Five-Element Dao Foundation, Invincible Among Peers!

This was practically ascending to heaven in a single step!

Countless dazzlingly talented cultivators at Qi Refining perfection had failed the Heavenly Examination, wasted half their lives without ever earning the right to attempt Foundation Establishment, and finally died of old age in the Qi Refining stage.

This path was far too important.

Seeing Chu Bai's interest, Supervisor Chen dropped another bombshell. "Not only that, those who obtain immortal official status start out half a rank above those with ordinary official status earned through the Heavenly Examination. In your future official career and Dao path, that half-rank difference can often be as vast as heaven and earth."

"Of course, all that is still too far off for you." Supervisor Chen waved a hand, bringing the conversation back on track. "What matters most right now is your Dao foundation."

His expression turned serious. "Since you've chosen the path of the five phases, there are some things I must explain thoroughly."

"Cultivating all five phases merely to gather the five attributes will only give you an [unsteady root], even if you barely manage Foundation Establishment. Your spiritual energy will be impure and mixed. Though stronger than cultivating a single attribute, it will only count as miscellaneous order among Foundation Establishment cultivators, or barely reach the threshold of side order."

"Stopping there would be a waste of your talent."

Supervisor Chen extended a finger and drew a circle in the air. "Above that is an unorthodox Dao foundation known as the [five virtues chariot].

"Once you form this foundation, you can enjoy the enhancements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth spiritual energy simultaneously. With so many methods at your disposal, it already ranks among the finest."

"But if you truly wish to stand at the pinnacle..."

A brilliant gleam flashed in Supervisor