Night Banquet

The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching, and the full moon will soon be shining.

The banquet had already been set out in front of the octagonal pavilion on Golden Ao Mountain.

Su Yao, Liu Yunhe, and the other five, along with several disciples, sat together, while several Spirit Wood Child stood respectfully to the side.

Su Yao looked up at the bright moon in the sky and whispered:

"In recent years, I've either been in seclusion or busy with other matters, and I've completely forgotten to plant a few osmanthus trees here. It's a bit of a shame that there's no fragrance of osmanthus during the Mid-Autumn Festival."

Liu Yunhe smiled upon hearing this:

"If the Abbot likes it, I will have someone move a few trees from the foot of the mountain tomorrow. Although they won't be as beautiful as tonight's moon, they will be there for the Mid-Autumn Festival a month from now."

Su Yao waved his hand. "No need. I'll personally select a few old osmanthus trees in a few days. Osmanthus is precious, and it's only truly meaningful if I plant them myself." He paused, his gaze falling on the disciples at the table, and suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, I've been in seclusion for nine years. After emerging, I first received guests at Great Void Temple, then went into seclusion again upon imperial decree, and for the past four months I've been in seclusion to comprehend the wonders of Divine Ability. I haven't had a chance to inquire about your cultivation progress so far."

Upon hearing this, several disciples at the table instinctively sat up straight.

Seeing this, Li Siyi put down her wine cup and smiled as she continued the conversation:

"Since the abbot is in such a good mood today, why not let them speak for themselves, starting with Ren Han?"

Ren Han put down his teacup, stood up, and bowed to Su Yao. More than twenty years had passed, and he still looked the same cold-faced man in black, only the melancholy between his brows, which was beyond his years, had faded somewhat, replaced by a youthful sharpness.

"Disciple Ren Han is currently at the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer, but his immortal Immortal Foundation is not yet established. The instructors say that I need to learn more Law Technique and do not need to rush to improve my cultivation."

At the same time, he secretly thought to himself that in his previous life, he had only pursued the speed of cultivation and had not honed his spells much during the Qi Refinement Refining stage. After Law Technique Foundation Establishment and even after the Purple Mansion stage, he regretted it deeply. People like Liu Yunhe were taught to practice Law Technique more during the Qi Refinement... In his previous life, he did not cultivate Cold Qi, but Dui Metal. If he had cultivated Dui Metal in this life, he would have already broken through to Foundation Establishment by now. However, the Cultivation Method bestowed by Qixia Mountain made it impossible for him to refuse.

Su Yao nodded slightly.

Ren Han Cold Qi path, following the path of Heavenly Element Child. He had managed to reach the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer Refining in just over ten years, indicating a solid foundation. Therefore, he said softly, "That's right, the Cold Qi path cannot be rushed; a steady and methodical approach is best."

He didn't say much, and his gaze shifted to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan had been tense and taut ever since Ren Han stood up. Seeing Su Yao looking over, he quickly stood up, a slightly embarrassed smile on his simple face.

"Disciple Lu Yuan broke through to the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer in seclusion half a year ago. He's not as solid as Senior Brother Ren Han, who broke through to the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer over a year ago; he only caught up by chance."

Upon hearing this, Su Yao's face remained expressionless, but he felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

Lu Yuan cultivates the Rainbow Clouds Path, which shares the same origin as his own. He reached the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer in just over twenty years. While not spectacular, his progress was solid and steady. Therefore, he said:

"Don't underestimate yourself. With your temperament, taking things slowly will actually take you further."

His gaze toward Lu Yuan was gentler than before.

Finally, there's Zichuan.

He had been unusually silent since taking his seat today. Now, noticing Su Yao's gaze fixed on him, he rose to bow more slowly than usual, as if something was weighing on his mind, something he didn't want to say in front of everyone.

"Disciple Zichuan, Qi Refinement Seventh Layer."

