When the Great Hall quieted down, Sect Leader Zhu Jinshui slowly spoke.
“This is not the entirety of the world.
When you become even stronger, I will tell you more.”
“Telling you these things now is to let you know that Foundation Establishment is merely the beginning of Cultivation.
You can be confident, but it’s not worth being complacent.
You can be happy, but you need to work harder.
Foundation Establishment Disciples, holding your tokens, may go to the back mountain of Preaching Mountain to receive a Sect Law Inheritance and obtain a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Technique…”
When the ceremony concluded, the Foundation Establishment Disciples all wore serious expressions, none showing much joy at becoming Elders.
They returned to their mountains, each making different choices.
Dugu Yunshan, Caizhu, and Cao Yueying, those with strong abilities, chose to continue Cultivating.
Wang Longyu and Qi Bingsheng, Family Disciples who achieved Foundation Establishment through luck, chose to serve as Elders in the Sect.
While working for the Sect, they also sought benefits for their Families.
Nangong Nizi seemed to have fully recovered from her injuries.
Throughout the entire ceremony, she remained silent, not sparing anyone else a glance.
This temporarily put Qian Duoduo’s mind at ease.
The ceremony being held in the Purple Firmament Great Hall was perhaps another test by the Sect Leader and Grand Elder for Nangong Nizi.
Qian Duoduo returned to his Immortal Cave, also pondering:
“What path should I take, and where should I go?”
Qian Duoduo had asked himself this question when he was Cultivating the Mystic Art in the Secret Realm.
His answer at the time was that the path he, Qian Duoduo, would walk in this life was the Dao of Artifact Refining.
He found joy and happiness walking this Dao.
The Sect Leader’s introduction to this world reminded Qian Duoduo of what Yu Yixiang and Master Wang had told him.
They had advised Qian Duoduo to go to Facai City as soon as possible and become a Fourth-Rank or even a Fifth-Rank Refiner.
However, no matter how vast the world, how wide the heavens, whether on the Lower Road, or the Middle Road, or the Upper Road, he, Qian Duoduo, would consistently continue on the path of Artifact Refining.
Thinking of this, Qian Duoduo decided to first go to Wanjinge Square to take the Artifact Transformation Scroll exam.
If he passed, he would obtain the Combination Scroll.
Then he would have the entire Encyclopedia of Weapon Refining.
When night fully fell, Qian Duoduo changed into a blue robe, put on a mask, slipped out of his Immortal Cave, and after several turns, arrived at Wanjinge Square.
It was December, quite cold, but Wanjinge Square was still a bustling city that never slept.
In front of the Wood Houses of the first three Golden Pillars, the Disciples taking the assessment were still queuing in long lines.
Passing behind them, Qian Duoduo overheard their discussions:
“The Senior Brother who achieved The Righteous Foundation Establishment said he wants to first become a Third-Rank Refiner before continuing his Cultivation.”
“He’s already an Elder, why does he insist on becoming an Artifact Refiner, and a Third-Rank one at that? Isn’t that taking away our livelihood?”
“He was stimulated. I heard from Senior Brother that in the Ghost Head Secret Realm, that Great Master Bu Huan casually threw out dozens of Senior Dan Artifacts, and they just ‘bang, bang, bang’ exploded, making all levels of Sha Soul vanish into thin air.”
“Dozens of Dan artifacts, and Senior ones, just exploded like that?”
“That’s right. Haven’t you heard? Tens of millions of Sha Soul besieged the Three Sects Disciples, and what sustained them for twenty-four days in the end?
It was Great Master Bu Huan’s massive amount of Magic Treasures.
Even people from Ba Ling Sect and Shengling Sect had to admire him.”
“So, the Sect Leader said that Artifact Refining is the foundation of the Sect. I will definitely pass this assessment. Golden Toad bless me, I will surely win this battle…”
Their conversation was all over the place, the content jumping around, making Qian Duoduo reluctant to listen, yet unable to resist wanting to hear.
The unintentional praise he overheard was like finding a Magic Treasure, especially delightful.
What made him happiest was that the Golden Toad, which dominated the top of the eight Golden Pillars, had become a mascot that the Sect Disciples would worship before every exam.
After quietly enjoying it for a while, Qian Duoduo leisurely strolled to the ninth Golden Pillar.