The small hut was quiet, the afternoon sun filtering warmly through the woven bamboo slats of the walls. Dust motes danced lazily in the air, their gentle movement the only disturbance to the stillness, aside from the faint stir of qi as Shi Yao settled into a cross-legged position on the worn, woven mat.
Just moments earlier, he had returned from the sect library, the aged scroll of the Void Grasp Art safely tucked under his arm. Now, the scroll lay spread out before him its edges frayed and softened with time, the faint seal that once secured it pulsing almost imperceptibly with dormant energy.
He carefully unrolled it, his fingers brushing gently across the brittle parchment as rows of intricate characters revealed themselves, promising the secrets of the ancient technique.
What Shi Yao didn't yet realize was that the Void Grasp Art wasn't some common, easily mastered entry-level technique intended for novice disciples.
It was, in fact, a Fourth Rank art a level of difficulty so notoriously high that even the sect's most promising and persistent disciples had eventually abandoned it in frustration. The core principle of the technique allowed a cultivator to extend their spiritual energy outwards like invisible, ethereal hands, granting them the ability to grasp and manipulate objects without any physical contact.
However, every single thread of this extended spiritual energy had to be controlled independently and with absolute precision, as if one were commanding dozens of unseen limbs simultaneously. Even the slightest flicker of distraction, a momentary lapse in concentration, would inevitably cause the entire delicate construct to collapse into nothingness.
That was precisely why the sect elders had eventually relegated the Void Grasp Art to the relative obscurity of the first floor of the library not as a means of protecting its power, but rather to simply let it fade slowly into forgotten history. The fewer disciples who actually managed to find any success with the art, the fewer who would potentially notice its true, hidden value.
Shi Yao finally finished reading the complex contents of the scroll and leaned back slightly, exhaling a long, slow, and steady breath. "So…" he muttered to himself, a single brow arching in contemplation,
"you essentially send out your spiritual energy to lift things, kind of like using a set of invisible hands. Doesn't sound all that overwhelmingly complicated."
He placed the scroll carefully beside him and closed his eyes once more, turning his attention inward. The small hut was filled with a profound stillness, and he consciously allowed that stillness to settle into the very rhythm of his breathing.
The air inside the hut carried a faint, earthy scent, mingled with the subtle fragrance of dried herbs that hung in small bundles from the rafters. Shi Yao sat in a perfect lotus position, his hands resting gently on his knees, his spine straight. In front of him, resting silently on the dusty floor, lay a small river stone, its surface smooth and unmoving.
He focused his mind, intently visualizing a single, slender thread of his spiritual energy reaching out towards the inert stone. Gently, patiently, precisely. A slight tremor ran through his body, an almost imperceptible shiver. The stone itself vibrated in response a subtle, trembling sensation that he could almost feel through the air. Shi Yao gritted his teeth, consciously pouring more of his mental focus into the delicate task. But suddenly, the flow of energy surged erratically rough and completely unrefined.
The small stone shot sideways with a sharp, unexpected clatter, ricocheting off a sturdy wooden beam in the wall before rolling to rest underneath a low-lying stool. Shi Yao's eyes snapped open, his concentration broken. He let out a slow, frustrated breath, his posture immediately unraveling as he leaned forward, a look of annoyance etched on his face. "So close…"
He took a moment to reset his focus, consciously calming his racing thoughts. He tried again, this time with a deliberate control no sudden surge of power, no forceful pressure just a gentle, steady extension of his will. The faint shimmer of his spiritual qi enveloped the smooth surface of the stone. It lifted ever so slightly just barely a millimeter above the dusty floor.
Then, as quickly as it had risen, it dropped back down with a soft thud. His breath faltered, and the stillness of the hut returned, this time feeling heavier, more oppressive. Shi Yao looked down at his outstretched hand, a newfound respect for the technique dawning on him.
"I really underestimated the intricacies of this technique…" he murmured. "It's proving to be far, far harder to control than I initially thought." A quiet moment passed, filled only with the rustling of leaves outside the hut. Then, Shi Yao's eyes suddenly widened in realization. "Wait a moment—!"
His head jerked sharply towards the narrow slats of the window. The position of the sun in the sky was noticeably lower than before.
"I was supposed to meet Master Rui Feng this afternoon up at the learning hall!"
He shot to his feet with surprising speed, grabbed the scroll of the Void Grasp Art, and rushed out of the small hut, his momentum causing the flimsy door to bang shut behind him. Inside, the small river stone remained still and undisturbed, lying once more on the dusty floor beneath the stool.
The main learning hall located atop the Sixth Peak was nearly deserted, bathed in the soft light of the late afternoon sun. Shi Yao slid the worn wooden door open with a soft creak and stepped inside. Just as he had expected no one else was present.
The other disciples who had arrived with him had all made their choices, scattered across the various other peaks of the Celestial Wind Sect, each seeking out different teachers and different paths of cultivation. None of them had chosen to follow the enigmatic Rui Feng. Except for him. He sat alone on one of the simple wooden benches, the silence of the hall amplifying his solitude. Moments later, the door behind him creaked open once more.
