11: Chapter 11 Preaching and Instruction!

The back mountain, the entrance to the Spiritual Vein.

Five-year-old Sun Mao and four-year-old Sun Yao stood side by side.

The two held hands, their legs trembling.

Ten paces ahead lay a black bear over ten feet long. Its black fur was thick, sharp claws protruded from its paw pads, and its breathing brought forth a heavy, dull sound.

To two young children, this scene was incredibly oppressive.

Sun Boan had retreated after bringing them here, not even daring to look back.

Shi Jian opened his eyes, his gaze falling upon the two little sprouts. He did not release the pressure of a Foundation Establishment Great Yao; instead, he deliberately restrained his aura, suppressing that violent demonic power deep within his Dantian.

“Afraid of me?” Shi Jian spoke, his voice deep, deliberately slowing his speech.

Sun Yao's eyes reddened, and her mouth puckered as if she were about to burst into tears.

Shi Jian lifted a front paw, the tip of a claw lightly flicking two golden-yellow pastries out from the Storage Pouch beside him...

This was the Spirit Honey Cake he had asked Sun Boan to prepare in advance, made by steaming spirit rice mixed with the honey of First-Grade Low-Grade Spirit Bees.

For children, it was immensely beneficial, having the miraculous effect of stabilizing the Foundation and nourishing the body.

“Come here. Eat.” Shi Jian pushed the pastries in front of the two.

Young children have almost zero resistance to sweets. The sweet fragrance of the pastries wafted directly into their noses. Sun Mao was a bit bolder.

Swallowing his saliva, he tentatively stepped forward, picked up a piece, and took a large bite.

His eyes lit up instantly, and he turned to stuff the other piece into Sun Yao's hand.

Shi Jian watched them finish eating before slowly sitting up.

“From today on, you two will Cultivate here,” Shi Jian said casually, without any of the high-and-mighty airs of a Human Race elder.

Instead, he had the posture of an elder passing on the Dao.

“Old Ancestor...” Sun Mao gathered his courage to speak, his voice childish: “Grandpa said that to Cultivate immortality, one must sever mortal ties and have few desires. Is that true?”

Shi Jian let out a scoff.

“Bullshit.” He spat out those two words, saying simply and crudely: “If you can't even protect your own Family or eat a decent meal, what kind of immortal are you trying to become?”

Sun Mao was stunned. This was completely different from what his grandfather had taught him.

“Cultivating is for living better, so that no one can step on your heads.” Shi Jian extended his massive bear head, leaning close to the two:

“Remember, you are members of the Sun Clan and my juniors. If anyone dares to bully you in the future, I, your Old Ancestor, will swat them to death for you!”

These words were blunt and crude, yet they carried an absolute sense of protection.

The fear in the two children's eyes vanished completely, replaced by a strange sense of security within their young minds.

In just a few sentences, the image of “Old Ancestor Shi Jian” had transformed from a terrifying Yao Beast into an indestructible backer.

“Now, sit cross-legged.” Shi Jian gave the command.

The two immediately complied.

Shi Jian did not explain the meridian theories within the Thick Earth Essence Cultivation Art to them. Instead, he used the most instinctive perception of the Yao Race to break down the complex Cultivation Technique into plain language.

“Spiritual Qi is meat, and Meridians are the tunnels.”

Shi Jian extended a sharp claw tip, lightly tapping Sun Mao's forehead: “Swallow the meat, let it travel through the tunnels once, digest it, and it will become your own strength.”

“Don't worry about the nature of the Heavenly Dao; only what you hold in your hand is real.”

A trace of pure and gentle demonic power entered Sun Mao's body through the claw tip, forcibly opening a basic spiritual energy circulation route for him.

Sun Mao's whole body jolted, and he immediately felt the free-floating Spiritual Qi in the air.

Next was Sun Yao.

Shi Jian's method was extremely extravagant. When Human Race elders teach juniors, they mostly recite the Mind-Cultivation Technique and let them comprehend it on their own.

Who would be like Shi Jian, directly consuming their own cultivation to widen the Meridians of two young children with no Foundation at all?

But Shi Jian didn't care about this small loss; what he wanted was absolute loyalty and efficiency.

Moreover, the two children were young. Humans generally only officially begin to learn the Dao and Cultivate after the age of six. Shi Jian's actions were also intended to let the two children Cultivate early...

Thereby saving time and gaining an extra sliver of a chance for Foundation Establishment.

Half a month later.

Sun Mao and Sun Yao successfully drew Qi into their bodies one after another, stepping into the First Level of Qi Refining.

