Chapter 40: The Foundation

Just after Xiao Ran left Yan Residence, that night he quietly took the more than a month's worth of dry rations and ascended to the summit of Huang Songshan.

After entering the cave, having completed the first reconnaissance a few days earlier, Xiao Ran this time intended, according to the old guy's words, to first open the Mud Marrow Palace, then cultivate to the Lianqi Level before considering anything else.

【This path of cultivation, the most crucial gate and also the very first gate, is to open the Mud Marrow Palace! This Mud Marrow Palace is the starting point for cultivators, and most importantly it is where the foundation lies.】

"Foundation? What does that mean?" Xiao Ran asked curiously, while brandishing a hoe and shovel to dig a hole under the bedroom bed, attempting to reach the underground spiritual pool.

【A person's foundation can include external factors that grant value such as your birth, surname, sect affiliation, and so on; of course the internal value is your innate talent.】

"Then how is my talent?"

【Your foundation is decent, but you lack one of the Five Elements.】

Xiao Ran: "....."

Is lacking one of the Five Elements still considered decent?

【I am not being verbose; your foundation is quite unique, a rare ethereal body in the cultivation world. Though you lack a spiritual root, you can innately absorb all kinds of spiritual energy and convert it into a distinctive non‑elemental magical power. This power can adapt to almost all cultivation methods in today's world.】

"Ah? So that means... my talent is also impressive?!" Xiao Ran's eyes lit up.

【Whether it's impressive or not ultimately depends on the individual. Hehe, a dead genius doesn't count as a genius.】

The old guy's cryptic warning made Xiao Ran's complexion shift instantly; he then took a deep breath, his eyes filled with resolve.

Whether embarking on the path of cultivation or avenging one's entire clan, strengthening one's own power is of paramount importance!

Xiao Ran sighed, dug a hole large enough for himself to descend, then secured a rope and lowered it from above to the edge of the underground spiritual pool.

The dense spiritual energy near the pool made Xiao Ran feel a refreshing breeze, prompting him to exclaim:

"Is this the air that only cultivators can sense?"

【Hum, enough idle chatter. Focus and sit in meditation, using the method I taught you to open the Mud Marrow Palace!】

"Alright!"

This time Xiao Ran didn't argue with the old guy; although he still didn't know his name, Xiao Ran was equally empty‑handed.

Even if he were to use me, there must be some value to exploit.

Therefore, regarding the possibility that the other party might come with malicious intent to help, Xiao Ran showed no sign of objection. After all, if he could harness the other's power to become strong quickly, the future's developments would be filled with various possibilities, and no one could predict what would happen.

Perhaps then Xiao Ran would not only be able to handle the current predicament but also turn the tables. Of course, that's merely speculation, but regardless, Xiao Ran decided to seize this rare chance and devote himself fully to strengthening his power.

Following the old guy's instruction, after entering meditation he should try to guide his own Qi to stir the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!

Many mortal disciples of cultivator sects must achieve Qi‑guiding into the body before taking their first step toward cultivation, as it is the most fundamental ability.

Similarly, by the duration required, one can discern who has higher talent and whose foundation is better.

Talent is only part of the foundation; my foundation might be that my family is a prominent cultivator clan, or I have relatives in the sect, or other means to shorten the Qi‑guiding time—what can you do about it?

Thus cultivator sects don't mind a disciple's talent; if a talent is extraordinarily good, people will vie for it; however, those with a solid foundation naturally receive treatment far different from other disciples.

But if one lacks both talent and foundation, that person is just an ordinary civilian.

Xiao Ran's talent truly was impressive; that night he sensed spiritual energy and successfully guided it into his dantian, where it spiraled.

"I did it!!" Xiao Ran exclaimed with joy; the moment the spiritual energy entered his body, he felt his body become markedly lighter, a sensation that dispelled fatigue—obviously unmistakable.

【Don't celebrate too early; as I said, quickly compress the spiritual energy, store it to a certain amount, then begin to refine the guidance and surge toward the Mud Marrow Palace!】

"Alright!"

Thus, Xiao Ran meditated here for a full day and night.

The old guy, seeing that Xiao Ran showed no sign of any abnormality, promptly had him eat a raw leaf of the nearby ghost orchid to accelerate the accumulation of spiritual energy.

【At this pace, within at most six months you can smoothly open the Mud Marrow Palace!】

"Still need half a year?" Xiao Ran was taken aback, feeling as if his whole body was already brimming with power.

【Hum, nothing in this world happens overnight. You still have an extraordinary talent; consider ordinary mortal warriors—how many reach the Celestial Being realm in a lifetime? Even those at the Celestial Being realm are merely equivalent to Lianqi Level cultivators. Do you think that's equal?】

Xiao Ran took a deep breath, calming his inner agitation.

He lowered his head and self‑reflected: "Indeed, ordinary mortal warriors need decades to refine their inner skills to a high level, yet they're only ten‑against‑one or a hundred‑against‑ten. Cultivators, however, belong to a different world. I'm fortunate to have entered this realm; I must guard against arrogance and impatience, and advance step by step, solidly and steadily."

【I hope, kid, you truly think that way; seeking quick results and falling onto the demonic path, there will be someone to deal with you!】

Xiao Ran inhaled deeply, nodded, and prepared to close his eyes to continue cultivation.

【Danger! Cultivators are arriving! They are breaking the Illusion Formation outside!】

The old guy suddenly shouted.

"Ah? Can we escape?!"

【No chance now; a cultivator wielding some kind of Accumulation Device has already spotted you. Kid, if you want to survive, do as I say!】

Xiao Ran's face turned deathly pale; how could he not know what methods those cultivators possessed?

Moreover, he was inside a celestial cave dwelling; perhaps they even thought he had taken a treasure!

At that moment, Xiao Ran clenched his teeth and hid everything he had brought, hoping the others wouldn't notice.

Finally, he clenched his fist and delivered a hard punch to his own chest!

Ugh!

【You hit the wrong spot; this won't knock you out!... Oh dear, I'm truly impressed by you, brat. Fine, I'll handle it myself!】

As he spoke, the ring on Xiao Ran's neck suddenly flashed with light, and the compressed spiritual energy inside his body raced chaotically through his meridians, causing such pain that Xiao Ran immediately fainted.

"Huh, senior brother, is there someone here?"

Xiao Ran had been unconscious for less than two minutes when two figures appeared, the two members of the Qing Shui Sect who had come to investigate the Huang Songshan cave dwelling.

"Indeed, an outsider arrived a step ahead," Wang Tie frowned.

"A mortal? I don't think so; this kid seems just to have guided Qi into his body—perhaps he inherited the cave's master's legacy?" Long Yu laughed.

Wang Tie glanced around; a few ghost orchid leaves and the freshly dug mud pits on the ground caught his eye.

Wang Tie sneered: "Probably he accidentally ingested the Spiritual Material on the ground, which caused the sudden Qi‑guiding. Judging by the unrefined spiritual energy in his body, he likely has at most a day or two of life left."

"What do we do now?"

It's about the treasure of this place; first wake him up and then we'll talk.