Author Note: I apologize for the late chapter I got inflammation in my eyes lately and because of my medication I couldn't see properly to prepare a new chapter for you guys this chapter is longer than my previous chapters I prepare this long chapter to thank you all for all the support you given me tell now and to apologize for being late in uploading a new chapter for you guys I hope you all like the new chapter
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When Ye Feng was teleported from the Azure Fang Pagoda, all the students were stunned by the state he was in.
Even Ye Long couldn't believe his eyes when he saw how badly injured and bloodied Ye Feng was. He shouted in alarm, 'Fifth brother!'"
When Ye Long yelled, all the students turned toward him, surprised to learn that Ye Feng was his brother.
Ye Long rushed toward his brother as fast as he could, ignoring the surprised looks of the students. But before he could reach him, the academy staff scooped Ye Feng off the ground and hurried him to the medical bay.
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In The Academy medical bay
Ye Feng, the long blue-haired student, and the burly, spiky red-haired student were being attended to by six radiant Saint Masters.
From the palms of the radiant saint masters, a soft, milky white light poured over the three injured students. The luminous glow surged into their wounds, closing them swiftly and leaving the students visibly rejuvenated.
The brown-bearded, middle-aged man overseeing the freshmen competition entered the medical bay and saw six radiant saint masters tending to the students. He asked, ''How are they?'"
One of the Radiant Saint Masters glanced at the brown-bearded, middle-aged man and said, ''You don't need to worry about those kids; they'll be fine once we finish healing them.'"
The brown-bearded middle-aged man let out a relieved sigh and nodded. "Thanks for your help. I just need to gather their formation stones and hand them to the headmaster so he can watch the recording."
One of the radiant saint masters carefully took the formation stones from the students' pockets and passed them to the brown-bearded man, who pocketed them and exited the medical bay.
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Azure Dragon eye tower
The brown-bearded, middle-aged man strode into the Azure Dragon Eye Tower, making his way toward the academy headmaster's office. When he reached the door, he knocked on it firmly. From inside, the academy master's voice called out, "Enter."
The brown-bearded, middle-aged man entered the office and cupped his fist. "Master, the freshmen competition has just concluded, and I have brought the formation stones to you. I come bearing great news: one of the new students managed to reach the second level of the pagoda."
The academy master's eyes widened at the news, then he broke into a broad smile. "Excellent! Very good! Hahahahaha! Well done. Hand me this student's formation stone first—I want to review his performance before moving on to the others."
The brown-bearded, middle-aged man first handed Ye Feng's formation stone to the academy master, and then gave him a space ring containing the other students' formation stones.
With a wave of his hand, the academy master said, "You can leave now, Cheng." Cheng bowed slightly, cupped his fist, and quietly left the office.
The academy master placed Ye Feng's formation stone against his forehead and closed his eyes. The formation engraved on the stone glowed brilliantly, and soon the master's mind was filled with vivid visions of Ye Feng battling the puppets.
The academy master was impressed by Ye Feng's talent and fighting spirit. Watching him improving with every passing second, he murmured to himself, "This kid is a genius."
Suddenly, the academy master froze, shocked to see the light in Ye Feng's eyes dim. Ye Feng lunged at the puppet with a frenzied intensity, as if possessed.
"What's going on? What happened to the kid?" he muttered, his eyes widening again when he saw Ye Feng driving his blade into the puppet's forehead. "Is that… Sword Qi? But how? To use Sword Qi, you need a Saint Weapon… This is really getting confusing."
After finishing watching Ye Feng's battle against the puppets in the pagoda, he carefully stored the formation stone in his space ring. Rising to his feet, he let out a deep sigh. "I need to see the teacher and show him this kid's performance in the pagoda… maybe then he'll understand and clear up my misunderstanding."
The academy master then walked over to the right wall of his office and pressed his palm against it. Instantly, a circular formation glowed brightly on the surface.
The wall then split in two, revealing a staircase that descended into darkness before him.
The academy master descended the stairs, his palm igniting into a small, steady flame that illuminated the path ahead. As he continued downward, the wall behind him silently sealed shut.
When the academy master reached the bottom of the stairs, he found himself standing before a serene lake. He knelt on one knee and said, "Teacher, your disciple greets you. I am troubled by certain doubts and hope that you will grant me your guidance."
