Chapter 23: Reality Experienced in Illusion
The next day, Zhang Xiu took leave.
As for Zhang Yunlu, following what Xu Xing had said, she went to school early to report her cultivation level and inquire about Foundation Establishment.
Along the way, whenever she saw people, she subconsciously glanced at their vital points.
“…”
This was a side effect, and it would likely last for quite some time.
After entering the school, she went directly to see the Director of Education.
Normally, this kind of thing should be discussed with her homeroom teacher, but Fang Chi… she decided against it.
Director of Education's office.
“Qi Refining Ninth Layer, with a solid Foundation, quite good.” A thin strand of bright spiritual power was drawn out from Zhang Yunlu's wrist.
The Director of Education of Xuanjian City Third Middle School was named Yu Ming. He looked like a slightly strict and old-fashioned elder, with white hair and age spots on his face, appearing somewhat listless.
But after interacting with him, one would find that he was actually a very gentle elder.
It was said that in his early years, he enjoyed exploring various Mystic Realms, and precisely because of this, his Foundation was damaged in an accident, causing him to lose the possibility of further advancement. He eventually came to this school to become the Director of Education.
“Now that your cultivation has reached this level, it is indeed time to tell you about Foundation Establishment.” Yu Ming handed her a glass of water. “The information on the Spiritual Net is mixed. The three types of Foundation Establishment described there, while having some merit, are incomplete.”
Yu Ming knew very well why Zhang Yunlu had come to see him today. According to the rules, she should have gone to ask her homeroom teacher about Foundation Establishment.
“Currently, there are three mainstream methods for Foundation Establishment: Pseudo Foundation Establishment, External Object Foundation Establishment, and Heavenly Dao Foundation.”
In Yu Ming's view, the conflict between teachers and students, and some insignificant rules, were far less important than a student's future.
He meticulously explained the three methods of Foundation Establishment he knew.
Pseudo Foundation Establishment was similar to what Zhang Yunlu had initially understood.
External Object Foundation Establishment was equivalent to the second and third types of Foundation Establishment she originally knew, plus the first type she heard from Xu Xing.
Heavenly Dao Foundation was exactly the same as what Xu Xing had described.
But what about the other one?
“Heavenly Dao Foundation is extremely difficult to achieve. It not only requires an extremely strong Foundation, but the process of collecting sun essence, condensing moon brilliance, and refining star radiance is also incredibly painful.” Yu Ming chuckled lightly. “Your Foundation is sufficient; it just depends on whether you can endure these three trials.”
“I think my willpower is quite good.” *I'm someone who died over a hundred times in one night*, she thought. “But Heavenly Treasures should be very rare, right?”
Xu Xing had said he would give her one, but Zhang Yunlu still wanted to ask.
“Heavenly Treasures are indeed rare, but as early as seventy-three years ago, someone researched a substitute. I personally recommend the ‘Disposable Foundation Establishment Use Wonderful Treasure Divine Essence’ from 【Pure Moon Flying Sword】.”
Disposable Foundation Establishment Use Wonderful Treasure Divine Essence?!
“The price isn't too expensive, and the efficacy is comparable to other brands.”
For example, what 【Mystic Moon Pavilion】 sells is quite expensive, even though the effect is the same. So they are a bunch of unscrupulous merchants.
Yu Ming opened a drawer, took out a crystal card from a small box, and handed it to Zhang Yunlu.
“This is the Basic Refining Method created by Saint Emperor Yuan. Go back and study it carefully.”
“Teacher, this is too…”
“Don't refuse. I'm not playing favorites; every Qi Refining Ninth Layer student gets one. Otherwise, how could it be called the Basic Refining Method?”
The school also had various Cailian Methods from the major Immortal Sects, but they were too extreme and violent. This Basic Refining Method was relatively gentle.
Even so, the school only dared to distribute it to students who reached Qi Refining Ninth Layer during their third year of high school.
Oh, I see.
