Do you know Dao Way?

Peng Hui and Elder Wuying was startled by Fang Shi's question before the later spoke up, "It does not seem appropriate to hold such a discussion here, does it?"

"Why not?", Fang Shi replied nonchalantly, "I think everyone should hear this anyways."

Peng Hui frowned, but was curious so he relented, "If Owner Fang insists, then I have no objections."

"I do insist", Fang Shi stated, "Elder Wuying? I think that's what Daoist Peng called you. Perhaps you came here because you feel like I'm leading your disciple astray?"

The older man cleared his throat, "I do not want to offend the Senior who watches this shop, but as an elder of a sect I believe it's my duty to make sure the disciples aren't led down the wrong path."

As Fang Shi casually listened to the old man's righteous words, a screen appeared before him:

[New! I did it my Way

The inhabitants of this world have an incorrect understanding of the ways of cultivation. Use what methods you can to enlighten them.

Discuss cultivation with Peng Hui and Elder Wuying until they gain some understanding 0/1

Reward: Cultivation room. The cultivation room is a special space that not only evaluates a being, but can make recommendations based on those evaluations. Also, the cultivation room can be used to to mediate.]

Fang Shi was already happy to engage a cultivator about their archaic practices, but receiving a reward to do so was a bonus. He could not remember how many novels he read where he thought the characters were ignorant fools, and was ready to provide his own view.

Fang Shi knew if he wanted to properly debate, he would have to start with the elder. As he continued to serve customers in line, he said to Elder Wuying, "You do not have much time left, do you?"

Elder Wuying frowned at the rude question, but calmly answered, "It would seem it was not my fate to keep going."

"Fate?", snorted Fang Shi, "It's easy to blame fate when the fault is yours. Tell me, did you not feel something when you at upstairs earlier?"

Elder Wuying had a stern look in his eye, "It would seem the senior who watches this shop is not simple at all."

"I can agree with that", Fang Shi smiled, "Let me tell you why you almost broke through while eating. After you became a Qi Gathering realm cultivator, you probably stopped eating and only took pills to meditate for long periods of time, yes?"

The elder was tired of talking to this boy, but it was as he said, "Yes, that's correct. But this isn't something strange, most if not all cultivators do this."

"And most cultivators do not reach the Foundation Establishment realm", Fang Shi remarked, "But it's because everyone walking the same path instead of their path."

Peng Hui had been quiet at this point but had to join in now, "Is this what you were talking about the other day?"

"Yes, very astute", Fang Shi praised Peng Hui, "Elder Wuying do you have the same roots, body, or mind as the cultivator that created the cultivation method you use?"

"How can I know about that?", the elder defended himself.

"Then why would assume that his method would work for you?", Fang Shi countered.

Elder Wuying became lost in thought, so Fang Shi made a hand motion and a light screen appeared before everyone.

Fang Shi scribbled a few things before turning back to them, "Look at this here."

On the screen was written six words: Body, Energy, Mind, Body Perfecting, Qi Gathering, and Foundation. Two lines were under body and energy, and a question mark was under mind.

"If you notice here, you have been throwing all your efforts here", Fang Shi pointed at energy, "But look at Body, as soon as you achieved the Qi Gathering realm, you probably never invested anything towards again. Then look at mind, I can only guess that you have never tried to practice mental exercises or taken natural remedies that increase your mental power."

"What the owner says is true", Elder Wuying said with gritted teeth.

"So in conclusion, the reason you never broke through is not because of fate", Fang Shi explained, "It's because you failed to maintain a balance of yourself. I think the fact that you almost broke through without the aid of pills should be enough evidence. The meals prepared in the restaurant are rich in vitality and Qi, and the tea promotes clarity in the mind, as well as strengthening mental power. After eating, you finally absorbed what you neglected during your meditation. As for the creator of this cultivation method, he or she probably had a naturally robust body and clear mind, and did not have many obstacles before a certain realm."

"I see", Elder Wuying, "So if I were to eat a few more meals, I could breakthrough?"

"Obviously", Fang Shi replied, "I would recommend taking home a rather large meal, and eating it home. Just make sure you made all your other preparations ahead of time."

"Why is this different than what we spoke of last time?", Peng Hui interrupted.

"I was simply explaining to your elder why he felt a change while eating earlier", Fang Shi responded, "After our discussion last time, I had the Senior set up something for you if you are willing."

