Chapter 445: Cultivation Prodigy, Foundation Establishment Potential!

Yu Ke heard this and was deeply shaken.

A true phoenix reborn from fire, serving as a guardian of the Dao—this was simply astonishing.

He couldn't help but suspect that the strange bird perched on Cai Yingzhao's shoulder might be a true spirit.

The power of a true spirit was no weaker than that of a cultivator who had reached the True Person realm.

If a family had a True Person to guard it, they could rise rapidly and become one of the most influential clans of the Great Zhou, even blessing their descendants for generations.

The Yu family was exactly like this.

Thinking of this, he wondered if he'd bargained too hard for his rented room—what if Cai Yingzhao grew resentful because of it?

Chen Jingqiu, standing nearby, noticed Yu Ke's unease and explained:

"Yu brother, don't be so startled. Though rare, true spirits serving as guardians do follow certain rules."

Yu Ke was at a loss—he came from a minor clan, and his horizons were limited by his station, unlike those from ancient aristocratic families with thriving cultivation lineages.

Chen Jingqiu continued:

"True spirits have cultivated for hundreds or even thousands of years—how could they willingly submit to a newborn infant?"

"Wouldn't it be far more delightful to roam freely through heaven and earth?"

"Most true spirits serve as guardians because their own lives are nearing their end, and they have no choice. They enter a life-sharing pact with their chosen one—it's a gamble. If the chosen one dies prematurely, the true spirit perishes with them."

Chen Jingqiu spoke solemnly: "If the one they guard soars to greatness, the true spirit may ride that momentum and live a second life—but this defies heaven's will, and the constraints and costs are immense."

Wang Yunxi, with a proud expression, added: "When my cousin was born, four magnificent true spirits descended upon the Chen family, willing to serve as his guardians—two of them were still in their prime."

"But Grandmaster Chen Xiao refused them, and those true spirits reluctantly withdrew."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wanwan's face was filled with shock.

Yu Ke, however, remained calm—he had already experienced fifty years of Lu Chen's insights, and major events left his heart as still as a calm lake. Besides, this had nothing to do with him personally, so his expression stayed serene.

Yet Chen Jingqiu had no desire to continue this topic.

He turned to Yu Ke and asked:

"Yu brother, haven't you been pondering how to achieve Foundation Establishment?"

Yu Ke nodded and said:

"Yes, I've broken through the Shentian point, but I still haven't decided on a method for Foundation Establishment."

Chen Jingqiu spoke slowly:

"Foundation Establishment is divided into nine grades. Grades one through three are the upper tier—only those who reach this level have the potential to glimpse the mysteries of the True Person realm."

This was an iron law of the cultivation world, a chasm etched into every cultivator's heart.

"If you establish your foundation on the Third Heavenly Ladder and fall into the middle or lower grades, the path to becoming a Great Cultivator becomes as elusive as seeing flowers through mist or fishing for the moon in water—nearly impossible to grasp."

"Of course, nothing is absolute. There are always extraordinary talents who, even with a lower-grade foundation, can defy fate and ascend to the True Person realm."

"The Eastern Splendor True Person—that renowned hermit who shook the Three Continents—was one such case."

Upon hearing the Eastern Splendor True Person's name, Wang Yunxi couldn't help but nod slightly, her eyes gleaming with reverence.

Foundation Establishment was, in truth, a judgment of a cultivator's potential.

It was the dividing line for all cultivators.

Even if one possessed three divine traits on the Second Heavenly Ladder, combat prowess still couldn't create a decisive gap.

But once one entered the Third Heavenly Ladder, after opening a Celestial Realm and planting Dao arts, the difference between cultivators became as vast as heaven and earth.

That was why the Divine Thunder Sect divided its outer and inner disciples at the Second Heavenly Ladder.

This was also why the former Yu Ke had risked everything in a desperate gamble.

He staked everything on achieving an upper-grade Foundation Establishment—the bare minimum threshold to enter the True Person realm.

He simply wanted to advance too badly!

"Those with lower-grade foundations have average talent. Within the sect, resources are scarce, and they won't be easily invested in someone with no future."

Chen Jingqiu's words revealed the cruel reality of the cultivation world, his tone tinged with cold detachment.

Survival of the fittest applied here too.

Without talent, one was merely expendable material for the Divine Thunder Sect.

