He closed the light screen.

Instead of leaving his seclusion chamber, Fang Yun began to refine the remaining medicinal power in the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill to enhance his Spiritual Power.

Unlike the pills used for breakthroughs during the Qi Refining Stage, the Foundation Establishment Pill was far more versatile.

A small portion of the Top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill’s medicinal power remained within him. He isolated the parts useless for improving his cultivation, then refined and absorbed the rest, converting it into Spiritual Power for his Qi Sea.

Aided by his Divine Sense, which had evolved from his Spiritual Sense, Fang Yun smoothly completed the separation of the medicinal power.

When he emerged from seclusion, his cultivation had risen slightly, which he considered a decent gain.

"Master, you haven’t been waiting here this whole time, have you?"

Fang Yun was a little surprised to see Xiong Xingfeng.

"Of course not. How would I have time to waste on this? I only just arrived." Xiong Xingfeng shook his head and walked toward Fang Yun. "I didn’t expect you to come out of seclusion just as I arrived. It must be our fate as master and disciple."

Seeing this, the Steward remained silent.

’Xiong Xingfeng had shown up here just half a month after Fang Yun started his seclusion. But he obviously couldn’t say that.’

"Did your Foundation Establishment go smoothly?" Xiong Xingfeng asked.

"Very smoothly."

Fang Yun was telling the truth. For him, the process really had been free of any hitches.

"By the way, Master, how long was I in seclusion?" During his breakthrough from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, he had lost all track of time.

"Nearly twenty days."

Fang Yun nodded. Before he could leave with his master, Xiong Xingfeng, he had to complete a simple registration.

"Congratulations on achieving Foundation Establishment, Elder Fang!" the Steward said, offering his congratulations before handling the registration.

Fang Yun accepted the Steward’s congratulations.

’Strictly speaking, I’m not an Elder of the Celestial Cloud Sect yet. That’ll only be official after I get my Identity Token updated.’

The master and disciple chatted as they made their way down from the mountainside of Cloud Summit.

"Fang Yun, you cultivated a Wood Attribute Cultivation Technique during the Qi Refining Stage. Now that you’re in the Foundation Establishment Stage, I suggest you switch to a Fire Attribute technique."

"Since you do both Artifact Refining and Alchemy, after switching your Cultivation Technique to a Fire Attribute one, you can generate a Foundation Establishment True Flame to aid in your work. That way, you won’t need to rent Artifact Refining and Alchemy Rooms..."

Xiong Xingfeng explained his recommendation for a new Cultivation Technique.

He himself cultivated a Fire Attribute technique during his Foundation Establishment Stage.

Whether for Alchemy or Artifact Refining, a Fire Attribute technique is more versatile. Artifact Refining aside, many pills require fire-based refinement methods.

After hearing his master Xiong Xingfeng’s suggestion, Fang Yun nodded repeatedly.

’He had been thinking the same thing.’

’Once I no longer need to rely on the Earth Vein Fire, both Alchemy and Artifact Refining will be much more convenient, even when I’m away from the sect.’

Down the mountainside from Cloud Summit, Fang Yun and Xiong Xingfeng arrived in front of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.

"Greetings, Elders." A steward at a desk near the entrance to the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion greeted them.

As he did, he gave Xiong Xingfeng a pointed look.

’This Elder Xiong has been to the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion at least three times recently.’

’The steward wasn’t surprised that Fang Yun had achieved Foundation Establishment. With Fang Yun’s reputation in the sect, it was only natural, even for someone with Five Spirit Roots. After all, his talent in both Artifact Refining and Alchemy was extraordinary.’

’A disciple like him successfully reaching Foundation Establishment is a huge boon for the sect.’

Led by Xiong Xingfeng, Fang Yun ascended to the second floor of the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion.

Fang Yun was not a Sect Elder yet, so only under Xiong Xingfeng’s guidance could he reach the second floor.

This floor housed Cultivation Techniques, Secret Techniques, and Magic abilities all pertinent to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"These are all of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s Fire Attribute Foundation Establishment Techniques. Feel free to look them over."

On the shelf, there were a total of seven Cultivation Techniques.

’This was the true depth of a Core Formation Sect. A Foundation Establishment-level power would be considered impressive if it had five Foundation Establishment Techniques in total. Yet, the Celestial Cloud Sect had seven Fire Attribute ones alone.’

Seeing Xiong Xingfeng look as if he wanted to say something but was holding back, Fang Yun decided to ask for his guidance.

"Master, could you please introduce them to me and then give me your recommendation?"

"Alright, then let me tell you about them."

Soon, Xiong Xingfeng began to explain them one by one. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"This is the Sunburst Technique. It contains one offensive art and one offensive Secret Technique. It’s the strongest Fire Attribute Technique in our Celestial Cloud Sect. The Elders on Battle Peak who cultivate Fire Attribute techniques almost all practice this one..."

"This is the Cloud Fire Technique, the very Foundation Establishment Technique I cultivate. By practicing this technique, you can generate the Fire of the First Cloud within your Qi Sea. Compared to the standard Foundation Establishment True Flame, the Fire of the First Cloud is better for both Artifact Refining and Alchemy. Oh, right, that Elder Bai from Dan Cloud Peak also practices this technique, but my mastery of it is far greater than his..."

"This is the Nine Fire Lotus Technique. When you cultivate this, for every ten percent of your Qi Sea you fill with Spiritual Power, a Fire Lotus will be born. During breakthroughs in the Foundation Establishment Stage, consuming a Fire Lotus will increase your chances of success. If you reach the Peak of Foundation Establishment without using any of the nine Fire Lotuses, they can merge into one. Consuming this Great Fire Lotus can slightly increase your probability of reaching Core Formation..."

"This is..."

"..."

Xiong Xingfeng quickly finished explaining the seven Foundation Establishment Stage Fire Attribute Techniques to Fang Yun.

Watching Fang Yun nod thoughtfully, Xiong Xingfeng offered his recommendation.

"Fang Yun, if you had a True Spirit Root, I would definitely recommend you cultivate the Cloud Fire Technique. That way, during the Foundation Establishment Stage, both your Artifact Refining and Alchemy would go more smoothly. But you have Mixed Spirit Roots. If you want to go further on your path, cultivating the Nine Fire Lotus Technique would be better."