Chapter 150: Secrets

With his realm stabilized, Chen Luo resumed his cultivation, seated cross-legged within the training room. Having paid for twelve days, he intended to make full use of it. According to sect rules, refunding spirit stones incurred a thirty percent handling fee. Unwilling to bear such unnecessary costs, Chen Luo planned to complete the remaining days.

It was also perfect timing, as he needed time to adapt to his recent breakthrough.

Time swiftly passed, and before long, twelve days had gone by.

After the final day, Chen Luo rose, deactivated the formation at the door, and stepped out, pushing open the stone entrance.

“Three breaths overtime, according to sect regulations…”

The disciple responsible for clearing the cultivation rooms initially aimed to extort some payment from Chen Luo. However, mid-sentence, they suddenly froze, overwhelmed by a force akin to an ocean’s might, their gaze meeting Chen Luo’s.

Foundation Establishment!

Such presence could not be matched by any Qi Refinement cultivator.

The clearing disciple shuddered, promptly stepping aside and respectfully bowing to Chen Luo.

“Greetings, Uncle-Master.”

Standing still, Chen Luo sensed the world outside. His divine sense expanded, instantly encompassing the surrounding environment.

Five hundred meters, six hundred meters…

Nine hundred meters, one thousand meters…

His divine sense continued to expand, reaching up to twelve hundred meters before it began to weaken. Such a vast range surpassed many early Foundation Establishment cultivators; even among those at the Mid-stage, few possessed such divine sense strength.

This was the advantage of Perfect Foundation Establishment—just upon breaking through, Chen Luo already had divine sense comparable to a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. With further cultivation and mastering a few techniques for enhancing divine sense, he could likely reach Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, dominating his peers effortlessly.

“Unc-Uncle-Master, here’s a token of respect from your disciple.”

Seeing Chen Luo unmoved, the Divine Lake Peak disciple feared that their earlier words might have angered him. In trepidation, they gritted their teeth and handed over their bag of holding.

“Not bad, knowing when to act accordingly.” Chen Luo glanced at the disciple, accepted the bag, and patted them satisfactorily on the shoulder. Quantity wasn’t crucial; what mattered was the attitude.

The uncle-master appreciates such astute juniors!

“Many thanks for Uncle-Master’s praise,” the Divine Lake Peak disciple replied, their heart bleeding internally.

Their half-month of labor now seemed futile. Facing a Foundation Establishment cultivator, no matter how aggrieved they felt, they dared not show discontent and instead forced a smile—a truly unbearable situation.

With this small gain, Chen Luo managed to alleviate his impoverished financial state somewhat.

Taking a step forward, Chen Luoxu exited the cultivation room and ascended into the air with a surge of magical power. He summoned his long-dormant magical sword from the bag of holding, then performed a single-handed seal gesture. With another burst of magical energy, he transformed into a streak of light and swiftly departed Divine Lake Peak.

Sword Flight!

After reaching Foundation Establishment, he no longer needed physical objects to glide like in the Qi Refinement Stage. Harnessing magical power, his flight speed was now at least ten times faster than during his Qi Refinement days.

“Phew.”

Only after Chen Luo left did the disciple exhale, relief washing over him as he glanced at his now-empty bag of holding, feeling on the verge of tears.

“What unfortunate timing, running into a newly advanced uncle-master just like that!”

Before he could fully relax, a group of Divine Lake Peak disciples quickly gathered around him.

“That uncle-master earlier, has he indeed reached Foundation Establishment?”

“It’s divine sense; it must be the power of divine sense.”

“I never expected that after so many years, someone in our immortal sect would finally achieve Foundation Establishment!” one disciple exclaimed excitedly. For them, nothing was more thrilling than witnessing a cultivator reach Foundation Establishment.

In the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, across its ten main peaks, there were nearly three thousand disciples in the Qi Refinement Realm combined. However, only thirteen cultivators had attained the Base Establishment Realm, each being a highly influential figure within the sect. Even counting the protective mythical beasts of each mountain, the total number of Foundation Establishers wouldn’t exceed thirty.

The appearance of a new Foundation Establishment cultivator would stir the entire immortal sect.

In mid-air,

Chen Luo stood atop his flying sword, soaring through the wind.

