Chapter 476: Song Chao Who Wants to Instruct Zhang Xuan (Part 1)

Qi Tian—on par with heaven.

Ordinary cultivators, even Mortal Transcendence experts, cannot fly; they can only traverse the world with the aid of flying spirit beasts. This cultivation technique, claiming to be on par with heaven, doesn't it imply that one can soar and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sky?

Flight is the greatest dream, yearned for in both past and present lives. Suddenly seeing the content, one can imagine the excitement in his heart.

"A smile in the mortal world, riding the wind. The Qi Tian scroll, once cultivated, allows one to soar through the sky, on par with heaven..."

Opening the book, the content rushed toward him.

"Impressive..."

Carefully reading the content, Zhang Xuan felt his understanding of cultivation instantly broadened.

Flight—even Mortal Transcendence Ninth Layer experts cannot achieve it. Legend has it that only by breaking through this realm can it be accomplished. Yet what was recorded here could be done at Mortal Transcendence First Layer with proper cultivation, and even... someone like him at Half-Mortal Transcendence could manage it!

"Mortal Transcendence: sensing nature, gaining some control over the surrounding environment. By transforming and gathering this ability, one can step through the air, like climbing stairs."

He understood the meaning.

For any other Half-Mortal Transcendence cultivator, such a profound technique would be incomprehensible even if given. But he was different. With the Library of Heaven's Path identifying flaws and his mind fused with so much knowledge, though many parts were difficult, they didn't pose too great a challenge.

"When a person falls into water, they can tread water and climb upward. Water has no substance but can buoy a person up... The same applies to air! As long as one finds the method to manipulate nature, stepping on air to fly is not difficult—this is what is meant by using qi to control qi..."

After an unknown time, Zhang Xuan exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi, his eyes shining.

"To create such a formidable martial technique—impressive!"

Truly worthy of being a student of Confucius, his understanding of heaven and earth had reached an astonishing level.

Compared to this, the many martial techniques and cultivation methods he had seen before were far inferior, utterly incomparable.

Reading this felt like pushing open a new world, opening a new door, and gaining a deeper understanding of the martial techniques and cultivation methods he had previously practiced.

"Pity, this is only the first volume. I wonder how profound the later ones will be!"

He also felt some regret.

Having read it, he knew this was just the introductory part of the Hongchen Tiantian Steps, suitable only for Mortal Transcendence cultivators. Once one reached a higher realm, it would be largely useless.

Because beyond Mortal Transcendence, one could already fly. Even if one continued to cultivate it, it would only increase flight speed slightly, not of great use.

"Let's try..."

After adjusting for a while and organizing the content of the entire Qi Tian scroll, he sat cross-legged and began cultivating according to the true qi circulation method of the martial technique.

Though only at Half-Mortal Transcendence, he already had some control over the surrounding environment. With high concentration, he gathered all his strength at one point.

Whoosh!

His body, sitting cross-legged on the ground, slowly floated up, like a balloon submerged in water, automatically rising.

Thud!

After maintaining it for less than three breaths, he fell down, gasping heavily.

"Such terrifying consumption..."

Zhang Xuan's face turned pale.

Maintaining flight in the air for just three breaths had nearly drained all the true qi in his body. This Hongchen Tiantian Steps, though powerful and impressive for flight, consumed true qi at an outrageous rate.

With such a short duration, he feared that as soon as he flew up, before he could even make two moves, he would fall and die.

"It seems... this is a somewhat useless martial technique..."

He looked dejected.

He had thought that after learning it, he could soar through the heavens and roam freely, but now... he had been overthinking!

A flight lasting only three breaths—he would probably fall and be crushed into a meat pie the moment he ran out of true qi.

What a situation! He had learned an incredibly powerful martial technique, but if he ever used it in front of others... he wouldn't even jump as high, and after three breaths, he would fall due to insufficient true qi... Forget it, he'd better not show off; he was afraid of dying of embarrassment.

He casually took out a few spirit stones and absorbed them frantically. Half an hour later, he recovered.

Ultimately, his cultivation was still too low, and his true qi reserves insufficient.

If his cultivation were a few levels higher, it might be much easier, and flying through the sky and diving into the earth would become simple.

After studying for a while longer, knowing that his current strength was indeed unsuitable for this martial technique, Zhang Xuan stretched and pushed open the door to go out.

"Young master, there's this guy outside who insists on seeing you. I've chased him away three times, but he still shamelessly comes every day. Look... should I tell Senior Jin to just throw him out?"

As soon as he stepped out, he saw Sun Qiang rushing over, his face full of anger.

"Wants to see me? Who?" Zhang Xuan was startled.

He didn't have many acquaintances here. Why would someone come looking for him?

"I don't know who he is. I've asked several times, but he won't say. He acts all high and mighty, it's infuriating..." Sun Qiang snorted.

"High and mighty?" Zhang Xuan was even more curious.

Was there anyone in this world more high and mighty than this Brother Qiang?

To make him this angry was quite a peculiarity.

"Is he still here?" he couldn't help asking.

