Days and weeks passed in the midst of cultivation.

Li Ao reached the fifth, then the sixth tempering of Bronze Body, and as he did so he felt a heaviness within his bronze mist that made it impossible to temper.

When he tried to poke at his bones again, their surface cracked. As of now, his body was incapable of going any further.

Silver body, however, was far out of his reach as well.

When he tried to condense and compress the Bronze Aura, he felt a gaze on him.

This gaze, the feeling of being watched, did not come from his instinct or sixth sense. This feeling relied on neither, and was not a traditional feeling but a communication from the heavens themselves.

Indirectly, heavens found him ready to face tribulations.

The manual did not really say anything about tribulations, but Li Ao found it reasonable. Even tools and pills suffered tribulations—why would his body be exempt from it?

Unfortunately, there was no mention of a foundation or a higher grade Silver Body of some sorts. It seemed there was actually no grade at all.

Being sure as such, Li Ao let out a held breath and opened his eyes.

His hair, after such a long time, was quite long, and a small scholarly beard appeared on his chin. Bubbles was in slumber on his knees. Snoring, and snoring in her part was a faint ‘wuuu’ sound in their connection, she cradled a piece of meteorite iron with her four appendages.

Rubbing her head, Li Ao put her on the pillow and stood up. He opened the curtains and saw rain pattering against the window. Scattered dark clouds flew from south to the east.

A thin mist buried Li Estate, as well as the Holy Capital within its body. On the ground, near the ponds, a few servants still worked around, tidying the platforms and cutting grass.

Li Huan sat in one of the platforms, carrying a parasol in her hand, watching the ripples in the pond.

Watching the scene, Li Ao’s expression fell.

‘’Let’s not go out today.’’

He sat down again. Bubbles rolled down the pillow back onto his knee, melted, and continued snoring.

Placing another ore on her ‘head’, Li Ao looked out the window.

‘’Senior Klein.’’

There was no answer.

‘’Senior Klein?’’

Li Ao frowned.

‘’Senior Dogshit?’’

He heard a sigh.

*What do you need?*

‘’...do you really like your nickname?’’

*Dogshit—*

Smiling, Li Ao cut off his complaints. ‘’I got two things—’’

Li Ao made a summary of Rene Bruno’s message, told Klein of his ‘gift’, then asked about foundation establishment.

*For the latter question, it is easy. Violet is the peak of Spiritual Cultivation.*

‘’There is nothing above it?’’

*There is, but you cannot reach it with Spiritual Cultivation alone. You have to practice Spiritual Qi, Physique, and Soul to the peak of Qi Condensation, then fuse all three into a single foundation to achieve it.*

*It is called Dark Foundation. There is no inherent difference between A Violet Foundation and Dark Foundation’s potential. Latter only makes use of all three systems, hence stronger, but is useless beyond Ascension.*

Li Ao nodded to himself.

‘’I understand the former two, but what is soul? How do I cultivate soul?’’

*...you have a very convenient tool within your access called Universal Store, which CAN point you to the related STORE so you can LOOK for it.*

‘’...I’m broke.’’

*Poor you.*

Li Ao’s cheeks twitched.‘’...okay. What about that Rene bastard?’’

*Him? Don’t worry about that cheapskate. I know him to some extent.*

‘’You do?’’

*We tried some third-grade missions together. He is one of the cunning stereotypes, always makes sure to set up the perfect stage to take action. He is pleasant to work with if all you are interested in is doing what you are told. However, his morals are questionable even in the grand picture.*

Li Ao inferred two things from this.

First, he could do missions together with other agents, which was obvious in hindsight. However, this working together seemed different from posting sub-missions. The existence of a mail system, too, made a supporting point to it.

Second, with how he talked, Senior Dogshit was definitely a sheep, not a shepherd.

*For his deal, you make the choice. By the time you reach Nascent Soul, you will be out of my supervision. I won’t claim responsibility of you.*

‘’Why?’’

*I told you before...I’ll be your guide until you reach Second-Rank. You’ll get the Rank-up Trial after Core Formation.*

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‘’Ah, did you?’’

*...anything else?*

‘’Can’t we talk a bit? Why are you in such a hurry?’’

*What do we have to talk about?*

Li Ao let out a frustrated sigh.

‘’How about the scenery?’’

Getting up, putting the restless Bubbles back on the pillow, Li Ao looked outside the window.

‘’There is a gathering of dark clouds outside my window. The mist is thick, almost nothing can be seen after a hundred or so meters. There is also rain, and occasional thunder. Down in the garden is my little cousin, talented little monster—she has a habit of spending rainy days outside, with her late mother’s parasol in her hands.’’

Li Ao looked at the passing by servants, then turned around to look at his door.

‘’Bubbles, my artifact sister, is sleeping on my dishevelled bed. She is snoring in the darkness. Apart from the blue candles outside the corridor, nothing lights up the room. I have a study table, a portrait of my mother, father, and big brother hanging on the walls—their gazes directed at the window, and a single dresser for a few robes.’’

‘’How is your scenery, senior dogshit?’’

His gaze on the blue light seeping under the door, Li Ao waited a minute.

*I am watching a black hole. Do you know what a black hole is?*

‘’I don’t.’’

