Chapter 124: The Taixu Secret Realm
"Master, this disciple has an unreasonable request."
After calming down, Ye Beixuan cupped his hands respectfully toward Chu Feng.
Chu Feng smiled, "Speak."
"I would like to leave the mountain in a month for training. Though Wendao Academy is rich in spiritual energy, it's crowded with fellow disciples, which isn't ideal for cultivating the Hongmeng Creation Art."
Ye Beixuan appeared completely respectful on the outside, but inwardly he was thinking: 'I must head down the mountain to seek more opportunities. Only then can I make full use of my rebirth and cultivate the Hongmeng Creation Art to entry level within three years.'
"Granted."
Chu Feng appreciated this type of disciple—one who trained alone. Free cultivation progress? What's not to like?
Standing nearby, Xu Caichen took a half-step forward. "Master, I have a question."
"Let's hear it," Chu Feng replied, the corners of his lips lifting into a spring-like smile.
Xu Caichen said, "Master, I've understood the contents of the Haoran Righteousness Technique you gave me, but how exactly do I condense this 'literary qi'?"
Everyone's eyes turned toward the scroll in Xu Caichen's hands.
At the very start, it read: "Heaven and Earth possess righteous energy, which flows in manifold forms. Below, it manifests as rivers and mountains; above, as sun and stars. Within man, it is called vastness, surging through heaven and earth alike."
Chu Feng chuckled, "Read more. Write more. Literary qi will come naturally. Especially since you already have it. On the path of Confucian cultivation, even a child scholar can see in the dark; a budding scholar can strategize through words alone.
You haven't studied the Confucian path, so you can't yet strategize from paper, but night vision should be no issue for you.
And if you really had no literary qi, do you think you'd still be alive today?"
Xu Caichen's eyes flickered in thought. Indeed, over the years he'd faced danger at night many times, often without a lantern—yet he could always see the path clearly and escape unharmed. So he had already possessed literary qi, just without realizing it.
He bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I now understand how to cultivate."
Chu Feng nodded. "That's enough for today's teachings. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to ask."
"Yes, Master!"
Everyone responded in unison and bowed again.
The addition of two new disciples added fresh life to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
Chu Feng's daily routine didn't change much. Watching his disciples grow stronger by the day only lifted his spirits more and more.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.
As the opening of the Taixu Secret Realm drew near, Wendao Academy had become unusually busy.
Within the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, only Ye Beixuan had left the mountain to train. Chu Feng's latest update on him came from the system—it reported that Ye Beixuan had broken through a minor realm, granting Chu Feng ten years of cultivation.
Other disciples had also made progress, and Chu Feng's own cultivation had risen to seven hundred years.
That afternoon, a white crane descended into Chu Feng's courtyard.
It opened its beak and said, "Chief Chu, the Dean will be hosting a meeting in the Grand Hall seven days from now at noon. Please be sure to attend."
"Thank you, messenger. I'll be there on time."
Chu Feng then retrieved a piece of True Fate Realm beast meat from his storage pouch and handed it over.
The crane's eyes lit up at the sight of the meat. It had originally intended to subtly hint at a gift, but Chu Feng was so perceptive he gave it without being asked.
It swallowed the meat in one gulp, patted its belly, and said, "Chief Chu, you're quite something."
With that, the crane flapped its wings and soared into the sky.
Watching the crane disappear, Chu Feng murmured, "I wonder what urgent matter the Dean wants to discuss?"
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be related to the Taixu Secret Realm."
Elder Bing's soft, valley-like voice came from beside him.
Chu Feng echoed softly, "The Taixu Secret Realm, huh…"
Elder Bing slowly explained, "That's right. The Taixu Secret Realm opens once every hundred years. Each time it opens, it draws countless geniuses from holy lands into fierce competition. Talents from minor factions and even exceptional rogue cultivators often shine brilliantly within it, gaining recognition from the world and eventually entering holy lands."
Chu Feng asked, "So the Taixu Secret Realm must be filled with treasures then?"
Elder Bing shook her head. "It's not just spiritual materials and divine weapons. There are also Saint inheritances—and even True God inheritances. A disciple of our Wendao Academy once obtained a True God inheritance from the Taixu Secret Realm.
To the major holy lands, inheritances are far more valuable than materials. Any disciple who obtains a Saint-level inheritance from the secret realm is handsomely rewarded by the academy."
Chu Feng asked curiously, "If the Taixu Secret Realm is so unique, why don't the holy lands just seize it for themselves?"
Elder Bing replied, "It's not that they don't want to—it's that they can't. When the Taixu Secret Realm first emerged, some Saints did try to enter and take control. But the moment they stepped in, they were forcibly ejected by certain laws within the realm.
After much testing, the holy lands discovered that only cultivators beneath the Spirit Nourishment Realm could enter, and they must also be under one hundred years old.
A bunch of Heaven Origin cultivators simply can't control the Taixu Secret Realm. So the holy lands agreed to develop it jointly. In the spirit of cultivating talent, they decided each opening would allow one hundred rogue cultivators to enter as well.
Over time, the Taixu Secret Realm became the first true battlefield for the young elites of the holy lands."
After hearing all this, Chu Feng chuckled and murmured, "This Taixu Secret Realm is quite intriguing. I wonder what kind of treasures Chen'er and the others will obtain this time."
…
Seven days later, Chu Feng appeared within the grand hall. The last time he'd been here was when he was appointed Chief of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
Years had passed in the blink of an eye—how quickly time flies!
"Xiao Feng!"
A familiar voice called from behind. Chu Feng turned and saw the Xuanhuo Pill King approaching with a beaming smile.
"Greetings, Senior Xuanhuo."
"Why so formal, brat?" the Pill King chuckled.
The two began chatting casually. Soon, chiefs and great elders from each division arrived one after another.
Once everyone had gathered, a powerful voice echoed through the hall:
"The Dean has arrived!"
At once, all conversation stopped as everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
The Dean entered, surrounded by several stewards, and walked up to the high platform of the grand hall.
"We greet the Dean!"
"No need for ceremony."
The Dean responded with two simple words before speaking again, "I trust you all already know why I've summoned you here. Today, we'll decide the list of names for those participating in the Taixu Secret Realm expedition—as well as appoint those who will lead the teams."
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