Mortal: Li Feiyu, who came from the realm of a supreme being

After completing their cultivation techniques, the two did not delay any longer and immediately prepared to enter deep seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, just as they were about to seal the cave's protective barriers, their master, Chang Hao, came to their door.

"When did you get back?" Chang Hao stepped into the cave, a perfectly timed look of surprise on his face. His gaze swept over the composed Li Feiyu and the quietly standing Han Yunshu beside him. As a Core Formation cultivator, he had a natural sense of the mountain where his personal disciples were located, but he wouldn't deliberately spy on the inside of the cave on ordinary days.

"Reporting to Master, it was just a few days ago." Li Feiyu's expression remained unchanged, blurring the passage of time.

Chang Hao nodded, not delving into the matter further, then asked with a hint of teasing and inquiry, "I heard you made quite a name for yourself in the forbidden area? Like a god who could kill anyone in your way?"

"Master is joking." Li Feiyu shook his head with a wry smile. "It's just about finding some equally skilled opponents to hone my swordsmanship and improve my skills. It's not that exaggerated."

"Hmph, you've already ventured into the forbidden area, it's time to settle your mind." Chang Hao's tone turned serious. "From now on, focus on your seclusion and break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Don't cause any more trouble."

"Yes, Master," Li Feiyu and Han Yunshu replied in unison.

"By the way, Master," Li Feiyu seemed to suddenly remember something, a hint of hesitation on his face, "during this trip to the Crimson Forbidden Land, I did notice something unusual."

"Oh? Tell me in detail." Chang Hao's expression turned serious.

"In the forbidden area, I encountered several disciples dressed in the robes of the Spirit Beast Mountain," Li Feiyu said carefully, "Their methods... were quite sinister and strange, unlike ordinary righteous cultivation techniques. They were more like the legendary demonic poisonous arts and evil spells. Moreover, they cooperated well with each other, as if they were organized. When I fought with them, I almost suffered a hidden loss."

He slightly modified his account of how the demonic disciples disguised themselves as cultivators from Spirit Beast Mountain and used insidious methods, omitting many details and emphasizing the strangeness and organization of their techniques.

This can be seen as an advance warning to Huadaowu and his master regarding the invasion of the demonic path. After all, due to his intervention, the overall casualties in the forbidden area were actually lighter than in previous years, and the higher-ups of the seven major sects had not yet noticed any obvious abnormalities.

After listening, Chang Hao frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "Spirit Beast Mountain... has indeed had some mysterious rumors in recent years. I've noted this down and will keep an eye on it. You don't need to worry about it; just focus on your own cultivation." As he spoke, he took out two jade bottles and handed one to Li Feiyu and one to Han Yunshu, "These are Foundation Establishment Pills, one for each of you. Take them, and I wish you both success in one fell swoop."

"Thank you, Master!" The two bowed respectfully once again.

After seeing Chang Hao off, they immediately sealed off the cave completely. Of course, they dared not take out and examine the astonishing spoils from the Crimson Forbidden Zone within the sect's territory at this moment.

The two calmed their minds and began to cultivate according to the improved "Timely Rain and Spring Breeze Technique".

……

A year later, Li Feiyu was twenty-two years old, and Han Yunshu was twenty years old.

Inside the cave, the two Foundation Establishment spiritual pressures that had erupted one after the other gradually subsided.

Both of them have successfully established their foundations.

The process was slightly more complicated than expected, mainly due to the challenge of properly harmonizing the "storage" relationship between the inner world and the newly added foundation-building power to avoid mutual interference. Fortunately, the cultivation method was already perfected, the foundation was solid, and with the help of the Foundation-Building Pill, the process was successfully completed.

They did not leave the border immediately.

In just one year, Han Yunshu, who possessed the Heavenly Spiritual Root, went from the twelfth level of Qi Refining to successfully establishing her foundation. This speed was acceptable for her, but it was rather unreasonable for Li Feiyu, who possessed the True Spiritual Root.

To avoid being too alarming, they decided to continue their secluded cultivation in the cave for another six months, thoroughly stabilizing their early Foundation Establishment stage and slightly improving their cultivation level.