*There is no being alive that can approach it....a terrifying phenomenon that occurs when stars die. It absorbs everything near it, and grows ever stronger, and within its depths you can only see nothing. Light, matter, space, Qi, mana, prana—nothing. How do I describe nothing?*

Li Ao could sense Klein’s...admiration. Not only that, within his heart, he felt a trace of fear. This kind of primal, helpless terror only furthered his incredulity about the description.

*The warped light of the distant stars is like a halo around it. They sparkle, glisten. The terrible gravitational force—the pull it generates has such a pressure that several billion miles distance is nothing to it. One step into that territory, and you are forever erased—body and soul.*

*Or not. No one knows what is inside that nothingness. The entire thing is a mystery.*

*Apart from that...some colleagues. Our fifth-rank seniors are present as well. Everyone is preparing themselves...*

‘’...for what?’’

*Well, you will know soon, if it succeeds.*

After that, Klein hummed.

*Well, dogshit, when did you learn to be considerate?*

‘’Ehehe—''

*Oh, can you not laugh?*

Li Ao snorted at his remark. ''—you can’t be busy all the time, it is bad for your health.’’

*Health...indeed. People should take care of their health. Do you need anything else?*

‘’Nothing. Take care.’’

*Farewell, Dogshit.*

Li Ao heard nothing else.

Pacing around his room, he thought upon Klein’s words for a while. Then he walked back to the window, peered at the silent Li Huan, and went out the door.

A while later, the duo entered the main hall of the estate, accompanied by Li Huan, Li Yun, and Li Shi.

Li Nan, being half-a-step Core Formation, worked in the palace to aid in investigating the demon remnants. Li Ru was busy researching with Shu and Wei family experts to create a Qi-Purifying artifact for agriculture.

Li Shi also worked on his own project, which he claimed would help them better ascertain the trajectory of the stars. However, the weather being as such, the forty-year old man accompanied the youngsters to sit by the brazier.

Li Huan warmed next to it, rubbing her hands, while her twin brother asked for warm drinks.

Li Huan twins were both at the seventh-level of Qi Condensation, but in this world they weren't immune to cold and disease.

Unless the weather threatened the survival of people, Great Wei would let things be. Hence, rain or snow poured in without obstruction.

With the Qi density of the Holy Capital, as well as the Four Mountains Realm, the released cold of such a rain could even chill a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Fortunately, most workshops, shops, restaurants and any home or establishment housed fire stones and tools to ward off the cold. Streets, however, still remained chilly.

Li Shi and Li Ao received cups of warm wine, one bottle on the table between them, while the rest of the children had hot milk. Li Huans sat next to brazier, watching it, arms around each other, while Li Yun leaned back on a chair he dragged near them.

Sipping in silence, they listened to the crackling fire and the rain.

Li Shi poured another cup to himself.

‘’Want me to refill it?’’

With his nod, he filled Li Ao’s cup and put the bottle on the brazier to keep it warm.

He came back, sat, then continued sipping.

‘’I didn’t expect you to drink.’’

‘’...it's been some time since I drank.’’

‘’It must have been hard down there. But you hold up better than before.’’

‘’Well, my cultivation improved.’’

In truth, it was Zhu Qiu’s fault. Li Ao didn’t hate or like drinking—but in their travels, there were few things that could provide entertainment amidst deadly danger.

Drinking, hence, became one of their go to activities.

‘’It doesn’t help...cultivation. It just lets you remember better.’’

Saying so Li Shi smiled.

‘’The beard suits you.’’

Li Ao, frowning, scratched his chin.

‘’I forgot to cut it.’’

‘’Why not leave it be?’’

‘’I don’t want to look too old...’’

Li Shi’s eyes dimmed. ‘’...do I look old?’’

‘’Ah, I mean, big bro, you look just like your age.’’

‘’In mortal years?’’

Li Ao, exasperated, let out a sigh.‘’...why does looking old or young matter?’’

‘’People take you seriously if you look older.’’ Li Yun added from the side. The boy had a few blotches of ash on his cheeks, forgotten to clean, and sat like a layman on a break. ‘’I think your big beard looks cool.’’

Li Shi nodded at the young man and kept sipping, his lips curled up.

‘’What you have, you forget, what you don’t, you wish for.’’

‘’...is it my fault that my beard doesn’t grow?’’ Li Yun snorted. ‘’Also, since when do you study idioms?’’

‘’Can’t a man appreciate some literature? Some culture?’’

‘’Is that why you ‘forgot’ to cut your beard? I remember Princess Long likes cultured men...’’

‘’You brat—’’

‘’Who is the brat? I only have a year’s difference with you!’’

Turning his head, Li Huan cast them a derisive glance. ‘’Stop shouting, don’t be so boorish.’’

‘’...’’

‘’...’’

Sighing, Li Shi picked up the warm bottle from the brazier and poured two cups.

He pushed one to Li Ao. '’Forget it, forget it. We are all just walking flesh and bones. Doesn't matter what shape it is.’’

Saying so, he fell silent. The duo kept drinking for a while.

Li Huan, having warmed up, came to the table and swept her eyes over Li Ao’s face. ‘’...at least you look like Uncle Cai’s portrait.’’

Li Ao put down his cup. ‘’I do?’’

‘’If you had a bit more weight, you would be his replica.’’ Li Shi added with a sip. ‘’Big Brother Yong looked like Aunt Jia back in the day. We used to make fun of him for it...’’

Accompanied by the splashing rain and the ghastly winds, the discussion continued late into the night.