[System: Your score, 100 points. Assessment passed! Please continue to work hard!]
[Assessment Passed Reward: Draw Qi into the body, and step onto the Great Dao!]
Xie Bing: !!!!
One hundred points!
A perfect score!
From this moment on, she was also an immortal cultivation top student who had scored 100!
The joy of victory had just filled her heart when the damn System announced again:
[Host, please prepare. Foundation Establishment will begin immediately!]
Xie Bing: ??Now??
Wait, she hadn’t even picked out a hot spring yet!
Foundation Establishment is usually done with meticulous preparation, in a greenhouse. Greenhouses come with hot springs, so after connecting with heaven and earth, the impurities expelled from the body can be cleaned in time. Why is this System so impatient?
But it was already too late!
Inside her Dantian, spiritual energy was suddenly swirling thickly!
Xie Bing: “……”
Fine, she’ll just sit down right here.
The moment she entered meditation, spiritual energy began to flow slowly through her limbs and bones, gently cleansing her meridians, slowly establishing a profound and mysterious connection with heaven and earth.
She could feel the abundant spiritual energy of the world transforming into countless points of light, burrowing into her body.
In two lifetimes, she was finally establishing a Foundation. Xie Bing should have been excited, but she was eerily calm.
The cultivation world is divided into nine realms: Foundation Establishment, Fasting, Out of Body, Golden Core, Refinement of Void, Nascent Soul, Divided Spirit, Body Integration, Mahayana, all the way to Transcending Tribulation and becoming a god. Foundation Establishment is the very first realm of cultivation. As long as one draws Qi into the body, cleanses the marrow, and successfully establishes a Foundation, they officially set foot on the path of cultivation and can seek the Great Dao!
Xie Bing sat on the large rock, sinking her mind into calmness, closing her eyes to feel.
That spiritual energy circulated spontaneously, running through her body for eighty-one full cycles until her flesh and blood were full and clear. Then, it slowly reversed and ran another eighty-one cycles. All rivers eventually reach the sea, gathering in her Dantian, condensing a swirling, solidified “Qi”.
During this process, she initially felt pain. However, Xie Bing had already endured countless hardships, and she found this pain of Foundation Establishment not so unbearable.
After enduring it, a lazy, comfortable feeling followed. Her entire body was being tempered and nurtured. She felt light all over, as if she could ride the wind and return.
After the “Qi” condensed in her Dantian, she instantly felt her body become much lighter.
Foundation Establishment complete! The “Qi” underwent a qualitative change, finally transforming into an inexhaustible flow of “Spiritual Energy”!
After Foundation Establishment, the spiritual energy naturally generated by the body can cleanse the marrow. A mortal experiencing spiritual energy cleansing for the first time signifies the rebirth of the body!
From her Dantian, a strand of clear and pure transparent spiritual energy separated and flowed quietly through her meridians. This time, the circulation speed became extremely slow. As the spiritual energy moved, countless pores expelled copious amounts of black, viscous liquid—these were the impurities of a “mortal body”.
Layer after layer. First, the impurities were expelled along the meridian paths. Then, she silently cycled the spiritual energy for thirty-six full cycles. Each time, fewer impurities were expelled, until finally, what seeped from her pores was no longer black filth, but a faint, subtle fragrance, stopping on its own.
Xie Bing’s unique version of “body scent” mixed with the black impurities. This signified that her Foundation Establishment was complete!
From now on, Xie Bing had become a formal cultivator in the cultivation world!
Xie Bing slowly opened her eyes… she failed to open them!
Even her eyelids were covered in a layer of black filth, not to mention the rest of her body. She rubbed her eyes, opened them, looked at her sorry state, and sighed.
There were no body-nourishing hot springs nearby, only a small, bone-chillingly cold pond connected to the river at the back mountain.
With no other choice right now, she had to go to the Cold Pond.
…
The pitch-black Xie Bing jumped in with a plop.
Water splashed everywhere.
A thin layer of mist floated on the Cold Pond. The cold, dense mist swirled around Xie Bing’s body. The faint moonlight cast ripples upon the water’s surface.
It was piercingly cold.
Xie Bing shivered from the cold, removed her clothes, and began washing her body.
Scrub, scrub, scrub…
Wash, wash, wash…
The flowing cold mist on the pond slightly obscured the springtime view below her chest. Looking out from the Cold Pond, its water gradually merged into a nearby river. In the distance were towering misty mountains and rustling bamboo groves. No one was around—a perfect immortal night scene.
Xie Bing relaxed. In the dead of night, no one would come here.
She used countless soap beans and finally washed herself from pitch-black to fair and tender.