Peak Master Rui Feng walked into the hall, his movements unhurried and his expression as calm as ever. He carried a thick, leather-bound book in one hand, his robes hanging loosely around him in his usual relaxed manner. He didn't speak as he passed Shi Yao, his gaze merely flicking towards him in acknowledgment before setting the book gently on the large table at the front of the otherwise empty room. Then, he turned to face his lone disciple.
"Today," Rui Feng said calmly, his voice echoing slightly in the quiet hall, "I am going to begin teaching you the fundamental stages of the Foundation Establishment realm."
Shi Yao straightened up slightly on his bench, his attention fully focused on his master. Rui Feng rested a hand on the book before him, his gaze thoughtful.
"As you should already know, the Foundation Establishment realm is comprised of nine distinct layers. Each one of these layers is further divided into three stages: the low stage, the mid stage, and the peak stage. This much information is considered common knowledge within the cultivation world." He paused for a brief moment, allowing his words to sink in before continuing.
"However, what most cultivators don't fully realize or appreciate is that the entire Foundation Establishment realm can be further subdivided into three distinct phases each with its own unique and vital purpose in the overall cultivation journey." He lifted one hand, his fingers spread slightly.
"Phase one encompasses Layers One through Three. This initial phase is where a cultivator diligently begins the crucial process of absorbing spiritual qi from their surroundings and using it to gradually refine and strengthen their bones. Without a stable and robust skeletal frame, the physical body simply cannot hope to handle the immense density of energy that will be required for advancement into the higher cultivation realms." Another finger on his outstretched hand rose.
"Phase two consists of Layers Four through Six. During this intermediate phase, the cultivator's focus shifts from the skeletal structure to the internal organs. The spiritual qi absorbed during this time now actively reinforces vital organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. These essential organs need to be significantly strengthened to withstand the coming surges of energy that will accompany future breakthroughs, or they will inevitably begin to deteriorate under the immense strain."
A third finger joined the others. "Finally, phase three includes Layers Seven through Nine. In this advanced phase of Foundation Establishment, the cultivator dedicates their efforts to diligently refining their intricate network of meridians the pathways through which spiritual energy flows throughout the body and to thoroughly purging the physical form of any remaining impurities.
This final stage is absolutely critical as it ultimately determines the smooth and efficient flow of qi within the cultivator's body, their overall energy capacity, and, perhaps most importantly, how efficiently they will be able to cultivate in all the future realms they aspire to reach."
Shi Yao, who had been listening intently, raised his hand. "Master, I have a question regarding these phases." Rui Feng nodded, a slight smile on his lips.
"What is it, Yao'er?"
"What exactly happens if someone doesn't properly refine each of these distinct phases during their Foundation Establishment?"
Rui Feng's piercing blue eyes met Shi Yao's directly, his expression becoming serious.
"Most cultivators spend a considerable amount of time years, in fact within the Foundation Establishment realm," he said, his voice measured and thoughtful.
"They meticulously refine their bones, carefully temper their internal organs, and diligently cleanse their meridians of every impurity. They understand the fundamental principle that if your physical body isn't in perfect harmony by the time you reach the ninth layer, it will inevitably begin to actively resist your further cultivation."
He walked slowly along the front of the quiet room, his tone emphasizing the importance of his words.
"Your flow of qi will become inherently unstable, constantly fluctuating and difficult to control. Your attempts at future breakthroughs into higher realms will begin to fracture and fail, the energy unable to find a stable foundation.
Every new technique you attempt to learn will inevitably draw upon a flawed and weakened base and eventually, as you try to push your limits, everything will ultimately collapse, hindering any further progress."
He stopped his slow walk, his gaze now unwavering. "Foundation Establishment isn't simply about advancing in power and reaching the next layer.
It's about meticulously constructing a strong and stable structure within yourself a foundation that is robust enough to endure the immense pressures of every cultivation stage that follows. If that initial foundation is in any way flawed or incomplete… then everything you attempt to build above it will eventually crumble and fall." Shi Yao raised his hand again, his curiosity clearly piqued. "Master… what specific cultivation realms come after the Foundation Establishment stage?"
Rui Feng gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, as if he had been fully expecting this very question.
"Beyond the Foundation Establishment realm lies the Golden Core Stage," he began, his voice taking on a slightly more formal tone.
"That is the pivotal stage where a cultivator successfully forms their own unique Golden Core refining and stabilizing their spiritual essence into something incredibly dense, remarkably durable, and entirely internal within their body." He lifted one finger.
"Next in the progression is the Nascent Soul Realm. At this significant level, the cultivator's soul begins to manifest visibly outside of their physical body. A cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage can briefly exist apart from their flesh and blood, extending their will, their intentions, and their power far beyond the limitations of their physical form." A second finger joined the first.
"Following that comes the Soul Integration Realm. Here, the cultivator's body and soul become completely and irrevocably merged, achieving a state of perfect harmony. Qi at this stage obeys not merely through disciplined control, but through the sheer force of the cultivator's focused intent. Their spiritual pressure becomes so incredibly potent that it manifests as a tangible force in the world around them." A third finger rose to join the others.
