Chapter 14 Foundation Establishment Assessment

Chen Yi conducted several tests and finally confirmed—it wasn't that the detection system had caught his cheating, rather the mangoes no longer carried the effects of the Soft Bone Powder.

At least after Chen Yuan had eaten several mangoes, he not only felt no discomfort but even praised him, saying, "Second brother has finally learned to share."

This left Chen Yi feeling heartache while also puzzled.

According to his earlier speculation, this aunt would never allow him to pass the Foundation Establishment evaluation smoothly.

Now that they no longer fed him the Soft Bone Powder, it seems that on one hand, they sensed that his physique was unaffected, and on the other hand, they were likely worried about the visiting nobility's progeny accidentally consuming it.

"Could it really be that my unfortunate prediction has come true?"

Chen Yi thought of the worst outcome and became extra vigilant.

For the subsequent period, unless necessary, he would not set foot outside Fanghua Garden.

Not only that, but he also specially found the instructor teaching them swordsmanship and requested a wooden sword for unexpected situations.

With his current proficiency in the Sword Dao, even if his body wasn't robust enough and his cultivation insufficient to support him, he still had his experience and vision.

Furthermore, with the energy of the Little Jade Sword on his wrist, he also had the power to struggle, which was still better than doing nothing at all.

However, as it turned out, Chen Yi seemed to have worried too much.

Until the end of the year as the Foundation Establishment neared, he did not encounter any danger, nor did any strangers approach Fanghua Garden.

This left him somewhat puzzled, even starting to wonder if Zhou Wanyi had given up on making a move against him.

"Forget it, it's ultimately a good thing."

"If Great Aunt had been relentless, I would have been troubled instead."

Chen Yi looked at his elder brother Chen Yuan, who was also three years old, and chuckled to himself.

He could obtain Rebellion Points through other methods, but the affection that had taken much effort to develop was not something he could easily let go of.

Ah, another day longing for the poisonous mangoes...

...

In the blink of an eye, the day of Foundation Establishment arrived.

The winter cold persisted through the twelfth lunar month, but Duke Wuan Mansion felt none of it—because today, the two young masters of the mansion were to undertake Foundation Establishment together.

Apart from Chen Taiping who was not at the mansion, and the Wuan Army soldiers, everyone else, including Old Madam Chen, gathered outside Fanghua Garden.

Even Zhou Wanyi, who was pregnant, came to the place with the careful support of the maids.

"Wan Yi, with your condition, it would be better for you to go back and wait?"

The elderly lady, sitting on a Taishi Chair with a walking staff in hand, her white hair neatly coiled and an old yet peaceful face, was drawing a string of prayer beads through her fingers.

"Grandmother, your granddaughter-in-law is fine."

Zhou Wanyi, wearing a properly tailored and roomy cotton dress, with a gentle smile on her slightly plump face, appeared even more dignified and elegant than usual.

"Take good care of her, Chun Lan."

Old Lady Chen did not persuade her further, merely signaling a few maids to stay by Zhou Wanyi's side.

Then she turned to a somewhat nervous Xia Wanwan and showed a slight smile: "You don't need to be too nervous, both Yuan Er and Yi Er have the Chen Family bloodline; their martial arts talents will not be poor."

"Grandmother is right," Xia Wanwan responded demurely.

She could sense the Old Lady's improved attitude towards her, but at that moment, she wasn't in the mood to feel pleased.

Bloodline is bloodline, Foundation Establishment evaluation is another matter.

Not to mention the bloodline of the Duke Wuan Chen Family, even those of the Wei Family Emperor have failed the Foundation Establishment evaluation.

She only hoped that Yi Er's Foundation Establishment evaluation would rank above average, so that he could partake in next year's Mid-Autumn Grand Void Sect assessment.

At this moment, compared to the anxious mood outside Fanghua Garden, Chen Taixing inside was not feeling much better.

"How did this unpleasant task fall on me?"

There were many in the mansion with higher cultivation than him.

