CHAPTER 14: DILIGENT QI YUAN

Fondness flickered deep within Jin Li's gaze.

"He is my friend," she added softly, "but I'm unsure who he really is either."

The several imperial guards present were visibly surprised.

Just who is that man?

***

Qi Yuan cheerfully stretched himself. "I never thought I could be this diligent. It seems our people's fine virtue of diligence is truly etched in my genes."

Today, he had gotten up before the wooden cat puppet even called out.

"When I don't play games, I can sleep early and wake up early. Truly, the only way one can truly enjoy such a beautiful morning."

At that moment, Jiang Lingsu called out, "Senior Brother, we've already finished our morning cultivation."

He felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing that.

Then, Jiang Lingsu said, "Still, you've improved, Senior Brother. If you can keep your words and stop playing those degrading games, your future will be promising."

Qi Yuan flatly rejected it. "It's impossible for me to not play games."

"Senior Brother, didn't you say you would look out for me in the future?" Jiang Lingsu smiled. "If you don't cultivate properly, how will you protect me? Don't end up causing trouble and make me cover for you instead."

"It's fine, you can always have my back instead. One of my favorite sayings is, if fortune comes, do not forget one another."

Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes.

Then, Qi Yuan seemed to remember something and took out a jade slip. "Junior Sister, here's your jade slip. Thanks a lot."

Jiang Lingsu accepted it, smiling faintly. "Senior Brother, have you created your own cultivation method already?"

Qi Yuan said confidently, "Of course. It's not perfect yet and only goes up to the peak of Qi Refinement. I need to develop it so it can extend into Foundation Establishment."

Jiang Lingsu froze, then laughed even harder, "To create a cultivation method in just two days, you are truly a prodigy of heaven, Senior Brother!"

Sarcasm laced her tone because it was simply preposterous. Well, unless he had taken an existing one, modified it, and claimed it as his own. Even that was already impressive.

"Do you want to switch to cultivating my method?" Qi Yuan asked seriously. "The cultivation methods you're all using have too many problems. They'll just reduce you into a nourishment for a certain existence."

He intended to stay clear of such methods.

Jiang Lingsu refused. "Thank you for the kind offer, Senior Brother, but there is no need."

She was cultivating a Heaven-tier cultivation method. It was absolutely impossible for her to switch.

"Senior Brother, judging by your attire, are you planning to go down the mountain?"

"Mhm." Qi Yuan nodded. "I'm preparing to create the Foundation Establishment portion of my cultivation method. Unfortunately, I don't understand much about the Foundation Establishment realm yet, especially its division. I plan to go down the mountain and attend some lectures about it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lingsu became even more convinced he was just joking earlier. Not understanding the Foundation Establishment realm, yet wanting to create a method for it? How is that even possible?

Before he left, Jiang Lingsu kindly reminded him, "Senior Brother, cultivation methods are the foundation of a cultivator. You mustn't modify them carelessly."

***

Half an hour later, Qi Yuan found himself in the lecture hall. He had arrived early and found a good seat. Soon after, disciples came in one after another. When they spotted Qi Yuan, they uniformly expressed doubt.

They whispered, "He's wearing a purple robe, which means he's a core disciple. Why would he attend such a lecture?"

"That's no ordinary purple robe. Look at his collar, there are nine golden threads. He's not just any core disciple, but the chief disciple of his peak!"

"What?!"

Everyone present looked at Qi Yuan in a mix of awe and doubt.

In the Divine Radiance Sect, disciples were divided into labor, ordinary, and core disciples. Labor disciples held the lowest status; they were allowed to cultivate but also had to perform chores. Ordinary disciples were divided into inner and outer disciples, both formally belonging to a peak.

Once an inner disciple was accepted by an elder as a personal one, they became a core disciple. There were differences even among core disciples, mainly because of their master's strength.

As for a chief disciple of a peak? That was the elite of the elites, someone even ordinary elders dared not to offend! Now, why would someone trained directly by the peak master attend such a lecture?

