The art of humility

Lately, Third Uncle Si Shuo walked as though the wind were at his heels.

Every word of praise for his nephew's "courtesy and kindness" in Cloud Brocade City had blown straight into his ears. The more he heard, the happier he felt, and the more convinced he became that those fellows had finally said something sensible for once.

Just look! Whose child could earn praise like that? Exactly! His nephew might think a little strangely, but he was obedient, well-behaved, exceptionally gifted, and so humble and courteous to boot!

They ought to remember whose nephew he is! he thought smugly. Even this little patch of territory called Cloud Brocade City looked a good deal more pleasing to him now.

He had completely forgotten how he had been so frightened that he ran off to report the news with his arms and legs moving in lockstep. All he felt was that every word of praise from the outside world had struck straight to his heart.

Over the past few days, local dignitaries calling at the Si Household's temporary residence in Cloud Brocade City had nearly worn through its threshold.

Cloud Brocade City was jointly governed by the Chen, Wang, and Li Households. They were local emperors here, but compared with a true behemoth like the Si Household, the gap between them was that between clouds and mud.

The arrival of the Si Household's Third Master and young master was unquestionably a matter of the utmost importance to Cloud Brocade City's "three great aristocratic clans." Naturally, they racked their brains for ways to curry favor.

Although the Si Household had made it clear that the little young master was merely traveling to broaden his horizons and should not be disturbed, gifts from the various households still streamed into their residence like flowing water. Among them were some genuinely rare treasures.

What caught Si Chen's attention most was an exquisite white jade pill bottle containing a perfectly round pill the size of a longan fruit, with faint cloud patterns upon its surface.

The man who delivered it was the head of the Li Household, whose respectful manner bordered on abject humility. Standing beside him was none other than the young cultivator whom Si Chen had "persuaded" to be polite on the street that day.

Now, his eyes were lowered and his manner meek, without a trace of his former arrogance.

"This is a first-grade Foundation Establishment Pill."

The Li Household head explained with an ingratiating smile, "Though I know it is unworthy of Third Master Si's and the young master's discerning eyes, it is quite rare here. Its effects are extraordinary. It can help a qi refining cultivator reach foundation establishment safely, as naturally as water flows into a channel. Please accept this small token as an apology for my unworthy son's offense against the young master the other day."

Si Shuo nodded casually and accepted it on his nephew's behalf.

Pills came in nine grades, with the first being the best. In a place like Cloud Brocade City, this first-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was indeed a lavish gift, enough to demonstrate both the Li Household's sincerity and its fear.

To the Si Household, however, it was hardly a peerless treasure.

After everyone had left, Si Chen picked up the jade box and studied the pill inside, which supposedly guaranteed successful foundation establishment. Puzzlement showed in his eyes.

"Third Uncle."

"Hmm?"

Si Chen asked in confusion, "Do you need pills to establish your foundation?"

"..."

Si Shuo choked on those words. Looking into his nephew's eyes, which were filled with question marks, he nearly forgot to breathe. For a moment, he genuinely had no idea how to answer.

Did you need them?

For 99.9 percent of the world's qi refining cultivators, the answer was an unquestionable yes.

Foundation establishment was the first true hurdle on the path of cultivation. Spiritual power had to be compressed, and the dantian transformed into a sea. The process was perilous. With a Foundation Establishment Pill's protection, the chances of success could rise by several tenths. A first-grade pill was practically a written guarantee of success, and could even strengthen one's foundation.

But... how was he supposed to explain that to this little monster, who could rush to the qi refining ninth layer in two hours and treat bottlenecks as though they did not exist?

He opened his mouth, but in the end, every explanation became a disgruntled mutter. "You little brat. Do you think everyone's like you?"

He still never answered directly, merely stuffing the jade box into Si Chen's hands. "Keep it. It's a sincere gesture, at least. You won't need it, but later... er, you could give it to someone as a reward."

