Above the Great Dao
Chapter 619 - 282: Testing_2

Chapter 619: Chapter 282: Testing_2

His Primordial Spirit entered the mountain for more than a yard and finally came to a halt.

Chen Shi’s blast of Sword Qi had exhausted its power right here.

Qin Su recalled his Primordial Spirit, his expression serious.

"Young Master, you have a rival... Let’s return!"

He hurried back to the Western Capital with a junior officer from the Observatory, without informing the Young Master of this incident. Instead, he convened the members of the Fuzheng Pavilion overnight and recounted his pursuit of Chen Shi’s Sword Qi.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions subtly changed.

Qin Su then handed over the compiled records of the battles between Chen Shi and Chen Tang to the members for circulation.

After Dou Qi, Cao Yunning, and others had read the documents, each of them looked equally grave.

"Can Chen Shi really be a match for the Young Master?" Principal Clerk Tang Balin inquired.

Qin Su said, "I’m not sure how far the Young Master’s strength has progressed. He executed Du Wanshu, the Chief of Punishment in Zhenzhou, who was also at the Divinity Transformation Realm. Although it was a one-move execution, we cannot judge the Young Master’s strength solely based on Du Wanshu’s power."

Everyone frowned individually.

Even though they served the Young Master, they knew little about his true capabilities—after all, it was essential for a ruler to maintain a certain level of mystique.

"Why not inquire with Chief Historian Shui Xuanzhi, who is guiding the Young Master’s cultivation in the Void Great Realm?" Dou Qi suggested.

Qin Su hesitated slightly, then slowly nodded.

They went to visit the Chief Historian.

Chief Historian Shui Xuanzhi, a figure from the Mahayana Realm with a mysterious background, seemed to be merely in his forties or fifties. Yet, such a person was the most terrifying kind of cultivator in the Mahayana Realm.

Attaining the Mahayana Realm in his forties or fifties meant that he had spent at most ten years in the Returning Void Realm before breaking through to the Mahayana.

The group greeted Shui Xuanzhi and explained their purpose.

After a moment of silence, Shui Xuanzhi said, "The Young Master’s strength surpasses that of Chen Shi."

A sense of relief washed over everyone, as a weight fell off their hearts.

If Chief Historian Shui Xuanzhi said so, then it must be true; he wouldn’t be mistaken.

"But Chen Shi’s cultivation speed exceeds the Young Master’s," Shui Xuanzhi added.

At that, everyone tensed again.

Qin Su adamantly said, "Impossible! Chief Historian, that cannot be! The Young Master practices our ancestral Cultivation Technique; no one can match it in terms of Cultivation Techniques. His talent may not be unmatched, but he is a first-grade divine fetus. Besides, he cultivates in your Void Great Realm, where the Heaven and Earth Righteous Qi is abundant to the extreme. How could anyone cultivate faster than him? What does Chen Shi have?"

Dou Qi and the others nodded in agreement.

Although the Young Master’s surname was Ren, he was actually from the Zhu family, and thus the Cultivation Techniques he received were the finest passed down through the Zhu lineage, better than any secret technique held by the Thirteen Families.

With the best Cultivation Technique, a top-notch Divine Embryo, and an ideal cultivation environment, what could Chen Shi possibly use to compete with the Young Master?

Shui Xuanzhi declared, "Chen Shi cultivates faster, significantly faster. His strength is improving more rapidly as well."

The statement shook everyone to the core.

No matter how incredulous they were, they had to believe it now.

To disbelieve the judgment of a Mahayana Realm figure would be madness.

Shui Xuanzhi continued, "Chen Shi possesses a Divine Embryo, and it surpasses a first-grade Divine Embryo by a lot."

This news left the members of the Fuzheng Pavilion utterly stunned.

Could it be that the Innate Dao Embryo that was supposed to be lost had returned?

Otherwise, what other Divine Embryo could surpass a first-grade Divine Embryo?

Shui Xuanzhi elaborated, "Chen Tang has been concealing his strength. He claims to be at the peak of the Void Refinement Realm, but it is highly probable that he has reached the God Refining Realm."

This revelation left everyone in silence. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

Void Refinement Realm.

God Refining Realm.

A gap of four realms.

Void Refinement, Unification, Three Corpse, Refining God.

