Chapter 38: Theory of the Dao Foundation

The woman who entered had eyes of extraordinary brightness and clarity, as if one could see within them a world teeming with life, passion, and intensity.

Her eyebrows were like swords, her nose sharp as a hanging peak, her lips tender as if ready to drip water; faintly visible at her slightly parted lips was the tip of her tongue.

The woman wore no makeup, her hair loosely tied and secured with a single hairpin. Her clothing was peculiar: the lower half resembled both pants and a skirt, with legs flaring like a hem, while the upper half was a fitted tunic with sleeves ending just below the elbow. Compared to the typical attire of female cultivators, this outfit was wildly unorthodox.

She stepped onto the lectern and sat down gracefully, leaning back slightly with her hand propping her chin. Merely by sitting, she exuded countless charms, yet within those charms lay an icy, ancient frost.

She glanced sidelong at the students and said: “Starting today, I will teach you the Theory of the Dao Foundation and guide your cultivation. My surname is Ji, Ji Liuli, the ‘liu’ as in ‘homeless and wandering,’ not the ‘liu’ as in ‘jade.’”

A girl immediately stood up boldly and asked: “But the course materials clearly list Xu Henshui as the instructor—why the sudden change?”

Ji Liuli replied coolly: “Forget about him. I’ve thrown him outside the sect gate; he won’t be back anytime soon. Give up that hope and sit still and listen to me!”

The students exchanged uneasy glances, unsure what to say. This woman on the podium gave off an uncanny aura: when she smiled, it was as if spring flowers bloomed across the mountains; when she frowned, it was like leaden clouds pressing low, as if heavenly tribulation loomed. A few students with heightened spiritual sensitivity felt as if facing a primordial beast, trembling instinctively, unable to speak.

Wei Yuan had studied poetry, fu, and songs, filled with countless phrases describing beautiful women—but none seemed to fit Ji Liuli. Yet if one said she wasn’t beautiful, none of the female cultivators Wei Yuan had seen since entering Tai Chu Palace could compare to her.

Seeing no one speak, Ji Liuli was satisfied. “Since there are no questions, let’s begin. You may call me Teacher, Master, or Liuli Senior Sister, or even Two-Zhang-Five Senior Sister—any name is fine. For now, set aside titles. Let’s first discuss what the Dao Foundation is.”

Two-Zhang-Five Senior Sister? What kind of nonsense was that? Before Wei Yuan and the others could wonder, hearing the topic was the Dao Foundation, they all straightened up and strained their ears, afraid of missing a single word.

The definition of the Dao Foundation had long been settled in the cultivation world, refined over hundreds of thousands of years to the point that not a single character could be added or removed. Wei Yuan had just mentally reviewed the definition when Ji Liuli said: “Simply put, the Dao Foundation is nurturing an immortal embryo, then piling on a mess of random things until you can’t add any more—then hammering it all into one solid whole. That’s the Dao Foundation. It’s the first stepping stone on the Immortal Path, and the most important one—all future achievements rest upon this foundation, hence the name.”

“You all know what that mess is. Who can answer?”

A boy gathered his courage and stood up, speaking clearly: “Bone quality, destiny, celestial timing, terrestrial energy, prevailing circumstances, accumulated foundation, medicinal tools.”

“Good. Knowing what that mess is is only the first step. The second is how to combine them. Two people with identical conditions can forge vastly different Dao Foundations depending on how they arrange and sequence those elements. Thus, this first step is the most crucial on the Immortal Path. The difference between a True Sect and a mundane sect, between a master and a mediocrity, is the Dao Foundation they give you. That’s why I’m here to teach you this course. Hmph—your own Dao Foundation might be a flower or a weed, but you still want to lead others astray?”

Another girl stood up boldly: “Master, isn’t that unfair? I heard Xu Shi is quite formidable.”

Ji Liuli flicked her long finger lightly—the girl flew into the air, then a vine-whip materialized and cracked sharply across her rear!

The whip vanished; the girl dropped back into her seat. But the moment her buttocks touched the chair, she sprang up again, refusing to sit fully. Her clothes remained untouched, not even a wrinkle—clearly, the lash had hurt, but caused no injury.

Ji Liuli said: “‘Formidable’ depends on who you’re comparing to. You’ve seen how he’s like a kitten in my hands—still asking that? This lash is punishment for your blindness.”

Wei Yuan pondered, then stood up boldly and asked: “There are countless Dao Foundations—do you judge them all by how strong they make one?”

