Cultivation Starting from Full Talent

Chapter 93: Chapter 91: Far-sighted Planning

A hundred days later.

Han Bing emerged from seclusion, having successfully achieved Foundation Establishment!

Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer awaited outside the Cave Mansion for her emergence, along with Third Elder Ning Qing and a group of fellow sect members from Purple Cloud Peak.

“Zi—”

Out from under a prohibition on the Cave Mansion, emerged a dainty Junior Sister, already radiating an aura of Foundation Establishment.

“Bing’er!”

...

Third Elder Ning Qing was overwhelmed with emotion, tears faintly marking her corners.

Her most beloved disciple had succeeded in Foundation Establishment on her first try; she was more excited than anyone.

“Qiongbi Peak congratulates Junior Sister on her successful Foundation Establishment!”

“Ao ao ao~~~”

Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer pulled out a red banner… it bore the golden words “Warm Congratulations to Purple Cloud Peak’s Han Bing on Her Successful Foundation Establishment!”

“Ah?”

Han Bing’s face flushed instantly.

Next came Han Bing’s Foundation Establishment celebratory feast.

Ning Daoran, Lin Sheng, Zhao Lichen, and others participated, each offering different gifts.

Zhao Lichen and Lin Sheng, having reached their limits, could only offer some Elixir Pills; spending too many Spirit Stones would not bode well for their own cultivation needs.

Ning Daoran, not showing off his wealth, didn’t gift any spiritual artifacts, but directly presented Junior Sister with a thousand jin of Purple Jade Spirit Rice as a congratulatory gift!

Immediately, Jiang Yu, the Great Elder, and the Second Elder were somewhat lost for words. Qiongbi Peak indeed had profound resources; it was like they had an endless supply of Third-tier Spirit Rice.

Several days later, the Foundation Establishment banquet concluded, and the Sect returned to tranquility.

…

Until one day.

As the sunset painted the sky, a graceful figure harnessing a tunneling light shot straight from Purple Cloud Peak to Qiongbi Peak, landing in front of the Small Cloud Mist Array. Her cheeks flushed, it seemed she had gathered all her courage for something she had wanted to do a long time ago.

“Senior Brother…”

“Junior Sister?”

In the courtyard, Ning Daoran dissolved the Small Cloud Mist Array, smiling, “Come in, did you suddenly come here for something?”

“Yes, there’s something extremely important that I want to discuss with Senior Brother.”

“Alright.”

Ning Daoran welcomed Han Bing into the living room, offered Spiritual Tea, dismissed Chen Weimo, and said smilingly, “Go ahead.”

“I…”

Han Bing bit her red lips, stuttering, her cheeks growing even redder. She gathered her courage and said, “Senior Brother, would you like to become Daoist partners with Han Bing?”

“Ah?”

Ning Daoran felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

He truly hadn’t anticipated this.

“Senior Brother.”

Han Bing spoke softly, “Previously, Senior Brother had already achieved Foundation Establishment, but Han Bing was only in the Qi Refinement Realm, feeling unworthy. Now that Han Bing has also achieved Foundation Establishment, I wanted to ask if you would be willing to become Daoist partners with me…”

Her voice became softer and softer, her head almost down to the table.

“Yi?”

At this time, on Purple Cloud Peak.

A breathtakingly beautiful woman sat cross-legged in the bamboo woods, in front of her, a Treasure Mirror emitting thunder and flames slowly reflected the scene inside Spiritual Field Courtyard 77 on Qiongbi Peak.

Thunder Fire Treasure Mirror, a Third-tier Magical Treasure.

This powerful treasure had always been controlled by successive Sect Masters. Its spying capability was extraordinary, capable of penetrating barriers like the Small Cloud Mist Array, silently observing the other side.

Ning Daoran, having joined the Chaotic Sect decades ago, thought of himself as cautious and careful, yet he didn’t realize he was under constant observation by this Senior Sister.

At this moment, hearing Han Bing, the celebrated Fairy of Purple Cloud Peak, actually take the initiative to confess to Ning Daoran, the Senior Sister narrowed her beautiful eyes, setting aside her cultivation entirely, determined to see how this drama unfolded!

