Advancing To Genesis Foundation

  The group then talked about their plans. In the end, Solance was able to persuade them to take a longer path to avoid the bounty hunters set by the Uru Family. While there are two strong cultivators in the group, the other is still in danger so it was better to avoid the risk, had been his argument.

  They conceded, that even though Ryker didn't look too happy about it, his plan to get to the capital quickly had to be changed in favor of their safety. In the end, the compensation and Solance telling them he would help them secure a house had been the selling point.

  They soon continued their journey to the capital.

-x-

  As Solance had claimed, the path they took had been relatively safe from bounty hunters and bandits belonging to the Uru Family. Relatively safe as they were still wild beasts in the oath they took, most of them in the Genesis Stage 1 Beast, something that even Era could kill.

  Speaking of Era, her cultivation had risen to the 8th Stage Genesis Gathering. While for Ina, she had broken through the Genesis Formation realm and is currently in the 3rd Stage. Everyone else has been the same, except for Ryker.

  He currently taking the chance to grab as many herbs and spirit fruits as he can. He even found the occasional ores and Energy Crystals Vein, mining some of it before leaving it. If not for wanting to get to the capital as quickly as possible he would have stayed longer.

  However, he had agreed to help Solance get to the capital and he would do so as fast as he could. Not to mention, they would be safer if Solance reached the safety of his home. 

  With the herbs and spirit fruits he had gathered, he slowly reached his limit, the qi inside him ready to expend. He wondered if there were any suitable places for a breakthrough.

-x-

  "You want to break through? I'm not sure if it is safe to do so in the forest. But considering you have reached your limit, you better take the chance to do so. Thankfully, I know a perfect spot," Solance took out a map before pointing to a small mountain on the map. 

  "This mountain is two kilometers to our west. You can go there quickly and have your breakthrough while we take our time. By the time you're done we should reach the mountain," he told him.

  Ryker thanked for the mountain's presence, to think there were suitable spots to break through near the path to the capital. However, Mashia burst his bubbles.

  "There are no towns, not even a village in that place," she asked, Solance shaking his head. "Then there must be something wrong there," she said, glaring at the young master.

  Solance gave the dragon princess a wry smile, "The reason there are no attempts to take the mountain is because of the presence of a powerful beast, maybe a Stage 5 Genesis Beast, or even a Stage 6. However, as long as he didn't try to climb up, there were plenty of places to break through at the bottom of the mountain.

  At the bottom, the strength of the beasts will be around Genesis Stage 3, with some at Stage 4. You have to be careful or you going to die, but this is the best and nearest place," he told Ryker, who nodded. 

  He gave them a look, saying, "Mashia, take care of them, I will finish as quickly as I can," he ran to the west, intending to have his breakthrough as quickly as possible.

  Solance looked at them, "So, are we going to stay here or try to get close to the mountain?" he asked.

  The answer he got was unanimous and unsurprising.

-x-

Thanks to his movement technique, he gets there in 10 minutes. Even in the vicinity, he could feel the rich energy swirling around the mountain. The energy concentration was so rich that it turned into a mist-like form. 

  He looked upwards, able to see the thickest most near the peak, even more condensed than the one at the bottom. He would have taken a look but he needed to break through first so he decided to go to the mountain after they got to the capital.

  He quickly looked around, trying to find the best spot to break through, one that was hidden enough from the beast. He soon takes a look around, hiding himself from the beast to not attract the attention of other beasts.

  While he was searching, he found a cave. Taking a quick look with his divine sense, he spotted a Stage 4 Genesis Serpent Beast. The bulge in the stomach area showed it had eaten recently. 

  He took his sword before launching an attack on the beast. The snake barely reacted before having its head severed. Ryker took the entire body into his storage ring before taking a meditative pose.

  He quickly circulated the Celestial Energy Art, the energy around him gathered and absorbed at a terrifying rate. Because he had cultivated mostly using the Art, his comprehension of the Art had been the best in the entire Cultivation Art he possessed.

  However, he quickly sensed the energy concentration thinning from his excessive consumption. 'If I use this much while breaking through the 4th major stage of the Genesis Grand realm, how much I'm going to need to break through at the Source Grand realm.'

  He began to regret using the ritual though he quickly moved his doubt. He chooses the ritual to become the strongest, not how to become strong the fastest. He calmed his mind as he absorbed the energy in the mountain.

  Slowly, his qi started to transform. Genesis Foundation is about turning the condensed qi into a solid platform. The process is much harder than condensing qi as one needs to turn it into a half-solid, half-liquid state.

  However, he had experienced it before so the process is much smoother. In no time he transformed his qi, slowly ascending to the Foundation realm. After 2 hours, he opened his eyes, feeling much better and stronger.

  He wished to be able to practice using his current strength so he headed outside and quickly found a bear beast with strength equivalent to the 3rd Stage Genesis Foundation realm expert. He gleefully attacked the beast.

  The beast defended, well, tried to, only to have it destroyed easily. The bear let out a confused and fearful roar, planning to run away when Ryker struck it down. He took the bear beast's body before heading to the planned rendezvous spot.

  He wondered if they were fine or not.

-x-

  Mashia let out a shaky breath, trying to hide the entire group. Besides her, Solance had fainted, a deep gash on his chest. She also didn't escape unscathed, her fight against two Genesis Foundation left some bad injury. 

  She looked at the artifact Ina had pulled out, their presence hidden temporarily. She wonder if Ryker could come and save them. After all, their opponent had 4 Genesis Foundation experts waiting.