With that teleportation jade slip, they flew back from Qiantian Mountain City to the Cangsheng Dao Palace. The four of them were still dizzy, but perhaps accustomed to the sensation, they managed to remain standing without actually vomiting.

When Zong Shou descended to the first floor of the Library Building B, he saw Shi Ruolan engrossed in a book, her bright eyes wide open.

She had been concentrating intently, but upon Zong Shou’s arrival, her attention wavered, and she started stealing glances his way, a glimmer of delight in her eyes.

That old man Han Fang was, naturally, quite displeased. He shot Zong Shou a sidelong glance and let out a cold snort.

Zong Shou paid him no mind, offering a faint smile as he approached Shi Ruolan. He then retrieved something from his Qiankun Pouch.

“Ruolan, look what I have here.”

It was a meticulously stitched rabbit doll, rendered with astonishing realism. Shi Ruolan’s eyes instantly lit up. She tossed the book in her hand aside without a second thought and snatched it up, clutching it tightly. She adored this fluffy little thing.

It must feel wonderfully soft and comforting to roll around holding it close.

Zong Shou smiled warmly, gently stroking Shi Ruolan’s hair. He mused that just two years ago, this girl seemed to be only seven or eight. Yet in just one year, she had grown so tall, nearly reaching his chest now.

The skill of this Han Fang’s disciple was indeed remarkable. Both his Spirit Arts and Martial Dao cultivation had simultaneously broken through to the Fourth Stage—a terrifying rate of progress.

What was commendable was the solid foundation; it was far stronger than his own had been back then.

Seeing Ruolan’s face radiating bliss, Han Fang’s expression softened too, a hint of paternal kindness entering his eyes.

He then squinted at Zong Shou again: “Still not changing your mind? Look at you. Your two guardians’ cultivation has already surpassed yours by so much! Both have stepped into the Seventh Stage, advancing a thousand miles a day. Even your maid, Chuxue, has caught up to you! Rebuilding your foundation now, though a little late, is still timely. Once you truly break through to the Day Roaming Realm, it will require countless more efforts!”

Zong Shou smiled but remained silent, offering no reply. Han Fang understood the answer from his expression and sighed lightly.

“Forget it! Do as you wish. It’s my fault for bringing up the Path of the Dharma Idol and giving you that faint glimmer of hope. But you must remember, when you feel that path is impassable, you must never force it. Seek your senior brother out early. In any case, the sect will always support you.”

Zong Shou bowed gratefully and was about to leave when Han Fang frowned once more: “Oh, yes, there’s also that Sword Prodigy, Jue Yu. This time, I suspect you won't be able to avoid involvement. Three days ago, he sent someone to deliver a challenge letter, saying that regardless of your cultivation, he must duel you at Qi Qiu, even if he has to limit his inner breath. He will likely come knocking in ten days. At that time, whether you gain fame or suffer disgrace remains to be seen.”

Zong Shou’s expression froze for a moment, then he let out a helpless laugh. He had originally assumed this matter no longer concerned him, but it seemed he was drawn back in after all.

He was actually somewhat expectant, looking forward to a battle with such a powerful swordsman from the Divine Emperor Era.

However, if he restrained his cultivation, while it might hone Jue Yu’s swordsmanship, it would offer him absolutely no benefit.

But ten days? That seemed sufficient time.

Shaking his head, Zong Shou suddenly had an idea: “Senior Brother, I am a Second Generation Direct Disciple. Logically, I should have the right to nominate one person to fight Jue Yu as well. Is that permissible?”

Han Fang was utterly bewildered, unsure what Zong Shou meant by that statement.

However, a Second Generation Direct Disciple did indeed possess the authority to participate in Cangsheng Dao’s major decisions.

In truth, if Zong Shou hadn't shown no such inclination, the successor to the position of Cangsheng Academy Head would have been him and no one else.

He glanced at Zong Yuan and Ruoshui standing behind Zong Shou. He mused that if either of them fought Jue Yu, they would not dishonor the reputation of Cangsheng Dao. With that, he nodded slightly: “Yes! But Junior Brother, remember, this matter concerns the fame and fortune of our Cangsheng Dao. It must be handled with extreme caution!”

Only then did Zong Shou smile and walk out. After leaving Library Building B, he headed straight for Courtyard A-1 of the Academy.

Within Cangsheng Academy now, he was a well-known figure to everyone, a celebrity of sorts.

Yet, on the way, the disciples from the Three Sects and Six Factions, while still meticulously polite, would all stop their training and bow as he passed.

But the gazes directed at him carried a subtle strangeness. Some showed concern, some held an eager impulse to challenge, some expressed doubt, and a few even looked on with schadenfreude.

Zong Shou acted as if he saw nothing, completely unfazed. Ever since half a year ago, when his Spirit Arts remained unable to break through the Day Roaming Realm, lingering perpetually at the Apex of the Reverting Life Stage, these peculiar looks had begun to appear, growing more numerous by the day.

All disciples qualified to enter the Cangsheng Dome were the chosen elite, the cream of the crop.

And those who had managed to occupy Courtyard A-1, becoming the Chief of Cangsheng Academy, were dragons among men, possessing peerless natural talent rarely seen in a century.

To remain stagnant at the peak of the Day Roaming Stage for over a year without a breakthrough was simply inconceivable.

Although his Sword Dao possessed spiritual insight, for a cultivator, the cultivation realm remained paramount.

Without sufficient strength, even the most profound Sword Dao would amount to naught.

Zong Shou needed no guesswork to know that behind his back, discussions must be rampant.

