Chapter 17

Chang Fei laughed heartily and said, "I have nothing to fear. Physical foundation establishment is naturally not inferior; entering the Dao through martial arts is indeed the way the seniors cultivated the great path. However, the path of bodily advancement requires not only exceptional talent but also above all perseverance, something ordinary people cannot achieve; among successes, one in ten thousand. Thus, for most people, physical foundation establishment is a desperate path. Relying on Martial Uncle Qing Cong's disposition, foundation establishment can still be taken shortcuts, and the Opening Light stage will surely be his limit."

Regarding physical foundation establishment, Wei Yuning hadn't expected there to be such a view; his somewhat disappointed mood immediately improved considerably. If he could cultivate to the Opening Light stage, he would have two hundred years of lifespan—what more could he be dissatisfied with?

After Qinghe was scolded away by Hong Zhi, the originally excited disciples immediately became much more honest. However, the remaining nine groups continued the competition; Qing Ge, as the victor of his group, went to watch other groups under the escort of his companions. Fairy Fengming, one of the Three Phoenixes of the Azure Phoenix Sect, walked closely beside him; having a beautiful companion, Qing Ge appeared all the more spirited and vigorous.

Wei Yuning, Chang Fei, and the other menial disciples were about to follow along when a voice drifted over: "Youngster Wei Yuning, stay behind—I have something to say to you!" He turned his head and saw Steward Hong Zhi looking at him with kind eyes; standing beside him was also a surprised-looking Fairy Yunyan.

Seeing this, Manniu and the others naturally did not approach; they all quickened their steps and left.

Wei Yuning approached Steward Hong Zhi and asked respectfully, "Steward, what is the matter?" Fairy Yunyan moved her body two steps to the side, symbolically leaving a little space for the two to chat.

Hong Zhi's gaze toward him was unusually complex; after pondering for a while, he said, "You have established foundation?"

"Yes, Steward, Elder Xu Ye has already examined it—physical foundation establishment." Wei Yuning replied somewhat uneasily.

"What? This… how is it possible? Clearly you… no… how could…" Hong Zhi widened his eyes, almost speaking incoherently, but he promptly stopped himself from saying what he wanted to say, glanced briefly at the turned-aside Fairy Yunyan, and then continued: "Good, good, good, Junior Nephew Wei Yuning, although a wood spiritual root does not match the healing ability of a water spiritual root, its toughness is far greater and suits physical foundation establishment better—excellent, excellent. By the way, after the afternoon ends, go to the External Affairs Chamber at Guest Arrival Peak; I have something to say to you. All right, you may go now!"

"Yes, Martial Uncle Zhi!" Having seen Hong Zhi's personal attendant disciple Qing Wu address him that way, Wei Yuning also learned to call him so; wanting to draw closer to this Martial Uncle who knew his background, Wei Yuning naturally hoped to strengthen their relationship.

Hong Zhi smiled and nodded, then shook his head, sighed, and waved his hand at Wei Yuning, indicating he should leave.

Wei Yuning left Hong Zhi with mixed feelings and walked toward the competition grounds.

"Just established foundation? Or physical foundation establishment?"

"Yes, your eyesight is sharp!"

……

Wei Yuning had taken only a few steps when he overheard the conversation between Fairy Yunyan and Hong Zhi.

"Good, Fairy Fengwu has won!" From far away, Wei Yuning heard Qing Cong's distinctive voice, full of arrogance, not only pretentious but also asking for a beating.

Wei Yuning originally wanted to make a few sarcastic remarks, but recalling Manniu's warning, he honestly kept his mouth shut.

Although they were from the same sect, the foundation-establishment menial disciples had low status; they could only watch from the periphery by slipping through gaps in the crowd. However, since several groups had already finished their matches, hundreds of foundation-establishment disciples had already surrounded the competition grounds completely, so aside from a few taller individuals, the other menial disciples could only listen to the live broadcast.

