The enormous canopy between heaven and earth condensed and shrank.
After a long while, the canopy landed above Xu Ning's head, hovering in the air, casting orange light that enveloped his entire body.
Xu Ning couldn't help but look up. It was a huge orange umbrella, its orange surface densely covered with white patterns, with a pointed top at the center. The tip of the top was made of orange metal with dense white patterns.
There were nine similar pointed ends along the edge, slightly shorter than the central one. Hanging below the pointed ends were nine orange bronze bells with dense white patterns.
The entire canopy was now emanating an aura of oppression from heaven and earth.
Without any hesitation, Xu Ning immediately retracted it, then released the Yingying Monster and jumped onto it. "Yingying Monster, let's go."
This place was definitely not safe to stay in for long. The commotion was too great.
Flying in the air, Xu Ning looked at the sky, still densely covered with orange light, and couldn't help but show a long-lost smile.
He had reached the Foundation Establishment stage. Finally, he didn't have to hide like before, and could hide legitimately now.
The orange light in the sky lasted for a full month.
Countless cultivators searched everywhere for its cause.
The place where Xu Ning had undergone his tribulation became the most frequently searched location.
The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion later sent word that a strange phenomenon had occurred, lasting for a month, and that a Nascent Soul cultivator had been born, but their arduous search ultimately yielded no results.
Xu Ning looked at the information Luo Xiu had just sent him, a slight smile playing on his lips, but he said nothing more.
At this moment, Xu Ning was in a deep mountain forest somewhere in the mortal realm, studying the changes brought about by his Foundation Establishment.
First was the canopy. This thing would appear and float above his head whenever he released his cultivation, like an umbrella held up by heaven and earth—very flashy.
Xu Ning thought this was quite good. In the future, when it rained, he only needed to release his cultivation, and the canopy would instantly appear to block the rain. He wouldn't need an umbrella.
Of course, since it was an item descended by heaven and earth, it also had other effects.
First was its defensive effect. When encountering battle, Xu Ning could control the canopy to block enemy attacks.
Then, under the canopy's protection, Xu Ning's mind would remain clear at all times, unaffected by mental or soul-related attacks.
When such attacks occurred, the nine bronze bells on the canopy would ring, immediately emitting light to protect Xu Ning.
At this moment, Xu Ning couldn't help but look up and softly ask, "Hello, Canopy!"
The canopy said, "Hello, Supreme Foundation Establisher!"
Xu Ning said, "Just call me Xu Ning!"
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The canopy said, "Okay, Xu Ning!"
Xu Ning asked, "Are you unique?"
The canopy said, "Xu Ning, not only am I unique, but in fact, the Supreme Foundation Establishment realm is also unique. Once you exist, there can never be another Supreme Foundation Establishment realm like me!"
Xu Ning asked, "Can you level up?"
The canopy said, "Yes, by feeding me with the canopy!"
Xu Ning asked, "The mortal kind?"
The canopy said, "No, a canopy just like mine!"
Xu Ning was surprised. "Aren't you unique? Where am I supposed to find one?"
The canopy said, "I descended from the Supreme Foundation Establishment realm. From now on, if you can break through each major realm with Supreme quality, then it can descend even further!"
Xu Ning understood and nodded. "I understand. There's one more question: are you a physical object?"
The canopy said, "Of course. So if you were to perish one day, I would preserve you and let you find a suitable person to recognize you as your master."
Xu Ning said, "Damn, you're trying to save the son from the father's death!"
The canopy said, "The meaning is probably similar to what you said!"
Xu Ning was speechless and stopped communicating with the other party. Instead, he focused his inner vision on his dantian and greeted the Supreme Foundation Establishment cultivator. "Hello! Supreme Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
The Supreme Foundation Establishment cultivator immediately replied, "Hello, Xu Ning!"
Xu Ning asked, "Are you like the canopy, able to preserve me if I were to perish?"
The Supreme Foundation Establishment cultivator said, "Yes, Xu Ning. In fact, not only me, but also divine and legendary items can be preserved and wait for a destined person."
"However, divine and legendary quality items are different from us. Each time they have another master, they consume a portion of their foundation. If this happens too many times, they will perish!"
Xu Ning nodded. "I understand. Can you upgrade?"
The Supreme Foundation Establishment cultivator said, "My quality has reached its limit. I cannot upgrade or improve my quality."
Xu Ning was somewhat disappointed. "Alright then!"
Then, Xu Ning began to examine the changes in each item.
All the items were now covered with orange patterns.
In their words, they now carried the aura of supreme beings. Although they had not reached the supreme level, they were still a much stronger level.
Xu Ning asked, "Thatched Hut, if I can break through to supreme quality in the future, what will happen to you?"
The thatched hut said, "See the orange patterns on us? Every time we come into contact with the aura of supreme beings again, the patterns will become deeper and more numerous until they are completely orange. Finally, white patterns will appear, and we will be able to officially advance to supreme quality."
Xu Ning asked, "About how many times will that take?"
The thatched hut said, "About four more times!"
After hearing this, Xu Ning couldn't help but calculate: one time for Golden Core, two times for Nascent Soul, and three times for Deity Transformation.
Does that mean that one must reach the Refinement of Void realm to completely transform them into Supreme quality?
Sigh! Let's take it slow!
Then, Xu Ning took out a leg made of mud.
This thing was left behind by the Earth Spirit.
In fact, after the Earth Spirit's technique advanced to Divine grade, as long as it wasn't completely destroyed after release, it could still be retrieved and repaired. After repair, its strength could be restored to its previous state.
However, that leg was now covered in orange patterns.
This meant that the Earth Spirit had also been tainted by the Supreme Aura!
In fact, all its cultivation techniques and spells had been affected as well.
Thinking of this, Xu Ning quickly closed his eyes and recalled his cultivation techniques.
Sure enough, all his techniques had improved, albeit slightly, but the improvement itself gave Xu Ning a sense of unease.
Xu Ning deduced that this unease stemmed from the enhancement brought by the Supreme Aura.
At this moment, Xu Ning couldn't even imagine how profound these cultivation techniques and spells were.
If he were to casually throw out a spell now, even a genius unseen for millennia would struggle to comprehend it, as higher quality meant greater profundity.
Returning his attention to the Earth Spirit's leg, Xu Ning raised his hand and directly absorbed it into his dantian.
Upon entering his dantian, the Supreme Foundation Establishment light suddenly shone, emitting streams of Supreme-quality spiritual power that enveloped the Earth Spirit, rapidly beginning its repair.
At this moment, the teleportation array beside Xu Ning emitted fluctuations of spiritual power.
Xu Ning quickly went over to retrieve the message that had just arrived.
"The Sect Master of Tiancheng Sect in the Crimson Sea Mountains is nearing the end of his life!"
Upon seeing the message, Xu Ning was instantly startled. He immediately stood up, quickly packed his things, and headed towards the Crimson Sea Mountains.
Before reaching Foundation Establishment, Xu Ning had already considered the lifespan of his master, Qi Ruifeng, so he had Luo Xiu keep an eye on things.