Chapter 434: Examination

This day, Duan Rong was cultivating inside the Secret Chamber.

Half a year had passed, and the Original Qi within his dantian felt as if it had solidified, coiling powerfully.

At this moment, he was concentrating on refining his Qi, his expression calm as water, his heart without joy or sorrow.

Just then, faint shouts came from the direction of the stone door.

"Little Disciple!"

Duan Rong's body trembled slightly. Though the voice was soft, it was clearly Fan Hongjiao's voice.

This Senior Sister was righteous and forthright by nature, but her uninhibited temperament truly gave one a headache.

Duan Rong felt a bit apprehensive upon hearing her voice; if he opened the door, given how well-sealed this Cultivation Secret Chamber was, a lone man and woman...

To be honest, Xiao Yu had been locked in the Tower Forest for half a year, and regarding that aspect, he was also feeling somewhat suppressed.

"Open the door quickly! I asked the Attendants. You are inside!"

Judging by the tone of her voice, Duan Rong knew he had no choice but to open it. As luck would have it, he had just bathed two days ago, so a Stink Bomb would be of no use for the time being.

With no other option, Duan Rong had to rise, open the stone door, and stand at the entrance, smiling awkwardly: "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Senior Sister."

Fan Hongjiao cast a suspicious glance at Duan Rong and said, "What are you doing in there? Dawdling so much!"

As she spoke, she pushed Duan Rong aside and stood at the entrance of the stone chamber, her gaze sweeping over the room, but she discovered nothing.

"Hmph! It's empty; I thought you were hiding a beauty in a golden house?"

Duan Rong smiled: "Senior Sister, you joke. Have you forgotten, I am a married man."

Fan Hongjiao said: "Right, Little Disciple, half a year has passed, is your wife still in the Tower Forest?"

Duan Rong sighed; he had wanted to take this opportunity to ask about the Tower Forest, whether one would be forbidden from leaving forever if they failed to reach the True Qi Realm Great Perfection.

But before he could speak, Fan Hongjiao patted him lightly and said: "I've been so busy chatting with you that I almost forgot why I came. Master has returned and is waiting for us in the Council Hall; you are the only one missing!"

"Ah! Master is back?" Duan Rong said in surprise. This convenient Master hadn't even shown his face for nearly half a year.

"Yes! Come with me quickly!"

Duan Rong immediately closed the stone door of the Cultivation Secret Chamber and followed Fan Hongjiao to the inconspicuous room at the corner of the veranda on the pavilion.

The two entered the room, where Zhu He was already sitting on the chair beneath the screen, his expression peaceful and tranquil.

Wu Shidao, Lu Geng, and Wang Yue had also already taken their seats.

After Duan Rong and Fan Hongjiao entered and paid their respects to Zhu He, they each took their seats as well.

Zhu He's gaze swept over Duan Rong a few times; although he hadn't appeared for half a year, Wu Shidao had sent reports via flying eagle every month regarding matters on Yunfu Peak, including the status of these personal disciples.

He naturally knew everything about Duan Rong's affairs. His gaze toward Duan Rong held a faint approval amidst its calmness, because Wu Shidao had already told him that for the past half year, Duan Rong had been cultivating bitterly every day with little rest, his intensity bordering on self-abuse.

To possess such talent and still be so diligent reminded him of his Disciple Gu Daoling; when they were cultivating together in their early years, that Disciple was also single-mindedly focused on bitter cultivation, ignoring all else, as if possessed.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Zhu He spoke slowly: "I have been very busy this past half year and have somewhat neglected your cultivation. It is my fault for being lax in my guidance and urging."

Fan Hongjiao smiled: "Master, haven't you always been like this? Apologizing every year, yet never changing! We have long since gotten used to it."

Zhu He glared at Fan Hongjiao and said: "How impudent, I haven't finished speaking yet, and you are already interrupting."

Fan Hongjiao smiled and sat there, saying nothing more.

Everyone could see that while Zhu He was ostensibly scolding Fan Hongjiao, there was not the slightest hint of actual reproach in the nuances.

Zhu He said a few more indifferent words before saying: "Tell me about your cultivation progress over the past half year."

