After the tournament, Lu Changsheng and Wujin Ji were promoted.
Everyone began to leave the tournament and Dang Wong got up to leave as well.
As he was leaving, Dang Wong's face went pale as two inner sect disciples approached his seat in the stands. Their expressions were stern, their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.
"Disciple Dang Wong," the taller one said, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "You are to come with us for questioning regarding the unauthorized technique used during the tournament."
Dang Wong's heart hammered in his chest. He had hoped his borrowed power would go unnoticed and thought that it was something given to him by an elder.. The crowd around him began to murmur, some pointing fingers, others whispering about cheating.
"I... I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, but his trembling hands betrayed him.
"Save your explanations for the interrogation chamber," the second disciple said coldly. "We all saw you use it in your match!"
Dang Wong's blood ran cold. If his instructor had thrown him under the carriage, there was no way out. He rose shakily to his feet, his mind racing for any possible escape route.
"Please... I was only following orders," he whispered desperately.
"Orders or not, you violated tournament rules and unnecessarily endangered your opponent's life," the first disciple replied. "Come quietly, or we'll make this more difficult than it needs to be."
As they escorted him away, Dang Wong caught sight of Elder Dong watching from the elder's platform. His expression was unreadable, but he could swear he saw a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
---
In the healing pavilion, Su Yan sat beside Liuyan Xue's bed, both of them wrapped in bandages but in surprisingly good spirits. The room was filled with the scent of medicinal herbs and the soft glow of healing formations.
"You know," Su Yan said, carefully adjusting her position to avoid aggravating her bruised ribs, "I never thought I'd be happy to be in a hospital bed."
Liuyan Xue chuckled, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at her injuries. "At least we're not dead. That's something, right?"
"True," Su Yan agreed. "Though I have to admit, I'm a bit jealous of how you managed to hold your own against Jing Lan. I was unconscious before I could really show what I learned."
Liuyan Xue's expression grew thoughtful. "You know, I'm still not entirely sure what happened. One moment I was getting beaten senseless, and the next... it was like everything clicked. The foundation training, the intent reading, it all came together."
"Senior Wujin's methods are... unconventional," Su Yan said, shaking her head. "But I can't deny they work. When he said 'pebbles turn into mountains, and mountains turn into worlds,' something just made sense."
"Foundation," Liuyan Xue murmured. "Not just a realm, but the foundation of everything we do. I think I'm starting to understand what he meant."
Su Yan grinned. "Look at us, getting philosophical in a hospital bed. Who would have thought?"
A healer entered the room, carrying a tray of medicinal tea and fresh bandages. "How are you two feeling?" she asked cheerfully.
"Like we've been through a war," Su Yan replied honestly.
"Well, you have," the healer said with a smile. "But you're healing nicely. The sect has been quite impressed with your performance. I hear there's talk of special rewards for your team."
Liuyan Xue's eyes lit up. "Really? What kind of rewards?"
"The cold water qi pool, for one, your allotted time has grown longer" the healer said as she checked their bandages. "And I believe Elder Fu mentioned something about extended personal guidance sessions. You've made quite an impression."
Su Yan and Liuyan Xue exchanged excited glances. Despite the pain and exhaustion, they couldn't help but feel proud of what they'd accomplished.
"Senior Wujin was right," Su Yan said quietly. "Foundation really is everything."
Liuyan Xue nodded in agreement. "I just hope we can continue learning from him. There's so much more to understand."
The healer finished her work and prepared to leave. "Rest well, you two. You've earned it. The tournament results will be officially announced tomorrow, and I suspect you'll be quite pleased."
As she left, Su Yan and Liuyan Xue settled back into their beds, their minds buzzing with possibilities for the future. The tournament was finally over.
As for Wujin Ji, he was currently in a room with Elder Fu.
"There is a lot you must know. While you have been formally promoted, you have not even received a lick of knowledge that an inner disciple would know!" Elder Fu yelled as he handed Wujin Ji a scroll containing basic information.
While it was true that Wujin Ji had been in the sect for a short period, this was just as a recruit disciple.
He had never experienced the outer sect disciple life, never been to the scripture pavilion, and never done any missions.
In short, there were a lot of gaps in his knowledge.