At that, Si Chen casually put the pill away. Still, this method of making external objects to assist cultivation did pique his interest a little.

Though not very much.

Pill refining? he thought.

Over the next few days, Cloud Brocade City enjoyed the most "harmonious" period since its founding.

At least wherever Si Chen could see, no one pocketed lost belongings on the road, and no one needed to bar their doors at night. Everyone in the streets wore a smile, and everyone was humble and courteous, as though they had all become models of impeccable etiquette overnight.

Seven or eight days passed in a flash.

One morning, Si Chen gazed at the drifting clouds from the courtyard. Suddenly, he counted the days and recalled the ancient texts' claim that a "peerless genius" generally needed a month to establish his foundation.

By that standard, he felt it seemed to be time for him to establish his foundation.

Over breakfast, he mentioned it to Si Shuo. "Third Uncle, I'm going to establish my foundation today."

"Pfft-cough! Cough, cough, cough!" Si Shuo nearly sprayed out a mouthful of spiritual soup. He coughed so violently that heaven and earth seemed to shake, taking quite some time to catch his breath, his face flushed bright red.

His eyes widened. "What did you say?! Today? Here?"

Si Chen blinked, somewhat puzzled by this reaction. "Yes. Isn't it about time?"

Si Shuo hurriedly set down his bowl and chopsticks and circled Si Chen twice, checking his spiritual aura and feeling his root bone, all while muttering nonstop.

"Don't you go doing anything reckless! Your talent may be... well, you know, but foundation establishment is the beginning of the Great Dao! If anything goes wrong, how am I supposed to face your parents when we get back?"

Although he knew his nephew could not be judged by ordinary standards, when it came to foundation establishment, a string remained stretched taut in his heart.

One moment, he ordered the servants to guard the courtyard strictly and allow no interruptions. The next, he decided the spiritual energy here was not pure enough and wondered whether they should head home immediately. He even tried to force the newly received first-grade Foundation Establishment Pill on Si Chen, just in case.

Watching his third uncle scurry in circles as though facing a formidable enemy, Si Chen calmly stated the facts. "Third Uncle, I don't need a pill. Besides, it'll be over very soon."

Si Shuo looked into his clear, utterly unruffled eyes, and a sense of helplessness welled up within him.

Well, the emperor isn't worried, but his eunuch is. He wiped his face and waved a hand in resignation. "Fine, fine, fine. You're impressive, you call the shots! What do you need your third uncle to do?"

Si Chen shook his head. "Just keep people from disturbing me, like last time."

With that, he rose and went to the Quiet Chamber on his own. Once the door closed, his so-called "foundation establishment seclusion" officially began.

Si Shuo stood guard outside, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back and his ears pricked for any sound within. He was a hundred times more nervous than he had been when establishing his own foundation.

The process... had no process at all.

Before he had even finished setting up the isolation formation, the Quiet Chamber's door creaked open.

"Third Uncle, I'm done."

"D-done?" he repeated instinctively. A sweep of his spiritual sense left him rooted to the spot. His nephew's aura was harmonious and contained, and his spiritual power fluctuations were indeed firmly at the foundation establishment early stage. Moreover, the depth of his foundation far surpassed that of an ordinary foundation establishment cultivator.

Where were the surging winds and clouds he had imagined, the spiritual energy pouring into his body? Where were the unstable foundation and arduous breakthrough he had worried about?

For some reason, he suddenly wanted to weep on behalf of every cultivator in the world who had struggled to establish their foundation.

Himself included.

Foundation establishment at seven!

The news flew across Cloud Brocade City as though it had sprouted wings, causing yet another sensation.

Reaching the third layer of qi refining could still be attributed to a mountain of resources. Establishing one's foundation at seven completely overturned everything Cloud Brocade City's cultivators understood.

With Si Shuo's tacit approval, the news was not heavily suppressed. After all, this was what a "peerless genius" ought to look like.

