"Since this is your idea, youâll be in charge of setting everything up," Qiyuan said.
"Hmm, sure," Wang Wei nodded.
"Heâs probably thinking about how to pass down his duty and be lazy," Yan Hai commented.
"Itâs called delegation, outsourcing, and management," Wang Wei argued.
"Itâs called being lazy â being privileged."
"With the right word, you can make anything sound bad."
"Thatâs your argument?"
"Well, itâs true, isnât it?" Wang Wei said truthfully, making Yan Hai speechless.
"Alright, letâs continue the meeting," Qiyuan said. However, one of Wang Weiâs talisman suddenly lit up, and he summoned it from his treasury dimension.
"What happened?"
"Lord Maitreya wants to see me," Wang Wei replied, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Did she say why?"
"No, but itâs not hard to guess why."
"Then, hurry up. We can wait," Qiyuan said.
Wang Wei stood up before secretly heading to the common district, walking directly toward Buddhismâs headquarters. Feng Heng was waiting in the front for him.
"Donor."
"Itâs good to see you alive â and yourself," Wang Wei smiled.
"While it was an honor to serve the teacher, this poor monk is indeed glad to be in control of my consciousness again," Feng Heng nodded.
"And it seems like your teacher followed my advice."
"Yes, and this poor monk is forever grateful for that, Donor."
"No need to thank me. Something tells me you would have started the Spiritual Practice Path at one point in your life," Wang Wei replied. Feng Heng not only had an affinity with that path, but he seemed destined for it.
"But how many years would this poor monk have wasted then?"
"True. In that case, Iâll accept your gratitude."
"Much appreciate it," Feng Heng uttered as he bowed slightly. "Now, Donor, letâs not make the teacher wait." Wang Wei followed him to a small room, where Monk Wuzhou was waiting. Wang Wei saluted him before entering.
He saw his wife already waiting, and was not too surprised. Wang Wei took a cursory glance at this simple, almost empty room, before sitting down next to Wu Hong, and opposite Maitreya.
"You look more awe inspiring than the last time we saw you," Wang Wei commented.
"Thanks to you two, Iâve made great progress," Maitreya said with a smile. "And this is why Iâve brought you here."
"So, this is about the Soul Quintessence Technique."
"Yes. I want to ask for a favor."
"Oh?"
"I plan to sell the technique to Heavenly Dao, but I want you to loan me your share of the merit. Of course, I promise to repay it in the future, with a 30% interest," Maitreya revealed.
Wang Wei and Wu Hong looked at each other. The couple did not use their words or divine sense, but they instantly communicated with their eyes. Then, Wu Hong finally said:
"The technique is universal, making it extremely valuable. Why do you need so much merit?"
"Do you know that Primordial Saints are classified based on their foundation?"
"How would we know that?"
"Fair," Maitreya said before she raised her hands to manifest six golden pillars behind her. "They are called Foundation Pillars, and itâs the most effective way to determine someoneâs strength at our level. Although itâs not a perfect method, itâs the best and most common."
Wang Wei and Wu Hong observed these pillars, but aside from the different symbols, such as clouds, dragons, and weapons, they saw nothing. They attempted to use their blueprint observation technique and observed that the pillars were composed of numerous golden and silver stars, but they could not determine what these stars represented.
"No need to force yourself. Youâll know what they are during your breakthrough process," Maitreya explained before dismissing the pillars. "There can be a total of 12 Foundation Pillars. 1-3 means low foundation, 3-6 means middle foundation, 7-9 means top foundation, 10-12 pillars are Human, Earth, and Heaven Foundation, and the 13th pillar is called the Source Pillar."
Wang Wei and Wu Hong frowned after hearing those words.
"You think my foundation is weak now? Before I completed the soul technique, I only had two pillars."
Wang Wei took a deep breath.
"And the technique only raised my foundation by two," Maitreya continued. "The rest came from my enlightenment, and because Heavenly Dao offered to help improve my foundation as long as I make an oath to be the worldâs protector and die with it."