Only after truly reaching Foundation Establishment did he grasp the immense gap between Qi Refinement and this stage. No wonder Foundation Establishment cultivators seemed so formidable when he was still in the Qi Refinement Realm; now, even he could effortlessly dispatch Qi Refinement cultivators. Without magical power, those in the Qi Refinement Realm couldn’t fully unleash the true potency of divine abilities. Only divine abilities cast by Foundation Establishment cultivators exhibited their genuine might.

Traveling swiftly on his flying sword, the distance between Wu Dao Peak and Divine Lake Peak, which usually took half a day to traverse, was covered in mere moments.

Mid-flight, Chen Luo performed a single-handed seal gesture, causing the flying sword beneath him to spin once in the air before disappearing into his sleeve.

He gently descended from the sky.

“Huh? You’ve advanced to Foundation Establishment!” Sensing an unfamiliar Foundation Establishment aura, Xianhe Chengfeng, the first to arrive, stared at Chen Luo descending with bewilderment etched on his face.

How had Chen Luo reached Foundation Establishment so quickly?

Xianhe Chengfeng found it utterly incomprehensible. It had taken him nearly three hundred years just to become a second-rank mythical beast. Although the cultivation pace differs between mythical beasts and humans, Chen Luo’s advancement speed was still remarkably disheartening.

“Uncle-Master Chengfeng,” Chen Luo greeted with a smile. Now, when observing Xianhe Chengfeng, he no longer felt the inscrutable depth as before; instead, he could clearly perceive his cultivation level.

Early Foundation Establishment.

“You don’t need to call me Uncle-Master anymore; you’ve reached Foundation Establishment.” Xianhe Chengfeng pursed his lips slightly.

With a sweep of his wings, he returned to the foot of Wu Dao Peak.

His duty was to guard the entrance, and if not for Chen Luo’s arrival by sword, he wouldn’t have rushed over. Now that he knew Chen Luo’s identity, it was natural for him to go back.

Wu Dao Peak.

Upon reaching its summit again, Chen Luo distinctly felt a significant increase in people.

Following the conclusion of the Three Sects’ competition, disciples who had ventured down the mountain for ‘guard duties’ were gradually returning. Their presence revitalized the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, even causing the market at the foothill to become bustling once more.

Ignoring the group of disciples ahead, Chen Luo approached the palace and softly spoke, “Disciple Chen Luo requests an audience with Shizun.”

Instantaneously, the spiritual energy befitting a Foundation Establishment cultivator resonated within the area.

Clang!

The door swiftly opened from inside, releasing a surge of spiritual energy. To Chen Luo’s surprise, Daoist Wuwei, who had been meditating at the center of the hall, appeared at the entrance. A hint of astonishment flashed across his eyes upon seeing Chen Luo standing there.

He always knew this disciple would eventually reach Foundation Establishment, but never anticipated it happening so soon!

Yet, he never expected it to happen so swiftly! Based on his predictions, Chen Luo would need at least three to five years before attempting Foundation Establishment. For any Qi Refinement Realm cultivator, reaching Foundation Establishment is the most crucial milestone on the cultivation path, demanding utmost caution.

“You’ve achieved Foundation Establishment?”

The fluctuations of magical power and divine sense were distinctly different from those of a Qi Refinement cultivator, which caused Wuwei’s profound surprise.

“Pure luck,” Chen Luo replied with a hint of smile. Together, they entered the hall, where Daoist Wuwei dismissed his cultivation artwork and invited Chen Luo to take a seat nearby.

“With this Foundation Establishment, you step onto the immortal path! Congratulations, fellow daoist.”

After seating himself, Daoist Wuwei sincerely offered congratulations to Chen Luo. He genuinely rejoiced for his disciple; throughout Wu Dao Peak’s long history, apart from himself, no other disciple had reached Foundation Establishment until now.

Even Bai Su, who held the highest potential, remained stuck at the Peak Qi Refinement Realm. The situation was similar across the entire Divine Lake Immortal Sect—the last Foundation Establishment cultivator was ‘Head Disciple of the Outer Sect’ Su Tianyao, who later betrayed the sect alongside Beast Taming Peak Lord Elder Ke. That event occurred several years ago, and since then, no new Foundation Establishment cultivators emerged. Thus, Chen Luo became only the second successful Foundation Establishment cultivator in decades within the sect.