Luckily, the Cold Pond had a current, or it would have turned into a black pond.
Lightness.
—This was Xie Bing’s first sensation after bathing.
Her vision became clearer, her hearing sharper. Her body felt incredibly light, crystalline, and clear.
She tried to circulate her spiritual energy but found she couldn’t. Thinking to herself, it seemed she still needed to rely on Skill Books to unleash her abilities.
She remembered the Five Aggregate Spirit Herb.
The Five Aggregate Spirit Herb was very effective for nurturing Spiritual Roots, making it highly suitable for consolidating the spirit veins right after Foundation Establishment. Xie Bing hadn’t given it to Su Caiyi, and it was perfect for her own use now.
A small medicine bottle suddenly appeared in her palm. She opened the stopper, and a single herb with a faint glow leaped out, landing in her hand.
Xie Bing looked at the Five Aggregate Spirit Herb.
Immortal sects place great importance on disciples’ Foundation Establishment. They usually prepare greenhouses and medicines in advance for disciples to use after the process. But Xie Bing was a waste; no one prepared anything for her. She only had this one herb.
Generally, immortal herbs need to be refined to achieve their best effect. But the current timing couldn’t be missed; she had to eat it. Although the effect would be slightly weaker, it didn’t matter much.
She simply tossed the Five Aggregate Spirit Herb straight into her mouth and crunched it up.
Pure spiritual energy slid down her throat and suffused through her limbs and bones. Gentle yet powerful spiritual energy quickly enveloped her warmly. Her whole body felt cozy, even the coldness was dispelled.
She meditated like this in the Cold Pond water for two hours. When she opened her eyes again, she was alarmed to find that the sky was already bright!
Her body felt as light as if it wasn’t her own. Xie Bing looked at her bare body. It was broad daylight; she needed to finish quickly to avoid anyone passing by…
Just as she thought this, she suddenly raised her head, horrified.
Drifting down the river above was a bamboo raft.
The raft had just floated near the Cold Pond.
On the bamboo raft lay a man in a white robe, propped on his side. One hand held his head, the other held a jar of wine.
Suddenly, the Eldest Senior Brother’s gaze froze: “…”
Half-exposed, Xie Bing’s body stiffened: “…”
Yin Juanzhi’s gaze moved downwards, downwards…
He raised an eyebrow: “Junior Sister, what a fine view.”
Xie Bing’s face instantly flushed red: “!!!”
She immediately clutched her chest and shrank down. With a bang, a spray of white water erupted.
…
Xie Bing calmed down. The mist obscured her slightly, leaving only her head exposed.
“Eldest Senior Brother, please look away. I need to get dressed.”
“I know.”
Due to his hangover, Yin Juanzhi’s voice was slightly hoarse. He lazily raised his wine jar and turned his head with disinterest.
The bamboo raft was about to continue downstream…
Suddenly, an arc appeared in the sky! A brave little black piglet rushed out from the bamboo grove, charging at the Eldest Senior Brother on the raft!
Faint Wood spiritual Qi surged under its feet. This was a Wood-type spirit pig! For some reason, it judged that Yin Juanzhi posed a danger to Xie Bing and bravely charged to protect her, attacking him!
Xie Bing screamed instantly: “Come back!!!”
Little Black Pig: Oink! No way!
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh…
Its four stubby little hooves, empowered by Wood spiritual Qi, tread upon the water waves, riding the wind and cleaving the waves. With a bang, it splashed Yin Juanzhi all over!
The hungover Yin Juanzhi: “…”
Instantly sobered.
His black bangs were drenched with icy water, half his white robe soaked. The wild boar oinked once, self-satisfied, and prepared to dash over to Xie Bing.
Xie Bing: “! Stop!”
The boar couldn’t come over either!
Little Black Pig stood on the water’s surface, its aggrieved little eyes fixed on Xie Bing.
Xie Bing: “…”
She took a deep breath. As a supporting character, she couldn’t compare to the female lead in other things, but raising animals was her forte. She was best at…
Raising pigs, raising birds…
In the past, she often couldn’t sleep and would go to the back mountain. Being a mortal who needed three meals a day, she sometimes fed the small animals. Over time, she’d raised a few, and this black pig was one of them.
She never expected Little Black Pig would actually want to protect her.
The piglet did a somersault on the water and angrily turned, rushing straight at Yin Juanzhi’s face!
Yin Juanzhi snorted coldly, and with a casual wave of his hand, a terrifyingly pure white light flashed!
Xie Bing’s pupils constricted. Subconsciously she said: “Don’t kill it!”