…

“Junior Sister!”

Inside Qiongbi Peak, Ning Daoran suddenly slapped the desk, looking at Han Bing with a pained expression, “You’re being foolish… Old Lu, prepare the blackboard, it’s time for a lesson!”

“Ao ao—”

Big Stupid Deer’s eyes widened, excited for another lesson.

Instantly, like a gust of wind, Big Stupid Deer quickly set up its treasured stool in the yard and also prepared a stool for Junior Sister, hanging up the small blackboard.

“Everyone, take your seats!”

Ning Daoran drew a big circle on the blackboard, saying, “Junior Sister, listen to the question!”

Han Bing immediately sat up straight, her expression serious.

“Tell me, have you thought through becoming spouses with your Senior Brother?”

“I have!” Han Bing’s dual cultivation of the Daoist heart was resolute.

“Then good!”

Ning Daoran said, “You and I were cultivating well on our own, but now together, we have formed a family, and then had a pair of children. Please tell me, is this the future you wish for?”

“Yes!”

Han Bing nodded vigorously.

“Very good!”

Ning Daoran began drawing smaller circles inside the larger one, then turned to look at Han Bing, seriously saying:

“Our children start to establish their homes and have children. Our son’s son has children, great-grandchildren, and even many descendants intermarrying with other Foundation Establishment descendants. In less than fifty years, our small family will grow into a large, complex family tree.

Please tell me, should you suddenly hear that your great-grandson, acting as a Robbery Cultivator, was detained by local government, what would you do?

And if someone tells you that your fourth daughter is having an affair in her husband’s home, and the husband’s family threatens to wipe out both the Ning and Lin families, what should we do?

Tell me, if at the same time six members of the grandson generation need to undergo Foundation Establishment, where would these pills come from? Should we continue our cultivation, or exhaust ourselves finding these pills?

Moreover, if among our descendants someone perpetrates a crime, do we involve ourselves or not, and if we do, what if the opponent is too strong for us to handle?

Lastly, our future generations develop into more than ten branches, and if these branches fight over Spirit Veins, what should we do, involve ourselves or not?”

“…”

Han Bing’s lips slightly parted, struck dumb by the question.

“Ao ao ao~~~”

Big Stupid Deer bellowed loudly, truly worthy of being the eldest brother, so far-sighted and utterly brilliant!@@novelbin@@

Even Jiang Yu, who was spying on the scene through the Thunder Fire Treasure Mirror, fell into contemplation.

“Junior Brother Ning makes sense, and I’m glad I’ve never considered the matter of a Daoist couple all these years, saving so much trouble…”

Jiang Yu deeply agreed and regarded Junior Brother Ning even more highly.

“Senior Brother, I’m sorry…”

Han Bing pursed her red lips and softly said, “I impulsively wanted to become husband and wife with Senior Brother… but I never thought it would bring so much trouble later on…”

“Junior Sister, I’ve never blamed you.”

Ning Daoran said, “You understanding my difficulties brings me great comfort! Think about it, if we don’t become Daoist couple, I will always be your dearest Senior Brother in this life, and you will always be my most cherished Junior Sister. Isn’t this outcome better than being Daoist couple?”

He gently raised an eyebrow, “After becoming Daoist couple, if you discover that the other party is good at pretending and their true nature is very undesirable, or if the other is extremely selfish, then it would be too late for regrets, and wouldn’t that be even worse?”

“Mm!”

Han Bing nodded gently, “Senior Brother is right!”

“That’s right!”

Ning Daoran nodded and smiled, “Just focus on cultivation from now on, follow in Senior Brother’s footsteps, let’s achieve Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and Divinity Transformation together… and become companions of the great Dao, enjoying longevity and lasting vision.”

“Mm!”

Han Bing smiled, nodding and then stood up, “Senior Brother, I’m going back to cultivate and solidify my cultivation.”

“Okay!”

Ning Daoran was somewhat surprised, not expecting effects this quick.

Junior Sister really is amenable to reason.

…

Late at night.

Another figure appeared outside the courtyard, it was Lin Sheng.

“Senior Brother Lin.”