Achieving Foundation Establishment was indeed arduous, as countless geniuses had been stymied by this boundary-breaking threshold. Both mental fortitude and strength were indispensable. Even individuals with heavenly spiritual roots have failed to attain it. One’s aptitude determined the starting point, but how far one could progress ultimately depended on personal determination.

“I must also express my gratitude for Shizun’s assistance,” Chen Luo said, a hint of smile appearing on his face.

He could feel Daoist Wuwei’s genuine regard towards him.

From the moment he returned, Daoist Wuwei began treating him as his true disciple. Whether it was helping him expel the evil curse or verifying if there were any hidden malevolent effects within the Foundation Establishment Pill, each act demonstrated his support. Moreover, arranging for an advance on merit points to purchase numerous cultivation techniques further showcased his commitment. This guidance from his Shizun had undoubtedly saved Chen Luo at least twenty years of effort.

“When I first took over Wu Dao Peak from Shizun, I pledged to safeguard its legacy and cultivate a disciple who would reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Little did I expect that after so many years, those actively groomed didn’t succeed, yet you managed to ascend.” Daoist Wuwei sighed, then rose and walked to the side, retrieving an ancient scroll from the wall.

“I initially thought Bai Su would be the next to reach Foundation Establishment; she had the greatest potential. Ever since I brought her from Guo Mountain County years ago, I began grooming her as my successor. Alas…” Daoist Wuwei recalled that stormy night long ago when he rescued the infant girl from the abandoned county and raised her himself, investing all his hopes in her. Yet fate played its cruel tricks.

Thinking of Bai Su, Daoist Wuwei sighed deeply and decided not to dwell on the topic further.

“Let’s go, I’ll take you somewhere.”

Daoist Wuwei rolled up the painting and walked towards the innermost cabinet in the Cultivation Hall, hanging it there.

With a series of clicks, ancient script appeared on both walls. After the restriction patterns flashed, the walls parted, revealing a narrow passageway.

They followed the corridor until reaching its end.

Chen Luo found himself in a roughly ten-square-meter secret chamber, impeccably clean with only a pedestal inside. On the pedestal rested a bamboo scroll held by a redwood stand. The scroll was dark brown, and even at a distance, Chen Luo could sense the energy emanating from it, clearly originating from the same source as his primary cultivation technique, the ‘Xin Mo Art’.

Daoist Wuwei approached and picked up the bamboo scroll. As soon as it was removed from the altar, its aura intensified, enveloping the entire secret chamber.

“This original copy of the Xin Mo Art, I obtained from Guo Mountain County.”

Without any secrecy, Daoist Wuwei revealed the origin of the Xin Mo Art. Chen Luo was not surprised; he had suspected as much during their last visit to Guo Mountain County. The ‘Six Desires Heavenly Demon Art’ causing havoc there had always felt strangely familiar. No wonder upon returning, Daoist Wuwei cautioned him against going back unless absolutely necessary.

With that, Daoist Wuwei handed the bamboo scroll to Chen Luo.

After a moment’s hesitation, Chen Luo accepted the cultivation technique.

Seeing Chen Luo take the scroll, a slight smile appeared on Daoist Wuwei’s face. Regardless of anything else, the legacy issue was now resolved, allowing him to focus on his own pursuits with peace of mind.

“Since you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, I can reveal some secrets about the sect to you.”

“Secrets?” Chen Luo paused, unsure what Daoist Wuwei meant by this revelation.

“Are you aware that the Corpse-Raising Sect and Nine Poisons Valley attacked us, nearly leading to the downfall of our Divine Lake Immortal Sect?”

“I am,” Chen Luo nodded. Upon hearing this news, he promptly returned to the sect. It wasn’t just him; all the disciples who came back did so for the same reason. One couldn’t accuse them of being opportunistic; rather, it reflected the ethos of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect.

“The leaders of the Corpse-Raising Sect and Nine Poisons Valley, both Gold Core cultivators, invaded our sect and reached the main peak. Our sect leader emerged from seclusion, turning the tide with his overwhelming power, repelling the two assailants and ending the conflict.”

“That’s the version told to outsiders,” Daoist Wuwei murmured softly.