Before her eyes, a scene from her time in the Devil Realm flashed: Nangong Wumei casually waving his hand, a person exploding into a blood mist before her. She had forcibly suppressed the nausea in her heart, ignoring the blood splattering on her… Nangong Wumei was a madman.
Was the pig she had raised with her own hands going to be killed by Yin Juanzhi?
…
Time seemed to slow. Yin Juanzhi’s white light flashed, merely enveloping the boar before flinging it like a projectile into the mountains.
Just like its arrival, a clear parabolic arc.
Xie Bing clearly saw Little Black Pig instantly cower in the distance, vanishing in a blink!
As soon as Yin Juanzhi made a move, whether human or spirit beast, all feared his terrifying spiritual energy!
Yin Juanzhi didn’t tend to his soaked hair. He sat up, narrowing his eyes at Xie Bing. “You’re afraid I’d kill it?”
Xie Bing: “…”
Damn. Yin Juanzhi had the Righteous Path image of protecting the weak and small animals!
She still remembered that at a major assembly, Yin Juanzhi had gently rescued an injured spirit beast that had charged into the venue, garnering countless praises under everyone’s watchful eyes…
Thinking back now, what an actor! He did it all for show!
“N-No,” Xie Bing forced a laugh. “It was just an exclamation.”
“Oh?” Yin Juanzhi raised an eyebrow. “But just now, you were truly afraid.”
Afraid to the point her pupils constricted.
“I wasn’t,” Xie Bing flatly denied.
Xie Bing felt some regret. Yin Juanzhi was simply too sharp; he latched onto her single moment of weakness and wouldn’t let go. She took a step back, then another. The water splashed loudly.
Yin Juanzhi raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled lightly. “Xie Bing, you’re afraid of me.”
His words were certain.
Yin Juanzhi finally confirmed Xie Bing’s strange behavior over these past few encounters. She truly feared him.
But… how could that be?
“No, I’m not afraid of anyone.”
Xie Bing froze, then immediately denied it. But as the words came out, she realized it sounded too much like a denial.
Yin Juanzhi’s dark, gloomy eyes held a hint of inquiry. Suddenly, a look of interest flashed within them. “Xie Bing, come over to me.”
Xie Bing: …Huh?
“Eldest Senior Brother, you’re really overthinking it. I’ll leave now. I need to change my clothes.”
Yin Juanzhi raised an eyebrow. “Then change.”
Xie Bing: “……”
“Eldest Senior Brother, isn’t this improper?” Xie Bing’s teeth chattered from the cold.
Seeing Xie Bing’s face turning blue from the icy water, Yin Juanzhi propped himself up on the bamboo raft. Lifting a jar of wine, he beckoned to Xie Bing. “Come up. It’s cold in the water.”
His words were lingering and caring.
Xie Bing: “……”
Something fishy must be going on! The Eldest Senior Brother seemed to suspect her. This was deliberate, reckless behavior!
She suspected the Eldest Senior Brother wanted to silence her permanently!
“No need. Thank you for your kind intentions, Eldest Senior Brother. But as an unmarried man and woman, please excuse yourself so I can change my clothes.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why are you avoiding me?”
…The conversation had returned to the starting point.
Xie Bing lowered her eyes, pondering where she had slipped up. Yin Juanzhi couldn’t have discovered she’d learned his secret. Play dead and she could still live!
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Yin Juanzhi smiled, but there was no warmth in his eyes. “Xie Bing, seven days ago, you’ve been hiding when you see me. Why?”
Xie Bing stared fixedly at Yin Juanzhi, three question marks sincerely appearing in her mind: ???
…How could this be?
She remembered in her past life, Yin Juanzhi, as the Eldest Senior Brother, had never spoken this much to her! His cultivation was profound. Although still young, he was considered “virtuous and highly respected” in the cultivation world. Unlike those old cultivators who were stiff-faced, he could even be called unrestrained. Among the women of the cultivation world, he topped the infatuation charts.
In her previous life, he was like a divine dragon—seen only in glimpses. He didn’t return to the Taixu Sect often. Every time he did, countless people swarmed around him, and Xie Bing certainly wouldn’t have actively approached him.
She had been utterly infatuated with Gu Monian, her eyes solely focused on him, paying little attention to Yin Juanzhi.
Neither interested in the other, their interactions were scarce.
Later, in the Devil Realm, she faced the Devil Realm’s Devil Venerable, Nangong Wumei. The Devil Venerable’s casual slaughter was normal; no terrifying face he revealed would be surprising. She feared the Devil Venerable and maintained a safe distance to survive.
