Yuan Mobai, taking into account Lei Jun’s current bone structure, comprehension, and mindset, had previously made some rough predictions.
Without external interference, Lei Jun would need approximately one year to progress from the early Foundation Establishment stage to the intermediate stage. From the intermediate stage to the advanced stage, it would take around three years. Finally, reaching Foundation Establishment Perfection from the advanced stage would require about six years.
In other words, it would take roughly ten years to complete the Foundation Establishment stage entirely under normal circumstances.
The Third Realm Altar Stage, unlike the Twelve Layers of the First Realm or the four levels (early, intermediate, advanced, and perfection) of the Second Realm, is divided into three smaller realms: Heaven, Earth, and Man. Constructing the three-layer altar signifies perfection and lays the groundwork for advancing to the Fourth Realm Primal Talisman Stage.
However, completing these three sub-realms could take about twenty years. Adding the time required for the Foundation Establishment stage, it totals approximately thirty years.
For cultivators like Li Ying, Shangguan Hong, Chen Yi, and Guo Yan, whose conditions are similar to Lei Jun’s, the timeline is not much different. By then, they would all be in their forties, approaching fifty.
Although Li Xuan, Li Ming, and Li Ying are siblings from the same parents, the age gap between them is over twenty years each—equivalent to three generations for ordinary mortals. Yet, in the cultivation world, for someone in the Foundation Establishment stage, fifty is merely the beginning of their prime.
Even so, for Daoist Holy Land’s true disciples like Li Ying, Lei Jun, and Chen Yi, the ages of forty or fifty almost encompass the most precious first quarter of their two-hundred-year lifespan, where cultivation progresses the fastest.
Of course, there might be variations in actual cultivation. For example, Lei Jun, who entered Foundation Establishment in February of this year, has already advanced to the intermediate stage by August due to the Cloud Sea Immortal Pool’s baptism and nourishment, which accelerated his progress.
Thus, everyone must seize every opportunity to progress swiftly. Although advancing after fifty is not impossible, as proud scions of the Tianshi Mansion, no one wants to be stuck at the Fourth or Fifth Realm—they all aspire to reach greater heights.
For Lei Jun, the Cloud Sea Immortal Pool's baptism was only beneficial for advancing from early to intermediate Foundation Establishment. From now on, normal cultivation would still require three years to reach the advanced stage. However, by continuously using Blue Stone Ink, this timeframe could be halved. Similarly, the six years required to reach Foundation Establishment Perfection could also be reduced.
Additionally, the Mist-Wrapped Cloud Crystal, which neutralizes the side effects of Blue Stone Ink, remains uncontaminated and could assist Lei Jun when he prepares to overcome the second major tribulation after Foundation Establishment Perfection. However, this crystal is limited in quantity and exclusively available for Lei Jun’s use. Sharing it with others would reduce the efficiency of cultivating with Blue Stone Ink, defeating its purpose.
Fortunately, none of Lei Jun’s acquaintances are in the Second Realm Foundation Establishment stage, eliminating the need to share. He can focus entirely on his own progress.
As time passed, Lei Jun reflected inwardly on his evolving Dao Foundation. On the foundation where the Eight Gates of the City Walls had been established, mana and spiritual energy intertwined, forming a phantom curtain.
The Daoist cultivation system of the Tianshi Mansion, stemming from the Talismanic Branch, treats the Foundation Establishment stage as creating a virtual Ritual Altar. Once this altar is solidified, the Third Realm Altar Stage can begin.
In Lei Jun’s understanding:
- Early Foundation Establishment equates to forming a stable, flat ground.
- Intermediate Foundation Establishment entails erecting city walls with Eight Gates.
- Advanced Foundation Establishment involves constructing the six curtains in front of the anticipated altar. These six curtains—representing Xuan Master, Five Emperors, Tianshi, Three Masters, Three Sovereigns, and Overseer Ritualist—each embody a Daoist true spirit.
Lei Jun, now focused on forming these phantom curtains atop his Dao Foundation, managed to erect three of them with the support of Blue Stone Ink and other resources from the Tianshi Mansion. Although the difficulty increased with each subsequent step, Lei Jun estimated that his progress was still twice as fast as usual.
When Yuan Mobai visited Lei Jun’s private residence to check on his progress, he nodded approvingly. “Not bad, not bad. You’re even faster than I expected.”
Lei Jun responded, “It’s thanks to your guidance, as well as the help from my Senior Sister, Senior Brother Wang, and others, that I’ve achieved this.”
Yuan Mobai smiled. “It’s your dedication to cultivation that deserves credit. I can’t claim the achievement.”
Lei Jun asked, “Master, what about Senior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Fang, Senior Sister Zhang, and Elder Shangguan?”
Yuan Mobai replied, “There have been new developments. They don’t have time to assist me for now.”
At this, Senior Brother Wang Guiyuan explained, “Back when the Cloud Sea Immortal Pool incident occurred, Senior Brother Chen Yi mentioned something.”
He elaborated, “Chen Yi found a treasure in the Upper Immortal Pool—a Blazing Cloud Lotus Seed—but was ambushed by someone who tried to steal it. This ultimately caused him to fall into the pool.”
Lei Jun asked bluntly, “So he’s accusing Li Ming?”
Wang Guiyuan replied, “Chen Yi said he fell into the water in a rush and couldn’t clearly see his attacker, who was stronger and more advanced.”
While ambiguous, the only individuals in the Minor Grotto Heaven with cultivation higher than Lei Jun and Chen Yi were Fang Jian and Li Ming. Considering Li Ming’s actions in retrieving Hot Crystal Sand from the Lower Immortal Pool, the accusation against him seemed almost direct.
“But there’s no evidence,” Lei Jun remarked. “Is Chen Yi planning to fight the Li family?”
Wang Guiyuan added softly, “It’s not the entire Li family—only the faction led by Elder Ziyang.”
Lei Jun, now understanding, remarked, “Ah, so the Li family has internal factions.”
“Exactly,” Wang Guiyuan acknowledged, “although it’s a bit chaotic.”
Lei Jun shrugged. “Well, chaos is good. It gives us time to stay out of the mess and watch the show.”
Master and Disciple shifted the topic back to training, and Yuan Mobai began the day’s formal lessons.
After a morning of studying Daoist scriptures and solving Lei Jun’s questions, Lei Jun had lunch and returned to the mine in the afternoon. The deeper he delved into the Blue Stone Ink Vein, the closer he approached its core.
A few days later, while mining, Lei Jun discovered a streak of crimson amidst the sea of blue-green. Sensing no danger, he felt instead a strange intimacy from the aura. After inspecting it closely, he extracted a brush from the vein. Its body was jet black, tinged with green, and its bristles glowed a fiery red.
“Using Talisman Ink to nurture a Talisman Brush? What an ingenious idea,” Lei Jun muttered, intrigued.
The brush felt natural in his hand, as though it was an extension of himself. Its mysteries were profound, far beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator could comprehend, yet Lei Jun found it exceptionally compatible.
“This is Master’s old Vermilion-Tipped Brush, isn’t it?” Wang Guiyuan exclaimed, surprised. “I haven’t seen it in ages.”
Lei Jun raised an eyebrow, recalling a detail from his recent Upper-Moderate Omen, which mentioned a Fifth-Grade Opportunity.