A trace of tenderness flashed deep in Jin Li's eyes. "He is my friend."
After a pause, she added another sentence.
"His identity... I'm not very sure about it either."
Several imperial guards present were all somewhat moved.
Just what sort of extraordinary person was he?
"I never thought I could be this diligent too."
"Looks like the fine virtue of our people's diligence is still etched into my genes."
Qi Yuan stretched his body, feeling rather pleased.
Today, before Puppet Cat had even called out, he was already up.
"Sure enough, only by not playing games and going to bed early and rising early can one enjoy such a beautiful morning."
Just then, Jiang Lingsu's voice came over. "Senior Brother, we've all finished our morning cultivation."
Qi Yuan felt a little embarrassed at her words.
Jiang Lingsu continued, "But compared with the past few days, Senior Brother, you've improved.
"If you can do as you just said and stop playing those corrupting games from now on, your future will be promising."
"It's impossible not to play games." Qi Yuan rejected that outright.
"Senior Brother, didn't you say you'd look after me from now on?" Jiang Lingsu smiled. "How will you look after me if you don't cultivate properly?
"Don't go causing trouble someday and make your junior sister look after you instead."
"It wouldn't be bad if you looked after me." Qi Yuan said, "My favorite saying is, 'Should we become rich and noble, let us not forget one another.'"
Jiang Lingsu rolled her eyes at Qi Yuan.
Then Qi Yuan seemed to recall something and took out the Technique Jade Slip. "Junior Sister, here's your jade slip back. Thanks."
Jiang Lingsu took the jade slip, a smile lingering at the corner of her lips. "Senior Brother, have you created your cultivation technique?"
"Of course." Qi Yuan answered confidently. "It just isn't perfected yet. It can only be cultivated to Qi Refining Completion, so I need to complete it through Foundation Establishment."
Jiang Lingsu froze for a moment, then smiled even more brightly. "Senior Brother created a cultivation technique in just two days. You truly are a peerless genius blessed by heaven!"
Her words were insincere.
Because that was impossible.
Unless, rather than creating a cultivation technique, he had merely altered someone else's technique a little and claimed it as his own.
Of course, that was already quite impressive.
"Do you want to switch to the cultivation technique I created?" Qi Yuan asked seriously. "The techniques you cultivate all have far too many problems."
They could become the Resources of some existence.
Naturally, Qi Yuan would not cultivate such a technique.
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but there's no need."
Jiang Lingsu refused.
The art she cultivated was a Heaven-grade art. There was absolutely no chance she would switch to another.
"Senior Brother, judging by how you're dressed, are you planning to go down the mountain?"
"Mm." Qi Yuan nodded. "I'm preparing to create the Foundation Establishment portion of my cultivation technique, but unfortunately, I don't understand much about Foundation Establishment, especially its grades. I'm planning to go down the mountain and attend some large lectures on Foundation Establishment."
Hearing this, Jiang Lingsu became even more certain that everything her senior brother had said before was a joke.
He did not understand much about Foundation Establishment, yet he was going to create a cultivation technique.
Could such a technique really be cultivated?
Before leaving, Jiang Lingsu kindly reminded him, "Senior Brother, cultivation techniques are a cultivator's foundation. You absolutely must not alter them carelessly."
Half an hour later.
Qi Yuan sat upright in the Cultivation Hall where the large lecture was being held.
He had arrived early and found himself a good seat.
Behind him, quite a few disciples gradually entered. When they saw Qi Yuan, all of them revealed puzzled expressions.
Lowering their voices, they quietly discussed, "He's wearing a purple robe, so he's a true disciple. Why has he come here to attend a large lecture?"
"That isn't an ordinary purple robe. Look at his collar—there are no fewer than nine golden lines. He isn't an ordinary true disciple, but the chief disciple of a peak!"
"What?"
The people here looked at Qi Yuan with respect, confusion, and other emotions.
After all, such large lectures were generally attended only by outer disciples and menial disciples. Even inner disciples came only rarely, let alone true disciples.
Within the Shinguang Sect, disciples were divided into true disciples, formal disciples, and menial disciples.
Menial disciples held the lowest status. They could cultivate, but they had to perform menial duties.
Formal disciples were further divided into inner disciples and outer disciples, both of whom had formally joined a peak.
Once an inner disciple took an elder as their master, they would become a true disciple.
True disciples also differed from one another, with the main difference being the strength of their masters.
As for the chief senior disciple of a peak, they were the truest of true disciples. Ordinary elders did not even dare offend them.
Such a chief senior disciple would naturally receive the peak master's personal instruction. Why would he come to a lecture like this?
"He's Qi Yuan, the chief senior disciple of Seven Colors Peak!"
