. The Central Plains was turbulent, yet within the study of Qingce Manor, a stark contrast unfolded, a scene of loving father and filial daughter.
Chen Guan stood at his desk, one hand supporting his daughter, the other holding a pen and writing a letter.
Little Qingyan, dressed in a white dress, sat restlessly on Chen Guan's arm, her tiny hands playing with his hair, poking his cheek, and giggling at her handiwork.
Her laughter was innocent, but to Chen Guan, it was simply beautiful, bringing an unprecedented sense of contentment and peace.
Perhaps this was what he had so diligently cultivated to protect.
"Daddy, are you done?"
Little Qingyan, more intelligent than most children, saw Chen Guan put down his pen and examine the letter, knowing he had finished. She immediately threw her arms around his neck, clinging to him like a little kangaroo.
"Yes, I'm done. Let's go find your Uncle Youdu."
Chen Guan smiled softly, put the letter away, and walked out, supporting his daughter.
It was the fifth day since Chen Guan returned to Qingce Manor. He estimated that Xiao Yan should be arriving soon, so the items he needed to bring back naturally needed to be prepared in advance.
As for the "Uncle Youdu" Chen Guan mentioned, it was undoubtedly the Old Monster Youdu.
During the time Chen Guan had been away from Qingce Manor for the Ancient Clan, the old man had been very close to Xiao Qingyan, even doting on her more than Skyfire Venerable, Little Medical Immortal, and the like. His intentions were obvious to everyone.
While Xiao Qingyan was clever, she was still just a child. She sensed the kindness of this ugly old man and naturally took a liking to him.
Fortunately, the Old Monster Youdu was respectful and didn't dare take advantage of Chen Guan. He treated Xiao Qingyan as an elder, making him his equal.
When Chen Guan returned a few days ago, he learned about this but didn't think much of it. It wasn't a big deal. He had long since dismissed the Old Monster Youdu's opinions; otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed him to stay around.
Besides, his daughter's happiness was all that mattered!
Upon exiting the study, one could immediately spot a few groups of people at the edge of the square not far away.
Venerable Skyfire and Old Monster Phantom Poison were a pair, enjoying tea and chess as a way to pass their free time, and today was no different.
Little Medical Immortal, Qinglin, and their young disciple Tang Zi gathered together, the former two engaged in lively conversation. Their strengths were now comparable, and they all possessed unique physiques, so frequent interaction was beneficial. As for the girl, she simply listened with wide eyes, occasionally interjecting.
Conversely, Chen Guan's eldest disciple, Tang Xi, cultivated the most diligently. Even when everyone else was relaxing, she would still sit cross-legged at the edge, meditating and cultivating. She was incredibly patient, and her mindset was far more resilient than her younger sister's.
However, Chen Guan could also see that both siblings were now at the ninth level of Dou Qi, with comparable strength.
Consequently, the younger sister, Tang Zi, had demonstrated a markedly higher talent in cultivation over the past two years than her brother.
Of course, talent isn't the absolute criterion for determining a person's future achievements. Chen Guan, however, was more optimistic about the older sister.
"Daddy, I'm going to Aunt Qing."
The daughter released her hand, her wide eyes gazing in the direction of Xiao Yixian and the others.
Chen Guan knew the Aunt Qing she was referring to was Xiao Yixian. As for Qinglin, his daughter preferred to call her Sister Qinglin.
Anyway, when you don't know what's going on, it can be quite confusing.
Chen Guan put his daughter down and watched her flutter over. As she passed by Skyfire Venerable and Ghost Poison Old Monster, who were playing chess, she grinned mischievously. She circled behind Ghost Poison Old Monster, stealthily plucked a handful of his beard, and ran away. Under Ghost Poison Old Monster's sullen gaze, her smile widened, and she quickened her pace, throwing herself into Xiao Yixian's arms for shelter. The sight of
a powerful five-star Dou Zun being successfully ambushed by a child set the crowd ablaze with laughter.
Chen Guan couldn't help but smile, his mental plans faltering for a moment.
Just then, a dark figure emerged from the distant sky above Zhuangzi, flashing a few times before landing on the square.
"Brother Guan!"
Xiao Yan is here!
Taking in Xiao Yan's radiant aura, even though they'd already heard Chen Guan mention it, Skyfire Venerable and the others were still somewhat shocked.
Three years had passed in the Heavenly Tomb, but to those outside, it was only half a year.
In half a year, he'd gone from Dou Zong to Dou Zun…
Thinking back on his own struggles back then, it was truly infuriating to compare oneself to others!
Chen Guan nodded and greeted Xiao Yan. Seeing his hurried demeanor, he gave up on keeping him company and immediately got straight to the point, handing a letter and several storage rings to the Ghost Poison Monster.
"Youdu, Xiao Yan is preparing to return to the northwest. I originally planned to ask him to bring back some supplies, but then I realized the situation is volatile right now, and having an additional powerful leader to oversee the Heavenly Alliance would be more secure. So, I want you to accompany him, personally deliver these things to Sister Yaoye, and then stay there for a while."
"Actually, I've made all the necessary arrangements. I'm just worried that if Sister Yaoye and the others were truly in danger, they wouldn't let go of their roots and hesitate. You're very sensitive to danger, and I'll feel more at ease with you there. Remember, prioritize safety above all else. As for the Heavenly Alliance..." "
Just do your best!"
