Journey to the head

Seeing that Li Sheng was using the Five Elements Formation to temporarily suppress Ao Zhuang with three transformations, Wu Yan nodded in approval.

Over the past fifteen years, the seventh generation of disciples began their training, while the sixth generation accelerated their growth, naturally resulting in a continuous emergence of outstanding talents. The fifth-generation disciple, Cui Linglong, was the first to achieve the Golden Core stage, and the sixth-generation disciple, Xie Yongchang, also successfully passed the Heavenly Tribulation and attained the Golden Core stage after being bestowed with a Dragon Gate Golden Core.

Currently, there are ten other disciples with dual spiritual roots in the sect, two of whom are sixth-generation disciples whose dual spiritual roots have reached the foundation stage and are preparing to undergo tribulation.

However, if we only consider natural talent, Li Sheng, the second disciple of the sect leader, is definitely one of the best.

Especially after he cultivated to the mid-stage of Qi Refining and initially clarified his divine sense, he actually discovered the power of hidden consciousness, which greatly surprised the higher-ups of the Yunshan Sect.

It turns out that Li Sheng's extraordinary comprehension, exceptional memory, and logical abilities, which he had previously displayed, were also part of the power of the Knowledge of Hidden Treasures. This great summer emperor of the Treasure Light Realm has become the third person in the Yunshan Sect to possess the Knowledge of Hidden Treasures.

However, Li Sheng's knowledge of hidden treasures is not as strong as Lu Qian's and Lin Le's, so their training directions cannot be exactly the same.
Just then, the water rippled and the clear stream murmured. A huge water mirror condensed above Ao Zhuang's head, reflecting the incoming Gui Water Divine Thunder and Xin Metal Divine Lock with unparalleled clarity.

Dao Patterns - Water Mirror's Profound Waves!

In an instant, the reflection in the water mirror rippled and became real. Identical Gui Water Divine Thunder and Xin Metal Divine Lock burst out from the mirror and collided fiercely with what Li Sheng had unleashed!
Two balls of jet-black divine lightning collided, their sharp buzzing echoing across the training ground, wisps of lightning spreading outwards. Twenty-four cyan chains were intertwined, writhing on the field like a giant python.

Between the lightning and the chains, Ao Zhuang's figure flashed like a fish, stepping on the waves and rushing out, her double whips lashing out at Li Sheng.

Wu Yan smiled. It turned out that it was a Dao pattern that copied the enemy's attack and reflected it exactly. Such a technique was considered very skillful among Foundation Establishment cultivators, and she truly deserved the title of genius.

I just don't know what the limit of this rebound is.
Ao Zhuang, with a water mirror above her head, activated a water escape technique and rapidly approached Li Sheng. Li Sheng's expression remained unchanged; with a sweep of his divine sense, the ball of Gui Water Divine Thunder quietly dissipated.

However, the replica of the Gui Water Divine Thunder was completely unaffected and struck Li Sheng head-on, only to be blocked by the Weak Water Erosion Flow that was already surrounding him, and both were annihilated.

Li Sheng retreated swiftly, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

First, unlike a real mirror, after the water mirror replicates an enemy's attack, even if the original object dissipates, the reflected replica remains unaffected.

Second, the replication of water mirrors is limited to a certain range. The weak water erosion flow around him was not replicated by Ao Zhuang because it was too far away.

With a flick of his hand, three more magical flying swords rose up, each imbued with the power of metal, water, and fire, tracing different arcs as they shot toward Ao Zhuang.

Ao Zhuang snorted angrily. As a new Foundation Establishment cultivator, she could only control the twin whips she held for the time being and could not yet wield other spiritual weapons. However, the three flying swords carried remarkable radiance and, with Li Sheng's enhanced knowledge, drew agile arcs, making them impossible to simply dismiss with a whip.

She had no choice but to stop, and with a flick of her whips, the torrents surged and a huge vortex rose up, swallowing the three flying swords and bursting into a cloud of mist.

