Deep in Jin Li's eyes, a trace of tenderness flickered. "He is a good friend of mine."
Before finishing, she added another sentence.
"As for his identity... even I am not entirely clear."
The few Imperial Guards present were visibly stirred.
Just what kind of extraordinary figure was he?
***
"I never thought I could be this diligent.
"It seems my countrymen's fine virtue of diligence is still etched into my genes."
Qi Yuan stretched his limbs, feeling quite pleased.
Today, he had already gotten out of bed before the puppet cat had even made a sound.
"Sure enough, not playing games, sleeping early, and waking early are the only ways to enjoy such a wonderful morning."
Right then, Jiang Lingsu's voice drifted over. "Eldest Senior Brother, we've already finished our morning cultivation."
Hearing that, Qi Yuan felt a little awkward.
Jiang Lingsu continued, "Still, compared to previous days, you have made progress, Eldest Senior Brother.
"If you can follow through on what you just said and stop playing those corrupting games from now on, your future will be bright."
"Stopping games is impossible," Qi Yuan flatly refused.
"Eldest Senior Brother, didn't you say you would look out for me in the future?" Jiang Lingsu teased with a smile. "If you don't cultivate properly, how are you going to protect me?
"Don't go stirring up trouble later and make your junior sister come bail you out."
"Having you cover for me isn't bad either," Qi Yuan said. "My favorite motto has always been, 'If you strike it rich, do not forget me.'"
Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes at him.
Remembering something, Qi Yuan brought out the cultivation jade slip. "Here's your jade slip back, Junior Sister. Thanks a lot."
Taking the jade slip, a smile played at the corner of Jiang Lingsu's lips. "Did Eldest Senior Brother create your own technique?"
"Naturally," Qi Yuan said with full confidence. "It's just not complete yet. It can only cultivate up to Qi Refinement perfection, so I need to extend it into Foundation Establishment."
Jiang Lingsu paused in surprise, then laughed even harder. "Creating a cultivation method in just two days—you truly are an extraordinary, heaven-sent genius!"
Her words were entirely insincere.
Because such a thing was simply impossible.
Unless, rather than creating a technique, he had merely tweaked someone else's method a bit and claimed it as his own.
Of course, even that was quite impressive.
"Do you want to switch to the technique I created?" Qi Yuan asked earnestly. "The problems with the cultivation methods you all practice are far too severe."
They would turn a practitioner into nourishment for some entity.
Qi Yuan naturally had no intention of practicing such methods.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Eldest Senior Brother, but there's no need."
Jiang Lingsu declined.
The art she cultivated was a Heaven-grade technique; there was absolutely no way she would switch.
"Eldest Senior Brother, from the way you're dressed, are you planning to head down the mountain?"
"Yeah." Qi Yuan nodded. "I plan to create the Foundation Establishment portion of my technique, but unfortunately, I don't know the first thing about Foundation Establishment. I'm going down the mountain to attend some open lectures on it."
Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu became all the more convinced that everything Eldest Senior Brother had said earlier was merely in jest.
He didn't know the first thing about Foundation Establishment, yet he was going to create a technique for it.
Could such a method really be cultivated?
Before leaving, Jiang Lingsu kindly cautioned him, "Eldest Senior Brother, a cultivation method is the very foundation of a cultivator. You must never modify it carelessly."
***
Half an hour later.
Qi Yuan sat upright inside the lecture cultivation hall.
Having arrived early, he had secured a rather good seat.
Afterward, disciples trickled in one after another. When they saw Qi Yuan, puzzled expressions appeared on their faces.
Lowering their voices, they whispered among themselves, "He's wearing a purple robe—he's a true disciple! Why would he come here to attend an open lecture?"
"That's no ordinary purple robe. Look at his collar—there are nine whole gold threads! He isn't an ordinary true disciple, he's the head disciple of a peak!"
"What?"
The gazes directed at Qi Yuan held both reverence and confusion.
After all, open lectures like this were usually attended only by outer disciples and chore disciples. Even inner disciples rarely came, to say nothing of true disciples.
Within the Divine Light Sect, disciples were divided into true disciples, formal disciples, and chore disciples.
Chore disciples held the lowest status; they were permitted to cultivate, but had to perform menial labor.
Formal disciples were further divided into inner disciples and outer disciples, both of whom had officially joined a peak.
Once an inner disciple took an elder as their master, they would become a true disciple.
There were also disparities among true disciples, which mainly depended on their master's strength.
As for the head disciple of a peak, that was the elite among true disciples—someone whom ordinary elders wouldn't dare offend.
Such head disciples received personal guidance from peak masters. Why would one ever attend this kind of general lecture?
"He's Qi Yuan, the head disciple of Seven Colors Peak!"
"It's really him! As expected of a head disciple, he's so handsome!"