Sun Boan stood thirty feet away, looking at the two children who were emitting a faint spiritual glow, his face full of shock. Drawing Qi into the body in just half a month!

Back then, he had taken a full two months and was still hailed as a rare Genius of the Third Branch!

“Old Ancestor's methods are divine!” Sun Boan knelt and kowtowed, his voice filled with fanaticism.

“Enough nonsense.” Shi Jian lay on the giant rock, not even lifting an eyelid. “Go into the city and find five black puppies that are a month old. I want local dogs with large frames and fierce eyes. Bring them here within half an hour.”

Sun Boan was full of doubt but did not dare to ask more, immediately getting up to do as told.

Half an hour later, five small black dogs that had not been weaned for long were packed in a large bamboo basket and delivered to the back mountain.

Shi Jian dismissed Sun Boan, leaving only Sun Mao and Sun Yao.

He stood up and walked to the bamboo basket.

The five little black dogs huddled in the corner, shivering, not even daring to whimper.

Shi Jian called up the System light screen in his mind.

[Enlightenment]: 5

“Confirm use.”

Shi Jian tapped five times toward the bamboo basket. Five invisible ripples surged from his body, accurately sinking into the bodies of the five black dogs.

A sudden change occurred.

The bones of the five little black dogs emitted a series of rapid pops, and their sizes expanded by a visible margin. Their originally soft puppy fur fell off rapidly, replaced by new black fur as hard and shiny as steel needles.

Their limbs became thick and strong, their claws and teeth became sharp, and more importantly, their eyes!

The originally cloudy and ignorant animal nature receded, replaced by a hint of clarity and intelligence.

They had gained sapience, directly crossing the most difficult threshold for a beast and possessing the prototype of a Level 1 Yao Beast.

The five black dogs climbed out of the bamboo basket in unison and prostrated themselves before Shi Jian, letting out low whimpers from their throats to show absolute submission.

Sun Mao and Sun Yao watched in a daze.

“Pick one.”

Shi Jian turned to look at the two children, his voice as calm as water:

“From now on, this will be your Dao-Protecting Hound.”

“They eat spirit rice and breathe Spiritual Qi; they can understand your words. You are responsible for raising them, and they are responsible for protecting your lives.”

Sun Yao's eyes were full of joy as she ran forward and picked up a slightly smaller black dog.

The black dog not only didn't resist but instead obediently licked the back of her hand. The little fellow looked incredibly cute...

Sun Mao picked the one with the largest frame. His small hands stroked the black dog's hard fur, his face flushed with excitement as he danced with joy.

“The remaining three will stay here for breeding, serving as the Foundation for your Sun Clan.” Shi Jian transmitted his voice to Sun Boan in the distance.

Sun Boan came running over, stumbling as he went. Looking at the five black dogs emitting faint ripples of Demonic Qi, his mind went blank.

Enlightening ordinary beasts!

What kind of divine method was this?

Sun Boan, a mere Qi Refining Cultivator with a narrow and limited perspective, naturally couldn't see through it and only assumed it was some kind of Divine Ability of Shi Jian's.

Though he didn't understand it, he was greatly shocked, and his heart became increasingly submissive.

“The Old Ancestor's grace is something the Sun Clan cannot repay even with ten thousand deaths!” Sun Boan kowtowed heavily, his forehead hitting the rock and oozing a bit of blood.

He no longer had any of the initial fear or calculation toward Shi Jian; only pure awe and unwavering loyalty remained.

Regardless, with an Old Ancestor of such great Divine Ability presiding, why should his Sun Clan worry about not being able to dominate Hongtian City? Why should they worry about not being able to leave this remote place?

Even if he were a servant, he would have an infinite future!

“Get lost and do your work. Don't be an eyesore here.”

Shi Jian waved a claw with an impatient look. Sun Boan shrunk his neck and retreated with the remaining three black dogs and the two children.

Tranquility returned to the back mountain.

Night fell.

Shi Jian lay on the giant rock, swallowing and exhaling the Spiritual Qi surging from the Spiritual Vein. He could clearly feel that the entire Sun Clan was gradually becoming devoted to him.

The reliance of the new generation and the awe of Sun Boan wove together into a tight net.

He was no longer an outside parasite but had truly become the totem of this Family, even their most respected Old Ancestor.

In his Dantian, the barrier of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage that had troubled him for two years emitted a crisp cracking sound. Violent spiritual power surged through his Meridians, and his strength rose steadily...

After years of bitter cultivation, he finally broke through in a single moment!

The Foundation Establishment Middle Stage was achieved!