Li Sheng seemed to be standing still, observing carefully, and he already understood.

The three flying swords appeared simultaneously. Although the water mirror reflected their images, it did not create copies of them. Ao Zhuang preferred to be temporarily blocked and use other methods to intercept my flying swords rather than use the water mirror to create copies.
Third, the Water Mirror can only copy energy attacks, not physical entities!

Just then, Ao Zhuang burst out of the mist, whipping her whips and slamming them down on Li Sheng's body with a surge of water!
However, the next moment, the whips, seemingly without force, pierced through Li Sheng's body and slammed heavily onto the ground, creating a large crater with a loud bang.

Li Sheng, standing before them, quietly disintegrated into a cloud of mist.

Ao Zhuang was suddenly startled.

This is the unique secret technique of the Yunshan Sect, Wind Shadow Cloud Body!
Was it released just now when I knocked down his three flying swords and the water mist filled the air?
This was originally a secret technique that could only be learned by those who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Li Sheng didn't know it when they sparred a few years ago, but now he has used it.

Yes, as his Qi cultivation reached its peak and his spiritual sense reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he thus met the requirements for practice!
Ao Zhuang's mind raced, and she knew something was wrong. Just as she twisted her waist and raised her whips upwards, a sharp whistling sound came crashing down on her head!

boom!
Ao Zhuang grunted and swung her whips, sending another flying sword flying. But she could clearly feel that the power unleashed by this flying sword had exceeded the scope of a high-level magic weapon.

Looking up, Li Sheng was hovering in mid-air in a flying boat. When the Xin Jin Divine Lock and the replica were annihilated, he had already removed the Five Elements Formation. At this moment, his eyes were shining, and there was even a faint light blooming in the center of his brow.

This is because all mental power has been activated, and the Niwan Palace is shining brightly!

Li Sheng opened his storage bag at his waist, revealing a meteor hammer, a long throwing knife, and a javelin. These three magical artifacts were enveloped by his mental power. In an instant, a flash of light appeared, and the flames on the artifacts suddenly surged up, greatly increasing their power. They roared down towards Ao Zhuang.

"Is this a spell?" Ao Fang, who was watching the battle, was somewhat surprised. With his nascent soul sense, he had already discerned the mystery. "A spell that forcibly enhances the power of a magical artifact by overdrawing its spiritual energy and damaging it?"

Amidst the rumbling tremors, Ao Zhuang, who had just leaped into the air wielding her twin whips, was forced back to the ground by the three magical artifacts.

Li Sheng's expression remained unchanged. He reached out and unleashed a sword, a ring, and a cone of light, which shot up like a falling meteor.

"This spell is incredibly powerful, but it's quite a waste," commented a Golden Core cultivator from the Ao clan beside Ao Fang.

Ao Fang smiled helplessly. The Ao family was used to hardship. Although their situation had greatly improved in recent years, they still maintained a frugal and simple lifestyle. Who would have thought that the Yunshan Sect, which controlled the four major market clusters and had overflowing warehouses accumulated from one victory after another, was so extravagant?
The magical artifacts Li Sheng casually tossed around were, in Yun Shan's eyes, nothing more than items fit for a cheap online marketplace. Even though Li Sheng's disciple rank and monthly rations weren't high, his master and senior sister provided him with extra help! He could have as many magical artifacts as he wanted; didn't you see he changed his storage bag again?
Having grasped the fact that the Water Mirror could not replicate magical artifacts, Li Sheng decisively changed his offensive strategy, unleashing his signature spell, "Burning Weapon." The magical artifacts, flowing like water, crashed down with explosive power, leaving Ao Zhuang struggling to defend herself.

Li Sheng, with his perfected Qi Refining cultivation, suppressed Ao Zhuang, who was in the early Foundation Establishment stage. The Ao clan members watching the battle couldn't help but sigh, "He truly deserves to be the second disciple of Tian Yuanzi Lu Qian."

