Time flowed like water, and months drifted by in the blink of an eye.

It was a midsummer night. A gentle breeze swept through the streets, carrying a welcome coolness that chased away the lingering heat of the day’s scorching sun.

Yet, in an inconspicuous courtyard within the White Jade Market, the temperature remained high—fueled not by the sun, but by the roar of firecrackers and the raucous cheers of a celebration.

“Over here! Move those tables back a bit, don’t block the walkway! Yes, right there. And you, check the kitchen, make sure the next round is ready. Ah, Brother Zhang! Welcome, welcome!”

The man barking orders while simultaneously greeting guests was none other than Lu Xian.

Sweat beaded on his forehead as he directed a group of mortal servants scurrying about the courtyard. Today was a day of triumph for the older man, a chance to host friends and neighbors in style.

The occasion was simple but significant: the wedding of Lu Anchen and Xu Ruling.

The couple had been living together for months, husband and wife in all but name, but they had finally found the time to formalize their union.

Rows of large round tables filled the courtyard and spilled out towards the entrance. Lu Xian and his wife stood at the gate, beaming as they welcomed the stream of arrivals. In the back, hired chefs from a local restaurant worked alongside mortal helpers, sending clouds of savory steam into the night air.

Qin Lu, accompanied by Feng Xi, had arrived early.

It was his first time attending a traditional wedding in this world. He watched with keen interest, noting the similarities to the “flowing feasts” of his old village life—a continuous stream of food and guests that felt both chaotic and communal.

Before long, the rich aroma of braised meats filled the air. Servants emerged from the kitchen in a line, placing plates of exquisite delicacies onto the tables. Under Lu Xian’s enthusiastic hospitality, every seat was soon taken.

Qin Lu noted that many cultivators had brought their entire families, lending the event a rare, domestic vibrancy.

“I have to say, Old Lu really has a talent for this,” Gu Can remarked, clicking his tongue as he watched the host work the room. “In just a few months, he’s managed to befriend half the market.”

Qin Lu nodded in agreement.

The guest list was eclectic. Most were Lu Xian’s friends, but there were also Qian Li’s coworkers from the artifact shop and a rowdy group of dealers from Lu Anchen’s gambling den. Xu Ruling, the bride, seemed to have invited no one—a stark reminder of her isolated nature.

Watching Lu Xian laugh and clasp shoulders with a stranger, Qin Lu leaned in and whispered, “Where I come from, we’d call a man like him a ‘social butterfly.'”

Gu Can raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Social butterfly? Ha! It fits him perfectly.”

The table erupted in laughter, the tension of their cultivation lives dissolving into the easy banter of old friends. They sat at the “townsman table,” a collection of refugees who had fled Wuji Market together. The shared history made the wine taste better and the jokes land harder.

Midway through the feast, Lu Xian led Lu Anchen around for the traditional toasts.

The elder Lu spun a web of beautiful, polite words at every stop, elevating the mood and making every guest feel like a dignitary. The atmosphere reached a fever pitch of warmth and camaraderie.

When the eating and drinking finally wound down, the crowd boisterously escorted Lu Anchen to the bridal chamber. A group of young men led the charge, eager to tease the groom and cause a scene.

Qin Lu had no interest in such rowdy traditions. He bid a simple farewell to Lu Xian and escorted Feng Xi back to their estate.

However, his night was not over. After seeing Feng Xi safely inside, he turned and headed toward Gu Yue’s residence.

He had questions that could not wait.

Having confirmed with Gu Can that his sister was home, Qin Lu knocked on her courtyard gate. A servant announced him, and moments later, he was seated in the reception hall across from Gu Yue.

She looked as serene as ever, her eyes curving into a smile as she saw him.

“Shouldn’t you be at the wedding, drinking with the Lu family?” Gu Yue asked. “What brings you here so late?”

“The feast is over,” Qin Lu replied, taking a seat. “I came because I need your guidance on a cultivation matter.”

“Oh? What is it?”

Qin Lu’s expression turned serious. “I feel that I have reached the absolute peak of Qi Refining. My power is saturated, yet I cannot seem to find the threshold for Foundation Establishment. I wanted to ask… how did you manage to break through?”

His frustration was genuine.

For the past few weeks, he had cultivated relentlessly. A few days ago, his proficiency panel had hit 99 points. Based on his history, he expected it to tick over to 100 within forty-eight hours.

But five days had passed, and the number remained frozen at ninety-nine. It was a hard cap. The spiritual energy he absorbed during meditation seemed to dissipate, adding nothing to his reserves. It was as if he was pouring water into a full cup.

Gu Yue stared at him, stunned. “I knew your public cultivation level of Layer Eight was a disguise, but… you’re already at the Peak? So soon?”

She knew he had secrets, but this speed was monstrous. It far outstripped her own pace back in the day.

“I’ve been cultivating bitterly,” Qin Lu deflected with a laugh. “Hard work pays off.”

“Hard work?” Gu Yue gave him a skeptical look. “There are plenty of people who work harder than you and don’t see half your speed.”

“Heh…” Qin Lu waved it off. “Let’s focus on the breakthrough. How did you do it?”

Seeing he wouldn’t divulge his secrets, Gu Yue didn’t press. She pondered for a moment before looking up.

“Foundation Establishment is not merely about accumulating Qi,” she explained softly. “It requires a ‘Foundation Opportunity.’ You must perceive the workings of heaven and earth, sense the flow of the natural laws, and experience a moment of epiphany. Only then can the foundation be cast.”

Qin Lu frowned. “So, I just have to wait for this feeling to appear?”

“Correct. The Opportunity is mysterious and profound. It cannot be forced; it must be sensed. Some reach the peak and find it instantly. Others spend their entire lives at the peak without ever feeling it, eventually dying of old age as their Qi withers.”

“And you?” Qin Lu asked. “How long did it take you?”

“Me? Let me think… about half a year.”

“I see.” Qin Lu nodded slowly.

The system wasn’t broken; it was waiting for a trigger. The “99” wasn’t a wall, but a lock that required a specific key—the epiphany.

Gu Yue continued, her tone serious. “The Opportunity is elusive. It is often easier to find when you are immersed in nature, away from the interference of man. I advise you to do what I did: leave the market. Find a secluded place in the wilderness to meditate. The noisy, stagnant air of a cultivation market is the worst place to seek enlightenment.”

“I understand,” Qin Lu said, his eyes firm. “Thank you, Gu Yue.”

He stood up, his mind made up.

He would follow her advice. He would leave the safety of the White Jade Market, venture into the wilderness, and find the spark that would ignite his Foundation.