I Idle in the World of Immortal Cultivation
Chapter 8: Foundation Establishment
Two and a half days – not long, not short.
Lin Luo didn't go anywhere. He stayed in the Chores Hall. During the day, he sat outside the woodshed and soaked up the sun. At night, he lay in bed and looked at his phone. Ma Biao asked him if he was waiting for something. He said, "I'm waiting for a number to hit zero."
Ma Biao didn't understand, but he didn't dare ask again.
Late at night on the thirteenth day after transmigration.
The courtyard of the Chores Hall was quiet. Only the sound of insects. Lin Luo lay on his bed. The faint glow of his phone screen lit up his face.
[Time until breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Stage: 00:00:30]
His heart beat a little faster.
He had waited thirteen days. From Qi Refining Layer 1 all the way to Qi Refining Layer 9 by just idling. Tomorrow would be Foundation Establishment.
[00:00:10]
[00:00:05]
[00:00:00]
[Idle Cultivation complete! Breakthrough successful!]
[Current cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage, Layer 1]
A power like nothing before exploded from deep inside his body.
Not a warm current – a flood. Spiritual energy rushed into his meridians like a river breaking through a dam. Every meridian was stretched to its limit, then widened, strengthened, and widened again. Lin Luo gritted his teeth. Veins bulged on his forehead. He felt his body being reshaped.
The process lasted about a minute.
A minute later, everything was calm.
Lin Luo breathed heavily, covered in sweat, but he felt better than ever. He raised his hand and made a fist – tiny sparks of lightning jumped between his fingers, a sign that his spiritual energy was thick and strong.
He tapped open his status panel.
[Character: Lin Luo (Player)]
[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage, Layer 1 ↑]
[Attack: 160 → 280]
[Defense: 125 → 220]
[HP: 980 → 1500]
[Spirit Stones: 1250]
[Nine Cycles Mystic Art, Second Cycle unlocked. Begin cultivation?]
[Yes / No]
Lin Luo tapped [Yes].
[Nine Cycles Mystic Art, Second Cycle cultivation in progress… Estimated completion time: 48 hours.]
A flood of new information poured into his mind. The Second Cycle of the Nine Cycles Mystic Art was engraved into his memory. His bones made faint cracking sounds. His muscle fibers reorganized. A faint metallic sheen appeared on his skin, then faded.
[Nine Cycles Mystic Art · Second Cycle: Physical strength greatly increased. Can withstand attacks from early Golden Core Stage.]
[Current Defense: 220 → 400 (boost from Nine Cycles Mystic Art)]
Lin Luo took a deep breath.
Early Golden Core.
He was at Foundation Establishment Layer 1, but his physical body could already take hits from early Golden Core.
He put his phone away, lay back on the bed, and stared at the ceiling.
Foundation Establishment Layer 1. Thirteen days.
And Zhao Tian, the fastest in the class, was still struggling at Qi Refining Layer 5.
The gap had already opened.
Lin Luo closed his eyes, a smile on his lips. He soon fell asleep.
---
The next morning, Lin Luo was woken by a commotion.
He pushed open his door and saw the Chores Hall courtyard packed with people. Not chores disciples – inner court disciples, outer court disciples, even a few elders. Everyone was whispering. When they saw Lin Luo come out, all eyes turned to him.
"Is that him?"
"Yes, that's him – the waste – wait, that chores disciple."
"I heard he cleared the eighth floor of the Trial Tower yesterday?"
"More than that! He took two full-power strikes from Elder Zhou Tong, and Zhou Tong is at Foundation Establishment Layer 7!"
"Foundation Establishment Layer 7? How did he survive?"
"Who knows?"
Lin Luo scanned the crowd but didn't see Ma Biao. He yawned and walked toward the water vat to wash his face.
An inner court disciple blocked his way.
"Lin Luo, I'm Li Xuan, inner court disciple, Foundation Establishment Layer 2. I want to spar with you."
Lin Luo looked at him. "No."
"Why?"
"I don't have time."
Li Xuan's face darkened. "Are you looking down on me?"
"No." Lin Luo scooped up some water to wash his face. "I'm really busy. I have something to do today."
"What?"
Lin Luo wiped his face, draped the towel over his shoulder, and turned away.
"Get something."
He walked off, leaving the crowd staring at each other.
---
At the Trial Tower, the guarding elder saw Lin Luo coming and his expression changed.
"Again?"
"Yes."
"The ninth floor?"
"Yes."
The elder was silent for a moment, then said, "After you left yesterday, that kid from the Sacred Ground came. He challenged the eighth floor. Took him half an hour, but he passed. He's on the ninth floor right now."
Lin Luo's steps faltered.
"Qin Yun?"
"Yes. He's been in there for two hours."
"Is the ninth floor indicator on?"
