Chapter 282: Foundation Establishment Instruction

No Money to Cultivate Immortality?

In the 200th floor teaching zone.

Zhang Yu sat in the audience, listening to Feng Jiu’s lecture, and couldn’t shake the feeling that this teacher… just wanted to get the job over with.

The lecture felt like reading from a script, with zero interaction with the students.

He heard Feng Jiu say, “...The Dao Heart is the foundation of the Immortal Path. The higher the cultivation realm, the more crucial the Dao Heart becomes.”

“If your Dao Heart falls behind your cultivation, at best your power becomes unstable, at worst you go berserk, suffer backlash from your Law Husk, or even self-destruct...”

As she spoke, one scene after another flickered into view—cultivators going berserk in a killing frenzy, spirit roots exploding into wild vegetation, Law Husks turning on their masters, mana eruptions tearing people apart…

After a thorough warning about the consequences of an unstable Dao Heart, Feng Jiu continued, “After entering the Foundation Establishment Realm, your Dao Heart’s upper limit increases to Level 20. As your Dao Heart grows, it gains additional functions.”

“For example, once your Dao Heart reaches Level 15, you can select a second Heart Technique, attempting to run two simultaneously.”

“However, the more conflicting the two techniques, the worse the results. At worst, you’ll suffer backlash or even soul-splitting.”

Zhang Yu knew that "going berserk" was a catch-all phrase—for mana explosions, soul-splitting insanity, Law Husk backlash—it all fell under that umbrella.

But listening to Feng Jiu’s lecture today, he suddenly realized that entering the Foundation Establishment Realm had diversified the ways one could go berserk. The risks had escalated too.

Feng Jiu went on, “Because conflicting Heart Techniques can be disastrous, you should prepare early—ideally before reaching Level 15. It’s best to select complementary Heart Techniques.”

As she spoke, a flash of light projected a web address into the air.

Feng Jiu said, “Everyone jot this down. This is the Spiritual Realm address for Heartforge Pavilion. For just 1 Nectar Coin, it’ll help you test which Heart Technique best suits you. Another coin gets you the most compatible secondary technique.”

“Also, once you reach Foundation Establishment, your technique operation enters a higher realm.”

“Running techniques 24/7 is just the start. Reaching semi-instinctive or fully instinctive operation—true Spirit-Flesh Fusion—is the real goal.”

“Even unconscious, a trace of spiritual light remains in your Sea of Consciousness, maintaining technique operation.”

“To achieve that, constant hard practice is one way. But it’s not the only way.”

“Heartforge Pavilion now offers a ‘Spirit-Flesh Fusion Retreat.’ 30 Nectar Coins all-in. Money-back guarantee if you don’t succeed…”

Feng Jiu carried on without changing tone or tempo, never asking questions or engaging with students, and right as the clock struck the end of class, the phoenix projection vanished.

Deep in the Spiritual Realm, a young girl watched the returning phoenix and muttered, “Not bad. No one figured out you’re an Artifact Spirit, right? From now on, you’ll teach my classes. Don’t want them interfering with my work.”

…

In the Mana class.

As soon as the teacher Li Mingbo entered, he swept his gaze across the students and said with a smile, “Hello everyone. This is our first class together. Before we dive in, let’s get to know each other.”

“I prefer face-to-face interaction over cold data.”

“I’m Li Mingbo, and I’ll be your Mana instructor for the next year or two.”

Zhang Yu was a little surprised. “There’s a kind and approachable teacher in University City? And he actually wants to know us?”

Compared to Feng Jiu just now, Li Mingbo felt like heaven and earth.

Looking at Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan in the front row, Li Mingbo asked with a smile, “You two—what are your names and where are you from?”

“I’m Zhang Yu, from Songyang City on the First Floor.”

“He’s Yu Xinghan, also from the First Floor...”

Li Mingbo nodded slightly. “You two… move back.”

“Further.”

“One more row.”

“Okay, sit there.”

He turned to another student. “And you?”

“Gongshu Jin, stay in the front row.”

“Ying Xin, move up two rows.”

“Ji Yuanshu, come to the very front…”

“For all future classes, everyone will sit in these assigned seats.”

With Li Mingbo’s adjustments, the classroom quickly sorted into a neat order—higher Floors in the front, lower Floors in the back. Zhang Yu and Yu Xinghan ended up in the very last row.

Damn it… Zhang Yu cursed inwardly. How did I ever get the delusion that Kunxu people were nice?

On the podium, Li Mingbo spoke fluidly: “After Foundation Establishment, your mana capacity skyrockets. With stronger Dao Hearts, tougher bodies, and more techniques, mana starts to differ in quality.”

“The higher the quality, the more powerful and effective the mana becomes…”

Zhang Yu nodded repeatedly. Even during Qi Refinement, he’d sensed that his mana quality exceeded most others, though only slightly.

After Foundation Establishment, the gap widened drastically—some people’s mana was simply in a different league.

Mana quality ranged from the lowest at 100% to a max of 200% during Foundation Establishment. The number reflected mana’s potency.

A 200% quality mana strike could rival two attacks at 100% quality.

Li Mingbo’s forehead shimmered, and a round mirror appeared.

“Next, let’s test your mana quality.”

One by one, the students struck the mirror.

Ji Yuanshu: 133%

Gongshu Jin: 125%

Ying Xin: 111%

…

Finally, it was Zhang Yu’s turn. He gently placed his palm on the mirror, and as mana flowed, a number appeared: 112%.

Zhang Yu mused, “I’ve never really trained this ‘mana quality.’”

“Is it because my Whirlpool Breathing Technique hit Level 20? Maybe during that training, my mana was tempered naturally to 112%?”