His voice wasn't loud; he paused for a moment before adding, "Half a month slower than Senior Brother Lu Yuan."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people at the table subtly changed. Zichuan had the highest aptitude among the seven disciples, having entered the sect with six spiritual apertures. He should have been the first to break through to the Late-stage Qi Refinement, but now he was almost on par with Ren Han and Lu Yuan.

Seeing this, Liu Yunhe was about to speak up for Zichuan when Su Yao preemptively said:

"The path of the Great Yang is the most manifest under heaven, and it is inherently difficult to cultivate. That you have reached the Qi Refinement Seventh Layer in just over twenty years is extremely remarkable." He looked at the Bai People youth to whom he had personally passed on the Great Yang Cultivation Method, his tone calm and composed. "There's no need to compare yourself to others; just walk your own path."

Upon hearing this, Zichuan bowed deeply but did not sit down.

He raised his head, his clear, innocent eyes looking at Su Yao, as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end, they all boiled down to one sentence:

"I have remembered."

Su Yao saw it all, but didn't ask any further questions.

He shifted his gaze to the remaining four people: Yang Zhao, Li Xu, Lin Shuang, and Xu Qingluo had all stood up, their expressions a mixture of nervousness and anticipation.

Yang Zhao spoke first, "Disciple Yang Zhao successfully switched to cultivating the ' Vermilion Flame Condensed Truth Canon ' five years ago, and is now at the Qi Refinement Sixth Layer. Several instructors say that my foundation is solid, and I will be able to break through to the Late-stage Qi Refinement in a few months."

Li Xu followed closely behind, his tone even more cautious than Yang Zhao's:

"Disciple Li Xu, like Senior Brother Yang Zhao, is also at the Qi Refinement Sixth Layer."

Lin Shuang and Xu Qingluo exchanged a glance and said in unison:

"Disciples Lin Shuang and Xu Qingluo are also at the Qi Refinement Sixth Layer."

Su Yao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the four people before finally settling on Liu Yunhe.

Liu Yunhe and took out a scroll from his sleeve and handed it over:

"After switching cultivation methods, the four of them have a solid foundation and have made good progress in their Law Technique. They have also performed well in the recent assessments. Once they reach the Qi Refinement Perfection, they will need to hone their skills for a few more years before they can prepare for Foundation Establishment."

Su Yao took the booklet, flipped through it, placed it on the table, and remained silent for a moment before speaking.

His tone remained calm, but all the disciples present could tell that his words carried a greater degree of seriousness than before.

"Foundation Establishment is the first true hurdle on the Dao Path. While one can change their Dao Path during the Qi Refinement stage, once the Immortal Foundation is established, it is a lifelong commitment. The seven of you have cultivated to this point, first studying the scriptures and then changing your methods. Although your foundations may not be particularly deep, they are solid and steady. There's no rush during the Qi Refinement stage; rushing is useless. Once you've laid a solid foundation, Foundation Establishment will be a natural outcome."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seven people before finally settling on the gradually waxing moon outside the pavilion:

"I have only one request for this Foundation Establishment. After you achieve Foundation Establishment, no matter your cultivation level or the number of Secret Method within your Cultivation Method, you need not compare yourself to others. Yang Zhao need not compare himself to Li Xu, Lin Shuang need not compare herself to Xu Qingluo, and you certainly don't need to compare yourselves to Ren Han, Lu Yuan, Zichuan. Each person has their own destiny, and each person has their own Dao Path. The Dao Path is one that you walk yourself, not one that you create through comparison."

Upon hearing this, all seven bowed in unison in agreement.

Su Yao waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to sit down, and then looked at Zhang Ziyan:

"After testing you a while ago, I will go into seclusion to break through to the Purple Mansion after my Purple Mansion Dharma Banquet ends."

Then he looked at Liu Yunhe:

"Yunhe is also one."

Then, scanning over Han Ziyi, Zhu Xuejie, Li Siyi one by one:

"Ziyi and Xuejie are still a bit lacking and need two or three more years of refinement. Siyi enough, but the Wu Earth is difficult to cultivate, so more time would be more stable. However, within five years, the rest of you will have to go into seclusion to seek Purple Mansion."