Zhihui made his way back to the less-opulent parts of the city, and thoughts ran through his mind as he did so. Wooden shacks, old one-story buildings with curved roofs that had tiles missing, and despondent colors appeared in the view of the contemplating beggar.
In all honesty it was a gamble, one with a big risk and reward. It aligned with his goal of getting knowledge from the bloodlust sect, but with all the unknowns about the situation, he couldn't help but feel a bit unsettled.
How formidable was a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast? What arcane methods did the disciples of the bloodlust sect employ? Silas wielded medicinal pills and talismans, but what other secrets lurked in his arsenal? Zhihui was certain the fox had more tricks up his sleeve.
A heavy sigh escaped him as he scanned the area for the young girl. Mei Lin came into view, seated outside a modest wooden shack, arms embracing her knees.
Zhihui chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes, as he approached her unnoticed. Suddenly, he roared into her ear, "WHAT IS LOVE?!"
"AHHHHH!" Mei Lin's scream pierced the air, her face drained of color. Zhihui savored the thrill, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Come with me." He extended his hand, and without hesitation, she took it. Mei Lin remained uncertain of their destination, but the odd comfort of the peculiar beggar enveloped her.
Zhihui was lost in contemplation, planning and devising various scenarios. After a brief pause, he turned to Mei Lin. "Your big brother is in big trouble."
Her gaze met his, eyes glistening. "Trouble?" she quivered.
"Big trouble. I have to fight," he confessed with feigned despondency.
"Why?" Mei Lin's voice wavered, a blend of confusion and worry etched on her face.
A deep sigh escaped Zhihui once more. "It's complicated."
"Any words to cheer me up?" he asked, grinning.
Mei Lin paused for a second before stammering. "Y-you can do it!"
"Hmm? Do what?" Zhihui's grin grew wider.
"Fight! And win!" She shouted, her brows furrowed.
She then let go of his arm and clenched her hand into a fist. "Like this!" She pulled her tiny arm back and performed the goofiest punch Zhihui had ever seen.
Zhihui burst into laughter, a maniacal expression settling on soon after. "Right, fight and win." He declared.
As they walked, their eyes found a ragged old man, a beggar akin to themselves. Recognizing a fellow traveler, Zhihui approached.
"Can you spare this old beggar a copper coin?" the elderly beggar implored, eyeing the two.
Connecting to his ring, Zhihui produced a copper coin, flicking it into the air with a resounding click. The bronze coin shimmered in the moonlight, and a subtle squint crossed the old beggar's face.
As the coin landed in his palm, Zhihui handed it over, saying, "A copper coin from one beggar to another." Gratitude lit up the old man's eyes.
"Care to listen to one of this old man's tales? As a show of my gratitude," the beggar rasped.
"Let's hear it," Zhihui said, settling into a lotus position.
"I wonder if there's a certain type of story you'd like to hear," the old beggar mused.
"A tale about Foundation Establishment would be nice," Zhihui suggested, anticipation in his eyes.
The old beggar squinted, his thoughts echoing in the young beggar's words. 'You think a copper coin is enough for that kind of information? But alright, consider this a welcoming gift.'
By now, it became apparent to everyone, except the seemingly puzzled Mei Lin, that the old man was part of the beggar sect. Zhihui deemed understanding Foundation Establishment a critical factor in his plan.
Zhihui decided that one, or even the most crucial factor in the upcoming plan was foundation establishment. How one would reach it, the strength of those at that level, and changes. The knowledge on foundation establishment would give him an idea of how great the benefits truly are and how big the risk really was.
"Ah, the Foundation Establishment Realm, very well." The old beggar looked towards the starry night sky. "Long..Long ago, there was a young man, a courageous and ambitious young man who wanted nothing more than to soar into the skies.
He began his path to do so by strengthening his body, putting his bones, muscles–his very life through hellish practices. Practices that bore fruit. The pathways within cleared and allowed him to take in an energy that expanded his horizons.
Heaven and Earth's energy.
