Chapter 192 - 185: Change a Dao Foundation
Having successfully retrieved the highly spiritual [Wisdom King Appearance], Qi Yun did not delay in the slightest.
Leaving Milo Mountain, he traveled without stopping, concealing his tracks the entire way, and went straight back to his residence in the Inner Mansion.
The entire process was utterly stealthy, a perfect act of Deceiving the Heavens.
No one knew that he had ventured deep into dangerous territory and actually succeeded in taking the Foundation Establishment Object that had caused several Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivators to return in failure.
Inside the quiet chamber, layers of Restrictions were activated.
Qi Yun let out a long sigh of relief. His constantly tense Heart and Spirit finally relaxed.
He gazed at the deep-blue [Wisdom King Appearance] mask in his hand. Its glow was now restrained, it felt warm to the touch, and it contained a pure Fire Element Dao Intent and Buddhist Power. A genuine smile appeared on his face.
"The Metal Element’s [Taibai Molt], the Fire Element’s [Wisdom King Appearance]... I’m still missing three: Yang, Wood, and Earth." He muttered to himself, his fingertips gently stroking the wrathful patterns on the mask as he felt the vast power within.
"I’ve finally taken another solid step toward the Foundation Establishment Dao."
Just as he carefully put away the [Wisdom King Appearance] and prepared to meditate for a short while before visiting the Elder Master at the Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple—on one hand to tell him about his trip, and on the other to ask for advice on how to find the other Foundation Establishment Objects—
A faint ripple came from the protective Restrictions around his residence.
Qi Yun swept the area with his Divine Sense, and his expression flickered.
Outside his courtyard gate, two figures were standing silently, having arrived at some unknown time.
One was gaunt and clad in a faded, washed-out old Daoist Robe—it was none other than the Elder Master, Deng Yin. The other had a lean face and profound eyes; this was Qian Xin Master.
Two Foundation Establishment Masters, arriving together, paying a personal visit!
Qi Yun’s gaze instantly hardened.
’Something’s happened...’
’It seems that while I was in Milo Mountain, some considerable turmoil has occurred in the Inner Mansion.’
Otherwise, there was no way they would trouble two Masters to come and find a mere Qi Refining Disciple like him.
He quickly walked out to greet them and bowed respectfully.
"Disciple Qi Yun pays his respects to Teacher and to Uncle-Master Qian Xin."
The Elder Master nodded slightly and walked naturally into the courtyard with Qian Xin Master, taking a seat on a stone bench.
Qian Xin Master’s gaze swept over Qi Yun, carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"I heard you took a trip to Milo Mountain a few days ago?" the Elder Master spoke first, his tone flat, betraying no emotion. "What did you gain?"
Qi Yun knew that hiding anything from these two was pointless, so he smiled openly and replied in a relaxed tone:
"Thank you for your concern, Teacher. The trip was fairly smooth. I picked up a... little trinket that’s barely usable."
He didn’t specify what it was, but his attitude made it clear he had gained something.
"Still smiling?" Qian Xin Master, who was at the side, shook his head lightly, his tone laced with a complex mix of emotions.
"That thing... you might not be able to use it for much longer."
The smile on Qi Yun’s face stiffened slightly as he keenly sensed the unusual meaning in Qian Xin Master’s words.
He turned to Qian Xin Master with a puzzled look.
"Uncle-Master Qian Xin, please enlighten me."
The Elder Master and Qian Xin Master exchanged a glance.
Qian Xin Master took a light breath, looked at Qi Yun, and slowly revealed the news that the Primordial Heaven Extreme Skill Dao Foundation had already been certified by the Southern Dynasty.
Hearing this, Qi Yun was stunned for a moment. His brow furrowed slightly; he clearly didn’t immediately grasp what it meant for the "First Certificate" to be taken.
He asked hesitantly:
"Does this mean... if someone has certified this Dao Foundation, no one else... can ever certify it again?"
In his view, a Dao Foundation was like a tool.
’If the first person uses it, does that mean no one else can use it afterward?’
"Not exactly," Qian Xin Master shook his head. Knowing Qi Yun might not fully understand the intricacies, he patiently explained.
"The Dao Foundation itself can, of course, be attempted by anyone.
However, if a Dao Foundation has never been successfully certified before...
...then the first Cultivator to successfully certify it—the one who completes the [First Certificate]—at the moment they achieve Foundation Establishment, their [Dao Position]... will forever be half a level higher than other Cultivators of the same realm."
"’Dao Position? Half a level higher?’" If Qian Xin Master hadn’t explained, it might have been better. With the explanation, the look of confusion on Qi Yun’s face only deepened.
He could barely understand the two terms separately, but combined—especially what "a Dao Position half a level higher" actually meant—it was a completely foreign and vague concept to him.
This seemed to touch upon a deeper secret of cultivation, beyond ordinary knowledge of Foundation Establishment.
He looked at the two solemn Masters.
’I planned so painstakingly, and after so much trouble, I finally found and obtained a suitable Foundation Establishment Object. Is it all useless in the blink of an eye?’
"The mysteries within, you will naturally understand after you reach Foundation Establishment." The Elder Master’s voice was still calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
"You only need to know one thing—without the merit of the [First Certificate]...
...you will never be able to step into the Foundation Establishment Late Stage."
Hearing this, Qi Yun’s pupils contracted imperceptibly.
He was completely stunned.
’There’s... such a rule?!’
