Several hours later, Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes slowly opened, shimmering with an inner light. Her Dao Foundation was fully restored, radiating an incomparable brilliance, dazzling as a full moon illuminating her internal world.
A wave of excitement coursed through Ji Fuyao. Her innate talent now surpassed her previous life’s by an immeasurable margin! Hope flared anew within her heart. This lifetime, she would rise again, stronger than ever before!
She murmured, “To think, merely consuming a Heaven-Tier Dao Foundation Pill has granted such terrifying power! Once I begin cultivating the Grand Dao Scripture, I can forge a Perfect Dao Foundation!” Her eyes burned with ambition. “A Perfect Dao Foundation! If I succeed, this lifetime, I shall ascend to the absolute pinnacle of cultivation!” She was brimming with confidence.
And with it, her Fuyao Dynasty would rise once more! The last time her empire was engulfed in a bloodbath, three of her most loyal lieutenants escaped with a contingent of elites. They now lay hidden in the Southern Wilds, awaiting her call. Her heart swelled with emotion, and she bit her lip, a resolute glint in her eyes. “Once I step into the Profound Sovereign realm,” she declared, “I can finally contact my old guard!”
Moments later, Ji Fuyao began circulating her cultivation technique, eager to test her new speed. Her chosen art, the one-star Emperor-tier Heaven-Burning Art, ignited with a boom! In an instant, an overwhelming torrent of spiritual energy surged into her dantian.
Ji Fuyao was astonished. With her Dao Foundation complete, her cultivation speed had multiplied tenfold! This time, taking Lu Xuan as her master had, by some stroke of pure luck, granted her such immense benefits! Such a fortuitous encounter was truly heaven-defying! A sudden thought struck her. Master Lu Xuan asking her to cook… it must have been a subtle pretext to bestow this grand initiation gift upon her! He was truly thoughtful.
A warm current flowed through Ji Fuyao’s heart. Suddenly, a profound curiosity about Lu Xuan bloomed within her. Her lips parted slightly, her beautiful eyes swirling with thought. “Lu Xuan, what secrets do you truly hide?”
“Still, the Dao Foundation Pill could have been left by the previous Peak Master,” she mused. “I’ll observe for a few more days.”
With that, she retrieved the identity token she’d received from the Grand Dao Hall. Her divine sense probed it, and a majestic, domineering voice filled her sea of consciousness, profound and obscure energy surging forth as if transcending time itself. It boomed, “Those who enter the Grand Dao Sect shall make a Heavenly Dao Oath, never to betray the Grand Dao Sect!” Ji Fuyao knew this was one of the Grand Dao Sect’s grand gestures, using an ancient secret method to bind disciples with a heavenly oath! This ancient technique was incredibly difficult to break!
Once the oath was sworn, she would be a Grand Dao Sect disciple for this entire lifetime! Even if she were to restore the glory of the Fuyao Dynasty and become its Empress once more, she would remain a disciple of the Grand Dao Sect. Yet, Ji Fuyao understood this wasn’t truly a restriction. The Grand Dao Sect transcended the conflicts of the Southern Wilds’ cultivators; disciples who reached the Profound Saint realm were free to choose—they could remain within the sect or return to their own powers. Even if they left the Grand Dao Sect, they would still be considered a part of it! This was precisely why the Grand Dao Sect had stood firm in the Southern Wilds for countless epochs!
Ji Fuyao had made her decision long ago. She would join the Grand Dao Sect! For she needed the Grand Dao Scripture to forge a Perfect Dao Foundation and enter the legendary “Extreme Dao!”
She immediately bound the identity token, swearing the Heavenly Dao Oath. A thunderous roar! Above Azure Mystery Peak, a brilliant divine aura shattered the void’s tranquility, the heavens and earth rumbling, faint lightning flashing into existence. The Heavenly Dao Oath was established!
