Dust Cleared, Light Born; Master Fang Departed

Another winter had come, white snow weighing down green branches.

Recently, news spread throughout Tianlan Prefecture: an unparalleled genius named Yuan had Ascended the Seven Xuan Tower, shaking the entire Sword Sect.

"My cousin is a Sword Sect Disciple. She saw it with her own eyes—the Sword Sect elders were scrambling to take him as a disciple."

"They say he may possess both a sacred body and a Heavenly Spirit Root. His talent shakes ancient and modern times; even across the Northern Wasteland, it would be hard to find a second like him."

"Ah, if I had half his talent, Ru Yan wouldn't have left me..."

"..."

The uproar came swiftly and faded just as swiftly.

The topic was far too lofty. Most people simply did not understand its Gold Content. Like frogs at the bottom of a well looking at the sky, they could only watch the spectacle.

The great families were likewise impressed without truly understanding. A once-in-a-millennium figure in Tianlan Prefecture would never cross paths with them anyway; it was more practical to think about how to enter the Sword Sect.

A banquet was laid out at Bamboo Grove Lodge. Shen Pingsheng invited Shen An's family as guests.

The Sword Sect assessment was drawing near. Shen Yun and Shen Qingruo would both participate, and since the latter had just returned from the Main Branch, they gathered one last time before parting.

Shen Pingsheng drank cup after cup, warmly entertaining his guests, utterly elated.

His aptitude was not bad, and he was also a Formation Master. In the Shen Family, his life had been thriving like wind and water.

He had never expected that, having reached middle age, he could still rise to another level. Ever since Shen Yun had displayed his brilliance in the Family Grand Competition, even the family elders greeted him with smiling faces.

Whenever he drank with the old brothers around him, they would always say sourly, "Your greatest accomplishment, you bastard, was giving birth to a good son." Whenever that happened, Shen Pingsheng felt as though he had drunk ice water in the dog days of summer—how could a single word, refreshing, possibly describe it?

Shen An was relatively reserved. Only when Shen Yun was mentioned did he become animated. "To be honest, Brother Pingsheng, I have always worried about Qingruo going to cultivate at the Sword Sect. I'll have to ask Nephew Yun to look after her."

Shen Pingsheng waved a broad hand and said carelessly, "Why are we brothers still being so polite? Drink! Today, we won't go home until we're drunk!"

A smile lingered at Shen Qingling's lips as her gaze drifted toward Shen Yun from time to time, her satisfaction growing deeper and deeper.

Such an outstanding young man could not be found even by searching with a lantern. What was more, she had watched him grow up since childhood, which put her even more at ease.

"Little Yun, Auntie wants to ask you for something." Shen Qingling's gaze was gentle as she said softly, "Qingruo is too innocent. Out there, I fear she may be deceived. You must help me keep an eye on her."

Shen Qingruo pouted and gave a soft huff. "How am I that foolish? Brother Shen Yun, don't believe what Mother says."

She secretly glanced at Shen Yun. They had not seen each other for a year, and she did not want to leave a bad impression the moment they reunited.

Shen Yun smiled gently. "Auntie worries too much. Qingruo is a girl of orchid heart and fine nature. She is even more outstanding than we imagine."

After a year apart, Shen Qingruo was only a step away from the Seventh Layer of Qi Refining. Even with her exceptional talent, she must have put in unimaginable effort.

Hearing him, Shen Qingling froze slightly. Looking at Shen Qingruo's radiant smile, she sighed inwardly. No wonder Qingruo has liked following by his side since she was little.

She had once tried to arrange Shen Qingruo's life, believing it was for her daughter's future.

In contrast, Shen Yun showed Shen Qingruo nothing but trust. When problems arose, he patiently guided her, more like a qualified elder.

I never thought a child would teach me a lesson. Shen Qingling smiled to herself, feeling inexplicably more at ease.

Shen Pingsheng gave Shen Yun's shoulder a heavy pat and laughed heartily. "You kid have never made me worry. Old Dad has only one sentence for you: when you're away from home, safety comes first."

The banquet drew to a close amid laughter and cheerful voices.

Shen Yun went alone to Tianwei Mountain. Fang Tianyi was sitting before a stone table, wielding a wolf-hair brush as he freely splashed ink across the page.

The flowers and birds were delicate as wandering threads, while the mountains and rivers were bold as dragons and serpents. A winter Tianwei Mountain came vividly alive upon the paper.

Rolling up the painting, Fang Tianyi handed it to Shen Yun. "Return to Tianwei Mountain before reaching the Golden Core Realm. Your master has left something for you."

