The seventeen youths did not wait twice. Under the gaze of Grandfather Wu, Uncle Chen, and the entire Village, they raised trembling hands, took their Foundation Opening Pills—the simple light blue pills—and swallowed them without hesitation.

  "Begin," Grandfather Wu said. His voice was calm but resonated like a bell in an empty space.

  A simultaneous gulping sound was heard. The pill immediately dissolved in their throats, and the spiritual essence contained within it exploded inside their meridians.

  Zzzt!

  Instantly, a wave of energy swept through the square. Each youth was enveloped in a soft aura that emitted palpable spiritual waves. The straw mats beneath them glowed with a subtle light channelled from the Opening Stone Altar.

  "Clear your minds," Grandfather Wu's voice echoed, low but piercing. "Let your mortal fire burn without regret. Only pure ash can receive the echo of Heaven."

  The bluish light from the altar slowly changed to a blue-purple color. A wave of heat began to flow, not burning their bodies, but burning the core of their existence—their Mortal Wheel.

  Thrum. Thrum. Thrum.

  Inside the body of each youth, an invisible miracle occurred. The Mortal Wheel—a dull circle made of blood and life—trembled violently. The pure energy of the pill entered the wheel like a storm devastating their mortal foundation.

  The wheel creaked.

  Cracked.

  Then burned.

  Invisible fire, the Fire of the Pure Forest Ginseng, spread within them. Some youths unconsciously sobbed; their skin emitted a faint mist, as if their bodies were slowly being evaporated from within.

  "Do not resist," Uncle Chen whispered, closing his eyes, channelling a bit of Organ Transformation essence. "Let your Mortal Wheel turn to ash. Only by losing the body will you find the heaven."

  The youths' Mortal Wheels began to melt—not vanish, but change shape. A thick, golden liquid energy started to emerge from the cracks, rotating to the rhythm of their spiritual heart. However, when the wheel completely disappeared, Heaven suddenly responded.

  Boom.

  A silver-blue light flashed from the sky, not as lightning, but as a spiritual echo. An energy mist enveloped the entire Altar, creating a gentle vibration that made everyone's hair stand on end.

  "Heaven's Resonance," Grandfather Wu murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Heaven is weighing who is worthy."

  For the strong, the echo was like a calming melody in the depths of the soul. For the fragile, it became a burden that crushed their hope.

  Tang, who was the first to stabilize, suddenly tensed. His body trembled, but instead of resisting, he lowered his head, taking a deep breath. The echo enveloped his body—flowing into the ash of his melting Mortal Wheel. The golden liquid vibrated, then shone brightly. Heaven's Resonance fused.

  And in that moment—from within his very soul, a tiny spark of light was born, a soft flame that did not come from essence, nor from blood—but from will.

  "This is... Soul Unification," Grandfather Wu whispered softly. "A mortal touching the heavens."

  The small light pierced the golden liquid, forming a new circle—perfect, rotating, and alive. Tang's Divine Wheel was formed.

  Boom!

  A column of light blue light soared into the sky, shaking the foundation of the Opening Stone Altar. At the edge of the Altar, a farmer's wife whispered to her husband, "Look, dear! That's Tang! He succeeded! Our Golden Foundation has been born!"

  Tang groaned, then laughed amidst the pain. "I... succeeded!"

  However, not everyone shared the same fate.

  Mingling, who sat next to Tang, lost control. His soul fire burned too quickly—his resonance trembled out of rhythm. The blue light of Heaven, which should have been calming, instead burned. His Mortal Wheel was not completely destroyed yet, but his soul fire was already half extinguished.

  Uncle Chen tapped the floor of the Altar, channelling a pale yellow essence towards Mingling. "Calm yourself! The Divine Wheel is born of will, not fear!"

  His essence dampened the wild fire, making the golden liquid in Mingling's body rotate more gently. Slowly, a circle shape emerged, although not perfect. "The Divine Wheel is formed from truth," Grandfather Wu said flatly, "and that truth is never born of ambition."

  Zhuwei, on the other hand, tried to control his soul fire with sheer muscle strength. He rejected the flow of Heaven and tried to shape his Wheel with a rigid will. The result? A square shape. The blue light reflected harshly off its surface, emitting painful friction.

  "Zhuwei!" Grandfather Wu snapped. "Heaven cannot be shaped! Let it rotate on its own!"

  Grandfather Wu's staff struck the ground. A sharp vibration pierced Zhuwei's body, and in an instant, the square shape crumbled—turning into a rough circle that rotated slowly, but was stable.

  In the back row, the hunters' wives sighed in relief. Aunt Lian tightly held Uncle Chen's hand.