"It's on. But it hasn't gone out yet." The elder looked up at the tower top. "He's still alive, but he hasn't cleared it."
Lin Luo stood before the Trial Tower and looked up at the ninth floor indicator.
The light was still on. Qin Yun was still inside.
[New mission hint: Qin Yun is challenging the ninth floor. If he clears it first, the Realm-Breaking Talisman will be taken.]
Lin Luo didn't hesitate. He pushed open the door of the Trial Tower.
Floors one through eight – he ran up without stopping. The indicators lit up one by one as he passed. The elder outside stared in shock.
"He… he's going straight to the ninth floor?"
---
The ninth floor.
The door closed behind him.
Lin Luo stood in a huge stone chamber. The chamber was bigger than the eight floors below combined. The ceiling was inlaid with glowing spirit stones that lit up the whole space.
In the center of the chamber, a young man in a golden robe knelt on one knee, breathing heavily. His clothes were torn in a few places. Blood stained the corner of his mouth. His hair was a mess – nothing like the arrogant look he had yesterday.
Qin Yun.
And across from Qin Yun stood a… person?
No, not a person.
It was a stone statue, but completely different from the clumsy stone puppets on the lower floors. It was normal human size. It wore stone armor and held a stone sword. Its face was carved so finely it looked alive. It stood there, not moving, like an ordinary statue.
But Lin Luo could feel its terror.
The pressure it gave off was stronger than Zhou Tong's full-power palm strike.
"You came." Qin Yun looked up and saw Lin Luo. He gave a bitter smile. "I've been fighting for two hours. I can't even break its defense."
Lin Luo didn't speak. He pulled out his phone and glanced at it.
[Floor 9 Guardian: Sword Spirit Stone Statue · Golden Core Stage, Layer 1]
Golden Core Layer 1.
A full major realm higher than late Foundation Establishment.
Qin Yun was at Foundation Establishment Layer 7. Fighting Golden Core Layer 1 – three sub-realms plus a whole major realm. Losing was normal.
"What stage are you?" Qin Yun asked.
"Foundation Establishment Layer 1," Lin Luo said.
Qin Yun blinked, then laughed. "Foundation Establishment Layer 1? You can't even beat me. How do you expect to beat Golden Core Layer 1?"
Lin Luo ignored him.
He stared at his phone screen and tapped [Auto-Battle].
In the game, the chibi figure gripped the Black Iron Axe.
In reality, Lin Luo gripped his axe.
The Sword Spirit Stone Statue moved.
It was faster than anything on the lower floors. Its stone sword swung, sending out a sharp sword energy straight at Lin Luo's throat.
Lin Luo didn't dodge.
He pushed the Nine Cycles Mystic Art, Second Cycle to its limit. He channeled his Foundation Establishment Layer 1 spiritual energy into the Black Iron Axe and swung it into the sword energy.
CLANG!
The clash of metal echoed through the chamber, making it hum.
Qin Yun covered his ears, his eyes wide.
Lin Luo stood his ground. He hadn't moved back.
On the stone statue's sword, a crack had appeared.
"Impossible!" Qin Yun blurted out. "You're at Foundation Establishment Layer 1. How can you—"
Lin Luo didn't answer.
He raised his axe again and swung.
The stone statue raised its sword to block. Another crash. The crack on the stone sword grew deeper.
The statue seemed angry. Its eyes lit up red. Runes appeared on its stone sword. A terrifying aura came from its body.
[Sword Spirit Stone Statue · Skill activated: Sword Energy Everywhere (Golden Core Layer 1 full-power strike)]
Lin Luo felt the danger.
This strike could hurt him.
But he didn't retreat.
He pushed the Nine Cycles Mystic Art, Second Cycle to its absolute limit. A faint metallic sheen appeared on his skin. He poured all his spiritual energy into the Black Iron Axe. The blade hummed.
He swung his third axe into the sword energy.
BOOM!
The chamber shook violently. Several spirit stones on the ceiling dimmed.
Qin Yun was thrown to the ground by the shockwave and rolled twice.
The smoke cleared.
Lin Luo stood where he was, covered in dust but without a scratch. His axe was buried in the stone statue's chest. The statue's head had cracked open. The red light in its eyes flickered a few times, then went out.
[Sword Spirit Stone Statue · Defeated!]
[Floor 9 cleared!]
The statue crashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.
In the center of the chamber, a stone platform rose from the floor. On it lay a yellowed talisman paper, covered in dense runes, with faint golden light flowing through them.
The Realm-Breaking Talisman.
Lin Luo walked over and picked it up.
A warm energy flowed from the talisman into his arm and then into his body. Not spiritual energy – something else. Older. Purer.
[Key item obtained: Realm-Breaking Talisman ×1.]
[Effect: Opens the gateway to the Immortal Realm. Requirement: Cultivation must reach Golden Core Stage to use.]