Witnessing this, within the Grand Dao Sect, the Sect Master and others secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Fuyao had finally bound her identity token! She was officially a disciple of the Grand Dao Sect! As for the inner sect trial a month later, the Sect Master and his cohorts were brimming with confidence. They had already given their true disciples and inner disciples special coaching; this time, they absolutely had to deal a severe blow to Ji Fuyao. While cultivation talent was undeniably crucial, a good master was equally important. A good master’s guidance could achieve twice the results with half the effort! But with Lu Xuan as a master, it was half the results with twice the effort…
Meanwhile, Ji Fuyao put away her identity token. She couldn’t wait to begin cultivating! She exhaled, her breath fragrant as orchids, her delicate hands shifting, dark hair gently swaying as she activated her cultivation technique. She began refining the essence of the Flood Dragon meat! Simultaneously, she arrayed several high-grade spirit stones before her.
Soon, a faint divine radiance shimmered around Ji Fuyao’s body, exquisitely crystalline. Even her hair seemed to glow, her cultivation foundation continuously strengthening.
At this very moment, Lu Xuan was leisurely stretched out on his Millennium Profound Ice Bed within his cave dwelling, engrossed in a book suitable for all ages. It was a collection of cultivation world “wild histories.” And truly wild they were! One tale recounted the Grand Dao Sect’s founding ancestor: “First, he practiced swordsmanship, losing an eye. Then he trained with a saber, losing the other. He switched to array formations, only to trap himself for over a hundred days, barely escaping death. Next, he pursued alchemy, blowing up his cauldron once, a spirit peak twice, and nearly killing his junior brother with a third concoction. Expelled from his sect, he then founded the Grand Dao Sect, eventually achieving great things…”
“Haha!” Lu Xuan snorted with laughter, sounding rather like a pig, utterly content. Just then, the System’s voice chimed in his ear. “Ding! Host’s primary disciple, Ji Fuyao, is cultivating. Synchronizing cultivation foundation!”
A thrumming sensation! Lu Xuan blinked, slightly stunned. A pleasant numbness spread through his entire body. Spiritual energy surged into him, washing over his limbs and bones. Within his dantian, an immense spiritual power steadily coalesced! Lu Xuan couldn’t help but feel a little shocked. Ji Fuyao’s cultivation speed was simply phenomenal; that stream of cultivation foundation surged through his meridians like a gentle current, utterly delightful. Cultivating while lying down! Lu Xuan’s lips curved into a slight smile. This feeling was absolutely divine.
Then, the System’s voice chimed again. “Ding! Host’s primary disciple, Ji Fuyao, is comprehending the Path of Spirit Fire. Synchronizing!” A soft hiss! Lu Xuan extended his right hand, and a wisp of spiritual flame gently flickered to life. He felt an even deeper affinity for spirit fire. He had already achieved “Great Accomplishment” in the Path of Spirit Fire; beyond that lay “Perfection,” and then “Grand Perfection.” His mastery of the Path of Spirit Fire was steadily advancing towards Perfection! “Keep up the good work, Disciple!” Lu Xuan chuckled. He shifted to a more comfortable position, resuming his book, his mood soaring. With every breath, his cultivation foundation grew! His comprehension of the Path of Spirit Fire also deepened!
Soon, night fell, and Lu Xuan went to bed promptly. Waking up in the middle of the night, he casually checked the System. “Ding! Synchronizing primary disciple Ji Fuyao’s cultivation foundation!” “Ding! Synchronizing Path of Spirit Fire comprehension!” Lu Xuan paused, slightly surprised. Ji Fuyao was actually so diligent, still cultivating deep into the night. He certainly wasn’t exploiting his disciple! It was all her own free will. After a moment’s thought, Lu Xuan went back to sleep.
