Attaching one’s Divine Sense to a Spiritual Artifact for long periods of combat was a great drain.

The skill of fighting with multiple Spiritual Artifacts was something even a normal Foundation Establishment Cultivator needed to diligently practice and master.

Holding the Earth Yellow Sword, Fang Yun had already arrived outside his cave residence.

Back when he was at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, with the help of his Four-Star Combat Talent, the maximum distance he could precisely control a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact was seventy feet, while an Upper-Grade Magical Artifact could reach over three hundred feet.

Now that he had reached Foundation Establishment, he was inherently qualified to use Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifacts. After some dedicated practice, he would be able to perfectly unleash their power.

"Go."

Under Fang Yun’s control, the Earth Yellow Sword shot into the distance.

After reaching a certain point, the Earth Yellow Sword stopped. This was the farthest distance Fang Yun could currently control a Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact with precision. Any farther, and his control would diminish.

Fang Yun visually estimated the distance.

’Five hundred feet... no, probably around four hundred and ninety.’

After a moment of thought, Fang Yun calculated the factor of improvement, then recalled the Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Earth Yellow Sword.

A normal mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Divine Sense had a range of about three hundred feet.

With his Four-Star Combat Talent, his advantage in this area was particularly obvious.

Now, if a mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator were to face him with even the slightest carelessness, they would be easily slain.

Fang Yun assessed his current strength as someone who had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage. He knew he would only grow stronger once he acquired more Lower-Grade and some Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifacts.

It was worth mentioning that he had already started collecting materials for refining Upper-Grade Spiritual Artifacts last year.

After reaching Foundation Establishment, he gained a clearer understanding of his Four-Star Combat Talent, leading to a much greater increase in his overall strength.

Instead of returning to his cave residence, he first went to his old living quarters to pack everything up. He had some materials in other Storage Pouches that he didn’t always carry with him; in the future, these pouches would be kept in a dedicated Storage Room.

Since he had never sold any of the Storage Pouches he acquired, he now had a great many of them. He had modified all the pouches taken from Demons so that they could only be opened with Spiritual Power.

After taking care of these matters, he made a trip to the Celestial Cloud Pavilion to return the Token for Room A-22 to the sect. Shortly after, he appeared on Dan Cloud Peak.

He was now standing before the cave residence where Song Qiaoqiao lived.

Fang Yun knocked on the stone door.

Long before he was about to reach the true Peak of Qi Refining, he had visited Song Qiaoqiao and told her he would soon be going into seclusion to attempt Foundation Establishment.

He had promised to come find her after he emerged.

Thinking back, not much time had passed since he had emerged from his seclusion.

Even though he had handled many tasks, he moved quickly. With the help of his Light Wind Boots, the trip from Artifact Casting Peak to Dan Cloud Peak only took about a Hundred Breaths.

This wasn’t even his top speed. He couldn’t very well show off the explosive burst of speed the Light Wind Boots were capable of under the enhancement of his Four-Star Combat Talent within the sect.

For everyday travel, moving at the top speed assisted by a standard, flight-type Lower-Grade Spiritual Artifact was sufficient.

"Qiaoqiao, I succeeded at Foundation Establishment!"

Entering the cave residence, after the stone door had closed, Fang Yun looked at Song Qiaoqiao not far away, announcing his good news as he walked toward her.

"Congratulations on reaching Foundation Establishment, Junior Brother! I knew you could do it!"

Song Qiaoqiao, who had already stood up, was beaming. Now that Fang Yun had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and become a sect Elder, their status within the sect was finally equal.

"Hahaha, you must have been praying for me quite a bit these past few days, haven’t you?" Fang Yun guessed, looking at Song Qiaoqiao.

"Mm-hm."

Song Qiaoqiao nodded. Once Fang Yun guessed correctly, she admitted it outright.

"I knew it."

Fang Yun sat down next to Song Qiaoqiao, and the two began talking about his Foundation Establishment. This time, it was mainly Fang Yun who spoke.

While talking about his breakthrough, he also thanked Song Qiaoqiao again for sharing her own experiences with Foundation Establishment.

"By the way, Qiaoqiao," Fang Yun said as the conversation drifted, "when are you planning to take me to meet your great-grandfather?"

He had only met Song Qiaoqiao’s great-grandfather, Zhong Yankun, once.

That meeting had been a matter of luck, and it had even increased his influence by two points.

Meeting him proactively was a completely different matter from meeting him by chance.

Of course, Song Qiaoqiao understood this as well.

"Junior Brother, what are you talking about..."

Facing the faint, teasing smile on Fang Yun’s face, Song Qiaoqiao lowered her head, the tips of her ears instantly turning red.

Seeing her like this, Fang Yun remembered clearly how decisively she had refused the topic before. Back then, they hadn’t met many times, and that wasn’t what he had meant anyway.

"I mean exactly what I said. I think you understand," Fang Yun continued.

Now that he had reached Foundation Establishment and become a sect Elder, he could express himself directly on this matter, even when facing Song Qiaoqiao’s great-grandfather.

The two of them had already built a foundation for their relationship.

The fact that Song Qiaoqiao didn’t reject him outright was the best proof of that.

"This..."

"Qiaoqiao, you’re not acting like you used to," Fang Yun said, leaving her no room to retreat and cornering her completely.

"Then... let’s find a time. I’ll take you to meet my great-grandfather." Song Qiaoqiao glanced up at Fang Yun, finally agreeing with a blush.

Just as the biggest hurdle for Wu Junxin was getting past Yao Shuixiao’s parents, if Fang Yun wanted to truly establish a relationship with Song Qiaoqiao, it all depended on the Supreme Elder, Zhong Yankun.

This was basically the case for any Cultivator with a powerful background. If they had no background, no one could interfere with their affairs.

Song Qiaoqiao needed a moment to compose herself, so Fang Yun just watched her quietly, saying nothing.