CHAPTER 80.2: HEAVENLY DAO FOUNDATION ESTABLISHMENT, NEW POWER

On the Seven-Colored Peak, snow began to fall softly.

Jiang Lingsu—still dressed in a thin, long skirt—stepped out from her thatched hut.

She glanced at the hut next door with a flicker of worry. “It's been three months now. Senior Brother still hasn’t recovered?”

She was starting to worry something might have happened. After all, Senior Brother was still in the Qi Refinement realm. He still required sustenance to live. Only those who reached Foundation Establishment realm could truly go without eating.

Just then, someone called out, “Senior Sister, has Senior Brother Qi Yuan not come out of seclusion yet?”

Dong Xian stood there in black robes, starkly out of place against the falling snow.

Jiang Lingsu replied, “No. Senior Brother said this seclusion might last half a year, maybe even a full year.”

After that, she turned and went back into her hut.

Dong Xian’s face fell. Only two months left before the Dragon-Seizing Contest. The sect master had tasked him with inviting two Foundation Establishment realm cultivators.

He had already secured one, Kang Fulu. The man was the Five-Light Peak’s chief disciple, and also the sect master’s son-in-law.

As a late-stage Foundation Establishment realm cultivator, Kang Fulu practiced the Five-Light Saint Arts. He was recognized as the strongest among all Foundation Establishment realm disciples of the Divine Radiance Sect. It had taken Dong Xian great effort and many favors to convince him.

As for the second cultivator, he wished to invite Qi Yuan. According to the Artifact Master, Qi Yuan was shrouded in mystery, harboring great secrets. If he broke through to Foundation Establishment realm, he could even fight a Core Formation realm cultivator, especially with that divine knife of his.

If Qi Yuan could help him, Dong Xian could truly have a chance to win the contest and alter his fate. He would finally be reunited with his fiancée, no longer separated by distance.

Unfortunately, Qi Yuan was still in seclusion, with no sign of coming out. Dong Xian feared time would run out.

He lingered on the Seven-Colored Peak for a while, then finally left in disappointment.

“Artifact Master, maybe we should find someone else?”

Artifact Master snorted coldly. “You should always cooperate with the strongest. That Kang Fulu, if his strength matched his mouth, you’d have nothing to worry about. Wait a little longer. The chance will come.”

Dong Xian nodded. That was exactly what he’d hoped to hear, a push to strengthen his resolve.

***

The snow atop the Seven-Colored Peak grew thicker and thicker.

Increasingly worried that Senior Brother had died inside, Jiang Lingsu came by to check every day. Still, as long as she could sense the aura of a living person, she allowed herself a bit of relief.

***

Inside Qi Yuan’s hut, however...

He sat cross-legged, eyes shut tight, his face twisted in pain. Sweat poured down his forehead as strange voices flooded in his ears.

—Heaven tier secret techniques, only ninety-nine spirit stones!

—Damn it, my pill exploded again!

—Poop tastes so good. Ah no, I can’t eat it anymore. I’m a Core Formation cultivator now, I can’t act like when I was still mindless.

—Did you hear? Senior Sister and Master slept together! But that’s nothing, when Madam found out, she hooked up with Senior Sister’s younger brother!

—We’ve been hiding in the Divine Radiance Sect for years... when will we finally make our move?

Voices upon voices poured into Qi Yuan’s mind.

Suddenly, his eyes snapped open. He was confused for an instant before his mind was clear again.

“I’m... back? Sharing One Robe...? ...Wait. Did I... succeed in Foundation Establishment?”

Yes. After returning from the game, as per the Qi Yuan Scripture, he used the Heavenly Dao itself as his spirit item, beginning his Foundation Establishment. In just half a day, he succeeded.

Afterward, he had a mind fog and became drowsy. It felt as if something unseen was targeting him, draining away his consciousness. He couldn’t resist and fell into slumber once more.

Then, he dreamed again. He couldn’t remember the details, only that he entered a wooden house. Inside it was a massive creature. When it saw him, it attacked.

To be fair, that creature was fierce, giving Qi Yuan a hard time. Still, he was no easy prey either. He pummeled the thing until its face was swollen. Only then did it calm down and allow him to stay.

They lived together after that. Afraid that Qi Yuan would destroy the place, the creature made him promise to follow certain rules. He couldn’t remember what they were.

When he awoke from his dream, he was still groggy. Strange sounds filled his ears.

“My power... it’s so strong. So this is Heavenly Dao class Foundation Establishment?”

Now, he felt that one punch was enough to kill the sect master of the Black Mountain Sect. Though, he was unsure about his own sect master. He hadn't tested it yet.

“As expected of Heavenly Dao class Foundation Establishment. I can probably leave the village-level cultivation realm and start beating up high-school-level cultivators now.”

He stood up, cast a spell on himself, and changed into a fresh set of clothes.

Just then, a strange voice echoed in his mind.

—Ugh, my chest wrap’s gotten tight again. So annoying.

Qi Yuan froze. “Am I hallucinating? Does Heavenly Dao class cause auditory hallucinations now? And why does the voice sound like my junior sister? Wait... don’t tell me I secretly lust after her body?”

Thinking that, he stepped out of his but and called toward the thatched house next door, “Junior Sister!”

“Senior Brother? Wait a moment, I’ll be right out!” Jiang Lingsu’s voice was full of surprise and joy, with a hint of fluster.

A short while later, she emerged, her face glowing with delight. “Senior Brother, you’re finally out of seclusion!”

Qi Yuan’s gaze fell onto her chest. Hmm... yes. Truly magnificent.

“Junior Sister, I’ve achieved Foundation Establishment,” he announced proudly.

After all, if one doesn’t show off after success, it’s like wearing fine clothes in the dark.

“Foundation Establishment?” Jiang Lingsu blinked, then her joy deepened. “Congratulations, Senior Brother!”

Qi Yuan beamed expectantly. “Anything else?”

Jiang Lingsu was taken aback. “Huh? Anything else... what?”

Qi Yuan said smugly, “You’re supposed to ask what kind of Foundation Establishment I achieved.”

Jiang Lingsu gave a helpless smile. “All right then, Senior Brother, what kind of Foundation Establishment did you achieve?”

Qi Yuan said with mock solemnity, “Since you’ve asked so sincerely, I have achieved Heavenly Dao class!”

He stood in the snow, the very picture of an overly smug immortal.

“...Tsk.”