200: The difference between Taoism and foundation

Before the Immortal Palace, Shen Li's figure quietly emerged from the clouds and mist. Looking up, he felt it was majestic and towering.

The vast power emanating from within made him involuntarily put away some of his complacent pride.

What kind of place was this?

It was already self-evident.

Dao Foundation Cultivators cultivate Divine Abilities, opening a mansion within their bodies, with Divine Abilities as beams and pillars, evolving into their own Immortal Palace Heaven and Earth.

Within the Immortal Palace, the master is king, and all others follow.

The clouds and mist beneath his feet did not dissipate. Shen Li clasped his hands into his sleeves and slowly ascended the steps.

The tightly closed vermilion gate opened silently. At the same time, dozens of Immortal Master auras were fully revealed.

Shen Li's expression remained unchanged as he slowly advanced from the central path. The gazes from both sides were either curious, surprised, amazed, or malicious.

Among them, one gaze intertwined with anticipation, relief, and surprise... Shen Li looked over.

He met Shen Bo Shu's eyes.

Shen Bo Shu smiled and nodded. This Shen Family Patriarch, who had not interacted much with Shen Li, looked a bit disheveled at this moment, seemingly having gone through something.

He walked to the base of the Great True Person's platform and looked up. Three majestic, seemingly Dharma-bodied giant beings sat cross-legged above, their gazes fixed downwards, containing scrutiny, joyful relief... and... covetousness?

Wait... why was this gaze so lustful?

Shen Li shook his head and simply cupped his hands.

"Greetings, Grand Master Shenqian."

Shen Qian's ethereal voice came from above.

"You know me?"

Shen Li replied, "The Great True Person's Immortal Palace is formless, hidden in the clouds and mist, entering and exiting dangerous Azure Nether regions as if nothing. Hence the name Shen Qian."

The clouds and mist dispersed... Shen Qian's calm... but upon closer inspection, somewhat lewd face appeared before him.

At the same time, a middle-aged man and a beautiful woman holding a snake and scorpion also appeared in Shen Li's eyes.

The beautiful woman sized up Shen Li, then looked at Shen Qian... and said strangely.

"How strange. We're all from Qingchi Mountain. You old geezer are ugly and lewd, but this junior makes one feel like a bright moon, extraordinary and distinguished."

"Is this truly a Cultivator from your Qingchi Mountain?"

Shen Qian's mouth twitched, and he said testily.

"Alright, alright! The matter of the Yin Domain is over. The Yang Domain Immortal Master Celebration has reached its final stage and will begin in a few days. You two Fellow Daoists can rest up!"

"As for the rest... disperse."

"As per the Great True Person's decree."

The beautiful woman stretched lazily and gracefully descended, walking to Shen Li's side. Shen Li caught a waft of fragrant scent.

The poisonous snake Yao Beast flicked its tongue... with a hint of strangeness, causing a chill to rise in his heart.

"What a... good physique."

"Thank you for the Great True Person's praise."

"Heh."

The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving only two people in the Immortal Palace.

Shen Qian looked at the junior before him, slowly nodded, and gestured.

"Sit."

The two sat down, and Shen Qian said indifferently.

"Do you harbor resentment in your heart?"

Shen Li did not hide it.

"Mostly just the helplessness of life and death not being in one's own hands."

Shen Qian nodded. If this matter wasn't clarified, a rift would appear. From the current situation, although the Wang Family held more weight,

under the inheritance of a single lineage, the future situation would have myriad changes.

The Dao Foundation Shen Li had forged was extraordinary. Forged by combining the yin five spirit pearls and based on the moon laurel treasure tree... the Divine Abilities that could be derived would certainly be extraordinary.

Even more precious was that... Shen Li had cut down his Heart Demon, and had great potential in the Dao Foundation Realm.

And then in the Yang Domain... if Shen Qianqiu put in some effort and achieved Purple Mansion, sitting alongside him, the situation would reverse.

Therefore... it was necessary to appropriately resolve the rift.

However, he hadn't expected that Shen Li saw things so clearly...

What a 'helplessness of life and death not being in one's own hands'.

Clearly, this newly promoted Immortal Master had long since gained this realization, and the awareness of being a chess piece.

There was no need for him to waste more words.

Shen Qian merely said indifferently.

