Chapter 280: Foundation Establishment Stage Guidance
In the teaching area on the 200th floor, Zhang Yu sat in the audience, listening to Feng Jiu’s lecture. He couldn’t shake the feeling that this teacher was just trying to get the job done as quickly as possible.
The lecture felt like reading from a script, with zero interaction with the students.
Feng Jiu said, “…The dao heart is the foundation of the Immortal Path. The higher one’s cultivation realm, the more crucial the dao heart becomes.”
“If the dao heart fails to keep pace with cultivation, the consequences range from loss of control over one’s power to Qi Deviation, and even Bionic backlash…”
As she spoke, vivid scenes of cultivators succumbing to Qi Deviation flashed across the screen.
There were cultivators driven mad, slaughtering indiscriminately; Spirit Roots exploding, transforming their bodies into vegetation; Bionics turning against their hosts; magic power erupting uncontrollably… The gruesome images cycled endlessly.
After emphasizing the dire consequences of a deficient dao heart, Feng Jiu continued, “Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, the dao heart’s maximum level increases to 20. During this stage, its growth becomes even more profound.”
“For example, upon reaching a Level 15 dao heart, you may choose a second mental cultivation technique and attempt parallel cultivation. Thereafter, you can operate two mental cultivation techniques simultaneously.”
“However, the greater the conflict between the two mental cultivation techniques, the worse the results of running them simultaneously. It could even lead to Qi Deviation, causing the Divine Soul to split and madness to ensue.”
Zhang Yu knew that Qi Deviation was a general term encompassing various calamities: Magic power spiraling out of control and causing the body to explode, the Divine Soul splitting into madness, the Bionic backlash… all could be categorized under this umbrella.
But listening to Feng Jiu’s explanation today, he suddenly sensed that the types of Qi Deviation had multiplied after reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the risks seemed even greater.
Feng Jiu continued, “Because the consequences of conflicting mental cultivation techniques are so severe, you should prepare early and make your choices before reaching a Level 15 dao heart. Ideally, select techniques that complement each other.”
As she spoke, the surrounding light flickered, and a website address appeared.
Feng Jiu introduced it: “Everyone, please note down this address. This is the Spirit Realm address for Hammerheart Pavilion. It can help you conduct tests in the Spirit Realm. For just 1 Spirit Coin, they’ll help you find the mental cultivation technique most compatible with you. For another 1 Spirit Coin, they’ll find the most suitable second mental cultivation technique.”
“Furthermore, upon reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, the operation of mental cultivation techniques enters a higher realm.”
“Operating for 24 hours is merely the foundation. Achieving a state of semi-instinctive or even fully instinctive Spirit-Flesh Unity is what constitutes true continuous operation.”
“Even when unconscious, a trace of spiritual light in the Sea of Consciousness remains undimmed, maintaining the technique’s operation.”
“To achieve this, besides relentless cultivation and gradual refinement, there are alternative methods.”
“For example, Hammerheart Pavilion currently offers the Spirit-Flesh Union Journey. It costs 30 Spirit Coins, and if unsuccessful, a refund is provided…”
Feng Jiu proceeded methodically, neither asking questions nor engaging in discussion, delivering the lecture at a steady pace until the exact moment class ended. The phoenix projection then vanished before the students’ eyes.
Deep within the Spirit Realm, a young woman watched the returning phoenix and remarked, “Not bad. No one recognized you as an artifact spirit, did they? From now on, you can take over my classes. It’ll save me the trouble and won’t interfere with my work.”
In the Magic Power Class.
Magic Power Teacher Li Mingbo entered the classroom, scanned the students, and smiled. “Hello, everyone. Since this is our first meeting, let’s get to know each other before we start the formal lesson.”
“I prefer face-to-face interaction over cold, hard data.”
“My name is Li Mingbo, and I’ll be teaching you magic power for the next year or two.”
Looking at the teacher’s warm smile and approachable demeanor, Zhang Yu was mildly surprised. “Are there really such kind teachers in University City? He actually wants to get to know us?”
Zhang Yu felt that Li Mingbo was like heaven compared to Feng Jiu, who had just left.
Li Mingbo noticed Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan sitting in the front row and asked with a smile, “What are your names, and where are you from?”
“I’m Zhang Yu, from Songyang City on the First Layer.”
“He’s Yu Xinghan, also from the First Layer…”
Li Mingbo said calmly, “You two… move back.”
“Further back.”
“Another row back.”
“Alright, just sit there.”
He turned to Gongshu Jin on the other side. “And you, classmate?”
