Oohhh...

Xu Shan's eyes widened in realization.

No wonder he was a bit hostile when they first met... So he was afraid I'd compete with him for his junior sister.

This guy really overthinks things...

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But he still had to answer.

Though he didn't have a Dao companion in this life, he was a veteran in his past one!

After all, he'd be cultivating alongside Lu Xiangjun in the future. It was never a bad idea to be on good terms.

Xu Shan smiled slightly. "Senior Brother, you've come to the right person. I've done quite a bit of research on this topic."

"Quick, tell me!" Lu Xiangjun said eagerly.

"How do you usually treat this senior sister of yours?"

"Well... I'm always doting on her, giving her cultivation techniques and pills. I've been doing it for two years, but she hasn't shown any interest. She won't even let me hold her hand," Lu Xiangjun lamented.

"The more you give her, the worse it gets! She's just stringing you along! You can't just be a simp!" Xu Shan said with conviction.

*I can't believe there are gold diggers in the Cultivation World too. And Senior Brother Lu is so damn innocent.*

"Simp? What does that mean? I haven't even held her hand, Senior Brother. How could I... lick anything?" Lu Xiangjun looked indignant.

"Um... it's not literal licking. It means trying to please someone without any principles or limits," Xu Shan couldn't help but give him a sidelong glance.

"People are just like that! If you're always nice to her, she'll think it's normal. So from now on, you can't do that anymore. You have to do the exact opposite."

"How do I do the exact opposite?" Lu Xiangjun asked curiously.

"Put her down! Crush her completely, from your words to your cultivation level. Show her your strength and conquer her! People are drawn to the strong. The more you try to please her and show weakness, the more others will look down on you. Only by making her realize you're the strong one will she possibly fall for you."

"You're right!" Lu Xiangjun slapped his thigh, looking as if he'd just had an epiphany. "How did I not think of such a simple principle! I'll go try it later."

Xu Shan chuckled and asked, "Senior Brother, aren't we cultivators supposed to be free of worldly desires? Why are you so persistent in pursuing a cultivation partner?"

"Cultivators being free of worldly desires? That's just something mortals made up," Lu Xiangjun said, waving his hand dismissively. "It's not wrong to say we pursue it, but we only emphasize it because it's so hard to achieve."

"You'll understand once you break through to Foundation Establishment. That kind of complete transformation will cause both your body and spirit to evolve, and all your desires will grow along with it! The higher your realm, the stronger your desires!"

"That's why we have to pursue a pure heart and fewer desires. Once your Dao heart loses control, you'll go to extremes and fall into the demonic path."

Xu Shan said, "Then may I ask, Senior Brother, is there anything I should be aware of when preparing to break through to Foundation Establishment? For example, will I encounter problems like inner demons?"

"Not at all." Lu Xiangjun shook his head. "Not at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Once you take the Foundation Establishment Pill, let its medicinal power spread until it reaches its peak, and then, with your own foundation, just let the spiritual energy roam freely through your body. You'll break through. The process will be a bit painful, though. You must stay conscious, or all your efforts will be for naught."

"Also, find a small river far away from people to make your breakthrough. There's a river on the back mountain; that's the most suitable place."

A small river?

Xu Shan asked, stunned, "Is it because my body will expel impurities and such?"

"Yes. Every breakthrough is equivalent to a body purification. The process of cleansing your meridians and marrow can be a bit... unsightly."

*Heh, the classic 'pooping through your pores'!*

Having read countless web novels, Xu Shan was intimately familiar with this trope.

I can't believe this classic trope is actually real!

Xu Shan stroked his chin and said, "So... if I'm holding in a poop before the breakthrough, will I still need to go after?"

"Huh!?"

Lu Xiangjun's expression twisted as if he'd been struck by lightning. Xu Shan's train of thought had completely scrambled his brain.

But he couldn't help but start thinking about it...

Apparently, some things were better left unexamined. Lu Xiangjun's face gradually turned pale.

"You should probably... empty your bowels before you break through..."

"Ah..."

The two of them fell silent at the same time.

"Senior Brother Lu, is this a new junior brother?" As the two stood in silence, a gentle female voice spoke up.

