Mo Qi almost cried upon hearing his description. Divine Wood Foundation Establishment was reserved for disciples of major sects, and Earth Fire Foundation Establishment would take at least twenty years. Who could wait that long? Who could afford to have their cultivation stagnate for twenty years waiting for Foundation Establishment aids?
Asura Foundation Establishment required another seven hundred years.
Star-Moon Foundation Establishment was even more unreliable; one first had to wait for opportunities. What with nine stars aligning or a celestial dog devouring the moon, how could such events be encountered easily?
Even if they were, he lacked the necessary heavenly treasures, making the missed opportunities futile.
It seemed that only Foundation Establishment through one's own spiritual power was suitable for him.
At this time, the sect leader, Wu Fan, was equally disappointed. Since discovering Mo Qi's genius, he had visited the four major sects, hoping to secure a chance for his disciples to undergo Divine Wood Foundation Establishment.
However, the reply he received was always the same: "Dream on!"
Finally, the moment to test their cultivation results arrived. When all the new disciples gathered, Han Yang cast a peculiar glance at Mo Qi, sparking an idea in Mo Qi's mind: "It seems I can extort a few more medicinal pills."
Han Yang led all the new disciples to a doorway. Two disciples stepped forward voluntarily, stating they had not succeeded in condensing their spirits and had intended to leave earlier. However, the mountain gate had been sealed, preventing their departure. Although they remained, they were absolutely forbidden from participating in the test; entering would be akin to seeking death.
Han Yang nodded, "You two may return and await further news. Once the ban is lifted, you will be free to leave."
After bowing gratefully, the two walked towards the residential area. One complained, "Alas, we failed to cultivate successfully yet are trapped here. Who knows when we will be allowed to leave."
"Sigh," the other sighed and lowered his voice, "I heard that the sect leader ordered the mountain sealed to find 'I'm Here to Play'."
"Yes, it's all that 'I'm Here to Play's' fault. Why did they have to come out and play? Acting all mysterious, refusing to show themselves. What's so great about them?"
As they walked further away, their grumbling words struck Mo Qi's heart with every syllable.
He thought that he should find an opportunity to confess everything to the sect leader. He had already told Xiao Cong'er, and there was nothing he couldn't tell others.
After the two had gone, Han Yang taught everyone the incantation and method for condensing their full body's spiritual power to form a protective divine light enveloping them. Once he ensured everyone had mastered it, he called them one by one by name, having them enter individually.
Although everyone could form a protective divine light to cover their bodies, they were still apprehensive the moment they entered, fearing the flying swords within the room would penetrate their defenses.
The reality proved their worries to be superfluous. The flying swords, though seemingly impenetrable and densely packed, were actually quite fragile. They shattered upon contact, proving to be a test specifically designed for beginners. Everyone emerged unharmed.
Even so, a shadow lingered in everyone's hearts. From this point on, there was no turning back. This meant they had to succeed in every subsequent test, as a single failure would mean death. Those two who withdrew at the first opportunity might, in a sense, have had a fortunate escape.
Their failure this time, if viewed pessimistically, indicated that there was a certain probability of failure within the timeframe set by their master. Everyone (except Mo Qi and Leng Xiao) grew more somber with each thought.
After the test concluded, Han Yang departed, and Geng Xu took over.
He was to teach them about flying swords, which immediately piqued everyone's interest. This divine ability was the signature technique of the Lingxiao Sect, and indeed of Mount Tianxiang, and might very well be their future foundation.
In truth, all cultivation sects learned flying swords, but the flying swords of Mount Tianxiang possessed unique qualities.
Especially Grandmaster Zhang's "Thousand-Mile Flying Sword" was renowned throughout the land. A story circulated widely in the Nine Divine Cultivation Realm: once, Grandmaster Zhang had a minor dispute with Liu Yazi, the sect leader of the Divine Escape Sect. In his rage, Grandmaster Zhang intended to take his life. He launched a Thousand-Mile Flying Sword from Mount Tianxiang, which traversed thousands of miles to reach the Divine Escape Sect leader's residence and directly struck at his head.
Liu Yazi employed various escape techniques—air, water, fire—but still could not evade the persistent flying sword. The sword relentlessly pursued him, aiming to sever his head, day and night. After seven days and seven nights, Liu Yazi was exhausted and mentally drained. He was finally forced to offer a finger, holding it above his head for the flying sword to sever. Only after drinking blood did the flying sword retreat.
Geng Xu, similarly, first taught the cultivation method, incantations, and hand seals. He then meticulously explained the basic methods and techniques for operating flying swords, personally demonstrating with a wooden sword. Finally, he distributed a wooden sword to each disciple, instructing them to practice and granting them three months for this exercise.