“Gongshu Jin, you stay in the first row.”
“Ying Xin, you can move up two rows.”
“Classmate Ji Yuanshu, come sit at the very front…”
“From now on, everyone will sit in these assigned seats for my classes.”
With Li Mingbo’s adjustments, the classroom’s seating arrangement instantly became orderly. Students with higher cultivation stages sat at the front, while those with lower stages sat at the back. Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan ended up in the last row.
“Fucking hell…” Zhang Yu thought to himself. “How could I have ever entertained those delusions about the Kunxu People?”
In class, Li Mingbo began lecturing smoothly, “After reaching Foundation Establishment, your magic power capacity skyrockets. Supported by a higher dao heart, a more robust physical body, and more cultivation arts, the quality of magic power itself undergoes a qualitative shift.”
“The higher the magic power quality, the greater its power and the better its effects…”
Zhang Yu nodded repeatedly. Even during the Qi Refining Stage, he had sensed that his magic power quality was superior to most, though the difference had been subtle.
After reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage, however, the gap in magic power quality had widened dramatically, becoming as vast as the heavens and the earth.
The parameter for measuring magic power quality ranged from 100% (the lowest quality) to 200% (the highest quality achievable in the Foundation Establishment Stage), representing the inherent quality of one’s magic power.
Due to this qualitative difference, a single unit of 200% quality magic power could rival two units of 100% quality magic power.
A ripple like water shimmered across Li Mingbo’s brow as a circular mirror materialized. “Now, everyone, test your magic power quality.”
One by one, the students channeled their magic power into the mirror.
Ji Yuanshu: magic power quality 133%
Gongshu Jin: magic power quality 125%
Ying Xin: magic power quality 111%
After each student took their turn, it was finally Zhang Yu’s turn.
Zhang Yu gently pressed his palm against the circular mirror. As his magic power surged, the number 112% appeared on the surface.
“I’ve hardly ever specifically trained my so-called magic power quality,” Zhang Yu thought.
“Could it be because I advanced the Azure Vortex Qi Technique to Level 20? During the cultivation of the Level 20 breathing technique, my magic power naturally refined itself, pushing its quality to 112%?”
Once everyone had completed the test, Li Mingbo said calmly, “To improve your magic power quality, apart from painstaking cultivation, breathing techniques, and refinement, you can also rely on external aids such as medicinal pills, cultivation-type Bionics, high-quality Spirit Veins, and so on.”
Li Mingbo glanced at the students in the front row and smiled slightly. “But if you ask me, the most effective method is to directly purchase high-quality magic power from the Spirit Realm Network for cultivation. Long-term exposure to high-quality magic power can significantly enhance both your magic power capacity and its quality.”
“I recommend a platform called Magic Power Treasure.”
“I’ve negotiated a discount with them. Just enter my name when you sign up, and you’ll get a 9.8% discount on high-quality magic power.”
After addressing the front row, Li Mingbo turned his gaze to the students in the back, his eyes lingering on Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, Li Xiao, and others.
“For those who can’t afford high-quality magic power for daily cultivation, don’t worry. You can sell your unused magic power on the Magic Power Treasure Platform to mine coins. Simply deposit your magic power on the platform, and you’ll earn a daily income without doing anything…”
Zhang Yu nodded inwardly, immediately logging into the Magic Power Treasure Platform to see how much he could earn daily by selling his magic power, aside from its use in his Bionic and cultivation.
Li Mingbo observed Zhang Yu and the other First Layer students, knowing they had no other way to acquire high-quality magic power except by selling their own.
As the front-row students invested heavily in cultivation while the back-row students used their cultivation resources to earn money, the gap between them would only widen.
He had seen this pattern countless times before.
If Immortal Dao cultivation was a competition of Immortal Dao Potential, determined by who controlled more Immortal Dao resources and who had more money, then magic power… was an even more direct realm of wealth.
Therefore, he always tailored his teaching methods to students from different layers.
“The back-row students… should focus on earning a living first. They shouldn’t end up drowning in debt without achieving any real progress in cultivation,” he thought.
Memories flooded Li Mingbo’s mind — of his former classmates from the First Layer, only he had remained, eventually becoming a Second Layer citizen.
In the Body Refinement Class, the wolf-headed teacher grinned, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth. This was Lang Yougong, a monsterfolk cultivator.
“My class is very flexible,” Lang Yougong said. “You’re free to practice any body refinement technique you like. I’ll come around individually to offer guidance.”
