And just like that, two weeks slowly passed.
Xue Lian was now approaching the Peak stage of Foundation Establishment. It had taken her quite some time, especially after the effects of her Perfect Establishment Pill had worn off. Still, she never stopped cultivating. She didn't want to always rely on her Master. Her pride and stubbornness wouldn't allow her to.
…
Meanwhile, I had been gaining a lot of real combat experience. I still struggled when fighting Core Formation beasts, but I could now handle them—barely. At least it wasn't as desperate as the time I was surrounded by those Dire Wolves. I had become sharper, calmer, and my instincts more refined. Each battle taught me something new, a deeper understanding of my techniques, especially the ones granted by the Heaven-Defying Scripture.
The Heaven-Defying Defense had grown formidable. My body could now withstand attacks with strength seven times stronger than before. My bones were like iron, and my skin tougher than steel. As for the Heaven-Defying Enhancement, it was even more terrifying. It granted me a tenfold increase in strength and agility—but only for a single day. A short duration, yes, but its effects were truly heaven-defying.
I had also spent time cultivating during these two weeks, and it paid off. I had reached the Mid Layer of Foundation Establishment. Slowly but surely, I was catching up to the level of power needed to survive in this world. Thinking back to my disciple, I wondered if she was waiting for me. A small smile crept onto my lips—I was genuinely proud of her.
She always wore a blank expression, almost like a doll carved from ice. But whenever I praised her, I could sense the subtle smugness she tried to hide. Her eyes would light up, even just a little, and the corners of her lips would twitch ever so slightly. It was adorable. I missed patting her head. I was sure I'd have more disciples in the future, but none would compare to her.
The Shadow Veil Sect's secret technique had proven itself invaluable. It had saved me multiple times. Over the two weeks, I'd progressed to the second layer of the technique. That meant I could now use the second technique hidden within. I hadn't tried it until recently, only realizing I had broken through once I noticed my first technique had plateaued—it had reached its limit of comprehension.
Finally, I decided to test it.
The moment I activated the second technique, a strange sensation washed over me. My body felt like liquid—light, soft, and flexible. Before I could fully process it, my instincts took over. I subconsciously scanned my surroundings for shadows within a hundred meters.
Then I saw it—a boar at the mid-layer of Foundation Establishment. Without warning, I felt myself drawn to its shadow. In the blink of an eye, I teleported through the darkness and emerged from its own shadow, like a ghost. The boar didn't even realize what happened. My body moved on its own, and my hand sliced clean through its neck in one smooth motion.
The feeling was… strange. My speed was incredible, but my hand spasmed after the strike. It was automatic—an instinctual move pushed to the absolute limits of my body. It was powerful, but dangerous if used carelessly.
Satisfied, I flew toward the mountain peak where my disciple was cultivating. I was curious to see how far she had come.
Although I could probably break through to Core Formation within another week or two, I had decided to be patient. Strengthening my foundation as much as possible would pay off in the long run. As I landed at the mountain's peak, I saw her. She was looking around, as if searching for someone.
The moment she saw me, her cold expression softened into a look of quiet relief. She had just exited seclusion and was clearly excited to see me.
She walked over quickly and cupped her hands respectfully. "Disciple greets Master."
I nodded, keeping my aloof, expert demeanor. She smiled faintly—her face still blank, but her cheeks slightly flushed with pride.
"I will be breaking through to the Late Layer soon," she announced calmly.
I reached out and gently patted her head. "Hmm. You truly don't disappoint me. Your foundation is better than most I've seen in the past."
It was true. While there was still a gap between our foundations, it wasn't as wide as one would expect. She had built hers slowly, carefully, and with remarkable stability.
She leaned into my hand slightly, her expression still neutral, but I could feel her anticipation. She was proud, and perhaps… she wanted to be praised more. She had a quiet hunger for strength, for improvement—not out of arrogance, but because she wanted to be worthy of my recognition.
Then, as if remembering something, she suddenly looked up at me with a hint of nostalgia and excitement.
"Master… may I request something?"
I raised a brow, keeping my expert-like calm. "Go ahead."
She hesitated for a moment, then smiled bitterly. "Could we visit the Lu Clan?"
Her voice carried emotions—longing, maybe regret, but also anticipation.
I nodded. "Sure We're leaving tomorrow."
Her eyes lit up as I tossed her another Perfect Foundation Establishment Pill.
"Reach the Peak Layer by tomorrow," I said calmly.
She bowed her head and turned to resume cultivating, determination written all over her face. She could probably break through at any time, but like me, she wanted to solidify her foundation.
I smiled to myself, satisfied. Though, I had to admit, I was also a little curious. I wanted to see the faces of those bastards in the Lu Clan. Something about them irked me deeply—especially those two arrogant boys and the greedy elders that once visited.
I didn't know why, but just imagining their smug expressions made me want to erase their entire bloodline.
Shaking off the thoughts, I turned to cultivate as well—this time focusing on body refinement.
i Looked at the reward i gotten
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[Host gifted his disicple Perfect foundation establishment pill 4768x as return will get "Divinity transformation pill 9th Tier Mid quality"]
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i nodded this is currently useless since I'll explode if i eat this
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Meanwhile, in the Lu Clan.
Day by day, the tension grew.
The clan had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Their plan was bold. The clan head, eyes filled with both frustration and greed, sighed deeply. If the Nascent Soul cultivator truly came, he planned to request their help in wiping out the Bai Clan.
The Bai Clan, after all, possessed treasures that made his eyes gleam with excitement. But there was a problem—two Core Formation experts currently guarded it, making a frontal attack too risky.
Still, the Lu Clan head remained faithful. Sooner or later, the Nascent Soul cultivator would return.
And when he did, he would use him to change the tides.