Chapter 504 - 246: The Four Main Lineages’ Selection, the Cruel Battle for True Inheritance, and Jiang Che’s Overnight Entry into the Spirit Void Technique

’As expected, this is profound and difficult to understand...’

Jiang Che felt a headache coming on after just a rough glance at the verses for the first layer.

The key junctures regarding the circulation of True Qi were especially labyrinthine; the slightest misstep could lead to qi deviation.

However, for Jiang Che, all of this was merely a slight challenge.

With his incredibly profound Martial Arts foundation, as well as his top-tier Comprehension and Root Bone, the True Qi in his body soon completed a full Circulation along the intricate routes of the Spirit Void Technique.

A faint, ethereal tinge of azure gradually appeared within his originally chaotic, gray True Qi, making it more nimble and elusive.

Barely an hour had passed.

A soft buzz resounded from within his body.

[Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao: Spirit Void Technique First Layer - Entry Level (1/20000)]

’I did it!’

Jiang Che opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them.

He nodded in satisfaction, feeling the brand-new power coursing through his body.

’So this is an authentic inherited Cultivation Technique? Just by reaching the Entry Level, my True Qi is already at least twenty percent stronger!’

’If I cultivate it to the Tenth Layer of Perfection and break through to the True Mastery Realm...’

’I can’t even imagine how strong I’ll become!’

A sudden sense of yearning filled Jiang Che’s heart.

...

「The next morning.」

Sunlight filtered through the emerald bamboo, dappling the bluestone pavers of Tingtai Garden.

Song Yuan hummed a little tune, his hands clasped behind his back as he strolled leisurely toward Jiang Che’s courtyard.

As the Senior Brother responsible for guiding new disciples, he was here today to answer questions and resolve any confusion for this newest junior brother.

’The first layer of the Spirit Void Technique is the most critical, and also the most perilous. I remember back in my day, it took me a full month of arduous cultivation and several pointers from my master to barely get my foot in the door.’

Song Yuan mused to himself:

’Junior Brother Jiang has exceptional Talent, and he even cultivated the Basic Chapter to Great Perfection. But this advanced Cultivation Technique is a different beast entirely. It involves the mysteries of the Divine Soul. He must have been completely lost after his first attempt last night, maybe he even suffered a little.’

’This is the perfect time for me to show up and offer some pointers. I can fulfill my duty as a Senior Brother and also teach him that the path of cultivation is long and there’s no room for arrogance!’

With these thoughts in mind, Song Yuan arrived at Jiang Che’s gate.

He straightened his robes, put on the profound and mysterious air of a Senior Brother, and raised his hand to knock on the door knocker.

"Junior Brother Jiang, are you awake? Your Senior Brother is here to check on you."

"CREAK—"

The courtyard gate soon swung open.

Jiang Che walked out, looking full of vigor. Upon seeing Song Yuan, he immediately cupped his hands in salute.

"Senior Brother Song! What brings you here so early?"

Song Yuan smiled and waved his hand dismissively. His gaze fell upon Jiang Che, and he was just about to ask about his cultivation progress.

However...

In the next moment,

the smile on his face froze solid.

The bellyful of "words of guidance" he had prepared got stuck in his throat, refusing to come out.

Jiang Che hadn’t deliberately concealed his aura.

At this moment, his aura was perfectly harmonious. As strands of True Qi circulated around him, they faintly exuded an ethereal, nimble, azure intent, creating a subtle, almost imperceptible resonance with the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of Spirit Void Peak!

This aura...

Song Yuan’s pupils trembled violently!

’Spirit Void True Intent?!’

’This... He’s reached the Entry Level?!’

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief and even secretly released his Divine Thought to scan him.

There was no mistake!

It was, without a doubt, the sign of having entered the first layer of the Spirit Void Technique!

’How is this possible?!’

A tempestuous storm raged in Song Yuan’s heart, and he was completely dumbfounded.

How much time had passed?

At most, it had only been a single night since they parted yesterday, right?

He reached the Entry Level of the Spirit Void Technique in a single night?!

Keep in mind, he was considered one of the more talented disciples on Spirit Void Peak, and even then, it had taken him a full month of agonizing effort to barely reach the Entry Level!

The difference between them...

Thirty times?!