  Bashan, on the outermost side, sat in silence. His soul fire burned calmly, neither fast nor slow. He did not chase the echo of Heaven; he followed its rhythm. His Mortal Wheel was perfectly destroyed, its ashes merging with the vibration of Heaven, and when the blue light touched it, a gentle flame from his own soul appeared without coercion.

  His Divine Wheel was formed without an explosion—without grandeur—yet its aura shook all spirits around the Altar.

  "Bashan..." Uncle Chen's voice trembled. "He did not challenge Heaven, he imitated it."

  Grandfather Wu smiled faintly. "He is the closest to the perfection of the Divine Wheel."

  At the end of the ritual, five youths successfully gave birth to a stable Golden Divine Wheel, three others were nearly perfect, and nine failed.

  One of them, Deng, tried to hold back his mortal fire from extinguishing. But he refused destruction. The fire turned and struck his own body. The golden liquid in his body evaporated. Blood flowed from his mouth and nose.

  "Failed," Grandfather Wu said softly. "He refused the mortal death."

  Uncle Chen ran, channelling energy into Deng's body to restrain the raging essence. "He held back his Mortal Wheel from burning... his body cannot bear two worlds."

  When Deng collapsed, the Altar fell silent. The nine youths who failed stared at those who succeeded with blank faces.

  Grandfather Wu stared at them for a long time, then said, "Today you learn one thing—that to become Divine, you must dare to become ash."

  Uncle Chen, with lightning speed, ran towards Deng. He touched Deng's back and channelled his thick Organ Transformation essence. Deng twitched, but Uncle Chen successfully forced the not-fully-dissolved Foundation Opening Pill back into his stomach and returned him to a mortal foundation.

  "His soul foundation is too weak," Uncle Chen said, his face serious. "The pill damaged his meridians. We must take him out of the formation!"

  With Liang's help, the unconscious Deng was immediately lifted and carried away from the Altar. The other nine youths, seeing Deng's fate, immediately opened their eyes, their faces filled with fear and regret. They voluntarily released their Foundation Opening Pills, allowing the spiritual energy to flow back into the air. They had failed, and they would remain mortal.

  "I... I failed..." a youth muttered, tears streaming down his cheeks. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look into Grandfather Wu's eyes.

  "Failed... I'm sorry, Grandfather Wu..." said another, his voice filled with shame.

  "I will definitely try again sometime!" exclaimed another youth, although his tone was filled with faint despair.

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  Grandfather Wu briefly stared at the nine failed youths. "Do not be discouraged! Today's failure is motivation for future cultivation! A mortal foundation is not the end of everything. Go and help your wives prepare medicinal broth for Deng!"

  The nine failed youths quickly left the Altar area, carrying shame and regret, but also the seed of new determination.

  In the middle of the circle, the eight youths who successfully reached the Golden Divine Wheel—including Tang, Mingling, Zhuwei, and Bashan—sat silently, their faces pale but enveloped in an aura of victory. Although some of their wheels were less than perfect, they had stepped beyond the mortal limit.

  Grandfather Wu, his face now showing deep relief, raised his staff once more.

  "Now! Let the newly formed Divine Wheels absorb the Altar's energy! Feel the resonance with heaven and earth! You have opened your sea of consciousness!"

  Around the Altar, Aunt Lian, Liang, and the villagers watched this rare sight with wide eyes.

  Tang, with his stable Golden Divine Wheel, was the first to open his eyes. His eyes no longer saw the darkness of the night, but a new world enveloped in an energy mist.

  "I... I succeeded!" Tang exclaimed, his voice containing pure ecstasy. He felt the spiritual essence flowing freely through his meridians, no longer constrained by mortal limits.

  "Golden Divine Wheel!" Tang shouted, clenching his fists. "It feels... it feels like being the master of myself! The sea of consciousness is so vast, Uncle Chen! It feels like... like I can shatter a jade stone with one finger!"

  Bashan, who sat quietly next to him, opened his eyes slowly. Although he showed no euphoria, the calmness in his eyes was much deeper.

  "The sea of consciousness does exist," Bashan whispered, his voice low and full of awe. "When the Mortal Wheel broke, I felt detached from my body's gravity. I was adrift, Grandfather Wu, in a boundless ocean. I did not panic. I just let the water flow, and the Divine Wheel was formed from the calmest current. It feels like... I am no longer Bashan, but a flowing stream finding its own path."

  Grandfather Wu smiled. "That is the sea of Consciousness that does not yet have a sky, Bashan. Speed and serenity. You will be the most stable among them."

  Mingling, with a slightly smaller Divine Wheel, rose unsteadily. He did not feel Tang's ecstasy, but a painful awareness of his shortcomings.

  "I almost failed, Uncle Chen," Mingling said, his face pale. "When the Mortal Wheel broke, I saw Lin's shadow! I thought I had succeeded, and I was too happy. The golden liquid spun wildly. It felt like I was trying to force a laugh when my heart was anxious! If not for your Organ Transformation essence, my Divine Wheel would have crumbled into dust!"