“What else?” Ji Liuli retorted. “Since there are countless Dao Foundations, they must be ranked. The standard? Nothing but combat power. Either you’re strong at the Dao Foundation stage, or at the Law Form stage, or at the Divine Landscape stage—surely you don’t expect to reach the Unity stage and still be useless? Are you going to stand on the Immortal Mountain as a decoration? Those cultivators who look ethereal and refined but turn limp in battle? Even if they reach Unity, they’re nothing but waste—squandering heaven’s spiritual energy!”

The students were stunned. This speech was utterly shocking, showing no reverence whatsoever for True Immortals of the Unity stage—those were True Immortals!

Ji Liuli continued: “Besides, if you can’t fight, do you really think you’ll reach Unity? Without combat power, you’ll all collapse halfway through your cultivation! Remember this: the world today is an age of fierce competition. To live, you must compete; to cultivate, you must compete; to break through, you must compete—everything demands competition!”

Then she turned to Wei Yuan: “You’re Wei Yuan, aren’t you? I remember you. Everyone else received a blessing from the Ancestor—yours came from the stone beneath his feet.”

A burst of laughter erupted in Qisi Hall; Wei Yuan’s face flushed.

The boys and girls were still laughing when Ji Liuli flicked her fingertip—most of them floated into the air and each received a lash. Crack! Crack! In the sound of whips, only five students remained untouched.

“Any Ancestor’s blessing is a blessing. Those who received one may laugh—but you, who got nothing, dare laugh? This lash is to teach you some self-awareness.”

After the lashes, most students winced in pain. But these children were not spoiled—they knew the pain was illusory, no real injury done—and not a single one cried.

What puzzled Wei Yuan was that most of his classmates came from noble families; during the entrance exam, he’d seen many arrogant ones—why were they so well-behaved and polite here in Qisi Hall?

Before he could resolve this, Ji Liuli’s voice rang out again:

“This cohort has over a hundred and fifty students. Only thirty-seven sit here. Where are the rest? They’re studying under their own masters, not in centralized instruction. They’re the Ancient School. You, whether you like it or not, are now part of the Reform School. In three years, during the Sect’s Minor Examination, you’ll compete against them—see whose learning is better. They have twenty-one who received Ancestor’s blessings. So from today, my task is to give you the strongest Dao Foundation possible; your task is to defeat all twenty-one of them in three years!”

The students, all fiercely competitive, immediately burned with passion; many forgot the pain in their backs. One boy, still wincing, stood up and shouted: “Does that mean those without the Ancestor’s blessings are doomed?”

Ji Liuli nodded approvingly: “Good question! Receiving an Ancestor’s blessing is merely a head start on the long Immortal Path. If you look only at three years, catching up is hard—but over the long term, it makes little difference. Even within three years, many ordinary disciples surpass those blessed—there are many such examples.”

The Immortal Path is long; three years are but a blink. All students in Qisi Hall who had received no blessing felt their spirits lift, their determination renewed.

“But don’t think passing the Sect’s Minor Examination is the end. Inside the Palace stands the Ten Thousand Forms Hall, which records every Dao Foundation ever formed. When you forge your own, your record will be added there. Then you’ll see exactly where your Dao Foundation ranks—no need for me to explain what that means, right?”

Ji Liuli’s words stirred ambition in some, dread in others. It was as if she had hung a grand list of every Tai Chu Palace disciple from the past few thousand years—everyone ranked, everyone named. To fall at the bottom—how could one face anyone?

Ji Liuli continued: “The Ten Thousand Forms Hall is only the beginning. In ten years, during the Sect’s Grand Examination, all Dao Foundation cultivators must participate—and those who complete Body Refinement must too. That’s your first major exam, with official rankings. After that comes the Merit List, where all Tai Chu Palace cultivators are ranked by achievements. Besides the overall list, there’s a separate small list for Dao Foundation cultivators.”

The students exchanged glances, overwhelmed by the endless exams and rankings. Some looked anxious.

Ji Liuli expected their reactions. She sneered: “Tai Chu Palace is vast, but resources are scarce—there’s never enough to go around. So who gets more, who gets less? These lists decide it! I know some of you come from powerful families—you think you can get resources from home if the Palace withholds them. But why do your families give you resources in the first place?”

“The youngest among you are six; the oldest, nine. What if, in a few years, you gain younger siblings—ones with even greater talent? Will your families still give you so much?”

A few noble children turned pale.

“So! Cherish every lesson under my teaching! If you’re ruthless with yourself, I’ll make you stronger! Forget these lists and that list—climb up by force!”

The students burned with passion once more.

Ji Liuli then began explaining the fundamentals of Body Refinement in detail. Her speech was rapid and concise; Wei Yuan felt his mind struggling to keep up, frantically taking notes—before he realized it, class was over.

Three chime tones rang—the lesson ended. Ji Liuli said: “Wei Yuan, stay behind. Come with me to the Administration Hall.”

(End of Chapter)