Shen Yun's expression shifted slightly, and his voice lowered. "Master, could it be that you are leaving?"

Fang Tianyi felt especially different today. His usual frivolity had faded away, revealing an unprecedented transcendent bearing.

It reminded Shen Yun of that Enlightenment Poem passed down through the ages.

I have a bright pearl, long locked away by worldly toil.

Today, dust cleared, light born, illuminating mountains, rivers, and myriad flowers.

Fang Tianyi looked at the Green Gourd Ring in Shen Yun's hand and said meaningfully, "I have stayed here for three hundred years. Now that karmic ties have all departed, it is time for me to go."

Shen Yun was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh. "When will Master depart? This disciple would like to see you off."

Fang Tianyi absolutely counted as both a good teacher and a true friend to him. Now, with this hurried parting, he did not know when they would meet again.

"Today."

Fang Tianyi looked at Shen Yun, his tone distant and serene. "You have already walked your own path. Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is within reach. Once you break through, your master will leave."

Shen Yun Took a Deep Breath, his gaze resolute. "Master, please wait a moment. After I establish my foundation, we can speak at length."

His words struck the ground like iron, as though Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment were merely something he could pluck at will.

Since ancient times, those who dared attempt Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment had all been talents capable of spanning heaven and earth. Yet the outcome was cruel: countless Heavenly Prides had perished, and this road was littered with white bones.

"Begin."

Fang Tianyi stood with his hands behind his back. His terrifying Divine Sense blanketed the entire Tianwei Mountain, preventing anyone from coming to disturb them.

Shen Yun opened and closed his eyes, no longer suppressing the spiritual power that was about to overflow. His five-colored Sea of Qi shone ten thousand zhang high, condensing an Immortal Platform at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Spiritual power surged madly into it, and his Dao Foundation grew increasingly solid. At times it resembled a cauldron, at times a tower, until it finally transformed into an incomparably profound Dao Diagram.

"Condense!"

Shen Yun shouted, like a thunderclap beneath clear skies. His Sea of Qi silently churned, merging into the mysterious immortal light as the Dao Diagram finally manifested.

It resembled a bizarre and dazzling world, yet upon closer inspection, there was only Five-Colored Heavenly Light.

Five Elements Power revolved around the Dao Diagram, cycle after cycle, endless and inexhaustible, encompassing the mysteries of heaven and earth.

Rumble!

Just as the Dao Diagram was about to take shape, a mysterious aura suddenly descended.

Mighty as authority, dreadful as prison, dark mist shrouded the Dao Diagram. The Five-Colored Immortal Light was blocked, and its once-dazzling radiance began to dim.

The Dao Diagram became illusory again. With a crack, three terrifying fissures exploded across it.

Struck by the impact, blood trickled from the corner of Shen Yun's mouth. He tried to circulate his Cultivation Method and absorb spiritual qi, only to discover that he had lost contact with his spirit roots, as though he had been cut off from heaven and earth.

"Is this the Foundation Establishment Tribulation?"

Unable to breathe in and out the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, one could only endure bitter tempering through one's own strength. No wonder countless Heavenly Prides had died at this stage.

Shen Yun was not the least bit flustered. He carried the calm composure of one who planned within the command tent and won victory a thousand li away.

"It is no more than this."

His entire body shook. Spiritual power, vital blood, and Divine Sense erupted at once with world-shaking brilliance, like a blazing sun appearing across the sky, tearing apart the Gray Mist as easily as withered wood and rotten weeds.

With the obstacle gone, the Dao Diagram burst forth in light and perfectly manifested in an instant.

Shen Yun's entire body trembled as he broke through into the Foundation Establishment Realm as naturally as water flowing into a channel. Like dragons and serpents shedding their skins, like divine weapons tempered in fire, his whole being was reborn.

Five Elements Power erupted with boundless radiance, illuminating the entire Tianwei Mountain.

"Good! This is the finest farewell gift you could give your master!"

Fang Tianyi laughed loudly, took out Green Bamboo Spirit Wine, and drained it in one gulp.

This had been the gift Shen Yun brought when they first met. Later, after learning that Fang Tianyi loved tea alone, Shen Yun had never given him Spirit Wine again.

Yet at such a joyful moment in life, how could there be no wine?

At this moment, Fang Tianyi's white robes fluttered as he raised his cup toward the bright moon, like an immortal standing apart from the world.

"Go, go."

With those words, Fang Tianyi rode the wind away, accompanied by the clear breeze and bright moon, vanishing into the night sky.

Watching his master's drifting figure depart, Shen Yun said word by word, "This disciple respectfully sees Master off."