Chapter 48 - The Foundation Trial
Eli could have rested.
He almost did.
Then Elias reminded him that Foundation Realm required more than power.
It required a “Path Statement.”
“What does that mean?”
“You decide what your cultivation is for.”
“That sounds like therapy.”
“More dangerous.”
Most cultivators founded on a principle.
Strength.
Sword.
Fire.
Protection.
Wealth.
Eli considered all of them.
None fit.
Mr. Zhou took him back to the campus roof where he had formed Qi Gathering I.
“What have you done since awakening?” the old man asked.
“Got punched.”
“Eli.”
“Studied. Worked. Fought. Helped people. Annoyed rich families.”
“Why?”
“Because I was tired of being told what I was.”
There it was.
The Beggar’s Loop spun.
Nine open circuits lit inside him.
The three remaining circuits resisted.
Foundation required all twelve.
Eli spoke aloud.
“I don’t want a path that makes me better than everyone.”
The tenth circuit opened.
“I want one that means nobody gets to decide my ceiling for me.”
The eleventh opened.
The final circuit remained shut.
His system displayed:
[FOUNDATION STATEMENT INCOMPLETE.]
Eli looked at Mr. Zhou.
“What am I missing?”
The old man smiled.
“You still think this path is only about you.”
Eli thought of Maya.
Trevor.
Jace.
His mom.
The hospital.
People who had helped him when they did not need to.
He understood.
“No one else gets to decide their ceiling either.”
May you like
The twelfth meridian opened.