"Then… the Body Integration Realm. At this powerful stage, the physical form itself undergoes a profound transformation, being meticulously tempered and refined becoming not just a simple vessel for spiritual energy, but a formidable weapon in its own right. At this level, a cultivator's body can contain and channel truly incredible amounts of raw energy without fear of rupture or self-destruction."
"The next step on the path is the Divine Transformation Realm. In this truly extraordinary realm, a cultivator's very existence begins to subtly distort the natural laws of the world around them. Their energy becomes so incredibly refined and pure that it brushes against the very edge of the fundamental principles that govern reality." Rui Feng's tone quieted slightly as he raised a fifth finger.
"Then comes the Tribulation Realm. This is the point where the heavens themselves begin to take notice of the cultivator's immense power. It is a stage where you will be rigorously tested not just by mortal enemies or worldly challenges, but by the very fabric of the world itself, forcing you to overcome trials of unimaginable difficulty." He raised a final finger, completing the count.
"And finally… the Great Ascension Realm. The ultimate boundary, the very edge of what this world, in its current state, can possibly contain." Shi Yao frowned slightly, a look of intense contemplation on his face. "What exactly do you mean by 'the edge of this world,' Master? Does that imply… that there is something that exists beyond it?"
Rui Feng glanced towards the open window of the learning hall. A gentle wind rustled the leaves of the distant trees outside, their branches swaying rhythmically. "You will find out, Yao'er," he said calmly, a knowing glint in his piercing blue eyes, "when the time is right.
When you yourself are ready to understand." He didn't elaborate further, leaving Shi Yao's curiosity piqued. But something in the way he had spoken his tone measured, quiet, and absolutely certain made Shi Yao pause, a sense of profound mystery settling in the air. He looked down in thoughtful silence for a long moment, then slowly raised his hand once more, his brow furrowed in curiosity.
"Master… why do people here actively avoid the Sixth Peak? What truly happened here in the past? And what was this particular peak originally intended for before its… reputation?" Rui Feng's hands stilled atop the smooth cover of the book before him. For a long, silent breath, he said nothing, his gaze fixed on some distant point in the empty room.
Then, he turned slowly, walking a slow arc across the front of the quiet hall, his footsteps barely audible on the polished wooden floor. "A hundred years ago," he began, his voice taking on a more somber tone, "the Sixth Peak was not the shunned and forgotten place it is today. In fact, it was one of the Celestial Wind Sect's most important pillars.
It was a center for cutting-edge research, daring experimentation, and the exploration of unconventional cultivation methods. The disciples who trained here walked different, often misunderstood paths but they undeniably achieved real and significant results." His voice grew even more measured, the gravity of his tale beginning to settle in the air.
"But one day… a disciple from this very peak, a young man brimming with talent and potential, succumbed to madness. He possessed a unique technique, unlike any other ever recorded one that granted him the horrifying ability to devour the very energy, spiritual qi, and even the hard-earned cultivation of other living beings." Shi Yao's breath hitched in his throat, an involuntary reaction to the gruesome revelation.
"In a single, terrifying night, he slaughtered nearly half of the entire Celestial Wind Sect, leaving a trail of devastation and despair in his wake." Rui Feng paused by the open doorway, his gaze now fixed on the distant horizon of the majestic mountains. "The Sect Master himself, a being of immense power, finally appeared to confront the mad disciple. The disciple, sensing the overwhelming power arrayed against him, fled into the wilderness.
He vanished completely no body was ever recovered, no trace of his existence remained. Just an unsettling silence that haunted the sect for decades." "After that horrific incident," he continued, his voice quiet and tinged with sadness, "the Sixth Peak was immediately sealed off, declared forbidden territory.
Its dangerous teachings were buried deep within the sect's archives, and absolutely no one was ever allowed to set foot on this cursed ground again." "Then… then why reopen it now?" Shi Yao asked, his voice barely a whisper, the weight of the history settling upon him. "Because the past, no matter how painful, has to be confronted eventually," Rui Feng said quietly, his gaze distant.
"The peak was reopened, a symbolic gesture of moving forward, but as you have seen, no one in their right mind chose to return to this place of tragedy." "Except for me," Shi Yao murmured, the realization echoing in the silent hall. Rui Feng turned fully now, his piercing blue eyes meeting Shi Yao's directly, his gaze intense.
"You asked what this peak was originally meant for, Yao'er," he said, his voice low but resonant.
"It was meant for the seekers, the innovators, the ones who dared to walk the paths that others feared to tread. It was a place for those who questioned, who experimented, and who were willing to risk everything for knowledge."
Shi Yao nodded slowly, absorbing his master's words, then hesitated for one last moment, a final question burning on his tongue. "Master… what was that disciple's name? The one who brought so much destruction to the sect." Rui Feng didn't answer immediately. He simply stared at Shi Yao for a quiet, unreadable moment, his gaze intense and penetrating.
Then, finally, he spoke, the single word hanging heavy in the air. "Bai Ling." The name dropped into the stillness of the room like a heavy stone falling into a deep, dark well quiet, but carrying an immense and unsettling weight. And in the profound silence that followed, Shi Yao felt the weight of that name settle somewhere deep within his own chest, a chilling premonition he couldn't quite understand.