The explanation to the outside world has already been prepared.

Han Yunshu was exceptionally talented and successfully established his foundation without using any Foundation Establishment Pills; Li Feiyu, on the other hand, "luckily" took two Foundation Establishment Pills (one of which was naturally "given" by Han Yunshu) before finally establishing his foundation with great difficulty.

In this way, although it still stands out, it is at least within the bounds of "reason" and at most attracts some envy and discussion.

"What are your plans next? Should we leave immediately?" After stabilizing her cultivation, Han Yunshu asked softly.

Li Feiyu pondered for a long time, then shook his head: "Leaving without saying goodbye is too abrupt and will easily arouse suspicion; it's not the way to conduct oneself." He looked at Han Yunshu, "Let's first renovate this cave, inside and out, and prepare all the necessary daily necessities and protective formations to create the appearance of someone who intends to reside and cultivate here for a long time. Then, we'll go to the sect's affairs hall and accept one or two routine missions that aren't too difficult but require some time away."

He paused, his tone tinged with complexity: "Let's say that we have been generously rewarded by the sect and have successfully established our foundation. It is only right that we do our part to help the sect and go out to gain experience. Leaving in this way is perfectly reasonable."

"And then... you never came back?" Han Yunshu understood what he meant.

"Hmm." Li Feiyu sighed softly, "Actually, Master and Senior Brother have indeed treated us well. Unfortunately, we are on different paths. We have too many secrets. Staying here might not be a good thing for us or for Huadaowu. It's better to leave as soon as possible to avoid getting more entangled in the future and causing trouble."

Neither of them were truly cold-hearted; they were simply forced to follow the predetermined path.

So they followed the plan. First, they spent some time and spirit stones carefully renovating the cave, both inside and out. They added a new spirit-gathering array plate, protective barriers, and some elegant stone tables, chairs, cushions, and incense burners. They even cultivated a small medicinal herb garden outside the cave and transplanted some common spiritual herbs. The entire cave was transformed, filled with the atmosphere of long-term settlement and careful management.

Then, for the first time, they went to the deacon's hall of Huadaowu on their own initiative.

Standing in the somewhat noisy main hall where various sect missions were being issued, Li Feiyu couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

Having been a member of the Blade-Transforming Pavilion for several years and receiving preferential treatment and resources, this was actually the first time he had come to accept a mission.

Unexpectedly, this first task was to "reasonably" disappear without a trace.

They chose a mission to go to the border between Yue and Yuanwu to investigate fluctuations in a suspected low-grade mineral vein.

These types of missions usually take several months and have a certain exploratory nature, but they are not very dangerous, making them perfect for newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators to accumulate contributions and experience.

The procedures went exceptionally smoothly. The guards on duty were very polite to the two newly promoted Foundation Establishment disciples under Elder Chang Hao, especially Han Yunshu with the Heavenly Spiritual Root. They quickly registered them and issued them mission tokens and related map information.

Everything is ready.

Before leaving the mountain, they visited their master, Chang Hao, to explain their intention to accept the mission and go out for training.

Chang Hao did not suspect anything, only instructing them to be careful in everything and to consolidate their cultivation after returning from their training, before letting them pass.

After flying away from the gate of Huadaowu Mountain, and until the continuous fortified villages completely disappeared into the mountains, Li Feiyu controlled his flying artifact, slowly turned, and flew in a direction completely different from the mission location.

Inside the cave, before leaving, he placed a storage bag containing over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones in a cabinet, which would be discovered by anyone who came to inspect the cave.

This sum of spirit stones is enough to offset the resources that Huadaowu has spent over the years training them from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment. In the end, the process of going from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment doesn't consume too many of the sect's resources.

This was his last small token of affection and compensation before he left.

After all, in terms of spirit stones, Li Feiyu's gains in the pagoda were truly exaggerated. Tens of millions of spirit stones were equivalent to the wealth of a Nascent Soul cultivator over many years!

The two stood on the magical artifact, glanced back at the direction of Huadaowu, each with their own feelings, and then turned their gaze to the vast and unknown world ahead, shrouded in clouds and mist.