Not to bring up Chen Taiping, the Military General of the Fourth Grade Spirit Aperture Realm, among the uncles and aunts, Second Uncle Chen Lixin and Third Uncle Chen Lide had been in the Fifth Grade Realm for many years and had conducted Foundation Establishment evaluations several times for their children and grandchildren; they were the most suitable.

Only he, Chen Taixing, not very old and just entered the Fifth Grade, was evaluating Foundation Establishment for someone for the first time.

And they were his two nephews at that...

If something went wrong, he feared Chen Taiping would kill him.

"Second Master, the hour is getting late, shall we start now?" Ding Sansi was also involved in this Foundation Establishment evaluation.

He did not need to touch the two young masters; he simply needed to command the guards to watch the surroundings and prevent any accidents.

Chen Taixing took a deep breath, stroked his goatee, and asked seriously, "Is the quiet room prepared?"

"Back to the Second Young Master, everything is ready."

"Mr. Yuan and Young Master Yi are separated from each other; even the loudest noise won't affect one another."

Chen Taixing nodded, looked around, pondered for a moment, then strode towards the left wing room.

"Then let's start with Yuan Er."

My dear nephew, don't blame your second uncle for practicing on you first. After all, Yi Er's talents have been validated. I can only ask you to bear with this.

But rest assured, it's your first Foundation Establishment, and it's also my first time conducting Foundation Establishment and opening meridians for someone.

Neither of us is at a loss!

"Ah!!!!"

"It hurts, it hurts so much, second uncle..."

From the right-wing room, Chen Yi heard the pig-slaughter-like screams coming from not far away and his face changed slightly.

Is this what Ding Sansi called quiet?

Big brother's ghostly wailing is about to spread throughout the entire Duke Wuan Mansion; how is this not affecting each other at all!

Half an hour later, Chen Taixing came out of the left wing room, drenched in sweat and let out a long breath.

"Second Young Master," Ding Sansi approached and asked, "Did it go smoothly?"

"Mhm."

Chen Taixing revealed a smile; although the process was full of twists and turns, it was indeed relatively smooth.

Not only was he successful in opening Chen Yuan's meridians, but he also gained some tactile experience, giving him a bit more confidence.

"Go notify Old Madam Chen and the others, so they don't worry."

"Strike while the iron is hot, I'm going to open meridians for Yi Er."

Saying so, Chen Taixing didn't wait for the guards to respond and pushed open the door to the right wing room.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"Not long, just don't want to trouble you too much, second uncle."

Chen Yi stood up to salute, trying to make his smile look natural.

"Yi Er, you'll have to bear with the pain later."

Chen Taixing laughed a few times at the sensible and well-behaved Chen Yi, then without hesitation, took out a pill and handed it to him.

"Take this Nourishing Meridian Pill first to prevent damage to your meridians."

"Yes."

Chen Yi looked at the pill, then glanced at Chen Taixing, and popped the pill into his mouth.

Second uncle is not Zhou Wanyi, this pill obviously won't...

[At thirty-two, your Sword Dao expertise is increasingly profound, yet you were secretly poisoned and mistakenly ingested a "Shattering Meridian Pill."]

[Toxin potency moderate, absorbed, Rebellion Point +5]

???

Chen Yi couldn't help but widen his eyes. The Shattering Meridian Pill?!

This...

It seems Old Lady Chen is still not giving up on making her move against him.

Nice!

Upgraded from Soft Bone Powder to a Shattering Meridian Pill, that familiar taste has come back!

"Sit down cross-legged."

Chen Taixing, not noticing his expression was unusual, went behind him, and instructed based on his previous experience:

"Endure it a bit, try to keep your body from moving as much as possible."

"Nephew has noted."

Chen Yi could not afford to think of anything else; his Foundation Establishment assessment was the most crucial thing now.

Only he was unclear, without a "Nourishing Meridian Pill," whether the Foundation Establishment and meridian opening would have an impact on his body...

"Sss—"

Is this the 'a bit painful' that second uncle mentioned?!

PS: Newbie author here asking for follows, hoping to get on the recommendation list this week, requesting the support of all the big shots.