Chapter 1202: Peak of the Third Layer of the Saint Domain

Regardless, she was his student; if anyone truly bullied her, he would not stand idly by.

Just like Lu Chong and the others.

"Thank you, teacher..."

Seeing that the person before her had a firm gaze without any hesitation or wavering, recalling the scene in the underground palace when he risked his life to save her from the alien clan's puppet, Luo Qiqi smiled slightly.

Having spent over half a year with him, she understood his character.

He could stand alone against an entire kingdom for his students, and for his steward, he could confront the empire's top prince and the vice-head of the Master Hall... domineering yet protective; with such a personality, if she truly got into trouble, he would definitely act without any hesitation.

This was precisely why she liked him.

True temperament, true courage, responsibility, and boldness!

No pretense or hypocrisy whatsoever.

"Alright, I'm glad to hear you say that. Teacher, I'll head back now!"

Luo Qiqi patted the dust off her hands, smiled sweetly, and said, "I won't keep you..."

"Go ahead!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Although not explicitly stated, he had politely declined through his actions.

After today's events, she should understand that in his heart, she was just a student; the so-called affection was certainly impossible to realize. Perhaps... she would suppress these feelings afterward and eventually find a suitable partner.

"Goodbye... teacher!"

Calling out softly, Luo Qiqi turned and flew away, disappearing in the blink of an eye, presumably heading back to Qingyuan City.

Seeing her leave, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

Spending just over an hour alone with her felt like fighting a battle.

It seemed that from now on, he really needed to restrain himself and be more low-key; otherwise, more girls would fall for him, and he wouldn't be able to shake them off.

Being too outstanding was such a sorrow.

Shaking his head, just as he was about to find a place to refine the energy of the Spirit Yuan Pill he had just concocted and break through to the peak of the Embryonic Infant realm, he saw a figure flying over. It was none other than Yu Fei'er!

"Teacher Zhang, that's not fair. You're teaching Qiqi alchemy here alone... without telling me. I want to learn too!"

As soon as she arrived, Yu Fei'er snorted, clearly displeased that the two had been alone together.

Both of them had confessed their feelings, yet Teacher Zhang was alone with Luo Qiqi; she couldn't help feeling jealous.

"I was just teaching her alchemy, nothing else..."

Rubbing his forehead, Zhang Xuan shook his head. Knowing that it was best to be straightforward with her, he didn't bother beating around the bush. "To be honest with you... I already have someone I like!"

"Who? Qiqi?" Yu Fei'er asked warily.

"Not her. It's... the little princess of the Sage Clan Luo!" Zhang Xuan said.

"The Sage Clan Luo?"

Yu Fei'er couldn't believe it. "The Sage Clan stands high above; how could Teacher Zhang know them, let alone the little princess..."

The Sage Clans, each standing at the pinnacle of the continent, were practically invincible. Compared to them, the Hongyuan Royal Family she belonged to was insignificantly weak.

Teacher Zhang came from a small place like the Tianxuan Kingdom; how could he know such people and fall in love with one?

"You may not believe it... As for how I came to know her and fall for her... it can only be said that fate made it so, and we love each other!"

Thinking of Luo Ruoxin, Zhang Xuan smiled slightly.

Their first meeting was a misunderstanding, thinking he was being chased by a spirit beast... Now thinking back, without that misunderstanding, their relationship wouldn't have progressed... as奇妙 as fate.

Since he already had someone he loved, he didn't want to get involved in such confessions. To completely stop it, he had to speak out in advance; otherwise, more misunderstandings and trouble would arise.

"I don't believe it..."

Yu Fei'er's face turned pale.

She had thought that Teacher Zhang had no girlfriend, so she, Luo Qiqi, and even Hu Yaoyao had a chance if they worked hard. Now it seemed it was already too late...

"You're a good girl, but... what I said is true!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

"I..."

Breathing rapidly, Yu Fei'er paused for a long time, then gritted her teeth and turned around, biting her lip, forcing out the words one by one: "Teacher Zhang, sorry for the intrusion. I'll head back now..."

Without waiting for Zhang Xuan's reply, she flew straight out and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Although she said nothing, the sound of a heart breaking could be heard in her voice.

Clearly, the news that Zhang Xuan's heart was taken was something she couldn't believe and didn't want to accept.

"Sigh!"

Seeing that he had hurt two girls in an instant, Zhang Xuan shook his head and sighed.

