Qi Zhiheng looked inward and saw his own body base rotating. The spiritual energy on his body was compressed and became more and more viscous. He knew that once this spiritual energy condensed, he could achieve the Golden Core.

But now is not the time for a breakthrough. He opened his eyes.

The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with Yang Yitian's face.

Qi Zhiheng: !!!

Yang Yitian was startled by his sudden opening of his eyes and took a step back.

"What are you doing?" Qi Zhiheng stood up, somewhat speechless.

Yang Yitian calmed his breathing and said, "You've been meditating for a long time, so I came to see why you haven't woken up yet."

Qi Zhiheng exhaled and said, "I suddenly had a realization and now I have reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

Yang Yitian felt a pang of bitterness. Even Qi Zhiheng had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. With his excellent aptitude, why did his cultivation show no sign of advancing?

"Has Father completed his breakthrough?" Qi Zhiheng looked towards the direction of the formation, where the lightning tribulation was still ongoing.

Yang Yitian said with little interest, "It's been completed long ago. Apart from Dad and Little Ancestor who broke through, Grandpa, Grandma, Great-Grandpa, Mom, Aunt and Uncle have all broken through."

Finally, he added, "Uncle hasn't reacted yet; Yan Yu is breaking through."

"So fast?" Qi Zhiheng asked, "How long have I been cultivating?"

“It’s been almost two months,” Yang Yitian replied.

"It's been that long?" Qi Zhiheng was somewhat surprised; he felt like he had only been cultivating for a day...

At this point, the momentum from the formation had weakened.

Qi Zhiheng and Yang Yitian walked over, while Qi Zhenhao stood outside the formation, looking somewhat anxious, but he managed to hide it.

Qi Zhiheng stepped forward and asked, "Uncle, how are you? Are you preparing for your next breakthrough?"

Qi Zhenhao nodded and said, "It should be about right. I have a feeling I'm about to break through."

"Uncle, you've entered the Dao through the sword, haven't you?" Qi Zhiheng remembered giving Qi Zhenhao a sword technique before.

Qi Zhenhao nodded and said, "I've had quite a few insights lately, and I should be able to break through in one fell swoop!"

Qi Zhiheng was somewhat envious. He still had no clue about breaking through. Although his cultivation level had increased, some people were like that. If they couldn't find a clue, they might never be able to break through to the Golden Core stage in their entire lives.

Only after determining the path one will take in the future can one possibly enter the Golden Core stage through that path.

Qi Zhiheng is currently somewhat unclear about the path he should take in the future. He has too many spiritual roots, cultivates each one, and also refines pills! Finding his own path will be much more difficult for him compared to others.

Qi Zhiheng rubbed his temples. Reaching the Golden Core stage is so difficult!

After Yan Yu came out, Qi Zhenhao entered the formation, preparing to break through.

Qi Zhiheng then looked towards the other islands, deciding to check on the situation at the Yuansheng Institute.

He arrived at the small island occupied by the Gensei Institute, and the head of the Gensei Institute rushed to greet him upon seeing Qi Zhiheng's arrival.

The Dean of the Yuansheng Academy was in a good mood. Qi Zhiheng examined him carefully and said, "Congratulations on Yuansheng successfully entering the Golden Core stage."

The Dean of the Yuansheng Academy laughed loudly: "This is all thanks to your cultivation technique!"

After learning about the current situation, Qi Zhiheng found that no one had died after switching to a cultivation technique. However, not all Spirit Venerables could enter the Golden Core stage. Only 30% of them successfully entered the Golden Core stage, and the rest could only reach the peak of Foundation Establishment, where it became difficult to advance further.

However, the breakthrough of 30% also proved that the cultivation method given by Qi Zhiheng was correct.

Qi Zhiheng comforted those who hadn't advanced, saying that they should study the Dao more, clarify their own path, and they would eventually reach the Golden Core stage.

Upon learning that even Qi Zhiheng had not reached the Golden Core stage, those who had failed to form their cores immediately felt a sense of shared misfortune.

There were 323 Spirit Lords who came with us this time, which means that nearly 100 people are included in the 30% group.

We don't know what status a hundred Golden Core cultivators would have in the cultivation world; we'll have to wait and find out more about the situation on this continent before discussing anything further.

Everyone stayed in this place for about three months until they all changed their cultivation methods.

Later, more than a dozen people emerged from the passage; these people had arrived using flying magical artifacts.

The remaining people can basically be considered dead.

Those who originally had power returned to their own factions, while those who did not join the factions they desired.

After everyone was ready, Qi Zhiheng held another meeting with the key figures.

Next, they will head to the human settlement in the cultivation world. What actions they should take after arriving there still needs to be discussed.

