Published: August 25, 2025
Chapter 219: The Meeting
“Sect Leader Senior Brother, a few days ago, your junior disciple was fortunate enough to successfully establish foundation, so I have come to report this matter to you. I hope the Sect Leader can grant me the right to open a secluded mansion,” Han Li got straight to the point without beating around the bush.
“Just successfully established foundation?” Zhong Lingdao was momentarily stunned, but then suddenly understood.
It was not uncommon for disciples to receive foundation establishment pills but not consume them immediately, instead waiting until they deemed the timing right to take the pill and achieve foundation establishment. Sect Leader Zhong thought Han Li was one of these.
“Heh heh, congratulations Junior Brother Han on entering the foundation establishment stage! Our sect has gained another advanced disciple — truly a joyous occasion!” Zhong Lingdao twirled his three strands of long beard and smiled warmly.
“Han was merely lucky, and this is also thanks to the foundation establishment pill granted by the sect!” Han Li replied cheerfully.
After hearing Han Li’s polite words, Zhong Lingdao smiled faintly and examined Han Li carefully once more. The more he looked, the more familiar Han Li seemed. He was certain they had met before, but try as he might, he could not recall when or where.
Pondering deeply, Zhong Lingdao nodded and fell into thought.
Seeing this, Han Li found it amusing and did not disturb him, instead picking up his teacup and slowly savoring his tea.
After a moment, a flash of insight struck Zhong Lingdao’s mind — he actually recalled the matter of the ascension command token. The young man who once stood in the council hall overlapped in his memory with this calm junior brother!
Recalling Han Li’s background, Zhong Lingdao suddenly lifted his head and exclaimed with a surprised expression,
“You’re the disciple who entered the valley with the ascension command token back then! You actually succeeded in establishing foundation?”
“Sect Leader Senior Brother still remembers me! I truly owe the granting of entry into Yellow Maple Valley to the Sect Leader’s kindness!” Han Li smiled lightly and expressed his gratitude upon being recognized.
Hearing Han Li address him repeatedly as Sect Leader Senior Brother, Zhong Lingdao realized this disciple was no longer a rogue disciple who had just joined, but a foundation establishment stage cultivator of the same generation. His surprised expression quickly faded, replaced by a composed demeanor, and he said kindly,
“It’s nothing. A few years ago, I was merely following the rules! But Junior Brother Han’s success at establishing foundation with a false spiritual root is truly incredible! If word spreads, you’ll surely become famous in the immortal cultivation world!”
Even though Zhong Lingdao appeared calm, his words revealed his inner astonishment!
No wonder — Zhong Lingdao was well aware of Han Li’s situation back then. For someone with a false spiritual root of four attributes to succeed in foundation establishment was indeed hard to accept.
Han Li smiled and half-jokingly said,
“I never expected that one foundation establishment pill would actually work. I can only say that Heaven helped me — perhaps I’m just a fool with good fortune!”
Han Li’s words truly amused Zhong Lingdao!
“But, Junior Brother Han! Didn’t you give the foundation establishment pill to Junior Brother Ye’s nephew back then? Where did you get a new one?” Zhong Lingdao chuckled twice, then recalled this puzzling point and asked.
“Heh heh! Sect Leader Senior Brother, this foundation establishment pill was given to me by you!” Han Li’s face lit up as he said happily.
“Me?” Zhong Lingdao was baffled; he had no recollection of this.
“Have you forgotten? Among the few who survived the Forbidden Zone, three received foundation establishment pills as rewards, and I was one of them!” Han Li stopped smiling and spoke seriously.