Simulated Battle
Lei Chen's aura continued to surge upward, his cultivation rising at an astonishing pace until he reached the tenth level of Qi Control, and then continued climbing higher.
Qi Control, Level 11…
Qi Control, Level 12…
Qi Control, Level 13…
Qi Control, Level 14!
The moment Han Ming saw that Lei Chen was about to break through into the Foundation Establishment stage, he stopped the progression at once.
Lei Chen opened his eyes, his face filled with excitement. His body brimmed with an overwhelming power he had never experienced before.
"Master! This is incredible!" Lei Chen exclaimed with awe. "Is this a new method of cultivation you developed? I feel even stronger now than I did back when I had reached Foundation Establishment in the past!"
Han Ming nodded. "It is indeed more powerful. But the requirements are significantly greater as well."
He explained calmly, "To break through to the tenth level of Qi Control, one must meet three conditions. First, you must cultivate an Emperor-tier technique. Second, your comprehension must be at least nine stars. And third, you must possess an Emperor-grade physique."
Lei Chen furrowed his brow. "Then if someone has only the first two conditions but lacks the Emperor-grade physique, what's the highest level they can reach?"
"The tenth level, and no further," Han Ming replied. "To reach the fourteenth level as you have, one must fulfill all three conditions to their utmost. It's exceedingly rare for anyone to meet them all. An Emperor-grade physique may not be too difficult to come by, but the real bottleneck lies in comprehension. You should be able to imagine how difficult it is to cultivate an Emperor-tier technique at the Qi Control stage while only having eight or nine stars of comprehension…"
Lei Chen looked briefly surprised, then recalled that after receiving the drop of Emperor's blood from Han Ming, his understanding had increased dramatically.
Seeing his disciple's reaction, Han Ming gave a faint smile. "Don't dwell on it too much. Let's move on to breaking through to Foundation Establishment."
Han Ming then took out six types of Emperor-tier materials. Each one radiated an awe-inspiring power. One was an ancient herb that shimmered with ethereal light, another was the fang of a primeval beast that still exuded a terrifying presence, while the remaining four were equally extraordinary.
Lei Chen stared at the materials in stunned silence.
"Did you know?" Han Ming began, glancing at his disciple. "Normally, someone with a special physique can break into Foundation Establishment just by absorbing the surrounding natural energy." He paused. "Do you remember what color your body emitted the first time you reached Foundation Establishment?"
Lei Chen furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment before answering, "It was gold, Master."
Han Ming smiled. "Gold is the standard level for those with an Emperor-grade physique. Most cultivators accept that as the pinnacle and stop there. But in truth, the foundation of Foundation Establishment can be further divided into more detailed tiers."
Han Ming continued, "This is a classification I created myself. The foundational tiers are as follows:
White – Common
Blue – Rare
Purple – Earth
Gold – Heaven
And finally, Red – Emperor."
Lei Chen's eyes widened. "Does having a higher-tier foundation affect anything, Master?"
"Of course," Han Ming nodded. "The stronger your foundation, the greater your comprehension in cultivation will be. It also extends your lifespan. If you have a gold-tier foundation, your life expectancy increases by 100 years. But if it's red-tier, you'll gain up to 500 more years. It also drastically boosts your comprehension and cultivation speed."
Lei Chen listened intently, absorbing every word his master said.
"However," Han Ming said with a faint smile, "just like the Qi Control stage, the requirements for a red-tier foundation are exceptionally high. You must possess a peak-grade Emperor physique, supreme-level comprehension, and use only Emperor-tier materials to trigger the breakthrough."
He gestured toward the six materials placed in front of them.
"And now, I will help you refine these materials into pure energy for your breakthrough. Proceed with the normal process but remember, to be my disciple, only a red-tier foundation is acceptable."
Lei Chen clenched his fists tightly, determination blazing in his eyes.
"I will not disappoint you, Master!"
Han Ming nodded with satisfaction, then began to refine the Emperor-tier materials. The sounds of energy converging and transforming filled the air. A tremendous pressure spread across Pure Light Peak, causing the atmosphere to stir and shift.
In just a few moments, his disciple Lei Chen would ascend into a realm of Foundation Establishment that no one had ever reached before.
[Congratulations to Host for investing in a disciple with black luck. Reward received: Emperor-tier Material *1]
A crimson aura immediately enveloped Lei Chen's body. His power soared upward before quickly stabilizing. An overwhelming strength he had never known surged through every fiber of his being, and his cultivation settled at the seventh stage of Foundation Establishment.
Lei Chen clenched his fists tightly. The power that had once been stolen from him was now fully restored stronger than it had ever been. If he were to face his former self now, he could crush a thousand versions without receiving a single scratch.
Han Ming gave a faint smile before speaking. "Very good. In seven days, the annual new disciple tournament will be held. I want you to take first place. Can you do that?"
Lei Chen dropped to his knees, fists clenched as he replied with firm resolve, "I will not disappoint you, Master!"
Han Ming nodded in satisfaction before snapping his fingers. In that instant, a small, humble wooden hut appeared beside them. Though it looked like an old cabin, it radiated a strange, arcane energy.
"Inside that hut is a special dimension," Han Ming said calmly. "Enter it and train through simulated battles for twelve hours. I've set a daily limit of twelve hours so your body has time to rest. Your cultivation is still low, and rest is just as important as training."
Lei Chen bowed deeply with utmost respect before stepping into the hut without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Han Ming began to examine the items he had received from the system. Although the rewards were limited due to Lei Chen's black luck, it wasn't something he was overly concerned about.
"There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world…" Han Ming thought to himself. Even though he had a system, that didn't mean he fully trusted it. He understood well that any power gained too easily always came with a hidden price.
He then took out a cultivation manual granted by the system. His eyes flickered with light. It was a perfect Emperor-tier technique, and as he flipped through its pages, a new idea slowly began to form in his mind.
At the same time, inside the hut.
Lei Chen had been transported into the special dimension. A pristine white arena stretched endlessly in all directions. Then, without realizing it, he heard his own voice speak aloud.
"…Greetings, Master."
His eyes widened slightly as he looked at the child standing before him. A boy no older than ten, calm and serene, his presence felt oddly familiar.
"This is…"
Before he could finish his thought, glowing golden characters appeared in midair.
[Simulated Battle]
[User: Lei Chen]
[Opponent: Stage 1 — Han Ming, Age 10 (Cultivation: None)]
[Select Difficulty]
[Easy: Fight with current cultivation level]
[Medium: Cultivation level matched to past Han Ming]
[Hard: Cultivation level lower than Han Ming of that time]
Without hesitation, Lei Chen selected the hardest difficulty.
"Hardest level."
At that moment, a simulated version of Han Ming was conjured. His expression was calm and devoid of emotion, his presence unremarkable and seemingly harmless.
Lei Chen found his power instantly suppressed, completely stripped of all cultivation, just like the ten-year-old Han Ming standing across from him. As he stood there in a daze, Han Ming's voice rang out softly, accompanied by a faint smile.
"Begin."