Within the Star Pivot Hall, the flowing light of the runes, which had originally cascaded down like a waterfall, gradually stilled, transforming into a backdrop of scattered stars. Only a few faint points of light remained, flickering at the fingertips of Xuanheng Zhenren. The grand hall was vast and empty, so quiet one could hear the faint hum of starlight swirling.

Xuanheng Zhenren gestured for Su Ming to sit on the meditation cushion beside him. He did not adopt the stern demeanor of a strict teacher. His eyes, which seemed to penetrate worldly affairs, rested gently on Su Ming.

"Su Ming, are you aware that Elder Ma from the External Affairs Hall once specially wrote a letter of recommendation for you to me?"

Su Ming had just settled into his seat. Hearing this, his back stiffened slightly. He then lowered his gaze and replied respectfully, "This disciple was unaware."

Although he hadn't known, a warm current surged in his heart. That seemingly stern yet secretly protective old man, before entering his life-or-death seclusion, had actually paved such a sky-reaching path for him.

Xuanheng Zhenren lightly flicked his sleeve. A line of pale golden characters materialized in mid-air. It was Elder Ma's handwriting, vigorous and forceful, yet conveying a sense of resolute entrustment.

"This youth's temperament is as deep as an ancient well, his talent in formations exceptional. Yet, his Dao foundation is damaged, a bright pearl covered in dust. If given the chance for repair, he will surely become a pillar of the sect. I hope Senior Brother will take note."

After reciting it, Xuanheng waved his hand, dispersing the characters. His gaze sharpened by several degrees, as if wanting to peel back Su Ming's skin and see through his very bones and blood. "You desperately accumulated military merit on the northern border, was it for the 'Earth Vein Spirit Milk' that costs fifty thousand military merit to exchange?"

Though phrased as a question, his tone was definitive.

Su Ming did not look up. His hands resting on his knees instinctively clenched, then loosened again. He quickly weighed the situation in his heart. Before such a mighty figure, any lie would appear pale and foolish.

"Yes." Su Ming's voice was calm, not panicked at having his intentions seen through. "This disciple's Dao foundation is damaged. Without the Earth Vein Spirit Milk, there is no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in this lifetime. This disciple wishes to live a little longer, to see the scenery from higher places."

"Honest."

Xuanheng nodded, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes. "Cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao is, by nature, defying heaven to contend for life. Having desires is what leads to achievements. The Earth Vein Spirit Milk is indeed a sacred item for repairing Dao foundation damage. It is born deep within the earth veins, containing the earth's profound virtue of carrying and nurturing all things. For you, it is sufficient to cleanse those fine, fragmented cracks, solidify your foundation, and assist you in cultivating unimpeded all the way to the Golden Core stage."

Su Ming abruptly raised his head, unable to suppress a flash of joy in his eyes. This was authoritative confirmation, the ultimate answer he had risked his life for over the past two years, treading on thin ice.

However, before this joy could fully spread in his eyes, Xuanheng Zhenren's tone suddenly shifted.

"However, its efficacy also stops there."

Su Ming's heart gave a lurch, as if someone had poured a basin of ice water over his head. The smile at the corner of his mouth froze. "Master, what do you mean by that?"

Within his Consciousness Sea, Lin Yu's previously lounging, cross-legged phantom sat up straight.

Xuanheng Zhenren stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and paced over to that waterfall of starlight. With his back to Su Ming, his voice drifted over, faint and distant. "Su Ming, since you are proficient in the art of repair, you should know that if porcelain shatters, even if repaired with gold lacquer—a technique called 'kintsugi'—making it regain its luster, even becoming more robust than the original, it... is it still the original porcelain?"

Su Ming was silent for a moment before replying hoarsely, "Although the cracks are joined, its essence has changed."

"Exactly."