Upon learning Qi Yuan's identity, the chore disciples and formal disciples displayed mixed reactions—some were envious, some reverent, and some jealous.
"Why did he come here?"
"Rumor has it he angered the peak master of Seven Colors Peak so badly that she shut herself inside Seven Colors Hall and refuses to come out. By the way, I'm only telling you this—don't spread it around."
"Offending the peak master? What nerve!"
"I heard the other true disciples call Qi Yuan a master-defying rebel who dishonors his ancestors!"
The crowd gossiped among themselves, while quite a few fairly pretty female disciples cast flirtatious glances Qi Yuan's way.
Yet, given Qi Yuan's record of offending his master, they didn't dare be too blatant, lest they draw trouble upon themselves.
Sitting in his seat, Qi Yuan muttered to himself, "Sure enough, a handsome man is the center of attention wherever he goes."
After about half an incense stick of time, the instructing deacon finally arrived late.
He was an old man with one foot already in the grave.
Catching sight of Qi Yuan, he paused briefly, after which a smug sensation flashed through his heart.
He figured his lectures must be exceptionally good if even a head disciple had come to listen.
He resolved that for this lecture, he had to give two hundred percent of his ability. He needed to make it sound profound, elevated, and utterly awe-inspiring, ensuring Qi Yuan would be thoroughly impressed.
In plain terms, he planned to deliver pure, pretentious bluster.
"My name is Xu Renshan. Today, this old man shall instruct everyone on the key essentials of Foundation Establishment."
Once Xu Renshan finished speaking, the disciples below took on serious expressions.
Although their cultivation was still far from Foundation Establishment, learning about it in advance was immensely important to them.
"Above Qi Refinement lies Foundation Establishment. Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, one may serve as a deacon in our Divine Light Sect and enjoy offerings.
"However, Foundation Establishment is fraught with immense difficulty, stopping countless seekers of the Dao in their tracks," Xu Renshan said, a reminiscent look appearing in his eyes.
Back then, he had nearly failed to establish his foundation as well.
"Foundation Establishment also has its hierarchies.
"As you all should know, establishing a foundation requires a Foundation Establishment spiritual item. Using this spiritual item as a basis, one forges one's own foundation.
"The higher the grade of the Foundation Establishment spiritual item, the better the resulting foundation," Xu Renshan expounded eloquently.
Below, a disciple immediately chimed in, "I know! Foundation Establishment spiritual items are divided into high, medium, and low grades. High grade is the best, while low grade is the poorest."
Xu Renshan nodded in satisfaction. "The higher the grade of the Foundation Establishment spiritual item, the better the foundation's effect.
"You know that Foundation Establishment spiritual items have grades, but I fear few among you know that Foundation Establishment itself also has grades."
As soon as these words fell, many people in the hall focused their attention even more intently.
This was indeed something they had never heard before.
Xu Renshan glanced in Qi Yuan's direction, and seeing him listening attentively as well, felt thoroughly pleased with himself.
"Foundation Establishment is divided into Mortal Grade Foundation Establishment, Spirit Grade Foundation Establishment, Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, and Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment.
"Generally, a low-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item yields a Mortal Grade Foundation Establishment. This old man is of Mortal Grade Foundation Establishment—wasting away an entire lifetime with no hope of reaching the Origin Core realm. Truly a pity.
"A medium-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item achieves a Spirit Grade Foundation Establishment, though there is also a chance of achieving an Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
"A high-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual item corresponds to an Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
"Rumor has it that above high-grade Foundation Establishment spiritual items, there exist even higher-grade spiritual items that allow one to achieve Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment!
"Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment signifies a genuine hope of becoming a true immortal."
The breathing of everyone present grew ragged. Who wouldn't want to become a true immortal?
"Of course, within each tier of Foundation Establishment, there are further subdivisions."
Qi Yuan furrowed his brows and suddenly asked, "May I ask the instructor: is Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment the very best kind?"
Hearing the head disciple of Seven Colors Peak consult him with a question, Xu Renshan's beard nearly twitched with pride.
"Not so. Above Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment, there is also the legendary Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. That is the strongest foundation of all."
"Then may I ask, instructor, what exactly is Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?" Qi Yuan inquired earnestly.
Hearing this, Xu Renshan froze.
As a mere minor Foundation Establishment cultivator, what in the world did he know about Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?
Even so, he braced himself and spoke, "The so-called Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is unfathomably profound. Even I harbor only one or two conjectures. You may listen, but do not take them as absolute truth."
Having uttered these words, Xu Renshan let out a sigh of relief.
He began to make things up as he went.
After all, he had already stated that these were merely his own conjectures and not to be taken as absolute fact.
Besides, this sort of knowledge was something the disciples here would never use in their entire lives.
Even if he spun complete nonsense, no one would be able to expose him.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately concentrated with rapt attention.
He wanted to know what, precisely, Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was.
Chapter 14