"There's no real difference whether Lu Yifang answers or remains silent."
Even though Lu Yifang offered no verbal response, his silence carried the same weight as if he had answered outright. In a world where reputation among Qi Refining disciples was paramount, the fact that even the formidable Chen Baxing—renowned among practitioners for his strict adherence to orders—had obediently followed the command, was remarkable. Chen had even contrived to convince a rare Foundation Establishment alchemist in the cultivation world—a role typically reserved for those at the Golden Core stage—to present a pill-making promise. Only a Grandmaster of the Golden Core stage would have the standing or influence to achieve such an audacious feat.
Coincidentally, at this moment the only Golden Core Grandmaster in need of a chance to enter the hidden realm of Lingdu was none other than the master affiliated with the female protagonist, Su Yier. The convergence of fate dictated that this master would be the one to secure that precious entry opportunity. Such twists of destiny never ceased to amaze those living on the precipice between power and peril.
Fang Jinyu—our determined cultivator—could hardly fathom that despite having spent an entire month in what he humorously deemed "shoveling excrement," he still hadn't escaped his inescapable fate. In a heartbeat, he felt as though the grim reaper's ledger had been marked for him; his own end was looming ever nearer.
"Are sacrificial pawns really destined to have no rights at all?" he mused bitterly. His inner cry, "Ganlin Niang!" resonated softly—a passionate exclamation that mixed both irony and frustration in a tone that spoke to the cruelty of fate. Yet, barely a moment later, when his instinct for survival flared up with fierce intensity, Fang Jinyu's mind sparked with a sudden idea—an idea that promised even his doomed fate a chance at reprieve.
He declared firmly, "Five days won't suffice—I demand ten days. If I stubbornly refuse your terms, you will not be able to force me. And mark my words: once I emerge from the Lingdu secret realm, achieving Foundation Establishment will be but a matter of time. At that point, provided I keep away from trouble and remain in seclusion—immured in constant meditation—even a Golden Core Grandmaster would find it impossible to lay a hand on me."
His logic was as clear as the ancient edicts of the sect. It was an established maxim within the Heavenly Spirit Sect—hand to hand combat between a fellow disciple who had attained Foundation Establishment and a Golden Core cultivator was strictly forbidden, a rule set down long ago by the sect's Elder of the Yuan Ying realm. Legend had it that in earlier times there was once a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Heavenly Spirit Sect who had incurred the wrath of a mighty Golden Core Grandmaster. Yet, defying all expectations, that Foundation Establishment cultivator had escaped with his life intact even after provoking such a wrathful adversary.
Fang Jinyu's impassioned plea was, however, nothing more than a ruse to buy himself time. He only sought to extend the deadline. At that moment, Lu Shaojun—who had just been about to object—opened his mouth, but was immediately cut off by Lu Yifang's calm assertion: "Ten days it is. Fine. We'll meet again in ten days, as you said, Brother Fang."
In truth, the Golden Core Grandmaster had granted their faction a generous six-month grace period to secure the coveted entry quota. All that needed to be done was to claim that slot before the Lingdu secret realm was unlocked. The earlier demand had been nothing more than a verbal gambit, intended to expedite the process and nonetheless leave a favorable impression on the Golden Core Grandmaster.
Without another word, Lu Yifang excused himself, departing in a manner that spoke of no further engagement. "I'm not escorting you," he remarked briskly as he left.
Fang Jinyu, however, harbored no affection for these two and made no effort to offer them a courteous farewell. His countenance quickly turned sour as the two departed. Lu Shaojun's face, still flushed with anger and a storm of unsaid words, fell silent when Lu Yifang abruptly pulled him away; it was clear that any protest was futile.
With the two rivals disappearing from sight, Fang Jinyu felt a momentary pull toward reporting the matter—an impulse that raced through his heart like an almost childlike urge to tattle. But he soon stifled that thought. Instead, he reactivated the door's security measures and turned his attention inward. He proceeded, step by step in accordance with the method he'd painstakingly drafted in his mind, to correct and mend the gaps in his cultivation method.
He reflected, "If I can break through to Foundation Establishment without resorting to a Foundation Pill—if I can rely solely on my own method—then the crisis that bedevils me at this moment will dissolve as naturally as water flows downhill…" After all, it was common knowledge that those on the Foundation Establishment stage were typically barred from entering the sacred Lingdu realm. And now, by securing that entry quota, he planned to bargain with the Young Sect Master for the next stage in the cultivation of the Wind and Thunder Guide technique.