Everyone in the hall remained silent upon hearing this.

Seeing that they were all silent, Zhu He smiled slightly, looked at Fan Hongjiao, and said: "Hongjiao, you are the Senior Sister, you speak first!"

Fan Hongjiao stopped smiling and reported solemnly: "Reporting to Master, Hongjiao has failed your cultivation, as I am still stuck at the Third Layer of the Qi Cyclone Realm and have been unable to break through!"

Zhu He nodded and said: "The Fourth Layer of the Qi Cyclone Realm, is it really so easy to break through? I was stuck at this stage for several years myself. Hongjiao, haste makes waste! The comprehension of Artistic Conception cannot be rushed!"

Hearing the words "comprehension of Artistic Conception," Duan Rong's heart skipped a beat. The Artistic Conception in his Spirit Sea was not comprehended; it was devoured.

Fan Hongjiao said: "Hongjiao will keep Master's teachings in mind!"

Zhu He smiled and turned his gaze to Wu Shidao. "Shidao, what about you?"

Wu Shidao was clearly somewhat reserved, not as casual as Fan Hongjiao was with Zhu He.

He smiled slightly awkwardly and said: "Master, I have also failed to break through and am still stuck at the First Layer of the Qi Cyclone Realm!"

"Hmm, neither you nor Hongjiao need to rush!" Zhu He stroked his beard, his tone becoming significantly deeper: "The breakthrough of the Qi Cyclone Realm is essentially a breakthrough of Artistic Conception. As for the consolidation of the realm after the breakthrough, that is a matter of grinding work. However, the breakthrough of Artistic Conception is often a matter of chance. Sometimes, forcing it is like seeking horns on a rabbit or hair on a tortoise—utterly unattainable. It is better to let go and be at ease, planning slowly, and perhaps you will wait for the flowers to bloom!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao both wore thoughtful expressions.

After Zhu He finished speaking, he paused slightly before saying: "Lu Geng, what about you?"

At this moment, his voice was clearly more severe than when he had asked Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao.

Lu Geng said somewhat nervously: "Master, this disciple broke through to the Fourth Layer of the Origin Qi Realm half a year ago, but has yet to achieve Great Perfection."

Zhu He remained silent upon hearing this, then looked at Wang Yue and said: "Wang Yue, how is your cultivation?"

Wang Yue said: "Reporting to Master, this disciple broke through to the Third Layer of the Origin Qi Realm a month ago." After Wang Yue finished speaking, a flash of joy crossed his eyes.

He felt fortunate, having finally broken through to the Third Layer before Master's examination; heaven had truly opened its eyes!

Zhu He, however, gave a slight cold snort and said: "You've managed to catch up. It was quite a struggle for you."

Even if Wang Yue were a fool, he could hear the hidden displeasure in Zhu He's words; the joy that had just risen in his eyes instantly dimmed, and he sat there with a flushed face.

Zhu He naturally knew that compared to Duan Rong's bitter cultivation, the situation of Lu Geng and Wang Yue over the past half year was far inferior. In terms of realm, they were not as good as Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao, and in terms of talent and effort, they were not as good as Duan Rong; it was no wonder Zhu He did not give them a pleasant look.

Finally, Zhu He looked at Duan Rong: "Duan Rong, you are new to Yunfu Peak. Have you had any difficulties adjusting over the past half year? Are the Attendants serving you well in your daily life?"

Duan Rong said: "Thank you for your concern, Master. This disciple is doing very well on Yunfu Peak; the Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers are very caring, and the Attendants are serving me very well."

"That is good!" Zhu He nodded and asked: "In the past half year, have you made any progress in your cultivation?"

Zhu He had originally estimated that if Duan Rong had cultivated as bitterly as Wu Shidao reported, he should have been able to break through to the First Layer of the Origin Qi Realm in half a year; as for the Second Layer, no matter how bitterly he cultivated, it would take at least a year or more.

Everyone in the hall had the same thought, and their eyes all turned toward Duan Rong.

Duan Rong noticed their gazes, looked at Zhu He sitting under the screen, and said: "Reporting to Master, this disciple was fortunate enough to achieve the Third Layer of the Origin Qi Realm a few days ago!"

