After Yu Ke had eaten and drunk his fill.
He heard the beautiful woman's voice outside again.
"Yingzhao, Mother is leaving."
Yu Ke paid it no mind.
He rose, put away the pots, bowls, and utensils that needed washing one by one, then stepped out of the room and into the courtyard.
The courtyard was spacious.
Like a four-section residence, its layout resembled a Beijing siheyuan, forming a little world of its own.
It covered more than five hundred square pings, its arrangement exquisitely designed—spacious without losing its elegance.
Several stone chairs stood within, allowing people to drink tea and chat in their leisure time.
At the courtyard's northeastern corner stood an ancient pear tree, proud and tall. Its branches twisted like coiling dragons, its blossoms white as snow; lush in all four seasons, it bloomed throughout the year.
Yu Ke did not know what variety it was. After all, he was in the world of cultivation, where wondrous things abounded.
There was also an open stretch of ground in the courtyard, a place for martial practice.
Its bluestone paving was level and hard.
As Yu Ke carried the bowls toward the pool, he had not expected that—
The northern room's door quietly opened at that moment.
A beautiful female cultivator in a crimson gauze dress stepped out.
She had an oval face, with faint dimples appearing on her cheeks.
A long flute of green jade hung at her waist. Beneath the sunlight, it glimmered with a warm, lustrous sheen—clearly no ordinary object.
"Oh? Senior Brother Yu, you've come out of seclusion... Are you washing dishes?"
Seeing Yu Ke, the female cultivator revealed a trace of surprise and greeted him with a bright smile, appearing quite familiar with him.
Her gaze fell upon the bowls and chopsticks in Yu Ke's hands, and her curiosity was piqued.
She remembered that Senior Brother Yu was famously a cultivation fanatic, and furthermore, scions of noble lineages never dirtied their hands with such tasks.
A gentleman stayed far from the kitchen—that was what the great lineages always said.
"So it's Junior Sister Xie."
Yu Ke generously set the bowls aside, without the slightest embarrassment.
What face was there to lose in being diligent and thrifty?
After thinking for a moment, he recalled this female cultivator.
Her surname was Xie, and her given name was Wanwan.
She came from the Xie Clan of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Though she was not of the direct line, she was still descended from a distinguished house.
The Xie Clan controlled an enormous spirit mine. Their family wealth was abundant, their name renowned throughout the Great Zhou cultivation world, rich enough to rival an entire region.
Among the Great Zhou lineage descendants Yu Ke knew, Xie Wanwan could be called a little rich lady.
She was also one of Yu Ke's housemates.
Land was worth every inch of gold in the Divine Firmament Sect's Outer Sect. Even the finest cave residences were merely small courtyards shared by four people.
Only after entering the Inner Courtyard could one open up a cave residence alone.
The four tenants shared the rent and the sect's regular expenses. The price was exceedingly high, yet demand still outstripped supply.
Every year, when Outer Sect disciples reached the end of their five years of cultivation, the residency rights for these small courtyards had to be auctioned, often selling for far more than the original rent.
For disciples from ordinary families, such expenses were undoubtedly a crushing burden.
Therefore!
Many disciples of poorer backgrounds chose more economical living arrangements, such as cave residences in the city shared by more than ten people. Though cramped and less than ideal for cultivation, their living costs were comparatively low.
The small courtyard where Yu Ke and the others lived was outside the city, its surroundings tranquil. A good environment was beneficial to cultivation as well.
Those who could live here were mostly disciples from Outer Sect families, possessing sufficient resources and backing to sustain such a lifestyle.
Of course.
There were also those who pursued extravagance to the utmost, renting all four rooms alone and enjoying their own private space.
Though Xie Wanwan came from the wealthy Xie Clan, she was not someone who squandered money without restraint.
In Yu Ke's memories, all four residences in this courtyard had tenants, but two had long remained vacant.
Only Xie Wanwan and he had lived here regularly.
Although the other two households did not live here, their monthly fees and rent had never once been short.
This allowed the two of them to enjoy this spacious, peaceful courtyard for years while paying only the expense of a single person.
Until yesterday, when a white-clad youth moved into the East Courtyard, whose door had never previously opened.
A few days ago, Xie Wanwan had returned home to visit relatives and had not yet come back.
