Chapter 14: The Foundation of the Heavenly Dao

So soon? Already broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage?

Hearing the system’s announcement of the advancement, Li Tianyuan was somewhat surprised.

Only a few hours had passed, yet she had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage?

Li Tianyuan was well aware that Jiang Yueli had only been at the third level of Qi Refining before, barely stepping onto the path of cultivation. Yet in just a few short hours, she had consecutively advanced through eight minor realms, achieving Foundation Establishment.

He couldn’t help but marvel—indeed, worthy of someone bearing the fate of an Empress. Such a breakthrough speed was astonishing, practically like cheating.

But this was even better. The faster his disciple cultivated, the more cultivation strength he would receive.

Fantastic!

Who wouldn’t be delighted by such effortless advancement?

Li Tianyuan chuckled softly, then resumed savoring the tea, feeling the miraculous effects of the Enlightenment Tea and the comfort of cultivation, utterly immersed.

Inside the room—

Jiang Yueli sat cross-legged on the bed, her entire body radiating a translucent white glow. Her eyes were tightly closed, and spiritual energy swirled around her in thick mist.

At this moment, a vast surge of spiritual power burst forth within her, transforming into a flame interwoven with gold and red, blazing fiercely and radiating a scorching warmth.

Simultaneously, golden patterns appeared within the flames, faintly embodying certain universal laws that mesmerized and entranced.

Slowly, Jiang Yueli opened her eyes; a sharp gleam flashed like a sword, piercing and dazzling.

She stood up, and the surrounding spiritual energy instantly dissipated. Her aura shifted dramatically.

“Early Foundation Establishment stage.”

“And it’s the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, refined through the Phoenix Divine Fire!”

Jiang Yueli clenched her fists, her delicate face full of excitement and exhilaration.

She had finally taken the most crucial step, becoming a true cultivator.

The Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was the highest form of Foundation Establishment, promising immense potential far surpassing ordinary innate Foundation Establishment.

She sensed a terrifying power flowing through her body, as if every movement carried a destructive aura, filling her with unparalleled excitement.

This feeling was incredible!

She raised her palm slightly, fingers spread, and a cluster of crimson-gold flames flickered, the intense heat distorting the surrounding space.

This was the Phoenix Divine Fire path she now commanded after reaching the Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment—capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, its power formidable. Even cultivators one rank higher would perish upon contact!

“Phew.”

Jiang Yueli calmed herself, taking a deep breath to suppress the restlessness within.

She knew her strength was still weak. The Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was just the beginning; a long road still lay ahead.

She would need to exert a hundredfold, even thousandfold effort.

After all, Jiang Huaian was a legendary Heavenly Lord, renowned throughout the province, and Jiang Lan had the entire Jiang family behind her, enjoying countless resources since childhood.

Moreover, with the blessing of the Exquisite Supreme Heart, by the time she left three years ago, she had already reached the Nascent Soul Unity stage.

Now, three years later, her strength was likely even more terrifying, possibly reaching the Divine Transformation Celestial Realm.

If she wanted to defeat Jiang Lan, she must work even harder!

“I must seize every moment to cultivate.”

With this resolve, Jiang Yueli immediately sat cross-legged, entering meditation to regulate the fluctuations of true energy within her, circulating the Ling Yun Feather Transformation Technique.

Elsewhere, after finishing a pot of Enlightenment Tea, Li Tianyuan noticed the evening had fallen and prepared to rest.

Suddenly, the system’s voice sounded again.

[Ding dong!]

[Disciple Jiang Yuexi has successfully cultivated the first level of Ling Yun Feather Transformation Technique. The host has obtained the complete version of Ling Yun Feather Transformation Technique.]

Boom!

At that moment, spiritual energy surged wildly within him, several times denser than before, billowing powerfully. His aura soared sharply, breaking through mid Nascent Soul Unity stage, only halting at late Nascent Soul Unity stage.

Li Tianyuan’s eyes widened as he stared in astonishment, stunned for a moment before reacting.

Damn!

Another advancement?!

Is this even possible?

From Yin-Yang stage to late Nascent Soul Unity in a single day?

If others knew, they would be green with envy, perhaps faint on the spot!

Is this what cheating feels like?

Completely unreasonable.

Stay calm!

I must stay calm!

After his excitement, Li Tianyuan began examining the nature of this sudden breakthrough.

If it was from his disciple’s cultivation and breakthroughs, he could understand the cultivation return.

But the system’s prompt clearly said he had only obtained the complete Ling Yun Feather Transformation Technique, not that his cultivation had increased, which left him puzzled.

Diving into his mind’s sea, he saw that the Ling Yun Feather Transformation Technique he had previously learned only up to the fifth level had been supplemented by the system with the remaining four levels.

Yet these last four levels were not mere supplements; they represented genuine cultivation of the technique for over a hundred years, bringing him up to the ninth level.

“I see now!”

Li Tianyuan suddenly understood.

The system’s return was equivalent to him having cultivated the ninth level of the Ling Yun Feather Transformation Technique, hence the cultivation increase.

“System, does this mean that from now on, whenever my disciple cultivates, I receive the returns without needing to cultivate myself?” Li Tianyuan asked in his mind.

[Correct! Through the disciple’s diligent cultivation, any cultivation strength, divine abilities, or universal laws returned to the host require no comprehension; the host will automatically master all their secrets.]

Excellent!

This was truly wonderful!

Disciple, keep up the hard work; this way, your master can enjoy the benefits too.

Li Tianyuan thought with a smiling face.

A life of cheating is so plain and dull.

However, perhaps due to the rapid cultivation increase and enormous true energy fluctuations, he felt a chaotic surge inside.

“Looks like I can’t just lie flat and be a salted fish.”

“To wear the crown, one must bear its weight!”

Li Tianyuan sighed, sensing a volcano of spiritual energy erupting wildly within him.

Fortunately, his Heavenly Dao Creation Body was exceptionally strong; otherwise, the sudden surge in cultivation would have burst his body from the overwhelming energy fluctuations.

He hurriedly circulated his mental formula, guiding the wild spiritual energy to stabilize and return to normal.

Having done all this, he floated back to the grand hall, happily falling into a deep sleep.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning—

The system’s alert woke him.

After regaining clarity, Li Tianyuan checked his cultivation and found it had increased further, reaching the pinnacle of late Nascent Soul Unity.

No doubt, this was another return from Jiang Yueli.

He opened the system panel to check Jiang Yueli’s information.

Not knowing before was one thing, but seeing it now shocked him deeply.