"Where is he now?"

"I was wrong! I didn’t mean to set him up. He’s already back in his courtyard."

Zhao Rushuang had just been scolded. Standing in the corner of Yun Hong’s courtyard like a servant girl who had done wrong, she spoke with a wronged expression.

"I’ll go check on him. You head back first."

Yun Hong walked toward Chu Lingguang’s small courtyard.

"You have to stop him!"

Zhao Rushuang yelled.

「Inside the small courtyard.」

’Both Teacher Yun Hong’s and Teacher Xu’s notes—and even the Zhenyuan Technique itself—state clearly that when an Inner Power Heart Method is cultivated to a certain level, not only can you open the Dantian and Qi Sea, but you can also strengthen your consciousness. When your consciousness reaches a certain point, it can form a Sea of Consciousness. Through this Sea of Consciousness, you can produce Spiritual Sense, which can be continuously strengthened or even evolved through cultivation.’

’I’ve now consolidated my Dantian Foundation and stepped into the Qi Sea Realm. I’ve also found a Sea of Consciousness in my brow. My Introspection ability is also much better than before. I can even detect Teacher Yun Hong’s and Teacher Xu’s Perception Power entering my body. Does this mean I’ve also developed Spiritual Sense?’

’I just don’t know if my current Spiritual Sense can withstand the Dragon Claw Tree’s Consciousness Attack. If it can’t... I might truly lose my mind, or even die with blood pouring from my seven orifices.’

Chu Lingguang muttered to himself.

As he spoke, a sense of fear crept over him.

Ignorance is bliss.

After learning the risks involved, Chu Lingguang’s scalp tingled with fear.

’I only promised Du I’d do my best. I never said I absolutely had to cut down a Dragon Claw Tree for him.’

Chu Lingguang comforted himself.

’If I can’t cut it off up close, what about shooting it down with arrow shafts, or tying a rope around a branch and pulling it off from a distance? I wonder if that would work?’

Chu Lingguang’s eyes lit up. ’No one said I had to get close to the Dragon Claw Tree to cut off a branch!’

BANG!

Just as he was lost in his thoughts, the gate to his small courtyard was suddenly kicked open.

Yun Hong arrived with Poisonous Snake.

The cruder of the two, Poisonous Snake cleared the way for Yun Hong.

"My two teachers, what are you..."

Seeing the two men outside his window, Chu Lingguang hurried out to greet them.

"You finally managed to get on the waiting list of best candidates, and now you dare to go court death under the Dragon Claw Tree?"

Poisonous Snake said angrily.

Yun Hong didn’t speak. With the air of a young master and scholar, he kept his right hand behind his back while his left hand kneaded a piece of White Jade. A strange ripple emanated from his Sea of Consciousness and enveloped Chu Lingguang.

Chu Lingguang detected an extremely strong Perception Power, one that seemed capable of seeing every secret of his body.

He instinctively resisted and defended himself.

He countered with his Spiritual Sense.

But the effort sent a sharp pain through his brow. His vision went white, and he grew so dizzy that he felt he would collapse. When the white light faded, he found he couldn’t open his eyes and could only lean against the doorframe and slowly sit down on the threshold.

"Teacher Yun Hong just hit you with a single thought, and you ended up like this. If you get hit by the Dragon Claw Tree’s Potential Energy again, you’ll probably lose consciousness forever and become a drooling idiot, preventing your master from ever becoming a Grandmaster."

Poisonous Snake sneered.

"He blocked ten of my thoughts. He’s already found his Sea of Consciousness, and his Introspection has completely transformed into Spiritual Sense."

Yun Hong said suddenly.

"What?"

Poisonous Snake, who had been about to continue scolding Chu Lingguang, was stunned into silence.

Yun Hong walked up to Chu Lingguang and said, "You’ve actually already formed a Sea of Consciousness and produced Spiritual Sense. Chu Lingguang, perhaps you really are the best candidate."

"Teacher Yun Hong."

Poisonous Snake was both shocked and delighted.

"Teacher Yun Hong, with my current consciousness defense, can I withstand the Dragon Claw Tree’s Consciousness Attack and retrieve a branch?"

Chu Lingguang slowly stood up and asked.

"No."

Yun Hong shook his head decisively and explained, "Although your Sea of Consciousness surprised me, your Spiritual Sense is still too weak. It can’t form a defense at all. If you force your way close to the Dragon Claw Tree, the outcome will be even worse than this. You might even, as Poisonous Snake said, have your consciousness collapse and become an idiot."

"Then... doesn’t that mean I..."

Chu Lingguang hadn’t expected to be so weak.

"If you want a Dragon Claw Branch, you can just ask Teacher Yun Hong to get it for you. There’s no need to take such a risk."

Poisonous Snake said.

"I’m not helping him."

Yun Hong rejected the idea outright. He said with a serious expression, "If he wants to atone, he must rely on his own abilities. I can’t help him."

"Teacher Yun Hong, Chu Lingguang, he..."

Poisonous Snake wanted to say more, but seeing Yun Hong’s firm attitude, he gave up. He knew Yun Hong had his principles and no one could force him. So, he asked, "Chu Lingguang, who are you atoning to? What did you do wrong?"

"I took someone’s spot for the Trial Ground."

Chu Lingguang said simply.

"If the other party is from the Royal Family and Nobility, or holds a position of the Seventh Grade or higher, you can compile what you’ve learned during this time into a book for them to read. Just make sure it’s officially recorded. That would be more useful than a Dragon Claw Tree."

Poisonous Snake reminded him with good intentions.

"He specifically asked for a Dragon Claw Tree."

Chu Lingguang said with a smile.

"Refusing a kindness only to invite punishment! Who around Mr. Du would be so audacious?"

Poisonous Snake was furious.

"Please calm down, Teacher. I’m the one who insisted on giving it to him."

Chu Lingguang quickly explained.

"I didn’t come here to stop you from touching the Dragon Claw Tree again. I just wanted to tell you that you’ve been locked onto by the tree. The next time you get close, you will face another Consciousness Attack. Your Spiritual Sense can’t form a defense yet, so if you go again, you will lose your status as a top candidate."

Yun Hong was simply laying out the stakes.

"I understand. I would like to ask Teacher Yun Hong, if I use Archery to shoot down a branch from a distance, or lasso one with a rope and pull it down from afar, would either of those methods work?"