An indescribable, sour feeling instantly flooded Song Yuan’s heart.

Is this what a true Tenth Layer Great Perfection looks like?

Is this the peerless Demon Fiend valued by the Ancestral Master?

Seriously... comparisons will be the death of me!

"Senior Brother Song? Is something wrong?"

Seeing Song Yuan standing at the gate in a daze, his expression shifting unpredictably, Jiang Che couldn’t help but ask with some confusion, "Did I do something wrong?"

Song Yuan snapped back to his senses.

Looking at Jiang Che’s face, full of "innocence" and "eagerness to learn," he took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and hint of jealousy in his heart.

’No!’

’I’m the Senior Brother!’

’If I act like some country bumpkin who’s never seen anything, won’t I lose all my dignity as a Senior Brother?’

Song Yuan cleared his throat, forcing his expression to appear calm and nonchalant, even adopting an air of "I-saw-it-coming" indifference.

"Ahem... It’s nothing."

"Your Senior Brother was merely observing your aura."

He stood with his hands behind his back, nodding slightly, and commented in the tone of a seasoned veteran:

"Mm... Not bad. Your aura is reasonably stable. It seems you really put in the effort last night, Junior Brother, actually managing to reach the Entry Level in a single night."

"As for this speed... hmm, it’s passable. Barely a passing grade, I’d say."

’A... passing grade?’

Jiang Che was taken aback, a flicker of surprise in his heart.

He had thought that reaching the Entry Level in a single night was quite fast.

He never expected that in Senior Brother Song’s eyes, it was merely "barely a passing grade."

"Senior Brother Song, is everyone really this fast?" Jiang Che asked with genuine humility.

An imperceptible blush crept onto Song Yuan’s face, but the words had already been spoken. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and see the act through to the end.

He lifted his head, his gaze drifting toward the sea of clouds in the distance as he spoke with a profound expression:

"But of course."

"Here in the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect, geniuses are as common as fish in the sea. While not many achieve the Entry Level in a single night, it’s not unheard of."

At this point, he glanced at Jiang Che and added in a casual tone,

"Back in my day... when I first started cultivating this technique, I was... more or less at the same speed."

"In fact, I might have been just a tiny bit faster than you."

As he said this, he even made a "tiny bit" gesture with his thumb and index finger.

In reality, his heart was bleeding.

’A whole month! It took me a whole damn month!’

Upon hearing this, however, Jiang Che was filled with solemn respect.

He looked at the "unfathomable" Senior Brother Song before him, and the wisp of complacency that had risen from his own rapid breakthrough instantly vanished like smoke.

’As expected! A top-tier Sect is truly in a league of its own!’

’Even an ordinary Senior Brother in charge of new disciples possesses such terrifying Talent!’

’And what about the stronger senior brothers, or even the True Inheritor Senior Brothers? Just how terrifying must they be?!’

’It seems that even with the help of my panel, I absolutely cannot underestimate the heroes of this world!’

’This Spirit Void Peak is truly full of hidden masters and overflowing with talent!’

Jiang Che took a deep breath, his gaze growing ever more resolute.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother! I understand now!"

"I will guard against pride and impatience, redouble my efforts, and never bring shame upon our Spirit Void Peak!"

Looking at Jiang Che’s earnest and motivated expression, Song Yuan felt both a pang of guilt and a strange sense of satisfaction.

’Ah, whatever. As long as it motivates my junior brother to cultivate, a little... uh... exaggeration is for his own good, right?’

He clapped Jiang Che on the shoulder and said in a grave and heartfelt tone,

"Mm, I am gratified that you have come to this realization."

"Alright, since you’ve already reached the Entry Level, there’s no need for me to waste my breath today. Go on and continue to stabilize your Realm. In a few days, I’ll teach you something new!"

With that, fearing he would expose his bluff if he stayed any longer—or be asked an even more soul-crushing question by Jiang Che—Song Yuan waved his hand and turned to leave.

Jiang Che watched his Senior Brother depart, his eyes filled with admiration.

’Senior Brother Song not only has exceptional Talent, but he’s also so humble and low-key. Now that’s a true master of the Dao!’

’I still have a long way to go!’

’I have to work even harder!’

He turned, went back into his house, closed the door, and threw himself once more into a near-frenzied state of cultivation.

...