I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 697: Chapter 429: Assessment (2)

At this moment, his voice was evidently more severe compared to when he inquired Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao.

Lu Geng responded with a hint of nervousness, “Master, half a year ago, your disciple broke through to the Fourth Level of the Primordial Qi Realm, but has yet to achieve Great Perfection.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu He remained silent and looked towards Wang Yue, asking, “Wang Yue, how is your cultivation going?”

Wang Yue replied, “Reporting to Master, your disciple broke through to the Third Level of the Primordial Qi Realm a month ago.” After he finished speaking, a glimmer of satisfaction appeared on his face.

He was relieved in his heart, feeling fortunate to have broken through the Third Level before his master’s examination; Heaven truly had mercy on him!

However, Zhu He gave a slight cold snort and said, “You’ve barely caught up. It’s been hard on you, truly.”

Even if Wang Yue was naive, he could discern the hidden displeasure in Zhu He’s words, and the joy that had just risen in his eyes instantly dimmed. His face flushed as he sat there.

Jia He naturally knew about the situation of Lu Geng and Wang Yue over the past half-year. Compared to Duan Rong’s dedicated cultivation, the two fell far behind. In terms of realm, they were inferior to Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao, and in terms of talent and effort, they could not match Duan Rong, which understandably led Jia He to not show them a good face.

Finally, Jia He looked towards Duan Rong and said, “Duan Rong, you are new to Yunfu Peak. Have you found anything uncomfortable over these past six months? Is the attendant serving you well in your daily life?”

Duan Rong said, “Thank you for your concern, Master. Your disciple is living very well on Yunfu Peak. My senior brothers and sisters take great care of me, and the attendants serve me well.”

“That’s good!” Jia He nodded and asked, “In the past six months, have you made any progress in your cultivation?”

Jia He originally estimated that if Duan Rong was cultivating as diligently as Wu Shidao reported, he should be able to break through the First Level of the Primordial Qi Realm within six months, and as for the Second Level, no matter how hard he cultivated, it would take over a year.

The people in the hall held the same thought, and they all turned their eyes towards Duan Rong.

Duan Rong noticed the gazes of the crowd, and he looked towards Jia He, who was seated beneath the screen. He said, “Reporting to Master, your disciple fortunately achieved the Third Level of the Primordial Qi Realm a few days ago!”

After Duan Rong spoke, the conference hall immediately fell silent.

After a moment, Wu Shidao looked at Duan Rong and asked, “Duan junior, did you say you achieved the First Level of the Primordial Qi Realm?”

Duan Rong merely smiled faintly, understanding he need not reply because he had just felt two divine senses penetrate his dantian.

Fan Hongjiao looked at Wu Shidao and said, “It’s not the First Level, it’s the Third Level! Little junior brother, he has already achieved the Third Level of the Primordial Qi Realm!”

Wu Shidao’s eyelids twitched, staring at Duan Rong in astonishment.

The most shocked one was Wang Yue sitting beside Duan Rong.

Wang Yue looked at Duan Rong, his face turning quite unsightly. He had been on Yunfu Peak for over four years, and only a month ago did he break through to the Third Level, while Duan Rong had achieved the Third Level in just half a year after arriving.

Isn’t this too exaggerated!?

Actually, not just Wang Yue, but everyone in the hall had the same feeling.

Duan Rong rubbed his nose, somewhat embarrassed. There was no way around it; matters of realm simply couldn’t be concealed.

Jia He had already checked Duan Rong’s dantian with divine sense, confirming it was indeed the Third Level of the Primordial Qi Realm, and the original primordial qi within Duan Rong’s dantian was as solid, pure, and vigorous as it appeared, clearly cultivated inch by inch, and definitely not some odd medicine forcibly brought up to the Void Realm.

Jia He pondered for a moment, looked at Duan Rong, and said, “Duan lad, your cultivation speed is beyond what even I could aspire to back in my prime. It seems even my brother, known as a prodigy, pales in comparison to you!”

Fan Hongjiao and Wu Shidao naturally knew whom Jia He was referring to, and their astonishment intensified.

Duan Rong said, “Your disciple’s progress within six months was primarily due to the two bottles of High Rank Primordial Beast’s bone marrow ash given by you, Master, and second, your disciple feels that the cultivation technique I practiced is very compatible with me, allowing such progress.”

Upon hearing this, Jia He’s eyes flashed with a profound and cold gleam, and he asked casually, “Which cultivation technique are you practicing?”

Duan Rong replied, “Reporting to Master, it’s the Wandering Dragon Clear Melody Saber.”

Upon hearing this, Jia He seemingly casually glanced at Wu Shidao. The information Wu Shidao had reported did not state that Duan Rong was practicing the Wandering Dragon Clear Melody Saber, but rather the Six Harmonies Saber!

Though Jia He merely shot a casual glance, in Wu Shidao’s eyes, the implied fault was as heavy as Mount Tai.

Indeed, he had erred in this matter.

