Chapter 51: CH-51: Something’s fishy!?

Elder Ye looked at the group and finally nodded with satisfaction.

"Good. I’m pleased that all of you understand the situation. Strength is important, but knowing when to avoid unnecessary trouble is equally important."

He glanced at Gu Changsheng, who was already reaching for another snack.

"Changsheng, are you listening?"

"Of course, Master."

"What did I just say?"

Gu Changsheng paused.

He had, in fact, been listening. Unfortunately, his attention had been divided between Elder Ye’s lecture and the question of whether Mulan had brought enough snacks for everyone.

"Master said that avoiding unnecessary trouble is an important part of cultivation."

Elder Ye nodded approvingly.

"Correct."

Gu Changsheng silently breathed a sigh of relief.

He had survived another unexpected examination.

At this rate, he might eventually become a master of answering questions without needing to understand the entire conversation.

...

With the matter of the imperial competition settled, Elder Ye shifted his attention to another subject.

"Since all of you have reached the later stages of Qi Refinement, there is something else you need to understand. Several of you are approaching the point where you may attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, so it is time for me to explain what that realm entails."

The moment those words were spoken, Ye Che straightened slightly.

Among the group, he was the closest to breaking through. His spiritual energy had already accumulated considerably, and he could feel that his current cultivation was nearing its limit.

Although he had yet to take that final step, he was confident that he would reach Foundation Establishment soon.

Gu Changsheng, meanwhile, also became attentive.

Foundation Establishment.

The realm that stood between him and his system’s fortuitous encounter detection function.

If there was one lecture he absolutely could not afford to sleep through, it was this one.

Elder Ye noticed their reactions and nodded before continuing.

"The Qi Refinement Realm is primarily concerned with refining spiritual energy, strengthening your body, and gradually establishing control over the energy you absorb from the surrounding world. Although cultivators at this stage can use spiritual energy to enhance their physical abilities and execute basic techniques, their foundations are still relatively limited."

He raised one hand, allowing a faint stream of spiritual energy to gather around his fingers.

"Foundation Establishment is the process of transforming that foundation into something more stable and substantial. It is not merely a matter of accumulating more spiritual energy. You must refine and consolidate what you have already cultivated, ensuring that your spiritual energy can circulate efficiently and respond to your will."

The faint spiritual energy around his fingers gradually condensed into a small, shimmering sphere.

"Think of your current cultivation as a structure that has been built upon a foundation of spiritual energy. If that foundation is unstable, adding more energy will only make the structure increasingly difficult to control. A proper breakthrough requires you to consolidate your foundation before attempting to advance."

Gu Changsheng nodded thoughtfully.

The explanation was fairly straightforward, and it aligned with what he had already learned about cultivation.

In simple terms, the Qi Refinement Realm was about accumulating and refining spiritual energy, while Foundation Establishment focused on creating a stronger foundation that could support further advancement.

Of course, the process was probably more complicated than Elder Ye’s brief explanation suggested.

If breaking through were as simple as listening to a lecture, half the sect would probably have reached Foundation Establishment already.

Elder Ye continued, "The process also differs from person to person. Your physiques, cultivation techniques, and the quality of your spiritual energy will all influence the breakthrough. Some cultivators can establish their foundations relatively quickly, while others may require considerable preparation."

He turned toward Ye Che.

"Che’er, your cultivation is already close to the threshold. However, I want you to remember that rushing into a breakthrough merely because you feel ready is foolish. Take your time to examine your spiritual energy and make sure your foundation is sufficiently stable."

Ye Che nodded respectfully.

"Understood, Father."

Elder Ye gave him an approving look before turning toward the others.

"Do not assume that reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm automatically makes you superior to every cultivator in Qi Refinement. A strong foundation can make a considerable difference in battle, but your techniques, experience, and control over spiritual energy remain important. A poorly prepared Foundation Establishment cultivator may still lose to someone with a more solid foundation and better combat experience."

Gu Changsheng found himself agreeing with this point.