To put it bluntly, the old monster Youdu has many ways to protect his life, and his past experience of escaping into multiple burrows has made him highly alert.
With him in charge of the northwest, the Soul Palace will have little chance of threatening the Heavenly Alliance without sending a Semi-Saint-level expert. If there's any sign of danger, the old monster Youdu can respond proactively.
In this regard, the old man is a genius.
The old ghostly monster, Youdu, naturally understood the hidden meaning in his words and gave Chen Guan a glare.
He then didn't refuse, putting away the letter and the ring.
"Don't worry, if danger ever comes, I'll knock them all out and take them away."
He then ignored Chen Guan, walked in front of Xiao Qingyan, and gently pinched her chubby cheek.
"Dare to pull my beard? I'll remember this grudge. I'll deal with you when I get back."
Xiao Qingyan, assuming he'd be back soon from his outing, giggled and snuggled into Xiao Yixian's arms, oblivious.
"Brother Guan, we're leaving then,"
Xiao Yan said, not saying a word.
He wasn't going to stay in the northwest permanently this time, so it wouldn't be long before they'd see each other again, so there was no need to say anything more.
Chen Guan nodded slightly and watched the two of them soar into the sky, heading towards the spatial wormhole in Shengdan City.
...
After arranging his affairs in the northwest, Chen Guan's life became peaceful.
Besides his daily training, he spent all his time with his daughter, Xiao Yixian, and the others, fulfilling his responsibilities as a teacher.
But honestly, there wasn't much to guide the two disciples right now. All Chen Guan could do was help them lay the best foundation or find ways to hone their character.
For the rest, they had to rely on themselves.
Compared to the idyllic life of Qingce Manor, the chaos in Zhongzhou was intensifying.
Even Shengdan City, where fighting was forbidden, had become a chaotic mess with the influx of people, making management difficult.
Especially those who already harbored blood feuds, their envy was exacerbated when they met, some even ignoring Danta's prohibitions and engaging in violence.
This had happened more than once in the past three months!
Although Danta quickly suppressed each incident, it was a stark reflection of the current atmosphere in Zhongzhou.
The storm wasn't far off!
Danta, Xuankongzi's residence.
Chen Guan and Xuankongzi sat across from each other.
"Although the distance between peak Dou Zun and Semi-Saint is only a single step, this step is like a chasm between heaven and earth. The gap between the two is so terrifying that it's hard to describe. For example, I, your Uncle Xuanyi, Uncle Tianleizi, and even Yao Chen before us, have all remained at this point for decades."
"This short step has caused countless talented individuals to finally die with hatred, and until the moment of their death, they all held immense regret."
"The reason for this is that within this short step, there is a unique cultivation hidden. This unique cultivation can only be sensed by those who approach this level."
"Nine Revolutions to Sainthood?"
"Indeed, after reaching the peak of Nine-Star Dou Zun, this is the thorny road we must face."
"The so-called Nine Revolutions is a quantifier specifically used to measure the gap between peak Dou Zun and Semi-Saint. After all, the gap between the two is so terrifying that it requires a more seemingly subtle, but actually vast, level of difference to distinguish."
"The Nine Transformations isn't complicated. Simply put, it can be described as nine rounds of condensation and compression. When a peak Dou Zun cultivator's Dou Qi reaches full strength and can no longer be increased, the Nine Transformations begin. At this point, we must condense and compress all of our Dou Qi, ultimately creating space within the now-full body to accommodate new Dou Qi."
"Once our Dou Qi is full again, we must continue condensing! Repeat this cycle nine times in a row! After nine times, we reach Grand Consummation!"
"At that point, our Dou Qi will undergo a qualitative transformation under this compression, allowing us to leap across the immeasurable chasm and truly ascend to the Saint stage!"
"Before, Xuan Yi, Tian Lei Zi, and I had slight differences in strength, but now we're all at the same level. Dou Zun like us can be called Nine Transformations Dou Zun."
Xuan Kong Zi's eyes revealed an unconcealed longing as he described the road ahead.
Only after the Nine Transformations can one achieve Sainthood!
The three of them were truly just one step away!
Chen Guan was equally captivated. The Nine Transformations sounded easy to say, but actually practicing them was even more arduous than going from a One-Star Dou Zun to a Nine-Star Dou Zun.
Yao Chen and the Three Great Masters of Danta, all of whom were top-tier geniuses in their youth, yet they managed to stay here for decades. The sheer difficulty of this journey is evident.
Even geniuses face this challenge, let alone those with less talent. Without a fate-altering opportunity, becoming a saint is only a dream, a lifetime's quest.
"Haha, feeling the pressure? Don't worry too much. This step is a chasm for everyone, even those of the Ancient Races. There's no point in rushing."
"You've been in excellent form these past two months. A peaceful mind, free from impatience, is a crucial mindset for the Ninth Transformation. In my opinion, the greatest improvement in the Ninth Transformation, the compression and concentration of Dou Qi, lies in the state of mind."
"When flowers bloom, butterflies will come!"
Chen Guan nodded slightly. Although he already knew this was a necessary path, he still gained a lot from his conversation with Xuan Kongzi.
After all, these are the experiences of the predecessors!
"Okay, wait until you reach the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Zun before thinking about this matter. I asked you to come here today because I have something else to tell you."
"I have heard about the space trade fair you asked me to find out about!"
(End of this chapter)