Wei Yuning walked up close and heard Manniu loudly saying, "Fairy Fengwu's Divine Bird Nine Strikes condenses nine moves into one—truly a sharp attack!"

Chang Fei laughed softly on the side, "Attacking nine times is still attacking nine times; how can it count as a single attack? Hehe, how funny, how funny!"

Wei Yuning suddenly realized that in terms of courting death, Chang Fei was in no way inferior to him.

"Junior Brother Chang Fei, you really aren't afraid of Qing Cong?" Wei Yuning really wanted to clarify this matter.

"I'm not afraid of Martial Uncle Wei Yuning's jokes; I am still afraid, but because of my family's elders, he also wouldn't dare to do anything to me!" Chang Fei said.

"Could you also be a direct-line disciple?" Wei Yuning could only think that.

"No, no, no, I'm not afraid to tell Martial Uncle: my family's elders are descendants of the wandering immortals who followed the Dao Heng lineage since the founding ancestors of the Cloud Hidden Sect; now my family's elders are sworn brothers of the Sect Master of the Taiyu Sect, so I'm not afraid of some people," Chang Fei ended with an embarrassed laugh.

"I see, thank you for the information, Junior Brother Chang Fei is upright and generous, a model for us cultivators!" Seeing that Chang Fei actually had such a heaven-reaching connection, Wei Yuning immediately lavished praise without reservation.

"Martial Uncle, you overpraise me, you overpraise me," he laughed, "hahaha, hahaha!"

The two looked at each other more pleasingly, chatted more congenially, and were almost about to become sworn brothers. Unbeknownst to them, the remaining groups also decided their winners. Finally, the cultivators who had come for the matrimonial convention formed an even larger circle, placing all the victors in the center.

"Three Azure Phoenix Sect cultivators, seven Cloud Hidden Sect cultivators, ten victors in total are about to begin the King's Battle," Martial Uncle Qing Cong said, whoever ultimately wins will be awarded a first-grade beast ring. The menial disciples retreated again and again, scattering around the outer edge of the circle, while the tall and sturdy Manniu continued to act as commentator for the nearby twenty-odd menial disciples.

"Why isn't Qing Cong participating in the match? Isn't he also here to attend the matrimonial convention?" All the way to the end, Wei Yuning also hadn't heard that Qing Cong was among the victors, which seemed somewhat unreasonable.

"How could he have the nerve to participate, being both a direct-line disciple and a physical foundation establisher—who could surpass him?" Chang Fei said disdainfully.

"Oh, I see," Wei Yuning nodded, but he still felt somewhat puzzled; from noon when he established foundation until now, he had also sensed changes in his body—aside from his body becoming lighter, his strength had not increased much, whereas his speed had greatly increased; how could physical foundation establishment produce such a big difference?

Just then, Steward Hong Zhi and Fairy Yunyan drifted over again. All the disciples made way, clearing a broad path for the two seniors to enter.

"Junior Nephew Wei Yuning, since you have already established foundation, would you also like to try a match?" Just as the two were about to enter the circle, Fairy Yunyan suddenly turned her head and said to Wei Yuning among the menial disciples.

"This… isn't appropriate! It's against the rules!" Steward Hong Zhi's expression halted, revealing a complex look.

"The matrimonial convention is just young people playing around—what rules are there? Unrestrained is better. Moreover, matrimony is a matter of mutual consent; how could I possibly force my junior nephew to marry a disciple of the Azure Phoenix Sect? What do you say, Senior Brother Hong Zhi?" Fairy Yunyan's sharp words immediately blocked Hong Zhi's following remarks.

However, she had no idea what Hong Zhi's worries were; she had completely misunderstood.

"Martial Uncle Hong Zhi, it turns out Martial Uncle Yunyan thinks so highly of this newly promoted … menial disciple; let him try a match—this way the disciples can learn by observation, and it will prevent people from saying our Cloud Hidden Sect treats guests poorly." Just as Hong Zhi hesitated, Qing Cong jumped out, his tone full of intense jealousy.