This meant that if he still tried to certify the Primordial Heaven Extreme Skill Dao Foundation, which someone else had already claimed the First Certificate for, his path of cultivation would have a visible end right from Foundation Establishment—he would be forever stuck at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!
A chill crept up his spine.
This move by Black Mountain Master, taking away the firewood from under the cauldron, was nothing short of vicious!
"Then, Teacher, your meaning is..." Qi Yun quickly suppressed the shock in his heart and looked at the Elder Master with a burning gaze.
Things had come to this. The two Masters had come in person, surely not just to deliver bad news. They must have a countermeasure.
"The Primordial Heaven Extreme Skill Dao Foundation is now hopeless. But within the Sect, there is another Foundation Establishment method whose [First Certificate] merit is also unclaimed, untouched by anyone to this day," the Elder Master said slowly, his cloudy gaze falling upon Qi Yun.
"Teacher, you mean for me to... give up on the [Primordial Heaven] and attempt to certify that other Dao Foundation instead?" Qi Yun frowned, feeling little joy in his heart.
’For it to be a treasure of the Sect with its First Certificate still unclaimed... even a fool would know that its difficulty must far exceed the [Primordial Heaven Extreme Technique].’
"Mm." The Elder Master nodded slightly. His gaunt face showed no expression, but his tone carried an almost imperceptible gravity.
"However, that Dao Foundation is more ancient than the Primordial Heaven Extreme Skill Dao Foundation, more... profound and obscure. The difficulty of certifying it is also very high.
"You... must be sufficiently prepared mentally."
To be described as "more difficult" by a knowledgeable and high-Cultivation Foundation Establishment Master, who even specifically emphasized "mentally prepared"—one could only imagine the difficulty of this Dao Foundation.
It was likely something that could not be conquered simply by piling up resources or having exceptional talent.
It surely held unimaginable risks and trials.
A brief silence fell over the courtyard, with only the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
Qi Yun could feel Qian Xin Master’s complicated gaze from the side.
After a moment of silence, Qi Yun took a deep breath, his eyes becoming resolute once more.
Since the path ahead was blocked, then even if the path behind him was a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, he had to charge through.
He raised his head, looked calmly at the Elder Master, and asked the crucial question:
"In that case, Teacher, please enlighten me.
"That Dao Foundation... which one is it?"
The Elder Master slowly raised his eyes. His profound gaze seemed to pierce through Qi Yun, looking toward some ethereal yet incredibly heavy existence.
His voice was low as he enunciated the name of the Dao Foundation, word by word, with perfect clarity:
"The superior Dao Foundation to the [Primordial Heaven Extreme Skill Dao Foundation]..."
He paused, as if the name itself carried an immense weight.
"[The Daluo Ten Thousand Laws Dao Foundation]."
The moment the name was spoken, Qian Xin Master, who was at the side, almost subconsciously shook his head slightly, letting out a nearly inaudible sigh.
As for Qi Yun, even though he was mentally prepared, the instant he heard this name, his heart sank uncontrollably!
It was as if he could feel the crushing weight of some unseen karma, his very body feeling heavier.
After a short silence, Qi Yun asked in a heavy voice:
"Teacher, if this disciple is to switch to certifying this [Daluo Ten Thousand Laws Dao Foundation], are the Foundation Establishment Objects I worked so hard to prepare for the [Primordial Heaven Extreme Technique], like the [Taibai Molt] and this [Wisdom King Appearance], now useless?
"Will I have to discard them all and find new, matching Foundation Establishment Objects for this new Dao Foundation?"
This was the most crucial question!
Foundation Establishment Objects were incredibly hard to find. He had expended so much effort just to obtain these few.
If they were all rendered useless because of this, the price would be too great. It would be almost as if all his previous efforts were for naught.
However, the Elder Master’s answer was completely unexpected.
The Elder Master slowly shook his head, his gaunt face showing no emotion:
"Unnecessary."
He paused, then said something that made Qi Yun almost disbelieve his own ears:
"All the Foundation Establishment Objects required for the [Daluo Ten Thousand Laws Dao Foundation] have long been prepared by the Holy Sect."
The Elder Master looked calmly at Qi Yun, announcing clearly, word by word:
"Your Foundation Establishment Objects... the Holy Sect will provide them all!"
"What?!"
No matter how calm Qi Yun’s temperament was, he couldn’t help but look dumbfounded at this moment, his pupils suddenly dilating!
’The Holy Sect... will provide them all?!’
One moment, dark clouds loomed because the "First Certificate" for the Primordial Heaven Extreme Skill Dao Foundation was stolen, and he felt his path was blocked. The next moment, such a huge pie had fallen from the sky?
Not only had they pointed him to a more powerful, superior Dao Foundation...
...but the Sect was also taking care of the most troublesome part—the Foundation Establishment Objects that required a desperate search?
The sudden surge of ecstasy and disbelief almost overwhelmed his reason.
The gloom that had been shrouding his heart seemed to have been instantly dispelled by four shining, golden words: "The Sect provides all."
A grand, brocade-paved avenue seemed to unfurl before his eyes!
Forcing himself to calm down, Qi Yun took a few deep breaths, the ecstasy receding.
What followed was a deep sense of hesitation and vigilance.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially not in the Wuji Holy Sect.
The Holy Sect’s favor never came from nowhere, and it certainly wouldn’t be bestowed so generously upon a mere Qi Refining Disciple like him.
This sudden "all-inclusive" offer was so beneficial it was breathtaking.
But for that very reason, the price it represented was likely just as unimaginably heavy.
...