Lin Huanhuan’s heartfelt smile spread like ripples, eventually vanishing along with the waves. A single tea leaf floated within the teacup, and Dong Yun’er stared at it blankly with her head lowered.
Gripping the cup, the cold tea flowed down her throat and into her stomach. Dong Yun’er still felt somewhat dazed. “So bitter.”
“The plan failed…”
“With a weak self like this, will I still be able to stay by the Miss’s side and take care of her in the future?”
Back when they hadn’t escaped danger and were still being hunted by that cult, she had been shocked when she saw the powerful strength Lin Huanhuan suddenly unleashed.
‘When did the Miss become so powerful?’
‘Even though the Miss said it was a trump card or something, it’s impossible when I think about it. If it really were, she definitely would have brought it out long ago instead of waiting until now.’
‘In other words, during the period I was unconscious, the Miss must have had a fortuitous encounter, and her strength increased significantly. That’s why she acted that way. The reason she didn’t tell the truth was just because she didn’t want me to worry.’
At that time, she didn’t feel much, only feeling happy for Lin Huanhuan.
But it wasn’t until they returned, and she saw Lin Huanhuan become extremely disciplined—cultivating desperately to make herself stronger—that she finally realized the unprecedented sense of distance.
The distance between her and Lin Huanhuan.
It was something that shouldn’t have existed; it shouldn’t have existed between them.
Yet, the fact was that it had appeared.
In truth, she also understood that the reason Lin Huanhuan was cultivating so frantically was definitely because she had been stimulated by this incident. She understood the importance of power and wanted to grasp it herself.
‘The Miss’s talent has never actually been bad; it was just that she was unwilling to work hard and was too lazy. Now that the Miss is striving for progress, can I still catch up to her? Can I still continue to stand by her side? Even if the Miss doesn’t mind…’
In fact, a maid did not only bear the responsibility of taking care of her master. To a certain extent, she also took on the role of a guard, especially since Dong Yun’er was Lin Huanhuan’s only maid.
Before, it hadn’t mattered. Her strength was similar to Lin Huanhuan’s, so being a guard was naturally sufficient. But when Lin Huanhuan’s strength far surpassed hers, would she still be needed?
“The Miss’s strength becoming greater is clearly a good thing, so why do I feel unhappy? Am I being too selfish?”
Her lips moved slightly, her voice echoing in the room.
No voice answered her, and she didn’t expect any voice to answer.
*****
The so-called Foundation Establishment was actually very simple. One only needed to gather 50 strands of spiritual qi within the dantian, then find three types of natural treasures that complemented or countered each other to forge a Dao Foundation, similar to a building’s foundation, at the Spirit Platform.
Of course, this was only the lowest-grade Mortal Path Foundation Establishment. Above it were the Earth Path Foundation Establishment and the Heaven Path Foundation Establishment.
An Earth Path Foundation Establishment required five types of complementary and countering natural treasures, and these treasures had to be able to perfectly maintain a self-circulating cycle. Only then could it be achieved.
As for the Heaven Path Foundation Establishment, the required natural treasures reached ten types. Like the previous method, this was only the most basic condition. The most difficult point lay in the need to obtain a strand of the Qi of Heaven and Earth for augmentation.
Inside the pavilion, Lin Huanhuan recalled the introduction to Foundation Establishment in the original novel. After thinking for a while, she let out a slow sigh.
“The original work is a novel, after all. Many details weren’t mentioned.”
“Collecting these natural treasures isn’t actually the hardest part. The most difficult part is that the weight of the treasures chosen must be compatible with oneself. Theoretically, the more the better, because the more treasures used, the stronger the forged Dao Foundation will be, allowing one to go further and faster later on.”
“But most people are misled by this appearance, completely failing to consider whether their Spirit Platform can withstand such a heavy Dao Foundation. The key is that the Dao Foundation has no weight during the forging process, but once the shaping is complete and it enters reality, the weight will instantly project onto the Spirit Platform.”
“If it far exceeds the limit the Spirit Platform can bear, it will crush the Spirit Platform alive, turning that person directly into a vegetable. Even if the Dao Foundation is reduced in time, they will end up with an unstable foundation.”
Thinking of this, Lin Huanhuan slowly shook her head. “Fortunately, these things are recorded in the Lin family’s library, and Sister also warned me. Otherwise, I really might have run into terrible luck.”
“Whether it was that elder from the White Tiger Hall or that iron-masked man, they were both of the lowest-grade Mortal Path Foundation Establishment. Moreover, the treasures they used to shape their Dao Foundations were trash, and they must have been reduced as well. That’s why they were so easily challenged by someone of a lower rank.”
“The issue of quantity is the easiest for me. My Super Inner Demon will help me solve it.”
“Heaven Path Foundation Establishment is a bit too difficult. Let’s see if it can be done. At the very least, I need an Earth Path one. The materials should ideally be of better quality. Although the Lin family has many, they don’t have that many. It seems there’s a ‘hidden gem’ event recently. Let me think carefully about where it is.”
“Mhm, I remember now.”
“In the original work, at the Weixian Auction two days from now, someone accidentally bought a Jade Buddha. They originally only intended to use it to change their luck, but later they accidentally broke it and discovered a piece of extremely high-quality Floating Soil inside.”
“Although Floating Soil isn’t the best natural treasure, it is already extremely rare. Furthermore, it is produced in the East Barren and is extremely rare in the South Border. Even if there is some, there is usually a price but no market, and the price is extremely expensive—5,000 spirit stones probably wouldn’t even buy it.”
“As long as it can be sold, this huge fortune is almost enough for an ordinary cultivator to squander for a lifetime. But that person was also a guy who couldn’t keep his mouth shut. He told his friend about this while bragging, and then it immediately spread throughout the surrounding area. All sorts of distant relatives popped up, and for a time, the people looking to borrow spirit stones from him were like an endless stream.”
“In the end, not long after, this guy died right in his own home. As for the Floating Soil, no one knows whose hands it fell into. For a time, it even became a cold case.”
Lin Huanhuan suddenly showed a happy expression. “This way is fine too. Since he can’t keep this wealth, I’ll take it for him. It also saves him from losing his life over it. It’s a pity he doesn’t know; otherwise, I’d have to make him thank me.”
After figuring these things out, Lin Huanhuan immediately stood up and walked out of the room. The urgent task was to get an invitation first. With her status, she just needed to say the word, which was quite convenient.
Walking outside, Lin Huanhuan originally wanted to ask Dong Yun’er to help her get the invitation, but after looking left and right, she still couldn’t find where Dong Yun’er was.
She was a bit puzzled. “Where is she? Shouldn’t she normally be here?”
She sat there for a while before she saw Dong Yun’er walking out from the other side.
“Miss, is there something you need?”
Sensing Lin Huanhuan’s gaze, Dong Yun’er immediately wore a perfect smile, hiding those unnecessary emotions away.