Chapter 1126: Chapter 1126: Seeking the Dao

Yang Yan laughed heartily and said nonchalantly:

"Zimu, there’s a saying that a gentleman’s word is as good as a promise, and a true man’s word is like a precious pledge."

"Once words are spoken, they are like spilled water; I must fulfill what I’ve said."

Although he didn’t explicitly say it, his demeanor clearly showed confidence.

Lin Zimu naturally shut his mouth wisely, refraining from saying more.

In Lin’s eyes, Yang Yan indeed seemed somewhat profound and mysterious.

At the very least, certainly not as simple as the sect claimed, stating Yang Yan was merely at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation.

"Haha! Yang, Senior Brother!"

Just as Lin Zimu was silent, a cheerful laugh suddenly came from afar.

They saw a streak pass through the sky, and a person appeared beside them.

"Yang... oh no, now the disciple should address you as Grandmaster. Grandmaster Yang!"

Yang Yan had already turned to look, and upon seeing the person’s appearance beside him, he couldn’t help but laugh heartily:

"So it’s Yi Zheng, we’ve been waiting for you for quite a while."

Lin Zimu watched Liu Yizheng, silent for a moment, before suddenly cupping his hand and smiling:

"Liu, congratulations. You might surpass me, the Senior Brother, in stepping into the Foundation Establishment Stage first!"

Liu Yizheng heard this and immediately shook his head with a wry smile:

"Senior Brother, don’t tease me. I only know my potential is limited, so I dare not pursue that Perfect Foundation Establishment, thus I seek the ordinary Foundation Establishment method."

"What’s the use of being quick? I wish it were slower. Alas, unfortunately... sigh!"

The two sang in harmony, and Yang Yan didn’t quite understand, asking doubtfully:

"Does Foundation Establishment have different levels?"

Liu Yizheng saw Yang Yan’s confusion and quickly explained:

"Grandmaster Yang, once we cultivators successfully establish our foundation, we gain three hundred years of life. However, this foundation establishment is divided into Perfect Foundation Establishment and ordinary Foundation Establishment."

"The Perfect Foundation Establishment is just as its name implies, like the path Senior Brother seeks—it’s the path of Perfect Foundation Establishment."

"But there’s a limitation; one’s constitution must at least be a medium Dao Body!"

"Otherwise, they completely cannot endure the cleansing of Celestial Thunder, let alone speak of a perfect foundation body training event."

"Is it due to innate talent?"

Yang Yan felt somewhat regretful.

From his observation over these days, it’s not difficult to see that Liu Yizheng actually has decent skills and a good character.

Most importantly, Yang Yan gets along very well with him.

Now knowing it’s because of an innate talent issue, it indeed is regrettable.

The path of cultivation, if taken one step slow, remains a step slow.

Yang Yan didn’t need to think to know there are definitely differences between Perfect Foundation Establishment and ordinary Foundation Establishment.

There might even be substantial differences!

Encouragingly patting Liu Yizheng’s shoulder, Yang Yan reassuringly said in a warm voice:

"Yi Zheng, the Dao path is vast, always leaving a glimmer of hope. We cultivators are those who defy the heavens, making earth-shattering deeds. If you don’t believe in your own path, then it’s better not to walk it."

Yang Yan’s words, though meant to be comforting, served more like a wake-up call, allowing Liu Yizheng to wake up to reality.

"Grandmaster Yang, thank you!"

Liu Yizheng bowed deeply recognizing the gesture with reverence and sincerity.

Yang Yan gently smiled and helped him up:

"Yi Zheng, just don’t forget your own path."

At this point, Lin Zimu remarked from the side:

"Yi Zheng indeed is fortunate, receiving guidance from Yang; blessed are the kind deeds."

Yang Yan laughed heartily:

"Let us continue discussing techniques! There are still many things I don’t understand, being new to this path, I have much to learn from you both."

Liu Yizheng shook his head earnestly:

"Grandmaster Yang, if you have questions, please speak freely, how could it be worthy of the word ’learn’?"

Yang Yan entered the Ancient Abyss Sect not long ago, and the time spent learning Daoist techniques was even shorter.

Naturally, there are many things he doesn’t understand.

Regarding the understanding of magical techniques, he’s definitely not as thorough as Lin Zimu and Liu Yizheng, who have been studying for over ten years.

Fortunately, Yang Yan’s comprehension speed is quite astonishing, encountering almost no difficulties throughout the process.

Especially when the two learned that Yang Yan could already grasp Daoist techniques at the Foundation Establishment Stage, they both showed expressions of great surprise.

Yang Yan could only smile wryly.

Actually, the reason was he feared they would feel it was too unbelievable, so he hid his true situation.

If they were to know he could already slightly use intermediate Daoist techniques at the Foundation Establishment Stage, who knows if they’d be directly petrified on the spot.

People were gradually gathering around Taihua Pool, and among them appeared the high levels of various sects.

Once sect leaders and elders of the ten major sects arrived with several of their chosen disciples, the Ancient Abyss Sect’s Sect Leader Lin An finally appeared.

As the host, it was only natural for Ancient Abyss Sect to make a delayed appearance at their own venue.

However, Sect Leader Lin An managed it with perfect timing; neither early nor late, without making people feel they waited too long.

After Lin An appeared, an elder from Ancient Abyss Sect rode a flying sword over Taihua Pool’s sky, announcing hoarsely:

"Will judges take their positions."

With one command, ten beams of black light suddenly shot into the sky from the crowded surroundings.

Finally, each black beam chose a platform to land on.

These were ten stewards of the Ancient Abyss Sect.

However, the golden silk patterns embroidered on their sleeves distinguished them from ordinary stewards.

All of these were Ancient Abyss Sect’s senior stewards, holding positions just below the elders.

Yang Yan glanced around, noticing the lowest realm was the early Foundation Establishment Stage!

To know, in some small sects, Foundation Establishment Stage already represents figures akin to elders.

They even have the privilege to establish a ninth-level sect!

Yet, in Ancient Abyss Sect, they’re merely senior stewards serving as judges.

Observe just a part to grasp the whole; one cannot deny Ancient Abyss Sect’s profound strengths.

After two consecutive mandates from the elder, the stewards took the stage, simply announcing the rules.

At this point, there was nothing more for Ancient Abyss Sect’s high ranks to do.

Everything would be managed by those ten senior stewards.

Because nominally, this was merely a small competition among the disciples who came to Ancient Abyss Sect from Wandering Dragon Star, disciples from eighth and ninth-level sects were also participating.

The initial competition at Taihua Pool was among these disciples.

Of course, some members of the ten major sects were also interspersed.

Though the disciples brought by those eighth and ninth-level sects were of the core level, their duels were still quite exciting.

But if they encountered the core disciples of the ten major sects, they’d appear somewhat lacking.

Under such circumstances, on the third platform, Yizheng Sect’s First Elder’s first disciple, with just a few sword moves, forced the disciple who had already won several consecutive matches—a disciple from some eighth-level sect leader — into a disadvantage.

After several more sword stances, that sect leader’s disciple was already exposed to danger and defeat.

With no other choice, the disciple had to admit defeat.

"Yizheng Sect, Peng Tao wins!"

The senior steward announced the result expressionlessly, picking up a brush and jotting down something in a thin booklet.