CHAPTER 28: 28. MID-STAGE FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT

The Yong Celestial Master, Li Zhengxuan, exchanged a look with Xu Yuanzhen.

After a moment, Li Zhengxuan’s gaze focused, revealing a profound depth. "Senior Sister, is the Celestial Book Talisman Script your goal?"

Xu Yuanzhen waved her hand. "It’s true I have some interest in the Celestial Book Talisman Script, but I would not exchange Xiaotang for it. I have plenty of time and patience; there’s no need to rush."

The Yong Celestial Master, Li Zhengxuan, nodded. "Senior Sister’s admonition is apt. Over these years, I have indeed been too impatient, focusing so intently on my cultivation that I became blind to other matters. I neglected to guide junior disciples like Li Ming and failed to show sufficient concern for other fellow disciples. The responsibility for today’s situation should indeed fall upon me."

In the room, a middle-aged Taoist who had been silent beside Li Xuan now stood up and approached Xu Yuanzhen and Li Zhengxuan, saying, "To hear Zhengxuan speak like that truly shames me. The one who failed to strictly discipline the disciples is I. How can I let Zhengxuan bear the blame for our family?"

The middle-aged Taoist calmly met Xu Yuanzhen’s gaze and stated, "Martial Niece Yuan Zhen is right. The death of that unfilial son, Li Ming, was his own doing. The mistakes he made previously should not be erased because of this. Li Ming repeatedly violated sect rules and should be publicly punished according to the law, to serve as an example. Only then can we do justice to those fellow disciples he wronged."

The middle-aged Taoist was none other than the current Celestial Master’s own brother, Elder Li Ziyang, one of the senior elders of the Celestial Master Mansion.

He looked solemnly towards his eldest son, Li Xuan, who was standing by, and instructed, "Not only must Li Ming be punished, but you and I must also take responsibility for our oversight. To atone for our negligence and earn merit, you are to immediately begin investigating everyone connected to Li Ming. See if any others have committed villainy or broken the rules. Punish them all severely and give a clear account to everyone in the Mansion!"

Li Xuan lowered his head. "Yes."

Xu Yuanzhen, unconcerned with Li Xuan, only calmly said to the uncle and nephew pair, Li Zhengxuan and Li Ziyang, "Isn’t this much better? You’ve both heard the commitments you wanted from each other."

She nodded to Elder Ziyang. "As for what comes next, I shall trouble you, Third Martial Uncle Ziyang."

With that, she turned and left.

Once Xu Yuanzhen’s figure had disappeared, Li Xuan abruptly raised his head. "Father! Eldest Senior Brother!"

"What I just said came from the heart." Elder Ziyang and the Yong Celestial Master both sat down calmly.

"Although I am heartbroken over Ming’er’s death, what happened today with Martial Niece Yuan Zhen was his own fault," Elder Ziyang continued. "For the past two years, I thought you both had matured, so I offered less guidance. As a result, Martial Niece Yuan Zhen has stripped us of our dignity today. We deserved it. This infamy can only be borne by Li Ming himself. Otherwise, the entire Li Clan would have to bear it for him. Even though he was my son and your brother, he is not worthy of that."

Li Xuan remained silent, only speaking after a long pause. "Even so, it should be us, the Li Family, who clean our own house, not Xu Yuanzhen overstepping her bounds! She’s become increasingly arrogant over the years. The outside world calls her the Second Celestial Master. Does she really think she is the Second Celestial Master?!"

Beside him, the Yong Celestial Master said lightly, "Our Sect has endured successive internal conflicts and our vitality has been severely damaged; we cannot afford more internal chaos. Outsiders call Senior Sister the Second Celestial Master precisely to sow discord and incite opposition within Our Sect. Don’t take it seriously, otherwise, you’ll fall into their trap."

Elder Ziyang stated, "Who the Second Celestial Master is doesn’t matter. What matters is that the Celestial Master has always borne the surname Li. Don’t you understand this most basic principle, even today?"

Li Xuan bowed his head again. "Yes, Father, your son understands."

Elder Ziyang’s gaze shifted towards the door. "What is truly noteworthy today is that, aside from her popularity and personal strength, Martial Niece Yuan Zhen’s network of informants within the Mansion is also extremely sharp. She was able to produce so much evidence in such a short time. As the saying goes, ’know yourself and know your enemy.’ We underestimated her before, and that was a grave mistake..."

「...」

Although anomalies had occurred within the Small Cave Heaven, for disciples like Lei Jun who entered for training, this trip had already yielded tremendous benefits.

Nourished and baptized by the waters of the Immortal Pond, Lei Jun, upon inspecting his cultivation internally, could see his Foundation Establishment flickering with a mysterious brilliance.

The Foundation Establishment of an early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was square and flat, plain but simple.

As Lei Jun continued his cultivation, his Foundation Establishment finally began to undergo new changes.

Around the square Foundation Establishment, tangible ramparts formed by Lei Jun’s Mana were erected.

Upon these ramparts, portals opened.

This was not a flaw in the Foundation Establishment but an application of the Taoist Sect’s tradition of opening the Eight Gates.

