Zhang Xiaofan stood before Taoist Master Daoxuan..
Even though his own cultivation had already reached the Shangqing Realm, he still felt the immense, bottomless pressure radiating from Daoxuan.
So this… is the Taiqing Realm, Zhang Xiaofan thought. Truly terrifying.
In his past life, he had cultivated both Buddhist and Taoist arts, mastered all five volumes of the Heavenly Book, and had also reached Taiqing.
Now, with ten times his original talent, if he could gather the remaining five volumes again, breaking through to Taiqing in this life would be easy.
The future was bright.
He bowed deeply. "Disciple Zhang Xiaofan greets the Master."
Daoxuan hummed lightly, his calm gaze fixed on him for several breaths before speaking.
"Two years of training with that person… how much of his skill have you learned?"
"Fifty percent," Zhang Xiaofan replied without hesitation. He knew the importance of hiding one's strength.
Daoxuan raised an eyebrow. "Lin Jingyu has also been learning from him and may have reached fifty percent… but your talent is greater than Lin Jingyu's. Only fifty percent?" His eyes narrowed slightly. "It seems you've already learned to hide your abilities and keep a trump card."
Zhang Xiaofan smiled faintly. "Then… eighty percent."
Daoxuan's expression relaxed into approval. Stroking his beard, he said, "To master eighty percent of his skills in just two years… your talent is extraordinary, even greater than his."
He paused, then looked Zhang Xiaofan straight in the eyes. "There's no need to hide anything from me.
I can see through it. Wan Jianyi is sharp-tongued, Tian Buyi cares for his reputation… who taught you this habit of keeping secrets?"
Zhang Xiaofan coughed twice, his gaze quietly falling on Daoxuan — the meaning obvious.
Daoxuan frowned. "I have no hidden cards. Why would you think I'd teach you to hide yours?"
Zhang Xiaofan spoke slowly. "A thousand years ago, Qingyun Sect produced a genius who reached Taiqing, securing our position as the righteous path's leader for a millennium.
Since then, no one has reached Taiqing… but…" His eyes shifted deliberately toward Daoxuan's lower abdomen ... his dantian. "Sect Master, you are a once-in-a-lifetime genius. You've already broken through to… Taiqing Realm."
Swish!
Daoxuan vanished from his seat on the high platform and appeared right in front of Zhang Xiaofan in an instant. His expression changed dramatically.
"I fooled everyone… but I didn't expect I couldn't fool you."
"Hehe…" Zhang Xiaofan chuckled. "That's why I said — I learned this habit of hiding things from you. Am I wrong?"
Daoxuan's stern face softened into a strange smile. "You guessed Wan Jianyi's identity before… now you've guessed I'm in Taiqing. You really are sharp."
Zhang Xiaofan shook his head. "Not sharp ... I just know the Sect Master's talent is unmatched. It's only natural you'd reach Taiqing."
For the first time in many years, Daoxuan laughed heartily. "You're good with words! But you're right .... my talent does rival Patriarch Qingye's."
Zhang Xiaofan thought to himself, No matter how powerful someone is, they still like to hear a little flattery… just like the ancient emperors.
Daoxuan eventually sat back on his high seat. "Two years ago, with your Tai Chi Xuanqing Dao, you had already reached the eighth level of the Jade Purity realm. Have you broken through to the ninth level now?"
He didn't even mention Shangqing. No one in Qingyun history, except Patriarch Qingye, had gone from ninth-level Jade Purity to Shangqing in less than twenty years.
Even his proudest disciple, Xiao Yicai, had taken sixty years to reach the ninth level and still hadn't touched Shangqing.
Zhang Xiaofan nodded calmly. "I have broken through to the ninth level, and my foundation is solid."
A pleased smile appeared on Daoxuan's face. "Even more talented than Xiao Yicai… he won't be able to attend the Seven Clans Martial Competition this time, but with your strength, first place is certain."
Zhang Xiaofan shook his head. "Lu Xueqi of Xiaozhu Peak is an extraordinary talent, rivaling Patriarch Qingye. In this competition, she will be my true opponent."
Daoxuan raised a brow. "I'd like to see this Lu Xueqi who even you regard as a challenge."
Suddenly, he remembered something. "Two years ago, I told the sect you had gone astray in your cultivation, that your obsession had damaged your mind, and your cultivation might be lost .... all to give you a reason to go to the ancestral temple."
Zhang Xiaofan frowned. "Doesn't that ruin my reputation?"
"Reputation? What reputation? You're so thick-skinned," Daoxuan snorted.
Zhang Xiaofan's eyes narrowed in thought. "Two years ago, I badly injured Qi Hao in one strike… I bet he was thrilled to hear I'd gone crazy."
Daoxuan replied, "Whether he was happy or not, I don't know.
But he's already announced he'll challenge you in the competition."
Zhang Xiaofan's fist tightened slowly. "Then I'll beat the crap out of him, shove him back into his crap, and beat him with it again."
Daoxuan glared. "Get lost! Who taught you to speak like that? You're a disgrace to a Taoist disciple."
"I made it up myself," Zhang Xiaofan said with a grin, bowing. "The Seven Clans Martial Competition is in a few days.
I haven't returned to Dazhu Peak in two years, so I'll take my leave."
"Go," Daoxuan waved him off.
Outside, Zhang Xiaofan crossed the Rainbow Bridge, keeping the Fire Stick's aura completely suppressed.
Once he left the formation around Tongtian Peak, the Fire Stick transformed into a streak of light and carried him swiftly toward Dazhu Peak.
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