My Foundation-Building Art Style Seems a Bit Off

Nightfall.

Through the relentless efforts of an unknown powerhouse and three elite disciples, Lu Ze's demonic cultivation points had finally surpassed the two-thousand mark.

It was time to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

According to ancient texts, the breakthrough of the Myriad Profound Demon Immortal Body was accompanied by extraordinary phenomena.

To avoid drawing attention, Lu Ze decided to leave his dormitory and head toward the back mountains.

In the world of cultivation, the weak were prey to the strong.

Even in righteous sects, there was no guarantee that everyone upheld virtuous principles.

His Myriad Profound Demon Immortal Body was far too rare.

He understood the saying—"A man's wealth is his own ruin."

If some ill-intentioned powerhouse took notice of him, his days of peace would be over.

Finding a secluded spot, Lu Ze retrieved a set of concealment array stones from his spatial ring and arranged them around him.

He had purchased these from a disciple of the Array Formation Pavilion—a specialized formation designed to mask one's aura.

It was said to completely isolate the presence of any cultivator below the Golden Core stage.

The [Frost Breath Art] he had obtained from Li Moran in the afternoon was a high-level technique for concealing one's aura, but he lacked proficiency in it and couldn’t use it smoothly.

Still, he was only breaking through to Foundation Establishment. How grand could the phenomenon possibly be?

The concealment array should be more than enough.

For extra caution, he set up a second array before sitting cross-legged at the center.

Focusing his mind, he opened his system panel.

"System, allocate points!"

Seeing that no one was around, Lu Ze theatrically called out.

With a thought, all two thousand demonic cultivation points were poured into his realm.

Contrary to expectations, there was no struggle or pain from breaking through bottlenecks.

With the system’s assistance, Lu Ze’s breakthrough was smooth and effortless.

Aside from the sudden surge of immense energy within him, his only thought was:

"That’s it?"

"I’ve reached Foundation Establishment just like that?"

He closed his eyes, carefully sensing the liquefied spiritual energy in his body—

And the swirling vortex of liquid spiritual power in his dantian, known as the "Spiritual Lake," as described in the texts.

However,

The Spiritual Lake of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator was said to be a mere trickling stream at first.

For most, it was no larger than a small pond.

Yet his Spiritual Lake was vast as an ocean, unfathomably deep.

Lu Ze had no reason to doubt whether cultivators had a skewed perception of "river," "lake," or "sea."

The only explanation was his Myriad Profound Demon Immortal Body.

"As expected of something that requires ten times the demonic points to upgrade. Truly overpowered."

Lu Ze nodded in satisfaction.

But then—

The Spiritual Lake—no, the Spiritual Sea—suddenly stirred with a violent storm.

The surrounding spiritual energy surged toward him like frenzied demons.

Lu Ze had never witnessed such a spectacle before.

"Not good!" he cursed inwardly, hastily retrieving his last set of concealment array stones and placing them around him.

The moment he finished, the first set of stones shattered into pieces.

Then, cracks appeared on the second set.

Above him—

Under the vast night sky, enormous phantoms began to materialize...

......

At Linxian Peak.

Elder Ding Mingcang stared at the celestial phenomenon in the sky, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Has any instructor from Lihuo Peak recently broken through?"

He set down his teacup and glanced at the attendant beside him.

"Not that I’ve heard," the attendant replied.

"Such a peculiar celestial phenomenon... What a pity."

Ding Mingcang shook his head, not paying it much mind.

In the sky, the phantoms shifted—

From plants and insects to beasts, occasionally flickering with human silhouettes, but nothing particularly remarkable.

A celestial phenomenon during a breakthrough indicated notable talent.

But if the phenomenon was this unimpressive...

It likely meant the cultivator practiced an inferior technique.

Had they been discovered earlier, they might have been guided onto a better path.

But now, reaching the Nascent Soul stage, it would be difficult to rebuild their foundation.

Still, any cultivator capable of triggering a celestial phenomenon had some degree of strength.

Just as Ding Mingcang reached for his teacup again—

The light outside the window suddenly flared.

