Three punches shattered the demonic soul, young hero, I'm an honest man!

When Pei Yun stepped into Luo Qingyi's office, he keenly sensed that his superior seemed to be in a good mood.

"Lord Luo, I have successfully completed my mission."

Luo Qingyi looked him over and, seeing that his clothes were neat and his breathing was steady, couldn't help but smile:

"It seems the trip to the Imperial Guard camp was relatively easy?"

"It's acceptable."

Pei Yun shrugged.

"It was just a little stretching."

Luo Qingyi smiled and said, "That old fellow Yan Chongyue has really suffered a big setback this time."

"They also said they would prepare a compensation that would satisfy you."

Pei Yun's heart stirred slightly.

"Although Yan Chongyue's personality is not likable, his words still carry weight."

"This time we should really invest more."

"That sounds good."

A smile appeared on Pei Yun's face.

"However, compared to that, I am more looking forward to Lord Luo's 'surprise'."

He stared intently at Luo Qingyi, his gaze filled with undisguised anticipation.

Luo Qingyi felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, and gave a soft snort, her expression ambiguous:

"What? Is my surprise something you've been longing for so much?"

She paused, then changed the subject, her tone slightly teasing:

"If I were to say that the 'surprise' would be me personally pouring you a cup of tea, would Commander Pei be satisfied?"

Pei Yun's smile froze instantly, and he said helplessly:

"Lord Luo, this joke is not funny."

Seeing his discomfiture, Luo Qingyi felt even more pleased.

She chuckled softly, like the sudden ringing of a silver bell.

Luo Qingyi has always presented herself as aloof and cold.

Only when facing Pei Yun, a subordinate who always brings her "surprises," does she occasionally reveal such a relaxed side.

"Okay, I'm not teasing you anymore."

Luo Qingyi's expression turned serious, and she slowly spoke.

"You are now at the late stage of the eighth-grade Innate Realm, and you are only one step away from recovering to the seventh-grade Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Do you know what foundation building is?"

Pei Yun put away his playful and irreverent demeanor and sat up straight.

"At the Innate Realm, one refines their physical body and condenses their true energy."

"To establish a foundation, one must use one's own innate spiritual power as a guide, and according to the cultivation method and one's own understanding, to build a foundation for the Dao."

"This is the true beginning of embarking on the path to immortality, the most crucial moment!"

Pei Yun was once at the Foundation Establishment stage, and although he has to start over now, he still has this basic knowledge.

"good."

Luo Qingyi nodded.

"The Dao Foundation takes countless forms, such as a lotus platform, a magic sword, or a star map... and so on."

"But regardless of its form, twelve towers are always visible on the foundation of the Dao."

"This building represents the twelvefold perfection and potential of the Dao foundation."

"And the foundation of the Dao is also divided into grades."

Luo Qingyi continued.

"The worst is the low-grade Dao Foundation, with limited potential and a bleak path to immortality."

"Such foundations are mostly built with difficulty, and the structures are unstable, at most manifesting seven layers."

"Above this is a superior Dao foundation; the future Golden Core stage is within reach!"

"Those who can forge a superior Dao foundation are all individuals with a solid foundation and extraordinary talent, and can reach the eighth to eleventh level."

"Above that is the supreme Dao Foundation."

"The twelve-story palace is imbued with divine light, and various incredible phenomena may even accompany it."

Luo Qingyi looked at Pei Yun: "I remember you..."

Pei Yun nodded calmly.

"What I built before was a twelve-story tower."

This matter was not a secret among the high-ranking officials of the Northern Garrison Command.

"Do you know that above the supreme Dao Foundation, there is an even higher level: the 'Flawless Dao Foundation'?"

Luo Qingyi looked at Pei Yun.

"A flawless foundation?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Pei Yun's eyes.

He knew about both superior and top-grade Dao Foundations.

But this "flawless foundation of the Dao" is something I've never heard of before.

