Chapter 112: Perfect

Wen Xu realized that the time it took him to reach Foundation Establishment was far shorter than he had imagined.

The red sun had only just risen into the sky. Its light pierced through the swirling clouds and mist, falling upon him with a uniquely serene and peaceful aura. Wen Xu instinctively exhaled a long breath, surprised to find that his Foundation Establishment realm was already incredibly stable.

It seemed that Foundation Establishment had merely widened his meridians and expanded his sea of Qi several times over; otherwise, not much else seemed to have changed.

Was this real?

“How do you feel, A-Xu?”

Wen Xu sat upright on the ground. Hearing the voice, he looked up to see his master smiling with his hands tucked into his sleeves. Just as he was about to stand, his master reached out and pressed him back down. “No need for all those empty formalities. Here, a congratulatory gift from your Sect Master martial nephew.”

Hearing this, Wen Xu couldn’t help but smile. He was indeed happy, happier than he had ever been. “Master, did you scare the Sect Master again?”

Venerable Chengwei raised an eyebrow. He sat down beside him, though with his wild and unbridled nature, he never sat properly. “What do you mean, ‘scare’? A-Xu, I punish you by making you rephrase that.”

“Alright. Master, you… showed your care for the Sect Master again.”

Venerable Chengwei laughed and clapped. “Exactly, exactly. A-Xu, you really are a scholar; you certainly know more words than I do. Anyway, was it a Perfect Foundation Establishment?”

Wen Xu was taken aback. “How did you know, Master?”

“Simple. I guessed,” Venerable Chengwei said, amused. “Do you really think there have only been seven people with Perfect Foundation Establishment since ancient times?”

Although Wen Xu didn’t say anything, his face clearly read: Is that not the case?

“Of course not. The heavens and earth don’t grant any extra treatment for a Perfect Foundation Establishment, such as more auspicious light or blessings. This shows it isn’t actually that rare. The only unusual thing about it is that after achieving it, a cultivator doesn’t need to spend much time stabilizing their realm. That little Buddhist cultivator from Kudu Temple whose record you just broke was probably a Perfect Foundation Establishment too.”

Wen Xu: … Master really never leaves his residence, yet he knows everything in the world.

“Then why…”

Venerable Chengwei spread his hands. “It couldn’t be helped. The first recorded Perfect Foundation Establishment cultivator boasted about it constantly, claiming that a Perfect Foundation Establishment guaranteed ascension. You know how it is; there are always people in this world who can’t stand to see others succeed. Perfect Foundation Establishment cultivators were easily targeted when they went out, so after that, no one wanted to tell the world about it.”

“So, A-Xu, don’t put too much stock in those random legends of the cultivation world. Most of them are highly exaggerated. Just listen to them for entertainment.”

“Then, Master, you are also…”

“That’s right, that’s right. Let me tell you a little secret: your Sect Master martial nephew is also a Perfect Foundation Establishment. Back when he achieved it, he almost announced it to the whole world. Then my senior brother pinned him down and gave him a thorough thrashing. He didn’t need to go into seclusion to stabilize his realm, but because of the beating, he was forced to enter seclusion to heal his injuries.”

Wen Xu: … Here it comes. Here it comes again. Master’s secret-sharing hour.

“But I am very generous. If you want to announce it to the world, A-Xu, I will immediately…”

Hearing this, Wen Xu was startled and quickly grabbed his master. “Your disciple has absolutely no such intention.”

“Really? You don’t have to be shy, A-Xu. The eighth Perfect Foundation Establishment cultivator in the cultivation world… it sounds rather auspicious. Are you sure you won’t reconsider?”

Venerable Chengwei successfully teased his only disciple into running away. Of course, achieving Foundation Establishment without going out to show it off was like wearing fine silks in the dark^[1]. His disciple was perfect in every way, except he was far too cautious, lacking even a shred of youthful abandon. But it didn’t matter. With a master like him around, it would be hard for A-Xu not to become a bit more lively.

