The cultivator with a bone age of sixty was the first to display his Dao Platform. He raised his palm, and above it, a faint yellow phantom of a Dao Platform slowly materialized. The color was pale and mottled, looking far from pure, but since it displayed one of the five elements' colors, it was undeniably an Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment.
Jiang Tingchuan nodded slightly. “Not bad. Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment, appearing to be between Tier-2 and Tier-3. Your foundation is fairly solid.”
Although this cultivator was somewhat advanced in bone age, achieving an Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment meant he had a chance at reaching the Golden Core Realm in the future—a true late bloomer. As such, passing the assessment and entering the academy would pose no problem for him.
Having estimated the approximate quality of the Dao Platform, Jiang Tingchuan flicked his sleeve and produced an artifact that resembled a long balance scale. Guided by Jiang Tingchuan, the Dao Platform floated onto the scale pan, causing the poise to slide automatically. Once the wooden beam reached equilibrium, a mark lit up on the scale. Glancing at it, he announced, “Tier-2 Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment.”
Among the three paths of Foundation Establishment—Heavenly, Earthly, and Mortal—most cultivators could only achieve the Mortal Dao. An Earthly Dao was already exceptionally rare. Back in Hengze Prefecture, Qin Qingmu, the young lady of the City Lord's Mansion who had returned after studying at Shiyan Academy, had only achieved Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment.
As for Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, it was far too ethereal and elusive. Even in Shiyan Academy, where geniuses from across the entire East Continent gathered, only a few dozen individuals in its entire history had ever achieved it.
Although this cultivator had only achieved a lower tier of Earthly Dao, he was already superior to the vast majority of people present.
Commotion erupted among the surrounding crowd.
“I only hope that when I achieve Foundation Establishment in the future, I can attain the Earthly Dao as well.”
“I've remained at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Realm for a long time, deliberately delaying my breakthrough just to find an opportunity for Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment after entering the academy...”
Signaling for the cultivator to stand to the side, Jiang Tingchuan glanced over the crowd and spoke neutrally, “Quiet.”
His spiritual energy surged outwards, sending a calm yet resonant voice clearly into everyone's ears. The clamor instantly ceased, and a quiet hush fell over the area.
“Next.”
The cultivator with a bone age of forty-six stepped forward, his throat bobbing nervously. He opened his palm to reveal his Dao Platform. It showed no trace of the five elements' colors; instead, it radiated a jade-white hue, though it was marred by a few impurities and could hardly be considered pure.
Jiang Tingchuan gave him an indifferent glance. “Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment, between Tier-7 and Tier-8.”
Measuring it with the scale artifact once more, the mark indeed settled on Tier-7 Mortal Dao.
For this cultivator to reach Foundation Establishment in his mid-forties, his speed was quite impressive. However, achieving only Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment—and at Tier-7, just barely scraping into the high-grade tier—drastically diminished his future potential. He paled in comparison to the previous applicant.
Quiet chatter broke out once again.
“What a pity. He was too impatient for success.”
“To reach the verge of Foundation Establishment by forty, his spiritual meridians couldn't have been bad. If he had spent two more years building his foundation, he might have achieved an Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment.”
“What's done is done; there's no point dwelling on it. Let's see the rest.”
After those two, the rest of the applicants revealed their Dao Platforms one after another.
“Tier-6 Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment.”
“Tier-9 Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment.”
“Tier-1 Earthly Dao Foundation Establishment.”
...
At this moment, many eyes turned to focus on Shi Yu, their minds swirling with wild speculation.
For this girl to step into Foundation Establishment at just twenty years old, her talent was nothing short of extraordinary. They couldn't help but wonder what astounding quality her Dao Platform would reveal when her turn arrived...
Clinging tightly to her brother's arm, He Lingling asked nervously, “Brother, what quality do you think Sister Ah Yu's Dao Platform is? Tier-5 Earthly Dao? Tier-9 Earthly Dao?? Could it even be... Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment!”
