"Congratulations, Master, on successfully reaching Foundation Establishment!"
When Lin Li emerged from his meditation chamber, the two beautiful maidservants immediately beamed with joy, their faces blossoming like flowers.
As Lin Li's status grew with his cultivation, their own standing within the sect naturally rose as well. In fact, since they had been gifted to Lin Li by Liu Shidi, the days they actually spent taking care of Lin Li were few. Most of the time, they enjoyed the benefits of being his maidservants, with many within the sect trying to curry favor with them.
After Lin Li's impressive performance at the Grand Sect Tournament, many outer disciples had sought ways to get close to his maidservants, hoping to establish a connection with Lin Li himself.
Unfortunately for them, Lin Li was not one to indulge in such tactics.
He merely nodded calmly and stepped out of the immortal residence, heading for the Crack Sky Peak.
Having successfully reached Foundation Establishment, Lin Li could now officially become an inner disciple of the Crack Sky Peak Sword Sect!
This also opened the opportunity for him to be noticed by the various Core Formation elders within the Sword Sect and potentially be taken in as a personal disciple.
Lin Li figured that he would most likely be accepted as a personal disciple by Zou Changlao of the Law Enforcement Hall.
Zou Changlao's status within Xuantian Sect was second only to the Sect Master.
Becoming his personal disciple would significantly elevate Lin Li's standing within the sect, and he would likely receive personal instruction in the Jinghong Sword Technique and the sect's secret technique, Xuantian Wuji Sword Qi Art!
The Xuantian Wuji Sword Qi Art was a powerful variation of the Xuantian Wuji Art, passed down by a Grandmaster who, after reaching the peak of the Core Formation stage, shattered his core and successfully condensed a Nascent Soul, extending his lifespan to two thousand years. This version of the art was far more aggressive, making it a formidable combat technique.
Disciples who mastered this technique were known to be the strongest in their rank, often defeating opponents above their level.
For Lin Li, wielding the sword infused with Ye Fan's powers, mastering the Xuantian Wuji Sword Qi Art wouldn't just mean surpassing a minor cultivation stage.
Paired with Ye Fan's Slaughter active skill, Lin Li could potentially leap several levels and defeat mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators or even late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who specialized in alchemy, crafting, or talismans!
The thought excited Lin Li, and he quickened his pace towards Crack Sky Peak.
As he walked, Lin Li unexpectedly encountered Liu Shidi, who seemed to be returning from the sect's gate.
When Liu Shidi spotted Lin Li, he immediately brightened and waved enthusiastically from afar, "Lin Shixiong! It's been a while!"
Lin Li nodded politely, and when they were closer, Liu Shidi asked, "How have you been lately, Lin Shixiong?"
"I just successfully reached Foundation Establishment and was on my way to Crack Sky Peak to officially become an inner disciple of the Sword Sect," Lin Li replied.
"What?!!"
Liu Shidi was stunned, staring at Lin Li as if he were looking at a monster. "Lin Shixiong, you've only been in the sect for less than a year!"
"I remember when we first met, you were just like me, only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining! But now… you've reached Foundation Establishment?!"
"This is unbelievable! In just a few months, I haven't even broken through a single small stage in Qi Refining!"
"This really is a case of comparison driving people mad! Lin Shixiong, hearing you say this really frustrates me! Before I met you, I used to boast that I was the most talented in Zhao Nation's cultivation clans, reaching mid-stage Qi Refining before the age of twenty. But now, compared to you, I'm like a rotting piece of wood that can't be carved!"
In high spirits from his recent success, Lin Li couldn't help but chuckle when he heard Liu Shidi's exaggerated lament. He smiled and said, "Liu Shidi, don't be so hard on yourself!"
...
After exchanging pleasantries, Liu Shidi asked Lin Li to take care of him in the future, to which Lin Li readily agreed.
When Lin Li arrived at Crack Sky Peak, the two outer disciples guarding the mountain were the same two who had been there during his first visit.
"What?! You've reached Foundation Establishment already?!"
The two disciples were stunned.
"Heavens! When you first came, you were just a newcomer like anyone else, and here we are, still guarding the mountain, while you've already reached Foundation Establishment and are about to become an inner disciple!"
"Shixiong, please allow us to introduce you."
Lin Li bowed respectfully. "I wouldn't dare."
"In the cultivation world, status is determined by cultivation, not seniority or time spent in the sect."
"Now that you've reached Foundation Establishment, we should consider ourselves your juniors. It would be inappropriate for you to continue calling us Shixiong."
"Very well."
Lin Li smiled inwardly but outwardly maintained a humble demeanor. "In that case, please help me arrange an introduction to the sect master so I can formally join the Sword Sect."
"Of course!"
"No need to be so formal, Shixiong."
...
Inside the Sword Hall of Crack Sky Peak.
When the sect master heard the news from a disciple that Lin Li had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, his pupils contracted in surprise.
"What?! Lin Li has already reached Foundation Establishment?!"
The sect master exclaimed in disbelief.
"Yes, I was also very shocked when I heard the news," the disciple replied.
"This Lin Li is truly gifted beyond measure!"
The sect master laughed heartily, "I've lived for several centuries, and this is the first time I've seen such a talented individual!"
"To say that Lin Li is the greatest genius Xuantian Sect has seen in a thousand years is no exaggeration! At least in the past few centuries, I've never heard of anyone who entered the sect and, within a year, advanced from mid-stage Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment!"
"Hurry, bring him in!"
...
When Lin Li entered the Sword Hall, he received an extraordinary welcome from the sect master, who was immediately filled with admiration and even considered taking Lin Li as his personal disciple.
However, before the sect master could make his move, Zou Changlao arrived, having heard the news, and rushed in just in time to prevent the sect master from taking Lin Li as his disciple.
The two elders then engaged in a heated argument over who would claim Lin Li as their personal disciple, and the dispute even escalated into a physical altercation.
Their fierce battle shocked all the disciples of Crack Sky Peak, giving them a rare spectacle to witness.