Chapter 20: The Ascension of Ancient Qi Cultivators

Zhang Zhi stared wide-eyed at Luo Fu and exclaimed, “It’s exactly as Old Lu described! Kid, Itachi’re just missing a halo on your forehead!!”

Once entering the Reverse Life Third Stage, one’s primordial qi naturally fills the body, turning pure white like jade.

Logically, the first level of Reverse Life Third Stage shouldn’t appear as utterly white and sacred as Luo Fu’s does now.

His Reverse Life Third Stage state rivals even the second level.

But what startled Zhang Zhi most was Luo Fu’s perfect alignment with the Reverse Life Third Stage.

Given that Luo Fu had cultivated for less than a month, normally he’d need time to even enter this state.

Yet Luo Fu’s entry into the Reverse Life Third Stage was astonishingly swift.

To the Grand Master, no wonder Lu Jin cared so much for this primordial anomaly who’d joined the Lu family less than a month ago.

Indeed, aside from those impossibly white wings, Luo Fu’s talent for cultivating the Reverse Life Third Stage is extraordinary—unbelievably good!!

So good it left Zhang Zhi stunned.

After his shock, Zhang Zhi turned to Tian Jinzhong and asked, “Jinzhong, don’t Itachi find something off about this kid’s condition?”

“Ascension to Immortality!” Tian Jinzhong replied after thought. “His condition resembles the ascension of ancient qi cultivators.”

“I think so too!! After Old Lu described this kid, I specifically researched ancient records—it does match the ascension of ancient qi cultivators,” Zhang Zhi nodded. “But according to our orthodox Xuanmen understanding, true ancient qi cultivators’ ascension should manifest as primordial qi overflowing, radiating feather-like auroras. Yet this kid actually grew real wings. That’s downright unbelievable!!”

After a brief pause, Zhang Zhi said, “Kid, turn around—I want to see those wings.”

His gaze sharpened instantly. Zhang Zhi silently observed Luo Fu’s foot movements as he turned.

Not content with merely observing the wings on Luo Fu’s back, Zhang Zhi reached out and touched them.

Feeling that the pure white wings carried not only the sensation of primordial qi but also a tangible, physical texture, Zhang Zhi fell silent for a long while before asking, “In this state, can Itachi hover?”

“Hover? These wings can fly, but hover? That’s impossible—that’s only achievable in the third level of Reverse Life Third Stage,” Lu Jin blurted out instinctively.

The rapid rise of the San Yi Sect in the past was closely tied to Zuo Ruotong’s third-level state, where he appeared like a true immortal riding clouds and mist.

Aside from Zuo Ruotong, who had truly reached the third level of Reverse Life Third Stage, no other San Yi disciples could do more than briefly leap into the air. Hovering was out of the question—even brief suspension was nearly impossible.

Lu Jin had seen Luo Fu’s wings fly, but the idea of hovering still felt implausible.

Under Lu Jin’s stunned gaze, Luo Fu nodded and said, “Respected Master, since entering the Reverse Life Third Stage, these wings have indeed allowed me to hover.”

“Hss!!” Zhang Zhi rubbed his temples in pain. “Your condition has truly opened my eyes! But in my view, it’s not necessarily bad. Still, for safety’s sake, Itachi should strengthen your nature cultivation. Your primordial ability controls the Seven Sins, and combined with this transformation in Reverse Life Third Stage—it’s a blessing, not a curse. But remember: blessings and curses are intertwined!!”

The Grand Master’s words offered Luo Fu only psychological comfort—practically none at all.

“Old Daoist!!” Lu Jin exploded. “Stop using empty platitudes to brush this off! This kid is our San Yi Sect’s future. What exactly is happening to him? Do Itachi know? Give me a straight answer!!”

“Old Lu, calm down!” Zhang Zhi sighed helplessly. “I’ve never seen anything like this! Based on his current state, it’s clearly a blessing, not a curse—but what comes next? I simply don’t know.”

Knowing such vague answers wouldn’t satisfy Lu Jin, Zhang Zhi hesitated, then said, “How about this: let him spar with Lingyu. Maybe we’ll uncover something. Itachi want me to fix this problem—don’t Itachi think I need to see the problem first?”

“Fine!” Lu Jin admitted Luo Fu’s condition was indeed perplexing.

Zhang Zhi had never encountered anything like this; his inability to offer constructive advice wasn’t surprising.

Soon, under Zhang Zhi’s call,

Zhang Lingyu, clad in a Daoist robe, arrived on the training ground.

After bowing respectfully to Zhang Zhi, Lu Jin, Tian Jinzhong, and others, and learning the purpose of his summons,

He glanced at Luo Fu once and immediately agreed.

But as he approached Luo Fu, a silent surge of the Seven Sins struck his heart—Zhang Lingyu’s expression changed instantly. “It’s Itachi!! No—your qi has changed!!”

In the yiren world, the best way to identify someone is through the uniqueness of their qi.

Qi is truly irreplicable. Whether Shen Chong’s loan sharking or Yu Hua Du’s mimicry, none can penetrate to the level of true qi.

After all, qi is the most fundamental product of life—more unique than DNA.

Yet this sensation of the Seven Sins, Zhang Lingyu had felt before—during his confrontation with Luo Fu when he sought Zhang Chulan.

But now, the feeling was strangely familiar yet subtly different.

Zhang Zhi smirked. “Lingyu, have Itachi encountered this brother Luo Fu before?”

Zhang Lingyu frowned, shaking his head. “Disciple… I’m not sure. The man who hid his face and wore that ridiculous headgear—his aura felt similar to Brother Luo Fu’s: both wield the Seven Sins. But strangely… his qi differs from Brother Luo Fu’s!!”

Zhang Zhi, Lu Jin, and Tian Jinzhong all fixed their gazes on Luo Fu, waiting for his answer.

Zhang Lingyu’s encounter with Luo Fu in Tianjinwei had been fully reported to Zhang Zhi.

Zhang Zhi still remembered vividly the sudden emergence of a yiren who seemed like a fusion of the Four Madmen, wielding the Seven Sins.

When Lu Jin first mentioned Luo Fu’s ability to control the Seven Sins, Zhang Zhi had already suspected.

Even the secret affection between his own disciple Zhang Lingyu and the Bone-Scraping Blade of Quanxing, Zhang Zhi had watched with amusement.

How much more so this primordial anomaly, who had no prior misdeeds and had voluntarily joined Lu Jin?

He had ordered Zhang Lingyu to spar with Luo Fu solely to confirm this—and to give Lu Jin a clear warning.

(End of Chapter)