After Duan Rong finished speaking, the Council Hall fell instantly silent.

After a short while, Wu Shidao looked at Duan Rong and asked, "Junior Brother Duan, are you saying you have achieved the First Layer of the Qi Refining Realm?"

Duan Rong gave a noncommittal smile; he understood he did not need to answer, as he had just felt two strands of Divine Sense penetrate his dantian.

Fan Hongjiao looked at Wu Shidao and said, "It is not the First Layer, it is the Third Layer! Little Junior Brother, he has already achieved the Third Layer of the Qi Refining Realm!"

Wu Shidao's eyelids twitched, and he looked at Duan Rong in astonishment.

The most shocked of all was Wang Yue, who was sitting beside Duan Rong.

Wang Yue looked at Duan Rong, his expression becoming very unsightly. He had been on Yunfu Peak for over four years, yet he had only broken through to the Third Layer a month ago; Duan Rong had only arrived half a year ago, and he had already achieved the Third Layer.

This was simply too exaggerated!?

In fact, it was not just Wang Yue; everyone in the hall felt the same way.

Duan Rong rubbed his nose, feeling somewhat awkward. There was no helping it; matters of cultivation realms could not be hidden forever.

Zhu He had already used his Divine Sense to probe Duan Rong's dantian; it was indeed the Third Layer of the Qi Refining Realm, and the Original Qi within Duan Rong's dantian was as if solidified, pure and robust. It was clearly cultivated bit by bit through real practice, and definitely not some false realm forcibly boosted by strange drugs.

Zhu He pondered for a moment, looked at Duan Rong, and said, "Kid Duan, your cultivation speed is something even I, as your master, could not hope to match back in the day. I fear that even my junior brother, who was known as a monster, would still be a notch below you!"

Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao naturally knew who Zhu He was talking about, and the astonishment in their hearts grew even greater.

Duan Rong said, "That this disciple could make such progress in half a year is, firstly, thanks to the two bottles of High-Tier Beast Bone Marrow Gray Matter bestowed by Master, and secondly, this disciple feels it is because the technique I practice is very compatible with me, allowing for such progress."

Upon hearing this, a deep, cold glint flashed in Zhu He's eyes, and he said indifferently, "Which technique are you practicing?"

Duan Rong said, "Reporting to Master, it is the Roaming Dragon Clear Chant Blade."

Upon hearing this, Zhu He cast a seemingly casual, indifferent glance at Wu Shidao. In the information Wu Shidao had reported to him, Duan Rong was not practicing the Roaming Dragon Clear Chant Blade, but the Six Harmonies Blade!

Although Zhu He's glance was merely indifferent, the blame within it felt as heavy as Mount Tai to Wu Shidao.

In this matter, he had indeed made a mistake.

Because all the records of the Inner History Department showed that the technique Duan Rong had chosen was the Six Harmonies Blade. Moreover, he had heard this from Lu Geng as well, that Duan Rong had indeed selected the manual for the Six Harmonies Blade at the Scripture Repository.

As for the fact that Duan Rong had later changed his technique, Lu Geng had not told Wu Shidao. Thus, based on records and hearsay, Wu Shidao had concluded that Duan Rong was practicing the Six Harmonies Blade.

Furthermore, this Six Harmonies Blade was also a decent technique with quite a few merits and characteristics, so Wu Shidao had not felt it strange that Duan Rong had chosen this blade art.

Zhu He sat there, lost in thought, because the name Roaming Dragon Clear Chant Blade felt very familiar to him. Suddenly, his eyes flashed, and memories from over two hundred years ago flooded his mind.

This blade art was the one his junior brother had practiced when he was in the Qi Refining Realm. Two hundred years ago, it had caused quite a sensation. Because that fellow Gu Daoling had comprehended an Artistic Conception while in the Qi Refining Realm by practicing this blade art.

One must know that comprehending and condensing an Artistic Conception is something only Martial Artists in the Qi Cyclone Realm can gradually explore and penetrate.

That a Martial Artist in the Qi Refining Realm could actually comprehend an Artistic Conception—one can imagine how great a sensation it caused at the time. So much so that the Roaming Dragon Clear Chant Blade was popular for a time, but after a few decades passed and no one else could comprehend an Artistic Conception by practicing this technique, it gradually faded into obscurity.

