Chapter 531: Chapter 437: Ascending to the Pinnacle

Spirit Realm, under the Yunlu Daoist Palace, the White Deer Academy.

Above the Martial Arts Arena, four brilliant clusters of Spirit Light intertwined and collided. The duel in the arena involved the academy’s four Nascent Soul Early-stage prodigies.

At this moment, the four were all wielding Void Power. Sword shadows flashed through the void, sometimes solid as steel, sometimes ethereal as mist.

Each collision stirred minute spatial ripples, fully illustrating the mastery of "Void Power."

The cultivator in green on the east side formed a seal with his fingers, commanding twelve flying swords to become streams of light diving into the void. They reappeared behind the opponent, the blades imbued with the essence of "Void Strangle," aiming directly at the vital spots.

The cultivator on the west side reacted swiftly, activating a Bronze Mirror. The mirror light formed a Void Barrier, simultaneously countering the sword momentum. Using the rebounding force of the barrier, it unleashed "Layered Void Ripples," wave upon wave of sword shadows roared back like tides.

The other two were locked in a tense battle, one using "Void Stealth" to maneuver and restrain, while the other employed "Void Immobilization" to lock positions firmly. The magic transitioned seamlessly without a single flaw.

On the high platform on the north side of the Martial Arts Arena.

A figure clad in gray-blue sat quietly observing, an unsheathed ancient sword hanging at his waist, the sword tassel made of the rare Void Silkworm Thread, swaying gently in the breeze.

He had a handsome yet somewhat cold appearance, his slightly narrowed eyes clearly seeing through the magical paths, spiritual power flows, and even the emotional fluctuations of the four in the arena.

He occasionally nodded slightly, evidently acknowledging their degree of control.

"Clang—"

With a clear ringing sound, the sword shadows of the cultivator in green broke through the defense of the Bronze Mirror, stopping abruptly just three inches from the opponent’s forehead.

The four simultaneously withdrew their energies, the Spirit Light around them dissipated. Although panting slightly, their gazes remained sharp.

Their figures flickered, landing below the high platform, bowing respectfully to Chen Qingyun, voices in unison and reverent:

"Disciple greets Instructor Chen!"

This greeting carried an undisguised sense of yearning and fervor.

All four were the top prodigies of the White Deer Academy, having broken through to Nascent Soul at a young age, with noteworthy talent and backgrounds. Even the Divinity Transformation instructors of the academy treated them with kindness.

But in front of Chen Qingyun, they didn’t dare to show the slightest arrogance—this titled instructor was no Divinity Transformation Cultivator but a true Refining Void Great Power.

More importantly, his background was unfathomable; even the Mansion Master of the academy and the senior Void Refining Cultivator, Daoist White Deer, treated him with considerable respect.

Being acknowledged by such a figure and taken as a disciple would be considered a great fortune for them!

This Instructor Chen, revered by the prodigies of White Deer Academy, was none other than the youngest son of Chen Xihua—Chen Qingyun.

Over ten thousand years ago, Chen Sheng took him as a Named Disciple, personally teaching him until he successfully achieved Void Refining, after which he joined the Inner Sect.

He was here because, in recent years, Chen Qingyun’s cultivation had hit a bottleneck, his Dao Heart restless, so he planned to temper himself with worldly experiences to refine his Dao Foundation.

Coincidentally, the Mansion Master of White Deer Academy in the Yunlu Daoist Palace learned of his intent to adventure, sending a special invitation for him to teach at the academy.

He would impart techniques to the prodigies while also using the opportunity to settle his mind, so Chen Qingyun accepted the task.

...

Chen raised a hand slightly, his voice calm yet imbued with a penetrating force:

"No need for much courtesy; each of you had strengths and weaknesses in the duel; listen as I elaborate."

He first looked at the cultivator in green:

"Your void stealth assault was well-timed, but when the sword momentum entered the void, the mana leaked by three parts, a flaw fatal if you encounter a cultivator skilled in this way."

Saying this, he pointed a finger, a faint cyan sword shadow flashed through the void, with no Spirit Power spillover once the sword momentum entered the void.