Fang Shi pointed at the evaluation artifact that Peng Hui had used to trade in broken artifacts before.

"Allow the artifact to scan the scrolls you brought", Fang Shi instructed Peng Hui, "Then place your palm on the light screen, and press 'Optimize'. It will provide you with a cultivation method that perfectly fits your roots. Also, if you are satisfied with it, and no longer wish to keep the three methods you purchased from the city scroll pavilion, I will buy them from you."

Peng Hui felt apprehensive about this, but decided to gamble on the senior of this store. He walked over to the artifact, placed the three scrolls into the receptacle, and placed his palm on the light screen. He selected'Optimize', and watched the screen as it displayed:

[ Scanning scroll 1…done

Scanning scroll 2…done

Scanning scroll 3…done

Scanning Peng Huo…done

Optimizing…done]

A new scroll came out of a different receptacle, and Peng Hui took it before selling the other three.

Peng Hui then got a basket, got some spiritual fruits, and waited in line, taking advantage of the trip they made today. When

Elder Wuying realized this, he went upstairs and ordered a large meal to take home before getting spirit rice and fruits as well.

The pair paid for their goods, and were about to leave when Fang Shi said loud enough for everyone, "Please come back tomorrow, and let everyone know how things went."

The rest of the day was uneventful, but Fang Shi did not mind. When the elder purchased the meal and Peng Hui took home the new cultivation method, he had already heard a chime indicating that the quest was complete. Before Fang Shi went to bed that night, he admired his new framed wall scroll, a picture of a mountain with a mine and equipment on display, it was titled 'Mine'.

The same night, at Dusky Peak sect, Peng Hui sat in his cave memorizing the new cultivation method before summoning the courage to start. He first concentrated on the Qi of earth before connecting it to his metal Qi. He received a vision of iron being taken from the earth and forged into an axe. Next the 'axe' was taken to an oak tree representing his wood Qi, and it felled the tree. The tree was fed to a fire, and Peng Hui's fire roots felt more powerful than ever, and the ashes from the fire once again became earth completing the cycle. He couldn't believe how natural it felt to cultivate, and thought himself, 'In the past, I have always felt like my fire roots was not powerful enough. I thought the reason was my lack of potential, but it was my ignorance.'

As Peng Hui continued to cycle his method, he felt he was absorbing Qi at least three times faster than before. The Qi he absorbed also felt purer and denser, and it did not take long before he had to stop due to reaching the limit of how much Qi he could refine. He also noted how easy it was to refine the Qi, and he did not feel the need to struggle. For the first time, Peng Hui gained some insight into the difference between the the Dao and his Dao.

At his courtyard closer to the inner court of the sect, Elder Wuying had seated himself in preparation of his last attempt to attack the Foundation Establishment realm. A large meal was spread out in front of him, and he had spirit stones he had saved up over the years ready in the event that this venture was successful.

Elder Wuying poured himself a cup of tea, and took a sip before starting to consume all the dishes from the Heaven and Earth restaurant. Everything was delicious, and when he had finished around half the dishes, he had already felt uncomfortable as the pressure built up. He ignored this feeling to press on eating fried rice, dumplings, buns, pork knuckle, spicy chicken, and more.

Almost as if it planned, when Elder Wuying took the last bite, he felt a surge of Qi expand and the bottleneck that prevented him from ascending to the realm break. He quickly scattered spirit stones around randomly, and turned his attention towards his breakthrough. The elder could no longer control is aura, and suddenly several foundation establishment members of the sect felt his breakthrough, and rushed over to investigate.

Elder Wuying could feel his body change as it grew stronger, his mind clearer, and his Qi soared, but something else happened as well. Years of taking pills and other cultivation resources had left his body full of impurities. The pressure of the breakthrough caused all the impurities to be expelled covering himself, and his clothes, in a foul, multicolored sludge that took all his willpower to ignore. Eventually, the rush of strength finished, and Elder Wuying recognized he had built his foundation. He wanted to shed tears, but he was sure if it was in joy, or the toxic smell of the expelled sludge.

Elder Wuying stood up, disrobed, and proceeded to burn his clothes and wash himself into he could no longer smell anything. He took a fresh set of robes out, and called out an artifact with a shiny, reflective surface to see himself. Gone was the image of an old wrinkled man of 70 to 80 years old with grey hair. Elder Wuying looked like he did in his forties, with black hair and a black beard. His thin frame had returned to a robust muscular appearance, and he went outside to greet the visitors.