Yu Ke had not expected to run into her here today.
Both came from Great Zhou lineages and had roughly similar backgrounds and opportunities. Otherwise, they would not have met in the Divine Firmament Sect's Outer Sect. They got along quite well.
Yu Ke's expression was gentle as he asked with concern:
"Junior Sister Xie, are you heading out, or going to attend to your cultivation lessons?"
He could not help being so amiable. After all, Xie Wanwan before him was currently his largest creditor.
Xie Wanwan smiled softly and replied:
"Of course I'm going to seek out an elder to resolve my cultivation doubts. I've felt somewhat lax lately, so I must cultivate with greater diligence."
Naturally, Outer Sect disciples had to pay to seek answers from their elders as well.
Changing the subject, she asked with concern:
"Senior Brother Yu, has your Foundation Establishment succeeded?"
She cared greatly about this matter, her eyes fixed intently on Yu Ke.
Yet for the moment, she could not discern anything!
Unless there was an enormous gap of several realms in cultivation, one could not see through another's true state merely from appearances.
This was also why Yu Ke had dared attend the banquet after his Foundation Establishment failure.
Her cultivation aptitude was about the same as Yu Ke's. Since childhood, she had tempered her bones and sinews under her lineage's protection. She had now reached the Second Heavenly Ladder; once she opened all her meridians, she could undergo Foundation Establishment.
At this time next year, Xie Wanwan would face the same question Yu Ke did.
For lineage disciples of their talents, using external aids to forge a High-Grade Dao Foundation was a very good option.
Foundation Establishment was truly the great watershed on the road of cultivation.
It was divided into nine grades, each with its own mysteries.
Yet beyond the ninth grade lay Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, which required one to comprehend an unprecedented cultivation art and temper it into true intent.
Upon gaining the Heavenly Way's acknowledgment, one would be granted a Heavenly Dao Seed and forge a supreme foundation.
The successive sect masters of the Divine Firmament Sect had all achieved Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment before becoming giants of their generation.
If Yu Ke succeeded in forming a High-Grade Dao Foundation through external aids, he would certainly provide Xie Wanwan with valuable experience to draw upon.
The two had long made an agreement: whether his Foundation Establishment succeeded or failed, Yu Ke would teach her everything he knew and share his experience without holding anything back.
This was also why Xie Wanwan had lent him Spirit Stones so readily.
Hearing this, Yu Ke's face turned bitter, and he let out a long sigh.
"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, Junior Sister. This attempt at Foundation Establishment did not succeed."
A flicker of shock appeared on Xie Wanwan's face, but she quickly returned to normal.
Thus.
Yu Ke recounted every detail of the Foundation Establishment process at length. Fortunately, his memories remained, allowing him to describe everything one by one.
After finishing, he solemnly warned her:
"The path of Foundation Establishment through external aids is fraught with perils at every turn. Without sufficient preparation and strength, do not attempt it lightly."
"The body must be cultivated to a certain realm, and the Primordial Spirit must likewise be supported by suitable cultivation arts. Otherwise, should failure come, the consequences will be too dreadful to contemplate."
"Otherwise, I fear..."
Yu Ke silently thought, you'll croak.
"When undergoing Foundation Establishment, it is best to have a sect elder or lineage senior stand guard over you. Never rush in recklessly. Junior Sister, remember this well."
"Foundation Establishment through external aids is ultimately an Outer Dao. If Junior Sister can comprehend a Martial Dao True Intent, that would naturally be best."
There was somewhat of a flattering intent behind Yu Ke's words.
He had no choice. When one owed someone money, one's hands were short—and one's mouth was short too...
"Martial Dao True Intent—how could it be so easily attained?" Xie Wanwan sighed, her voice carrying endless emotion.
Without even seeking Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, achieving Foundation Establishment through Martial Dao True Intent would already make one a genius.
"Senior Brother Yu, I cannot thank you enough."
Xie Wanwan gave him a graceful bow.
She could naturally sense the sincerity within Yu Ke's warnings.
She also understood the hardships of Foundation Establishment through external aids. It seemed she would need to make several more preparations.
Yu Ke thoroughly informed Xie Wanwan of every matter requiring attention for Foundation Establishment.
In this way, he had fulfilled the agreement between himself and Xie Wanwan's former self.
Before you continue