Wind and Thunder Guide was no ordinary cultivation method. It was a high-level technique among those that manipulated the elements of wind, fire, and lightning. Only those whose parents had sacrificed themselves for the sect's cause—those with a tragic, storied past—had even the rare privilege of inheriting the early Qi Refining chapter of this exalted method. In this mystical domain of cultivation, practitioners were broadly divided between those who possessed advanced (or "upper-grade") methods and those whose skills were deemed basic (or "lower-grade"). The vast majority of cultivators were entrenched in the latter category. Moreover, many wandering cultivators, lacking any formal inheritance and merely stumbling onto the path of immortal cultivation, were confined to using only the simplest incantation formulas to regulate Qi flow.
The night passed slowly and inexorably, yet Fang Jinyu's overall cultivation level seemed unaltered. It was only natural: he had reached a bottleneck—a barrier that, like a dam, restrained the free flow of his inner power. However, after making several corrections to refine his technique, he could unmistakably feel his inner power—his magical Qi—circulating with an improved fluidity. This subtle but important change made him realize that he was finally grasping the true purpose of his "external aid" technique. In his heart, he knew that the higher the refinement of his method in the course of a day, the greater the benefit it would confer upon him once distilled into its purest form.
Of course, the physical toll of shoveling excrement had only provided a minuscule amount of feedback to his overall cultivation. It was simply a matter of mundane physical exertion. In contrast, the boost in his spell-casting speed had been achieved through the countless instances in which he had practiced incantations. In fact, the one noteworthy advantage he had gleaned from these sessions was his improved tolerance against the foul stench—a skill he had unwittingly honed through over ten separate extractions. And when all these incremental gains were compared to the extraordinary "Enlightenment 1" that he acquired that very day, the difference was as vast as night and day.
Thus, on the second day, Fang Jinyu continued his rigorous practice.
[Day Two – A Day of Training with No Apparent Gains][Extracted: Enlightenment 1]
The previous night, due to insufficient enlightenment, had allowed him to merely adjust a few discrepancies in his form. But now, as "Enlightenment 1" made yet another timely appearance, a more detailed and intricately refined blueprint of the Wind and Thunder Guide technique flooded his mind. Fang Jinyu worked through the night, dedicating every ounce of focus to remedying any residual errors in his technique. Almost instantly, his magical Qi began to flow more smoothly—as though it had transformed from the sluggish trickle of sand in a narrow passageway into the harmonious cascade of a mighty river.
On the third day, yet again he experienced "Enlightenment 1." Naturally, the sudden recurrence of this subtle breakthrough filled him with overwhelming joy. By spending yet another night polishing his technique, his inner Qi now flowed as freely as his will, and all the potency of his previously acquired incantations seemed to receive a substantial upgrade. In that moment, it became clear that if anyone—say, someone like Lu Shaojun—attempted to challenge him by launching an attack, Fang Jinyu would be ready. With a single, deft counter-strike, he could eliminate any foe even if they were deep into the ninth level of Qi Refiner training.
At this point in time, Fang Jinyu had grown to possess the confidence and prowess of a Foundation Establishment cultivator—able to dispatch an adversary with a casual, well-placed blow. In fact, if one argued in terms of "half-steps" or incremental milestones, then it was as if Fang Jinyu had reached a "half-step Foundation Establishment" stage.
Alas, the fourth day did not mirror the breakthrough of the previous days. Instead, it unfolded in a different manner.
[Day Four – A Day of Inner Transcendence through the Use of Baihua Dew][Extracted: Appearance 1]
Baihua Dew was a curious elixir—a bottle requiring twenty spiritual stones per unit. However, what made it particularly attractive was that it wasn't a one-time-use item; rather, it could be employed on multiple occasions. If one were prudent, a single bottle might easily last for a year or two. Yet Fang Jinyu could hardly understand the value of increasing one's "appearance" as a result of consuming this dew. "What use could a mere improvement in appearance be?" he grumbled cynically.
