Chapter 145: The First Time Climbing the Tree

Clang! Clang!

A melodious bell chime echoed through the heavens and earth, the sound carrying an ancient cadence. Wherever the bell's resonance spread, the hearts of all the students began to settle into tranquility.

Then, as if a wind rose between heaven and earth, the breeze swept past, the Phase Force Tree swaying slightly, and everyone felt the natural energy suddenly begin to seethe.

On the various leaf platforms, natural energy rapidly converged, forming energy vortices of all sizes.

Within each vortex sat a student.

All of them had now immersed themselves in cultivation.

Meanwhile, on a wooden platform in the new student area, shrouded in mist, five figures sat quietly—some chatting idly, others silent. They were the five Purple-Glow Mentors among the new students.

Shen Shen Jinxiao sat before a low table, holding a teapot, pouring himself several cups. His gaze pierced through the thin fog and glanced toward a certain Violet Jade Leaf Platform.

"Mentor Xi Chan, are you satisfied with how you've taught Li Luo's dual phases?" he suddenly smiled, his eyes looking toward the nearby Mentor Xi Chan, whose face was veiled in black gauze, her slender figure curvaceous and graceful.

Yet to his words, Mentor Xi Chan's gaze remained utterly unruffled, as if she hadn't heard at all—clearly unwilling to respond.

Shen Shen Jinxiao didn't mind, merely continuing on his own: "Li Luo's second phase isn't of a high grade—at best around the fourth or fifth rank... If he can't master the power of dual phases, it would only make his Phase Force slightly thicker. In a real fight, his low-grade dual phases may not necessarily compare to a lower eighth-rank single phase. His previous victory over Duze Duze Beixuan was mostly thanks to catching the opponent off guard."

"Like a dog catching mice—meddling in others' business. Shen Shen Jinxiao, stop acting like a decent person would." Mentor Xi Chan said flatly.

Pfft.

Mentor Cao Sheng, who had been drinking nonstop from his wine pot, let out a snort of laughter, then quickly covered his mouth, gazing heartbroken at the wine he'd sprayed out.

Shen Shen Jinxiao smiled and said: "I'm merely thinking of Mentor Xi Chan's interests. After all, your seniority is rather shallow, and in recent years you haven't produced any heavyweight students. In another year or two, the academy's alliance's 'Sky Mirror Tower' will likely open again. If your record remains ordinary, I'm afraid you'll miss this opportunity once more."

Mentor Xi Chan gave a cold laugh and said: "What a pity. Shen Shen Jinxiao, if you could keep a student like Jiang Qing'e, the Sky Mirror Tower would surely have a place for you."

Shen Shen Jinxiao's eyes narrowed slightly, and the natural energy around his body stirred faintly.

Mentor Xi Chan also cast an icy gaze his way, and the atmosphere instantly froze.

"Ahem..."

Mentor Mi Er cleared his throat lightly, breaking the icy atmosphere, and laughed: "Speaking of which, among these new students cultivating on the Phase Force Tree for the first time, who do you think will trigger the brightest Phase Dawn?"

A lean, scholarly-looking Purple-Glow Mentor smiled and said: "If nothing unexpected happens, it should be Qin Qin Zhulu. This person carries an upper eighth-rank phase, has a pure, battle-loving nature, and has a limitless future ahead."

He was the fifth Purple-Glow Mentor, named Mentor Chu Zi.

"Wang Wang Hejiu, Bai Bai Doudou, Duze Duze Beixuan, Beside Yi Yi Lisha, and others all carry lower eighth-rank phases. If luck is on their side, they might also compete with Qin Qin Zhulu for brilliance." Mentor Cao Sheng set down his wine jug and laughed.

"However, triggering Phase Dawn doesn't rely entirely on phase grade—it also relies on inner conviction... This is about being at ease with and trusting oneself. The importance of cultivating one's heart and nature may not be less than that of phase grade."

"After all, among the Gold-Glow and Silver-Glow students we've seen in the past, there have been those who triggered Phase Dawn whose brightness even surpassed some Purple-Glow students."

"This is what one's own conviction brings."

