Chapter 30: The Joy of Grand Harmony

Wei Yuning was first startled, then overjoyed.

He was genuinely happy for Man Niu, but couldn't help saying, "What's with the 'Yuning Yuning', no respect for elders. Remember, I founded my foundation before you; you must call me senior brother!"

If he followed Man Niu's usual temperament, he would definitely come over to beat Wei Yuning.

After successfully establishing his foundation today, Man Niu's demeanor changed; under the heavy earth‑type spirit root influence, his tall frame sat there, steady as a mountain. He smiled gently and said, "Senior brother Yuning, greetings."

"Brother Man, this contrast is a bit extreme—did foundation work mess up your brain?" Wei Yuning exaggeratedly leapt back a few steps away from Man Niu.

Man Niu chuckled, stood up, and said, "My successful foundation was actually inspired by you, senior brother. I used to try to fully control the visualization object but never succeeded. During the two hours of meditation at night, I completely gave up controlling the spirit butterfly, and suddenly, my foundation succeeded!"

"Ha, so you're saying your foundation succeeded entirely because of me. I told you so—no need to work so hard all day; just smile and establish your foundation early!" Wei Yuning couldn't help feeling smug.

"No, I'm not wrong. The visualization object governs the outward flow of Qi; the better you control it, the more effective it is. Although I've just founded my foundation, my cultivation is already at the middle stage of foundation, one step away from the later stage. If I persist a bit longer and fully control the visualization object, achieving foundation success—and even reaching the pinnacle of foundation—is not impossible!" Man Niu said gravely.

Wei Yuning understood Man Niu's meaning; rather than belittling Wei Yuning's contribution, he was imparting his valuable experience to Wei Yuning.

"Got it. I'll create another visualization object now, and this time I'll take it slowly," Wei Yuning said.

"Create another visualization object? What do you mean?" Man Niu was stunned.

"Two visualization objects—one to let loose, the other to control tightly!" Wei Yuning replied.

"It works like that?" Man Niu reverted to the big clumsy ox he once was; the sense of achievement from just founding his foundation was instantly erased. He realized he could never keep up with this roommate's pace—was this the difference between genius and mediocrity? Or between normal people and lunatics?

The next morning, before the two had gotten up, an uninvited guest arrived in the dormitory: Hong Le, the steward of the Herbal Garden.

Perhaps because the two had just founded their foundations and were in a relaxed mindset, and the sect was exceedingly safe, Hong Le lingered in the room for half a tea‑cup's time, while the two remained sound asleep.

Finally, Hong Le could no longer bear it; he slapped the table, and the huge bang instantly startled the two awake.

"What's going on? Man Niu, you've also founded your foundation?" Hong Le immediately noticed that the awakened Man Niu was completely different.

"Yes, Hong Le… senior uncle!" Man Niu said respectfully.

Hong Le's raging anger vanished in an instant, his eyes narrowing into a thin slit of a smile.

Last night, he heard from a disciple that after founding his foundation, Wei Yuning had shone brightly in the matchmaking tournament and even became a Dao companion with a female cultivator from the Azure Luan Sect. So he came early to offer a few words of encouragement, only to find an even greater surprise: the troublesome Man Niu of the Herbal Garden had also successfully founded his foundation.

An even bigger surprise lay ahead: Man Niu, after five years of honing his sword, had already reached the middle stage of foundation—one step faster than many disciples who founded early.

"Good, good, good!" Hong Le was already at a loss for words.

Half an hour later, Hong Le smiled, crossed his arms, and left.

Man Niu's desk bore a clear palm imprint from Hong Le's slap, yet Man Niu wasn't angry at all. The desk was now piled with spirit stones, pills, weapons, ritual robes, and other items; Man Niu's master after founding his foundation was indeed Hong Le, the steward—a matter already settled.

It wasn't some hidden agenda; rather, because Man Niu hadn't founded a foundation for a long time, he was nearly sent to the inner affairs hall's mess hall to be a kitchen helper. Thanks to Hong Le's protection, he remained in the Herbal Garden. Since then, Man Niu decided to recognize only Hong Le as his master.

"Are you going to the matchmaking tournament today?" Wei Yuning asked.

"I really don't know; I need to ask senior brother Qing Yun!" Man Niu scratched his head at the question.

Wei Yuning's situation was rather special: with Hong Zhi's approval, under particularly complex circumstances, he joined the matchmaking tournament as a formally recognized newly‑founded foundation disciple. Man Niu's current role remained that of a menial worker; although he had founded his foundation, the same circumstances could not recur—he could neither join formally nor appropriately attend as a menial. Thus all arrangements still required senior brother Qing Yun, who manages the menial staff, to decide.

"Then let's drop it; don't say anything. Just go as a menial, and we'll go to the Beast Arena together for some fun!" Wei Yuning suggested.

"Alright, I should relax too; I'll take this chance to play for a couple more days!" Man Niu laughed.

When the two arrived at Flowing Cloud Plaza, most disciples had already gathered. Wei Yuning and Man Niu still stayed among the menial disciples, chatting with Chang Fei and a few other known menials.

Man Niu's foundation instantly caused a stir among the menial disciples; proud and elated, he finally lifted his head, and his voice grew much louder.

Wei Yuning had no intention of mingling with a group of low‑rank disciples; now that he, too, was a foundation disciple, he should have greater aspirations.

Qiu Hu, a female cultivator, had already arrived, calmly standing at a corner of the Azure Luan Sect's female group, chatting with a petite yet voluptuous female cultivator. Wei Yuning left Man Niu's group and walked straight over.

"Greetings, lord!"

"Lord has arrived!"

"Ha ha, can't wait to see Qiu Hu!"

"Junior brother Yuning, how do I look?"

"Junior sister Qiu Hu really has clever tactics, managing to bring such a handsome gentleman under her skirt!"

"Hehe, outwardly proper, but who knows the lewd tricks behind it; perhaps some unknown method was used!"

"Indeed, being ugly doesn't matter; the key is to live well!"

Three women make a play; over a hundred women could film a 180‑episode palace intrigue drama.

Wei Yuning smiled faintly, automatically ignoring the female cultivators' friendly, jealous, or vicious remarks, and simply nodded and smiled at everyone.

"Compared to Earth's internet trolls, you're all no‑match, purer and cuter than little white rabbits!" On Earth, Wei Yuning often browsed forums and had seen too many vulgar words, so he was already immune to them.

"Madam, did you sleep well last night? Was it especially lonely without me?" Wei Yuning walked up to Qiu Hu, saying cheerfully.

Qiu Hu was fine, but the little girl beside her looked shocked, trembling as she pointed at Wei Yuning and turned to Qiu Hu, "Senior sister, this is the perfect match you mentioned—who would have thought you'd like someone so slick‑tongued!"

The Beast Arena hunting activity that disciples participated in during the matchmaking tournament was essentially a leisure event, primarily to foster bonds. The arena, situated at the foot of the northern slope of Keli Peak, spanned roughly thirty li in radius, forming a beginner's Beast Garden containing only ordinary beasts and a few low‑level spirit beasts.

At the appointed time, a massive flying spirit vessel descended onto Flowing Cloud Plaza. Under the direction of Hong Zhi and Yun Yan Immortal, the disciples formed a line and boarded the vessel through its rear hatch.