Behind Gongshu Jin, the Vajra Profound Creation Spine Bionic clicked and clanked rhythmically, its segments colliding with a thunderous roar. This Spine Bionic assisted his entire muscular system, allowing Gongshu Jin to execute a Level 20 Expert-Grade Technique.
Lang Yougong’s eyes flashed as his Bionic Eye activated, seemingly piercing through flesh and bone to observe the flow of magic power, muscle movements, and the Spine Bionic’s operation within Gongshu Jin’s body.
He nodded slightly. “A Spine Bionic that stores a Level 20 Body Refinement Technique? Impressive. This one has potential.”
Lang Yougong’s gaze swept across the class, landing on Ji Yuanshu.
Ji Yuanshu stood enveloped in the Wind-Stabilizing Pearl’s protective aura, completely isolated from the outside air.
His heart throbbed powerfully, pumping out surges of magic power and blood, dramatically enhancing his body refinement progress.
Lang Yougong nodded slightly, thinking, “A Heavenly Craftsman Brand Heart Bionic? Top-tier stuff.”
“Not only does it maintain a constant medicated state, but it’s also connected to the Spirit Realm Network, using high-quality magic power to cleanse the marrow and refine the meridians. It’s practically like sitting still and continuously refining the body, constantly absorbing medicinal power.”
“A genius! An absolute Immortal Dao genius!”
In the distance, Yu Xinghan watched Lang Yougong guide Ji Yuanshu and Gongshu Jin for over ten minutes each, sighing helplessly. “It’s always like this. Looks like we’ll be last again.”
During the Body Refinement Class, Zhang Yu practiced the Level 20 Spring and Autumn Endless Zen. He had hoped for the Teacher’s guidance, but now he sighed, “These Teachers’ resources are so heavily skewed! This class is practically pointless!”
A moment later, Lang Yougong noticed Zhang Yu and thought, “Oh? This Body Refinement Technique is already at Level 20? And he’s equipped with the Time-Worn Demonic Eye? Another little genius here.”
Lang Yougong said, “Come, your Spring and Autumn Endless Zen is progressing well. Let me give you a hand.”
As Zhang Yu felt the external force assisting his practice, he immediately sensed a significant improvement in efficiency.
Lang Yougong said, “After Foundation Establishment, the Spirit Root becomes an integral part of the body and can be further refined to enhance its integration with the physical form.”
“Your current integration level is less than 70% of its potential. Achieving 100% would significantly improve your breathing technique efficiency, magic power accumulation rate, and the power of your martial dao techniques.”
“The key to refining the Spirit Root lies in making subtle adjustments to your Body Refinement Technique based on its specific attributes.”
“You’ve mastered the Spring and Autumn Endless Zen, but your understanding of your own Spirit Root remains inadequate.”
“Come! Activate your Bionic Eye! Memorize the key points I’m about to teach you…”
Zhang Yu thought, “Adjusting Body Refinement Techniques based on Spirit Root attributes? True Person Starfire never mentioned this. Has Immortal Dao Technology advanced again? Is this a new body refinement technique?”
Simultaneously, Zhang Yu activated his Time-Worn Demonic Eye, instantly slowing down the world around him. He focused intently on memorizing Lang Yougong’s instructions.
The surrounding students were mildly surprised to see Zhang Yu, who had just arrived from the First Layer, receiving such special attention from Lang Yougong.
Gongshu Jin, however, remained unimpressed, thinking to himself, “My friend couldn’t possibly be anything less than exceptional.”
After spending over ten minutes guiding Zhang Yu, Lang Yougong glanced at Yu Xinghan standing beside him and thought, “Using the Extreme Tiger Brand Bionic Eye?”
Yu Xinghan said, “Teacher, I have a slight delay, so my reactions might be a bit slower…”
Lang Yougong thought, “Everyone else is using Heavenly Eyes, Heavenly Craftsman Brands, Demonic Eyes, or at least local-made models… and you’re using the Extreme Tiger Brand? If you don’t have a delay, who does? Your Immortal Dao Potential is clearly lacking.”
Before Yu Xinghan could respond, Lang Yougong said, “Please wait a moment, classmate. I’ll guide the other students first.”
Watching the teacher’s retreating figure, Yu Xinghan cursed inwardly and turned to Zhang Yu. “What’s with this teacher?”
Zhang Yu, still absorbing the guidance he had just received, pondered for a moment before replying, “I can sense that Teacher Lang has a keen eye for talent and tailors his teaching to each student’s strengths. There might be a deeper meaning behind his teaching order.”