I Haven't Repaid My Senior Brother's Kindness Yet

Su Jiu forced herself to stay focused, sifting through fragmented memories about "Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment" in her mind. She steadied her thoughts and spoke slowly.

"The Heavenly Dao numbers fifty, yet mortals grasp but forty-nine."

"So-called Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment means..."

Su Ji's grip on her leg suddenly tightened, the pressure just enough to interrupt her words.

"Means what?"

Su Jiu stiffened again.

This guy...

Casually touching was one thing, but squeezing was pushing it.

She placed her small hand over Su Ji's, giving it a light push.

It didn’t budge.

Fine.

Su Jiu gave up for now, deciding to finish her explanation first.

"It requires mending the 'missing one.'"

"Unlike the conventional 'Five Elements Foundation Method,' which only needs forty-nine cycles of spiritual energy to forge the Dao Foundation..."

Su Ji's hand grew restless, creeping upward. "Then how does 'Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment' work? If I’m exceptionally powerful and enduring, could I push it to fifty-four cycles?"

Smack!

A crisp sound rang out as Su Jiu delivered a light but firm slap to the back of his hand.

Finally, she’d had enough.

Her cheeks slightly flushed, she shot him a glare, feigning composure. "Senior Brother, you should really work on your habit of letting your hands wander when you’re excited."

Then she continued, "Fifty is already the limit. That final cycle is ten times harder than the previous forty-nine combined! So don’t even think about fifty-four."

"First, you must achieve 'a lucid spirit, a mind sharp as a blade' at the peak of Qi Refinement."

"Along with 'spiritual energy liquefied, cycling on its own.'"

"Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment is an extremely perilous process."

"The former ensures you won’t lose yourself during the breakthrough."

"The latter is the key to success—liquefied spiritual energy, endlessly regenerating, can sustain the immense demands of Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment."

"Finally, the most critical step: you need a wisp of Heavenly Dao Fortune to fill that 'missing one.'"

"But for a Qi Refinement cultivator, obtaining even a trace of Heavenly Dao Fortune is nearly..."

Here, Su Jiu’s clear, beautiful eyes suddenly froze.

As if struck by a realization, she turned to Su Ji with a mix of shock and suspicion.

"Senior Brother... you happen to have one, don’t you?"

Su Ji’s smile stiffened.

This coincidental?

The Path of Heavenly Pride rewarded him with enlightenment.

Slaying a Nascent Soul against all odds granted him a wisp of Heavenly Dao Fortune.

The enlightenment was to help him comprehend techniques, achieving "lucid spirit" and "liquefied energy."

The Heavenly Dao Fortune was the final piece for Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment.

It all felt... arranged.

So was the Heavenly Dao spoon-feeding him, or was he being set up?

Su Jiu’s eyes, now carrying a hint of fox-like allure, stared unblinkingly at him.

"Now that you mention it... Senior Brother really does have a chance at Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment..."

Su Ji seized the moment to ask, "What about you, Junior Sister? You must’ve done it too, right? Share some tips—help me avoid pitfalls."

Su Jiu didn’t answer, simply watching him in silence.

Su Ji clicked his tongue in understanding.

"I overstepped again, huh?"

Su Jiu gave a slow nod, acknowledging his self-awareness.

Then, she rose from the soft bedding and walked to the window.

"Finally, it requires the aid of the Four Directions' Waters and the Essence of the Five Elements, at a time when the heavens and earth align, under the radiance of both sun and moon..."

"But these minor details need not trouble Senior Brother for now."

"I’ll find a way to gather them for you, as repayment for saving my life this time."

In Su Jiu’s eyes, had it not been for Su Ji during their journey to Mysterious Yellow Mountain,

she would have almost certainly met her end.

Facing the soul of a former Nascent Soul grand cultivator, she saw no chance of victory—not even a sliver of hope.

As she spoke, Su Jiu walked to the cabinet in the corner and opened an exquisite wooden box.

"Logically speaking, these items are rather... sensitive. It’d be best to wait a year or two until the heat dies down before selling them."

"But I suspect Senior Brother won’t need that long to reach the peak of Qi Refinement."

"I’ll find a way to offload them in the black market—they don’t ask about origins there, though the prices will be much lower."

She paused, then added,

"Altogether, they should fetch enough to cover the materials Senior Brother needs for Foundation Establishment... After all, hardly anyone attempts Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment these days, so these things aren’t exorbitantly expensive."

Hearing this, Su Ji was inwardly overjoyed.

Just look at this.

This is what you call a perfect match.

Hitching onto a wealthy young lady’s coattails shaves off a decade of hardship.

If he’d tried figuring this out on his own, even if he ransacked the Love-Longing Sect’s library, he might not have pieced together a single clue.

Let alone things like the Four Directions' Waters or the Essence of the Five Elements—he’d never even heard of them.

Clearing his throat, Su Ji adopted a solemn expression. "In that case, Junior Sister, I, Su Ji, shall gratefully accept your kindness."

"From now on, if you ever need anything, I’ll brave fire and water without hesitation!"

Su Jiu glanced at him but said nothing.

Had anyone else spouted such words,

she’d have rolled her eyes on the spot.

All talk, no action—just empty platitudes.

But Su Ji...

He was different.

He might seem unreliable, but when trouble came,

he’d actually step up.

"Kindness is too strong a word. I haven’t even repaid Senior Brother’s debt yet."

"To save me, Senior Brother’s weapon was lost in Mysterious Yellow Mountain."

"Though it’s somewhat shameful to admit, that artifact truly held terrifying dominance below the Golden Core realm."

What weapon?

The 'Gleaming Spear' he bought for two and a half spirit stones?

Was it really that impressive?

He could just swing by the market again and grab another one for the same price.

If needed, he could even ask Su Jiu for some funds and buy them in bulk.

Use one, toss one—no big deal.

Wait—

Did Su Jiu just say 'terrifying dominance below the Golden Core realm'?

Could he buy up all the Flash Stones, then stab a few fellow disciples to let them experience the 'Gleaming Spear’s' terror?

Then 'reluctantly' sell them for a hundred low-grade spirit stones each?

Now there’s an idea!

Noticing Su Ji lost in thought, silent for a long while,

Su Jiu softened her voice. "Senior Brother, what’s wrong? Are you mourning your artifact?"

Su Ji: ???

Too busy plotting how to get rich.

But since she asked, he had to respond.

Su Ji didn’t care if she believed him—the performance had to be flawless.

Thus,

with a tinge of nostalgia in his eyes, Su Ji sighed. "Yes."

"What a pity, that spear."

"It accompanied me through so many battles..."

"Though I knew its usefulness would wane as my cultivation advanced..."

"Even after I reach the Golden Core stage, I might end up hiding in some forgotten corner, left to gather dust..."

"Very few things in this world are eternal."

"Such is the fate of mortals, and such is the fate of weapons..."

"Everything in this world, except oneself, is but a fleeting guest of time..."

"I just never thought our parting would come so soon."