Chapter 22: Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parent, Teacher

Even from a position quite distant from Zhang Lingyu and Luo Fu.

Master Zhang Zhiwei, Lu Jin, and Tian Jinzong still felt the power that, accompanied by intense heat, seeped directly into the depths of their consciousness.

That was the power known as the Seven Deadly Sins—Wrath!!

At this moment, Luo Fu’s flames had clearly acquired a hint of the Dao’s essence—transforming from mere physical fire that burned matter into a force capable of attacking the mind and spirit.

“Not bad!!” Lu Jin grinned, showing only teeth, yet feigned humility: “If this boy can rebuild the San Yi Sect, I’m already satisfied!!”

“Enough, old Lu. We’ve known each other for decades—stop pretending to be modest!!” Zhang Zhiwei teased. “If Itachi don’t want such a promising disciple, Itachi can leave him to Longhu Mountain. I’ll make an exception and take him as my eleventh disciple!!”

"Itachi old bastard!!" Lu Jin's expression darkened with anger. "Don't even think about it! Isn't Zhang Lingyu already your favored disciple? Are Itachi trying to steal my San Yi Sect's heir? Don't Itachi fear the shame if word gets out?"

"So what? I have a favored disciple—I can still take another favored disciple!!" Zhang Zhiwei said without a trace of shame.

The two elders, whose combined ages surpassed two hundred, exchanged jibes.

On the training ground.

As the fire dragon struck the Golden Light Spell, it exploded instantly into a raging sea of flames.

Zhang Lingyu, defending with the Golden Light Spell, immediately felt that the flames were eroding his spell at every moment.

No!!

More accurately, the Golden Light Spell blocked the flames’ physical damage—but the power of the Seven Deadly Sins within the flames seeped into Zhang Lingyu’s consciousness, like a thread woven through his life-spirit cultivation.

In a daze, Zhang Lingyu’s mind involuntarily recalled memories that had once filled him with rage.

The intense fury even gave him hallucinatory sensations.

Before his eyes appeared the scene of his past intimacy with Xia He.

“No!!!” Unable to cultivate Yang Five Thunder—this was Zhang Lingyu’s greatest flaw. He hated himself for that one moment of weakness.

Under the burning of the Seven Deadly Sins flame, this self-hatred instantly turned Zhang Lingyu’s eyes red.

Zhang Zhiwei, who had just been teasing Lu Jin, suddenly changed expression, his gaze filled with sorrow as he murmured: “Foolish child!! Foolish child!!”

Before his words had fully faded, Zhang Zhiwei’s figure vanished from where he stood.

Lu Jin froze, then roared in fury. “Itachi old bastard, what are Itachi doing?!”

As he spoke, Lu Jin swiftly drew a Five Thunder Talisman in the air and launched it toward Zhang Zhiwei.

A flash of thunder and lightning struck—but Zhang Zhiwei acted as if he felt nothing behind him.

Letting the brilliant lightning crash against his protective Golden Light, he surged straight into the sea of flames, pressed a finger to Zhang Lingyu’s third eye, and chanted the Calming Mantra.

Soon, Zhang Lingyu’s extreme emotional state was calmed and restored to clarity by the power of the Calming Mantra.

Realizing his condition, Zhang Lingyu was filled with profound shame.

His master had asked him to test Luo Fu—but he had failed so miserably. Now, Zhang Lingyu sank deeper into self-doubt.

SLAP!!

Zhang Zhiwei slapped Zhang Lingyu on the forehead. “Boy, can’t Itachi see past this?”

“Disciple… disciple has disappointed Master!!” Zhang Lingyu bowed his head in shame.

Zhang Zhiwei sighed helplessly. “Ah… well. This kind of thing ultimately depends on Itachi alone.”

As he spoke, Zhang Zhiwei waved his hand, sending Zhang Lingyu to Tian Jinzong’s side—and used him as a shield to block Lu Jin’s pursuit.

Gazing directly at Luo Fu, who hovered in midair, Zhang Zhiwei said: “Boy, Itachi’ve truly surprised me. Your innate talent is a deadly weapon against those with spiritual flaws. Itachi’ve never used this on old Lu, have Itachi?”

Luo Fu nodded. “As your disciple, I have never used my innate talent on Master Lu.”

Zhang Zhiwei regarded Luo Fu with approval. “Good. Since Lingyu cannot test your power, let me try it myself. Let me see what strange transformation lies within Itachi. Be careful!!”

Before Luo Fu could refuse, Zhang Zhiwei’s body erupted in brilliant golden light.

If Zhang Lingyu’s Golden Light resembled cloudy glass, Zhang Zhiwei’s was like pure crystal.

It was a purity beyond compare—a life-spirit Golden Light.

Luo Fu’s eyes sharpened; he stepped lightly into the air. Behind him, the pattern of the Big Dipper flashed once and vanished.

Star Breathing: Second Form—Goumen Celestial Spin!!

In an instant, Luo Fu’s figure vanished from midair.

Almost simultaneously, a golden palm swept across the space where Luo Fu had just been.

“Itachi old bastard, do Itachi even have any shame?” Lu Jin laughed mockingly. “Attacking a youth like this? Itachi’re disgracing every generation of Heavenly Masters!!”

Though his words were harsh, Lu Jin’s expression was full of keen interest.

At first, he’d acted out of concern and instinctively blocked Zhang Zhiwei with the Tongtian Talisman’s Five Thunder. But now he realized.

If Zhang Lingyu couldn’t prove Luo Fu’s strength, why not let the old bastard test him himself?

After all, Lu Jin knew Zhang Zhiwei well—this supreme master would never harm his precious treasure.

Yes!!

After witnessing Luo Fu’s talent and potential, Lu Jin had fully embraced him as the hope for rebuilding the San Yi Sect. In his heart, Luo Fu’s status had skyrocketed like a rocket.

It now rivaled Lu Linglong’s.

The difference? Lu Jin’s love for Lu Linglong was that of a great-grandfather for his great-granddaughter. But for Luo Fu, it was pure admiration.

The rest of the Lu family? Merely reserves for Lu Linglong and the Lu clan’s future. They could not be compared to Luo Fu.

One palm missed Luo Fu. Zhang Zhiwei’s eyes gleamed. “Boy, Itachi keep surprising me—endless wonders! What technique is this? The Big Dipper? Seems like a short-term method to enhance life-spirit cultivation through breath.”

Compared to simple breathing, “breath cultivation” encompasses a far broader scope.

Yet fundamentally, breath cultivation and breathing are essentially equivalent.

Compared to mere breathing, the scope of breathing and qi circulation is undoubtedly much broader.

But in essence, breathing and qi circulation are entirely equivalent.

(End of Chapter)