"Forget it, I'll go find Isle Master Tie Chui first, and once this is done, I'll look for Master."

Before anything, Ji Yuan sent a message to Isle Master Tie Chui to confirm he was at the sect. Then he descended with the Flying Boat, arriving at Elder Xu's residence on Chulong Island.

The saying goes: Returning home wearing luxurious clothes is like walking in the night in fine garments.

He had just succeeded in Foundation Establishment and hadn't yet shared the good news.

Ji Yuan knocked on the door, and soon, the muttering voice of Xu Fugui, unclear of what he was saying, came from inside.

Then... the door opened.

The first thing Xu Fugui noticed was naturally the deep blue Magic Robe Ji Yuan was wearing.

Seeing this attire, which only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could possess, Xu Fugui didn't even have time to look up before raising his hands naturally, cupping them in a greeting, "Greetings, Martial Uncle."

Ji Yuan kept his hands behind his back and coughed slightly, "When did you ever see me?"

Upon hearing this familiar voice, Xu Fugui suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with astonishment as he looked at Ji Yuan.

"You kid... when did you reach Foundation Establishment?"

Xu Fugui instinctively wanted to call him "you kid," but the words got stuck and were swallowed back down.

"Just a short while ago, and as soon as I achieved Foundation Establishment, I thought I'd come to share the good news with Grandmaster Xu."

Ji Yuan continued to speak with a cheerful grin, just as before.

"Foundation Establishment is good, Foundation Establishment is good."

Seeing Ji Yuan achieve Foundation Establishment, Xu Fugui was naturally elated, "Come in, come in."

Yet, as Xu Fugui turned around, Ji Yuan sensed a hint of undetectable desolation.

Indeed, Xu Fugui himself knew there wasn't much hope for him to reach Foundation Establishment anymore, and he had watched Ji Yuan grow from the middle stage of Qi Cultivation.

When they first met, Ji Yuan was just at the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, while Xu Fugui had already reached the Peak of Qi Refining.

But now, several years had passed.

Ji Yuan succeeded in Foundation Establishment, yet Xu Fugui remained at the Peak of Qi Refining... that feeling was somewhat disheartening.

After all, Foundation Establishment is something that countless Qi Cultivation Stage cultivators yearn for.

Once inside, the two exchanged small talk for a bit.

It had been more than a year since they last met, so Ji Yuan also inquired about Xu Fugui's recent situation.

"The same old, retirement, mostly here and there at different markets, nothing major, just Master... sigh."

"Elder Tie Chui? What happened to him?"

Even after reaching Foundation Establishment, Ji Yuan still used the previous form of address.

"Half a year ago, during an Artifact Refining session, a defective ore caused an explosion in the furnace, injuring him considerably. It's only recently that he's somewhat recovered." Xu Fugui took a puff from his pipe and exhaled a long breath of smoke as he spoke.

"It's good that he's better."

Ji Yuan nodded; it was an unavoidable thing, just like Alchemy might lead to furnace explosions too.

Any gainful endeavor entails some risk.

"Ultimately, he's getting older. In younger days, just by touching the ore, Master could tell if there were any issues."

"Mm, I haven't told Elder Tie Chui about my Foundation Establishment yet. If you're free, Grandmaster Xu, why don't we go together to see him?"

Ji Yuan suggested.

Xu Fugui casually shook off some ash from his pipe, "This time I can't. I just got assigned a task from the sect; I have to head to the Hundred Treasures Tower by Beishan City soon, on duty for half a year."

"Beishan City? That's quite far away."

After spending a few years in the sect, Ji Yuan naturally had a better understanding of these matters.

Beishan City is north of the Starfall River, a considerable distance from the Water Dragon Sect ― it might take a month just to get there.

"Yes, not a problem, we have sect escorts, everyone's traveling together."

"..."

Before long, Xu Fugui received a message from the Water Hall urging his departure.

Ji Yuan handed him a Golden Communication Talisman of his own, reminding him to message anytime if anything comes up.

They each went their separate ways, and Ji Yuan summoned his Thunder Falcon Boat, heading west.

This time, he sped with all his might and finally arrived at Hammer Island before sunset, unlike his previous late-night visits.

"Greetings, Elder... Senior Brother."

In his deep blue Magic Robe, Ji Yuan casually cupped his hands towards Isle Master Tie Chui.

Then he watched him become stunned.

"Damn, you're so young! And a Pseudo Spirit Root at that, yet you've reached Foundation Establishment? My gosh."

Isle Master Tie Chui even circled around Ji Yuan, finding it hard to believe.

Ji Yuan also sized him up. Compared to before, the wrinkles on Isle Master Tie Chui's face had indeed increased, as did the white hairs on his head.

It seemed the Quenching Acupoint Pearl needed urgent arrangement, to see if it could assist with Body Foundation Establishment...

Owing a great debt to someone, Ji Yuan naturally had to find ways to repay them.

"By luck, just by luck."

Ji Yuan's smile soon faded as he asked, "I heard from Elder Xu that Elder Tie Chui, you got injured?"

"That's nothing of an injury, ha! Back in the Eastern Mountain Range, I almost lost half my life, and I'm still kicking. This little injury, I'll sleep it off."

Isle Master Tie Chui waved his big hand, nonchalantly saying:

"Alright then, since you've achieved Foundation Establishment, such a great occasion deserves celebration. Let's have a spar!"

Seeing Isle Master Tie Chui like this, how could Ji Yuan not understand?

Just unwilling to admit aging.

Those few words summed it up.

So what followed was Ji Yuan accompanying him in a spar, and this time, Ji Yuan didn't hold back much. However, each punch was delivered rhythmically, with the purpose of invigorating Isle Master Tie Chui's circulation.

Once the spar was over, though Isle Master Tie Chui was left with a bruised and battered face, he felt much more invigorated.

Having practiced in body refinement for many years, how could he not sense it?

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