By the time Wen Xu found his two friends, Bian Chunzhou was dragging Chen Zui along, trying to reason with him. However, Chen Zui clearly refused to be brainwashed, or rather, he had been spurred on by Wen Xu’s overnight breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.

Thus, this time, he noticed Wen Xu’s arrival even faster than Bian Chunzhou did.

“You’ve reached Foundation Establishment.”

Wen Xu nodded. “I succeeded by luck.”

Chen Zui shook his head, refusing to believe it. “It definitely wasn’t luck. You are very strong.”

“Ahhhhh! Wen Xuxu, you really reached Foundation Establishment! You’re amazing! Absolutely amazing! Congratulations on your breakthrough, Senior Brother Wen!” Bian Chunzhou lunged forward. “How does it feel? I want to reach Foundation Establishment so badly too.”

“Thank you. You two will definitely reach it soon as well.” Perhaps because he had heard so many people say that Foundation Establishment was difficult, extremely important, and not to be rushed, Wen Xu had subconsciously perceived it as incredibly hard. But now that he had actually done it, it wasn’t as difficult as he had imagined. Looking back, he even felt he might have succeeded had he tried six months ago.

“Really?”

Wen Xu nodded very seriously. “Yes, really.”

“Hehe, I think so too.” Bian Chunzhou lightly punched Chen Zui’s shoulder. “See? I told you, but you wouldn’t believe me. You might not believe my words, but you’ll definitely believe Wen Xuxu’s, right?”

Chen Zui was the youngest of the three. Wen Xu was twenty-three, Bian Chunzhou was twenty-two, but Chen Zui was only twenty-one. Ordinary cultivators his age might not even have reached the fifth level of Qi Refining. In truth, most people did not think it was a good idea for him to attempt Foundation Establishment now. Even his master and senior brothers had told him to settle down for a few years to temper his skills and wait for the right moment.

This was the path chosen by the majority and the safest route. In the early stages of cultivation, disciples could not leave the sect for training, and Chen Zui had already taken first place in the sect’s competitions. He was not someone who chased quick success or sought fame, so there was really no need to rush.

This was also why Sword Venerable Meixi’s record of reaching Foundation Establishment at twenty-five had stood for so long. It wasn’t that no one could break it, but rather that everyone chose to let nature take its course for the sake of their own Dao.

But Chen Zui’s mind was simple and his thinking straightforward. He just didn’t understand the point of “waiting.”

“I’m not anxious just because I’ve touched the threshold of Foundation Establishment. I just don’t understand,” Chen Zui said, using his rarely utilized brain for once. “I don’t understand what I’m still lacking.”

Wasn’t Foundation Establishment just a natural progression of one’s cultivation?

Looking at Chen Zui, Wen Xu felt as if he were looking in a mirror. Before today, he too had been constantly reflecting on what else he needed to prepare before he could establish his foundation. It turned out he wasn’t the only one troubled by this. Even someone with a mind as straightforward as Chen Zui’s could have such doubts.

But this was Chen Zui’s cultivation path. If Wen Xu pointed out the answer directly, Chen Zui might indeed reach Foundation Establishment because of it, but what about after that? Since Chen Zui’s master hadn’t spelled it out, it meant he shouldn’t either.

“Chen Zui, this isn’t your strength.”

After Senior Sister Mingjing reached Foundation Establishment, she had told him to believe in himself. Thus, there was only one thing he could tell Chen Zui. Sometimes, when you were in the thick of it, your vision would be obscured by clouds and mist. Once you stepped back, everything would become crystal clear.

“Strength?” Chen Zui scratched his head. “Well, this really isn’t my strength. Why do people have to think about so many things anyway?”

Wen Xu: … I hate that blockhead of yours.