"Yes!"

"Take me to see him." Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Alright, he's in the living room over there." Sun Qiang pointed.

The residence the Pavilion Master Sai had arranged for them was essentially a standalone courtyard with seven or eight bedrooms and a small living room.

Entering the living room, he saw a young man sitting upright, with an old man behind him whose aura was faintly discernible, indicating extraordinary cultivation.

It was the young man from Box 23 and his elderly guard.

...

Sitting in the room, Song Chao was somewhat restless.

That day, being outbid by Box 1 had left him displeased. After discreetly inquiring, he had finally figured things out.

The one with Pavilion Master Sai was a master teacher named Zhang Xuan, whose specific identity was unclear.

Upon hearing he was a master teacher, he immediately relaxed.

If it had been someone of another status, he might not have had much to say. But a master teacher? He himself had reached Four-Star, among the top in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance. A kid under twenty surely couldn't have a higher rank than him.

Master teachers had strict hierarchies; between star levels, one must address the other as teacher. Since the other party's rank was lower, it was simple.

He had come excitedly, only to find that after three consecutive visits, he hadn't even seen the person...

Worse, that steward had treated him like a fraud and chased him out... If not for his status, he would have beaten him to death long ago.

"Young master, do you think... he will sell it to us?"

Seeing the young master's frustration, the elderly guard couldn't help asking.

They had traveled thousands of miles this time because they heard about the Soul-less Golden Man, but they lost the auction. Now, after inquiring, they wanted to buy it from the other party... but since he had paid a price to acquire it, how could he be willing to sell?

"Hmph, sell or not, he must sell. As long as he's a master teacher, I have a way to make him sell it to me!" Song Chao's hand rested on the chair's armrest, his face stern.

"Does the young master have a plan?" The elderly guard's eyes lit up.

"Of course. I am a Four-Star master teacher. It's very simple for me to spot some problems in his cultivation and then give him guidance. I'm sure he'll obediently hand over the item..."

He curled his lips.

As long as one cultivates, there will inevitably be problems. As a genius Four-Star master teacher, guiding a kid under twenty in cultivation was very simple.

Once he guided him to a breakthrough, wouldn't he be grateful? Not just the Soul-less Golden Man, even taking him as a disciple on the spot would be no problem.

"That's true..."

The old man paused, then nodded involuntarily.

Master teachers indeed had such ability and charm. The reason he willingly guarded behind the young master, aside from the family's favor, was also because of this.

Following a master teacher and often listening to his teachings could save many detours in cultivation and yield twice the results with half the effort.

"Young master, it's them who want to see you."

Just as he was wondering whether he would meet this Master Zhang today, he heard the steward's voice, and two people walked over.

The one in front looked young, under twenty, presumably the legendary Zhang Xuan.

"You're looking for me?"

Entering the room, Zhang Xuan was puzzled. He had never seen these two before. Why were they looking for him?

"Indeed. I am Song Chao, a Four-Star master teacher!" Song Chao stood up and waved his hand grandly.

"Four-Star master teacher?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback, then clasped his fists: "Oh, Zhang Xuan greets Master Song."

He hadn't expected this man, who looked under thirty, to already be a Four-Star master teacher! Truly worthy of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance—so many talented people.

"Mm." Seeing his respectful attitude, Song Chao nodded in satisfaction. Just as he was about to adopt an air of superiority and offer guidance to win him over, another set of footsteps sounded.

"Master Zhang, you've come out of seclusion. The items you requested have all been gathered..."

Pavilion Master Sai walked in.

Entering the room and seeing Song Chao, Pavilion Master Sai clasped his fists: "Greetings, Master Song."

This fellow had been inquiring about information these past two days, and they had met before.

After greeting him, Pavilion Master Sai ignored him and walked excitedly to Zhang Xuan, handing him a storage ring with a fawning expression.

"All gathered? So fast?"

Hadn't he said three days? It had only been a little over two days, and everything was found?

Taking the ring, Zhang Xuan swept his spirit sense over it and indeed found it filled with books—cultivation techniques and martial arts, one by one, totaling over ten thousand volumes.

There were those for Mortal Transcendence First Layer, Second Layer, and Third Layer.

The quantities were roughly as he had mentioned before, decreasing progressively.

Still, it was not bad.

It seemed he could perfectly extract the cultivation technique for the Life Extension Realm of Mortal Transcendence First Layer.

"Well done!"

Zhang Xuan smiled and nodded inwardly in praise.

"Since I promised you, I had to be quick..."

Receiving the praise, Pavilion Master Sai responded, then flipped his wrist and took out an identity token: "Master Zhang, I reported your success in the Flowing Wine Winding Water to headquarters. This is the Five-Star Treasure Appraiser badge bestowed by headquarters..."

"Five-Star badge?" Zhang Xuan took it and indeed saw five bright stars shining brilliantly.

He had obtained the identity of a Five-Star Treasure Appraiser just by passing the Flowing Wine Winding Water? It felt unbelievable.

Was the Treasure Appraiser examination really that easy?