"Which, I am sorry to say, but it will have to wait for a short while longer before you learn a lot of other things aside from the basics. There is an emergency summon by the sect leader." Elder Fu finished.
Wujin Ji raised an eyebrow.
"I thought I was finally able to focus on my foundation but it seems I'm being whisked away once more?" Wujin Ji sighed.
"You see, around a week ago there was a strange surge in qi that was sensed. We have planned to have the newly promoted inner sect disciples take on this mission, and well, you fit that description now." Elder Fu said awkwardly.
"I see.. and what about Lu Changsheng?" Wujin Ji said, attempting to find a scapegoat.
"Ah, him." Elder Fu smiled, content with the results he produced.
"He will be joining your team. Among them, there will be one other inner sect disciple, they have been in the position for about a year and will help you two investigate." Elder Fu said as he grabbed something from his storage ring.
"Here take this." Elder Fu said as a sack appeared out of thin air.
Wujin Ji opened it and made a disgusted expression.
Inside were the spirit stones that Elder Fu won in the bet.
"What am I supposed to do with these exactly?" Wujin Ji said, not even attempting to hide his expression.
Elder Fu was confused and was at a loss for words.
He should be in the foundation establishment realm right? Why does this rascal not know how to use spirit stones, that's basic knowledge!
"Instead of this junk may I ask for something else?" Wujin Ji said as he tossed the sack of the spirit stones onto the floor in front of them, scattering a few.
"... you're not going to use these precious resources for cultivation? Not even for money?" Elder Fu stammered out, eyeballing the fortune that was treated like dirt.
"Such a thing will harm my foundation Elder Fu, surely you're joking!"
Elder Fu stood for a moment and digested the words and pretended as if it never happened.
He levitated the spirit stones, recovering all of them into the pouch, and put them back into his ring.
"What is your request?" Elder Fu narrowed his eyes, patting his hands as he was ready for an insane reply.
"Id like a book on formations, and one on theoretical qi manipulation. Oh and if there is anything on foundation establishment!" Wujin Ji said not holding back at all with an excited tone.
"Just this much? You do not realize the spirit stones I laid before you could purchase a library of such books?" Elder Fu retorted with a baffled expression.
"Spirit stone this, spirit stone that, I'm sick of the concept! Will you grant my request or not?" Wujin Ji spat back.
…
Elder Fu took a deep breath and reminded himself that Wujin Ji was the ancestors disciple, he couldn't hurt him.
"Yes. I will get it to you before you embark.. Do you have a preference on your cave dwelling?" Elder Fu agreed as he held back his anger.
"Cave dwelling?" Wujin Ji was not informed.
"Yes, all inner sect disciples are allotted a cave dwelling, the location usually is not up to them, but your status grants an exception." Elder Fu explained.
"Fantastic, I was beginning to grow tired of living so close to other disciples. Can I just have one that is not near any others?" Wujin Ji asked genuinely.
"That's.. that's fine but I do have another matter to ask regarding it.. there are three peaks you must choose that are run by each of the elders." Elder Fu explained as he winked, obviously trying to say something.
Wujin Ji stood there, deep in thought as he recalled what he heard about the other elders.
To Elder Fu's surprise, Wujin Ji was actively considering joining the other elders!
Read behind the lines damn it!
"What are their specializations?" Wujin Ji asked, weighing the pros and cons.
"..."
"E-elder Dong specializes in artifact refinery and has great knowledge in the sect's history, Elder Hang leans towards Talismans and Formations and I specialize in techniques and theoretical research.." Elder Fu explained as he poured himself tea from his storage ring and began to drink.
"Aren't there alchemists too?" Wujin Ji said, confused as he himself had experienced a visit to an alchemist.
"Yes, that's mostly the Sect Leader's work.. and the Sect Leader has no peak." Elder Fu explained further, sipping his tea.
"I see.. I'm torn between choosing Elder Hang or you to be honest as he does have information I'd like to learn, but you learn more theoretical knowledge as you stated, which I'm also interested in.." Wujin Ji scratched his head.
Elder Fu was shocked!
This fellow was truly considering not joining him!
"Choose carefully.." Elder Fu said as his grip tightened, cracking the cup of tea he had been drinking.
