“How exactly did you manage this?”
After a long silence, Xuanyuan Hong took a deep breath and asked Zhong Qing.
“My disciple is exceptionally gifted and works extremely hard,” Zhong Qing replied with a smile.
“Hard work, my ass…” Xuanyuan Hong nearly let another curse slip out. What kind of so-called hard work could take someone from zero to the Celestial Profound Realm in just over a month?
As for being ‘exceptionally gifted,’ that was even more absurd.
Did Zhong Qing think they hadn’t seen the result from the talent-testing stone?
But since Zhong Qing clearly didn’t want to explain, Xuanyuan Hong didn’t press further.
Still, today’s visit to Command Hall Peak had left him deeply shaken.
It had completely redefined his opinion of Zhong Qing—and added an even greater sense of mystery around him.
“Sect Master, why not stay for a meal?” Zhong Qing offered.
“No, no.”
Xuanyuan Hong stood up immediately, waving off the offer sternly.
The longer he stayed here, the more he felt like everything he had achieved in his life had been in vain.
He turned into a streak of flowing light and left Command Hall Peak.
After returning to Azure Jade Main Peak, he gathered all the Peak Masters and elders once again.
Everyone was seated.
“Sect Master, did you give Zhong Qing the King-level technique?” the Grand Elder asked first.
Following his voice, everyone turned to Xuanyuan Hong.
“No,” Xuanyuan Hong replied.
“No?” Everyone exchanged glances, unable to resist asking, “Did something go wrong?”
Their expressions turned tense.
Had the talisman malfunctioned? Had the King-level technique failed to activate?
Just as everyone’s worry peaked, Xuanyuan Hong suddenly gave a mysterious smile and loudly declared, “Everyone, you’ve worried too much. Let me announce this: our Azure Jade Sect is destined to rise and become a Holy Land!”
As he spoke, he directly pulled out eight King-level cultivation manuals and shouted, “Not only did I not give out the technique—Zhong Qing gave me eight King-level techniques instead!”
“Tell me—now that we have these eight King-level techniques, isn’t becoming a Holy Land just around the corner?!”
“What?!”
“Eight King-level techniques?!”
The entire hall erupted. Everyone stood up with red eyes, staring at the eight manuals that Xuanyuan Hong slapped onto the table, itching to rush forward. Read this novel at novelping.com for the best experience.
“Sect Master, is this real? You can’t be teasing this old man,” the Third Elder asked with a trembling voice.
“Yes, Sect Master. At our age, we can’t take shocks like this,” the Grand Elder added, speaking incoherently.
“Would I lie to you?” Xuanyuan Hong waved his hand boldly, pushing the eight manuals forward. “See for yourselves.”
At that moment, the Peak Masters and elders pounced like starving wolves, swarming the table.
“Let me see, let me see!”
“Don’t push!”
“I’m the Grand Elder—I get to see first!”
Everyone fought to verify the authenticity.
When they finally confirmed that all eight were real King-level techniques, several elders cried tears of joy and raised their arms toward the sky, shouting.
“Heaven truly blesses our Azure Jade Sect!”
“Yes! With these eight King-level techniques, how could our sect not rise to greatness?!”
Their eyes were full of tears.
Their ancestors had all been part of Azure Jade Sect, and they themselves had been born and raised here.
Now, seeing real hope for the sect’s future revival, they couldn’t be happier.
“Alright, Elders, Peak Masters—your loyalty to Azure Jade Sect is unwavering. You may all have priority access to cultivate these King-level techniques,” Xuanyuan Hong said generously.
“Thank you, Sect Master!”
One after another, they thanked him like children on New Year’s. With these techniques, each of them could raise their cultivation ceiling by an entire realm.
“Don’t thank me—thank Zhong Qing!” Xuanyuan Hong laughed loudly.
“Indeed! We must properly thank Zhong Qing.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, though some had questions in their hearts.
“But Sect Master, how did Zhong Qing come to possess eight King-level techniques?”
“Exactly! This isn’t cabbage we’re talking about!”
“I don’t know either,” Xuanyuan Hong said with awe.
And in truth, having seen more than anyone else here, he was even more puzzled.
In terms of talent—he was only eighteen or nineteen, yet could instantly kill a Moon Profound Realm cultivator.
In terms of resources—he casually gifted eight King-level techniques.
In terms of teaching—he trained a white-level talent disciple like Lin Feng to reach the Celestial Profound Realm in just a month.
…
Back at Command Hall Peak.
After completing all the daily chores—and even folding Zhong Qing’s bedding—Lin Feng approached his master.
“Master, I once requested that when I reached the Celestial Profound Realm, I’d be allowed to leave the mountain for a short time. I now ask for your permission,” Lin Feng said respectfully.
“Of course.” Zhong Qing smiled.
From the moment he took Lin Feng in, he knew the child carried unresolved matters. Now that he had the strength, it made sense he wanted to handle them. Naturally, Zhong Qing wouldn’t refuse.
“Thank you, Master.” Lin Feng bowed gratefully.
Just as he was about to leave, Zhong Qing called him back.
“Is there something else, Master?” Lin Feng asked quickly.
“Since I’m free anyway, I’ll go with you,” Zhong Qing said after some thought.
Truth be told, Zhong Qing didn’t feel safe letting Lin Feng go alone.
Even though Lin Feng had Elder Jian in his ring, his own strength was still only at the Celestial Profound Realm. It wasn’t enough.
Seeing that Zhong Qing would accompany him, Lin Feng was both shocked and touched.
“Disciple, no matter what you’re planning to do down the mountain, go ahead and do it boldly. Your master will always have your back.” Zhong Qing smiled gently and patted Lin Feng’s head.
“Thank you, Master.” Lin Feng bowed respectfully.
…
In the Eastern Region, apart from the various sects, several nations coexisted.
One of them was the Tianlan Kingdom.
Its capital: Fengtian City.
Located several thousand kilometers from Azure Jade Sect.
With Zhong Qing and Lin Feng traveling at full speed, they quickly arrived in Fengtian City.
Inside a small tavern on the second floor, the master and disciple sat by the window. They had ordered two portions of beef, a plate of peanuts, and two flasks of strong liquor.
“Hey, isn’t that Lin Feng from the Lin family?”
“Yeah, he left home heartbroken after the Murong family broke off the engagement. We thought he’d died out there, but he actually came back.”
“Sigh, he’s really a pitiful kid. But without strength, that’s just how it is—weakness is the original sin.”
“But who’s that sitting with him? He looks quite distinguished.”
“Looking distinguished means nothing. If he were truly someone important, why would he be sitting with Lin Feng?”