Your Spell Version is Too Low!

Only after the aura of the Desolate Halberd True Monarch had completely receded did the suffocating pressure on the scene slowly dissipate.

Holding a bamboo staff, Nan Dou Master approached Qi Yun and spoke in a gentle tone:

"Qi Yun, you have ascended to the Foundation Establishment Realm and attained the position of Master.

According to Sect rules, you may establish your own Daoist temple within the Taixu Mirror Heaven for enlightenment and cultivation. You may also recruit disciples to pass down your lineage.

This is a momentous occasion. You must consider it carefully and choose a good location."

This was the right of a Foundation Establishment Master, but also a heavy responsibility, signifying that one had truly established an independent foundation within the Sect.

Upon hearing this, Qi Yun cupped his hands in a slight bow, his calm gaze meeting Nan Dou Master’s as he spoke softly:

"Master Nan Dou, I... would like to inherit my master’s Daoist temple. I’m not sure if that is against the rules."

"This..."

Nan Dou Master clearly hadn’t expected Qi Yun to make such a request, and a flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes.

The Cyan Mountain Daoist Temple was in a remote location. Aside from being the residence of Elder Master Deng Yin, it was completely unbefitting of a Venerable Master.

He fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing his options, before finally nodding slowly.

"You may," he said, his voice steady. "Our junior brother, the Blood Demon, has entered the cycle of reincarnation. By tradition, the Sect should have reclaimed his Daoist temple.

Since you want it, then it is yours."

In truth, all the Holy Sect Masters present were as clear as a bright mirror in their hearts about whether this complied with the rules.

Using an old, ownerless, and not particularly valuable Daoist temple to indulge a newly-ascended Venerable Master’s nostalgia, and in doing so, currying favor at no cost—it was a deal with no downside. Who would possibly object?

"Thank you for making this possible, Master," Qi Yun said with a bow, his expression still calm.

After expressing his thanks, he gave a light flick of his sleeve. An invisible force swept up the immeasurably valuable Buddha’s Golden Body Arm from the ground, which was emitting a strange fragrance and Buddha Light, and drew it effortlessly into his [Daluo Heaven].

He then turned to the surrounding Holy Sect Masters who had not yet departed, made a sweeping bow to all of them, and spoke with sincerity:

"I have just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm and received many insights. My Realm is not yet stable, so I must find a quiet place to meditate and carefully digest what I have learned.

Once my Realm is stable, I will be sure to visit each of you esteemed elders to listen to your teachings."

His words were impeccable, expressing humility while also showing respect to all present.

"Good!"

"Go and stabilize your Realm. The future is long!"

The Holy Sect Masters all smiled in agreement, returning his bow as they watched him depart.

...

His figure flickered a few times, crossing mountains and rivers.

Qi Yun returned directly to the familiar Cyan Mountain.

The mountain was the same mountain, the forest the same forest.

But as he slowly pushed open the mottled, familiar wooden gate of the temple, the sight that met his eyes brought a pang of bitterness to his heart.

In the courtyard, the shadows of the trees still swayed.

But the ground was covered by a thick layer of dry, yellow leaves that stirred gently with the mountain breeze, making a soft rustling sound.

Everything seemed the same, and yet... the gaunt figure who was always holding a broom, unhurriedly sweeping the fallen leaves one stroke at a time, was nowhere to be seen.

The temple was empty, with only the mournful cry of the wind, as if speaking of the desolation left by one who was gone.

Qi Yun stood motionless at the gate for a long time.

「A moment later.」

Qi Yun pushed aside the sorrow in his eyes and slowly opened his right hand.

In the depths of his palm, a faint, almost transparent speck of blood-red light hovered silently, flickering as weakly as a candle flame in the wind.

"With this mark, I will search the ends of the earth if I have to. I refuse to believe I won’t be able to find my master’s reincarnation," he muttered to himself, his tone calm yet filled with unshakeable resolve.

With a turn of his hand, he stored away the wisp of a mark and stepped into the dilapidated Daoist Temple.

With a flick of his sleeve, a gentle yet immense power rippled out, sweeping the thick piles of dead leaves in the courtyard into a corner and clearing a clean space.

Qi Yun immediately sat down cross-legged. He did not rush to tidy the Daoist Temple, but first settled his heart and mind to carefully sort through and experience the various profound changes that came with becoming a Foundation Establishment Master.

The first thing he sensed was the qualitative transformation of the power within his body.

His originally surging True Essence, having undergone the extreme tempering of the three calamities of wind, fire, and water, and a baptism by the Daoist Intent of Heaven and Earth, had completely shed its mortal nature. It transformed into a purer, more condensed Magical Power that was in harmony with the Dao.

This Magical Power possessed a cyan-gold luster, and within it, it seemed as if the Ten Thousand Laws were being born and extinguished.

Its quality was immeasurably higher than his previous True Essence, containing a majestic power that far surpassed that of his peers.

This was especially true since what Qi Yun had forged was the [Venerable Dao Foundation].

The Daluo Magical Power derived from the [Daluo Ten Thousand Laws Dao Foundation] was all the more tyrannical and overwhelmingly powerful.

As it circulated, it naturally exuded a Supreme aura of Commanding All Skills and transcending the ten thousand Daos. The slightest Heart Thought would cause the surrounding Daoist Intent to resonate in harmony.

Next was the leap in his very level of existence.

By achieving the True Realm and being uplifted by his Dao Foundation, he had escaped the direct erosion of the [River of Heaven and Earth Years].

His lifespan had surged from one hundred and thirty-six years in the Qi Refining Realm to eight hundred years!

This was an exceedingly long span of time, enough for him to leisurely lay his plans and seek the Great Dao.

Qi Yun closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into a profound, mysterious state.