"The void as the scabbard, Sword Intent as the core, when entering the void, should be like a drop entering the sea, blending without leaking..."

The cultivator in green recalled the scene of the battle, suddenly enlightened:

"Thank you, Instructor, for the guidance! No wonder I always felt my magic was stagnant; I see it now."

Chen Qingyun then turned to the cultivator holding the Bronze Mirror:

"You used mirror light to form the Void Barrier, the defense was adequate, but it lacked fluidity..."

His finger moved again, the void revealed the image of a Bronze Mirror, the mirror light flowed and burst forth:

"The barrier is not just for defense, but the foundation for attack; using the counter-force of the void to provoke the sword momentum, achieving both offense and defense."

...

As time passed, as they listened to Chen Qingyun’s pointers, the four increasingly felt enlightened, their eyes full of joy.

Chen Qingyun’s comments hit the mark, highlighting not only the flaws in their techniques but also addressing the core of cultivation. This session of guidance yielded more than their years of research.

"Instructor’s words awaken the dreamer! I’ve long pondered how to enhance defensive countermeasures, only finding the way today as my method was wrong!"

"Instructor Chen is indeed a Great Power! Receiving guidance from the Instructor is worth more than ten years of seclusion!"

The four expressed their gratitude repeatedly, their eyes brimming with fervor, yearning to apprentice on the spot.

Chen Qingyun maintained a calm expression, observing these young ones, recalling scenes of his own apprenticeship, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes.

He raised his hand to stop their flattery, sighing inwardly:

"My teaching skill, compared to Master’s, is insignificant..."

Over a decade teaching here, reviewing and learning anew, though his bottleneck had not been completely broken, his mind had gradually calmed.

"Today, I will demonstrate a complete Void Sword Technique for you."

Chen Qingyun stood up, about to activate the sword momentum, when a golden rune appeared at his forehead—his sect’s communication mark.

He touched the rune with his fingertip, and upon seeing the message, his usually cold face suddenly broke, bursting into hearty laughter.

The four disciples were completely stunned.

During their over ten years at the academy, they had always seen Instructor Chen as a cold, reticent Sword Cultivator, rarely even cracking a smile or showing any emotion.

This sudden lapse left them speechless momentarily.

"Teaching is paused; you all are to comprehend what was just explained on your own."

Chen Qingyun’s laughter gradually subsided, but his eyes still held unconcealed excitement. He communicated briefly with Daoist White Deer.

Then his figure flickered, a ripple of void surrounding him, his entire being disappearing as if a drop of ink dissolved in water, leaving only an echo in the air.

"The Mansion Master will arrive shortly; just follow his arrangements."

No sooner had Chen Qingyun left than an elder in a White Deer emblem Daoist Robe appeared on the high platform, none other than White Deer Daoist, the founder of White Deer Academy.

With hair and beard all white, the refining void pressure around him condensed like a mountain, yet he bore a gentle demeanor.

The four disciples hurriedly gathered around, bowing with curiosity written all over their faces as they asked:

"Greetings, Mansion Master! Why did Instructor Chen lose composure? Did something joyous occur?"

White Deer Daoist stroked his beard, eyes filled with unmistakable envy, gazing toward where Chen Qingyun vanished, speaking slowly:

"Fellow Daoist Chen’s master has emerged from seclusion after millennia, recently breaking through the Star Tower to the top layer, naturally a joyous occasion!"

"What?!"

The four disciples, as if struck by lightning, gasped sharply.

As prodigies of an academy related to Yunlu, they were naturally aware of the Star Tower’s renown.

"Star, Star Tower’s top layer? Doesn’t that mean Instructor Chen’s master is an invincible Void Refiner, akin to a Dharma Master?"

Typically, to break through to the top layer signifies reaching an invincible level of the Twelve Tribulations, but White Deer Daoist, smiling, did not correct them.

After all, it’s almost correct, and considering his youth—less than two thousand years—even achieving Integration Dharma Master isn’t out of the question.

White Deer Daoist observed the disciples’ shocked expressions, feeling sentiments as well:

"A Dharma Master Patriarch, an almost invincible Void Refining master as your mentor... Such backing truly incites envy..."