The other Purple-Glow Mentors nodded upon hearing this. As Marquis-ranked powerhouses, they naturally understood this principle—only that conviction relates to one's heart and nature, and these youngsters may not necessarily comprehend the benefits conviction can bring.

And just as they were speaking, an unusual surge of Phase Force erupted in this area. The five Purple-Glow Mentors' expressions shifted, and they looked over to see strange light gathering on a Violet Jade Leaf Platform, then beginning to spread.

"Phase Dawn already? This quickly?"

The five mentors were somewhat surprised. Their gazes pierced through the Phase Dawn and saw the dark-skinned figure seated within—it was Qin Qin Zhulu.

Streams of dawn light flowed around Qin Qin Zhulu's body, appearing exceptionally bright and resplendent.

"Not bad. This Phase Dawn is already considered rare in strength over the past two years." Regarding the Phase Dawn Qin Qin Zhulu had triggered, the Purple-Glow Mentors all nodded in approval.

However, they weren't surprised at all by Qin Qin Zhulu triggering Phase Dawn. After all, given his phase grade and that special temperament, he was indeed superior to the other students.

Not long after Qin Qin Zhulu triggered his Phase Dawn, it seemed to draw the attention of other top students, and one after another, Phase Dawns began to bloom in succession.

These students were, without exception, the elite among the new students.

For a time, the many Phase Dawns echoed one another—a splendid and dazzling sight.

While the various Phase Dawns bloomed outside, Li Luo immersed his mind in the two phase palaces within his body. Vast amounts of natural energy now surged into his body, guided by the Energy Guidance Art, finally transforming into two streams of pure Phase Force that fell into the two phase palaces.

Within the two phase palaces, the two Phase Force seeds radiated a hungry aura, devouring every wisp of Phase Force that flowed in.

Li Luo could clearly see that on the two Phase Force seeds, faint traces of Phase Force began to emerge like spots.

And the volume of the Phase Force seeds was slowly growing larger.

Sensing the changes in the two Phase Force seeds, Li Luo rejoiced within. The Phase Force Tree of Saintly Xuanxing Academy was indeed extraordinary—the effect of this first cultivation far exceeded his imagination.

As more and more natural energy poured in, the two Phase Force seeds began to tremble faintly at this moment.

At this instant, Li Luo sensed a faint unusual fluctuation in the natural energy outside, and his heart stirred slightly before he smiled softly.

He understood—this was his Phase Force seeds resonating with the natural energy of the outside world.

The so-called Phase Dawn had arrived, as expected.

At the same time.

On a certain Violet Jade Leaf Platform.

Seeing Yu Lang sat with his eyes tightly shut, absorbing and refining the natural energy continuously surging in from all around. However, as time passed, he discovered that although the cultivation effect was quite good, there were no signs of Phase Dawn appearing.

Clearly, his sixth-rank phase was still relatively on the low side.

This result left Seeing Yu Lang somewhat helpless and anxious, but soon he let out a light breath and quickly steadied his state of mind.

"Time to bring out the ultimate move."

He muttered to himself, then let out a thunderous roar in his heart: "I am Seeing Yu Lang! I have an eighth-rank phase! I will become the fastest man in the world!"

"I am Seeing Yu Lang! I have an eighth-rank phase! I will become the fastest man in the world!"

"..."

Roar after roar of furious shouts rolled continuously through Seeing Yu Lang's heart.

As those shouts echoed, Seeing Yu Lang's expression actually began to gradually grow solemn.

If anyone who knew the trade were aware of what Seeing Yu Lang was thinking, they would be shocked to discover that this fellow was actually employing some kind of hypnosis technique.

Only his hypnosis wasn't aimed at others—it was aimed at himself...

Through repeated self-hypnosis, he made himself believe that he truly possessed an eighth-rank phase, and that he would become the fastest man in the future.

Generally speaking, such hypnosis was far too unrealistic, but somehow, it seemed Seeing Yu Lang himself actually believed it!

At this moment, he seemed to possess the bearing of an eighth-rank minister.

Thus, the very next instant, the Purple Jade Leaf Platform where he stood saw the world's energy begin to ripple, and then a Prime Minister's Dawn abruptly erupted!

(One update today.)