Wujin Ji noticed the atmosphere and was no fool.
"In that case, since Elder Fu has been so generous, of course I shall pick Elder Fu!" Wujin Ji said as he feigned interest.
Elder Fu's expression turned soft once more. "Good, good!"
"By the way, Wujin, I'm very curious, what exactly did you teach those youngsters to achieve such an effect?" Elder Fu asked seriously.
"Oh them? I did a few fun games, and then I just spoke very cryptically! They seemed to randomly have enlightenment and learned a few things on their own, but seem to attribute it to me.. I did a few training sessions specialized for each of them based on those enlightenments as well." Wujin Ji explained, not withholding any information.
"What? You said a few words and they entered the legendary state of enlightenment? Are you joking?" Elder Fu was baffled.
Is entering enlightenment this easy? Why have I never had it happen!
"Can I have an example of what you've said?" Elder Fu asked, attempting to reach the bottom of the mystery.
"Sure, I was talking to Su Yan one day and she was complaining about the seemingly basic training we were doing. So I said simply, 'pebbles turn into mountains, and mountains turn into worlds', and then she showed a shocked expression.." Wujin Ji shrugged, he didn't feel like this combination of words was special at all!
"There is a profound meaning behind that phrase. A qi refiner could be seen as a pebble; the act of cultivation builds upon that until you are as overbearing as a world! And the mention of hills shows a transitional period!" Elder Fu stroked his chin.
Wujin Ji just shrugged, unmoved.
"You!" Elder Fu sent out his consciousness to a nearby inner sect disciple and they ran and appeared in front of him.
"Take Wujin Ji to a cave dwelling that is unoccupied, and ensure it's not nearby others!"
The inner sect disciple bowed and Wujin Ji followed.
Elder Fu called upon another disciple who soon entered the room.
"Disciple, pebbles turn into mountains, and mountains turn into worlds!" Elder Fu said as he stroked his chin, a profound look in his eyes.
"O-okay? What can I do for you elder?" The disciples said, bowing.
"It seems it doesn't work for me! You may leave." Elder Fu said, slightly embarrassed.
The disciple left and another disciple asked what they were called for.
They simply said;
"I don't know, Elder Fu said something about how his pebbles won't work anymore? Is he saying he can't have children?"
And thus, another rumor was born.
---
Meanwhile, in a secluded chamber deep within the sect's administrative buildings, Lu Changsheng sat across from a stern-faced inner sect disciple who had been assigned to brief him on his new responsibilities.
"Congratulations on your promotion, Senior Lu," the disciple said, though his tone suggested anything but congratulations. "However, I must inform you that your advancement has raised... concerns among certain elders."
Lu Changsheng's expression remained calm, but his fingers tightened slightly around the edge of his chair. "Concerns?"
"Elder Dong has questioned the legitimacy of your victory," the disciple continued, shuffling through a stack of documents. "He claims that some of your techniques were not taught within our sect's curriculum and suggests you may have received outside training."
"I see," Lu Changsheng said slowly. "And what is the sect's position on this matter?"
"The sect leader has decided to investigate," the disciple replied. "Until the investigation is complete, you will be under observation. Your access to certain areas will be restricted, and you will be required to report your activities daily."
Lu Changsheng nodded, though internally he was seething. After everything he had accomplished, after proving himself in the tournament, he was being treated like a criminal.
"Is there anything else I should know?" he asked, keeping his voice level.
"Yes," the disciple said, looking up from his papers. "You are to report to the mission briefing tomorrow at dawn. The investigation will not interfere with your assigned duties, but it will be ongoing."
As Lu Changsheng left the chamber, his mind raced with possibilities. Who had reported him? What exactly were they investigating? And more importantly, how would this affect his relationship with Wujin Ji?
The answers, he suspected, would not be pleasant.
---
Back in Wujin Ji's new cave dwelling, the young cultivator sat cross-legged on a simple meditation mat, surrounded by the books Elder Fu had promised to deliver. The cave was spacious and well-lit, with formations carved into the walls that provided both light and temperature control.
"Finally," Wujin Ji muttered to himself, "some peace and quiet to focus on my foundation."
