Foundation Establishment Preparations, Complete Movement Technique

On the Spirit Boat.

Jiang Li held half a scroll of the technique manual, "Carefree Wind-Riding Art," reclined against the deck, and began studying it.

"Wind is the qi of heaven and earth—formless, shapeless, unfettered, and unbound. Those who pursue the wind must cast aside form and forget themselves, roaming free and untamed, traveling alongside the wind."

This movement technique had lofty ideals.

It had four stages in total.

Chasing the wind, merging with the wind, commanding the wind, becoming the wind.

Once cultivated to perfection, one could transform into a clear breeze and travel a thousand miles in an instant.

Whether it was boasting or not was another matter, but it certainly sounded impressive.

It made Jiang Li's heart pound.

"You want to cultivate this movement technique?"

Murong Qing walked over.

"I'm considering it."

Jiang Li nodded.

He had only one concern.

This movement technique manual was an imperial technique of the Cloudmist Dynasty, never passed on to outsiders.

If he cultivated it, would the Cloudmist Dynasty hunt him down?

Based on his experience reading countless webnovels in his previous life, once an outsider learned such an unpassed secret, the imperial family would inevitably demand it back, forcing the cultivator to cripple their own cultivation or killing them on the spot.

He did not want to gain another enemy for no reason.

Jiang Li voiced this concern.

Murong Qing looked at him strangely, while Li Xi wore an expression as though she wanted to speak but hesitated.

"Jiang Li, we are disciples of the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land's Transformation Class. If the Cloudmist Dynasty dared utter a single word of objection, the Holy Land would only need to cut off its support. Within ten years, that dynasty would collapse. By then, forget one unpassed secret—even the imperial family would be gone."

"The Technique Pavilion may have the complete version."

That was what Murong Qing said.

The meaning was obvious: the Cloudmist Dynasty's unpassed secret might merely be one among the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land's million stored techniques. The complete version might even have been personally offered up by the Cloudmist Dynasty.

Jiang Li froze briefly.

Then he laughed soundlessly.

After being an undercover agent for so long, he had grown used to being alone. He had forgotten that he was now one of the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land's Holy Son Candidates, with the entire Heavenly Mystery Holy Land standing behind him.

What nerve did a dynasty without even a Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator have to disrespect him?

Even if the Cloudmist Dynasty truly went mad, his body-tempering technique, "Emperor's World-Shocking Art," would come in handy—he could seize this land for himself.

"I was being too cautious."

With that concern resolved, Jiang Li immediately made plans.

Once he returned to the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land, he would visit the Technique Pavilion to see whether it had the complete version.

Afterward.

Jiang Li took out the second spoils from his trip to Qinghe County.

The Golden Citadel that stored Incense and Fire Prayer Power.

It was a square block, its surface carved with the rough outline of Qinghe County.

Jiang Li sent his spiritual sight into it and discovered that only a thin layer of Incense and Fire Prayer Power remained at the bottom, existing in the form of golden liquid.

After some effort, he condensed only two strands of Imperial Dynasty Dragon Qi.

Together with the ten strands of Dragon Qi condensed by the body-tempering technique "Emperor's World-Shocking Art" from the prayers of the masses, he had twelve strands in total.

He wondered whether that would be enough to bring his body-tempering technique to the minor mastery realm.

Heavenly Mystery Holy Land.

After bidding farewell to Murong Qing and Li Xi, Jiang Li took out the Spirit Boat and flew all the way toward the Sword Palace on the seventh level of Heaven Sword Peak.

He expertly made his way to his teacher's hall.

"Teacher, I have good news to tell you."

Jiang Li called out.

Less than a minute later.

Zhang Song emerged from within.

He was brimming with energy.

"Good disciple, you returned at just the right time. Your teacher also has a surprise for you."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Zhang Song pulled out an Azure Flame Spirit Mushroom as though presenting a treasure.

The temperature in the entire room instantly rose.

A scorching heat rushed at them.

"Your teacher remembers that your records say you have Gold, Fire, and Wood Three-Attribute Spiritual Roots, right? I specially used my own contribution points to exchange for a heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure, the Fire Spirit Mushroom. It can raise your Fire Spiritual Root aptitude to nearly the level of a Heavenly Spiritual Root."

"Moreover, the Fire Spirit Mushroom contains incomparably pure energy. Your teacher will personally help you refine it. Your cultivation will rise by at least two minor realms, allowing you to leap straight to Qi Refining Level 9."

"Well? Surprised?"

Zhang Song seemed to be waiting for Jiang Li to reveal a wide-eyed expression of delight, but... what he saw was Jiang Li looking as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.

"What is it?" Zhang Song did not understand, then added, "What good news did you want to tell me, disciple?"

Jiang Li said oddly, "Teacher, I advanced to Qi Refining Level 10."

"You advanced? Qi Refining stage, not bad... Hm? Wait, wait, Qi Refining Level 10???"

Zhang Song went completely blank.

No.

He remembered that the last time he had seen this disciple, Jiang Li had only been at Qi Refining Level 7.

It had only been twenty-some days. How was he already at Qi Refining Level 10?

