.

He quickly gathered his cloak and the empty scroll, erasing all traces of his presence in the valley with a wave of his hand, using Earth’s energy to cover the moss he had lain on and the ripples he had made in the pond. Without hesitation, he d