In the Wendao Sect, there was a popular jingle: "Three years of body refining, five years of qi refining, and ten years to reach foundation establishment—at a leisurely pace."
Ten years for foundation establishment was the passing grade...
That was the standard of the Wendao Sect.
In the small, mundane sects of the secular world, many disciples of mediocre talent would spend their entire lives seeking foundation establishment only to never attain it.
Across the vast mountains and rivers of the mortal realm, those who reached foundation establishment were already as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
They could not be mentioned in the same breath.
Xu Xian, who reached foundation establishment at eighteen, might have seemed unremarkable in the cultivation world of Fanzhou.
However.
A Xu Xian who had broken through from being a mortal to foundation establishment in just ten months was something that would leave the entire cultivation world in shock.
Whether it was the Three Sects or the Wendao Sect, such talent was nothing short of monstrous.
He would undoubtedly leave a profound mark in the annals of immortal cultivation history.
Unfortunately.
He was Xu Xian.
He was the eleventh disciple of the Sword Ancestor, the youngest ancestor of the Wendao Sect, so the people within the sect felt this was only natural.
Much like Lin Qianqian.
While she was delighted to learn that Xu Xian had reached foundation establishment, it was by no means earth-shattering to her.
Xu Xian took a sip of mountain spring water and squinted slightly. "I suppose so. After all, not everyone is as exceptionally gifted as I am."
Lin Qianqian’s face slumped, unable to take it anymore. "That’s enough out of you."
Xu Xian chuckled sheepishly and changed the subject. "Haha, I originally thought about visiting that kid, but I didn't expect him to be at the Sword Mound. Back then, he said he’d follow my lead. Good grief, he hasn't visited me even once. My Qianqian is still the best."
Lin Qianqian smiled and said, "Alright, don't blame him. It’s because his master won’t let him leave. Two years ago, he tried to sneak into Wendao Square but was caught by Peak Master Li and tossed back. His master gave him a harsh lesson and said he wouldn't be allowed down the mountain until he reached foundation establishment, or else he'd have his legs broken. So..."
Xu Xian asked curiously, "Oh, such a thing happened?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
"Well, that’s fine then." Although Xu Xian felt a bit of schadenfreude, his heart felt warm. He then asked casually, "Do you know how many Foundation Establishment Pills he used to break through?"
Lin Qianqian thought for a moment, counting on her fingers. "I’m not sure, but it was probably seven or eight. It took him about half a year to complete the breakthrough."
Upon hearing this, Xu Xian clicked his tongue. "Tsk, Little Fatty is a decent guy, but his talent is a bit lacking compared to mine. I only used one."
Lin Qianqian was left speechless. She realized that Xu Xian had come today just to show off, thinking that he was a grown man acting like a child.
Too lazy to dwell on it, she mentioned offhandedly, "That’s not even that many. I heard the senior brothers say that in our sect, there was once someone who ate over a hundred Foundation Establishment Pills before successfully breaking through. Now, that is a lot..."
Xu Xian’s interest was piqued. "Over a hundred? For real? Who was it? Isn't that more than even a pig could eat?"
Lin Qianqian thought back. "They were from the Falling Cloud Peak Elixir Hall. I can't recall the name, but I think the surname was Yao. She was a white-haired girl..."
Xu Xian froze suddenly.
"Yao Xiaoxiao?"
Lin Qianqian’s eyes lit up, and she said loudly, "Yes, her name is Yao Xiaoxiao! You know her?"
Xu Xian couldn't help but want to laugh, but he replied, "Not very well, but she seems like a nice girl."
Lin Qianqian stared wide-eyed into Xu Xian’s eyes, suspicious. "Really not well?"
Xu Xian didn't know how to respond.
If he said they weren't close, she had given him Foundation Establishment Pills.
If he said they were close, they had barely spent an hour together.
He dismissed it perfunctorily, "It’s not important. They’re all juniors anyway. Come on, it's getting late. How about I treat you to a meal?"
Lin Qianqian asked warily, "Am I paying?"
Xu Xian shook his head and laughed. "My treat, my bill."
Lin Qianqian stood up and firmly refused, "No way. This is my turf, I make the rules."
"Hmm?"
Lin Qianqian suddenly grinned and giggled, "My treat, your bill."
Xu Xian was dazed for a moment...
He said speechlessly, "Isn't that the same thing?"
Lin Qianqian replied, "It’s different!"