Lin Luo tucked the talisman into his robe and turned around.
Qin Yun was still sitting on the ground, staring at him with disbelief in his eyes.
"Who… who are you really?"
"Chores Hall disciple," Lin Luo said. "Lin Luo."
"Impossible! How can a Foundation Establishment Layer 1 beat Golden Core Layer 1?!"
"Just lucky," Lin Luo said.
Qin Yun stared at him for a long time, then gave a bitter smile.
"Lucky… you expect me to believe that?"
He struggled to his feet and brushed the dust off his clothes.
"You can have the talisman. I can't beat you. Nothing more to say."
"You're not going to fight for it?"
"Can I win?" Qin Yun laughed at himself. "You smashed a Golden Core Layer 1 statue with three axe swings. Fighting you would be suicide."
Lin Luo looked at him.
This guy was arrogant, but not a bad person.
"Go back and tell your Sacred Ground people. I have the talisman. If they want it, bring something to trade."
Qin Yun blinked. "You're not afraid the Sacred Ground will come after you?"
"Afraid," Lin Luo said. "But I've already taken it. Being afraid won't change anything."
Qin Yun was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine. I'll pass the message."
He turned and walked toward the door. After a few steps, he stopped.
"Lin Luo. I'll remember you."
"Whatever."
Qin Yun left.
Lin Luo stood in the empty chamber and pulled out his phone.
[Hidden Achievement Unlocked: Ninth Floor Conqueror.]
[Reward: Spirit Stones +500, Random gacha draw ×1.]
[Gacha draw in progress… Congratulations! Obtained: SR-grade skill "Spirit Eye Technique" ×1.]
[Spirit Eye Technique: Allows you to view detailed information about a target, including cultivation, spiritual root, physique, etc. Consumes a small amount of spiritual energy. Cooldown: None.]
Lin Luo looked at the skill, the corner of his mouth quirking up.
He could see through people's cultivation now.
From now on, if anyone tried to show off in front of him, he could see right through them.
[Spirit Eye Technique learned.]
A wave of information flowed into his mind. His eyes warmed slightly, then returned to normal.
He looked at a piece of broken stone in the corner of the chamber – it still held a trace of the statue's aura. The Spirit Eye Technique activated automatically, and a line of text appeared before his eyes:
[Broken stone (trace aura): Golden Core Layer 1 · Sword Spirit Stone Statue. Destroyed.]
Useful.
Lin Luo put his phone away and walked out of the Trial Tower.
Outside, the guarding elder couldn't even speak. The ninth floor indicator had gone dark. Lin Luo had walked out, holding the talisman.
"You… you cleared it?"
"Yes."
"A Golden Core Layer 1 stone statue – you beat it?"
"Yes."
The elder opened his mouth, but in the end, he just shook his head.
"The younger generation is terrifying."
Lin Luo didn't say much. He walked through the crowd of watching disciples and headed back to the Chores Hall.
Behind him, murmuring buzzed like a beehive.
"He cleared the ninth floor?!"
"The ninth floor that no one has cleared in three hundred years!"
"A Golden Core Layer 1 stone statue! What stage is he to smash it with one axe?!"
"I don't know… but he's definitely not Qi Refining Layer 1."
Lin Luo didn't look back.
He pulled out his phone and checked the idle countdown.
[Nine Cycles Mystic Art, Second Cycle cultivation in progress… Time remaining: 46 hours.]
[Idle Cultivation automatically started. Time until breakthrough to Foundation Establishment Stage, Layer 2: 96 hours.]
Four days until Foundation Establishment Layer 2.
Lin Luo put his phone away, a smile on his lips, and walked through the door of the Chores Hall.
Behind him, the setting sun stretched his shadow long and long.
(End of Chapter 8)
---
Current Status
Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Layer 1 (Displayed: Qi Refining Layer 1)
Idle Cultivation: In Progress (96h to Foundation Establishment Layer 2)
Nine Cycles Mystic Art: Second Cycle (In Progress, 46h remaining), can withstand early Golden Core attacks
Attack: 280 (+50 Black Iron Axe)
Defense: 220 → 400 (boost from Nine Cycles Mystic Art)
HP: 1500/1500
Spirit Stones: 1750
Disguise Talisman: Active (Displayed Stage: Qi Refining Layer 1)
Possessions: Spirit Recovery Pill ×3, Life Extension Pill ×1, Black Iron Axe ×1, Blackwind Wolf King Core (Mid-Grade) ×1, Realm-Breaking Talisman ×1
Skill: Spirit Eye Technique (view detailed target information)
Instance Progress: Blackwind Ridge Trial Stage 3 (requires Foundation Establishment) unlocked, Trial Tower cleared
Quest: Seize the Realm-Breaking Talisman (Completed)
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