"This is great news. I'd like to bask in the glory too."
Wei Zongjin replied with a smile. As he spoke, his gaze swept across Yun Xi. The arrogance and pride that had clung to him earlier were now completely withdrawn. The truth was undeniable—Yun Xi was simply stronger than him.
Not wanting the atmosphere to grow tense, Wei Zonghao quickly changed the subject. "How long has Zongyu been in seclusion?"
"He's been closed off for ten days. This time, he's aiming to break through to the eighth layer of Qi Refining."
"Then he's not far from the ninth."
Wei Zonghao was genuinely happy for his cousin. Among the Wei family's boys, he had the best relationship with the reserved Wei Zongyu. Zongyu had always intended to walk the path of the sword, and his cultivation was by far the most diligent—so much so that Zonghao often felt ashamed in comparison.
As the group conversed, Wei Zonghan and Wei Yunting arrived at the courtyard gate.
The first person they spotted was Wei Zonghao. They had noticed the disturbance caused by a recent lightning tribulation but hadn't expected it to be their younger brother forming his Foundation. It wasn't until they received a message from Zonghao that they hurried over.
As Zonghao turned to greet them, Yun Xi's figure also entered their sight. Her Inner Sect disciple robe caught them both off guard, leaving them momentarily stunned.
Wei Yunting spoke up.
"Yun Xi, you advanced too?"
Yun Xi smiled, dimples forming on her cheeks. "Yes! I was lucky enough to have a moment of clarity on the way back to the sect. That insight allowed me to smoothly advance."
Wei Zonghan forced a complex expression into a polite congratulation. They had all joined the sect together, and back then, he and Yun Xi were among the strongest of the group. Now, both his younger brother and sister had surpassed him. The disparity left a bitter taste.
Yun Xi spread out her divine sense, catching every flicker of discomfort on their faces. She saw their unease but merely curled her lips slightly and pretended not to notice.
That's the nature of cultivation—like sailing against the current. If you don't move forward, you fall behind. As you push ahead, so do others. No one waits in place for you.
A moment later, Wei Yuying sent a transmission talisman, explaining that she was still out on a sect mission and wouldn't make it back in time. She told everyone to go ahead and celebrate without her.
Wei Yunqing was the last to arrive. Her cultivation had already reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining. She had come to see Wei Zonghao to offer her congratulations, maintain her ties with her kin, and to share some personal news: she had finally earned a Foundation Establishment Pill and was preparing to advance.
She had always considered herself the most talented among the eight of them. Being outdone by Zonghao already left her fuming. There was no way she would settle for third. She was determined to take second place—though that dream was about to be crushed.
When she first laid eyes on Wei Zonghao, her face wore a smile. But the moment she saw the Inner Sect robe on Yun Xi, her whole expression twisted. Even her voice cracked as she nearly barked out:
"How could you possibly form your Foundation?"
Yun Xi had been waiting for this moment. Her smile was faint but firm.
"And why couldn't I? Does advancement have to go in order of age?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the pressure of a mid-Foundation stage cultivator surged toward Wei Yunqing, forcing her down on one knee.
Yun Xi stepped forward slowly, circling Wei Yunqing like a cat playing with a cornered mouse, then said with a cheerful voice:
"Sister Yunqing, not only did I form my Foundation, I'm already at mid-stage. While I was out cultivating, I had a sudden epiphany and jumped straight to mid-Foundation. Would you say my luck is good?"
She had no intention of withdrawing her coercion. She wanted to crush Wei Yunqing's self-confidence. Once might not be enough, but twice? Three times? Everyone has a breaking point.
Wei Yunqing gritted her teeth, trying to rise, but couldn't. It was her first time experiencing so clearly the chasm between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment.
Watching Wei Yunqing's distorted face brought Yun Xi a deep sense of satisfaction. She continued, voice light but sharp:
"Sister Yunqing, you'd better work harder. Cultivation isn't just about aptitude—it's also about perception and dedication. Brother Zonghao and I both have three spiritual roots, yet we advanced before you. That alone should tell you something.
We're all siblings of the Wei family. None of us are inherently lesser than the others. Don't keep looking down on everyone else. The sect is full of talented disciples. No one is going to coddle you. After all this time, haven't you figured that out?"
As Yun Xi spoke, neither Wei Yunting nor Wei Zonghan tried to stop her. In fact, they silently agreed. Among them, Wei Yunqing had the best natural talent. And yet, the two with average roots had entered the Inner Sect before her.
From that day forward, Wei Yunting, Wei Zonghao, and Wei Zongjin all pushed themselves even harder in their cultivation. Yun Xi's words had taken root: talent doesn't determine everything. Though they couldn't match her speed, each began paving their own steady path.
Only when Yun Xi saw the fury in Wei Yunqing's eyes ready to spill out did she finally withdraw her spiritual coercion. Then she calmly walked back to stand beside Wei Zonghao.
Wei Yunting sighed quietly and stepped in to smooth things over.
"We're all family. No need to make a spectacle for outsiders."
Freed from the crushing pressure, Wei Yunqing staggered to her feet. She sneered.
"Hmph. Wei Yunting, don't play the peacemaker here. You're only sucking up to her because she's in the Inner Sect now. As if she even cares. You'll regret it one day."
With that, she flung her sleeve, turned, and stormed out of the courtyard.
She swore she wouldn't see the Wei family again until she formed her Foundation. At that moment, she was utterly consumed by jealousy. Why did it have to be Wei Yunxi? Anyone else and she could have endured it. But not her.
Wei Yunting's expression soured. She had only wanted to ease the tension, but Wei Yunqing had thrown it back in her face.
Yun Xi remained calm, her tone light.
"Sister Yunting, don't take it to heart. Yunqing's always been like this, never allowing others to surpass her. After my mother passed, she even rushed to Zhuohua Courtyard to snatch what my mother left behind. I had no choice but to take refuge at my maternal uncle's place.
Even after entering the sect, I never dared carry my mother's items with me. Not just to keep her from coveting them, but also to avoid giving her anything she could use against me.
You all heard her today. She didn't even pretend. The first thing out of her mouth was: 'How could you possibly form your Foundation?' Just because my aptitude is lower, I'm not allowed to surpass her? What kind of logic is that?"
The others exchanged glances. They now understood that the rift between these sisters couldn't be mended. But Yun Xi wasn't wrong—lower aptitude didn't mean slower cultivation. She and Wei Zonghao were living proof. No wonder Yunqing looked like she'd been struck in the gut.
"Yun Xi, we get it. From now on, we'll just focus on our own cultivation."
Yun Xi's eyes sparkled. She smiled and sweetened the pot:
"Sister Yunting, Brother Zonghan, Brother Zongjin, I've been improving my alchemy skills since forming my Foundation. As long as you can gather the spiritual herbs needed for the Foundation Establishment Pill, I'll refine it for free. I promise to produce at least a mid-grade pill. And if I can't, I'll use my own spirit stones to buy you a high-grade one."
The three of them lit up at her offer. Compared to trading with the sect, gathering the ingredients themselves and entrusting someone reliable to refine the pill was far more cost-effective. Yun Xi's promise made their path clearer. Each of them cupped their hands and thanked her, vowing to prepare three sets of ingredients before approaching her for the refinement.
In the world of cultivation, when requesting a pill from an alchemist, it was standard to provide three sets of ingredients. The alchemist was expected to deliver at least one complete pill. Failure to do so would ruin their reputation.