Standing outside the cave mansion, Lu Zhiwei looked uncertain as she tried to peer inside, hoping to see if Lu Ping had really come out of seclusion, but the restriction prevented her from seeing the situation inside.
In the morning, when she met Lu Yuanshan and was told that Lu Ping had awakened and specifically wanted to see her, Lu Zhiwei initially didn't believe it, thinking it was just a comforting joke from Lu Yuanshan.
Ever since her failure in Foundation Establishment, her state of mind had become much more despondent. She was silent all day, which made Lu Yuanshan and the others feel a pang of sorrow, resulting in frequent comfort attempts, yet she showed no interest in anything.
It was only the matter of her father's awakening that sparked a sudden urge in her to come over.
But her father had been in secluded cultivation for thirty years; if he could come out, he should have done so back during the demon chaos to rescue the sect. Why wait until now?
Lu Zhiwei pondered secretly, her face expressionless, showing no signs of joy.
Inside the cave mansion, hearing the call, Lu Ping manipulated his consciousness body to pass through the restriction and float outside the cave mansion.
Upon seeing Lu Zhiwei's haggard and listless state, Lu Ping couldn't help but feel a sting in his eyes.
As his youngest daughter, when Lu Ping went into secluded cultivation, Lu Zhiwei was just a teenager, in the prime of her youthful beauty, and was a lovely and lively girl.
Now, the young girl had grown up, but she completely lacked the lively and spirited image of the past, with no light in her eyes, showing no spirit at all.
Clearly, the failure in Foundation Establishment had dealt her a heavy blow, almost becoming a heart demon over the years, constantly tormenting her and drastically changing her personality.
"Silly child, it's just one failed Foundation Establishment, truly no need to be so discouraged."
Lu Ping reached out to pat Lu Zhiwei's head, trying to comfort her, but grasped at air.
Ah, he forgot that he was now just a consciousness body, unable to make physical contact.
He had to use the Communication function, selecting Lu Zhiwei and Lu Yuanshan as targets, setting up a three-person chat.
"You're here."
Lu Ping's voice simultaneously echoed in the minds of his children.
"Dad?"
Hearing Lu Ping's voice, Lu Zhiwei was stunned.
This surprised her, causing her to turn to Lu Yuanshan, wanting to ask if their father had really awakened.
Lu Ping's temporary inability to appear and the fact that he could not leave the cave mansion, she had heard mentioned by Lu Yuanshan.
Lu Yuanshan nodded with a smile, "You heard right."
"It's me, Zhiwei."
Lu Ping's voice sounded again.
Confirming it was Lu Ping's voice, Lu Zhiwei's delicate body trembled slightly, her heart involuntarily filling with a bit of joy, wanting to step forward and beg Lu Ping to open the restriction and allow her into the cave mansion to see him properly.
"No need to come in."
But just as she took two steps, Lu Ping's voice came over.
"Just stand outside the cave mansion; I am currently unable to meet face to face."
"Oh."
Lu Zhiwei had to halt her steps.
"Regarding your Foundation Establishment, Yuanshan has told me. You need not blame yourself."
Lu Ping got straight to the point, "I called you here today just to see you properly. You've suffered all these years."
Lu Zhiwei listened quietly, and her heart was no longer calm. She very much wanted to throw herself into Lu Ping's arms and cry her heart out, pouring out the guilt and grievances of these years, but this thought quickly got suppressed.
She had grown up, no longer the lively and cute little girl from before, and now had no way to enter the cave mansion to see Lu Ping; she could only rely on the communication to feel her father's presence, listening to that familiar voice.
"Father, please forgive Zhiwei's incompetence, for wasting the Foundation Establishment Pill the sect invested in me."
After a moment of silence, she proactively confessed, showing a hint of guilt.
"If that Foundation Establishment Pill had been given to Brother, he surely would have succeeded in Foundation Establishment, and the sect's situation would be vastly different."