Excited at the thought of reaching a level where he would pierce into heavens, he continued to absorb more and more, dedicating each day to meditation and further growth.
Eventually, a time came when he could absorb no more.
Confused, he doubled his meditation and hell-like training, thinking hard work was the solution.
Time passed, and returning with it was the realization his attempts were futile. His body had reached its limit; it couldn't simply gather no more energy.
He asked himself the question: what do I do now? As he wandered aimlessly through nature, and within it, he found his answer.
The earth beneath him, the dirt, soil, it gave birth to trees, flowers, all kinds of plants which in turn fed all kinds of animals.
And it was the earth's children, these plants and animals that would go on to absorb more energy and grow, before returning it when they die, that process was what built up the earth. The foundation.
He had been looking in the wrong direction. The answer wasn't more but less! As he sat down, determination flowing through his veins like a river with a broken dam, he contemplated this enlightenment.
In this meditative state he had been in many times, this time he would cease the act of the energy drawing in. And instead, take what energy he had within and build it!
He pictured himself as the dirt beneath his bottom and began to clump it together, a painful process that made all his past life and death trials mere discomforts.
However, it was akin to trying to form a solid out of a liquid, he tried and tried but he couldn't!" The old man's voice and tone turned strange, his eyes flickering with awe.
"But he persisted! And sensed a shift, his spiritual energy strengthen.
Through the heart-wrenching dwindling progress, he realized it was too early for him to build the foundation; he didn't have enough spiritual energy to do it!
So then how?!
In order to acquire more energy he needed a foundation and To build his foundation he needed Energy, but his body had reached its limit.
On the brink of despair, he dipped his feet into insanity and did what could only be called mad! Taking a gamble, He began destroying his body from the inside.
With his spiritual energy, he wreaked havoc among his cells, his body that was like a bucket of water that could hold no more, he expanded and stretched the metal to allow even a drop of more Qi.
He had no choice; it was only the path forward, he could either take the risk or simply wait for his limited body to age and wither before death. It was a painful process, for both his body and his mind, which he continued for a time so long that, when he finally stopped, he had flecks of grey hairs.
However, he was a new man, the blood that ran through his veins, the muscles over his bones, could no longer be called a mortal's; they had been transformed with Qi.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself a hundred feet in the air, levitating. Heaven and Earth's energy flowing into him, his spiritual energy was now many times denser, and more powerful, able to defy gravity itself.
His body that was like a bucket of water before, had strengthened and grown, from the bucket of water into a wide and vast basin.
The spiritual energy was previously akin to a small pond and was now like a sea in comparison. He recognized that with this change came the ability to absorb more heaven and earth energy; it was in this new state that he would establish his foundation."
He finished the story with a calm smile on his face. Zhihui was in awe as he contemplated what he had just heard, his mind conjuring different interpretations of the tale. But one thing he knew for certain is that the difference between Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment was more a qualitative change.
And from the old man's words it seemed they could fly.
The young beggar was inwardly glad he had not requested this information from Silas; his blatant ignorance would have been freshly cut meat in front of the Fox's eyes. Closing his eyes he focused on drawing in heaven and earth energy, which he found particularly harder.
Though he didn't feel this was due to his body reaching his limit but just the Qi around him was thin and this was something he had realized as soon as he stepped foot into Three-legged Crow City.
"Thank you for sharing that interesting story," Zhihui acknowledged, his mind racing with newfound insights. "But I wonder, who is this tale about?"
The old beggar chuckled. "Oh, I don't know. This old man has forgotten."
Accepting the refusal with a chuckle, Zhihui was content with the knowledge gained. glanced at Mei Lin, a determined expression on his face. "Alright, I should make some preparations. You keep the old beggar company."
Before she could respond, a sudden gust of wind enveloped Zhihui, and the raven-haired beggar vanished.
Moments later, Mei Lin, unfazed, turned to the old beggar. "I don't remember getting a welcome gift when I joined."
The old beggar scoffed, "Your welcome gift was allowing you to join in the first place, brat."