Qi Zhiheng said directly, "I have some ideas here. There are more than a thousand people from our Xuanling Continent. With this scale, it would be more than enough to form even a small sect. Of course, we can also disperse and join other forces. After all, we don't have any resources or foundation right now, so it's not easy to create a sect."

"We don't know the situation in our region yet. In other words, we don't know what the status of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core stages is on this continent." Qi Zhiheng analyzed the pros and cons. "If Golden Core stages are common on this continent, I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to survive by forming a force. After all, people are naturally more xenophobic."

“Brother Qi is right. I think the safest approach is for us to disperse and join various sects. This will allow us to integrate into the cultivation world more quickly,” the Dean of the Yuansheng Academy suggested.

“However, if we join another sect, wouldn’t we have to follow their rules? Being controlled by others would make it difficult to survive. Brother Qi also said that everyone would be rather xenophobic.” A Spirit Venerable from another force also raised his opinion.

Qi Zhiheng said, "That's not an absolute statement. If the Golden Core stage is the highest level of cultivation in this region, then our hundred or so Golden Core cultivators will obviously have a strong advantage. I'm afraid even if those people have designs on us, it will be difficult for them."

"Then let's make a choice based on the current situation. If, as Brother Qi said, the Golden Core stage is the limit, then we will collectively form a force. If there are other cultivation levels above the Golden Core stage, then we will disperse and join various sects. Just as Brother Qi said, we don't know much about this continent. Only by integrating can we obtain more resources and information about cultivation techniques."

"That makes sense!" Most people share this view.

Building a power sounds good, but who should be chosen as the supreme leader? There will inevitably be disagreements. Besides the cultivation techniques given to them by Qi Zhiheng, they have no other means. If they want to break through and make progress, they will have to obtain resources and cultivation techniques from other sects.

Qi Zhiheng had no other opinion on this, only saying, "After leaving here, we will all likely go our separate ways. I hope that no matter which sect you join in the future, and whether the sects are hostile to each other, you will not take advantage of our original friendship to harm the interests of those who have joined other sects. I wonder if you can all do that?"

“Brother Qi, you’re exaggerating. We’re from the same continent, so we should naturally be more united. I, Li, would never stoop to stabbing someone in the back,” a Spirit Venerable immediately stated his position.

Qi Zhiheng laughed and said, "It's hard to say what will happen in the future. No one can guarantee that the sect they join is not an enemy of other sects. What I mean is, everyone can be enemies, but even if we are enemies, we must be enemies openly and honestly! We absolutely cannot use friendship as an excuse to stab each other in the back."

"Of course, I wouldn't stoop to such a despicable act."

Several others echoed this sentiment, stating that they would not do such a thing.

Qi Zhiheng naturally didn't want his own people to stab him in the back. Seeing that everyone had expressed their opinions, he distributed some scrolls and said, "Since no one has any objections, take these scrolls back and have the other disciples sign them to avoid any future incidents that could cause trouble. Anyone who violates the rules will be permanently banned from entering!"

As Qi Zhiheng spoke, his eyes sharpened.

The others thought the regulations weren't bad, so they each took a copy back and had their disciples sign them.

When the scroll was distributed for everyone to sign, people murmured amongst themselves, and some had their doubts.

"Do you think this contract is true? Can it really prevent one's cultivation from improving by even the slightest bit?"

"I've never heard of this before. It shouldn't be possible. If there really is a contract that can prevent a person's cultivation from progressing, then killing people wouldn't even require any effort."

"That's not quite right. I've heard that there's a lot of knowledge in the cultivation world that doesn't exist in the Xuanling Continent, so it's quite possible that such an oath is binding and effective."

"I think you're just too timid. These words are clearly meant to scare us."

"Forget it, who cares if it works or not? Anyway, I don't plan to betray anyone. Even if this contract is really binding, it won't befall me. You guys care so much, could it be that you really have plans to betray your friends for personal gain?"

These blunt words immediately made everyone feel awkward. Who would admit to wanting to betray their friends? So, everyone expressed their loyalty and signed their names.

The signing process went smoothly, and all contracts were signed that evening.

The next day, Qi Zhiheng received the signed scroll.

After Qi Zhiheng held the scroll and gave a revelation of the Heavenly Dao to everyone, the scrolls disappeared into thin air. Everyone present felt a force sweep over their bodies and was momentarily shocked.

Qi Zhiheng said to everyone in a relaxed tone, "Alright, this oath is now established. Don't take this oath lightly. Once you've integrated into the cultivation world, you'll know that the power of this oath is not without reason."

His gaze swept over everyone, and they immediately fell silent. Regardless of whether they had any other ulterior motives, they probably wouldn't dare to do so in the future.