After Geng Xu left, Leng Xiao, with an arrogant smile, formed a hand seal and pointed. The wooden sword in his hand flew out, circled in the air, and returned precisely to its sheath. "Does this really require three months? Even an idiot wouldn't need three months for this!"
Wasn't this blatant insult? Everyone was enraged but dared not speak out, except for Mo Qi.
Mo Qi immediately formed a hand seal and pointed, but nothing happened. He pointed again, still nothing.
Leng Xiao's laughter grew more unbridled. "This level? Utterly stupid, an imbecile."
Mo Qi, furious, pointed with his bare hand. A thin, long ripple erupted, darting horizontally at extreme speed like a string of raindrops, with sparks flying from its edges. The air hissed as it passed. It struck directly at Leng Xiao's head. Leng Xiao had no time to dodge. With a *thump*, a lock of his hair instantly vanished.
Leng Xiao, enraged, formed a hand seal with his right hand and pointed. The wooden sword shot out, aimed directly at Mo Qi's brow. Mo Qi formed a hand seal, and the protective golden light around him surged. Simultaneously, his figure flashed, evading the flying sword. He stepped forward, his right hand extending to lock onto Leng Xiao's neck, lifting him like a chick, and then slamming him heavily onto the ground. What followed was a flurry of punches: "Dog Beating Fist!"
By the time the flying sword circled back, it had lost most of its sharpness. When it struck Mo Qi's protective golden light, it shattered into pieces.
Leng Xiao, bruised and swollen again, yelled, "I am a gifted cultivator! You dare to hit me?"
Mo Qi's anger flared even more, his punches and kicks becoming more rapid. "I'm hitting you precisely because you're arrogant, because you dared to put your hands on my head!"
Leng Xiao started to cry, "When did I ever put my hands on your head?"
As the punches landed, many watched with twitching eyelids, yet felt an immense satisfaction. Some even applauded and cheered from the sidelines.
In the end, Mo Qi, demonstrating magnanimity, sent Leng Xiao to Wang Duanwu.
However, Mo Qi had to admit that Leng Xiao's talent was indeed extraordinary. What took ordinary people three months, he grasped after a single glance.
To compensate for his lack of innate talent, he had to practice flying swords in the forest with Jin Dan, Baili Bing, and others. Fortunately, with his overwhelming advantage in spiritual power, he only spent three days before he could fly his sword to strike trees!
Meanwhile, Leng Xiao was recovering from his injuries!
Alas, this child, how could such talent be wasted?
Although Mo Qi was convinced he could only rely on his own spiritual power for Foundation Establishment, he still felt he shouldn't be too hasty. Perhaps if he waited a little longer, an opportunity might arise?
But others were striving, and he couldn't afford to stagnate. Thus, he chose to improve horizontally, accelerating his cultivation of the Divine Sense Vajra Art. After a period of continuous effort, he had raised the Divine Sense Vajra Art to the third level. He clearly felt that his protective divine light shield had strengthened considerably. Initially, it was just a thin, ethereal mist; with the increase in divine sense, the mist gradually thickened, the ethereal feeling diminishing, and it began to materialize. By the time he reached the tenth level of cultivation, his body would be completely encased in a metallic shell. Though still ethereal, it would possess substance.
In addition, another significant change he felt was the strengthening of his physique. When exerting force, his bones creaked, and every inch of his muscles felt incredibly tough.
One day, on his way to the Scripture Pavilion, Mo Qi heard exclamations from the direction of the Trial Medicine Hall from afar: "Heavens, how is this possible? I can't believe it's real."
"It is indeed real. It's written in black and white, how can it be false? Any disciple of the Lingxiao Sect, whether inner or outer, who completes the drawing of a thousand threads or achieves the full quality of the Fire Moth Larva Pupa in the fire control test will be promoted to Deputy Sect Leader of the Lingxiao Sect."
"Isn't this just handing it over to me, 'I'm Here to Play'? It seems the sect leader has paid a hefty price to find this 'I'm Here to Play'."
"Of course. Don't you see the shame tablet has been erased, and all of 'I'm Here to Play's' test results have been removed? This means he can re-take the tests under a new identity. The results will then be entirely new, and no one will feel awkward."
Ever since Mo Qi learned that the shame tablet could not be altered, he had avoided the Trial Medicine Hall. Hearing these gasps of astonishment, his blood surged, and he nearly fainted.
Deputy Sect Leader of the Lingxiao Sect! Second only to the Sect Leader, with absolute authority. Well, there were fewer than a thousand disciples, but the area governed by the Lingxiao Sect was not small. Including various cultivation families and the local populace, there must be tens of thousands of people.