Wu Yan was also quite pleased. For the past fifteen years, Lu Qian had spent most of his time in seclusion digesting innate spiritual energy, or focusing on cultivating and refining his cultivation, practicing in tandem with Jiang Qingfeng, who had switched to the "Supreme Primordial Spirit Sea-Suppressing Profound Technique," in preparation for the Dragon Palace Grand Gathering.

Occasionally, when he comes out of seclusion, he has to take care of all the affairs of the sect, and discuss major policies with the two vice sect leaders, Lin Le and Wang Yu. He rarely has time to personally guide Li Sheng.

Most of the time, Lu Qian could only set up the educational plan and make adjustments and tests when he came out of seclusion. Wu Yan and Lin Le were responsible for Li Sheng's specific education and training during his seclusion.

Having learned from Tan Yunxing's experience, Wu Yan and Lin Le dared not relax their efforts and continued to provide meticulous guidance and correct any deviations they made.

Wu Yan laid the foundation for Li Sheng's enlightenment, imparted various cultivation knowledge, taught him the operation of cultivation techniques, and lectured on the Yunshan Laws. Now, Li Sheng's foundation in the "Qianyun Scripture" is very solid, and he is preparing to switch to cultivating the "Zhenhai Xuangong" after establishing his foundation.

After being further improved by Jichuan Xuanjun, the "Zhenhai Xuan Gong" has become a top-tier work among the "Yunshan Seven-Rank Dongxuan Zhenjing". Although it can only be cultivated to the peak of the Refinement of Emptiness, and its rank is still third-rank or pseudo-second-rank, its profoundness even surpasses the secret manuals collected in the Treasure Light Realm. Lin Le taught Li Sheng the way of formations, imparted the Five Elements Grand Formation, selected suitable spells for him, and taught him the mysteries of incantations.

Therefore, Wu Yan, the senior sister, is more like a master than Lu Qian. Now that she sees Li Sheng performing well, she is naturally happy.

However, with her discerning eye, she could naturally see that although Li Sheng had the upper hand now, it would not be easy for him to win.

Sure enough, Ao Zhuang roared angrily, and her thirteen-section double whips spun like the wind, piercing the air with turbid waves that surged up layer after layer, even soaking her short hair.

Li Sheng unleashed a barrage of magical artifacts, each imbued with a different kind of light and flame, carrying the power of various elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—as they rained down from the sky. However, Ao Zhuang skillfully used her family's secret techniques to block, dodge, or meet them head-on, managing to withstand them all.

Ao Zhuang's spiritual power was greatly depleted, and she was also injured. However, her water element technique, combined with her double whips, was still incredibly powerful, and she had a long and sustained breath. With each attack she received, her body trembled continuously, and even the Dao pattern water mirror could not be maintained and dissipated. She seemed to be about to collapse at any moment, but she persevered.

She gritted her teeth, her blue eyes fixed on Li Sheng, determined not to fall. A faint, wondrous aura emanated from her; Wu Yan knew this was the fluctuation of the Fu Xi bloodline.

This was a perfect combination of high-level dragon bloodline and human cultivators more than 10,000 years ago, surpassing the original and achieving a result greater than the sum of its parts.

Having successfully established her foundation, Ao Zhuang's bloodline was also activated, and her resilience exceeded the audience's expectations.

The members of the Ao family could not contain their excitement and began to cheer for Ao Zhuang.

Li Sheng is a young hero, but my Ao family's genius is no less so!
As more than a dozen magical artifacts crashed down, Li Sheng pursed his pale lips, and a fine layer of sweat seeped from his forehead.

His gaze sharpened, and his mental power surged once more. The water-splitting dagger in his hand surged with the sound of waves, striking directly at Ao Zhuang.

My psychic power is about to run out; this is the last time I'll use the spell "Flame"!

