Chunibyo in Cultivation World

Sacred Land of Lingxu, Cloudsky Peak.

Fang Mochen, who had been in seclusion, was also called out.

As a disciple who had entered the sect at the same time as Li Tianwei, and who likewise possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root, Fang Mochen had not completed the Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment, yet he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment within a hundred and ten days.

Upon learning that Li Tianwei had achieved Foundation Establishment in just a hundred days, Fang Mochen had even planned to challenge him to a duel after forming his foundation.

However, the duel between the Sacred Land of Lingxu and the Sacred Land of Baiyuan came first, and Fang Mochen thus missed the chance to face Li Tianwei.

Still, witnessing Li Tianwei’s strength firsthand, Fang Mochen began to train with utmost focus, even entering closed-door cultivation—determined to break through to the Golden Core Realm before Li Tianwei.

For that goal, Fang Mochen devoted his entire heart to cultivation, ignoring all else.

He had already regarded Li Tianwei as his lifelong rival, though Li Tianwei probably could not even remember his name. Yet in Fang Mochen’s mind, they were destined to have a proper duel.

The two had entered the sect at the same time and both possessed Heavenly Spiritual Roots—without question, they were peers among Heaven-Defying Geniuses.

To Fang Mochen, his path of strength was not a lonely one; with Li Tianwei as his rival, they could spur each other onward toward mutual progress.

Even among Heavenly Spiritual Roots, there were differences, but Fang Mochen firmly believed he was no less than Li Tianwei.

“Mid Foundation Establishment already.”

Receiving a summons from his master, Fang Mochen did not know the reason, yet he believed this must be the time to finally cross swords with Li Tianwei.

He was rather expectant.

Soon after stepping out of his cave residence, he saw Daoist Master Lan Yu waiting outside and greeted respectfully.

“Greetings, Master.”

“Good, not bad. Less than a year and you’re already at mid stage. If nothing goes wrong, you’ll reach Golden Core within five years—far better than I once did.”

Sensing Fang Mochen’s cultivation, Lan Yu was genuinely pleased with his disciple’s progress.

When he had first accepted Fang Mochen, Lan Yu had actually intended for him to compete with Li Tianwei.

But now… that idea no longer even dared surface.

Lan Yu felt that forget Fang Mochen—he himself would not stand a chance.

There was no point comparing with such a monster.

To be born in the same era as him was practically a misfortune.

Calling Fang Mochen out of seclusion, Lan Yu simply wished to let him listen to Li Tianwei’s upcoming sermon—perhaps he could gain some enlightenment from it.

As for what Lan Yu truly thought, Fang Mochen had no clue, having been in seclusion for over half a year.

Because of that, he knew nothing of Li Tianwei’s recent feats—not even that Li Tianwei had crushed a Nascent Soul cultivator at Burning Void Peak while still in Foundation Establishment.

Fang Mochen was truly a man of pure cultivation—ears shut to the affairs of the cultivation world.

“This is all thanks to your guidance, Master.”

Fang Mochen bowed deeply.

Lan Yu nodded with satisfaction. In his eyes, Fang Mochen was a qualified disciple—talented, patient, and hardworking. Perhaps, someday, he might even transcend tribulation and ascend—though who knew how many years that would take.

“Master, may I ask what urgent matter required my exit from seclusion?”

Lan Yu nodded slightly and began explaining about Li Tianwei’s sermon—along with his current situation.

“I asked you to come out because your Senior Brother Li from Heaven’s Gate Peak will be establishing a sermon altar. You should go listen carefully; perhaps you’ll gain something. It will benefit you more than blind seclusion.”

“He’s already in the Golden Core Realm now, and he’s comprehended several Dao Intents…”

……

Lan Yu continued speaking, entirely unaware of Fang Mochen’s expression.

“One year to reach Golden Core… comprehended several Dao Intents… crushed a Nascent Soul cultivator?”

Listening to Li Tianwei’s achievements, Fang Mochen was utterly dumbfounded. At that moment, he almost thought his master was telling him a myth.

“Master… are you referring to the same Li Tianwei who entered the sect alongside me?”

“Yes, that’s him. When he preaches, you must listen closely.”

Lan Yu nodded lightly.

At this moment, he had no idea that his good disciple’s Dao Heart—and all his past resolve—had shattered into dust.

“What—what’s there left to fight for! He’s already at Golden Core!”

“How can this be possible! How! We both have Heavenly Spiritual Roots—could mine be fake? Am I actually a False Spiritual Root?”

Such thoughts immediately burst forth in Fang Mochen’s mind.

After all, the situation was absurd beyond belief.

From Fang Mochen’s perspective, it was as if he had gone to sleep and woken up in a different world.

Just yesterday, he and Li Tianwei had joined the sect together—and after a single “nap,” he was now being told that his peer could already contend with Nascent Soul cultivators.

And last night, Fang Mochen had even dreamed of one day relying on his hard-earned strength to defeat Li Tianwei… now, that dream crumbled entirely.

It wasn’t just pressure—it was sheer despair. There was no longer any will to compete.

“A sermon, is it? I’ll definitely attend.”

Fang Mochen nodded firmly. At this point, he simply wanted to understand how Li Tianwei had achieved such an impossible feat.

Fang Mochen was, at least, still reasonable. Some disciples who had been cultivating for over a decade would emerge from seclusion after five or six years only to discover that a junior—someone who joined the sect later—had already reached the Golden Core Realm.

In that instant, the cruel truth of cultivation talent was laid bare.

——

Compared to those disciples merely waiting for Li Tianwei’s sermon, their only task was to attend.

But Li Tianwei himself had far more to consider.

After all, this was his first time preaching publicly—everything had to be prepared flawlessly.

Thus, Li Tianwei devoted his full attention to it. In less than an hour, he had completed all arrangements.

Not only regarding the sermon itself, but also how to deal with the Evil Demons.

In short, Li Tianwei’s preparations were exceptionally thorough.

He believed that soon, every disciple of the Sacred Land of Lingxu would come to understand his deep benevolence.

Meanwhile, Zhang Linyuan was still trapped within the Main Peak, unable to leave.

However, with his ability to share origin with the Evil Demons, he could still communicate with those outside the sacred land, coordinating a series of operations right under the noses of the elders and ancestors on the Main Peak.

Zhang Linyuan knew clearly that this was a game arranged by Li Tianwei for him—and he had to seize this opportunity with everything he had.

At the same time, Zhang Linyuan had secretly passed on the news that Li Tianwei had slain three Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators to the other three sacred lands.

In his view, the human race, ever filled with conflict and struggle, would never allow someone like Li Tianwei to continue existing once they learned of this.

Li Tianwei might be a genius and immensely powerful—but he must not become too powerful, not to the point of breaking the balance between the Four Great Sacred Lands.

And now, that balance was completely shattered.

No one knew of Zhang Linyuan’s actions, while throughout the Sacred Land of Lingxu, joy filled the air in anticipation of Li Tianwei’s sermon.

As for the undercurrents hidden in the shadows—how many could truly see them?