"Senior Brothers and Sisters", Elder Wuying said, "Welcome to the Outer Court."

"Elder Wuying?", a burly man asked.

"First Elder Xuan", Wuying greeted with respect, "Outer Court Elder Wuying is honored by your visit?"

A gasp was heard from several people farther away, and Elder Xuan said, "Congratulations on building your foundation, may you continue to walk the Dao. I have to ask, how did you manage to find a foundation establishment pill?"

Elder Wuying realized something, but he thought it would be better to explain, "I did not find a pill, First Elder. Due to a set of circumstances, I gained some insight from the 'Senior' at the Heaven and Earth Pavilion, and was able to succeed. I still have some tea, so since everyone is here, let me pour you a cup and explain."

Fang Shi had just completed his morning routine, and took his seat in the shop. As he served his normal morning customers, he was mulling over somethings in his mind.

'If I keep to my original plan, I would wait a few more days before adding something new to the shop', he thought, 'But this cultivation room is very good, and I feel many people are going to ask me why the evaluation artifact does not work for them like it did Peng Hui.'

As he helped customers, they started to make inquiries about the evaluation artifact, asking why it was not working today, or if it was a scam. More and more people stayed around instead of leaving after finishing their shopping until the room was full of people complaining.

"Attention all guests who wish in ask about the evaluation artifact", Fang Shi announced, "Yesterday was a demonstration for an upcoming service, and the master of the store had only allowed it to be shown once. However, starting tomorrow, special cultivation rooms will be built that have all the same functions as the demonstration yesterday. I will no longer answer any more questions about this topic anymore, and if anyone wishes to continue, they will be banned for a week."

This caused everyone to quiet down, and many who had already completed their shopping choose to leave.

First Elder Xuan, Elder Wuying, Peng Hui, and the other elders that appeared at the outer court entered the store when Fang Shi made his announcement. They were disappointed, but they had already formed a deep impression of the store when they first arrived.

The group of elders had been amazed by the Perfect 3rd ranked talismans, and admired the craftsmanship of the robes on display in the clothing shop. After they entered and heard Fang Shi's message, they investigated the store only to be amazed by the quantities of spirit rice and fruits.

"Let's hold off on purchasing anything until after we try the food at the restaurant that junior brother Wuying told us about", Elder Xuan suggested.

The group went upstairs, and Fang Shi had stopped paying attention to them afterwards. An hour later, he noticed the group of men and women come back downstairs, and filling baskets with goods in large quantities.

They came to him, and the man in the lead said, "Clerk, we have finished our shopping. After you tally the goods, can you ask your master to meet us?"

"No", Fang Shi replied as the artifact calculated the total amount, "My master will not see anyone right now, that will be 327 spirit stones or 25 spirit stones and 302 spirit stones of equivalent value."

Elder Xuan grew stern, "Even if you have your master, you should still extend respect to your elders. I only wish to thank your master for his assistance to one of my outer court elders."

"Oh that", Fang Shi replied, "Consider your gratitude accepted, I only told them the teachings my master told me. Now please pay the amount due."

Elder Xuan was at a loss, he had heard the same thing from Elder Wuying but hadn't believed it.

"Junior, even if the Dusty Peak sect is a 3rd sect, you should still treat us with respect because we are both an elder and a guest", Elder Xuan had enough of this boy's words, and decided to teach him a lesson.

He reached out to capture Fang Shi, but as grew closer, his strength waned. Elder Xuan felt fear for the first time in a long time as Fang Shi stood from his seat.

"Pay now", he said, and Elder Xuan made a motion that placed the correct amount of stones on the counter.

Fang Shi took several bags, and placed them on the elder before dragging him to the front door.

He threw the man outside and said, "Don't come back for a week."

After returning to his seat, Fan Shi looked at the other elders, "Who's next?"

The rest of the elders obediently paid for their items before leaving. When they got outside, they saw that the First Elder seemed to trapped in illusions so they assisted him and returned to the sect.

That evening, Fang Shi choose to make a few more puppets before accepting the rewards for [I did it my Way], and [Bring the Hammer down!]. He took a few minutes to place the artifact refinery next to the Talisman shop, and added a second floor above the talisman and clothing shops. Both of these additions would be filled with as many cultivation rooms as would fit. Fang Shi closed the panel, and went to sleep.