"Fine, whatever you say..."
The two left the courtyard. Lin Qianqian summoned Qingshuang, carrying Xu Xian straight to the Spirit Food Workshop on Tianjian Peak. It was noon when they arrived, and the shop was quiet and empty.
The manager of the Tianjian Peak Spirit Food Workshop was a woman who was both well-endowed and beautiful, still possessing a lingering charm.
Seeing Lin Qianqian, she greeted her warmly.
"Oh, Qianqian is here!"
"Greetings, Senior Sister!"
It was clear they were well-acquainted.
"Here for a meal?"
Lin Qianqian said earnestly, "Mhm, give us the signature dishes."
The woman was slightly surprised. "No porridge today?"
Lin Qianqian squinted her eyes and looked at Xu Xian. "It’s my treat, but he’s paying the bill."
The woman had noticed Xu Xian long ago, so she took the opportunity to ask, "And this little brother is?"
Xu Xian smiled and introduced himself, "Xu Xian."
The woman froze, her eyes flickering as she looked at Lin Qianqian. "Which Xu Xian?"
Lin Qianqian said with a giggle, "The one and only Xu Xian."
The woman came to a sudden realization.
"The Little Grand-Uncle?"
She hurried to smooth the stray hairs at her temples. The charming woman bowed with cupped hands, her ample chest nearly spilling over.
"Liu Ru greets the Little Grand-Uncle."
Xu Xian quickly waved his hand. "No need for such formalities."
Liu Ru stood up, greeting them with a beaming smile. "Grand-Uncle, the porridge on my Tianjian Peak is actually quite good. I heard long ago that you enjoy porridge. Would you like a bowl?"
Xu Xian’s lip twitched slightly as he declined. "No, thank you. We’ll have what Qianqian said. She’s the boss today."
Lin Qianqian looked at Xu Xian, her eyes full of small triumphs.
Liu Ru understood perfectly and smiled gracefully. "Alright, please wait a moment."
After Xu Xian handed over the dao jade, the two sat at a table.
While waiting, Lin Qianqian chatted happily about the interesting things happening on Tianjian Peak...
Xu Xian listened quietly, his gaze exceptionally soft.
He remembered clearly.
Lin Qianqian didn't actually like porridge...
Those 5,000 merit points hadn't come out of thin air. The girl before him had saved them bit by bit, meal by meal. Although practitioners in the foundation establishment stage could fast for short periods, they still needed spiritual food to provide energy when cultivation drained their strength.
After finishing the meal, the bill was settled.
Lin Qianqian specifically checked the merit points balance in his dao jade—there were still over a thousand left.
She frowned and asked the boy why there was so much left.
Xu Xian simply replied that he wasn't a pig and couldn't possibly eat that much...
She urged Xu Xian to eat and drink properly and not to be stingy. She said her mother used to say that at eighteen, a woman is like a flower, but a man at thirty is just starting to find his pace; since he was only eighteen and still growing, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth wouldn't keep his stomach full...
Xu Xian just smiled and nodded in agreement.
He wanted to say those same words back to Lin Qianqian, but...
He could only say them with his mouth.
Xu Xian didn't want it to be that way.
All he could think about now was going to the Sword Mound to retrieve a sword, then earning more merit points to compensate this girl.
As they were about to part ways, Xu Xian caught a ride on a disciple’s sword.
Lin Qianqian reminded Xu Xian to eat his fill before entering the mountain, saying that nothing could be brought into the Sword Mound.
She also said she’d be waiting for his good news.
Xu Xian responded to each point before finally whispering a reminder.
"You remember to eat well too. I'll be able to earn merit points soon. When I come out, it'll be my turn to take care of you."
The girl smiled knowingly, her eyes narrowing as she said generously, "That's a promise!"
It was only the disciple who suffered, feeling like he had been force-fed a hearty dose of 'dog food,' and the taste was quite sour.
On the way back, the disciple asked despite knowing the answer:
"Little Grand-Uncle, what is your relationship with Martial Aunt Lin?"
Xu Xian replied lazily, "She’s my sister."
The disciple asked again, "Same mother, different father?"
Xu Xian replied again, "Different father, different mother."
The disciple was confused...
Xu Xian grew anxious...
"Watch the sky! We’re going to crash, we’re going to crash!"
A moment later...
"Grand-Uncle."
"Speak."
'Could you... not tell anyone about what just happened?'
"Fine."
"...."
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