As the academy headmaster finished his speech, the glowing white orb resting at the bottom of the lake shot upward with incredible speed.
"SPLASH."
The glowing orb shot out of the lake, then hovered above the water, suspended in midair.
It then began to shift, morphing into an old man with a long, grey beard and flowing grey hair. His face was lined with deep wrinkles, and, like the white orb, he glowed with a translucent light. Fixing his gaze on the headmaster with obvious displeasure, he said, "Chen, it better be important I was cultivating."
Chen smiled at his master. "Forgive me, teacher, but I am confused about something. Could you please enlighten me?"
He then placed Ye Feng's formation stone on the ground before his master. The master raised an eyebrow and let out a sigh of displeasure, yet he still gave Chen a nod.
The formation stone floated in the air on its own and gently touched Chen's master's transparent forehead. Through it, Chen's master observed Ye Feng's fight in the pagoda. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the light in Ye Feng's eyes dim, and then he let out a loud, hearty laugh.
"HAHAHAHAHA! To think I'd witness someone this lucky—entering one of the spirit worlds with such low cultivation. Truly unexpected!"
Chen's brow furrowed. "Spirit worlds? Teacher… what are you talking about?"
Chen's master looked at his disciple and began to explain, "I once read in ancient records that every Dao has its own spirit world; some Daos even have more than one. But to enter the spirit world of any Dao, one must have a pure heart toward the Dao they pursue, be genuinely faithful towards it, and possess incredible luck."
"According to ancient records, many cultivators who possessed a pure heart and faithful towards the Dao still failed to enter the spirit world, as they lacked the good fortune to do so."
Chen's eyes widened in shock. His voice trembled as he asked, "You mean… this kid?"
Chen's master smirked. "Without a doubt. He entered one of the sword spirit worlds. I'm genuinely curious which one he ended up in—this kid's luck is simply unfathomable."
Chen was also curious, but he decided to ask, "Teacher, why are these spirit worlds so remarkable? Is it because they are mentioned in the ancient records?"
Chen's master sighed and said, "No. You see, those who manage to enter a spirit world are cultivators capable of reaching at least the Saint Emperor Realm—and some may even ascend to the Legendary Realm, the Origin Realm."
Chen was surprised and stunned upon hearing this. "How is this possible?" he asked.
Chen's master chuckled. "The answer is simple," he said. "You see, the spirit worlds are full of spirit energy and natural resources—the deeper you venture into them, the greater their abundance."
"The ancient records also state that the legendary origin energy can be found within the spirit worlds."
Chen was shocked upon hearing this, and a twinge of envy crept into his heart. He hesitated for a moment before asking another question. "Teacher… I noticed the kid used sword Qi, but how is it possible, he didn't use a saint weapon when fighting the puppets in the pagoda?"
Chen's master smiled at the question. "Remember this, Chen: a sword cultivator can wield even a simple wooden stick as a sword. A true sword cultivator doesn't need a saint weapon to produce sword Qi—they can generate it from a mere wooden sword if they wish. That kid merely brushed against the path of sword cultivation unconsciously; he used sword Qi without even realizing it when he fought that puppet."
"Chen," his master said, turning to him, "I want you to give this kid the Azure Heart Sutra Sword Art."
Chen's eyes widened as he looked at his master. "Are you sure, teacher?"
His master gave a firm nod. "Do exactly as I say. No arguments. And I want to meet that kid."
Chen nodded and returned to his office to carry out his master's instructions.
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In the Medical bay
Ye Long waited anxiously outside the medical bay, his two friends standing close by. After what felt like an eternity, two hours later, Ye Feng finally emerged, fully healed.
When Ye Long saw him, he smiled broadly. "Fifth brother, you're alright."
Ye Feng returned the smile and glanced at his brother and his friends, letting out a soft chuckle. "First brother… yeah, I'm alright. Those puppets in the pagoda were really tough to handle."
Ye Long nodded approvingly. "Yes, but you should be proud of yourself. You reached the second level—a rare feat. In the history of our academy, only twice have freshmen ever managed to reach the second level of the pagoda."
When Ye Feng heard this, he was stunned. He had never realized that reaching the second level of the pagoda was such an impressive feat. They chatted for a while as they walked toward their respective dwellings. Eventually, they bade each other farewell and went their separate ways.
