Chapter 559: 558. Chapter 553: Departure

558. Chapter 553: Departure

"Teacher, can I also enter the combat competition?" Lei Zuocheng's voice trembled with excitement.

He now had confidence to face any Xuan Immortal cultivator—not because he had reached Xuan Immortal Peak.

But because in these past twenty days of cultivation, his immortal energy had multiplied several times over, becoming far more refined than before; moreover, his spiritual sense had increased dramatically.

This filled him with overwhelming confidence; compared to artifact forging, he felt his chances in combat were greater.

The other cultivators who had not entered the combat competition stared at Ding Huan with the same longing—their feelings matched Lei Zuocheng's: their cultivation energy had surged, and this confidence had arisen without warning.

Ding Huan waved his hand: "Don't worry—you can still earn a ranking through artifact forging."

"But I can barely forge lower-grade immortal artifacts now…" Lei Zuocheng hesitated.

"No need to worry—I will now teach you the techniques."

"Ji Xing, Zhuo Qi, Fan Qingsi, Long Xiyue—each of you cultivates the divine arts on the jade slips. If you have questions, I will remind you anytime."

Ding Huan pulled out four jade slips and handed one to each of them.

These techniques were all modified by him from the Three Thousand Great Dao paths—he refused to believe such an overwhelming method couldn't earn a ranking in this Xuan Immortal competition.

"Lin Zhenruo, Li Yunmu, you two now begin repeatedly setting up arrays. If you encounter any issues, I will immediately advise you on corrections."

"Lei Zuocheng, start forging artifacts immediately. Qian Xun Haoyi, same—you begin crafting talismans now…"

From the start, Ding Huan never intended to teach them one by one.

He was an Immortal King at Mid-Stage, with a Great Dao Cosmic Sea—how could he waste time instructing a few Xuan Immortal students individually?

With the experience of reaching Xuan Immortal Peak in half a month and multiplying their immortal energy several times, everyone trusted Ding Huan completely.

Each person followed Ding Huan's method to cultivate divine arts, or to forge artifacts, set arrays, or craft talismans.

To their surprise, whenever they made slight errors in array-setting, artifact-forging, or talisman-crafting—wrong hand seals, flawed incantations—Ding Huan's voice would reach their ears in time.

Every word Ding Huan spoke precisely solved the problems they were facing—or would soon face.

This wasn't teaching—it was forcing knowledge directly into their minds.

Qian Xun Haoyi had always believed it would take at least ten years to master second-grade immortal talismans.

But now, every time he made a mistake or encountered a problem while crafting talismans, Ding Huan immediately pointed it out and showed him the correct method.

These weren't even the most thrilling part—the most exhilarating was that Ding Huan's guidance made him feel he needed to discover the optimal way to craft the perfect talisman himself.

This was guiding his Talisman Dao.

In just two short days, he had crafted a second-grade immortal talisman.

This wasn't an apprentice Dao Master—this was absolutely a Saint Dao Master.

The fastest progress came from Lin Zhenruo and Li Yunmu—they had previously only been able to set up second-grade immortal arrays.

Array knowledge is a gradual, step-by-step process.

Sometimes, when you make a mistake in array-setting, even a Dao Master might not catch it in time.

But Ding Huan was different—he seemed to know exactly what these two were thinking, constantly correcting the positioning of their array flags, while imprinting array knowledge directly into their minds.

Moreover, Ding Huan was guiding their Array Dao direction as well.

In just three short days, both could set up third-grade immortal arrays.

Ding Huan himself felt a deep sense of awe.

When he cultivated Array Dao, had he ever had such resources—or a teacher guiding him step by step like this?

His Array Dao had been self-taught, until he met Ji Luo.

Under Ji Luo's guidance, his Array Dao advanced by leaps and bounds.

Now, with just array flags, he could even set up second-grade divine arrays.

Conversely, Ding Huan gave the least guidance to Ji Xing, Zhuo Qi, Fan Qingsi, and Long Xiyue.

The divine arts they cultivated were clearly explained in the jade slips he had given them.

Over these past twenty-plus days, their immortal energy had become extremely refined, making cultivation twice as efficient.

With Ding Huan occasionally offering pointers, the four grew at a visibly rapid pace.

The one Ding Huan favored most was Ji Xing—Ji Xing's talent wasn't the best here, and the sect's cultivation method he used was arguably the worst.

After Ding Huan modified the methods, all eight cultivators' techniques were now on nearly the same level.

Ji Xing controlled divine arts and spells as if born with the ability—far surpassing the other three.

Ding Huan suspected this was tied to Ji Xing's origins.

Ji Xing came from a humble immortal clan, so he frequently ventured out alone to seek resources, making his combat experience the strongest.

Ten days later, Lin Zhenruo became the first to enter the ranks of Fourth-Grade Immortal Array Master, followed shortly by Li Yunmu.

Lei Zuocheng could now forge mid-grade immortal artifacts.

This progress was too extreme—he simply couldn't avoid advancing.

Every flaw in his artifact-forging steps was perfectly identified and perfectly resolved by Ding Huan.

How could he not advance while constantly solving problems?

Qian Xun Haoyi could now forge fourth-grade immortal talismans.

Twenty days later, Qian Xun Haoyi forged a fifth-grade immortal talisman—Ding Huan was still somewhat disappointed.

He had hoped Qian Xun Haoyi could forge a sixth-grade immortal talisman; he hadn't met his standard, but Ding Huan decided not to continue teaching him.

Lei Zuocheng surpassed them all—he could now forge top-grade mid-tier immortal artifacts, and under intense focus, even upper-grade immortal artifacts.

