Raise a sword!

The scale of a cultivator's foundation-building ceremony was not as grand as Jiang Peng had imagined.

In fact, if we disregard the initial upheaval of spiritual energy surrounding him, Cheng Kaihai at this moment appears no different from a Qi-refining cultivator in his daily Qi-gathering practice.

Find a place with abundant spiritual energy, sit cross-legged, and then remain completely still.

However, Jiang Peng gradually began to notice that even when Cheng Kaihai was just sitting still, he was emanating an inexplicable pressure.

The overwhelming pressure was too much for most of the disciples watching to bear, and they all left.

In the end, only a few Foundation Establishment elders and a dozen or so true disciples like Jiang Peng remained in the same place.

As time passed, the pressure emanating from Cheng Kaihai grew heavier and heavier, to the point that Jiang Peng unknowingly activated her spiritual power to resist, but unfortunately, it had little effect.

"You can't stop it." Ni Chang chuckled from the side. "Have you forgotten what I just told you? This pressure doesn't come from Cheng Kaihai himself, but from him using his 'Dao' to draw upon the surrounding spiritual energy."

"Or to put it another way, this oppressive aura originates from this very world, but it only manifests through Cheng Kaihai's actions. If one's cultivation level weren't equal, there would be no way to withstand it... A mere Qi Refining cultivator dares to challenge the heavens and earth?"

Jiang Peng remained silent, but she did not stop urging her spiritual power to resist the oppressive force.

Seeing this, Ni Chang did not stop her anymore, but said, "The pressure at this time is less than 30% of its peak. If I were you, I would not only not resist this pressure, but I would also let it oppress me."

"This is a crucial moment for cultivators to transcend the mortal realm and establish their foundation. If you carefully perceive this moment, won't you have more confidence when you reach this stage in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng immediately dispersed the spiritual energy within her body, and her face turned slightly paler.

Just as the Peak Master of Rainbow Peak said.

The pressure emanating from Cheng Kaihai continued to increase, reaching a level that Jiang Peng could no longer withstand after about fifteen minutes.

Just as Jiang Peng had to use her spiritual power to block it once again, Cheng Kaihai suddenly opened his eyes.

In that instant, the oppressive aura receded like a tide, and Cheng Kaihai seemed to transform into a vortex, frantically absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth with himself at the center.

This change quickly went from being detectable only with divine sense to being visible to the naked eye, and a tornado-like scene gradually formed around Cheng Kaihai.

"drink--"

A loud roar echoed through the sky, shattering the surrounding tornadoes.

Suddenly, Cheng Kaihai stood up, and his body crackled and popped. Then, Jiang Peng could no longer detect any spiritual energy fluctuations from him.

Given Cheng Kaihai's current state, if Jiang Peng were to meet him for the first time, she might mistake him for an ordinary person.

This is clearly beyond what someone at the Qi Refining Realm can do.

"It's that simple," Peak Master Ni Chang chuckled. "This person acts with unwavering determination. Now, riding the wave of his first-place finish in the competition, he's breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage with his unwavering belief at its peak. Success is only to be expected."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peng knew that Cheng Kaihai was already a proper Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He couldn't see what changes had occurred within Cheng Kaihai's body, but the oppressive aura he had just experienced was deeply etched into his mind.

"Is this the true nature of a Foundation Establishment cultivator? The pressure they exude is enough to render a Qi Refining cultivator powerless." Jiang Peng sighed.

"This is a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator who couldn't control his own pressure." Peak Master Ni Chang returned to her lazy demeanor, yawning as she spoke. "As I said before, this pressure actually comes from heaven and earth; it is the manifestation of the Dao, revealed to everyone through Cheng Kaihai's hands."

"Given the unbridled release of his pressure, coupled with the fact that Cheng Kaihai was actually quite weak when he broke through, it seems that some troublesome hidden dangers have already been left in his body at this moment."