Calm down, must remain calm. Mo Qi tried his best to maintain composure, but his legs felt weak. He practically had to move his legs one by one with his hands to walk over.
Upon arriving, he saw that the shame tablet was gone, and all information pertaining to "I'm Here to Play" had vanished. A notice was posted nearby, stating exactly what everyone had discussed, with no deviation. It even bore the personal signature of Sect Leader Wu Fan.
Mo Qi had already decided to retake the test. Because now, even if he claimed to be "I'm Here to Play," no one would believe him.
He also cautioned himself not to be frivolous or greedy. His participation in this test was not for the so-called Deputy Sect Leader position, but for a decision he had made earlier: to help those two who wanted to leave the mountain but were innocently trapped within its confines! Even though they were not his friends!
But when he entered the hall to prepare for the test, he was stunned. The place was bustling with people, participants crowded the entire passageway, and every test stone tablet was surrounded by a throng of people! As soon as one finished, another immediately stepped up!
Everyone was fighting tooth and nail to become the Deputy Sect Leader! No one liked to accept their fate!
They've all gone mad! For some reason, Mo Qi's nervous mood suddenly calmed. Alas! Mo Qi sighed and withdrew.
Mo Qi decided to go directly to the peak to confess this matter to Wu Fan. If he didn't believe him, he would perform the thousand-thread drawing right there in front of him. However, before he could take two steps, someone blocked his path. Looking closely, it was Xiao Cong'er! Mo Qi's eyes lit up.
"Where are you going, junior brother? Why haven't you visited me lately? Look at you, you've made me lose my appetite, and you're ignoring me again," Xiao Cong'er said in a rapid-fire manner, her eyes smiling.
Passersby overheard her words and cast peculiar glances at her, thinking, "How can this woman be so forward?"
Then they looked at Mo Qi, sighing that a flower had been placed on cow dung, thinking this man must have stumbled upon some incredible luck, or perhaps he had used some sort of charm or spell on this woman, or maybe she was simply blind. They all sighed and shook their heads as they left.
Mo Qi felt a pang of anxiety. Every time he encountered Xiao Cong'er, he felt overwhelmed. Seeing the strange glances from those around him, he felt as if he were exposed to the sun without any clothes on.
Mo Qi lowered his head and said softly, "Senior Sister, please stop joking. Just tell me directly if you need something."
Xiao Cong'er put on a serious expression. "You, a grown man, are embarrassed? I, a young lady, am not."
Mo Qi glanced at her. Strangely, at that moment, he inexplicably saw a trace of sincerity in her eyes.
However, he still felt that all of this was too bizarre! From the moment Xiao Cong'er appeared before him, everything about it felt peculiar.
During their previous interactions, he had been completely infatuated. But once they parted and he calmed down, he found it unsettling, even suspecting that Xiao Cong'er's approach had some ulterior motive.
Yet, he couldn't figure it out. He was just a poor boy. If she had a scheme against him, it must be for his looks, because that was all he had left.
Seeing Mo Qi dazed, Xiao Cong'er revealed her signature smile again. "I'll take you somewhere."
Before Mo Qi could respond, she grabbed his hand and ran, pulling him along. Mo Qi was already dazed, his body like an empty shell, dragged along by Xiao Cong'er like a kite.
Judging by the direction, they were heading towards Xiao Cong'er's residence!
However, this time, Xiao Cong'er dragged him directly into the house and closed the door behind her! Mo Qi's heart pounded furiously!
"I'm not going to bed, this is too fast," Mo Qi exclaimed, but he didn't struggle, nor did he pull his hand away.
Xiao Cong'er chuckled. "What are you thinking? Who wants to go to bed with you?"
As she spoke, she pulled Mo Qi into the bedroom.
She still said "not going to bed"?
While Mo Qi was still in a daze, Xiao Cong'er twisted a vase on the table. With a series of creaking sounds, a wall on the left rose up, revealing... another wall!
Mo Qi had studied teleportation arrays and naturally recognized it as one.
Mo Qi struggled slightly, but Xiao Cong'er still pulled him towards the wall, and they bumped into it. The wall rippled like the surface of water, and they smoothly passed through.
This was still a room, containing several alchemy furnaces of varying sizes. On either side were counters. The left counter was divided into three tiers, with various jars and bottles neatly arranged on each surface, containing powders or liquids.
The cabinet on the right was taller, divided into five tiers, each with several drawer-like hidden compartments. Mo Qi guessed they contained various medicinal ingredients.
This was an alchemy room!