"Someone will come to your door to apologize in the future... After all, as an Immortal Master now, you are indeed entitled to this apology."

"Shen Li will just wait."

Shen Li was calm.

"Supreme Dao Foundation?" Shen Qian continued to ask.

Shen Li nodded, then suddenly shook his head.

"I feel the threshold... but I always feel like I'm missing a step, vaguely... it seems to be only a Half-step Supreme?"

"I was just about to ask the Great True Person for guidance."

Shen Qian suddenly understood, with a hint of envy in his eyes. He seemed to recall something and sighed, saying.

"Back then... I forged a Medium Grade Dao Foundation, which resulted in me becoming a Purple Mansion, but my combat strength was much weaker. If it weren't for my bizarre Divine Abilities, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have my current status."

"The Great True Person is too modest."

Shen Qian shook his head and did not explain much, saying.

"Dao Foundations are divided into High, Medium, and Low Grades. Of course, this refers to the quality of commonly forged Dao Foundations."

"Low Grade Dao Foundation: Formed by taking a ninth-rank heaven and earth treasure, barely establishing a Foundation. The Divine Abilities derived from weak heaven and earth treasures are incomplete and weak in power... Most Loose Cultivators in the world fall into this category, having the dignity of an Immortal Master but lacking the might of an Immortal Master."

"Medium Grade Dao Foundation: Formed by taking two ninth-rank heaven and earth treasures, or one eighth-rank and one ninth-rank combined. Divine Abilities derived are acceptable, and combat strength is acceptable. Mediocre."

"High Grade Dao Foundation: Formed by taking eighth-rank or even higher-grade heaven and earth treasures. Divine Abilities derived are complete and conform to one's own affinity, with powerful might. These are the mainstays of many Immortal Sects, capable of guarding a region."

"Above that, there is Peerless Grade... Peerless Grade Dao Foundation is forged using the five spirit pearls... such heaven and earth treasures, or seventh-rank treasures, or pure affinity objects. They combine with the strongest of a single Five Elements Spiritual Vein affinity, which can greatly enhance combat strength. Using Five Elements spells provides an immense amplification.

And the derived Five Elements Divine Ability is even more terrifying.

"Generally speaking, this is the upper limit that ordinary Immortal Clans and Immortal Sects can imagine."

"Let's not talk about the true inheritances of powerful Immortal Sects for now, they are too distant."

"Just speaking of the present... the Half-step Supreme you forged.....

This Half-step Supreme, presumably, integrated the endless cycle of the Five Elements Perfection, and also obtained a Taiyin object, taking the rare and mysterious Dao of the Taiyin Dao Lineage. And the yin five spirit pearls are gentle... which also aligns well with the Taiyin Dao Lineage,

thus forcefully ascending half a step."

"It's just a pity that Qingchi Mountain searched for who knows how long and only obtained six spirit pearls... and then used Great Arts to divide them into Yin and Yang. The violent Yang type was given to the Foundation Establishment True Person, and the gentle Yin type was given to Qi Refining Cultivators."

"Otherwise, if given to a single person, it could also create a Supreme Dao Foundation."

Shen Li, however, interjected, saying.

"It's just that this is impossible...."

Shen Qian smiled slightly.

"Naturally, it's impossible."

Shen Li then asked another question.

"I would also like to ask the Great True Person about cultivation in the Dao Foundation Realm... and the derivation of Divine Abilities."

Shen Qian organized his words and said in a deep voice.

"Dao Foundation cultivation is not much different from Qi Refining, it's just that the heaven and earth treasures sought are rarer, of higher quality, and more unique."

"Once you find heaven and earth treasures that match your affinity, you can continue to derive Divine Abilities. The choice of Divine Abilities truly depends on your own will and the path you choose."

"When you reach five Divine Abilities... you can achieve Dao Foundation Perfection. Of course, five Divine Abilities are not the upper limit..."

"The more Divine Abilities, the better?" Shen Li asked curiously.

Shen Qian merely smiled and said.

"I only said that the more Divine Abilities, the more means you have, I didn't say anything else."

"There's another aspect... the more powerful the Divine Ability, the more the Heart Demon covets it... Of course, you don't need to worry about this aspect."

"As for the most important... it's the concept and derivation of 'Divine Ability'."