For among all the extractions he had performed, the very thing he despised seeing was the word "appearance." Despite his rather average physical looks, Fang Jinyu had never cared about superficial beauty. In the cultivation world, one's martial cultivation and inner strength were what mattered most. Physical appearance was a trivial matter when weighed against the lofty goal of immortality.
Fortunately, after another day of dedicated practice the following day, he once again found himself blessed by that coveted "Enlightenment 1." With that breakthrough came forth an even more refined understanding of the Wind and Thunder Guide technique. In a cascade of mental insight, the method evolved continuously before his eyes, unblocking the bottleneck that had long inhibited the growth of his power.
At that pivotal moment, Fang Jinyu realized that his breakthrough opportunity was at hand. With just a single Foundation Pill swallowed, or indeed any spiritual pill capable of significantly boosting one's inner power, there was no doubt that he would be able to successfully attain the Foundation Establishment stage. And yet, fate—or perhaps his own stubborn nature—intervened, for he had not taken such a pill.
Thus, Fang Jinyu was left with only one choice: he had to work the method himself. By quietly circulating his own incantations and steadily refining the flow of spiritual energy, he would "forged" his inner power through relentless practice and incremental improvement.
[Day Five – A Day of Training with Subtle but Tangible Gains][Extracted: Magical Qi 1]
When the term "magical Qi" crossed his mind, Fang Jinyu paused momentarily in astonishment. For a brief moment, it felt as if he had ingested an exquisite top-grade pill, causing his inner power to surge dramatically. Almost immediately, he re-engaged with the method he had been cultivating, channeling the refined energy with renewed determination.
It wasn't long before his magnified magical Qi began to exhibit noticeable changes, ushering in the process known as "shearing the hair and cleansing the marrow." This transformative ritual—often compared to being reborn—was akin to undergoing a total metamorphosis. When the process was finally complete, Fang Jinyu felt his lifespan extend beyond that of ordinary mortals.
Indeed, the progression to Foundation Establishment was a turning point—with the usual lifespan for those who reached the Foundation stage being around two hundred years. As the realization sank in, Fang Jinyu couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
His plan had worked precisely as intended. Rather than relying on the crutch of a Foundation Pill to force a breakthrough, he had immersed himself in perfecting the nuances of his own technique. By identifying and correcting every small error in his form, and by patiently accumulating magical Qi, the breakthrough came naturally—a water-to-flow, gradual ascension that demanded nothing more than perseverance.
Feeling the perpetual, restless flow of magical Qi coursing inside him, Fang Jinyu continued with the Wind and Thunder Guide technique. He adjusted its channels until the energy stabilized, like a river finally having reached a serene delta. The breakthrough, so long long-awaited, had finally arrived without the need for laborious intermediate consolidation of his prior training. It was as if his journey had reached its destined apex, requiring no further forced effort.
After a few moments of deep introspection and an intimate communion with his newly stabilized Foundation Establishment-level Qi, Fang Jinyu opened his eyes. There was no time to spare—he threw himself from his secluded cave and raced out in a flurry of determination. His destination lay at the Heavenly Spirit Peak, where the Sect Master awaited with his incantation devices and expectations. In his haste, he recalled that along with his incoming quota for entry into the Lingdu secret realm, he had one other purpose.
That purpose was not to indict the female protagonist's master in any way. After all, without any evidence and given that the esteemed master was himself a Golden Core Grandmaster, Fang Jinyu had no desire to provoke him. Instead, his mind set its sights on indicting three individuals: Chen Baxing, Lu Shaojun, and Lu Yifang. These three had conspired against him, plotting in secret alliances and wielding their influence like blunt instruments.
He knew very well that he dared not antagonize the famed alchemist. Alchemists were renowned for their formidable connections in the cultivation world—especially a Foundation Establishment alchemist who commanded the respect of even the mightiest Golden Core cultivators. Yet, the Heavenly Spirit Sect was different. Fang Jinyu knew that, against the backdrop of the sect's own righteousness and internal dictates, he had room to bring a lawsuit against these wrongdoers.
Thus, with a fierce resolve ignited by years of painful setbacks and bitter injustices, Fang Jinyu steeled himself for the inevitable confrontation. Though his heart beat fast with indignation and a hunger for retribution, he also recognized that the path of cultivation was one where only the truly strong could claim victory. In the grand game of fate, even those capable of securing a prestigious entrance into the sacred Lingdu secret realm had to contend with endless schemes and intrigues.