"He's Qi Yuan, chief disciple of Seven-Colored Peak!"

"It's really him! As expected of a chief disciple, he's so handsome!"

Upon realizing Qi Yuan's identity, the labor and ordinary disciples displayed all sorts of expressions: admiration, awe, envy, or even jealousy.

The crowd buzzed with chatter.

"Why would he come here?"

"I heard he angered the Seven-Colored Peak's master to the point she shut herself in Seven-Colored Hall in fury. Keep this news to yourself."

"He must be really bold to dare to offend the peak master!"

"I heard the other core disciples call him a rebellious traitor who defies his master and betrays his ancestors!"

Some of the prettier female disciples even sent him bashful, sidelong glances. However, due to his bad rap, they dared not be too obvious, lest they bring trouble upon themselves.

Qi Yuan couldn't help but sigh to himself. "As expected, a handsome man will always be the center of attention no matter where he goes."

About half a stick of incense later, the lecturer finally arrived. He was an old man who seemed to have one foot in the grave.

He paused upon spotting Qi Yuan, revealing a smug look. My lectures must be so excellent that even a chief disciple comes to listen!

He resolved to give two hundred percent effort—lecturing in the loftiest, most profound manner, determined to leave Qi Yuan in absolute awe. In other words, empty bluster.

"My name is Xu Renshan. Today, I shall teach you all the key points about the Foundation Establishment realm."

Once Xu Renshan spoke, the disciples immediately put on serious faces. Though their cultivation was far from Foundation Establishment, knowing about it in advance was important.

"Above Qi Refinement is Foundation Establishment. Achieve Foundation Establishment, and you can become the Divine Radiance Sect's steward, enjoying offerings. Still, the realm is exceedingly hard to reach, and countless cultivators have tried and failed," Xu Renshan said with nostalgia in his eyes.

Back then, he had almost failed to reach the Foundation Establishment.

"As you should know, Foundation Establishment requires a spirit item, which becomes the root of one's foundation," Xu Renshan explained.

A disciple responded, "I know! The spirit items are divided into high, middle, and low grades. High is the best and low is the worst."

Xu Renshan nodded approvingly. "Yes. The higher the grade of the item, the better the Foundation Establishment. However, few of you may know that Foundation Establishment itself also has levels."

Many in the hall grew even more attentive. Indeed, this was something they didn't know.

Xu Renshan glanced at Qi Yuan. When he saw the chief disciple was listening intently, he felt very pleased.

"Foundation Establishment can be divided into Mortal, Spirit, Earth, and Immortal classes. Generally, low-grade spirit items yield Mortal class. I am at Mortal class, stuck for life with no hope of reaching Core Formation. What a shame! Middle-grade spirit items result in Spirit class, with some chance of Earth class. High-grade spirit items correspond to Earth class. According to rumors, there are even higher-level spirit items that can achieve Immortal class! Immortal class means one has hope of becoming a true immortal."

The audience's breathing quickened. Who didn't want to become a true immortal?

Qi Yuan frowned slightly, then asked, "Teacher, is the Immortal class the highest level?"

Xu Renshan's beard nearly curled with delight when a chief disciple asked him a question. "Not exactly. Above the Immortal class, there’s the legendary Heavenly Dao class. That is the strongest."

Qi Yuan asked seriously, "Then what exactly is the Heavenly Dao class?"

Xu Renshan froze. He was just a small Foundation Establishment cultivator, what would he know of Heavenly Dao class?

Still, he forced himself to answer, "The so-called Heavenly Dao class is mysterious and unfathomable. I only have one or two guesses on it. I advise that you take it with a pinch of salt."

Xu Renshan exhaled and made things up on the spot. He did warn them that it was only his assumption and not to be taken seriously. Besides, these disciples had likely never need such knowledge in their lives. No one would call him out for his fabrications.

Qi Yuan immediately focused all his attention. He wanted to know just what this Heavenly Dao class was.