The more she guessed, the more excited she grew.
He Chiqiong gave a helpless smile. “I don't know either, but I imagine it won't be bad.”
Nearby, listening to their conversation, Su Luoyao thought to herself that nothing was guaranteed. However, after suffering several setbacks, and with Shi Yu's terrifying feat of reaching Foundation Establishment at age twenty, she did not dare speak aloud so casually. She merely curled her lip and muttered silently to herself.
Finally, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Jiang Tingchuan looked toward Shi Yu.
Knowing she couldn't escape this, Shi Yu braced herself and stepped forward, spreading her palm to urge the energy within her dantian.
Her keen divine sense picked up the innumerable gazes locked onto her. She sighed inwardly with helpless amusement. Fine, fine. Look all you want.
Above her open palm, a Dao Platform radiating a hazy, misty light slowly materialized. The crowded onlookers strained their necks, watching intently from the very first moment. Even the well-traveled Jiang Tingchuan revealed a rare look of anticipation.
Yet, when everyone clearly saw the color of her Dao Platform, the completely unexpected sight left them utterly speechless, and a dead silence spread across the field.
“?”
“...”
Everyone's expressions became a chaotic mix of bewilderment, shock, gloating, and disbelief—their faces looking like overturned paint palettes. Shi Yu pressed her temples, glancing over their reactions, finding the situation somewhat comical.
“...”
“Am I seeing things?”
Those standing further back couldn't see clearly. Sensing the strange atmosphere at the front, they urged anxiously, “How is it? What happened?”
Finally, someone spoke in a trembling, bewildered voice, “Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment... and... the absolute lowest tier of Mortal Dao...”
A colorless Dao Platform devoid of the five elements signified Mortal Dao Foundation Establishment, while a murky, mottled luster meant it was the worst possible grade within the Mortal Dao.
The twenty-year-old girl who had just astounded everyone with her Foundation Establishment cultivation had actually produced the lowest possible tier of Mortal Dao. The shock of this revelation crashed over the crowd like a massive wave, spreading rapidly from the front to the back, instantly plunging the area into a chaotic uproar.
“T-This is truly beyond anyone's expectations.”
“I wonder who taught her! To ruin such a fine seedling so completely!”
“Heh, maybe she was just short-sighted and only cared about gaining the title of a young genius.”
...
He Chiqiong and his group exchanged hesitant, bewildered glances, at a total loss for words.
“Could Miss Shi have been deceived by someone...?”
“Sigh, I wonder if there's any way to remedy this.”
Su Luoyao felt a wave of surprise, immediately followed by overwhelming satisfaction. She sneered softly, “Rogue cultivators are always so short-sighted. What good is great talent if you don't take the right path? Her cultivation journey ends right here.”
For once, He Lingling didn't argue back. She looked up at her brother, her eyes filled with concern. “Brother, Sister Ah Yu...”
Holding her hand, He Chiqiong gently shook his head. “Miss Shi is not a reckless person. Perhaps there is more to this than meets the eye.”
He let out a soft sigh. Regardless of the reasons or circumstances, establishing her foundation at the lowest tier of Mortal Dao meant she had lost all hope of ever reaching the Golden Core Realm. Su Luoyao's remark about her path ending here was by no means an exaggeration.
Over on the platform, Jiang Tingchuan snapped out of his shock, his expression turning into one of pure fury as he shouted, “Absurd!”
The sudden anger of a Golden Core expert unleashed a terrifying aura that expanded outward. Those standing closest felt their knees buckle, instantly collapsing to their knees.
Storming over to Shi Yu in a rage, he yelled furiously, “Who is your master?! Who taught you to establish your foundation like this?!”
He had always been a calm, unruffled cultivator who met everything with serenity, making his tightly furrowed brows and cold, furious gaze all the more terrifying.
Bearing the brunt of his rage, Shi Yu was enveloped by the crushing pressure, letting out a muffled groan as she stumbled back two paces.
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