After entering his dwelling, Ye Feng settled into a lotus position and closed his eyes. Moments later, he opened them abruptly, his eyes widening in shock. "What the hell? I can break through to the Saint-Realm at any time… I just need a little more energy to make the breakthrough! How is this possible?"
When Ye Feng reached the 9th layer of Saint Force, no matter how diligently he cultivated, he couldn't break through to the Saint-Realm. The energy required exceeded that of the previous layers. Yet now, he could break through to the Saint-Realm at any moment. He couldn't understand how his cultivation had suddenly advanced by leaps and bounds.
Ye Feng racked his mind for an answer, but none came. He let out a long sigh. "There's no point in thinking about it right now." With that, he closed his eyes once more, replaying in his mind every battle he had fought in the pagoda and in the crimson, desolate world.
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Next day
The next morning, when Ye Feng arrived at class, many students began whispering and pointing at him. Irritated by their behavior, Ye Feng chose to ignore them. He took a seat at the back of the classroom and waited patiently for the teacher to arrive.
The brown-bearded, middle-aged man who had overseen the freshmen competition the previous day entered the classroom. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Greetings to all of you. For this month, I will be your main instructor. My name is Li Cheng—feel free to call me Teacher Li."
"Today, I will be explaining how to condense a saint weapon. Those who have already succeeded in condensing their own saint weapons are advised to leave. There is no point in attending this class if you have already completed this step."
Half of the students in the classroom stood up and left. After they were gone, Li began the class.
"When condensing a saint weapon, it is best to choose a weapon you are familiar with and that suits you," he said. "Different people are suited to different weapons. Personality, body build, and sense of touch are the primary factors that determine which type of weapon is most compatible with an individual."
"Individuals with larger builds are generally suited to axes or spears, whereas those with slimmer physiques are often better matched with swords or daggers. These are only general examples."
"There are many methods for condensing a saint's weapon. I advise you to go to the academy library and search for a method that suits you. The library holds a wide variety of techniques. When I was a student at this academy, I used the slower method to condense my own saint weapon—you will be able to find that method in the library as well."
Teacher Li then began answering the students' questions. Two hours later, he dismissed the class. He glanced at Ye Feng and two other students and said, "Ye Feng, Zhang Wei, and Fu, stay behind and wait here."
After the other students had left, Teacher Li said to them, "Follow me. We're going to meet the academy headmaster."
The trio were taken aback, but they quickly nodded. Without asking any questions, they followed Teacher Li toward the Azure Dragon Eye Tower.
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Azure dragon Eye Tower
Teacher Li led the three students to the academy headmaster's office. After knocking on the door, Chen's voice sounded from within, "Come in."
As they entered the headmaster's office, Chen smiled and greeted them, "Welcome. Your performance in the freshman competition left a deep impression on me. Now, allow me to bestow your rewards."
With a casual wave of his hand over his spatial ring, three monster cores of different sizes materialized on the academy master's desk.
Three pink monster cores laid above the desk, their sizes clearly different from one another. The headmaster glanced at them before saying, "Alright, Fu, step forward."
The spiky, red-haired, burly boy stepped forward, his broad frame tense with anticipation. Chen placed the smallest monster core into his hands and said warmly, "You did very well in the pagoda. I'm certain everyone in your village will be proud of you."
Fu broke into a wide smile and cupped his fists toward Chen. "Thank you, Headmaster. I promise to work harder and become stronger."
Chen nodded in satisfaction. Fu then turned back, slipped the monster core into his pocket, and returned to stand beside Ye Feng.
Chen then called for Zhang Wei and smiled at him. The long, blue-haired boy stepped forward and cupped his fist. Chen handed him the second-rank monster core and said, "This is your reward. Continue striving to improve—I am certain you will grow much stronger in the future." Zhang Wei nodded respectfully and stored the monster core in his space belt.
Chen then looked intently at Ye Feng and gave a gentle smile. "Ye Feng, please step forward."
Ye Feng stepped forward and cupped his fist. With clear approval in his eyes, Chen said, "You are the champion of the freshmen competition. Your performance was outstanding, and I am proud to present you with this."
Chen then handed Ye Feng a rank-three monster core along with a badge engraved with his name. An Azure Dragon emblem was prominently imprinted on the badge, radiating dignity and honor.