But now, he was the Eldest Senior Brother!
What was different in this life?
Xie Bing bit her lip tightly. The Five Aggregate Spirit Herb was almost fully absorbed. The cold pond water made her shiver uncontrollably. Yet she had not a stitch of clothing on her, and that damn Yin Juanzhi stubbornly clung to her slip-up and wouldn’t leave. What was she supposed to do?
…
Just then, trails of cloud and smoke streaked across the sky—someone was Sword Riding.
A few martial brothers flew past overhead.
Cultivators generally possess strong Divine Consciousness and ample spiritual energy. Their vision is naturally excellent. Someone spotted the anomaly in the sky and dove straight down. The sword glows behind him followed suit.
“Eldest Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Sister.”
They landed one after another, and the group was shocked, several colliding with flying spirit swords: “…What is this??”
Xie Bing, soaking in full view: “…”
She wished she could just die.
“…Wh-What happened?”
They hadn’t expected to see the Eldest Senior Sister bathing and hurriedly retreated, turning their faces away.
At the same time, three words popped into their minds: An affair!
One lying on a bamboo raft with clothes half-soaked, the other bathing in a cold pond with her hair wet…
Xie Bing: It’s not what you think!
Eldest Senior Brother Yin Juanzhi stood up, lightly tapped his toes, skimmed over the water’s ripples, and landed steadily nearby.
“Why are your faces red?”
Sword-straight brows, star-bright eyes—he looked the picture of an honorable gentleman. He sighed and shook his head. “I was drunk half the night and drifted here by chance, just as your Senior Sister was bathing in the Cold Pond. What are you people thinking?”
The group, reprimanded by the gentleman: bowed their heads in shame.
Their minds were full of lurid, trashy thoughts! They deserved the scolding! They deserved a beating!
Truly, they couldn’t compare to the Eldest Senior Brother!
The Eldest Senior Brother was indeed noble and righteous, clear as a bright breeze!
Xie Bing, being used by Yin Juanzhi to polish his persona: “…”
Forget it, not going to bother with a lunatic. With everyone present now, Yin Juanzhi wouldn’t dare kill her.
Xie Bing finally couldn’t hold back. “Have you seen enough? Get out, now.”
“Oh, oh, oh.” The group consciously retreated, scrambling backwards in panic.
Yin Juanzhi thoughtfully glanced at Xie Bing, then retreated with the others.
…
Xie Bing pulled a blanket from her Storage Brocade Pouch, wrapped it around herself, and slowly emerged from the Cold Pond.
She hid in a corner of the stone mountain to change clothes. As she came out drying her hair with a cloth, she realized a few people hadn’t left yet.
“Why are you still here?”
Her long hair was slightly damp, carrying the moisture of a recent bath. The martial brothers awkwardly averted their heads, not daring to look.
“S-Senior Sister, we were waiting for you, to go together.”
The Eldest Senior Sister couldn’t cultivate and was a mortal. The Taixu Sect was vast and inconvenient to navigate anywhere without spiritual energy. Whenever they came across the Eldest Senior Sister, they’d give her a ride, so these few were specifically waiting for Xie Bing.
Xie Bing paused. “Waiting for me? Where are you going?”
One person said enviously, “Eldest Senior Sister, the Junior Sister just established her Foundation!”
“Yes! She’s only been in the sect a few days, yet she successfully established her Foundation! Worthy of being a rarely seen Five Spirit Roots talent!”
“Shifu just received a message from Perfected One Gu, inviting us all to a banquet. We’re to have an on-the-spot competition with this rare Five Spirit Roots genius!”
“A true genius. I think only the Eldest Senior Brother can compare with Xuan Yao.”
Eldest Senior Brother Yin Juanzhi smiled modestly, accepting his junior brother’s flattery.
“…What?”
Xie Bing’s expression gradually turned cold.
Before the crowd, the Eldest Senior Brother’s face was gentle as he asked Xie Bing considerately, “What’s wrong?”
Xie Bing said expressionlessly, “What a coincidence. I also just established my Foundation.” ???
What?
The crowd looked at each other in confusion.
They could barely believe their ears.
A waste, a mortal woman who tried and failed to establish her Foundation for ten years, had established her Foundation?
Now, even Yin Juanzhi scratched his ear, frowning as he looked Xie Bing up and down.
Wait, Gu Monian had announced a grand banquet for his female disciple. Now another female disciple had broken through—he’d be thrilled beyond belief, right?
However, when Xie Bing arrived at the scene with everyone, Gu Monian, learning of her Foundation Establishment, had a subtle expression that was absolutely not “thrilled beyond belief.”