  Uncle Chen nodded. "That is your lesson, Mingling. Uncontrolled ambition is poison. The Divine Wheel is formed from truth, not from falsehood."

  Zhuwei, who almost destroyed himself with rigidity, felt a different experience. He did not feel flow or joy, but imperfection.

  "I... I saw a square shape," Zhuwei said, his voice hoarse. He stared at his hands, as if he did not recognize his body. "When the sea of consciousness opened, I tried to build a wall! I wanted to create a perfect structure, but every wall I built crumbled! My Divine Wheel was formed by total exhaustion and forced surrender, not by serenity."

  Zhuwei shook his head. "Its surface is rough, Grandfather Wu. I feel it. I will have to cultivate for decades just to smooth out this imperfection. I touched the Divine Sense. It felt like I was looking at Star Village from above, but I could not control my view. This... this is a bad start."

  Grandfather Wu looked at Zhuwei gently. "Your strength is structure, Zhuwei. Your weakness is also structure. Use that rough Divine Wheel to strengthen your bones, not to control the sky. The path of cultivation is to forgive imperfection, not to control the universe."

  While the eight successful youths now began to absorb the Altar's essence to stabilize their Divine Wheels, the nine failed youths stood on the sidelines, tears streaming down their cheeks, feeling the coldness of failure.

  Deng, who had just regained consciousness after Uncle Chen saved him, stared at Tang with blank eyes. "The Divine Wheel... I felt it at my fingertips, Uncle Chen. When my Mortal Wheel cracked, I saw a warm white light before me. I thought it was Heaven. I reached for it, but the pain was too great."

  "I failed because I was greedy," Deng whispered, tears mixing with the trace of blood remaining at the corner of his mouth. "I forced it. I couldn't let go of the mortal fear's grip. I will remain mortal."

  Another youth, Huo, who had voluntarily retreated, whispered to his friend, "I didn't see light. I only saw an empty abyss where my Mortal Wheel should have been. When Grandfather Wu said 'stop', I felt relieved. It is better to live as a mortal with a strong back, than to die as spiritual dust."

  Uncle Chen walked towards them, his face filled with deep sympathy. "You are all brave. Today's failure is not the end. The key to cultivation is having a strong physical foundation. Go and help the Village. You will get another chance, if you start with a clean heart."

  The nine failed youths sighed heavily, nodding their heads, and were immediately taken to be stabilized, reducing the fatal risk of their foundation failure.

  Grandfather Wu looked sadly at the failed youths, he was confident that one day they would succeed, a trust that did not discriminate against any youth in his Village. His sigh trembled softly, then he turned towards the eight youths sitting on their spiritual pads.

  "Stabilize your foundations, absorb the jade essence from this altar. Remember, do not be greedy. If you feel uncomfortable, stop immediately."

  Tang, whose aura was the most exuberant, immediately began to absorb. "I won't be greedy, Grandfather Wu! I will only take what my Divine Wheel needs!" He felt the rich Altar essence flowing rapidly, filling the spiritual void in his chest. His tense face immediately softened, replaced by the pure ecstasy of efficient cultivation.

  Bashan, on the other hand, absorbed at a slow but constant speed, like basalt stone absorbing water. He closed his eyes, letting his calm Golden Divine Wheel rotate. He was not taking, but resonating. The jade light from the Altar circled Bashan, and he looked increasingly merged with the stone beneath him.

  "I will strengthen my knots!" Zhuwei exclaimed. He channelled the essence he absorbed directly into his ribs, trying to use the spiritual essence to patch his physical rigidity, hoping it would smooth the rough surface of his Divine Wheel. His face contorted in painful concentration.

  Mingling, who was now more careful, absorbed only little by little. He was afraid his small Divine Wheel would shatter. He kept repeating in his heart, "Calm, calm, don't think about Lin. Focus on the truth."

  Grandfather Wu nodded contentedly at these eight stable youths. They would be fine.

  Now, all eyes turned to Zhi Xuan. He was the only one left in the row of youths, still sitting on the straw mat, his dual-colored glowing Spirit Shaping Pill bottle in his hand.

  Grandfather Wu turned towards him, his voice returning to a commanding tone.

  "Zhi Xuan," Grandfather Wu called. "Your time has come. Eight Golden Foundations have been born. Now, the most special Golden Foundation will be tested."

  Aunt Lian, standing on the sidelines, tightly wrung her hands. Uncle Chen now stood straight beside Grandfather Wu, his face tense awaiting this moment.

  Zhi Xuan walked slowly, his steps measured. He passed the circle of youths who were cultivating, passed the Opening Stone Altar enveloped in a mist of jade essence, and continued his steps until he stood directly under the thick shadow of the Large Starfruit Tree on the edge of the square.