As he sprinted along the winding mountain paths toward Heaven's Summit, his thoughts churned over the intricate details of the case he was building. He recounted, in his mind, every slight and every machination engineered by Chen Baxing, Lu Shaojun, and Lu Yifang. There was a particular sting in the betrayal—the fact that they'd manipulated events so as to inadvertently jeopardize his progress. Yet even as anger kindled within him, Fang Jinyu maintained a measured determination. After all, the cultivation world was rife with such treacheries, and retribution was often meted out only to those with the strength to demand it.
His pace quickened, driven by the channelled inner strength forged through days and nights of relentless cultivation. The corridors of his mind—the theoretical channels through which he gathered Qi—had finally been refined into a clear, invincible river of stability. And now that the breakthrough had come, he was convinced that no one, not even a Golden Core Grandmaster, could dare lay hands on him as long as he maintained his seclusion and behavior, thus ensuring the sanctity of his newfound Foundation Establishment state.
Even as he passed through bustling courtyard gates and stepped onto paths trodden by countless disciples before him, Fang Jinyu's inner world remained calm and resolute. The cacophony of the outer world only served as background noise to the powerful symphony resonating within his chest. Each step echoing his heart's determination was laden with the promise of vengeance and the hope of a long, unimpeded journey ahead.
Deep in his mind, thoughts raced: "If I can wholly perfect my technique without the crutch of a pill, I will neutralize these obstacles and this existential threat that seeks to box me in. I will regain what is rightfully mine—the chance at immortality, the privilege of peace, and the right to be judged solely on my martial talents."
Along the way, unexpected allies and obstacles intermingled with the familiar faces of old acquaintances in the Heavenly Spirit Sect. Although his grievances were freshly etched, Fang Jinyu knew that beyond personal justice lay his greater destiny—to become a model of true strength, one who achieved breakthroughs solely through effort, rather than by relying on external aids.
Eventually, as if guided by fate itself, he arrived at the grand hall of the sect master on Heavenly Spirit Peak. There, a solemn aura reigned. Grand incense burners blazed in steady rhythm, and ancient inscriptions on the walls recounted the illustrious legacies of ancestors long passed. In this hallowed setting, Fang Jinyu stepped forward with not only the entry quota for the Lingdu secret realm clutched firmly in his hand but also the evidence he had painstakingly gathered against his conspirators.
In his steadfast determination, Fang Jinyu knew that the upcoming confrontation would not simply be a personal vendetta; it was also a turning point for the sect. He would expose the intricate webs of intrigue woven by Chen Baxing, Lu Shaojun, and Lu Yifang, claiming justice and reestablishing the values of the Heavenly Spirit Sect. As he approached the master's chamber, the murmurs of the assembled disciples were hushed by the weight of his presence—a presence nourished by countless hours of solitude, training, inner reflection, and, yes, even the burden of debased labor that many would dismiss.
He recalled the long hours of correcting every flawed detail in his incantation technique, the relentless trial and error that had rendered his Qi smoother, and the potent vision that had illuminated his path to Enlightenment 1 on multiple occasions. Even the bitter taste of defeat that accompanied the earlier failures gradually yielded to a quiet pride, setting the stage for the breakthrough that was poised to redefine his destiny. At that moment, he understood that his journey was not solely about accumulating power; it was about mastering his own inner demons and transcending the limitations imposed upon him by fate.
Within the solemn assembly of the sect, as old masters eyed him with wary interest and youthful disciples watched in silent awe, Fang Jinyu began to recount his journey. He explained—not with boast but with quiet determination—how every setback, every moment of humiliation and every painstaking correction in his technique had prepared him for this very instant. His voice, resolute and imbued with a subtle tremor of emotion, resonated with the timeless truth that strength must be earned through perseverance and noble sacrifice.
In explicit detail he recounted how he overcame the bottlenecks in his magical Qi circulation, how the repeated interventions of "Enlightenment 1" had meticulously sculpted his understanding of the Wind and Thunder Guide technique into a flawless instrument of self-cultivation. He spoke of the many days in which he had worked, day after day, correcting every small error in his form—each misstep and every whispered doubt in his mind now transformed into a stepping stone on his path.