Lin Zhenruo and Li Yunmu did not disappoint—both could now set up sixth-grade immortal arrays.

"Everyone, stop," Ding Huan called out.

Everyone looked at Ding Huan with not only respect, but burning admiration.

This Dao Master Ding was utterly omnipotent.

I'm afraid even a Sage Dao Master would be no more than this.

What they felt even more grateful for now was Dao Master Ding's dedication to them.

They had indeed put up some immortal crystals earlier, but all the materials for artifact forging, talisman crafting, and array formation over this period had been provided by Dao Master Ding.

"Next, what you all need to cultivate is a sword formation. This sword formation is called the Fearless Sword Formation…"

Ding Huan began to explain the Fearless Sword Formation.

The Fearless Sword Formation was also something he had modified; its prototype was the Great Fearless Sword Formation from the Great Sword Dao arts among the Three Thousand Great Daos.

This sword formation had been tweaked by Ding Huan before being passed on to these eight disciples.

To tell the truth, Ding Huan was really being a bit of a bully here.

In a competition among Profound Immortal cultivators at an academy, using the Great Fearless Sword Formation from the Three Thousand Great Daos against others was simply like firing a cannon at a mosquito.

Even though the Great Fearless Sword Formation had been simplified again and again by Ding Huan, these eight disciples still had to practice for ten days under his repeated explanations before it barely took shape.

Ding Huan stopped continuing his instruction.

"I have matters that require a long journey. From now until the competition, I won't be by your side." Ding Huan's words left all eight somewhat stunned.

Over the past nearly two months, they had long grown accustomed to Dao Master Ding effortlessly solving any problem that came up.

In any case, there was no problem Dao Master Ding couldn't solve.

Now that the teacher said he wouldn't accompany them to the competition, they were all somewhat at a loss.

"Teacher, are you asking us to go participate in the competition on our own?" one of Lin Zhenruo's group came back to their senses.

Ding Huan nodded: "Yes, you may go together with Ban Zhi to participate in the competition."

Having said that, Ding Huan took out sixteen competition identity tokens and distributed them to everyone: "Aside from the sword formation, which requires you to act together, the other matches are individual events.

For the next period until you go to the competition, you will cultivate here at this place."

"Teacher, how do we find you afterward? Or should we return to the academy to regroup after the competition is over?" Seeing Ji Xing asked hurriedly.

Ding Huan waved his hand: "Just return to the academy on your own. My coming here to serve as a Dao Master only requires one quota for advancing to Immortal Sovereign, and one quota for advancing to Immortal Emperor.

If you all obtain rankings, you can help me secure these two quotas. As for the rest, we'll meet again in the jianghu."

"Then Teacher, if I obtain a ranking, how do I give the quota to you?" Seeing Ji Xing asked eagerly.

Ding Huan knew these advancement quotas were unregistered; in essence, they were simply Dao Rhyme Orbs.

When advancing, activating this Dao Rhyme Orb would let all the powers in the Great Dao Corridor know that a cultivator with an advancement quota was breaking through, and no one would interfere with the advancement.

The reason was that Ding Huan didn't have this kind of Dao Rhyme Orb; if he did, he could even replicate one.

"I have two teleportation array disks here. One of these two teleportation array disks will be placed with Seeing Ji Xing, and one with Director Qian Xun Haoyi.

When the time comes, you all discuss among yourselves and teleport two advancement Dao Rhyme Orbs to me."

While speaking, Ding Huan took out two teleportation array disks and handed them separately to Seeing Ji Xing and Director Qian Xun Haoyi.

In Ding Huan's thinking, given his dedication over these two months, these eight people would certainly be able to obtain rankings.

It wasn't his first or second time teaching students, yet he had never once taught continuously for two months.

The others watched, all feeling somewhat envious of the two.

The reason Ding Huan gave these teleportation array disks to Seeing Ji Xing and Director Qian Xun Haoyi was that Seeing Ji Xing had a total of only 110,000 high-grade immortal crystals on him, yet he had put up 100,000 high-grade immortal crystals.

This should be someone who knows gratitude.

Director Qian Xun Haoyi was the same. Director Qian Xun Haoyi's personal wealth was richer than Seeing Ji Xing's; he had 2,070,000 high-grade divine crystals on him.

As a result, he put up 2,050,000 high-grade immortal crystals—equally giving everything he had.

"One last thing: the cultivation methods I modified for you all can absorb part of the thunder source.

If during the duels in the magical combat competition, someone wants to advance to Grand Yi Immortal, you may advance at any time without worry.

Also, I implanted eight high-grade immortal spirit veins at my residence. When you leave, you can draw them out—one per person."

Ding Huan had studied the magical combat competition; many disciples from the great academies who participated were at Profound Immortal Perfection.

During the magical combat finals, they all liked to suddenly advance, using it to pressure opponents into losing.

The key was that this method conformed to the tournament rules.

Precisely because of this, Ding Huan had everyone cultivate to Profound Immortal Perfection, so they could advance to Grand Yi Immortal at any time.

After arranging everything, Ding Huan withdrew the ninth-grade immortal array he had set up, and at the same time had Ji Luo withdraw the third-grade divine array. Only then did he restrain his aura, break through the protective array of the Eternal Wasteland Divine Power Academy, and leave.

For someone like Ding Huan, a second-grade divine array master, the protective array of the Eternal Wasteland Divine Power Academy was essentially the same as nothing.

After Ding Huan left, Seeing Ji Xing and the other seven continued to diligently cultivate the sword formation at Ding Huan's residence.

That was because they knew clearly that with Ding Huan gone, even if they forged artifacts and crafted talismans, their progress would be negligible—better to practice the sword formation instead.