Chapter 181: 181. Chapter 178: The Unsettled Daoist World

181. Chapter 178: The Unsettled Daoist World

The next morning, Seeing Yan Mei neatly packed his tent and came over to Ding Huan.

"Big Brother Ding, today I won't hold you back—you can count on my speed."

Ding Huan smiled: "What level are you at in your cultivation?"

Seeing Yan Mei rubbed his head, looking embarrassed.

"I'm from the Mortal World. My family had some money, but we couldn't afford any good cultivation techniques—I only practiced a common one called Zhengyang Scripture. I'm still in the Meridian Cultivation and Qi Gathering stage."

Upon hearing this, Ding Huan immediately became interested.

"Can you tell me how you cultivate?"

"Ah…" Seeing Yan Mei paused, slightly stunned by the question.

Ding Huan's strength far surpassed his own—he must know far more about cultivation than he did. Why was he asking him?

Since Ding Huan asked, he replied: "It's just refining essence into qi—I'm currently in the refining essence into qi phase, waiting to establish my foundation. I joined the Shuanghun Sect specifically to achieve Foundation Establishment."

I've heard many say a person's future potential depends entirely on how well they establish their foundation.

If your foundation is weak, no matter how high your talent, your achievements will be limited."

Hearing this, Ding Huan's mind exploded like a burst of information—a flood of endless knowledge surged in.

Refining essence into qi, refining essence into qi…

Right—refining essence into qi encompasses the Qi Gathering and Foundation Establishment stages; Meridian Cultivation is just one part of Qi Gathering. There are countless ways to establish a foundation.

Each person's comprehension, ability, and talent differ, so their methods of foundation establishment vary.

The more solid the foundation, the higher the ceiling for future growth.

As Ding Huan thought more, his ideas about foundation establishment multiplied—knowledge from this life and memories from his past life merged together.

Combined with years of experience, something within him felt ready to erupt.

Ding Huan exhaled deeply, and in that moment, he felt only gratitude.

He was grateful he hadn't rushed into Foundation Establishment, hadn't been like Lao Liu, who thought only of Foundation Establishment no matter where he went.

Clearly, Lao Liu failed his Foundation Establishment again last night.

Since he hadn't established his foundation yet, he still had infinite possibilities.

Once he established it, his future growth would be capped by that foundation.

If so, why should he seek others' methods of foundation establishment? Why not find his own?

Only what suits oneself is the best—and the highest.

At that moment, Ding Huan suddenly admired Zhan Changjing of the Zhan Clan from the Four-Direction Star Continent.

That man must have realized only by forging a foundation uniquely his own could one ascend to higher realms—hence he created the Yun Dan Realm.

But clearly, he lacked the knowledge base Ding Huan gained from the hide scroll, and had no deeper experience with refining essence into qi.

Even though he created the Yun Dan Realm, his power still lacked a qualitative leap—like painting skin without capturing the bones.

Precisely because of this, Zhan Changjing was no match for Ding Qi.

Only when the foundation is perfected can one proceed to the next stage: refining qi into spirit, nurturing the True Core.

That Qiong Official must have completed his Foundation Establishment and now seeks to nurture the True Core—that's why he craved the Condensing Star Bamboo.

Fortunately, I didn't give it to him; otherwise, I'd have to go find it myself later.

Seeing Yan Mei didn't know Ding Huan had just understood his own path—he kept explaining:

"Someone like me, from the Mortal World, must find a good sect to forge a proper foundation…"

Ding Huan clapped Seeing Yan Mei on the shoulder:

"We'll speed up our journey. I won't teach you any technique—I know you already have your own.

Besides, once you join a sect, you'll get new techniques. I'll teach you a rapid movement skill called Ji Ying Dun…"

Seeing Yan Mei was overjoyed and immediately thanked him.

"Big Brother Huan, can I learn some too?" Lao Liu chimed in.

Ding Huan nodded: "Of course. Learn together with Seeing Yan Mei."

"Y-you… can talk?" Seeing Yan Mei stared at Lao Liu, stammering.

He'd heard Daoist World beasts could speak, but for one to appear beside him—this stunned him utterly.

Lao Liu was inwardly ecstatic, but spoke coolly: "Unrefined fool. I've been able to speak since long ago—I just chose not to."

"Y-yes, yes…" Seeing Yan Mei had even forgotten Ding Huan was about to teach him the movement technique.

…

Zi Xia Valley.

Its name suggests a valley, but it's actually a mountain range; its main peak, Zi Xia Peak, is a famed spiritual source mountain in the Daoist World.

The Daoist World has countless sects; Zi Xia Valley's strength barely qualifies as mid-tier.

This strength doesn't match the territory the valley controls.

Over the years, Zi Xia Valley has produced no outstanding disciples and has declined day by day.

Liu Yinzhu returned with six people, filled with shame.

When she left, she took one official and four disciples.

Now she returned with no official and only one disciple left.

And the final harvest? Only five new disciples recruited.

"Elder Liu, you're back," Jia Sha, the elder on guard duty, immediately greeted her as she reached the sect gate.

Liu Yinzhu said, ashamed:

"I've failed the sect. Three disciples died on this trip, the official perished too, and half the recruits we brought back were killed or wounded."

Contrary to Liu Liu Yinzhu's expectations, Jia Sha showed no surprise, as if he had long known of this matter:

"Elder Liu, the dead are gone—hurry and see the Sect Master."

Liu Liu Yinzhu was momentarily stunned, then after a long while looked at Jia Sha and said:

"Elder Jia, why don't you seem surprised? I didn't send any message back."