Ye Feng accepted his prizes and stored them inside his space belt before cupping his fist respectfully toward Chen. He then moved to stand beside Fu and Zhang Wei. Zhang Wei glanced at Ye Feng, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Chen rose from his seat and said calmly, "I expect great things from all of you. Cultivate diligently. You are all dismissed—except for Ye Feng."
The two students and Teacher Li cupped their fists and left the office. Once they were gone, Chen chuckled as he looked at Ye Feng, who stood nervously before him.
"Relax, Ye Feng," Chen said warmly. "The reason I asked you to stay behind is because my teacher wishes to meet with you."
Ye Feng was startled but quickly nodded.
A moment later, a bright white orb suddenly appeared out of thin air. The light flickered briefly before transforming into an old man.
The old man smiled at Ye Feng, who stared at him in wide-eyed surprise. Chen quickly cupped his fists and said, "Teacher, disciple greets you." The old man nodded in acknowledgment, and Ye Feng followed suit, cupping his fist in greeting. The old man's smile never wavered as he looked at Ye Feng. Noticing the boy's nervousness, he said gently, "Child, there's no need to be nervous. The reason I wanted to meet you is to ask you a question."
Ye Feng's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "Senior, what is it that you want to ask?"
The old man smiled gently. "When you were fighting the puppets in the pagoda… didn't you suddenly find yourself in a strange land?"
Ye Feng's eyes widened in shock. He took a deep breath to calm himself and then asked.
"Senior, how did you know?"
The old man smirked. "Child, I have read countless ancient books and records. When I saw the light in your eyes dim the moment through the formation stone, I was certain you had entered one of the spirit worlds."
Ye Feng frowned in confusion. "Spirit worlds?"
The old man nodded solemnly. "The Daos have countless spirit worlds that cultivators may enter. Yet, it is extremely rare for anyone to truly step inside. To do so, a cultivator must be devoted to a Dao, maintain a pure heart in the pursuit of that Dao, and… possess extraordinary luck. I want you to describe to me—the spirit world you entered."
Ye Feng nodded and began describing, in vivid detail, the crimson, desolate land he had entered and his battle with the black-robed figure. Chen and the old man remained silent, listening intently. The old man's eyes grew brighter with amazement as the story unfolded. After a long pause, he finally spoke, his voice calm but filled with amazement:
"Child, you have truly entered one of the Spirit Worlds. That realm you stepped into… is no ordinary place. Very few cultivators can even set foot there. You are unbelievably lucky, kid—I must admit, I truly envy your luck."
"The spirit world you have entered is called the Asura Sword World."
Ye Feng frowned in confusion. "Asura Sword World?"
The old man nodded solemnly. "Yes. The way you described the world you entered and the black-robed man you fought matches the records I have studied. It aligns perfectly with the Asura Sword World, one of the legendary sword spirit worlds."
Ye Feng was taken aback, his eyes widening in shock. The old man, however, continued without a hint of hesitation. "The Asura Sword World… it will aid you greatly in your cultivation in the days to come. Tell me, didn't you notice your cultivation increasing while you were there?"
Ye Feng was surprised and asked, "Yes, I noticed it yesterday… is it because I entered the Asura Sword World?" The old man nodded. "All spirit worlds are filled with spirit energy. When you enter one, it is your soul that steps inside, and it subconsciously absorbs and refines the surrounding spirit energy. That is why your cultivation has increased."
Ye Feng now understood why his cultivation had advanced so rapidly. The old man, however, continued, his gaze piercing yet calm: "A word of advice, child—use the Asura Sword World wisely. Many saint kings would give anything for the fortune you possess. Master it, and it will aid your cultivation immeasurably in the future."
The old man suddenly radiated a brilliant light, transforming into a glowing white orb before vanishing from the headmaster's office.
After the old man disappeared, Chen reached into his space ring and pulled out a book, handing it to Ye Feng. "My teacher asked me to give you this," he said. "It's the Azure Heart Sutra Sword Art. it will help you greatly in the future. Don't let me—or my master—down, Ye Feng."
Ye Feng smiled gratefully at Chen. "Headmaster, I promise I won't disappoint you. Thank you both for your support." He cupped his fist in salute to Chen.
Chen nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. "Good. You may leave now, Ye Feng. I'll be keeping an eye on you from here on out. Remember that." Ye Feng nodded and exited the headmaster's office.