The Eight Gates are: Delusion, View, Death, Shock, Open, Rest, Life, and Harm.

As the portals opened one by one, Lei Jun’s Foundation Establishment revealed even more wondrous Tao Containment.

When all Eight Gates were open, it signified that Lei Jun’s cultivation had successfully ascended to the next level.

Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, achieved.

Lei Jun smiled with satisfaction.

During this period, the Mansion had also successively announced the results of various punishments.

Li Ming did not even manage to preserve his posthumous reputation.

Many of the Li Family disciples who often associated with him were punished.

Everyone within the Mansion discussed it animatedly. After the news spread, even outsiders paid attention.

Tang Xiaotang was all smiles every day.

If someone else’s spirit pet happened to pass by, she might even playfully stroke it a few times.

"Judging by your silly expression, I know that if you encounter the same situation next time, you’ll still fall into their trap."

Xu Yuanzhen’s teasing did not diminish Tang Xiaotang’s good mood in the slightest. "I’m not stupid. It’s just that you all are too cunning."

Lei Jun remarked, "Eldest Senior Sister has really done some wicked things."

Tang Xiaotang retorted, "Can you not use such an admiring and respectful tone and expression when you say that?"

Lei Jun said casually, "Although Eldest Senior Sister certainly has the ability to pressure Eldest Senior Brother and Master Ziyang not to flip the table, she clearly wasn’t content with just using brute force to settle the score. The reversal of Li Ming’s reputation means that those who previously heard the Li Family’s propaganda about him will feel the anger of being deceived. It will be very difficult for Li Ming to recover his reputation. It’s a simple matter of public sentiment, but it’s effective enough, especially since Eldest Senior Sister secured substantial hard evidence. Li Ming truly wasn’t clean."

He glanced at Tang Xiaotang. "Most people in the world still tend to judge individuals rather than the merits of their actions. Since Li Ming is tainted, and the Yong Celestial Master was implicated by him, it’s much easier for you, Junior Sister, who served as their negative example, to clear your name now—at least, easier than before."

"Is that so..." Tang Xiaotang turned to look at Xu Yuanzhen, who was sketching on a piece of paper.

Xu Yuanzhen didn’t even lift her head. "No need to explain in such detail; she won’t remember it."

Tang Xiaotang coughed twice. "I just need to remember the most crucial part. The most crucial thing is that after the Celestial Master emerges from seclusion, no one on the mountain will be a match for you, Senior Sister."

She clapped her hands and laughed. "Nowadays, the revival of the world’s Spiritual Energy is far more pronounced than before! The younger people are, the better the times they’re in. Cultivation progress is rapid; they’ll soon surpass the old folks!"

This was something Lei Jun had also heard Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan mention.

In recent years, the Spiritual Energy in this world had become increasingly dense. Not only were more Blessed Land Cave Heavens being discovered, but cultivators were also advancing their cultivation much faster and more easily than before. The Cultivation World was ushering in a golden age.

Lei Jun said, "Junior Sister, there will also be cultivators younger than you in the future."

Tang Xiaotang’s smile suddenly froze on her face.

After a long while, she finally shouted, "Anyway, you and Senior Sister are older than me! Being two years older still makes you old!"

Lei Jun laughed, not minding it.

Xu Yuanzhen still didn’t lift her head. "But I look younger."

The tall girl became even more frustrated.

However, her emotions came and went quickly, and her attention soon shifted elsewhere.

"Right, Lei Jun, I heard you tell stories before. In those stories, when the protagonist grows up in a sect, there are usually villains in the sect suppressing them, and then they fight back. But the protagonist rarely actively initiates internal strife?"

Lei Jun replied, "In most cases, yes."

Tang Xiaotang stood up. "Li Ming is already dead. Senior Sister swept away the prestige of Senior Brother Li and Third Martial Uncle, and I’m not in the mood to bother with them anymore. Since that’s the case, I might as well go out and wander a bit."

Lei Jun said, "As a story protagonist, when they are out and about, they also tend not to actively provoke trouble, at least not overtly. They often act as the wronged party and then retaliate, playing the victim to set up a ’face-slapping’ counter-attack."

Tang Xiaotang nodded repeatedly. "Mhm, mhm, just like you said, beat the juniors first, then the seniors!"

Your focus is a bit off.

Lei Jun continued, "If possible, it’s best to occupy the moral high ground, at least in the eyes of some people. For the sake of convenience and saving effort, it’s generally better to minimize your enemies and maximize your friends. Do more good deeds yourself, thereby highlighting that your enemies are the ones doing bad things."

Tang Xiaotang clenched her fists. "Indeed! Don’t hide your splendors by night; displays of power need an audience, preferably a support group of friends and family!"

Lei Jun touched his forehead. Watching her stride away full of confidence, he had a feeling that the plot was about to deviate wildly.

Xu Yuanzhen then put down her brush, her gaze shifting back and forth between Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang.

Lei Jun asked, "Eldest Senior Sister?"

Xu Yuanzhen replied, "She won’t suffer a major loss. It’s good for her to experience some minor ones. As for you, good days should be coming your way."

Your idea of ’good days’ gives me an ominous feeling.