“But I’ll think carefully about what you said. I trust your brain.” Chen Zui had great faith in Wen Xu’s intellect. Having received a reassuring answer, he thought to himself that he would ponder what his strength was while practicing his saber later. “Congratulations, Senior Brother Wen. But I’ll catch up to you soon.”

“Me too!” Bian Chunzhou raised his hand high and cheered happily. “Awoooo! Wen Xuxu, you broke the record! My friend is so awesome!” The youngest to reach Foundation Establishment in the cultivation world! Hahaha, that annoying Bushi has been overtaken. Oh yeah!

Hearing this, Wen Xu finally registered it, but he himself wasn’t particularly excited. After all… he wanted to be the number one Golden Core cultivator.

“Chen Zui is two years younger than me. Maybe he’ll break my record. You’re also a year younger than me, so maybe…”

Bian Chunzhou slung an arm around him. “Alright, alright, don’t be so modest. You’re a genius, Wen Xuxu! Be a bit more proud of yourself. Come on, let’s go, hotpot is on me! Oh, by the way, now that you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, will you start fasting?”

At this, he froze, then suddenly jumped up. “No way, I need to reach Foundation Establishment soon too! Once you reach Foundation Establishment, you can fly on a sword. I’ve dreamed of flying forever!!!”

Oh, right. Once you reached Foundation Establishment, you could try flying on a sword. No wonder Master had looked at him with such a strange expression when they were coming down Guochun Peak earlier. It turned out Master was wondering why he wasn’t flying.

But there was no rush. The three of them happily headed down the mountain for their meal, while Yonglu Mountain fell into an unprecedented cultivation craze because of the overachiever’s astonishing feat of reaching Foundation Establishment in just three years.

“Why are the disciples working so… desperately hard today?”

Today, Liujiang Peak was packed with disciples attending the lecture, more than double the number from yesterday. The lecturing instructor was astonished to discover that Yonglu Mountain actually had so many low-level disciples.

“You were down the mountain yesterday, so you probably don’t know. The Little Grand-Uncle Master of Guochun Peak reached Foundation Establishment this morning.”

The lecturing instructor was shocked. “Is it that Little Grand-Uncle Master surnamed Wen? Hasn’t he…” only been cultivating for three years?!

“There’s only one Little Grand-Uncle Master on our Yonglu Mountain, so of course it’s him. Besides, the auspicious clouds dispersed very quickly, which shows his breakthrough was incredibly smooth. His Foundation Establishment completion must be exceptionally high.”

After a long silence, the instructor voiced what everyone was thinking: “A genius, truly terrifying!”

Think about it. Three years ago, he was still in the Mortal Realm, knowing absolutely nothing about the cultivation world. By a stroke of luck, he stumbled into the Poyun Secret Realm, and from then on, it was as if he had swallowed some miraculous elixir, shooting straight into Foundation Establishment. At this rate, the title of Little Grand-Uncle Master will probably become fully deserved very soon!!!

Although they knew that mutated single spiritual roots cultivated quickly, this was still… shockingly fast.

“That’s why everyone is working so hard, at least to avoid being left too far behind.”

Wen Xu, however, had no idea his reputation had reached a new height. He remained calm. After celebrating with his friends, he holed up on Guochun Peak and didn’t step foot outside, pretending to be in closed-door cultivation to stabilize his cultivation, while actually practicing his sword-flying.

Perhaps due to his Wind Spiritual Root, Wen Xu found that flying on a sword wasn’t too difficult. However, because Guochun Peak was covered in wind and snow year-round, even though his master had granted him flight permission, he still found it a bit hard to control his flight precision.

But this was something that could be completely improved through constant practice. Besides, if he could adapt to an environment as harsh as Guochun Peak, then other places would be a breeze.

Wen Xu quickly learned how to fly on a sword. Once he mastered it, he received an entry token for the Back Mountain Secret Realm. He suddenly remembered. Oh, right, he could finally enter the Back Mountain Secret Realm.