  He stopped. The moonlight and the spiritual energy of the Altar no longer enveloped him; he was covered in deep, contrasting shadows.

  Silence fell over the square, much more suffocating than when Deng failed.

  Grandfather Wu, who was ready to lead, froze in his place. Uncle Chen and Aunt Lian were both astonished. The villagers, who had thought Zhi Xuan would be the last, whispered to each other. The eight youths who were cultivating—even the usually enthusiastic Tang—opened their eyes briefly, their faces filled with confusion.

  "Zhi Xuan!" Grandfather Wu exclaimed, his voice containing sharp authority and a hint of disbelief. "What are you doing? Your place is in the Altar Formation! Do not violate the etiquette of this sacred ceremony!"

  Uncle Chen stepped forward, his hands radiating Organ Transformation essence. "Zhi Xuan, don't act recklessly! The Spirit Shaping Pill needs direct resonance with the Black Jade Stones! Return to your place!"

  Aunt Lian, whose heart ached, only stared at Zhi Xuan, her face pale.

  Zhi Xuan turned, his sapphire eyes reflecting the dark shadow of the tree. He bowed deeply towards Grandfather Wu and Uncle Chen, a tribute full of respect yet firm.

  "Grandfather Wu, Uncle Chen," Zhi Xuan said, his voice calm and clear, echoing in the silence of the night. "I respect the Opening Stone Altar Formation. I respect all the efforts you have given, and I respect the newly born Divine Wheels of my brothers."

  He raised the jade bottle, which glowed dual-colored under the shadow of the tree. "This Spirit Shaping Pill, as Grandfather said, is the treasure of Star Village. But this pill is also the test of my destiny."

  Zhi Xuan sighed, his gaze sweeping over the eight youths who were now looking at him warily. "I cannot endanger this newly born Golden Foundation. If the 'catastrophe' prophesied by the bamboo scroll truly exists within me, I will not let it touch the Golden Divine Wheels of my friends."

  The atmosphere became even quieter. The villagers, including the veteran hunters, began to understand: Zhi Xuan knew there was something extremely dangerous about his breakthrough.

  "If I fail, I will bear the consequences alone," Zhi Xuan continued, standing tall under the dark tree.

  "My place is here, under the shadows, away from all of you. I cannot let my spiritual chaos disturb the jade essence absorption of the new Golden Foundation."

  Mingling, who sat closest, whispered to Tang. "He... he's really crazy! He's risking everything!"

  Grandfather Wu, after a moment, slowly lowered his staff. His sharp eyes gazed deep into Zhi Xuan's soul. He felt the sincerity behind the words. He also felt the faint cold turbulence from Zhi Xuan's body, which now felt clearer because it was far from the Altar's stabilization.

  "You violate the Golden Foundation, Zhi Xuan," Grandfather Wu said, his tone harsh, but there was a tone of resignation hidden within. "This Formation is not only for breakthrough, but for protection! Without the protection of the Five-Star Formation, that Spirit Shaping Pill could destroy you!"

  Zhi Xuan smiled faintly. "I know, Grandfather Wu. But if I am destined to be destroyed, I must be destroyed alone. I have made a promise to Aunt Lian. I will be the protector of Star Village. A protector must first learn how to sacrifice."

  Aunt Lian stepped forward, tears flowing again, but she did not shout. "My son!"

  Grandfather Wu raised his hand, stopping Aunt Lian. He let out a heavy sigh, the breath of the Golden Foundation that had witnessed thousands of mortal lives.

  "Very well," Grandfather Wu said, with a voice filled with disappointment and strange respect. "Your will is as hard as the coldest jade stone. We will not force you. But listen to me carefully, Zhi Xuan! If you feel an uncontrollable vibration, even a slight one, release the Pill! We will not save you there!"

  Zhi Xuan nodded. "I understand, Grandfather Wu. Your command will be obeyed."

  Grandfather Wu turned to Uncle Chen. "Chen, continue channelling essence for the youths! Make sure they are not disturbed by Zhi Xuan!"

  Uncle Chen nodded, his face pale. He returned to the Altar Formation, but his eyes constantly glanced towards Zhi Xuan under the tree.

  Under the Large Starfruit Tree, Zhi Xuan was now completely alone. He opened the jade bottle. The aroma of the Spirit Shaping Pill—a spicy mix of hot Ginseng and the coolness of Jade Root—spread in the night air.

  He stared at the dual-colored glowing pill in his palm. Zhi Xuan dropped down and sat cross-legged on a flat stone. He sighed calmly, as calm as a silent storm.

  Without further hesitation, Zhi Xuan put the Spirit Shaping Pill into his mouth and swallowed it.

  CRASH!

  The pill did not dissolve. The pill exploded.