For all records within the Internal History Department showed that Duan Rong had chosen the Six Harmonies Saber as his cultivation technique, and he had heard from Lu Geng that Duan Rong picked the sword manual for the Six Harmonies Saber in the Scripture Repository.

As for the matter of Duan Rong changing his cultivation technique later, Lu Geng did not tell Wu Shidao. Wu Shidao, through documents and hearsay, believed that the cultivation technique Duan Rong practiced was the Six Harmonies Saber.

Moreover, this Six Harmonies Saber is also a rather remarkable cultivation technique, with quite a few strengths and unique qualities. Wu Shidao didn’t find it strange that Duan Rong chose this saber technique.

Zhu He sat there, contemplating to himself. The name Wandering Dragon Clear Melody Saber seemed familiar to him. Suddenly, his expression changed, and memories from over two hundred years ago surged to his mind.

This saber technique was the one his junior brother practiced during the Primordial Qi Realm. Two hundred years ago, it caused quite a sensation, as Gu Daoling, back then, comprehended the mental realm by cultivating this saber technique in the Primordial Qi Realm.

One should know that comprehending and condensing a mental realm is something that martial artists in the Qi Vortex Realm gradually explore and penetrate.

A martial artist in the Primordial Qi Realm could actually comprehend a mental realm, indicating the tremendous sensation it caused at that time. Hence, the Wandering Dragon Clear Melody Saber was very popular for a while. However, after a few decades with no one else able to comprehend the mental realm through this cultivation technique, it gradually faded away.

These were events that happened two hundred years ago! No wonder Zhu He couldn’t recall them for a moment.

Looking at Duan Rong sitting there, Zhu He, for some reason, briefly seemed to see the silhouette of a young Gu Daoling, and he smiled, saying, “This lad is teachable!”

Saying this, Zhu He waved his sleeve, and two porcelain bottles appeared on the table beside him.

Everyone present suddenly held their breath, even Duan Rong took a slight breath. Over the past half year, he had come to understand just how rare the bone marrow ash of a high rank primordial beast was.

High rank primordial beasts almost all possessed some degree of the power of law. Even strong practitioners in the Dark Grotto Heaven Realm would find it challenging to capture them.

Duan Rong once thought that consuming one drop of bone marrow ash per day from the start of his cultivation was perhaps a little wasteful.

Fan Hongjiao, Wu Shidao, and others once again focused their gaze on Duan Rong. Those two bottles of bone marrow ash were evidently meant for Duan Rong.

This time, Fan Hongjiao was truly envious; her gaze towards Duan Rong slightly changed.

Zhu He said, “These two bottles of bone marrow ash were meant as a reward for the half-year evaluation, given to anyone who made a breakthrough.”

Though Zhu He said this, Fan Hongjiao, Lu Geng and others couldn’t help but question it inwardly.

Especially Fan Hongjiao, the implication was almost written on her face. Clearly, the master intended these for the junior apprentice. He said it would be given for breakthroughs, but when I broke through, you didn’t produce them, did you?

Zhu He said, “Duan Rong, these two bottles of primordial beast bone marrow ash are yours!”

Upon hearing this, Duan Rong immediately stood up. Instead of expressing joy, his face was solemn; he clasped his fists and said, “Master, the disciple feels unworthy! Dare not accept the gift!”

Zhu He gently said, “Duan Rong, a gift from the elder must not be declined!”

Duan Rong said, “Reporting to Master, the progress I made in the past half year is entirely due to the assistance and guidance of my senior sister and senior brothers. I dare not claim credit for myself alone. I cannot accept these two bottles of bone marrow ash for myself. Please distribute them to my brothers and sisters to uphold the camaraderie within our sect. May my earnest wish be understood by Master!”

As he spoke, Duan Rong kneeled on one leg in the hall, clasping his fists in salute.

This gesture moved Fan Hongjiao and others. If Duan Rong were simply being polite, they might not care much, but his firm words and strong salute clearly show his determination to split the two bottles of bone marrow ash.

Such great benefits at hand, yet he does not forget righteousness.

At this moment, Fan Hongjiao’s envy diminished, and she instead looked at Duan Rong in a daze.

It’s no wonder she was envious; Duan Rong’s entry into the peak came with a gift of two bottles of bone marrow ash, understandable given his exceptional talent almost reaching the altar in the Deep Valley test. But now, after just six months, he received two more.

Are they treating high rank primordial beast bone marrow ash like a staple, never missing it in any meal?

Looking at Duan Rong, Zhu He was visibly angry, scolding, “Duan Rong, get up! What camaraderie, whoever dares harm you on Yunfu Peak, I’ll destroy their entire family!”

It’s rare to see Zhu He roar like an angry lion, and everyone trembled in their hearts.

“Hongjiao!” Zhu He suddenly called.

“Ah…” Fan Hongjiao was clearly stunned.

Looking at her, Zhu He’s beard slightly fluttered, he said, “Hongjiao, I’m entrusting Duan Rong to you. Take good care of him! Don’t let the master down!”

Fan Hongjiao immediately knelt on the ground and clasped her fists, saying, “Hongjiao accepts the command!”