After all, cultivation realms were useful indicators of strength, but they did not tell the entire story. Someone with better techniques, more experience, or an unusual physique could sometimes overcome an opponent with a higher cultivation base.

He had personally experienced enough ridiculous situations to know that the world did not always follow neat rules.

Sometimes, the person who looked weakest was actually hiding something terrifying.

And sometimes, the person who looked strongest was simply an idiot with expensive clothes.

Both possibilities were worth keeping in mind.

---

After explaining the general principles of Foundation Establishment, Elder Ye proceeded to answer their questions.

Ye Che asked about the signs that indicated a foundation was sufficiently stable, while Su Mingyue inquired about the differences between breakthroughs achieved through ordinary cultivation and those assisted by special resources.

Ning Rongrong asked whether there was a way to make the breakthrough less painful.

Elder Ye looked at her for a moment before replying, "Proper preparation can reduce the risks and discomfort, but there is no method that guarantees a completely painless breakthrough."

Ning Rongrong’s expression immediately fell.

"Then I’ll prepare very carefully."

Gu Changsheng nearly laughed.

She had the expression of someone who had just discovered that the road to immortality came with a very unpleasant admission fee.

When it was his turn to ask a question, Gu Changsheng considered the matter carefully before speaking.

"Master, if someone has sufficient resources to support their cultivation, would it be better to attempt a breakthrough as soon as they reach the threshold, or should they continue refining their spiritual energy for a while longer?"

Elder Ye stroked his beard.

"It depends on the individual. Resources can help you accumulate spiritual energy and prepare for the breakthrough, but they cannot replace proper refinement. If your foundation is unstable, consuming more pills will not necessarily solve the problem. In some cases, it may even make matters worse."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

He had received quite a few resources over the past two months, and he certainly did not want to waste them by rushing into a breakthrough prematurely.

Besides, he had no intention of turning his cultivation into a speedrunning competition.

He was already being surpassed by Dong Mulan, and there was no need to make the situation worse by suffering a failed breakthrough.

Speaking of which, he glanced toward his wife.

Dong Mulan was listening attentively, although Dodo Duckling had apparently decided that the lecture was an excellent opportunity to rest her head against Mulan’s arm.

The two of them looked remarkably comfortable.

Gu Changsheng suddenly felt that he was the only person in the courtyard taking the matter seriously.

Then again, Mulan had already reached the eighth stage of Qi Refinement, so perhaps she had every reason to feel relaxed.

He was not jealous.

Absolutely not.

He merely believed that the heavens should consider introducing a few reasonable restrictions on people who could advance their cultivation while spending half their day eating snacks.

It would be good for everyone’s morale.

Elder Ye eventually concluded the lecture by reminding them to focus on consolidating their cultivation and avoiding unnecessary distractions. With the imperial competition no longer a concern, they could devote their time to preparing for the next stage of their cultivation.

Ye Che was particularly pleased with the advice, as he expected to attempt his breakthrough soon.

Gu Changsheng, on the other hand, had come away with a much simpler conclusion.

Foundation Establishment was important, proper preparation was essential, and rushing into a breakthrough was foolish.

More importantly, once he reached that realm, his system would finally allow him to search for fortuitous encounters.

For the first time in a while, he felt genuinely motivated to cultivate.

He had no intention of letting Dong Mulan remain ahead of him forever.

After all, he was the protagonist of his own life.

At least, that was what he liked to believe.

Now he merely needed to cultivate diligently, reach Foundation Establishment, and begin hunting for opportunities.

How difficult could it possibly be?

Considering his recent history, the heavens were probably already preparing an answer.

The Cloud Piercing Sect had been enjoying a relatively peaceful period lately.

With the imperial competition no longer a concern and Elder Ye’s disciples obediently focusing on their cultivation, the sect had returned to its usual routine. Disciples could be seen practicing their techniques across the training grounds, elders occasionally gathered to discuss cultivation matters, and the occasional argument over stolen food could still be heard from the disciples’ quarters.

In other words, everything was proceeding as it should.

At least, that was what everyone believed.

Unfortunately, peace was a fragile thing, especially when the imperial family of the Qian Kingdom was involved.