Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

This droplet was only the size of a grain of rice, yet the instant it appeared, the air around it emitted a faint rippling sound.

“Go.”

Su Ming exhaled a single word.

The droplet instantly pierced a test sword stone ten zhang away.

Pfft.

A soft sound.

The black-gold test sword stone, built to withstand the full force of a Qi Refining completion strike, did not shatter or crumble. But at its center, a round hole appeared—transparent from front to back, its edges smooth as a mirror.

This was the power of Foundation Establishment.

The density of liquid spiritual energy is a hundred times that of gaseous spiritual energy. After the Dao foundation had been mended with Earth Vein Spirit Milk and forged with Star Power, Su Ming’s spiritual energy purity reached a startling degree.

“Congratulations, disciple.” Lin Yu floated in the air, circling theatrically and cupping his hands, “Foundation Establishment complete, Dao foundation rebuilt. From today on, you can be considered a proper ‘immortal’.”Su Ming withdrew his hand and looked at the round hole. The tension that had gripped his mouth all night finally loosened, and he allowed a relieved smile to lift his lips.

“Thank you, Master.”

He turned and bowed respectfully toward the Xuantian ring hovering in midair.

This bow had nothing to do with cultivation techniques or material gain; it was for the life-saving grace of reconstruction.

“All right, all right, stop with the sappy stuff.” Lin Yu could not stand such a sentimental moment and waved his hand, “Hurry and tidy yourself up, you smell. And this cave—it’s a mess, like it’s been ransacked. If your senior brothers and sisters saw it, they might think you’re practicing some evil art in here.”

Su Ming straightened and glanced around the cave dwelling.

Indeed, the once-neat cave was a wreck. The ground was pitted and uneven, covered with stone dust shattered by spiritual pressure; the seven pieces of Star Pattern Steel had dulled, clearly drained of their spiritual nature.

But he did not care.

These external items could be repaired if broken, replaced if lost.

As long as he was alive and the path remained, everything still held hope.

Su Ming walked to the cave entrance but did not hurry outside.

He reached out and placed his hand on the cold stone door, feeling the rough texture beneath his palm.

Foundation established.

.......

The night breeze at Gazing Star Cliff carried a refreshing chill.

The seven pieces of Star Pattern Steel stood quietly around the cave. Though they no longer emitted the violent pillars of light that accompanied Foundation Establishment, their surface patterns still traced a faint starlight that breathed in and out, barely visible to the naked eye. The aura concentration at the cliff’s top was at least thirty percent higher than usual; even the few weeds at the edge gave off a faint glow on their leaves.

Inside the cave, the glowstones cast a soft, steady light.

Su Ming sat cross-legged on a newly replaced zabuton. His left hand was raised flat, fingertips suspending a drop of pale blue liquid.

That was Foundation Establishment true liquid, priced at three spirit stones per drop.

At this moment, under Su Ming’s precise divine sense control, the precious liquid was being stretched into an ultra-thin blue thread and slowly drawn along the subtle grooves on the Xuantian ring’s surface, seeping in.

“Left, a bit more to the left—yes, that seam right there.”

Lin Yu’s voice echoed inside Su Ming’s Consciousness Sea, sounding as content as someone enjoying a relaxing bath and a good scrub, “This strength is good. The true liquid’s purity is passable. Now that’s proper maintenance.”

Su Ming’s fingers remained steady, without the slightest tremor. He worked as if repairing the most delicate formation plate, his spiritual energy turning into a soft brush, evenly applying the true liquid into every hidden crevice of the ring.

“In half a month I should be looking somewhat human again,” Lin Yu hummed, “You brat, don’t be stingy. If a craftsman wants good work, he must first sharpen his tools. Once the ring’s repaired, your little life will be more secure.”

Su Ming did not argue. He silently pressed the last thread of true liquid into the deepest crack on the ring’s face.

As the true liquid seeped in, a faint dark radiance shimmered across the ring’s antique surface before fading, leaving it even more unremarkable, as if it were an ordinary iron band from the mundane world.

He sealed his work and exhaled.

Su Ming rose and stretched his slightly stiff neck. His joints popped crisply; the lake of liquid spiritual energy in his Dantian rippled gently with his movement, bringing an overwhelming sense of fullness and strength.

This was the seventh day after his successful Foundation Establishment.

The ever-present danger that had teetered on the edge of life and death—the risk that one careless moment could blow up the Dantian—finally faded away.

That morning he had made a point to visit the Formation Peak main hall.

Formation Peak·Star Pivot Hall.

The hall’s doors opened by themselves, with no wind.

The moment Su Ming stepped inside, he saw a thin figure standing with hands behind his back before the star-map waterfall. Xuanheng did not look back, only raised a hand to signal him forward.

Su Ming stopped three paces away and bowed, “Disciple Su Ming pays respects to Master.”

Xuanheng did not speak at once.

He turned, and his deep eyes scanned Su Ming, his divine sense brushing over the Dantian, meridians, and Consciousness Sea—three breaths.

Then he inclined his head slightly.

“Solid foundation, meridians undamaged, the crack has begun to show gold veins.”

He paused.

“Your Foundation Establishment turned out better than I expected.”

Su Ming lowered his head. “All thanks to Master granting the formation.”

Xuanheng gave a faint “hm,” an acknowledgment.

He raised his hand and traced a gesture in the air.

“The fourth-tier technique of the Foundation Establishment Like Water Art is here.”

A jade slip flew from his sleeve and hovered before Su Ming.

“This tier is called ‘Abyss.’ It asks not for rushing torrents, but for unfathomable depth.”

Su Ming took the jade slip with both hands; its touch was smooth and warm.

“Thank you, Master.”

Xuanheng said no more.

He simply turned and looked once again at the ceaselessly cascading rune waterfall.

“Foundation established, Golden Core is in sight.” His voice was soft, but every word burned clearly into Su Ming’s ears, “But do you understand that your Dao foundation—after all, is only ‘repaired,’ not ‘rebuilt’?”

Su Ming felt his heartbeat skip.

He recalled his deep conversation with Xuanheng.

“Disciple remembers.” His voice was a little hoarse, “Without the Heaven-Mending Pill, this life of mine can at most stop at Golden Core.”

Xuanheng remained silent.

In the hush, the rune waterfall thundered on, pouring thousands of star-lights into the earth veins’ depths.

After a long moment,

“Do you still remember the three main ingredients I told you about back then?”

“Nine Netherworlds Black Lotus, Phoenix Rebirth Branch, Ten-Thousand-Year Sky-Blue Stone Core.” Su Ming spoke each name deliberately.

Xuanheng nodded slightly.

“Remembering is enough. You don’t have to hunt them now, but don’t forget.”

He took another jade slip from his sleeve and gently placed it on the table.

“These are some rumored clues I collected in my early travels about those three main ingredients. Truth and falsehood are hard to tell, but it’s better than nothing.”

Su Ming froze.

Xuanheng still did not turn his head.

“This is all your Master can do for you.”

Su Ming gripped the jade slip, his knuckles whitening slightly.

He bowed deeply, pressing his palms to the ground in a long salute.

“Disciple... thanks Master.”

Xuanheng answered with a very light “hm.”

Su Ming stepped back three paces, turned, and left the Star Pivot Hall.