Every word he uttered was laced with quiet assurance. He did not merely claim that he had achieved a breakthrough; he demonstrated it in the steady cadence of his Qi and the calm confidence in the depth of his eyes. His transformation was evident: once, he had been at the mercy of fate's cruel whims and even the excrement of mundane labor had been enough to crush his spirit. Now, however, he had become so attuned to the intricate dance of spiritual energy flowing within that every breath was a hymn to the art of self-forging.
And then came the revelation that would transform everything. With a swift yet deliberate movement, Fang Jinyu activated the intricate apparatus of his Wind and Thunder Guide—a technique that had been his anchor during these turbulent times. As the ancient runes and incantations began to pulse with a newfound vibrancy, his inner Qi surged in a harmonious crescendo that left even the ancient masters in quiet awe.
It was in that moment, as the power within him balanced like the calm after a tempest, that he realized his destiny was irrevocably altered. No longer would he be merely a sacrificial pawn—an expendable figure in a game where the powerful bullied the weak. Now, he had the resolve to summon justice against those who had wronged him. His determination was now as palpable as the spiritual energy surging through his veins—a shimmering promise of revenge set against the backdrop of the righteous expectations of the Heavenly Spirit Sect.
He made his intentions abundantly clear: the evidence in his possession was damning, and it was destined to expose the machinations of Chen Baxing, Lu Shaojun, and Lu Yifang. They had not only betrayed the sacred ideals of the sect but had arrogated the rights and honors that should have belonged to those who had devoted their lives to the noble pursuit of cultivation.
As the assembled elders and disciples listened intently, Fang Jinyu's words rang out with the quiet authority of one who had labored through the crucible of hardship to find his truth. The harmonious fusion of mind, body, and Qi was not just a testament to his power—it was proof that true mastery was achieved through perseverance and the willingness to brave even the most ignoble tasks, however degrading they might seem.
When his speech concluded, the silence that fell over the hall was heavy with anticipation. Even the venerable elder who had long enforced the rule that a Golden Core cultivator could never dare to attack a fellow sect member on the threshold of Foundation Establishment was compelled to regard him with a mixture of respect and cautious curiosity. For in Fang Jinyu's journey—from the muck of literal and metaphorical filth to the pinnacle of inner strength—there lay a shining example of what it meant to overcome fate's harshest blows with ingenuity and resilience.
Thus, standing on the precipice of a new era, Fang Jinyu's eyes shone with the spark of retribution and the promise of a renewed destiny. He had proven that even if one began with the lowliest of tasks—shoveling excrement, enduring foul stench, and correcting minutiae in ancient incantations—there was always a pathway to greatness provided one had the resolve to forge ahead. With the internal breakthrough of "Magical Qi 1" now firmly in place and the intricate channels of energy flowing like a pristine river unimpeded by previous blockages, his future was as bright and infinite as the celestial sky above.
The very spiritual instrument he carried—a talisman of a sort, subordinate only to the greater celestial devices known as Lingqi—served as a constant reminder of the delicate balance between cultivation and the mundane. Yet, it also symbolized the unwavering determination that had brought him from the depths of self-doubt to the exalted shores of imminent victory.
In that hallowed hall on Heavenly Spirit Peak, Fang Jinyu boldly announced his intention not merely to report the misdeeds of his foes but also to claim that retribution would be swift and irrevocable. Not for the sake of petty vengeance did he plea his case; he was determined that the truth be known and that the sectors of the Heavenly Spirit Sect be cleansed from insidious influences that threatened to corrupt its core values.
At that moment, every cultivated soul present recognized that Fang Jinyu was no longer the same man who had once despaired at his inability to break through. He had been sculpted—through pain, toil, and the ceaseless discipline of the mind—into a person whose spirit resonated with the timeless truth that ultimate strength comes from embracing even the most unpleasant tasks in the crucible of growth.
As his story spilled forth in earnest, the gathering of masters and disciples could almost perceive the unseen, flowing tapestry of fate shifting in rhythm with his every word. In the centuries-old traditions of the sect, his voice would one day become yet another legend—told in hushed tones by those who yearned to someday emulate his journey, his sacrifices, and the hard-won victory over the inevitable failures that life had strewn in his path.
