Chapter 42
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 42: Three Years
Xu Fan watched Wang Yulun’s performance in the Spiritual Energy Armor and nodded with satisfaction.
The power had met his expectations; now it was just a matter of gradually strengthening it.
After some maneuvers in the air, Wang Yulun returned to Xu Fan’s side.
“Big Brother Xu, this artifact is incredible! I wouldn’t even be afraid of a peak Foundation Establishment beast now,” Wang Yulun said excitedly.
“It’s decent, but this Spiritual Energy Armor is just the basic version. Once you all advance to Foundation Establishment, I’ll craft a set of precious artifacts for you.”
“So, that piece of soul iron you gave me wasn’t a waste, right?” Xu Fan said with a smile, as he disliked owing favors to anyone.
“Not at all! With this set of precious artifacts, I’m worried you’re the one at a disadvantage, Big Brother Xu.”
“Exactly! If you need any materials for the precious artifacts, just let us know. We’ll do our best to find them,” Murong Qianer said, admiring her own set of Spiritual Energy Armor.
She felt that Xu Fan’s talent for artifact crafting surpassed his battle talent.
“Alright, I’ll give you a list soon. Some soul orbs from beasts will need to be collected by you.”
“No rush. You can look for those after you’ve advanced to Foundation Establishment,” Xu Fan said, already planning how to refine his own Spiritual Energy Armor.
“Thank you, Big Brother Xu.”
“No need for formalities; we’re all friends,” Xu Fan said, waving his hand.
In the afternoon, Xu Fan watched the siblings practice their spells in the yard.
“Sometimes, practicing spells requires some thought.”
“After a failure, stop and think about why it didn’t work.”
“Spellcasting is the most fundamental skill for cultivators and a key factor in later battles.”
Xu Fan didn’t point out the siblings’ mistakes in spellcasting but instead encouraged them to gradually figure things out on their own.
After several failed attempts, Xu Gang felt his spiritual energy becoming unstable and said sheepishly to Xu Fan, “Master, what should I do if I can’t think clearly?”
“That’s a tough question,” Xu Fan replied, momentarily caught off guard.
At that moment, a cloud of water formed from spiritual energy appeared above the yard, and a light rain began to fall.
This was Xu Yuexian’s Small Spirit Rain Technique.
“Master, I did it!” Xu Yuexian exclaimed happily, but her joy faded as she noticed her brother hadn’t succeeded yet.
“Well done! You have some talent for certain spells,” Xu Fan praised, giving his female disciple a solid evaluation.
Xu Gang, who had initially felt ashamed, almost buried his head in the ground.
“Xu Gang, don’t lose heart. You just asked me what to do if you can’t think clearly.”
“Here’s what I’ll tell you: think through everything you can, and hold onto what you don’t understand for now.”
“When your mind can’t hold any more, come back and ask me.”
“The path of cultivation is long; innate talent and qualifications are secondary. Only those with great perseverance can achieve eternal greatness,” Xu Fan said slowly. To him, cultivation was like a strategy game—while initial resources mattered, the ultimate victory depended on strategy.
If one’s talent wasn’t enough, one could only rely on the most straightforward methods. Xu Fan was patient and willing to take his time.
“I understand now.”
"Master, I won’t let you down," Xu Gang said with determination.
Seeing the look on his top disciple’s face, Xu Fan nodded, pleased. It seemed he needed to keep the motivational talks coming.
Time flew by, and three years passed like a stream.
In the Outer Sect area, Xu Gang was heading back from Tai Xue Peak with his sister.
"Brother, why didn’t you answer that girl’s question earlier?" Xu Yuexian asked, her cheeks puffed out in frustration. She hoped her brother would make friends with the opposite sex.
Xu Gang, distracted by thoughts of the new spell he’d learned the day before, replied without thinking, "Women just slow down my spellcasting. It’s better to keep my distance."
"Who told you that?" Xu Yuexian didn’t know how to argue, but she knew this attitude wasn’t good.
"Master said it yesterday while sparring with Uncle Wang," Xu Gang explained. "He said Uncle Wang’s spellcasting isn’t as fast as it used to be."
Hearing this, Xu Yuexian turned her head away, clearly upset.
"I’m not talking to you anymore."
With a quick hand seal, Xu Yuexian summoned a streamlined protective shield around herself.
"Boom!"
A burst of air echoed, and Xu Yuexian vanished into the distance.
"Did I upset Little Sister again?" Xu Gang wondered aloud.
"I should catch up and ask her what’s wrong."
Scratching his head, Xu Gang summoned a yellowish protective shield around himself, complete with exhaust pipes at the back. A surge of fire attribute energy built up in the pipes, ready to burst.
"Boom!!"
The explosion echoed through the mountains as Xu Gang shot off faster than before.
On a little hill, Xu Fan watched as the Cloud Flower Deer played with a little boy who was just over two years old.
"Big Brother Xu, I’m planning to advance to Foundation Establishment in a year. I’ve got all the materials and pills ready," said Wang Yulun, standing beside Xu Fan.
Xu Fan turned, intrigued. "Yulun, do you think you can achieve first-grade Foundation Establishment?"
"First-grade is too tough. I don’t think I can do it," Wang Yulun admitted, shaking his head. First-grade Foundation Establishment was reserved for the most talented, those destined for immortality. At his level, he could only hope for second-tier.
Just then, the Cloud Flower Deer flew off on a cloud, carrying the little boy.
Wang Yulun moved to stop them, but Xu Fan held him back.
With a light gesture, Xu Fan directed spiritual energy to gather in the sky. Two humanoid puppets, made of spiritual energy and covered in runes, appeared and quietly followed the little boy.
Wang Yulun winced at the sight of the puppets. He’d tested them before—even with his Spiritual Energy Armor, one of them could easily overpower him.
"What’s holding you back from first-grade Foundation Establishment?" Xu Fan asked. In the cultivation world, nothing was impossible.
Wang Yulun sighed. "It’s hard to explain. It just feels like something’s missing."
"………"
"That’s so vague. How am I supposed to help?"
"By the way, Big Brother Xu, when do you plan to advance to Foundation Establishment?"
"You’re only one step behind me. I think you could make first-grade. If you wanted, you could become famous across the continent," Wang Yulun said. In the past five years, only one person in their sect had achieved first-grade Foundation Establishment—Ye Xiaoyao from Wan Jian Peak.
"What’s so great about fame? It doesn’t bring real benefits, and the risks are high."
Thinking about Foundation Establishment, Xu Fan remembered something. When he advanced in a hundred years, he’d need to find a secluded spot.
He had a feeling he could enter the Foundation Establishment Stage at any moment, without needing a Foundation Establishment Pill.
But this feeling, though close, felt as distant as a chasm—like a girlfriend in a VR headset, always just out of reach.