He opened the first book - "Theoretical Foundations of Qi Manipulation" - and began to read. The text was dense and complex, filled with diagrams and equations that would have baffled most cultivators his age.
But Wujin Ji was not most cultivators.
As he read, his eyes began to glow with understanding. The theories presented in the book were revolutionary, challenging everything he thought he knew about cultivation. The concept of qi as not just energy, but as the fundamental building block of reality itself...
"This is incredible," he whispered, his hands trembling with excitement. "If I can master these principles..."
He set the book aside and picked up the second one - "Formation Theory and Application." This one was even more complex, dealing with the geometric patterns that could channel and amplify qi in specific ways.
"The formations are just tools," he realized suddenly. "The real power comes from understanding the underlying principles. The foundation of the foundation, so to speak."
He laughed at his own joke, then immediately returned to his studies. There was so much to learn, so much to understand. The mission could wait, right now, he had more important things to focus on.
The next morning, as dawn broke over the Azure River Sect, three figures made their way toward the mission briefing room. Wujin Ji, Lu Changsheng, and a third inner sect disciple named Feng Wei, who had been assigned to guide them.
Feng Wei was a tall, serious-looking young man with sharp features and an air of quiet competence. He had been in the inner sect for over a year and had completed several successful inner sect missions.
"Good morning," he said as they approached the briefing room. "I trust you're both ready for your first official mission?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Lu Changsheng replied, though his tone suggested otherwise.
Wujin Ji simply nodded, his mind still partially occupied with the theories he had been studying the night before.
As they entered the briefing room, they found Elder Fu waiting for them, along with several other inner sect disciples and a detailed map spread across a large table.
"Ah, good, you're all here," Elder Fu said, looking up from the map. "Now, let me explain the situation. A week ago, we detected a massive qi surge coming from the Crimson Forest region. The energy signature was unlike anything we've encountered before, powerful enough to be detected from hundreds of miles away."
He pointed to a location on the map marked with a red X.
"Initial reconnaissance suggests the source is somewhere in this area. However, the forest is dangerous, filled with demonic beasts and ancient formations that could prove fatal to the unprepared."
Feng Wei nodded grimly. "I've been to the Crimson Forest before. It's not a place for the faint of heart."
"What exactly are we looking for?" Lu Changsheng asked.
"We're not entirely sure," Elder Fu admitted. "It could be an ancient treasure, a powerful artifact, or even a newly awakened demonic beast. Whatever it is, it's powerful enough to warrant investigation."
Wujin Ji's eyes gleamed with interest. "Ancient formations, you say? That could be very educational."
Elder Fu chuckled. "I had a feeling you'd be interested in that aspect. Just remember, this is a reconnaissance mission first and foremost. Gather information, assess the threat level, and report back. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary."
"Understood," Feng Wei said, speaking for the group.
"Good," Elder Fu said. "You'll depart at noon. Use the time until then to prepare yourselves. This mission could be dangerous, but it's also an opportunity to prove yourselves as inner sect disciples."
As they left the briefing room, Wujin Ji couldn't help but feel excited. Ancient formations, mysterious qi surges, and the opportunity to test his newfound knowledge in a real-world setting?
This was exactly the kind of challenge he had been waiting for!
"Senior Feng," he said as they walked down the corridor, "what can you tell us about the Crimson Forest?"
Feng Wei's expression grew serious. "It's a place where the old world still holds sway. Ancient formations that predate our sect, demonic beasts that have been there for centuries, and mysteries that even the elders don't fully understand."
"Perfect," Wujin Ji said with a grin. "Ancient knowledge is just what I need."
Lu Changsheng sighed. "Of course you need that.."
"Are there any other things we need to be wary of?" Lu Changsheng asked Feng Wei.
"There is one.. but its unconfirmed.." Feng Wei was apprehensive to say.
"So is a lot of information you gave us, just tell us." Wujin Ji butted in.
"There may be a demonic sect that has made residence in the area.."
Lu Changsheng's face turned pale and his body cold and he stopped his steps.
"What's wrong Lu Changsheng?" Wujin Ji asked.
"You don't understand Wujin.. beasts may kill you, but the demonic sect has ways to not only torture you for what feels like eternity, but you may become a soul slave and endure pain past mortal comprehension.."