Seeing his expression, Luo Qingyi's red lips curved into a faint smile.

"It's quite normal that you don't know."

Her voice was clear and melodious, with a hint of instruction.

"Even in those lineages that have been passed down for thousands of years, only the true core disciples are qualified to come into contact with such secrets."

"Ordinary cultivators might spend their entire lives trying to even reach the threshold of 'top-grade Dao Foundation,' let alone 'flawless' beyond that."

Pei Yun remained silent.

On the path to immortality, each step reveals a new heaven, and beyond the heavens lies an even higher realm.

That's absolutely true.

"The twelve-story tower is not a figment of imagination," Luo Qingyi said softly.

"The construction of each tower is a condensation and sublimation of one's own magical power, soul, and even understanding of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth."

"The higher the tower, the more stable the foundation of the Dao, the deeper the potential, and the broader the future path to immortality will naturally be."

"If one can achieve the legendary 'Flawless Dao Foundation,' the twelve-story palace will be perfectly complete."

"It is said that the path to immortality is so smooth that it is beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators."

Luo Qingyi sighed softly.

"But such a foundation is too ethereal."

"I only glimpsed a few words of the record by chance, and I have never heard of anyone actually creating it."

Pei Yun's heart stirred slightly.

The flawless Dao foundation, the twelve-tiered palace perfectly complete, and its radiance spontaneously generated...

He couldn't help but think of the mysterious and unfathomable "Glassy Foundation" in his dantian.

Flawless and pure, clear and transparent, with natural patterns on it, seemingly in harmony with heaven and earth.

They do bear some resemblance...

Luo Qingyi, unaware of the turmoil in Pei Yun's heart, changed the subject:

"Besides the Dao Foundation grade, there is another crucial matter."

"After a cultivator establishes their foundation, regardless of how many layers of palaces they ultimately manifest, as long as they cultivate the palaces to perfection, they will have the opportunity to develop a 'natal spirit'."

"My destiny?"

Pei Yun's expression shifted slightly.

Although he had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, it was only for a short time before he hastily took over the case of the Candle Shadow Sect.

He then suffered a great misfortune, and his cultivation was destroyed.

The deeper mysteries of the Foundation Establishment Realm have indeed not been explored in depth.

Luo Qingyi nodded in explanation.

"Ordinary cultivators cultivate techniques, while martial artists cultivate their bodies; this is the usual way."

"However, the method of 'natal destiny' is extraordinary."

Luo Qingyi paused, her gaze becoming deep.

"This method is closely related to the cultivator's life and spirit, and its profoundness is far beyond that of ordinary Taoist methods."

"More importantly, it can grow along with the cultivator's cultivation level."

"Therefore, for Foundation Establishment cultivators, whether or not they possess a 'natal Dao technique' makes a world of difference in their strength."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yun's expression shifted.

When his cultivation was destroyed, his foundation was not yet fully stable, let alone the development of his "natal essence".

I never knew there were such profound mysteries in the Foundation Establishment stage.

Luo Qingyi took in all the subtle changes in his expression.

"What I can advise you is that you must be extremely cautious when you encounter any cultivator who possesses a 'natal destiny'."

Luo Qingyi's tone became serious.

"That is an existence beyond the realm of common sense; each of its innate Dao techniques possesses incredible power."

"If you underestimate it, you will suffer a great loss."

Pei Yun couldn't help but press further, "Then how exactly is one's destiny derived?"

Luo Qingyi paused for a moment, then finally revealed her true colors.

A sly smile crept into the corners of his eyes and brows.

"The natal chart represents a cultivator's profound understanding of the Dao path, based on their own Dao foundation characteristics."

"It may even be related to a bit of fate that allows it to be conceived and born."

"Most cultivators may not be able to develop their own innate destiny even after a lifetime of effort."

"This is not the result of diligent practice, but rather concerns the quality of one's foundation in the Dao and one's destiny."

"And the 'surprise' I granted you is related to this."