Raise a sword!

The Peak Master of Ni Chang started talking about cultivation, seemingly intending to give Jiang Peng some pointers.

"The Qi Refining Realm is merely the beginning. Why do you need to refine your spirit, body, and Qi to advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm? Because without these, the foundation of your Dao cannot be established."

"Jiang Peng, what does Foundation Establishment look like in your eyes?"

After a moment's thought, Jiang Peng said truthfully, "They can fly through the air and unleash power far exceeding that of Qi Refining cultivators with every move."

"What an idiot," the Peak Master of Ni Chang casually remarked.

Jiang Peng's expression froze.

Immediately afterward, Peak Master Ni Chang chuckled and said, "But this isn't your fault. You come from humble beginnings, and your master is merely a Qi Refining cultivator. What kind of teacher would tell you these things?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng stood up to bow, but found herself trapped in place by a gentle force.

"That's your problem, kid. You're always so polite and courteous, but it makes you seem distant... Besides, can you even stand up straight on that broken tree branch?"

Jiang Peng smiled awkwardly.

Peak Master Ni Chang shook her head and continued, "What you see is merely the superficial appearance of Foundation Establishment. Why do you think cultivators cultivate? Just for those extraordinary methods? That's how short-sighted people are, but you are not allowed to think that way."

"The biggest difference between Foundation Establishment cultivators and Qi Refining cultivators is that Foundation Establishment cultivators can draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth for their own use with just a few gestures. This is the source of the power of Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Therefore, Foundation Establishment cultivators have a continuous supply of spiritual energy, while Qi Refining cultivators often experience a depletion of spiritual energy."

The Peak Master casually plucked an inconspicuous withered branch from the lush foliage beside him.

The next moment, without her activating any spiritual power, the withered branch sprouted buds and tender leaves at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Jiang Peng's eyes lit up. He had long known that cultivators possessed extraordinary abilities, but their abilities were so extraordinary that he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.

"This is the Dao." Peak Master Ni Chang casually tossed the withered branch aside.

"This disciple is dull-witted." Jiang Peng frowned deeply, puzzled.

"The sun, moon, mountains, and rivers are the Way; birds and beasts are the Way; flowers are the Way; grass is the Way; and the annual rings in this tree are the Way."

"The Tao is divided into countless paths, and building a foundation is the first step on the path you have chosen."

Jiang Peng's doubts grew stronger.

"The path I've chosen? But I..."

"Are you saying you only know how to bury yourself in cultivation and have never chosen your own path?"

"Yes."

"Flowers and plants are the Way, birds, beasts, and insects are also the Way. If you don't choose them, does the Way cease to exist?"

How do you view the world, all living beings, or, on a smaller scale, how do you conduct yourself in society?

The tone of the Peak Master of Rainbow Peak became melodious, so much so that Jiang Peng unconsciously closed her eyes, only to feel echoes in her ears.

"The Way is neither about good nor evil, neither about right nor wrong."

"A steadfast mind is the Way, as is fickleness."

"They are all just different aspects of life under heaven."

"Foundation building is the first step in merging with the Great Dao. Every subsequent advancement in cultivation brings one closer to heaven and earth and to the Great Dao."

"In this process, you will see your true nature and return to your original simplicity. Cultivating the Tao is seeking the Tao. If you do not understand the Tao, you will not understand the future."

"If the Dao is not understood, then Foundation Establishment is merely Foundation Establishment."

As the voice of the Peak Master of Rainbow Peak gradually became clearer, Jiang Peng also woke up from her closed-eye contemplation.

He turned his head and saw that the Peak Master of Ni Chang was also looking at him, her gaze as calm as a still well.

"That was all nonsense."

"Huh?" Jiang Peng's eyes widened suddenly.

"That's my father's way of putting it. Following the pen of Honey in Late Autumn October, we embark on an adventure in Cola Novels called 'Raising the Sword!' But what is the Dao, and where is it? Who can truly explain it? It's probably not something an old, immortal Golden Core cultivator like him could explain."

Jiang Peng remained silent, not daring to respond.

Ni Chang continued, "He always likes to use cryptic language to make people understand, but I've been trying to understand for so many years and still haven't figured it out. More than a hundred years have passed, and my temperament hasn't changed much since I was in the Foundation Establishment stage."

"To be honest, I didn't feel any changes when I was building my foundation. It was exactly the same as when I was cultivating my qi... Tsk, I can't figure it out, I don't want to think about it anymore."

"In short, I'm telling you all this because you've also reached the point where you're about to establish your foundation, so these words should be of some use."

"As for what you can understand, that's your own business... There's only one thing the old man said that I quite agree with: seeking the Tao is a personal matter, why should others interfere too much?"

Jiang Peng was still somewhat confused. What her senior sister Ni Chang had said today was too profound and could not be understood in a short time.

But deep down, Jiang Peng felt as if something had entered her heart, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

After much deliberation, he finally managed to stand up on the tree branch.

Just as he was about to bow, he was stopped by the peak master of Ni Chang from a distance.

"Consider my guidance just now a way of repaying your contribution."

The gratitude on Jiang Peng's face immediately faded, and she just squinted at Peak Master Ni Chang, but said nothing.

But it was this gaze that made Peak Master Ni Chang blush.

"This has nothing to do with me."

"Didn't my senior master gamble away my sect's contribution points?" Jiang Peng asked, puzzled. "I remember Master betting on Senior Brother Song Lian to win the competition? But the competition for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators hasn't even started yet, has it?"

"What do you mean?"

"She took my family's contribution..."

"It is my tribute."

"She used your sect contribution to exchange for spirit stones and went to gamble in the south. She lost everything and was even detained by the gambling den. I had to step in and bring her back."

"That's ridiculous. Every bookmaker in the world takes a cut; what idiot would actually participate themselves?"

The Peak Master of Ni Chang clenched her teeth so tightly that they made a grinding sound, showing that she was indeed very angry.

"This is the behavior of a Foundation Establishment cultivator after entering the Dao. Don't think of Foundation Establishment cultivators as some unfathomable figures. They are gamblers when they are cultivating Qi, and they will become even more so after they reach the Foundation Establishment stage. A leopard can't change its spots."

Jiang Peng just silently watched Ni Chang.

Ni Chang felt uncomfortable under his gaze and frowned, saying, "I'm different. I'm trying to break through the Heart-Guarding Barrier... Never mind, this kind of profound realm is beyond the understanding of a mere Qi Refining cultivator like you, and you wouldn't understand anyway."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Peak Master of Rainbow Robe vanished without a trace.

Jiang Peng sighed softly. What else could he do?

However, the information revealed in Ni Chang's words just now piqued Jiang Peng's interest.

"The so-called 'southern region' must be the coastal area on the southern slopes of the Earth-Ringing Mountains, right? That's the truly prosperous area of ​​the Southern Mountain Region... How can sect elders go there so freely?"

Jiang Peng was somewhat interested in the intricacies of this matter.

The Foundation Building Pill, which they couldn't find on the northern slope, and the Crimson Sun Stone Marrow, which they inquired about without success, should have some clues on the southern slope.

After all, even Xuanxin Ye, who refines Foundation Establishment Pills for the Cangshan Sect, was found from the southern foothills through Elder Liu Zhi's connections.

"I should inquire about this," Jiang Peng thought, wanting to go to the southern foothills to broaden his horizons.

Currently reading: Chapter 123, "The Way of the Rainbow Robe," latest chapter available here.