Xu Shan looked up to see a sweet-looking female cultivator standing gracefully not far away.

He immediately greeted her, "I am Xu Shan. I just joined the Inner Sect today. Greetings, Senior Sister. May I ask your name?"

"Li Ting." The female cultivator smiled, her eyes curving into two crescents. "Xu Shan... you were the one shouting at the sect gate earlier, right?"

*Li Ting... What a coincidence. So this is the cultivation partner Senior Brother Lu is pursuing? He has good taste.*

"So it's Senior Sister Li Ting..."

"Go on, go on, this has nothing to do with you. I'm showing our junior brother around. If you have something to do, go do it." Before Xu Shan could finish, Lu Xiangjun waved her away dismissively.

A look of confusion immediately appeared in Li Ting's beautiful eyes.

Senior Brother Lu had never spoken to her with such an attitude before. What was wrong with him today?

"Senior Brother Lu, are you alright?"

"How many times do I have to say it! Just go!" Lu Xiangjun said impatiently.

*The simp has turned on his master!*

Li Ting's pretty face darkened, and she immediately turned and left without a second glance.

Standing to the side, Xu Shan hesitated. "Actually, you don't have to go that far with the 'putting her down' thing..."

"It's not about putting her down. Senior Brother... I don't think I like women anymore." Lu Xiangjun looked at Xu Shan, his face devoid of expression.

A visible shadow fell over his face. Clearly, the concept of Foundation Establishment and meridian cleansing had taken on a whole new meaning in his mind...

"Let's go, Junior Brother. If you're not in a hurry to get to your residence, I'll take you to the Scripture Pavilion to choose a cultivation technique first."

Lu Xiangjun started walking, and Xu Shan sighed softly.

*Maybe I shouldn't have been so damn curious. It's pretty disgusting when you think about it.*

...

The scenery in the Inner Sect was serene. After passing through a few lush green paths, an ancient, three-story pagoda appeared before Xu Shan's eyes.

The pagoda covered a vast area, with a plaque above its entrance bearing the words "Scripture Pavilion".

Occasionally, one or two people would walk out, their heads lowered in deep thought.

"This is the Scripture Pavilion." The two stood at the entrance. Lu Xiangjun said, "You don't need to pick the Sword Control Technique; everyone in the Inner Sect knows it. Elder Sun, who guards this pavilion, will recommend a technique based on your aptitude. Don't try to get creative; just listen to him and you can't go wrong."

Xu Shan cupped his fist in thanks and turned to enter the Scripture Pavilion.

As soon as he entered the Scripture Pavilion, he was struck by a feeling of immense openness.

The pavilion had three floors with a hollow center. Each floor had an extremely high ceiling, and the shelves were packed with countless books and a small number of jade slips.

Ever since joining the sect, Xu Shan had often heard that the Xinglan Sect was very small.

He never expected this place to be so magnificent, with such a vast collection of books.

As expected of the sect's most crucial location. It seemed they had some deep foundations after all.

In the center of the main hall was a long table, with a single elder sitting behind it, reading a scroll without looking up.

Xu Shan walked straight up to him. "Disciple Xu Shan pays his respects to Elder Sun. I have just entered the Inner Sect and have come to select a cultivation technique."

The elder looked up. "Oh, so you're the Xu Shan who defeated the trial doppelgänger? I have heard about you."

"According to the rules, you may choose any of the cultivation techniques and jade slips in this pavilion. However, it's best to choose one that's suitable. Do you need me to offer some advice?"

"Then I thank you, Elder Sun."

Elder Sun nodded, took a round, white jade disc from his Qiankun Bag, and placed it on the table. "Place your hand on it."

Xu Shan recognized this jade disc. It was the magical artifact used to test his aptitude when he first joined the sect.

Xu Shan placed his hand on the disc. It immediately emitted a faint white light, mixed with a thin wisp of red.

"A Fire Spiritual Root, low-grade?" Elder Sun raised an eyebrow, a look of surprise in his eyes.

Xu Shan swallowed, smiling wryly in his heart.

It looked like he would have to do some explaining again.

He never thought his inferior aptitude could cause so much trouble.

...

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Proofreader: Peter Pan