Ning Daoran welcomed him into the living room, “Made your decision? Finally plan to establish your foundation?”

“Mm.”

Lin Sheng said, “These years, my Blood Qi and Mana have consolidated quite substantially, so I’m planning to try Foundation Establishment again. Of course, this is mainly thanks to the High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill given by Junior Brother.”

“Senior Brother is too kind, just go ahead and attempt Foundation Establishment without hesitation.”

Ning Daoran shared his experience of Foundation Establishment, “Don’t hesitate or doubt whether you are qualified for Foundation Establishment. Just go for it with determination, and I firmly believe Senior Brother will succeed in Foundation Establishment!”

“Borrowing your auspicious words.”

Lin Sheng smiled faintly, “In that case, Senior Brother will enter the Main Peak’s Cave Mansion tomorrow to attempt Foundation Establishment.”

“Good, I wish Senior Brother success in your Foundation Establishment!”

…

The next day.

Lin Sheng began his Foundation Establishment.

Neither Ning Daoran nor Big Stupid Deer strayed far, setting up a cool pavilion outside the Cave Mansion.

Ning Daoran was very confident in Lin Sheng’s attempt this time.

On the third day.

A stream of Spirit Fog shot into the sky, covering about a four-mile radius, intensely rich with Spiritual Energy.

Lin Sheng’s progress in Foundation Establishment was very smooth.

Other disciples at the Main Peak also observed the Foundation Establishment process; many could only rely on the changes in the Spirit Fog and the aura inside the Cave Mansion to judge Lin Sheng’s success or failure.

One month later, Lin Sheng successfully absorbed the Spirit Fog, moving onto the next phase of Foundation Establishment.

Two months later, an unexpected situation occurred.

Inside the Cave Mansion, Lin Sheng’s aura suddenly became extremely unstable; something had gone wrong in the Condensation process.

Several days later, Lin Sheng exited cultivation.

His Foundation Establishment had failed again.

Such is the way of the world, not everything goes as one wishes.

Foundation Establishment is the first major hurdle in cultivation, and among the Qi Refining Stage Practitioners as numerous as fish crossing a river, only a rare few successfully establish their foundation.

Considering Lin Sheng’s ordinary background and his Spirit Root far inferior to other Inner Sect Disciples, his failure was, in fact, foreseeable.

Still, this attempt involved a High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill and yet resulted in failure.

At this time, Lin Sheng appeared worn out, as if he had been severely ill. When he saw Ning Daoran and Big Stupid Deer, guilt was written all over his face, “Junior Brother Ning, I’m sorry, I…”

“Don’t say it.”

Ning Daoran said, “The backlash from Foundation Establishment has injured Senior Brother, you must immediately return to your residence and recuperate well.”

“Mm…”

…

True Yang Peak midway up the mountain, Lin Sheng’s residence.

“Senior Brother, I’ve been observing from outside the entire time, and it was really just one step away from success.”

Ning Daoran said, “Senior Brother, there’s no need for any self-reproach. This attempt might have failed, but the next one will surely succeed.”

“Do I have a next time?”

Lin Sheng, his face full of despair, said, “Such a worthless person like me… at fifty-six years old still unable to succeed in Foundation Establishment, and this time even damaging my Tao Foundation, I have no more chances to attempt Foundation Establishment.”

“I think otherwise.”

Ning Daoran said, “Senior Brother just take good rest, recuperate well, and quickly recover your foundational cultivation.”

Saying this, he placed a jade bottle on the table, “I don’t have any more High-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, but here’s a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill. Its effects should also be excellent. Senior Brother needn’t hesitate, focus on your cultivation, and try Foundation Establishment again before sixty. This time, it will definitely succeed!”

With that, Ning Daoran left with Big Stupid Deer.

Lin Sheng, trembling, reached out to pick up the jade bottle, which poured out a clearly patterned Foundation Establishment Pill—it was indeed a Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, with a rich medicinal fragrance and potency almost close to a High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lin Sheng slowly put down the Foundation Establishment Pill, his face showing pain.

Had he truly become a stumbling block on Junior Brother Ning’s path of cultivation?