In truth, he hadn't done this intentionally.

Hesitation leads to chaos.

He had no romantic feelings for these two girls.

Only Luo Ruoxin made his heart race at the sight.

With the Library of Heaven's Path and the experience of two lifetimes, he was usually mature and composed... But for her, he could act like a young man, picking fights and beating up Feng Xun, or deliberately provoking Zhang Jiuxiao just because he disliked the Zhang family...

However, even though these two were equally beautiful, equally outstanding, and equally fond of him... he didn't feel the same way.

Instead, he felt something like a teacher's affection for a student.

Thus, he understood his own feelings.

That being the case, rather than lingering in ambiguity, it was better to cut the knot swiftly before they fell too deep, giving them no hope.

This way, everyone could be at ease.

"Stop thinking about it. Let's first raise my strength to the peak of the Embryonic Infant realm!"

Knowing his decision was correct, he shook off these thoughts, sat down cross-legged.

This place was quiet and empty, an excellent spot for cultivation.

Adjusting the power within his body and regulating his breathing, after about an hour, when his physical state reached its peak, he took out a Spirit Yuan Pill and swallowed it.

The Spirit Yuan Pill Luo Qiqi had refined used thousands-year-old herbs, each with extremely potent medicinal power. Coupled with the pill reaching the Dan Pattern level, a single pill was dozens of times stronger than the one from Hall Master Xing.

As the medicinal power entered his chest, he immediately felt a blazing flame burning continuously. A scorching warm current flowed through his meridians, traveled throughout his body, and finally gathered before his Embryonic Infant.

The Embryonic Infant, having reached the mid-stage of the third layer of the Saint Domain, resembled a seven- or eight-year-old child. Every move carried profound power, as if it could shatter heaven and earth.

With a calm mind and inner vision, Zhang Xuan slowly circulated his true qi according to the cultivation method of the third layer of the Heaven's Path Technique. Whenever he felt insufficient spiritual energy, he swallowed another Spirit Yuan Pill.

His cultivation and power steadily rose under continuous training.

Mid-stage Embryonic Infant!

Late-stage Embryonic Infant!

Peak Embryonic Infant!

Half an hour later.

The Primordial Infant had reached the size of a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old, almost identical in appearance to him, though slightly immature.

Its size was still ten meters tall, like an infant, and had not grown larger.

"Finally arrived!"

Sighing, Zhang Xuan was filled with emotion.

Cultivating to this realm had been full of twists and turns, requiring immense effort. Fortunately, hard work paid off; after much effort and hardship, he had finally succeeded.

However, the four Spirit Yuan Pills Luo Qiqi had given him were all consumed, leaving him penniless again.

Looking inward, he felt his true qi flowing more smoothly through his meridians, and his power had doubled compared to before.

He extended his hand forward and gently squeezed the air.

Bang!

An explosion sounded, and immense power spread outward, crushing the rock beneath him into powder.

Fortunately, he had flown up beforehand; otherwise, he would have been covered in dust.

"This is the power of the peak Embryonic Infant realm?" Clenching his fist, Zhang Xuan's excitement was hard to contain. "So strong!"

Though he had no strong opponent for comparison and didn't know his exact strength, if he were to encounter Qingtian Emperor now, he could probably punch him into meat paste; he wouldn't be a match at all.

Swish!

Standing up, he retracted all his aura, losing the oppressive feeling. To outsiders, he appeared as an ordinary peak Saint Domain third layer cultivator.

Although his strength had increased, being low-key was still his intention. He would avoid showing off as much as possible to save himself trouble.

"Having reached this level, ordinary Spirit Yuan Pills are of little use to me. Going to the Alchemist Guild is now meaningless..."

Originally, he had come out to buy some Spirit Yuan Pills from the Alchemist Guild to break through to a higher realm. But with his improved cultivation and having taken the Dan Pattern Spirit Yuan Pill... ordinary pills were basically useless to him.

No matter how many he bought, they would have no effect, just wasting money. Since that was the case, there was no need to bother.

"Let's return to the War Master Hall. The three hall masters are there; I can test my strength against them..."

Smiling lightly, just as he was about to fly back to the War Master Hall to spar with the four hall masters and consolidate his realm and cultivation, he suddenly paused. Turning his wrist, a jade token appeared in his palm.

It was a message from Master Wu. After glancing at it, his expression suddenly changed.

"Hall Master Gou... is dead?"