These past events had already passed two hundred years! It was no wonder Zhu He could not recall it for a moment.

Zhu He looked at Duan Rong sitting there, and for some reason, in a trance, he seemed to see the silhouette of a young Gu Daoling. He smiled and said, "The child is teachable!"

As Zhu He spoke, he flicked his sleeve, and on the side table beside him appeared two more Porcelain Bottles.

Everyone in the hall held their breath, and even Duan Rong gasped slightly. Over the past half year, he had come to know just how rare that High-Tier Beast Bone Marrow Gray Matter was.

High-Tier Beasts almost all mastered some amount of Law Power. Even for a powerhouse in the Dongming Realm, taking them down required quite a bit of effort.

Duan Rong had once felt that, since he started cultivating, using one drop of that Bone Marrow Gray Matter a day might be a bit of a waste of natural resources.

The gazes of Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao focused on Duan Rong once again. Those two bottles of Bone Marrow Gray Matter were clearly for Duan Rong again.

This time, Fan Hongjiao was truly a bit envious, and the look she directed at Duan Rong changed slightly.

Zhu He said, "These two bottles of Bone Marrow Gray Matter were originally prepared for this half-year assessment; whoever had a breakthrough would be rewarded with them!"

Although Zhu He said this, Fan Hongjiao, Lu Geng, and the others were all grumbling in their hearts.

Especially Fan Hongjiao; the meaning was almost written on her face. Master clearly intended it for the Little Junior Brother, so why say "whoever has a breakthrough gets it"? When I had my breakthrough, I didn't see you bring them out?

Zhu He said, "Duan Rong, these two bottles of Beast Bone Marrow Gray Matter are yours!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong immediately stood up. There was no joy on his face; instead, he looked very solemn. He cupped his fists and said, "Master, this disciple is unworthy of this! I dare not accept this reward!"

Zhu He said in a warm tone, "Duan Rong, what is bestowed by an elder must not be refused!"

Duan Rong said, "Reporting to Master, that Duan Rong could make such progress in half a year is entirely due to the assistance and guidance of my Senior Brothers and Senior Sister. This disciple dares not claim the credit for himself. I absolutely dare not accept these two bottles of Bone Marrow Gray Matter alone. I ask that they be divided equally among my fellow disciples to fulfill our bond as sect mates. I hope Master will discern this sincere heart of mine!"

As Duan Rong spoke, he knelt on one knee in the hall and performed a salute with cupped fists.

At this action by Duan Rong, Fan Hongjiao and the others felt a stir in their hearts. If Duan Rong had merely been being polite, they might not have cared, but the gravity of Duan Rong's tone and the firmness of his salute clearly showed his determination to have the two bottles of Bone Marrow Gray Matter divided equally.

To be able to not forget righteousness when faced with such great profit.

Fan Hongjiao's envious heart had subsided by now, and instead, she looked at Duan Rong in a daze.

In fact, it was no wonder she was envious. That Duan Rong received two bottles of Bone Marrow Gray Matter upon entering the peak was one thing—after all, he was gifted, and in the Yougu test, he was half a step away from stepping onto the Altar—but only half a year had passed, and here were two more.

Is he eating the High-Tier Beast Bone Marrow Gray Matter like a meal? What is going on? Does he need it for every single meal?

Zhu He looked at Duan Rong, but his face showed anger. He said indignantly, "Duan Rong, get up! What 'fulfill the bond of sect mates'? On this Yunfu Peak, if anyone dares to touch a single hair on your head, I will exterminate their entire family!"

Everyone rarely saw Zhu He roar like an angry lion, and they all felt their spirits tremble.

"Hongjiao!" Zhu He suddenly shouted.

"Ah..." Fan Hongjiao was clearly stunned for a moment.

Zhu He looked at her, his beard fluttering slightly, and said, "Hongjiao, I have entrusted Duan Rong to you. Take good care of him! Do not let your master down!"

Fan Hongjiao immediately knelt on the ground, cupped her fists, and said, "Hongjiao accepts the order!"

(End of this chapter)