"Beixuan, your experience descending the mountain for training this time really was extraordinary!"
Inside the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, after hearing Ye Beixuan's account, Chu Feng couldn't help but sigh with feeling.
He had expected Ye Beixuan to gain various opportunities, but he never imagined his two disciples would play such important roles in them.
"Master's praise is too kind. Without your protection, even if I had such chances, I wouldn't have been able to return safely," Ye Beixuan said humbly and sincerely.
The more he learned about Chu Feng, the more he deeply felt the master's strength. In his previous life, he had met many great beings and powerful figures, but never one as knowledgeable across ancient and modern times as his master.
Why hadn't the master joined the Inquiry Dao Institute in his previous life?
Chu Feng asked, "Beixuan, do you have any doubts about your cultivation?"
Ye Beixuan replied, "Master, although the Hongmeng Creation Art is powerful, why does it have no offensive techniques? Must I use the Hongmeng energy against enemies every time?"
Chu Feng smiled and said, "You really are a boy unaware of the treasure you possess. Hongmeng Purple Qi is the primordial force of heaven and earth. This means Hongmeng Purple Qi can evolve all things. Now that you have Hongmeng Purple Qi, you can use it to deduce any technique. Any offensive method you can think of can be transformed using Hongmeng Purple Qi."
Hissing sounds came from those present, who involuntarily took in a sharp breath.
Even Ye Beixuan hadn't expected Hongmeng Purple Qi to be so powerful. He asked, "Master, according to what you said, as long as I comprehend the meaning of Hongmeng, it means I can master the myriad principles derived from the Great Dao's three thousand manifestations?"
"Good, a teachable child," Chu Feng couldn't help but praise.
Ye Beixuan continued, "Then how should I perceive this meaning of Hongmeng?"
"I'll give you a phrase to remember," Chu Feng paused, then noticing Ye Beixuan and everyone present were all ears, began: "Dao produces One, One produces Two, Two produces Three, Three produces all things."
Ye Beixuan muttered this phrase repeatedly, feeling as if he had grasped something great, but for the moment, he could not fully comprehend it.
With his understanding and experience, however, he was confident he would perceive the meaning of Hongmeng before the Outer Sect Competition.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master."
Chu Feng nodded slightly. "Beixuan, since you just returned, let me introduce a newcomer to our Miscellaneous Dao Institute. This is Disciple Manager Nie Xiuyuan. He joined us from the Foreign Affairs Institute."
Upon hearing the name, Ye Beixuan instinctively looked at the man and then bowed, "Disciple Ye Beixuan pays respects to Uncle Jiu Chi."
Nie Xiuyuan hesitated slightly, clearly not expecting his reputation to have reached Ye Beixuan's ears.
He bowed lightly, "Xiuyuan pays respects to Senior Brother Ye."
Ye Beixuan was momentarily speechless.
Next to him, Xu Caichen saw his senior brother stunned and smiled, "Senior Brother Ye, Uncle Jiu Chi has already sworn loyalty under Master. Let's each mind our own business."
"Alright then."
Although Ye Beixuan found it a bit absurd, he was not uncomfortable with it.
Chu Feng's gaze settled on the two of them. "In half a year, the Outer Sect Competition will begin. You two should prepare well and absolutely do not disgrace our Miscellaneous Dao Institute."
"Disciple obeys."
After replying, both had already begun to look forward to the upcoming Outer Sect Competition.
After returning to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, Ye Beixuan immediately secluded himself to break through to the fifth layer of the Dao Foundation.
Chu Feng did not interfere with the disciples' cultivation and continued living his carefree life as always.
...
Tens of thousands of miles away, in Jilei Valley.
Cao Youqian wandered casually through the valley with Song Zhaoyi. Song Zhaoyi looked at the lightning strikes in the sky, clinging tightly to Cao Youqian's side.
Feeling the girl's genuine fear, Cao Youqian smiled, "Little Yi, don't worry. With senior brother here, these lightning bolts definitely won't harm you."
Song Zhaoyi nodded slightly, "With Brother Qian here, I'm not afraid of anything. But Brother Qian, where do we go next?"
Cao Youqian said, "First, find a place dense with lightning. I plan to temper my body with lightning, to further advance my Chaotic Body Refining Technique."
"Lightning tempering… wouldn't that be too—"
Song Zhaoyi shuddered just thinking about Brother Qian soon bathing in lightning.
Cao Youqian laughed, "It's just some lightning tempering. For me, it's nothing at all."
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon a lake several dozen miles away.
Lightning continuously struck into the lake, and with each flash of blue light on the surface, the power of the lightning within the lake grew stronger.
Beside the lake, many cultivators and demon beasts stood at a distance, neither daring to approach the water's edge for fear of being struck by the lightning.
Cao Youqian looked toward the center of the lake, where a lotus flower was being bathed in the lightning's cleansing power.
Each time lightning struck, the lotus would sprout a new leaf.
"Finally found a good spot."
He turned and patted the spirit tiger beside him. "Big Cat, take good care of Xiao Yi. I'm going to see just how strong the lightning in this Jilei Valley really is."
The spirit tiger nodded, then lightly tapped its chest with a paw, as if saying, 'Leave it to me.'
Cao Youqian said to Song Zhaoyi, "Xiao Yi, don't move from here. I'll be back soon. If anyone troubles you, just shout my name loudly."
"Okay."
Song Zhaoyi nodded slightly. "Brother Qian, don't worry. I'll take good care of myself."
Cao Youqian then leapt into the air and flew toward the lake's surface.
His appearance instantly drew countless gazes.
The cultivators and beasts present all showed puzzled expressions. Was this guy crazy?
Trying to pluck the Lightning Spirit Sacred Lotus from the thunderstorm—yet the lotus isn't even mature yet!
The next moment, everyone was stunned as the man landed on the lake's surface, letting the lightning from the sky strike him directly.
The Lightning Spirit Sacred Lotus, which had been absorbing the thunder to grow, now pitifully received less than a tenth of the lightning's power.
Silence fell. The cultivators and spirits by the lake watched this scene silently.
The roaring thunder seemed not to reach their ears as they all stared blankly at the man on the water.
Crackling!
Cao Youqian's actions appeared to anger the thunder; multiple lightning bolts struck him simultaneously.
He felt a tightness in his chest but smiled faintly and shouted toward the sky, "Not enough! Strike harder!"
???
His shout brought everyone back to reality. They watched Cao Youqian with puzzled expressions.
Where did this weirdo come from, using heavenly thunder to temper his body?
Boom!!!
With a tremendous thunderclap, a purple lightning bolt crashed down.
The lightning instantly engulfed Cao Youqian.
Pfft...
Cao Youqian suddenly spat out a mouthful of old blood.
Seeing this, everyone's hearts instantly relaxed.
But the next second, everyone was frozen in place...
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