If Chen Tang was truly in the God Refining Realm, how could he feign being merely in the Void Refinement Realm?

Thankfully, with a formidable expert like Shui Xuanzhi, they could discern the true level of this person’s cultivation.

Shui Xuanzhi said, "I said it’s highly probable, not certain. But what can be sure of is that he has hidden his realm—a lot."

Tang Balin couldn’t help but speak, "But that’s an excessive concealment!"

Qin Su said, "We need to test him further to understand his true cultivation."

The members of the Fuzheng Pavilion all nodded in agreement.

Shui Xuanzhi continued, "Although Chen Shi is advancing rapidly in his cultivation, he will not catch up with the Young Master before the Imperial Examinations. Based on the current progress, it will take him a year to catch up."

Qin Su, Dou Qi, and others frowned—a year seemed too quick.

But luckily, they had that one year.

"This matter does not need to reach the Young Master’s ears."

Qin Su pondered briefly, then said to everyone, "Let the Young Master focus on his cultivation. He has been too distracted before."

Everyone agreed.

Managing a vast power, consolidating the hearts of the people across the world, establishing connections with heroes, and navigating through the challenges posed by the Thirteen Families and various forces while still advancing impressively in cultivation was indeed remarkable.

"But we need to probe Chen Tang’s actual strength."

Qin Su said, "He teaches Chen Shi, and the higher his vision, the faster Chen Shi’s improvements. Ideally, we should intimidate him."

Another member from the Fuzheng Pavilion, an officer named Fan Peng, usually silent and reticent, said flatly, "I’ll handle it."

Seeing him speak up, Qin Su joyfully bowed and said, "Brother Fan’s skills have always been admirable. Thank you for handling this matter, Brother."

Fan Peng remained silent and stepped out the door.

Among the governmental officials, many were already starting out to Meridian Gate in their carriages and chariots.

At this time, Chen Tang, too, left the Chen Mansion on foot, heading towards Meridian Gate.

The streets were empty except for the occasional passing carriage.

Chen Tang always followed this route, every day at the same time, wearing the same type of clothing, walking in the same manner—as if measured with a ruler, accurate and mundane.

Yet it provided reassurance.

While crossing Star Alley, unlike usual, there was another person present.

That individual sat in the alley, blocking the way with a chair placed across Chen Tang’s path.

Chen Tang continued forward, unwavering in his steps.

As he walked past that person, their cultivation realms intertwined, creaking and grinding like two massive millstones colliding—frightening in their force.

Chen Tang swayed slightly but continued past, passing the seated figure without hesitation.

"About the same as me, also in the Void Refinement Realm," the seated man chuckled softly.

Chen Tang walked straight on, crossing Star Alley toward Main Street. As he stepped onto Main Street, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and thunderbolts rained down like a deluge.

Chen Tang walked amid the thunderstorms as if divinely protected, not a single thunderbolt touching him.

A scholar approached him, also walking unscathed amid the thunderstorms.

The scholar gave Chen Tang a slight smile as they passed each other.

The thunder ceased abruptly.

Those who sever the Three Corpse Gods, embody Pure Yang in their bodies and Primordial Spirits, repel thunderstorms.

Just then, as Chen Tang turned from Main Street toward Meridian Gate, the area dimly lit under the shade of a nearby archway, he met another figure head-on.

Two figures brushed against each other beneath the archway: an aged man with a bowed back, moving towards Chen Tang.

This elderly person was none other than Fan Peng from the Fuzheng Pavilion, a renowned master at the peak of the God Refining Realm. The trio he had deployed earlier was meant to probe Chen Tang’s depths.

The archway trembled slightly, and then the two parted—one continuing toward the Meridian Gate, and the other returning to Main Street.

The scholar, the bearded muscular man, and the man who had been sitting in the chair quickly approached Fan Peng, each eagerly whispering, "Sir, what exactly is Chen Tang’s cultivation realm?"

Fan Peng’s eyelid twitched, his voice hoarse: "The same as mine."

The trio looked at each other in disbelief.

Fan Peng shivered, whispering, "But not the same! He accommodated me."

—Zhaizhu is going to Shanghai to participate in Yuewen’s author livestream and the premiere of Pasturing God. The update schedule may not be on time, possibly once a day, mentioned in advance for about three days.

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