Chapter 20: Requirements for Foundation Establishment

Song Yunwei was unaware of what was running through Shi Yu's mind. She continued her conscientious guidance, saying, "That is settled, then. I will help you find various resource channels to improve your physique, and I will strive to secure as many discounts as possible."

"With one million, after deducting the costs for purchasing cultivation techniques, the remainder should be just about right." She calculated for a moment, having already mapped out the destination for the million in funds.

Shi Yu, sitting obediently before her, felt a mix of laughter and bitterness. He consoled himself that these resources would not go to waste; he never expected that one day he, too, would enjoy the treatment reserved for students from incredibly wealthy backgrounds. If only some of this money could be shared with his aunt and little sister, it could improve their living conditions at home.

Just as Shi Yu was lost in thought, Song Yunwei’s voice sounded again. "You must take this matter of your physique seriously! Because, to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, it is crucial that your soul and physique are balanced."

"Balanced?" The young man felt a sudden sense of foreboding.

"That is correct. Only when the two reach a state of equilibrium can a martial artist break through their limitations and ascend to a new realm of martial arts."

"This is why you often see practitioners at the Yuan-Gathering stage making rapid progress during their daily training, only to find their cultivation pace slowing down significantly and stagnating for a long time when they reach the critical juncture of advancement."

"A major reason for this is that they must spend time balancing their soul and physique. We often say that cultivation is easy, but breaking through is difficult; this is the reason."

"These things are usually taught to you in university," Song Yunwei said, "but for someone like you aiming for the Heaven Rankings, you must know this in advance."

Listening to Song Yunwei’s earnest instructions, Shi Yu was dumbfounded. His soul level was a full three tiers lower than his physique! Who said his soul was his greatest strength? It was clearly his biggest weakness! And now he had to purchase resources to further enhance his physique! Wouldn't that just make the gap even wider? At this moment, Shi Yu felt as though he had trapped himself in a silken cocoon.

"Sister Song, we can't enhance my physique any further. I refuse to take those supplements!" Shi Yu screamed in his heart, wanting to cry but having no tears. No wonder the two passing marks for high school graduation were both six. Since the soul and physique levels were meant to be equal, that was the underlying reason.

Seeing him looking somewhat discouraged, Song Yunwei comforted him: "Don't worry. Although your physique and soul are quite far apart, we have a whole year."

"We will work hard together! There will definitely be no problem!"

Shi Yu struggled to adjust his emotions, forcing a bright smile onto his face.

The top priority now was to raise his soul level! The "Five Peaks Yuan-Gathering Manual" he currently possessed, besides increasing his cultivation realm, also nourished and improved both his soul and physique. Improving both simultaneously would not solve his problem. Still, he was not ready to give up, and he asked Song Yunwei if there were any supplements to nourish the soul.

Song Yunwei replied that there were, but they were intended for transcendents, were incredibly expensive, and were difficult to obtain. Shi Yu sighed inwardly. It seemed he would have to find another way.

After leaving Song Yunwei's office, Shi Yu looked up at the azure sky and braced his spirits once more. There was still a year left; he would surely find a way. If all else failed, he would wait until after seven or eight months of cultivation and then come clean to Sister Song about his physique being higher than his soul. He could just say that the supplements were too effective, that his physique had improved much faster than expected, and that he hadn't been able to control it in time. By then, he could let Sister Song devise a new plan.

Having figured this out, Shi Yu walked back to his classroom with light steps. His classmates had already received their respective cultivation techniques and were all in high spirits. Teacher Lin was on the podium, summarizing the precautions for the summer vacation. Seeing Shi Yu arrive, she nodded in greeting.

"Alright, everyone is here. Let's head to the field as a team and take a group photo!" Teacher Lin waved her hand.

Today was the final day for this collective of Class 1, Grade 2. Once they reached the third year, they would be re-sorted into new groups. Boys and girls swarmed onto the playground, filled with lingering affection and reluctance. Some were boisterous and indifferent, while others had red, teary eyes. Some students gave each other big hugs, while others watched each other silently from afar. Youth was like a rushing river, rolling toward the east, sweeping everyone along in its flow; only when looking back did one realize they had traveled so far.

Once everyone was in position, the sound of the photographer’s shutter clicked. Every press felt like a period being placed at the end of this period of youth. Many classmates came up to take photos with Shi Yu—if not now, when?

Jiang Wei took a close-up photo with him and sighed, "When you advance to become a Grandmaster in the future, this photo will be worth a fortune."

"By the way, give me a few pens you've used. I want to collect them."

"Give me your ruler, too, and this and that..." Jiang Wei began to scavenge through Shi Yu's belongings.

"Why don't I just give you the whole pencil case?" Shi Yu said helplessly.

Jiang Wei’s eyes lit up: "Good idea!"

Shi Yu asked curiously, "If these things become valuable later, will you sell them?"

"How could I? Absolutely not," Jiang Wei shook his head like a rattle. "When I have grandchildren, I'll take these things and tell them stories about you back in the day."

"Haha, as if you'll ever be able to find a wife," Shi Yu laughed.

"Pfft!" Jiang Wei jumped up and climbed onto Shi Yu’s shoulders: "When I get married in the future, you must come to support me, you hear?"

"Alright, alright!" Shi Yu promised readily: "I'll give you the most stylish wedding ever!"

Under the sunset, the two boys ran and played to their hearts' content on the playground. A gentle breeze brushed by, and the leaves of the plane trees at the edge of the field swayed softly, as if whispering of their friendship.

After the horseplay, Shi Yu inadvertently caught a familiar gaze. He turned to look and saw, not far away, a figure standing quietly. Looking closer, it was Xia Yu. She seemed to have been standing there silently for a long time.

The sunlight filtered through the clouds, spilling softly onto her long, dark, waterfall-like hair, and a few strands danced in the breeze, shimmering with a smooth luster. Jiang Wei noticed her too; he laughed, punched Shi Yu, and then quickly slipped away, leaving the two of them alone.

Seeing him leave, Xia Yu walked over slowly and asked in a soft voice: "God Yu, could we... take a photo together as well?" She copied the nickname the other students had given him.

Shi Yu was slightly stunned, then broke into a warm smile: "Of course." To him, since he had taken photos with most of the class, he naturally would not refuse Xia Yu.

"Thank you."

Xia Yu walked to Shi Yu's side, and the two stood shoulder to shoulder. She gently took out her phone, adjusted the angle, and captured their smiles along with the sunset into the frame. As the shutter clicked, their figures were frozen in the photograph.

Xia Yu looked at the photo on her phone, lost in thought for a long while. Then she slowly raised her head, looked at Shi Yu, and asked softly: "Did my second uncle, Xia Yuan, come to see you today?"