THE RULE KING

However, he still didn't make a sound despite all this, and he could even maintain the stability of his body shape. His willpower was truly remarkable.

After about the time it took to burn an incense stick, the pain in Xu Shan's body began to fade away like a receding tide. He was like someone fished out of a quagmire, collapsing to the ground and not moving at all.

I don't know how long it had passed, but his consciousness gradually returned. Xu Shan staggered to his feet, and his figure seemed a bit taller than before. He walked towards the small stream in a trance. Ignoring the gravel in the stream, he leaned backward and let the flowing water wash over him.

His spirit gradually recovered.... Feeling the coolness flowing over his body, Xu Shan closed his eyes, looking happy and comfortable. His meridians had been completely expanded, and the spiritual energy flowing in his body was now under his control. His internal injuries were quickly healing under the residual effect of the medicinal power. The spiritual power that was like a runaway horse before had now been tamed by him.

He had succeeded. He had successfully established the Foundation! He didn't expect it to be so thrilling....

Finally, Xu Shan's body was completely washed clean by the stream. The tearing of his meridians had also recovered to a large extent. Xu Shan stood up abruptly, standing upright in the stream, spreading his arms to welcome the mountain wind!

When he opened his eyes, a world a hundred times more vivid immediately presented itself before his eyes. The flapping of insects' wings, the slight movement of plants, the sound of the flowing stream... everything was extremely clear. A tremendous vitality surged wildly in his chest, and a sense of exhilaration permeated his whole body!

The light in Xu Shan's eyes suddenly shone brightly. At this moment, he completely understood. The huge gap between the Qi Refining stage and the Foundation Establishment stage. This was not just an improvement in realm, but more like an evolution! An evolution from an ordinary person to a cultivator!

In addition to the sudden increase in strength, the suppressed human nature was also being released. Xu Shan waved his fist. Just by roughly using his physical body and spiritual power, a fierce fist aura stirred up a gust of wind! He punched wildly one after another, and the power in his body seemed endless.

"Oh ho!!" In his excitement, Xu Shan couldn't help but add sound effects for himself.

Jin Yangqiu in the sky had a face as black as the bottom of a pot. Looking at the naked man wildly swinging his arms by the stream, he felt a bit desolate in his heart. This was actually his direct disciple....

"Xu Shan, put on your clothes and come to the Qingfeng Hall to see me." Jin Yangqiu left a word and then turned around and flew away.

Xu Shan stopped his movements and looked at Jin Yangqiu's receding figure in surprise. The joy and mania of just entering the Foundation Establishment stage were instantly extinguished. When did he come? He was so sensitive to his surroundings, yet he didn't notice anything at all...

.....

"I wonder why Master summoned this disciple?" Inside the Qingfeng Hall, Xu Shan had already changed into his clothes.

Jin Yangqiu casually threw over a cloth bag and said, "Now that you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage, take this storage bag and use it. There's also a low-grade flying sword inside. You can practice the Art of Flying Swords after your foundation is stable."

"Come, come in front of me and sit cross-legged in meditation." Jin Yangqiu motioned for Xu Shan to come closer.

Xu Shan was a bit confused. Logically speaking, it should be Lu Xiangjun who told him these things. Why was it his Master, who didn't seem to like him very much, saying these things now? However, since he had made the arrangement, Xu Shan could only follow the instructions and sat in meditation in front of Jin Yangqiu.

A hand rested on Xu Shan's shoulder, and a warm current of spiritual power flowed into his body. Xu Shan heard Jin Yangqiu's voice in his ear: "Close your eyes, concentrate your mind, and feel the flow of spiritual power with your heart. This is the introductory Foundation Establishment cultivation technique of our sect, the Star Summoning Technique."

"This cultivation technique was created by the Sect Master. It is upright and peaceful, and it won't disturb one's state of mind. Especially at night, the absorption of spiritual power and the recovery of injuries are better than those of ordinary cultivation techniques. This is precisely the foundation of our sect's existence."

Xu Shan didn't dare to have any distracting thoughts and carefully felt the flow of spiritual energy. It was not until he circulated the spiritual power for a full cycle that Jin Yangqiu let go of his hand.

Just as Xu Shan was about to say something, a jade slip was handed in front of him again. Jin Yangqiu instructed, "These are some cultivation insights of the Star Summoning Technique. Take it back and remember to practice diligently. Come and ask me if you have any questions."

"Didn't Master think this disciple's aptitude was low? Why is Master being so attentive to this disciple now?" After hesitating for a long time, Xu Shan finally couldn't help but blurt out the question.

His Master's seemingly enthusiastic actions made him feel uneasy. Instead of speculating randomly, it was better to ask directly.

Jin Yangqiu smiled: "You're quite straightforward. Then I won't hide it from you anymore. Your aptitude is indeed poor, but that's not the most fundamental reason why I didn't want to accept you as a disciple."

"Then what is the reason?"

"Because the resources of the sect are scarce, and the limited resources can only be given to those with excellent aptitude." Jin Yangqiu paced around and said, "In the world of cultivation, countless years have passed since ancient times. Even those with low aptitude but who have achieved remarkable things are as numerous as the crucian carp crossing the river."

"But as an elder of a sect, when cultivating disciples, I must consider how to achieve the greatest benefit for the sect. Aptitude is the most important means of screening disciples."

When you first entered the Inner Sect, I thought that at the worst, you should at least have a middle-grade spiritual root. I never expected that you only had a low-grade one... So I didn't want to waste resources and time teaching you.

"Later, I learned that you possess the Celestial Luck Divine Ability. I thought there was a turning point, but the result...."

Xu Shan listened quietly. He could understand everything Jin Yangqiu said. In his previous life, the recruitment in the company was also based on this set of theories. Cost control had always been very important, especially for a startup company.

"But when I saw you break through to the Foundation Establishment stage today, I changed my mind." Having said this, Jin Yangqiu paused for a moment, "I used to be a freelance cultivator. In the world of freelance cultivators, only the strong are valued, and for the strong, the most important thing is their state of mind, not their background."

Jin Yangqiu sighed: "Since you have the potential to persevere, if I don't teach you, I will have misgivings in my heart, and there will be a flaw in my Taoist heart. This is a great taboo for cultivators. It's the same for you. If you care too much about your low-grade spiritual root, one day it will affect you. Once your Taoist heart is out of balance, it's easy to go to extremes and fall into the demonic path. You must keep this in mind."

Xu Shan clasped his fists and said sincerely, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance. This disciple will keep it in mind."

Although Jin Yangqiu looked down on him when they first met, no matter what, he still took care of him and had such a heartfelt conversation with him. This was also a kind of kindness.

"There's one more thing." Jin Yangqiu said, "For this once-in-a-hundred-years Grand Competition in the Shuijing Domain, since you've already reached the Foundation Establishment realm, I'm going to recommend you to participate.".....