And what the hell was Qi Refining Level 10?

Even if he had reached the completion of Qi Refining, shouldn't that have been the peak of Qi Refining Level 9?

What realm was Level 10?

"This is the good news you mentioned?"

For a moment, Zhang Song began to doubt life itself.

His head spun.

This was no longer a surprise. This was fucking terrifying.

Jiang Li nodded.

"Yes."

"How did you break through?"

"It happened like this. During my trip down the mountain..."

Jiang Li briefly explained how he had gone to Qinghe County to encircle and suppress the Zhou Family, changing the technique reward into merit bestowed upon him by heaven and earth for his actions. Then his cultivation had shot up to Qi Refining Level 10.

The more Zhang Song listened, the more confused he became.

That could happen too?

Slaying Demons and Eliminating Monsters could bring down merit?

Was there really such a good thing?

If that were the case, wouldn't the high-ranking enforcers of the Law Enforcement Hall advance by one minor realm every day?

Zhang Song released his Spiritual Sense and sent it into Jiang Li's body.

No one knew whether this inexplicably increased cultivation was good or bad.

He had to inspect it.

To make sure it was not some forbidden technique that drew upon life force as its price.

Yet...

After examining him, Zhang Song found nothing wrong. Instead, he discovered that the Mana in Jiang Li's Dantian shone in seven colors.

"Glazed-Tier Mana!?"

Zhang Song's expression jolted again.

He felt that he was about to lose the unruffled composure expected of a master.

This was a quality of Mana that even most prodigies from the Transformation Class could not achieve.

His disciple was a monster, wasn't he?

Zhang Song withdrew his Spiritual Sense, his mind still immersed in the daze of shock.

"Teacher, what do you think? Is there any precedent in the Cultivation World for the realm of Qi Refining Level 10?"

Jiang Li asked.

Zhang Song came back to himself and shook his head. "I have never heard of the concept of Qi Refining Level 10 in the Cultivation World. But there is no need to worry. Neither your physical body nor your Mana has any issue. This is a heaven-shaking fortune unique to you."

"With your current realm of Qi Refining Level 10 and Glazed-Tier Mana, once you achieve Foundation Establishment, you will surely be extraordinary. The solidity of your foundation will far surpass that of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators. I believe you can begin preparing for Foundation Establishment."

Upon hearing that.

Jiang Li's eyes lit up.

Foundation Establishment was the first major realm on the path to immortality. Once he succeeded, he could rise from the Outer Sect to the Inner Sect, obtain the Heavenly Mystery Holy Land's Sect-Protecting Technique, and see his strength soar dramatically.

Then, if he faced the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Zhou Family Head again, he could kill him in one strike.

"Do not rush. The process of Foundation Establishment requires a cultivator to nurture their essence, qi, and spirit to their peak condition. You will also need a heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure to assist you in successfully condensing qi into liquid in one go. This Fire Spirit Mushroom can be refined into pills for that purpose. Do not go down the mountain again these next few days."

"Oh, right. The Holy Land is holding a Flying Sword Competition these next few days. All disciples may participate. You can join it, relax a little, and do not keep yourself tense at all times."

Jiang Li committed this to memory.

The smile on his face deepened.

He only needed to wait a few more days before officially becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This was truly wonderful.

As for the Flying Sword Competition, not even a dog would go.

After leaving the Sword Palace, Jiang Li did not return to his Cave Residence. Instead, he headed to the Technique Pavilion.

He could take advantage of these next few days to try cultivating this movement technique manual.

Technique Pavilion.

When the elder at the registration desk saw Jiang Li arrive, he smiled approvingly. "Here to choose a technique or a spell? What kind do you need? I can give you recommendations."

Jiang Li took out his half-scroll manual.

"Carefree Wind-Riding Art? It sounds familiar. Isn't it the Cloudmist imperial family's unpassed secret? You certainly know how to choose. Among all movement technique manuals, this secret art ranks among the finest. They say the ancestor of the Cloudmist imperial family obtained it from a secret realm, and even the name Cloudmist Dynasty was taken from this secret art."

As he spoke.

The registration elder walked to an area and took down a solitary copy.

Jiang Li noticed it.

That section was the divine abilities section.

This movement technique belonged to the category of divine abilities?

Jiang Li was somewhat astonished.

Only cultivators at the Golden Core Stage and above were qualified to cultivate divine abilities.

"Here, this is the complete version of 'Carefree Wind-Riding Art.' Back then, the Cloudmist ancestor personally offered it up in exchange for the protection of our Holy Land. But I must still remind you: this secret art lies on the threshold of divine abilities. It relies entirely on comprehension and insight, with no shortcut to mastery. It is even harder to cultivate than the Dragon Slaying Sword. Still, if it is you, I think you may yet create another miracle."

Jiang Li accepted it.

He secretly thought, Had his genius persona become too firmly established? Someone even believed he could master a movement technique manual on the threshold of divine abilities.

But the system itself was a cheat, so mastering it seemed perfectly normal.

He just hoped it would not cause any more trouble.

He only wanted to lie low and steadily make it to Foundation Establishment.