"So it's him! As expected of a chief senior disciple, he's really handsome!"
After learning Qi Yuan's identity, these menial disciples and formal disciples displayed all kinds of expressions—envy, reverence, and jealousy.
"Why has he come here?"
"I heard he offended the peak master of Seven Colors Peak so badly that the peak master was angered into shutting herself inside Seven Colors Hall and refusing to come out. Oh, I've only told you this, so don't spread it around."
"He dared offend the peak master? He's got some nerve!"
"I heard the other true disciples all call Qi Yuan: a traitorous disciple who defied his master and destroyed his ancestors!"
The crowd discussed animatedly. Quite a few attractive female disciples also cast flirtatious glances at Qi Yuan.
However, given Qi Yuan's conduct toward his master, they did not dare make it too obvious, lest disaster befall them.
Sitting in his seat, Qi Yuan could not help sighing. "Sure enough, a handsome man is the center of attention everywhere."
About half an incense stick's time passed before the teaching deacon finally arrived late.
He was an old man with half his body already in the grave.
When he saw Qi Yuan, he was briefly stunned. Then a pleased look flashed through his heart.
He felt that his lectures must be exceptionally good for even a chief senior disciple like this to attend.
He decided that for this lecture, he had to bring out two hundred percent of his skill. He had to make it lofty and grand, make it seem impressive, and absolutely stun Qi Yuan.
In other words, he was going to fill it with empty grandstanding.
"My name is Xu Renshan. Today, this old man shall impart to everyone the key points of Foundation Establishment."
After Xu Renshan spoke, the disciples below all grew serious.
Although their cultivation was still far from Foundation Establishment, learning information about it in advance was very important to them.
"Above Qi Refining lies Foundation Establishment. Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, one may become a deacon of our Shinguang Sect and enjoy an attendant's offerings.
"Yet Foundation Establishment is beset by a thousand difficulties and ten thousand hardships, blocking the path of many seekers of the Dao." As Xu Renshan spoke, a nostalgic look appeared in his eyes.
Back then, he had nearly failed to achieve Foundation Establishment himself.
"Foundation Establishment also has superior and inferior grades.
"You should all know that Foundation Establishment requires a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object. Using such an object as the root, one forges one's own foundation.
"The higher the grade of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, the better the results of Foundation Establishment." Xu Renshan spoke fluently and at length.
At once, a disciple below chimed in, "I know! Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects are divided into upper, middle, and lower grades. Upper grade is the best, while lower grade is the worst."
Xu Renshan nodded in satisfaction. "The higher the grade of a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, the better the results of Foundation Establishment.
"You know that Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects have grades, but I fear few of you know that Foundation Establishment itself also has grades."
The moment these words were spoken, many people in the hall focused even more intently.
They truly did not know this.
Xu Renshan glanced toward Qi Yuan's seat. Seeing that Qi Yuan was listening attentively as well, he felt very pleased with himself.
"Foundation Establishment is further divided into Mortal Grade Foundation Establishment, Spiritual Grade Foundation Establishment, Earth Vein Foundation Establishment, and Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment.
"Generally, lower-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects produce Mortal Grade Foundation Establishment. This old man himself has Mortal Grade Foundation Establishment. I squandered my life away and have no hope of reaching Origin Core—what a pity.
"Middle-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects produce Spiritual Grade Foundation Establishment, though there is naturally also a chance of achieving Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
"Upper-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects correspond to Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
"Legend has it that beyond upper-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, there are even higher-grade Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, capable of achieving Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment!
"Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment means one has hope of becoming a true immortal."
Everyone in the hall began breathing rapidly. Who did not wish to become a true immortal?
"Of course, each level of Foundation Establishment has further distinctions within it."
Qi Yuan frowned and suddenly asked, "May I ask, Teacher, is Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment the best kind of Foundation Establishment?"
Hearing the chief senior disciple of Seven Colors Peak ask him for guidance, Xu Renshan's beard practically curled upward.
"No. Beyond Immortal Grade Foundation Establishment lies the legendary Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. That is the strongest Foundation Establishment."
"Then may I ask, Teacher, what is Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?" Qi Yuan asked earnestly.
Xu Renshan was stunned upon hearing that.
He was merely a minor Foundation Establishment cultivator. What the hell did he know about Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment?
Still, he forced himself to say, "Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is profound and unfathomable. I have only one or two guesses. Just listen to them; do not take them seriously."
After saying this, Xu Renshan let out a sigh of relief.
He began making things up.
After all, he had already said that they were only his guesses and could not be taken seriously.
Besides, the disciples here would never need such knowledge in their entire lives.
He could make things up, and no one would expose him.
Hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately focused with his full attention.
He wanted to know exactly what Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was.
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