This was practically reaching the heavens in a single step!
After all, countless exceptionally talented Qi Cultivation Perfect Cultivators were eliminated from the Celestial Examination. They would then waste half their lives, never qualifying for Foundation Establishment, and ultimately die of old age, still in the Qi Cultivation Stage.
This path was just that important.
Seeing that Chu Bai was tempted, Dean Chen continued, dropping another bombshell. "What’s more, those who attain the status of an Immortal Official start out a half-rank higher than those with ordinary Official Status from the Celestial Examination. In your future, both in your official career and on your Dao path, this half-rank gap is often a world of difference."
"Of course, all that is still too far off for you now." Dean Chen waved his hand, bringing the conversation back to the matter at hand. "The most important thing right now is your Dao Foundation."
His expression grew serious. "Since you’ve chosen the path of the Five Elements, there are some things I must explain to you thoroughly."
"With Five Elements Cultivation, if your only goal is to gather the five attributes, then even if you manage to reach Foundation Establishment, you’ll only form an [Impermanence Root]. Your Spiritual Qi will be impure. And while that’s slightly stronger than cultivating a single attribute, among Dao Foundations, it’s only considered a Miscellaneous Order, or at best, something that barely meets the threshold for a Side Order."
"If you stop there, you’ll be wasting your talent."
Dean Chen extended a finger and drew a circle in the air. "Above that, there is a Side Order Dao Foundation called the [Five Virtues Vehicle].
Once this foundation is formed, you will be simultaneously empowered by the unique characteristics of all five types of Spiritual Qi—Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. You’ll have a vast array of techniques at your disposal, which is already considered a superior achievement."
"But if you wish to truly stand at the peak..."
A sharp glint flashed in Dean Chen’s eyes as he enunciated each word, "Then you must attain the Orthodox Dao Foundation—the [Circulation Wheel]!"
"The Circulation Wheel?" Chu Bai muttered to himself.
"That’s right. The Five Elements Mutual Generation creates an Endless Life, circulating over and over like the stars in their orbits, never to be exhausted.
If this foundation is formed, your total Spiritual Power, recovery speed, and the might of your Magic Techniques will all reach a terrifying level. That is what it means to be truly—invincible among your peers!"
"However, this path is extremely difficult. Five Elements Mutual Generation is easy to talk about, but putting it into practice is perilous with every step.
The slightest mistake, and the Five Elements will fall into chaos, resulting in all your meridians shattering. For the past hundred years in the Daoist School, few have even known this path exists."
Dean Chen looked at Chu Bai and spoke earnestly, "Aim for the best, and you’ll achieve the good. Aim for the good, and you’ll only achieve the mediocre. Since you’ve already set foot on this path, you must aim to cultivate the [Circulation Wheel]! Even if it proves impossible in the end, falling back to form the [Five Virtues Vehicle] will still be enough for you to tower over your peers."
Chu Bai took a deep breath, his blood boiling with excitement.
’Invincible among my peers... the Circulation Wheel!’
’This is the Dao I want to pursue!’
"Thank you for your guidance, Dean. I will give it my all!" Chu Bai said with a deep bow.
"Mm." Dean Chen nodded, then began to instruct him on the specific details of his cultivation. "The reason I had you cultivate Metal Qi first is because Metal generates Water. You already have a Water Attribute Foundation in your body. Introducing Metal Qi won’t cause any conflict. On the contrary, you can use the metal to nourish the water and stabilize your foundation."
"Once the Innate Geng Metal Qi in your body has accumulated to a certain level and reached a balance with your Water Qi, the next step is ’Water Generating Wood’."
Dean Chen thought for a moment before offering his advice. "You’ve already chosen the potent and corruption-cleansing Innate Geng Metal Qi, while your water attribute is the gentle Purifying Spirit Flow. Therefore, the Wood Attribute Spiritual Energy you choose must possess an exceptionally tenacious life force to bridge them."
"Within the Spirit Pavilion, there is a type of energy known as [Life and Death Qi]. It is produced at the moment a thousand-year-old ancient tree withers and is reborn. It contains the dual concepts of decay and vitality, and its life force is of a tenacity rarely seen in this world. It is the absolute best choice."
"Once you have successfully cultivated your Metal Qi, go and seek out this energy."
’Life and Death Qi...’
Chu Bai firmly committed those three words to memory and bowed once more. "I understand. I will not fail your high expectations, Dean."
"Go on." Dean Chen waved his hand. "Remember, this is the path you chose. You must see it to the end, even if you have to crawl."
Chu Bai straightened up and exited the Dean’s office, his gaze resolute.
Outside, the sunlight was perfect.
But he knew the path he was about to walk was one destined to be filled with thorns, yet also one of infinite possibilities—a road to the heavens.
’Target locked: the [Circulation Wheel]!’
After leaving the Steward Hall, Chu Bai did not return directly to his quarters. Instead, he turned and went to another important location in the Daoist School—the Dharma Transmission Pavilion.
It was a quaint, three-story wooden building with upturned eaves from which wind chimes tinkled softly. Unlike the oppressive Spiritual Pressure of the Spirit Pavilion, the area around the Dharma Transmission Pavilion was filled with the faint scent of ink and a serene Dao Charm that involuntarily calmed one’s mind.
As the first-place new student in the Grand Examination, besides the enviable three hundred double-hours in the Class A Blessed Land, there was another extremely practical reward: the right to choose any Magic Technique from the second floor of the Dharma Transmission Pavilion.
Chu Bai stepped inside and presented his identity token to the elder guarding the pavilion. The old man’s cloudy eyes swept over him, and he gave a slight nod, pointing to the wooden stairs leading to the second floor.
The space on the second floor wasn’t very large. All around were rows of Jade Scrolls hovering in mid-air, each one enveloped in the faint, colorful glow of a Restriction, representing the different Five Elements Attributes.
Chu Bai strolled among them, his gaze sweeping over the Jade Scrolls as his mind raced with calculations.
’I don’t lack defense, nor do I lack control.’
’Looking back on my recent battles, whether it was against Dong Feng or the Shadow Beast, my Formless Cloud Hand combined with my Guardian Shield made my defense practically impenetrable.’
’My Spirit Water Needle technique is numerous, and its strength lies in its wide coverage and control. It’s great for clearing out mobs or for harassment, but it falls short against single, powerful enemies with tough hides and astonishing defense.’
’In that final battle in the Illusion Realm, if I hadn’t had a flash of insight and forcibly condensed a hundred Spirit Water Needles into a spear, I probably wouldn’t have been able to break the defense of that Qi Cultivation Third Layer Shadow Beast at all.’

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