Ao Zhuang could also sense it. She let out a roar, and her last bit of spiritual power stirred up a series of vortexes. She raised her double whips and, swept by the vortexes, smashed them fiercely towards the Water-Dividing Thorn.

With a muffled thud, a downpour swept across the training ground. Blood gushed from Ao Zhuang's tiger's mouth, and even one of her whips flew out, but she ultimately managed to smash away the water-splitting dagger.

Leaning on the remaining thirteen-section steel whip, she staggered to her feet and walked towards Li Sheng, who had already landed on the ground.

“Li Sheng, I’ve won this time.” She raised her steel whip, pointing it at Li Sheng. “After all these years, I’ve finally won once—”

But her smile froze on her face.

Then Li Sheng reached out and held up the Five Elements Grand Array diagram, which lay quietly in his palm, with several spirit crystals burning.

Yes, as long as there are spirit crystals to power him, he can invoke the array changes that are already engraved in the array diagram!
Now, his spiritual power is almost exhausted, and he can no longer unleash the Water Mirror Mystic Wave.

Ao Zhuang's eyes widened, and the members of the Ao clan all sighed.

Half an hour later, Ao Fang led a group of Ao clan members to see Yun Shan and his party off.

Ao Zhuang stood there sullenly, not wanting to look at Li Sheng, muttering under her breath, "That damn Li Sheng, he's being a cheat."

Ao Fang said seriously, "This is a technique of array cultivators. What's so shameless about it? If it were a life-or-death battle, would you still have the chance to complain like this?"

Ao Zhuang lowered her head, but Li Sheng smiled and said, "When I return from Foundation Establishment, I won't use the changes already recorded in the array diagram. Shall we have another battle?"

Ao Zhuang's eyes lit up, she took a step forward and extended her little finger.

"Then, shall we pinky swear?"

Li Sheng was slightly taken aback: "Isn't that unnecessary? A gentleman's word is as good as his bond."

But his hand had already been pulled up by Ao Zhuang, their little fingers hooked together, and Ao Zhuang pressed her thumb down forcefully.

"It's settled then. I'll wait for you to return after successfully establishing your foundation!"

Seeing that radiant smile, Li Sheng smiled too, and the two of them pressed their thumbs together.

"it is good!"

After bidding farewell to the Ao clan, the Zhengyuan Divine Ship once again sped forward at full speed, this time without stopping, and arrived at the Starry Sea in just over an hour.

The boundless ocean shimmered with brilliant golden light under the setting sun. The sea and sky met, and the sunset glowed like fire. The magnificent scene of the vast sky and sea captivated many Yunshan disciples.

However, Wu Yan and the others felt a little uneasy, because even after arriving here, the foundation-building site that Li Sheng sensed was still extremely far away. They had to continue forward and go straight into the depths of the ocean!
Is it an island in the Starry Sea? Or should we simply cross the Starry Sea and head to the Tianquan Continent on the other side?

This was far beyond expectations. Although the opportunity to establish one's foundation is predetermined, there are certain patterns to follow. It is extremely rare for a cultivator's foundation-establishing site to be on another continent, since it has nothing to do with the cultivator themselves.

Wait, Li Sheng is not from this realm; he is a cultivator from the Treasure Light Realm!

It's impossible that his foundation-building opportunity requires him to return to the Treasure Light Realm.
Or perhaps it's in the spiritual vein that connects the current Baoguang Realm and Yuanchen Realm, in Tianquan Continent, Zhanran Prefecture, Kuquan County, Yueling Sect, and Wanglin Mountain?

Wu Yan frowned in thought. She had originally thought that with herself and Xiang Kong around, they could handle any situation with ease, but now it seemed that she had no choice but to ask Lu Qian to come out of retirement again.

"Send a message back to the mountain immediately!"
"At the same time, we are also preparing to cross the sea and contacting the local Haiyuan Pavilion!" (End of Chapter)