Chapter 23

The next day, Zhang Xiu took a day off.

Zhang Yunlu, following Xu Xing's advice, went to school early to report her realm and inquire about Foundation Establishment.

Along the way, whenever she saw someone, she instinctively sized up their vital spots.

"…"

This was a lingering side effect—it would likely last for quite some time.

After entering school, she went straight to the vice principal's office.

Normally, such matters should be discussed with one's homeroom teacher, but Fang Chi… better not.

Vice Principal's Office.

"spiritual energy Ninth Layer, solid foundation—quite impressive." Bright threads of magic power drew out from Zhang Yunlu's wrist.

The vice principal of No. 3 Middle School of Xuanjian City was Yu Ming, an elderly man who looked stern and rigid, with white hair and splotches of age spots, exuding an air of weariness.

But after interacting with him, one would realize he was actually a very gentle elder.

It was said that in his youth, he loved exploring various Secret Realms, and it was precisely because of this that he suffered foundational damage in an accident, losing the possibility of further advancement, eventually coming to this school as vice principal.

"At this realm, it's time I explain some matters regarding Foundation Establishment," Yu Ming handed her a cup of water. "The information on the Spirit Net is a mix of good and bad; while the descriptions of Third-Class Foundation Establishment have merit, they're incomplete."

Yu Ming knew perfectly well why Zhang Yunlu had come to him today; according to protocol, she should have asked her homeroom teacher about Foundation Establishment.

"There are currently three mainstream methods of Foundation Establishment: False Foundation Establishment, External-Object Foundation Establishment, and Natural Dao Foundation."

To Yu Ming, conflicts between teachers and students, and trivial rules, meant far less than a student's future.

He carefully explained the three methods he knew.

False Foundation Establishment was much as Zhang Yunlu had originally understood.

External-Object Foundation Establishment was equivalent to the second and third methods she had known before, plus the first type she'd heard from Xu Xing.

Natural Dao Foundation was exactly as Xu Xing had described.

But what about the fourth?

"Natural Dao Foundation is extremely difficult to establish—it requires not only an exceptionally strong foundation, but also excruciating pain in the processes of absorbing solar essence, condensing lunar radiance, and refining stellar light," Yu Ming chuckled. "Your foundation is sufficient; it's just a matter of whether you can endure these three trials."

"I think my willpower is decent," she thought, I've died over a hundred times in one night, "but shouldn't celestial treasures be hard to obtain?"

Xu Xing had said he'd give her one, but Zhang Yunlu still wanted to ask.

"Celestial treasures are indeed rare, but seventy-three years ago, someone developed a substitute—I personally recommend the 'Single-Use Miracle Essence' for the 【Pure Moon Flying Sword】."

Single-Use Miracle Essence?! "The price isn't too high, and its efficacy is comparable to other brands."

The ones sold by 【Xuan Yue Pavilion】 are much more expensive, yet the effects are identical—so they're just a bunch of swindlers.

Yu Ming opened a drawer and took out a crystal card from a small box, handing it to Zhang Yunlu.

"This is the 'Basic Cai Lian Fa' created by Shenghuang Yuan. Study it carefully when you return home."

"Teacher, this is too—"

"Don't refuse. It's not special treatment—every spiritual energy Ninth Layer student receives one. Otherwise, how could it be called the 'Basic Cai Lian Fa'?"

The various cultivation methods of the Gedaxian Sect are also available at school, but they're all too extreme and violent; this 'Basic Cai Lian Fa' is relatively gentle.

Even so, the school only dares to distribute it to students who reach spiritual energy Ninth Layer during Gao San.

Oh, so that's why.

Zhang Yunlu took the crystal card and placed it inside her storage ring.

"Is there anything else you'd like to ask, Zhang student?"

"Have you heard of… Creation Dao Foundation?"

"…" Yu Ming fell silent for a while. "Yes, but it's not mainstream, and the difficulty is immense."

"The current False Foundation Establishment was developed by Ling Yin Fang after studying Creation Dao Foundation."

Although Natural Dao Foundation is rare, a few always appear in each year's Gaokao; but Creation Dao Foundation last appeared fifteen years ago.

Knock knock!

"Principal, here's tomorrow's combat test…" Zhang Yunlu turned and saw it was her own teacher, Fang Chi. They stared at each other, the atmosphere awkward.

…………

At noon, Gao San students gradually exited the school.

Since tomorrow was the combat test, the school gave them an afternoon off to prepare.

Zhang Yunlu was among them, but after leaving school, she didn't go home—she took a taxi to Xu Xing's villa complex.

During class today, several classmates who rarely spoke to her had urged her to apologize to Fang Chi, saying teacher-student conflicts could always be resolved.

Yet Zhang Yunlu ignored them; she only found them noisy.

We're about to graduate—do you really expect me to mend teacher-student relations?

And those people, seeing her as so "ungrateful," directly declared they'd settle things on tomorrow's combat test.

They were students, yes—but also cultivators.

Combat test… among my classmates, how many will be stronger than that pain-immune monster from my dream? Thinking of it, she suddenly felt a flicker of anticipation.

If today's combat test offers strong enough opponents to hone my sword technique, next time I face that monster, I might not suffer as badly as last night!

The driver, glancing in his rearview mirror at Zhang Yunlu—who alternated between silence and sudden smiles—couldn't help but sigh.

'Gao San students really are under heavy pressure.'

He decided not to speak at all, turning up the music a bit.

Soon, the car arrived at its destination.

"We're here, student. Cars aren't allowed inside, so you'll have to walk the rest of the way."

She paid, entered the complex, and walked to Xu Xing's villa.

Using the array's core to activate the barrier, she stepped forward to the door, hand reaching for the doorbell.

"Come straight in, the door isn't closed."

Sure enough, the door opened with just a gentle push, and everything inside looked exactly the same as when she had come yesterday.

She finally spotted Xu Xing in the garden.

At this moment, Xu Xing was leaning back in a rattan recliner, a pot of tea set on the table beside him, sunlight spilling down, the whole person looking utterly at leisure.

"Sit. Your performance last night was indeed not bad; handling tomorrow's spell-combat test should be no problem."

"Emm… about last night, I actually have a question I want to ask." After a pause, Zhang Yunlu continued, "Was everything I experienced real, or was it fake?"

Xu Xing didn't answer, but instead asked in return, "What do you think yourself?"

"It should have been fake, otherwise I couldn't have revived so many times, and I'd still be in my own room after waking up."

Where would a single person get that many lives?

"Since you understand this point, why are you asking this question now?"

"But my spiritual power has genuinely increased, as if the pills I ate in that trial really had an effect."

Zhang Yunlu furrowed her brow slightly; this was the reason she found puzzling.

"Illusion or reality."

She saw Xu Xing give a light flick, and a droplet of tea rose up, then rapidly swelled, turning before her gaze into a round, plump pill.

"So it is that what is true becomes false, what is false becomes true; this is refining the false into the true."

As Xu Xing's words fell, the pill turned back into a droplet of tea and fell into the teacup.

"If I must explain, then everything last night is equivalent to you having experienced the real within the false; do you understand when I put it that way?"

Zhang Yunlu nodded, half-understanding.

Xu Xing didn't mind much either; after all, these things were still very, very far from her.

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Dear reader lords, if you come across any passages that don't read smoothly, feel free to point them out at any time, and I will correct them as soon as possible! (End of chapter)