Jia Sha sighed:

"Actually, seven of you returning is already far better than many sects."

"Do you know? Nearly all sects that went to the Mortal World to recruit disciples were annihilated. Only a few sects had anyone return, and even those returned with no more than a handful."

"Ah…" Liu Liu Yinzhu gasped in shock.

Though she had guessed the sects sent to the Mortal World to recruit disciples might suffer heavy losses—after all, the Hanba and Tunjiao Jiang were too bizarre—

hearing this news still left her stunned.

Jia Sha sighed again:

"For our Xiagude Sect, your return is the best news we've had in a long time."

"What's wrong?" Liu Liu Yinzhu sensed something amiss.

Jia Sha said: "Recently, the Sect Master was severely wounded, and our First Guard Elder Pu Jun was assassinated and perished…"

"What?"

Liu Liu Yinzhu felt her spirit tremble—was Xiagude Sect about to be destroyed? The Sect Master wounded, the First Elder killed?

"Hurry and see the Sect Master. Whether he can survive is uncertain," Jia Sha said in a low voice.

Without waiting for Jia Sha to continue, Liu Liu Yinzhu immediately steered her ship into the sect, heading straight for Zixia Peak.

After Liu Liu Yinzhu left, Jia Sha said to Mo Huanping:

"Your master is going to see the Sect Master—take these new disciples to Elder Qin."

"Yes." Mo Huanping's heart was also deeply uneasy; her master had previously hinted to her that the Dao Cultivation World was not as peaceful as it appeared.

Now that the sect's two pillars were collapsing, could Xiagude Sect still have a future?

…

"Sect Master…" Before reaching the place where the Sect Master was healing, Liu Liu Yinzhu cried out urgently.

For Liu Liu Yinzhu, the person she trusted most in Xiagude Sect was Gumo Sect Master.

Had it not been for Gumo Sect Master bringing her to Xiagude Sect all those years ago, she would not have become a sect elder—she might not even have survived to this day.

"Is it Yinzhu who's returned?" came Gumo's weary voice.

After rushing into the room, Liu Liu Yinzhu saw the Sect Master Gumo lying pale on the bed, his aura withered, even faint traces of death qi clinging to him.

Liu Liu Yinzhu's eyes reddened—she had never imagined the Sect Master's injuries were this severe.

"You may leave. Yinzhu, stay," Gumo said to the woman standing by.

The woman bowed quickly: "Yes."

After speaking, she greeted Liu Liu Yinzhu briefly before exiting the room.

"I heard that less than one in ten of those sent to the Mortal World to recruit disciples returned. I thought you were all gone—yet you made it back."

Gumo's voice carried a note of emotion.

"Sect Master, I am guilty to the sect—three disciples died, and Li Zhishi is gone too.

I only brought back five new disciples and Mo Huanping, who originally accompanied me."

"Sigh… that's already good enough," Gumo sighed again.

"Sect Master, what happened to you and Elder Pu? Why were you so severely wounded? How did Elder Pu perish?"

Liu Liu Yinzhu's tone was urgent.

Gumo sighed:

"Of all those sent from the Dao Cultivation World to recruit disciples in the Mortal World, fewer than one in ten returned alive. This has shocked the entire Dao Cultivation World."

The Dao Cultivation World Sect Alliance immediately summoned all sects to gather in Zhenyun Dao City to discuss solutions…"

Liu Liu Yinzhu immediately understood: when they encountered the Hanba, Ding Huan had resolved it.

Other sects had no way to resolve it—but some sect elders possessed secret transmission methods and, before dying, used blood sacrifice to send messages back.

"After days of deliberation, no resolution was reached. Then the Alliance's leader suddenly received word that a powerful being from the Ascended Realm had arrived—he hurried off to welcome them.

I saw no point in staying in Zhenyun Dao City, so I took Elder Pu Jun and returned to the sect first.

It was on the way back that we were ambushed. Almost everyone with us was killed; only I returned, gravely wounded."

Hearing Gumo's words, Liu Liu Yinzhu shuddered—she sensed this matter was far more complex than it appeared.

Indeed, Gumo continued:

"I fear I cannot hold on much longer, Yinzhu. You are the elder I most trust. I hope that after I am gone, you will take my place as Sect Master of Xiagude Sect.

Xiagude Sect occupies land of exceptional value, yet our strength is utterly mismatched to it—that has always been my greatest concern."

Liu Liu Yinzhu froze—become Sect Master? How could that be possible?

"No, Sect Master, my cultivation is too low, and how could I possibly have the ability to be Sect Master?" Liu Liu Yinzhu urgently refused.

Gumo coughed for a long while before gasping out:

"Yinzhu, only you see things with long-term vision. Among all in the sect, who else has the qualification to be Sect Master?

So I must choose a Sect Master who has foresight, some cunning, and the ability to handle the crises Xiagude Sect faces—this is no easy task.

Those watching Xiagude Sect are no weaklings, yet Xiagude Sect is the weakest of them all, cough, cough.

You are indeed lacking a bit, but right now, there is no better candidate for Xiagude Sect. At this moment, Xiagude Sect could vanish into history with the slightest misstep—I cannot accept that."

Hearing this, Liu Liu Yinzhu suddenly thought of one person—she blurted out:

"Sect Master, I know someone who is absolutely qualified to be our Xiagude Sect's Sect Master."

That's all for today's update, friends! Good night! As usual, I'm asking for monthly votes!