Back then, the Eastern Splendor True Person had taken a full fifty years to barely achieve Foundation Establishment—and it was the lowest grade, ninth rank. No sect across the Three Continents would accept such a disciple with no potential.

Who could have predicted that fifty years later, the True Person of Eastern Splendor would emerge like a dragon rising from the depths, one by one breaking through the mystical gates of life and death within a century?

"With his Great Yi Celestial Star Sword Art, he swept across the Three Continents and became the top hermit of the Three Continents."

This story of the Eastern Splendor True Person had inspired countless lowly servants of the Divine Thunder Sect.

Countless disillusioned cultivators looked to him as their model.

Chen Jingqiu smiled: "Yet across the Three Continents, there are countless cultivators—numbered in the hundreds of millions—and only one Eastern Splendor True Person emerged."

"Moreover, the world only knows that the Eastern Splendor True Person rose like a dragon finding water after a hundred years, unaware he risked his life entering the Jade Pool and gained a great fortune, which gave him the fame that shook the Three Continents."

This secret about the Eastern Splendor True Person was something Yu Ke had never heard before.

Though the Jade Pool was a "Hidden Immortal Site," it had long been declared a forbidden zone across the continent.

Besides the Jade Pool, there were other ancient relics that had existed for untold ages—the Dragon Abyss, the Heavenly Emperor's Sacred Ground, the Return to Void, and more.

These were remnants from time immemorial—even the most powerful True Persons dared only explore their outer fringes.

For cultivators like them, still on the Second Heavenly Ladder as outer disciples, merely approaching the outer edges of these relics would likely mean instant annihilation.

Within them lay great terror, great despair.

Yet danger and opportunity coexisted—that was an unchanging law of the cultivation world.

Those cultivators bold enough to defy taboos and venture deep into these relics.

Those blessed by fate could gain earth-shattering blessings, leaping past the dragon's gate to become legends of the cultivation world.

Unthinkable!

The Eastern Splendor True Person had only risen after entering the Jade Pool.

Chen Jingqiu sighed softly:

"The path of cultivation is like rowing upstream—if you don't advance, you fall back. Few ever rise from behind to reach the summit step by step."

"Most simply grow ordinary, fading into obscurity."

At these words,

all fell into a brief silence, as if pulled by some unseen emotion.

Yu Ke, upon hearing this, thought of Lu Yu and Lu Chen from his simulations.

If they had been born in this world,

in this grand age of cultivation,

with such vast heavens and earth before them, a true man should roam freely.

Just as Lu Yu had said when ascending the Heavenly Ladder at his transcendence:

Yu Ke murmured: "Ascend the Heavenly Path, tread with song!"

Chen Jingqiu, hearing this, praised:

"Ascend the Heavenly Path, tread with song!"

"Yu brother, you said it beautifully. Too bad there's no wine here—if there were, I'd raise a great cup to this."

Yu Ke came to his senses and merely smiled.

The four continued discussing many important details about Foundation Establishment.

For example, on the day of Foundation Establishment, one must not only choose an auspicious date but also pay attention to the day's elemental weather shifts.

"Forcing Foundation Establishment can, at best, shatter your meridians and render you useless; at worst, scatter your soul and doom you to eternal ruin."

Chen Jingqiu then elaborated on the elixirs needed for Foundation Establishment and how to plant Dao arts afterward—each step was critical, with no room for error.

Yu Ke and Xie Wanwan listened intently, afraid of missing even a single detail.

Before they realized it!

The sun stood high overhead, four great suns blazing directly above.

The morning had slipped away unnoticed.

Yu Ke had gained much—he wondered if the former Yu Ke had had this opportunity to hear such words during his Foundation Establishment, perhaps he wouldn't have met such a miserable end.

Now, Yu Ke treasured this rare chance and quickly raised every doubt from his own cultivation.

Chen Jingqiu showed no impatience; even the smallest details were explained thoroughly, with not a trace of annoyance.

Beside him, Wang Yunxi watched her cousin explain so patiently, and her lips subtly pouted.

She thought to herself: When had her cousin ever been this enthusiastic?

Back then, when she had asked him about Foundation Establishment, he'd coldly replied with just two words:

"Busy!"

Now this?

Who's your good little cousin then!!

(End of Chapter)