The mediocre phantoms transformed into a colossal, three-headed, six-armed Vajra deity, its feet crushing the heavens.

Ding Mingcang’s astonishment turned to shock.

The moment his fingers touched the cup, it disintegrated into dust.

Without hesitation, his powerful divine sense surged toward Lihuo Peak.

At the same time—

From multiple spiritual peaks, the elders’ divine senses swept toward Lihuo Peak...

......

At Cuihuo Peak.

Zhong Yi and Mu Yawen, who had been happily sparring, suddenly withdrew from their illusionary battlefield, staring in shock toward Lihuo Peak.

"Junior Brother Mu, a master has broken through. It seems our sect’s path to immortality is flourishing."

"To trigger a celestial phenomenon... At the very least, they must be at the Nascent Soul stage—no, definitely beyond Nascent Soul! I can’t sense their aura at all!"

When it came to cultivation matters, Mu Yawen became serious instantly.

Zhong Yi watched the flickering phantoms in the sky, his expression odd.

"Why do these illusions seem so familiar? The Vajra crushing the heavens, the scholar holding a scroll, the sword-riding immortal maiden... Almost like you, me, and Junior Sister Li."

"And that immortal wielding thunder—could that be the Grand Elder?"

"Maybe I’m overthinking it."

Zhong Yi nodded.

He recalled that before these awe-inspiring phantoms appeared, there had been many unremarkable ones—

Insects, beasts, immortals, demons—endless transformations.

"With my cultivation, I can’t even decipher the meaning behind these illusions... The path of cultivation is long and arduous!"

With a sigh, Zhong Yi resolved to train harder.

"Senior Brother, I picked up a top-grade fire talisman. You’re about to lose again."

"You sneaky bastard! This round doesn’t count—rematch!"

......

At Sword Inquiry Mountain.

Li Moran opened her eyes.

The phantom of a sword-riding, ice-cold immortal maiden flickered past.

"Was it him?"

Her frost-colored eyes shimmered.

A cultivator from Lihuo Peak, triggering a celestial phenomenon.

For some reason, her first thought was of the nameless cultivator who had sparred with her that afternoon.

"Truly extraordinary."

In an instant, her aura settled.

Her heart was as clear as a mirror.

"Someday..."

"I will surpass you."

......

......

At this moment.

Lu Ze knew—he was in deep trouble.

In his three years at the Lingxiao Sect, he had never seen any cultivator’s breakthrough cause such a spectacle.

Most importantly...

He had only just reached Foundation Establishment!!

If he were caught now, the discovery of his Myriad Profound Demon Immortal Body would be the least of his worries.

If anyone found out he was a demonic cultivator—or worse, that he possessed a system—he was finished!

Right now, there was no doubt that the elders’ divine senses were already sweeping toward him!

In desperation, Lu Ze suddenly remembered the technique he had obtained from Li Moran earlier.

"[Frost Breath Art]!"

His eyes lit up.

According to its description, this technique, when mastered, could even evade the divine sense of a Unity-stage powerhouse!

Though he had only just begun learning it,

He had another reward—

Ten years of martial insights, obtained from Zhong Yi!

Without hesitation, he reopened the system.

"Ten years of martial insights—comprehend now!"

His mind flooded with insights into the Frost Breath Art, as if he had truly practiced it for a decade.

In an instant, his mastery of the technique reached perfection.

Normally, ten years of practice wouldn’t be enough to take the Frost Breath Art from novice to mastery.

Even Li Moran's true self wouldn't stand a chance.

But I possess the Myriad Profound Demon Immortal Physique! In cultivation, this puts me in a league of my own!

Without a moment to spare, Lu Ze swiftly activated the Frost Breath Technique.

Almost simultaneously, the divine senses of several elders converged upon the back mountain.

Multiple streams of spiritual awareness swept around Lu Ze's body, probing relentlessly.

Yet not a trace of his aura could be detected.

"Hah..."

Lu Ze exhaled in relief.

This calamity... had finally been evaded.