Dashing Student

Chen Nan's heart raced, his emotions unable to calm down!

One must know, the path of cultivation begins with Qi Refinement, and only upon reaching Foundation Establishment does one truly enter the threshold!

For ordinary cultivators, transitioning from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment often takes decades of arduous effort, with many trapped at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement for their entire lives, lamenting their unfulfilled dreams.

What Chen Nan hadn't expected was that merely consuming a 300-year-old Blood Ganoderma would break through multiple barriers, transforming his cultivation from the seventh layer of the Qi Refining Realm to entry into the Foundation Establishment Stage!

The leap was so immense that he found it hard to believe!

"Snap!"

Chen Nan distinctly heard a faint cracking sound from within his body, as if a shackle had been broken!

In an instant, all the pain vanished, replaced by an indescribable sense of clarity.

Surprised, Chen Nan discovered that he could now see inside his own body, with meridians flowing like rivers and bones as crystal-clear as jade, while in the Dantian, the gaseous True Qi had completely transformed into a liquid form!

Clearly, he had stepped into the first layer of the Foundation Establishment Stage!

The liquefaction of True Qi is the best indicator!

That drop of True Qi slowly rotated in his Dantian, seemingly insignificant but radiating immense waves of energy!

Chen Nan opened his eyes to find that the blood on his body had already congealed into scabs!

With a gentle shake, the scabs fell off like eggshells, revealing the delicate skin underneath akin to that of a newborn.

He could feel that now he was at least ten times stronger than before, with the illusion of being able to shake mountains with a mere gesture.

"Is this the power of the Foundation Establishment Stage?" Chen Nan clenched his fist, the air compressing with a soft explosion.

"If I encountered the Gu God now, could I defeat it with a single punch?" A faint smile appeared on Chen Nan's face!

Suddenly, his ears twitched as he heard Hu Die's tear-soaked shout from outside the door: "Brother Nan! How are you? Answer me!"

Only then did Chen Nan realize he had been so absorbed in the sensations of his breakthrough that he lost track of time.

Judging by the light coming through the door crack, it should already be morning.

"I'm okay." Chen Nan quickly got up, and as he opened the door, a soft body rushed into his arms!

"You scared me to death!" Hu Die hugged Chen Nan tightly, her eyes red with fear lingering on her face!

"I'm fine, see?" Chen Nan affectionately rubbed Hu Die's head.

Hu Die looked up at Chen Nan, seeing him safe and sound in front of her, she finally relaxed!

However, she felt a slight unfamiliarity with Chen Nan!

The morning light streamed through the window lattice, casting a golden glow over him!

His eyes were deeper than before, as if containing vast galaxies, making it hard to look directly.

"Brother Nan, you... seem different!" Hu Die whispered, her fingertips lightly touching his cheek, as if confirming the reality of the person before her.

Chen Nan held her cool hand, smiling: "How am I different?"

Hu Die tilted her head, pondering: "I can't really say, it's like there's an indiscernible aura about you now..."

Suddenly, her eyes widened in excitement: "Wait, did you break through?"

Chen Nan nodded with a smile, then released a wisp of Foundation Establishment energy.

Instantly, the air in the room seemed to solidify, and the teacup on the table trembled slightly, producing a clear clinking sound.

"What is this divine skill? Could it be you've stepped into the Foundation Establishment Stage?" Hu Die looked at Chen Nan in shock, knowing that he was previously at the Qi Refining seventh layer!

Chen Nan smiled and said: "Thanks to that Blood Ganoderma, its effects were even more potent than anticipated, otherwise I wouldn't have directly advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage!"

Hu Die suddenly remembered something, nervously grasping his collar: "Breaking through so many realms, is there any potential danger?"

"Don't worry!" Chen Nan pinched her delicate nose: "My True Qi has completely liquified, my foundation is particularly solid, there won't be any issues!"

Hu Die couldn't help but sigh in relief, eyes filled with gratitude: "Luckily you finished your cultivation in time, otherwise the succession ceremony might have been delayed."

"Delayed?" Chen Nan frowned slightly, showing confusion.

Hu Die blinked and said matter-of-factly: "In less than two hours, you will formally become the 37th Sect Leader of the Poisonous Insect Sect!"

"What?" Chen Nan's pupils contracted, his throat involuntarily moved: "You mean... my cultivation lasted two days and nights?"

Hu Die covered her mouth with a laugh, the silver ornaments in her hair tinkling with the motion: "What did you think? Father was so anxious he paced outside several times, almost breaking in."

Chen Nan gazed at the high-hanging morning sun outside the window, his expression dazed: "I only felt like it was just overnight."

He looked down at his slender fingers, feeling the surging True Yuan coursing through his body, the sense of time displacement reminiscent of the legendary ephemeral dream!

He disliked this feeling very much, though this time it did not affect major events, he knew deeply that as his cultivation progressed, periods of seclusion would come closer!

Even a dream a thousand years might not be impossible!

"Alright, stop being dazed." Hu Die affectionately linked her arm with his, a warm touch coming through the silk sleeve: "Time is pressing, we need to go try on the traditional attire."

She led Chen Nan outside, soft sunlight filtering through the corridor eaves, spilling onto the two of them.

Only then did Chen Nan notice that Hu Die had deliberately changed into a new ceremonial Miao attire today, her dark blue jacket intricately embroidered with silver thread patterns, the pleated skirt gently swaying with her steps, layers of silver ornaments at her neck glistening in the sunlight!

"So formal?" Chen Nan couldn't help but smile.

Hu Die playfully glared at him: "This is your succession ceremony! According to tradition, as the soon-to-be Sect Leader, you have to wear three different outfits, a dark robe for the heavenly offering, crimson silk attire for the succession, and a silver threaded robe for the banquet."

She counted on her fingers one by one, then pouted cutely: "You were supposed to try them on yesterday, but you stayed in seclusion!"

Walking through the corridor, the noise from the village became gradually clear.

Looking out, Chen Nan saw everywhere festooned with decorations, with colorful flags lining the stone path, a nine-tiered altar set up at the central square, smoke curling from a bronze tripod.

Guests from the Seventy-two Villages of Miaojiang were gathered, clad in various traditional costumes, conversing in groups, the collision of silver ornaments producing a constant series of clear sounds.

"Quite a crowd!" Chen Nan keenly noticed that many in the crowd were looking at him with inquisitive eyes, containing reverence and curiosity, making him feel rather awkward!

After all, he disliked being in the spotlight!

But he deeply knew!

Today, he would be the sole focus among the Seventy-two Villages of Miaojiang!