"As always, that thing will take advantage of peopleâs weakness," Wu Hong sneered.
"To be fair, I probably would have still died with this world even without the oath," Maitreya said. This was her home, and she would fight for it until her last dying breath.
"Are flawed techniques so harmful?" Wang Wei asked. It made no sense for a Primal with Maitreyaâs talent to have such a weak foundation in the Quintessence Realm.
"Yes," Maitreya nodded. "The foundation pillars are created based on a cultivatorâs entire cultivation journey. Everything youâve done counts, including achievements, titles, uniqueness, and even aspects like cultivation speed, which can be an achievement that enhances your foundation.
"However, all of these things will mean nothing if you do not walk a unique and independent transcendent path."
"This changes everything," Wang Wei muttered before finding it odd he had said those words twice in a few hours.
"Indeed," Wu Hong nodded. She was still indecisive about whether to focus on strengthening her foundation or advancing to the next level. But with Maitreyaâs words, the choice became obvious.
"I plan to buy a World Source Leaf to see if I can achieve an advanced foundation," Maitreya continued, which made Wang Weiâs lips twitch. He remembered the price of that thing, but what irked him the most was its description: cleanse the foundation. It was so vague that it was impossible to know its true value without knowledge about Primordial Saints.
"So, what do you think? Can you lend me the merit?"
"There is no issue on my part, but you have to give us a timetable on when you plan to repay it," Wu Hong said.
"Immediately. I will not buy anything during the disaster until Iâve repaid your share. You have my words," Maitreya said, and Wu Hong was satisfied with that, leaving Wang Wei.
"I also have no issues, but I have one condition and two questions."
"Iâm listening."
"My condition is that after youâve gathered the funds to repay me, do not immediately give it to me. Secretly notify me, and I will come get it at the appropriate time."
Wu Hong immediately gave him a suspicious look, while Maitreya gave him a knowing look. "No problem."
Wang Weiâs face remained calm and composed. He knew he was technically evading tax, but he did not want to pay 80% of such a large amount of merit. Anyway, heâll do his part to contribute to the sect, and that should not affect his own independent fund.
"My first question is about the person on the other side of the gate. How strong were they?"
"They probably had four pillars. I didnât get a good look, but given how they defeated me with one move, their strength should be around that level."
"There is such a vast difference? Is there no mechanism that allows for challenging higher power?" Wang Wei asked.
"The Battle Realm still exists, but accessibility is based on the foundation, and more importantly, how many times someone enters the Taboo Battle Realm," Maitreya revealed.
"Really?"
"Yes, and technically speaking, youâve accessed a weaker version of it."
"I have?" Wang Wei was puzzled, but he immediately tried to deduce what she meant.
Maitreya was about to explain, but she sensed something. "Thatâs all I can say for now. Are you satisfied?"
"No, I still have one more question," Wang Wei said. He originally had two questions to ask, but he asked more because of the conversation.
"Go ahead," Maitreya nodded, not showing a hint of impatience.
"I want to know about Time Nexuses," Wang Wei asked. He always mysteriously forgot to ask Maitreya about such an important thing.
"I canât tell you that â at least, not until youâve become a Primal."
"What? Why?"
"For some reason, Grand Dao is actively delaying your knowledge of this subject. Itâs to the point that revealing it to you is a small taboo, which is odd given that this knowledge is common for Primordial Saints. Iâm afraid there is more involved here than Iâm privy to."
Wang Wei groaned.
"What if you tell me?" Wu Hong asked. "Maybe he doesnât have to know now, but if I do, I can maybe help or protect him if necessary."
"Maybe thatâs feasible," Maitreya muttered. She closed her eyes to do something. Upon opening them a few seconds later, she tapped her finger on Wu Hongâs forehead, directly instilling this secret into her mind.
"...Thank you," Wu Hong said with a serious expression. She then gently took Wang Weiâs left hand. "Donât worry, youâll be fine. I got your back."
"I know," Wang Wei smiled as he held her hands tighter.