Xuanheng turned around. His gaze was profound, as if piercing through Su Ming, looking toward the distant, unreachable end of the Great Dao. "Damage to the Dao foundation is like cracks in a jade disc. The Earth Vein Spirit Milk can act like kintsugi, mending the cracks, preventing the jade disc from shattering. For Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, this 'kintsugi' repair may even be more resilient, posing no obstacle to cultivation."

He paused, his voice growing heavier. "But breaking through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul marks the beginning of a cultivator's complete rebirth, the thorough transformation of both soul and physical body. It is a process from 'flawed' to 'leakless,' and then to 'perfectly unified.' At that moment, under the Heavenly Tribulation, even the slightest stagnation in spiritual energy circulation will be infinitely magnified."

"Condensing a Nascent Soul on a 'repaired' foundation is like pouring mercury into a porcelain vessel full of cracks. Normally, it's fine. But once under pressure... not only will it shatter, it will explode into smithereens."

"The success rate is less than one in ten. Even if one succeeds by sheer luck, the quality of the Nascent Soul will be damaged, forever stuck at the early Nascent Soul stage, with no further progress. This is common knowledge in the cultivation world. That's why Elder Ma, and even I, could only sigh and say 'what a pity.'"

A deathly silence fell over the grand hall.

Su Ming felt his throat go dry. A profound sense of powerlessness rose from the soles of his feet.

The Golden Core stage was, for countless low-level cultivators, an existence akin to a Terrestrial Immortal. If it were Su Ming from two years ago, hearing he could steadily cultivate to Golden Core, he would probably be so happy he couldn't sleep.

But this wasn't just about a realm. It was about the severing of a possibility. It was like being told that after running with all your might, the finish line had long been drawn halfway up the mountain. The scenery at the summit, you could never reach.

"Master..." Su Ming called out in his heart.

"Don't panic." Lin Yu's voice, though also somewhat low, still carried a stubborn, unyielding energy. "Since this guy pierced through this layer of window paper, it definitely wasn't to crush you. Otherwise, why would he accept you as a True Disciple? To be a mascot?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Sure enough, looking at Su Ming's instantly pale yet not collapsed expression, the appreciation in Xuanheng's eyes grew even stronger.

"I had long intended to take you as my disciple."

Xuanheng did not continue the heavy topic, instead speaking casually as if making small talk. "What you did at the Repair Hall, Luo Feng often spoke to me about. Your ability to 'simplify complexity, establish rules, create systems,' that talent for organizing countless trivial, inefficient processes into perfect order, is precisely what Formation Peak, and even the sect, currently lacks the most. Formation Peak has plenty of dazzlingly talented geniuses, but it lacks a 'craftsman' who can ground the ingenious ideas of those geniuses."

He shook his head slightly with a bitter smile. "Therefore, I allowed Luo Feng to frequently seek you out, and even had Qin Yi observe you more closely when he met you at Spirit Beast Peak. I originally planned to formally accept you into my tutelage after you reached Foundation Establishment. Who would have thought that Junior Brother Qingquan, that straightforward fellow, with his love for talent, would actually speak up first, wanting to take you as a Nominal Disciple."

Su Ming was taken aback. The image of that Elder Qingquan, who had given him the "Eight Gates Lost Trace Incomplete Formation" test at the Listening to Waves Pavilion, surfaced in his mind.

"As the master of a peak, and his senior brother, it would be improper for me to compete with my own junior brother for a person. I thought our master-disciple fate had ended, and could only let you go cultivate at the Listening to Waves Pavilion."

Xuanheng looked at Su Ming, a peculiar smile appearing in his eyes. "Unexpectedly, the battle at the northern border brought a sudden turn of events. Not only did you return alive, but you also brought back the 'Border Defense True Seal.' This True Seal is one of the core inheritances of our Formation Peak. According to sect regulations, one who carries such a heavy treasure requires the highest level of review for their master-disciple lineage, and must be personally instructed by the Peak Master or a Grand Elder."

"Although Junior Brother Qingquan was reluctant, he understands greater principles and voluntarily stepped aside. Therefore, today, you and I can be here, forging this master-disciple bond."