The 'Brother' Lu Zhiwei referred to naturally meant Lu Yuanshan.
"Little sister, Brother's aptitude is far inferior to yours; even with the Foundation Establishment Pill, it's not certain he would have succeeded."
Lu Zhiwei's guilty appearance stirred discomfort in Lu Yuanshan's heart.
Relying on a Foundation Establishment Pill to establish the Foundation only provides a fifty-percent chance; no one can guarantee success in a single attempt. Failing once or twice is perfectly normal, at most somewhat regrettable.
At worst, strengthen and try again.
But little sister just couldn't walk away from the shadow of Foundation Establishment failure.
"It's just one Foundation Establishment failure; don't dwell on it. I never meant to blame you."
"Back then, it was extremely difficult for me to establish the Foundation as well; it took a total of three Foundation Establishment Pills before I managed it. You shouldn't be disheartened."
This was true; Lu Ping's aptitude was Three Spirit Roots, inferior to Lu Zhiwei's Dual Spirit Root aptitude.
In those days, he had prepared three entire Foundation Establishment Pills to successfully establish the Foundation after more than a year of seclusion.
Talent, opportunity, resources... these were not abundant for Lu Ping at that time, only fulfilling basic cultivation requirements.
"Child still regrets it, feeling guilty for failing the sect's expectations."
Though his father did not blame her, Lu Zhiwei felt relieved, but the thoughts of guilt remained deeply ingrained.
Thinking about how that single Foundation Establishment Pill represented more than just a pill to the sect; it was equivalent to the sect's lifeline. The sect's future depended on her success in Foundation Establishment.
The responsibility was enormous for her, and unfortunately, she failed to bear it ultimately.
Hearing Lu Zhiwei's words of self-blame, Lu Ping, after a round of comfort, saw his daughter's difficulty in letting go, and so he changed the subject and began exchanging pleasantries with Lu Zhiwei, asking about her life over the years.
Initially, Lu Zhiwei spoke little, mostly answering questions, but as the conversation continued, she began initiating more questions.
For instance, she asked when Lu Ping would come out of seclusion if he had advanced to Nascent Soul, and about the sect's current difficult situation and the continuance of the sect's legacy.
Lu Ping gave brief answers, with Lu Yuanshan occasionally interjecting a few comments.
The conversation among the three was fairly harmonious, though Lu Zhiwei's demeanor remained somewhat haggard, appearing dispirited. Clearly, the failure in Foundation Establishment had too great an impact on her, keeping her trapped in the shadow of having let down the sect.
Besides verbal encouragements, Lu Ping could do nothing else.
It takes the person who tied the knot to untie it.
After their conversation, Lu Ping brought up the matter of the Tree Cave Foxes.
"To the east of Cyan Lotus Mountain, in Little Stone Town two hundred miles away, lives a long-breeding group of Tree Cave Foxes. These Tree Cave Foxes often harm passing citizens, numbering around thirty-six, posing a hidden threat. The sect needs to send someone to clear them out."
"What level are the Tree Cave Foxes? Are they difficult to kill?"
Upon hearing there were demonic foxes causing trouble, Lu Yuanshan couldn't help but ask.
As a sect leader, he habitually wanted to first understand the opponent's strength, before considering a plan and determining which disciples to send out.
"They are very weak, all Tier One demonic foxes, with strength between the First-Layer and Second-Layer Qi Cultivation."
Hearing this, Lu Yuanshan nodded and volunteered.
"Leave this task to me."
He didn't question why Lu Ping brought it up, how he knew about the group of Tree Cave Foxes,
But surely a father who paid attention to such matters had his reasons and discovering these Tree Cave Foxes was not surprising.
After all, he was a Golden Core Ancestor; he should have some extraordinary means.
"As sect leader, your foremost duty is to remain in the sect."
Lu Ping designated a person, saying, "Zhiwei, since your heart is unsettled, and you always feel guilty towards the sect, take this mission to lead disciples to complete the task then."