As she spoke, Peak Master Ni Chang lightly tapped her feet.

But he had already gracefully arrived at the training ground and stood opposite Cheng Kaihai.

At this moment, Cheng Kaihai was standing still, immersed in the feeling of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Hearing the noise in front of him, he opened his eyes and saw a pill floating in front of him.

"If I don't want my cultivation to end here, I'll take it."

"Thank you, Senior Uncle."

"You are now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so you can call me Senior Sister." Ni Chang said expressionlessly.

Upon hearing this, Cheng Kaihai's rugged face showed a hint of unease.

Under the watchful gaze of the Peak Master of Rainbow Peak, he ultimately failed to utter the words "Senior Sister," but simply bowed in gratitude and swallowed the pill before him.

At the same time, Sect Master Chu Chun'an also came to Ni Chang's side. After nodding slightly to Ni Chang, the two of them stepped back a little to avoid disturbing Cheng Kaihai's healing.

"Junior sister, you've gone to so much trouble."

"It won't cost you anything," Ni Chang shook her head.

Chu Chun'an assumed that Ni Chang was just being protective of her newly promoted Foundation Establishment junior brother, so he smiled and said, "You've gotten there first. I've also prepared some medicine for him to heal."

Ni Chang remained silent, only her eyes darted around.

Chu Chun'an seemed used to Ni Chang's behavior and didn't mind, but simply asked, "What do you think?"

The Peak Master of Rainbow Peak replied, "A Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator is inevitable."

"As for whether he can form a core in the future, that depends on his future fortune."

"Then they are the backbone of the sect." Chu Chun'an's face was full of satisfaction.

The greatest joy in managing such a large sect is seeing the younger generation grow into pillars of the sect.

Half an hour later, Cheng Kaihai finally refined the medicinal power of the pill in his body. After a cool and refreshing feeling, he found that most of the hidden dangers brought about by the breakthrough had been eliminated.

Master Ni Chang's single pill saved him at least half a year of arduous cultivation.

Upon seeing that Ni Chang and the sect leader were still protecting him not far away, Cheng Kaihai quickly stood up and bowed.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Ni Chang, for bestowing the pill."

Peak Master Ni Chang asked, "How was that pill?"

"It's a miracle cure," Cheng Kaihai responded instinctively.

Immediately afterwards, Peak Master Ni Chang laughed and said, "In that case, accepting 100,000 in sect tribute from you shouldn't be too much, right?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Kaihai stood frozen in place, and even Chu Chun'an, who was standing next to him, looked at the Peak Master of Ni Chang in shock.

"Senior sister... I... I'm short of money."

Chu Chun'an even shouted a rebuke.

"Lu Lin! How dare you ask for such a price for a mere second-tier Meridian Strengthening Pill? Kai Hai, don't be hasty, this sect master will pay it for you."

Chu Chun'an immediately took out a porcelain bottle containing pills.

Knowing the temperament of the Peak Master of Rainbow Robe well, he said coldly, "There are three second-tier Meridian Strengthening Pills here. You'll earn two in half an hour..."

"My Meridian Strengthening Pill is different; there's only one in the world, unlike the inferior stuff you have."

"Didn't you exchange your Meridian Strengthening Pill from the sect's treasury?" Chu Chun'an said with displeasure.

"I don't care. Either I demand 100,000 in tribute, or I demand that he spit out all the pills I gave him." Ni Chang showed no mercy whatsoever.

Poor Cheng Kaihai, a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator, stood there bewildered and at a loss.

Sect Master Chu Chun'an, seeing Ni Chang's resolute expression, also looked extremely grim.

It wasn't because of Ni Chang's extortion of tribute; that was a minor matter and didn't amount to much.

The main reason is that Chu Chun'an himself is not far from reaching the Golden Core stage.

So... is the Heart-Guarding Pass really that terrifying?

For a moment, because of Ni Chang's actions, Chu Chun'an's usually firm Dao heart was somewhat shaken.