A grand image appeared before him: his own Dao Foundation, suspended high above the vast and majestic [River of Heaven and Earth Years] that flowed past all living beings.

However, this great river was not entirely placid.

Surging waves would inevitably send splashes onto his Dao Foundation.

Within these splashes was a subtle yet constant corrosive power of time, like water dripping through stone, silently wearing away the immortal radiance of the Dao Foundation.

This was the root reason why even Foundation Establishment Masters, despite having transcended the mortal world, still had a finite lifespan and would eventually die of old age.

Eight hundred years was the limit to how long the Dao Foundation could maintain its immortality.

Finally, and most importantly, was the most unique point: his Dao Foundation itself.

According to the Sect archives Qi Yun had read, a normal Foundation Establishment Master would "entrust" their Dao Foundation to the [River of Heaven and Earth Years], drawing power from it to transcend the mundane.

When they needed to use great power, they would channel the power of their Dao Foundation to manifest a [Foundation Establishment Realm Heaven] either within themselves or in the external world, thereby displaying their might.

But his situation was the complete opposite!

The essence of the [Daluo Ten Thousand Laws Dao Foundation] was itself a complete and profound law-deriving Heaven and Earth that contained the prototypes of the Ten Thousand Laws—the [Daluo Heaven]!

Therefore, during his Foundation Establishment, he had manifested the power of the [Daluo Heaven] and, in reverse, "suspended" it above the [River of Heaven and Earth Years]!

In short, other people’s Dao Foundations were like "roots" plunged into the great river to absorb nutrients, with the main body remaining outside.

His Dao Foundation, however, was within his own body.

The one suspended above the [River of Heaven and Earth Years].

Was merely a projection for absorbing nutrients.

This model was the complete opposite of the conventional path of Foundation Establishment—it was utterly unheard of!

Qi Yun searched his memory but could not recall seeing even a single word about anything similar in any scripture or text.

’I wonder if this is a unique mutation arising from my own destiny and circumstances.

Or are all [Venerable Dao Foundations]... like this?

But even though it’s only a projection on the [River of Heaven and Earth Years], it is still impossible to be completely exempt from the influence of the ’Years’.

Heaven, Earth, and Time are eternal... no one can escape.’

His eyes blinked open and shut as Qi Yun slowly rotated the Platinum Buddha Beads in his hand.

This unique form of Dao Foundation meant that his future cultivation path, his use of Divine Techniques, and even his methods for Breaking Realms would be vastly different from those of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Master, requiring him to forge his own path forward.

’But from the looks of it, this unique Dao Foundation form has no apparent downsides. On the contrary, I feel a greater sense of freedom.’

Setting aside his thoughts on the form of his Dao Foundation, Qi Yun turned his Heart and Spirit to his most substantial and important gain from becoming a Foundation Establishment Master—the Divine Techniques!

His consciousness sank into the vast [Daluo Heaven] within his body.

There, above this Heaven and Earth that was built for the Inference of Ten Thousand Skills, two incomparably brilliant and dazzling divine lights hovered silently.

One of them shimmered with nine flowing colors. Its light was condensed and weighty, emitting a profound, majestic, and unquestionable aura.

At times, it would condense into an incredibly complex Talisman; at others, it would scatter into a web of Law that enveloped everything; and at others still, it would seem to become an invisible, great hand that controlled the universe, its transformations limitless.

This was precisely the Foundation Establishment Divine Technique that Qi Yun had naturally comprehended and evolved from his [Daluo Ten Thousand Laws Dao Foundation]—[Mastering All Skills]!

In the Foundation Establishment Realm, every time a Cultivator breaks through a minor stage (Early Stage, Middle Stage, Late Stage, Great Perfection), their understanding of their own Great Dao deepens, allowing them to comprehend and manifest a unique Divine Technique that is perfectly attuned to it.

This [Mastering All Skills] was the Divine Technique he had gained upon entering the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

It could forcibly seize and control any power whose Status was not higher than his own Dao Position. It was incredibly domineering, and had already shown a glimpse of its might during his tribulation.

The other light possessed a strange, ethereal, and profound luster of interwoven cyan and gold.

It had no fixed form, its transformations even more mysterious and unfathomable. At times, it was a single point representing the Great Dao in its ultimate simplicity; at times, it would derive phantoms of all creation; and at other times, it seemed to be nothing more than a segment of silently flowing Dao-sound...

This one was unique to the [Venerable Dao Foundation].

It was something that transcended ordinary Foundation Establishment Divine Techniques—a [Venerable Divine Technique]!

Its name: [Daluo Decree]

The effect of this [Venerable Divine Technique] was very simple, yet it was also perfectly suited for Qi Yun.

’It can directly give a Magic a major version update...’ Feeling the miraculous power of the [Daluo Decree], the corner of Qi Yun’s mouth lifted into a slight smile.

The appearance of this Divine Technique transformed the update process, which he could previously only wait for passively, into one he could actively initiate.

’This Divine Technique came at the perfect time. Now that I’ve reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, my original Magic are all from the Qi Refining Stage and can no longer keep up with my new Realm.

I’ve grown quite comfortable using these Magic, so it would be a real shame to discard them.

I wonder what changes might occur if I use the [Daluo Decree] to enhance and update them...’ Qi Yun’s gaze lowered as he closed his eyes in thought.

One, [Mastering All Skills], for domineeringly seizing and forcefully controlling external power.

One, [Daluo Decree], all-encompassing, for the Inference of Ten Thousand Skills.

These two Great Divine Techniques, one innate and one Venerable, perfectly complemented each other.

’Whether it works or not, I’ll know once I try...’

Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, a nine-colored light and a cyan-gold radiance flashed before vanishing.

...