The Northern Mountain was the quietest of the four great peaks of the Azure Lotus Sect.
Northern. Southern. Eastern. Western.
Each mountain housed disciples according to preference and opportunity. From the moment an Outer Disciple advanced to Inner Disciple, they were granted the right to choose a mountain to cultivate upon. It was more than a residence—it was an environment that shaped one's path.
Li Wei had chosen the Northern Mountain.
Not because it was the most prosperous.
Not because it was prestigious.
But because it was undisturbed.
Deep within a secluded cliffside, hidden behind a veil of ancient pines and natural spirit mist, he had discovered a concealed alcove carved into the mountain's inner ridge. Beneath it flowed a minor spirit vein, and the Qi in this place was astonishingly dense—thick enough to visibly swirl in the air during dawn.
Perfect for cultivating the Primordial Sovereign Scripture.
Li Wei sat cross-legged upon a smooth stone platform, his breathing slow and rhythmic. The moment he entered cultivation, the surrounding Qi did not merely gather—it rushed toward him like iron drawn to a magnet.
If anyone were to witness him now, they would be speechless.
Faint wisps of grey Chaos Qi circled his body in silent spirals. A soft golden radiance pulsed beneath his skin—the manifestation of his Ancient God bloodline. And in the air around him flickered multicolored Dao runes, faint yet profound, resonating with heaven and earth due to his Divine Dao Bone.
Chaos Spirit Root.
Primordial Chaos Body.
Ancient God Bloodline.
Divine Dao Bone.
The combination was terrifying.
Within hours, the Qi in his meridians surged violently before settling into perfect order. His cultivation had already reached the peak of the 10th stage of Qi Condensation.
The barrier to Foundation Establishment was thin.
Fragile.
He could break through at any moment.
All it would take was a single push.
Yet Li Wei did not move.
His eyes opened slowly, calm and unwavering.
"Not yet."
Ordinary cultivators would rush to break through. Even reaching the 10th stage was rare—most considered the 9th stage the natural limit before advancing. Delaying a breakthrough risked instability.
But Li Wei sought something greater.
The Extreme Realm.
The hidden 11th, 12th, and 13th sub-stages.
For others, those stages were legends—insurmountable mountains that crushed ambition before it could bloom.
For him?
A necessary step.
Only he understood the full scope of his potential. Only he knew the limits of his physique and bloodline. And he refused to build his foundation on anything less than perfection.
Still, forcing the Extreme Realm recklessly would be foolish. His Qi had reached temporary saturation. Pushing further without preparation would waste potential.
So his focus shifted.
From Qi…
To flesh.
Ancient memories stirred within his bloodline—inheritances from the Ancient God Race. Among them was a path few dared to walk.
The Divine Overlord Body Refining Art.
A technique so domineering that even among Ancient Gods, only the most talented could endure it.
It was not gentle strengthening.
It was destruction.
Reconstruction.
Purification.
Over and over again.
Each cycle shattered muscle fibers, cracked bones, and strained meridians to their limits—only to rebuild them denser and purer. It demanded terrifying perseverance and consumed vast, precious resources.
Ordinary cultivators attempting it would cripple themselves.
But Li Wei was no ordinary cultivator.
"With my physique… and my bloodline… I am qualified," he thought calmly.
Without hesitation, he activated the first cycle.
Instantly—
His body trembled violently.
Invisible force compressed him from within. Fine cracks spread across his skin as if he were porcelain under pressure. Blood seeped from his pores. His bones groaned.
Pain exploded through him.
Yet his expression did not change.
The Primordial Chaos Body stabilized collapse. The Ancient God bloodline guided reconstruction. The Divine Dao Bone harmonized the destructive energy into structured refinement.
His flesh broke—
Then reformed.
Stronger.
Denser.
Purified.
Spirit herbs and precious materials arranged around him ignited one by one, dissolving into medicinal essence that surged into his body, fueling the reconstruction phase. The resources burned rapidly, consumed as nourishment for transformation.
Again.
Destruction.
Reconstruction.
Purification.
Again.
Again.
Hours passed.
By dawn, the stone platform beneath him had fractured under the pressure radiating from his body. The Qi in the alcove spiraled violently, forming a small vortex above his head.
When Li Wei finally exhaled, the air trembled faintly.
His skin carried a subtle luster, like tempered jade. His muscles felt compact yet explosive with restrained force. Even without circulating Qi, his physical strength alone had risen dramatically.
A faint smile curved his lips.
"This is only the beginning."
Foundation Establishment could wait.
The Extreme Realm would come.
And when it did—
He would not merely reach it.
He would stand at its peak.
Far above the Northern Mountain, within the quiet halls of Mount Azure, Zhou Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
He had sensed the disturbance.
A subtle smile appeared on his face.
"Good," the Sect Master murmured.
"The mountain has chosen its storm."