The next day, when the sun was high in the sky, Lu Xuan awoke leisurely. The System was synchronizing his cultivation foundation once more! Moments later, a massive influx of spiritual energy poured into Lu Xuan’s body, and his realm instantly broke through to the mid-stage Profound Emperor! Lu Xuan was dumbfounded. Holy smokes?! Overnight, he had directly broken through a minor stage! What kind of concept was that?! Grand Dao Sect geniuses would take several months to break through a minor stage within the Profound Emperor realm! Moreover, no matter how fast his cultivation advanced, there were absolutely no side effects. No need to worry about unstable realms or shaky foundations! It was all about convenience.
Lu Xuan checked Ji Fuyao’s status panel.
[Ji Fuyao: Grand Profound King, late-stage, Grand Perfection.
Dao Foundation: Fully restored!]
“Not bad! Fuyao has already consumed the Heaven-Tier Dao Foundation Pill. Looks like it worked wonders.” Lu Xuan murmured to himself. Truly, Ji Fuyao was worthy of being a reincarnated Empress; her cultivation speed was simply breathtaking. He recalled when he had first transmigrated, he’d tried to cultivate himself. Alas, the original owner’s talent was utterly abysmal; after a month of arduous effort, he couldn’t even advance a single layer in the Qi Refining realm. He’d given up immediately, choosing to “lie flat” instead. But now, in a single night, his Profound Emperor realm had advanced a minor stage. It was terrifying! “With my disciple working so hard, once the System rewards drop in three days, I’ll definitely give her a proper prize!” Lu Xuan’s mood was excellent. With a thought, a pristine white robe materialized on him, and he headed to the clear spring at the peak to splash some water on his face.
He saw Ji Fuyao already cooking inside the thatched hut. Dressed in a fiery red gown, her perfect figure and peerless beauty made the humble hut glow with her presence. Ji Fuyao’s delicate hands steadily chopped the Fire Dragon meat on a wooden board, utterly focused on her task. Lu Xuan settled into a lounge chair in front of the hut, beginning his sunbath. “Disciple, it’s just cooking, no need to be so serious about it,” he called out. “I promised to cook for three days, Master,” Ji Fuyao replied, “and I will not be negligent.”
Lu Xuan couldn’t help but smile wryly. Fine, then. Before long, Ji Fuyao began heating oil. Her delicate hand rose, and a wisp of spiritual fire flared forth, steadily warming the profound iron wok. “Sizzle!” Ji Fuyao frowned slightly. Her mastery of the Path of Spirit Fire had improved significantly overnight, and she’d applied too much heat. The Fire Dragon meat nearly scorched. She quickly tossed several stalks of Cold Star Grass into the wok to neutralize the intense spiritual fire, followed by a few more spirit herbs! Lu Xuan recalled Ji Fuyao’s Fire Dragon meat from yesterday; frankly, it wasn’t particularly delicious. While the spiritual fire energy within the meat had been well-preserved, the taste was severely lacking. When it came to food, the most important thing was that it tasted good. Even if the spiritual fire energy was retained, if it tasted bland and chewy like a chicken rib, it wasn’t worth it! With that thought, Lu Xuan offered a reminder, “Disciple, use the seasonings over there. You don’t need those spirit herbs.”
Ji Fuyao’s beautiful eyes swirled. “But Master, my spiritual fire is too volatile; if I don’t add those spirit herbs, too much of the Fire Dragon meat’s power will dissipate.” Lu Xuan simply shrugged. “Then control your fire.” Ji Fuyao was about to protest, but a flash of insight struck her. Was Master Lu Xuan actually guiding her? She understood. Control the fire! She had already achieved “Minor Accomplishment” in the Path of Spirit Fire; to reach “Great Accomplishment,” she couldn’t simply focus on increasing its power! She needed to control its strength! Once she could manipulate her spiritual fire with perfect ease, she would step into the “Great Accomplishment” realm! With this realization, Ji Fuyao stopped adding spirit herbs. Instead, she settled her mind and focused intently on fire control. She had been too reliant on the power of the spirit herbs! That was merely a shortcut!