Once everyone had tested, Li Mingbo said coolly, “To improve mana quality, aside from endless practice, breathing, and refining, you can also rely on external aids—pills, cultivation-type Law Husks, high-grade spirit veins, etc.”

He glanced at the front row students and smiled. “But if you ask me, the most effective way is to buy high-quality mana directly from the Spiritual Realm Network. Soaking in it over time raises your own quality and max capacity.”

“Let me recommend a platform: Mana Treasure.”

“I’ve arranged a discount with them—enter my name and get 2% off on all high-quality mana…”

After addressing the front-row students, Li Mingbo looked toward the back rows, pausing on Zhang Yu, Yu Xinghan, and Li Xiao.

“For those of you who can’t afford high-quality mana, don’t worry. You can also sell your unused mana on Mana Treasure. Just upload it onto the platform, and you’ll earn daily income doing nothing…”

Zhang Yu nodded silently, immediately logging onto Mana Treasure to see how much his mana could fetch, outside of combat and cultivation uses.

Li Mingbo looked at them and thought: These First Floor kids can’t afford to buy high-quality mana. Their only option is to sell it.

As the rich students poured money into cultivation, and the poor sold their cultivation just to get by, the gap would only widen.

He’d seen this happen far too many times.

If the Immortal Path is all about resources—about who owns the most and who can afford the best—

Then mana is truly the domain of wealth.

That’s why he always used different teaching strategies for different tiers of students.

He thought, “Those in the back row… better focus on surviving. Don’t end up buried in debt with nothing to show for it.”

His mind drifted to memories of old classmates from the First Floor. In the end, only he had made it, becoming a new Second Floor citizen.

…

In the Body Refining class.

Their teacher, Lang Yougong—a werewolf-like Demon-Kin with a wolf’s head and a human body—grinned and flashed a mouthful of sharp teeth.

“My class is freeform. You all train however you want. I’ll go around and help each of you.”

Behind Gongshu Jin, the spinal segments of a Vajra-Forged Spinal Ocular Husk clacked together, unleashing a thunderous boom. This Law Husk supported his entire musculature, helping him execute a Level 20 Expert-Grade Breathing Technique.

Lang Yougong’s eyes gleamed. With his ocular Law Husk activated, he seemed to peer right through flesh, seeing mana flow, muscle strain, Law Husk activity…

He nodded. “A spinal Law Husk housing a Level 20 body-refining technique? Not bad. Promising material.”

He glanced toward Ji Yuanshu next.

Ji Yuanshu stood shrouded in a Wind-Stabilizing Pearl, sealed off from the outside air.

His heart thudded with mana and blood flow, massively boosting his refining output.

Lang Yougong nodded inwardly. “A Heart Law Husk from Heavencraft? Premium stuff.”

“Not only does it maintain a constant medicated state, it’s connected to the Spiritual Realm and soaked in high-quality mana—this kid’s cultivating even while sitting still.”

“A genius. An absolute genius on the Immortal Path!”

From a distance, Yu Xinghan watched Lang Yougong spend over ten minutes coaching Ji Yuanshu and Gongshu Jin, and sighed. “Here we go again. Looks like we’re up last. Again.”

Zhang Yu had been cultivating his Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation to Level 20, hoping for guidance, and now he sighed too. “Screw this. The teacher’s favoritism is so blatant, might as well not bother coming to class.”

Moments later, Lang Yougong’s eyes landed on Zhang Yu and lit up. “Oh? This one’s technique is already at Level 20? And he’s equipped with the Time-Wrecking Demon Pupil? A little genius, too.”

He said aloud, “Come. Your Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation is well-practiced. Let me help you out.”

Zhang Yu felt Lang Yougong’s palm force aiding his training, and instantly sensed a spike in efficiency.

Lang Yougong continued, “After Foundation Establishment, the spirit root becomes part of the body. It can also be refined—fusing further with the flesh.”

“Your current body-to-spirit root fusion isn’t even at 70%. If you can hit 100%, your breathing efficiency, mana yield, and martial power will all leap forward.”

“To refine your spirit root, you need subtle technique adjustments based on its type.”

“Your Endless Spring and Autumn Meditation is solid, but your understanding of your own spirit root is lacking.”

“Now—activate your ocular Law Husk! Memorize what I’m about to teach you…”

Zhang Yu thought, “Technique adaptations based on spirit root type? Xinghuo Zhenren never mentioned that… Is this an advancement in Immortal Dao technology? A new refining method?”

He activated his Time-Wrecking Demon Pupil. The world slowed down. He began memorizing every word of Lang Yougong’s guidance.

The surrounding students were quietly stunned—none expected someone from the First Floor like Zhang Yu to receive so much attention.

But Gongshu Jin wasn’t surprised at all. He thought, “Please. My friend? Of course he’s brilliant.”

Lang Yougong spent over ten minutes with Zhang Yu, then glanced at Yu Xinghan.

“Using an Extreme Tiger brand ocular Law Husk?” he thought.

Yu Xinghan said, “Teacher, I’ve got a bit of lag. Might react slower...”

Lang Yougong frowned inwardly. “Everyone else is using Sky Eye, Heavencraft, or Demon Pupil. Even locals have better stuff. You’re using Extreme Tiger? Of course you lag. Your Immortal Path potential sucks.”

Yu Xinghan was just about to continue when Lang Yougong said, “Hold on. I’ll get to you later. Gonna help someone else first.”

As Lang Yougong walked away, Yu Xinghan cursed under his breath and turned to Zhang Yu. “What’s this guy’s deal?”

Zhang Yu was still digesting the flood of new insights, but after a pause said, “I can tell… Teacher Lang has a good eye for talent and tailors his teaching. Maybe his sequence has deeper logic to it.”