With his case laid out and his resolve set, Fang Jinyu prepared to step forward and face the challenges that lay ahead. The veracity of his words, coupled with the clear demonstration of his advancement in the spirit of cultivation, promised a new chapter not just for him but for the entire Heavenly Spirit Sect. It was a chapter where righteousness could reclaim its rightful place in a world that was too often marred by corruption and injustice.
And so, amid the quiet murmur of a once-dormant hall and the expectant gaze of generations past, Fang Jinyu's journey—replete with every hardship from shoveling excrement to harnessing profound inner enlightenment—came to symbolize the undying potential inherent in those brave enough to challenge fate. His declaration, steeped in quiet fury and tempered with the experience of countless trials, reverberated like a clarion call to anyone who had ever felt oppressed or hopeless.
As the golden light of the late afternoon seeped through the ancient windows of Heavenly Spirit Peak, the assembled disciples exchanged glances of newfound hope. Fang Jinyu's revelations had not only challenged the established hierarchy but had also ignited within each heart the desire to strive for higher ideals, to persevere against seemingly insurmountable odds, and to never let the petty indignities of life obscure the greater truths of existence.
In that transformative moment, the balance of power within the sect began to shift imperceptibly. The rigid rules that once stifled innovation and recognized only brute strength began to give way to the understanding that ingenuity, perseverance, and even the willingness to perform menial tasks were the true marks of mastery. Fang Jinyu's very presence was a testament to the notion that greatness could emerge from the unlikeliest of circumstances—a lesson that resonated deeply among all those who had gathered in the grand hall.
His journey was far from over. With the Lingdu realm entry quota in his possession and the evidence of treachery against his conspirators securely in hand, he set forth on the next stage of his arduous path. Yet even amid the promise of impending retribution, Fang Jinyu's eyes remained fixed on a larger prize: the elusive secret of the Wind and Thunder Guide technique that had been so instrumental in his transformation. He knew that every day, every painstaking moment of cultivation, was building toward a destiny that would eventually grant him the freedom and stature he so richly deserved.
Thus, as dusk began to cloak the peak in soft twilight and the murmurs of contemplative disciples grew into a collective expectation of change, Fang Jinyu silently vowed that his next steps would be as bold and righteous as his long, hard-fought journey had been. The future—no longer a bleak landscape of unchanging cycles of defeat—was now a vast expanse of hope, tempered by the lessons of hardship and illuminated by the courage to stand up for one's truth.
In the end, what had begun as a seemingly trivial matter—an unintentional delay of only ten days—had blossomed into a turning point that promised to reshape not only Fang Jinyu's destiny but also the very foundation upon which the Heavenly Spirit Sect was built. And as each individual in that hallowed hall internalized the message, a quiet revolution of spirit was set into motion—a revolution that, in time, would echo throughout the annals of immortal history.
For in a world where even the mightiest could be humbled by fate's cruelty, it was his own indomitable will, his resolve to correct every fault and accept every burden, that truly defined him. Fang Jinyu had discovered a timeless truth: that the sweetest victories were those earned through sweat, pain, and the relentless pursuit of perfection—no matter how degrading the tasks might seem. And so, with every ounce of spirit and every flicker of determination, he embraced the next phase of his journey.
In the silent corridors of cultivation, where ancient rules and modern ambitions intersected, Fang Jinyu emerged as a symbol of what was possible when one dared to challenge even destiny. His story, replete with moments of despair, exultation, and quiet triumph, was a beacon for all who dared to dream of more than petty power or fleeting recognition. It was a telling reminder that true power lay in the harmonious convergence of mind, body, and spirit—a power that no one, however mighty, could ever easily extinguish.
As night fell and the stars of the immortal heavens glittered overhead, the lofty ideals of the Heavenly Spirit Sect seemed to whisper anew. Fang Jinyu, his resolve crystallized like the ancient ice of everlasting winters, set forth with his heart ablaze, ready to claim his place amidst the immortals. Amid the promise of retribution against Chen Baxing, Lu Shaojun, and Lu Yifang—and with the next leg of his journey beckoning him toward even greater mysteries—he was determined to chart the course of his own destiny.
Thus, as the final notes of twilight merged into the first murmurs of night, Fang Jinyu strode boldly into the future—a future where the ultimate truth of cultivation, tempered by the trials of everyday hardship, would forever illuminate the path of immortality for those with the courage to believe.