This true disciple, admitted into the Third Generation through Cangsheng Dao’s exceptional grace, possessed such limited aptitude and strength?

But today, the expressions of these Cangsheng Dao disciples held an even greater degree of oddity. If he guessed correctly, it must be due to the challenge letter delivered by Sword Prodigy Jue Yu.

Zong Shou paid it no mind from start to finish. Acting normally, he walked under their stares and returned to his own courtyard gate.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw Zhao Yanran waiting there, looking profoundly bored. Seeing Zong Shou, she immediately snapped irritably: “It’s this late, and you’re still sitting tight! You actually had the leisure to go sightseeing in Qiantian Mountain City! Do you know that Cangsheng Dao Palace has been turned upside down?”

Zong Shou smiled. This girl had been dragged down by him recently. Because of their inverted Cauldron Fetus connection, her cultivation was also suppressed at the pinnacle of the Reverting Life and Black Tortoise stages, unable to advance. Her status as the Chief Disciple of the Seven Spirits Sect was also hanging by a thread. Her two junior sisters, it was rumored, already showed unstable auras, frequently drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—signs of an imminent breakthrough.

He walked straight past the girl, affecting an air of not wanting to be bothered.

“If Yanran, you cannot bear it, worried about others’ gossip, we can dissolve the Cauldron Fetus, no problem! I truly couldn't care less—”

“Only an idiot would untie the Cauldron Fetus with you! And as for what those ignorant people say, when has Zhao Yanran ever cared?”

Zhao Yanran let out a cold snort. Others didn’t know why Zong Shou hadn’t broken through, but she, as a participant in the reversed Cauldron Fetus, was perfectly clear on the reason for Zong Shou’s stalled cultivation.

She thought this fellow was simply abnormal. No matter how genius a Spirit Master was, manifesting fourteen True Charms was already the limit. Yet, Zong Shou had managed to gather nine more Charms in a year and a half!

The Dao Embryo’s backlash had also brought her countless benefits. Her breakthrough might be slower, but once it occurred, she would surely soar into the heavens!

“I’m talking about the matter of Sword Prodigy Jue Yu! I don’t want my Cauldron Fetus to be utterly disgraced! Nor do I want our Cangsheng Dao to lose all face. How confident are you for this fight?”

Following Zong Shou inside, Zhao Yanran asked absently, her heart conflicted. She didn’t want Zong Shou to push too hard, rushing his breakthrough, yet she also didn’t want him to ultimately fall in Jue Yu’s hands.

Actually, defeat wouldn't matter much, as long as it wasn't too brutal. Facing such a powerhouse, even lasting for a move or two would still be embarrassing.

She recalled that a year and a half ago, the younger generation experts from the Great Spirit Sect had all been defeated by Jue Yu’s Ten Swords, leaving the entire sect silenced. Zhao Yanran seethed inwardly, yet she knew counting on Zong Shou to reclaim face for the Seven Spirits Sect was perhaps unrealistic.

She didn't notice that Zong Shou had stepped into his meditation room and casually shut the door. Zhao Yanran, caught off guard, slammed right into it.

Her delicate nose stung slightly, but fortunately, a martial artist’s body was sturdy. After a moment, she was fine.

Retreating a few steps, she saw six large characters inscribed on the wooden door: ‘Closed Door Cultivation, Idle People Do Not Disturb.’

Rubbing her slightly red nose, Zhao Yanran couldn't help but feel secretly annoyed. Zong Shou always showed some courtesy to Xuan Yunlan and a few others he had recently befriended, like Xuan Ye. But toward her, he brazenly relied on that damned status of Second Generation Direct Disciple, ‘Great, Great, Great Martial Ancestor,’ oppressing her severely, never showing any gentle consideration for femininity, and giving her no respect at all.

She turned her head and looked toward the three figures behind her with an inquiring expression.

Zong Yuan gazed up at the sky, while Ruoshui turned her head away, covering her mouth with her hand, her body shaking as if stifling laughter.

Only Chuxue was honest: “The Young Master said that upon returning this time, he would prepare to break through to the Reverting Life Stage.”

Zhao Yanran’s eyes instantly lit up, sparkling like brilliant stars.

※ ※ ※ ※

Inside the meditation room, Zong Shou fell into deep meditation. He formed a hand seal, and a blood-red seal character suddenly appeared between his brows. It then writhed violently, a surge of powerful force impacting it, shattering it with a loud crash.

Immediately following, a torrent of majestic soul power spread out, permeating the entire meditation chamber.

Fortunately, a pre-set Spirit Array blocked the overflow, preventing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from being alerted.

This had been the case since he condensed his twelfth True Charm a year ago.

Under the daily scorching scrutiny of the Soul Mirror Reflection Technique, all his soul thoughts had already converted to a positive, pure, and flawless state.

The twelve True Charms meant he could break through at any moment.

He even had to employ this sealing secret technique to suppress himself, allowing him to hover in the Reverting Life Realm.

Naturally, such a secret technique could not be hidden from someone like Han Fang. However, in his Senior Brother Han’s estimation, he likely assumed Zong Shou was deliberately suppressing himself because the Path of the Dharma Idol was unsuitable.

In the eyes of others, he had made no progress in a whole year.

Zong Shou himself was quite pleased. In a year and a half, gathering nine more True Charms meant that the purity and sheer volume of his soul power now would not be inferior to those Spirit Masters already at the Day Roaming Realm. The twelve Heavenly Charm seeds obtained from the Lingyun Sect had also been fully fused.