Zhang Yunlu took the crystal card and put it into her Storage Ring.
“Do you have any other questions, Student Zhang?”
“Have you heard of… Good Fortune Dao Foundation?”
“…” Yu Ming was silent for a moment. “Yes, but it's not mainstream, and the difficulty is too great.”
“The current Pseudo Foundation Establishment was a new type of Foundation Establishment method created by Lingyin Workshop after researching Good Fortune Dao Foundation.”
Although Heavenly Dao Foundation was rare, a few could always be seen in each year's college entrance examination. But Good Fortune Dao Foundation, the last time it appeared was fifteen years ago.
Knock knock!
“Director, this is for tomorrow's combat test…”
Zhang Yunlu turned around, only to find that the person who came was precisely her teacher Fang Chi. The two stared at each other, and the atmosphere was a bit awkward.
…………
At noon, the third-year high school students came out of the school one after another.
Because there was a combat test tomorrow, the school gave them the afternoon off to prepare.
Zhang Yunlu was among them, but after leaving school, she didn't go home. Instead, she took a taxi to the villa complex where Xu Xing lived.
During class today, many classmates she usually didn't talk to came to persuade her to apologize to Fang Chi, saying that there were no conflicts between teachers and students that couldn't be resolved.
However, Zhang Yunlu ignored them; she only found it noisy.
We're almost graduating, and you want me to mend teacher-student relations?
And those people, seeing her so 'unappreciative', directly stated that they would see the real results in tomorrow's combat test.
Although they were students, they were also cultivators.
Combat test… Among her classmates, how many would be more powerful than the pain-resistant monster in her dream?
Thinking this, she suddenly felt a little anticipation.
If there were strong enough opponents in this combat test to hone her sword skills, the next time she faced that monster, perhaps she wouldn't be as miserable as last night!
And the taxi driver, seeing Zhang Yunlu silent one moment and smiling the next in the rearview mirror, couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
'Third-year high school students are under a lot of pressure.'
He simply stopped talking and turned up the music a little.
Soon, the car arrived at the destination.
“We're here, student. We can't drive in here, so you'll have to walk in yourself.”
After paying the fare, Zhang Yunlu walked into the complex and made her way to Xu Xing's villa.
She used the Formation core to open the Formation, walked a few steps to the door, and was about to ring the doorbell.
“Come straight in, the door isn't locked.”
Indeed, with a gentle push, the door opened. Everything inside was still exactly the same as when she came yesterday.
She finally found Xu Xing in the garden.
At this time, Xu Xing was leaning on a wicker lounge chair, with a pot of tea on the table beside him. Sunlight streamed down, and he looked very relaxed.
“Sit down. Your performance last night was indeed good. You should have no problem handling tomorrow's combat test.”
“Emm… Regarding last night, I actually have a question.” After a pause, Zhang Yunlu continued, “Was everything I experienced real or fake?”
Xu Xing did not answer but instead asked, “What do you think?”
“It should be fake, otherwise I couldn't have revived so many times, and I was back in my own room after waking up.”
How could one person have so many lives?
“Since you understand this, why are you asking this question now?”
“But my spiritual power has indeed increased, as if the pills I took in that trial really had an effect.”
Zhang Yunlu frowned. This was the reason she felt confused.
“Illusion or reality.”
Xu Xing gently pointed, and a drop of tea floated up, then rapidly expanded, transforming into a round and full pill under her gaze.
“As the saying goes, when the real is taken as fake, the fake is also real. This is refining the fake into the real.”
As Xu Xing's words fell, the pill turned back into a drop of tea and fell back into the teacup.
“If I were to explain, everything last night was equivalent to you experiencing reality within falsehood. Do you understand now?”
Zhang Yunlu nodded, half-understanding.
Xu Xing didn't pay much attention, after all, these things were still very far away from her.
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If any readers find parts that aren't smooth, please feel free to point them out, and I will correct them as soon as possible!