Chapter 174: Chapter 163: Foundation Establishment

「Half a year later. Building B-7, Foundation Establishment Cave Mansion.」

With a low grinding sound, the heavy stone door slowly swung open. Outside, the first light of dawn was breaking, and a crisp mountain wind carrying the damp scent of grass and trees washed over him.

As light poured in, it silhouetted a figure—a man dressed in the signature Steward Black Robe. His face was quite young, looking to be no more than twenty years old. This was Lu Zhao, who had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment.

Upon achieving Foundation Establishment, his Lifespan had surged. Through the process of cleansing his marrow and purifying his body, the years seemed to reverse on his face. His already youthful features now radiated an almost boyish vitality.

The gloom that had long settled between Lu Zhao’s brows was gone, replaced by a reserved yet profound sharpness. His eyes, however, reflecting the morning light, held a tranquility and insight that far surpassed his youthful body. They were as deep and unfathomable as a secluded pool—a brand seared into his soul from countless life-or-death struggles.

He did not linger at the open entrance of the cave. Merely squinting to adjust to the long-absent light, he strode out with steady steps.

The bluestone path stretched out before him. Lu Zhao’s objective was clear: return to the main hall of the Spirit Vein Bureau to report his successful Foundation Establishment, exchange his Identity Token for one befitting a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and learn about the corresponding benefits and privileges.

When he arrived at the main hall of the Spirit Vein Bureau, Lu Zhao saw that the Cultivator on duty was not the same Inner Sect Steward who had led him to his cave mansion. The Steward currently on duty was focused on a verdant Jade Scroll in his hands, his brow slightly furrowed. Piles of case files and jade records were stacked on his desk. Only when Lu Zhao stepped into the hall, his footsteps making a soft sound on the tiled floor, did the Steward look up.

Their eyes met. As Lu Zhao looked at the man, his heart stirred. ’That face... It’s Tian Bufan! One of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators who assessed my batch of Outer Sect Stewards during the Ascension Ceremony!’

After looking up, Tian Bufan’s gaze fell upon Lu Zhao’s youthful face and his Steward Black Robe.

When Lu Zhao revealed the aura of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Tian Bufan was visibly stunned. His brow furrowed, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, as if he were trying to dredge something from the depths of his memory.

"Junior Brother..." Tian Bufan said, setting down his Jade Scroll. His voice was hesitant. "You look quite familiar. I feel... as if I’ve seen you somewhere before? Forgive me, I, Tian, have a poor memory and can’t quite seem to place you." His eyes scanned Lu Zhao’s face, searching for a clue.

Lu Zhao calmly cupped his hands in a salute. "A man of your importance has many things on his mind, Brother Tian," he said serenely. "My name is Lu Zhao. During the Ascension Ceremony, it was you, Brother Zhao, and Brother Yun who personally examined my aptitude and character, allowing me to enter the Sect and assume the position of Outer Sect Steward. Surely you remember?" His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly through the vast hall.

"Lu Zhao... Ascension Ceremony..." Tian Bufan murmured the two key names. The fog of confusion in his eyes rapidly cleared. He stood up and looked Lu Zhao up and down, a warm, enthusiastic smile spreading across his face as he exclaimed in genuine admiration:

"It’s you! The Puppet Master!"

"Lu Zhao! Junior Brother Lu! Ah, my memory is terrible!" He slapped his forehead with a resounding SMACK. "Ten years... it hasn’t even been ten years! The Ascension Assembly is still fresh in my mind! And you, Junior Brother, have already reached Foundation Establishment? Truly... the next generation is a force to be reckoned with! A force to be reckoned with!" He laughed heartily, a nostalgic look on his face. "It seems the three of us had good judgment after all. We didn’t let a true gem slip by! Hahaha!"

A faint smile touched Lu Zhao’s lips, and he humbly cupped his hands again. "Brother Tian, you flatter me. If the three of you had not acted with such impartiality and used your discerning eyes to guide me into the Sect, granting me this fateful opportunity within the Bixia Sect, I would likely still be struggling in the Bixia Marketplace. How could I have ever reached the Foundation Establishment Realm? I, Lu Zhao, will forever remember this kindness and never dare forget it." His words were utterly sincere.

"Haha, excellent, excellent!" Tian Bufan was clearly in high spirits. His hearty laughter echoed through the hall as he raised a hand, gesturing for Lu Zhao to stand at ease. "Junior Brother, your accomplishments today are a result of your own Talent, your character, and your decade of unyielding cultivation!"

"Back then, we were merely following Sect rules and doing our duty," he said. He walked around his desk and guided Lu Zhao toward some nearby meditation cushions. "Come, come, sit down and we’ll talk. We’re both in the Foundation Establishment Realm; there’s no need for you to stand on ceremony."

The two sat on the meditation cushions. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tian Bufan’s smile vanished, and his expression grew serious. "Junior Brother Lu, since you have successfully achieved Foundation Establishment, your status as an Outer Sect Steward must be changed. According to the Bixia Sect’s rules, any Outer Sect Steward who succeeds in Foundation Establishment must first complete a ritual to worship the ancestors—burning incense and offering prayers. Only then will you be officially entered into the Bixia Sect’s records and be granted the position of Inner Sect Steward."

He paused, his questioning gaze falling back on Lu Zhao’s face. "This is a crucial step. Tell me, Junior Brother, within the Sect, have you had the fortune of being taken as a disciple by any senior? Do you have a formal master?"

Lu Zhao shook his head gently, his voice even. "My fortunes are meager and my aptitude is average. In the decade since I joined the Sect, I have focused solely on advancing my Cultivation. I have not yet had the good fortune to be favored by any master and taken as a disciple."

"Oh?" Upon hearing this, Tian Bufan’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly before smoothing out again. "No matter, no matter. If you do not have a master to guide you, then as is customary, the Sect will appoint a respected Foundation Establishment senior to act as your Guide for the ceremony, leading you through the ancestral worship procedures."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.