If the earlier feat of "three stages in one day" could still be explained away as resources piled high and an aristocratic clan manufacturing prestige, then what about "foundation establishment at seven"?

The word "genius" could no longer describe him. He was a monster, a legend, something people in a place like Cloud Brocade City did not even dare imagine.

As a result, visitors came in an endless stream to offer their congratulations, lavishing praise upon him.

"The young master is truly a prodigy blessed by heaven, dazzling both antiquity and the present!"

"Foundation establishment at seven is unheard of! One day, he will surely be a true dragon soaring through the nine heavens!"

Si Chen soon discovered a new pattern: the higher someone's cultivation, the more courteous they seemed to be toward him, and the humbler their words became.

An elder from the Chen Household came to visit. The old man's aura was powerful, and Si Chen could sense that his cultivation realm was considerably higher than his own.

Yet before Si Shuo, and especially before Si Chen, who had only just established his foundation, this elder kept saying, "This old man is ashamed," "My cultivation is shallow," and "I would not dare show off before you, senior, or the young master."

Si Chen listened quietly.

So people with higher cultivation call themselves "this old man" before people with lower cultivation, and admit that their "cultivation is shallow."

A little later, the Wang Household head personally delivered a batch of rare spiritual fruits, saying earnestly, "A mere paltry gift, hardly enough to convey our respect. It truly is too poor to present. I hope Third Master and the young master will not disdain it."

Si Chen looked at the spiritual fruits, brimming with spiritual energy and clearly worth a great deal, then at the Wang Household head's ashamed expression...

So when giving valuable gifts, you need to belittle their value, calling them "paltry gifts" and "too poor to present."

Humans seemed to share a habit of "self-deprecation." They deliberately diminished their own strength or possessions to show politeness.

He believed he had understood this new rule.

An opportunity soon arrived. That evening, the Li Household hosted a banquet for Si Chen and his uncle, and nearly every prominent figure in Cloud Brocade City attended.

Si Chen once again met the Li Household head who had given him the Foundation Establishment Pill. The moment the man saw him, he approached with a glowing face and praised him in a booming voice.

"The young master is truly a prodigy seen once in an age! Foundation establishment at seven is rare throughout all history. Your name will surely shake the nine heavens one day!"

Si Chen recalled the rule of "self-deprecation" he had just summarized and felt he ought to respond politely.

He stopped, tilted his little face upward, and spoke word by word in his uniquely earnest tone.

"You flatter me, Household Head Li. This junior has dull aptitude and merely established his foundation through luck. It is truly not worth mentioning."

Foundation establishment at seven, and d-dull aptitude??

The smile plastered across the Li Household head's face froze instantly, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly.

Si Chen watched the colorful changes in the Li Household head's expression, a trace of puzzlement crossing his clear eyes.

Could it be that I haven't been self-deprecating enough?

He recalled the phrasing used by the Chen Household elder and the Wang Household head and felt that perhaps his understanding was not yet deep enough.

Thus, in the spirit of refining excellence still further, he earnestly added another sentence, trying to put this newly learned social etiquette into better practice.

"Especially compared with your esteemed son, this old man feels all the more ashamed of his inferiority."

"Pfft-"

This time, someone finally could not hold back a laugh, then hurriedly covered their mouth.

The Li Household's young master, the young son whom Si Chen had "educated" in politeness that day, instantly turned the color of pig's liver.

Si Shuo covered his face, unable to bear the sight. He hurried forward, scooped up the still-oblivious Si Chen, and tucked him under his arm, giving everyone a forced laugh. "Children speak without malice, children speak without malice! Haha, everyone, carry on, carry on!"

He left the banquet hall almost as though fleeing a rout.

And so, new legends quietly began circulating through Cloud Brocade City: the Si Household's little young master was not only "courteous and kind," but also possessed a "razor-sharp tongue" and "words that stunned everyone"...