Chapter 532: Chapter 438: Passing on the Dao

Upon hearing Daoist Bailu mention that Chen Qingyun’s master was a Great Power at the top of the Star Tower, the four Nascent Soul Seed participants were still immersed in shock.

The cultivator in a blue robe on the east side suddenly reacted, quickly stepping forward, his voice carrying a sense of urgency:

"Mansion Master, will Instructor Chen... return?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the other three instantly snapped out of their daze, turning their gazes towards Daoist Bailu with eyes full of hope.

They still harbored a sliver of luck in their hearts, hoping that Chen Qingyun had only left temporarily and that they would have the chance to hear his guidance and perhaps even be taken under his wing in the future.

Daoist Bailu, twirling his beard, paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head, his tone tinged with regret:

"Fellow Daoist Chen came here to ease his mind due to a bottleneck, using the teaching position to temper his Dao Heart."

"After sending a message earlier, he has already resigned from the position through a Secret Technique, presumably to return and follow his master’s cultivation."

"Resigned... resigned from the position?"

The hope on the blue-robed cultivator’s face instantly froze, as if all strength had been drained from him, causing him to take a step back.

The other three were likewise struck as if by lightning, exchanging glances and seeing deep disappointment and regret in each other’s eyes.

Such an opportunity, such a distinguished mentor, they had completely missed.

Seeing the disheartened look of the disciples, Daoist Bailu sighed helplessly, but said nothing more.

He knew well in his heart that being personally guided by Chen Qingyun for over ten years was already a tremendous fortune for these disciples.

Given his remarkable identity, if not for his acquaintance with Chen Xihua, it would be difficult even to let these disciples meet him, let alone have him hold a teaching position in name.

Daoist Bailu pondered for a moment, then spoke to comfort them:

"You need not be overly disheartened. Before leaving, Fellow Daoist Chen left dozens of scrolls of his annotations on the Void Sword Technique, enough to benefit you immensely."

Hearing this, the four disciples felt a little relieved.

...

Deep within the Yunlu Daoist Palace, the Life-Annihilating Hall stood majestically.

The hall was forged from profane iron that had endured millennia, with its surface covered in Terminus Dao Patterns, marking it as Chen Sheng’s exclusive possession within the palace.

Chen Qingyun had just stepped over the "Void Array Hub" outside the hall and saw a figure in a gray robe standing on the steps in front of the hall, none other than Zhang Hongdao, the fourth disciple under Chen Sheng!

At this moment, Zhang Hongdao stood with hands crossed behind his back, his demeanor more composed than it had been ten thousand years ago. He emanated an aura of unshakeable steadiness, like a mountain that remains unblemished despite an impending collapse.

Compared to the two elder brothers who had been admitted to the Inner Sect early on due to their top-tier talent and who now stood at the fourth tribulation stage of Void Refining, Chen Qingyun and Zhang Hongdao’s aptitude and comprehension were noticeably inferior.

Ever since they had entered Chen Sheng’s tutelage as Named Disciples over ten thousand years ago, the two had stuck together like glue, and Chen Sheng had often set them to train and cultivate alongside each other, forging a life-and-death bond.

Chen Qingyun walked quickly forward, patting Zhang Hongdao on the shoulder, with his sword-like brows raised and an easy familiarity in his voice:

"Junior Brother, you were cultivating with the clan so far away. I expected to wait half a day for you, but you’ve returned so swiftly."

Zhang Hongdao nodded slightly, his voice steady:

"On this trip back to the Zhang Clan to mentor the younger generation, I chanced upon a promising talent with even greater potential than mine, so I brought them back here to the Daoist Palace for cultivation."

"I was in the palace when the news came that Master had ascended the top of the Star Tower."

Chen Qingyun suddenly understood, his gaze moving beyond Zhang Hongdao to the hall door:

"Is Master in the hall? When will the two Senior Brothers return from the Immortal Mansion? I’ve long hoped to bask in their glory with my second tribulation stage of Void Refining."

At the mention of the two Senior Brothers, a hint of admiration flashed in Zhang Hongdao’s eyes:

"After coming out of seclusion, Master went directly to the ’Star Hub Hall’ of the Ancestor. The two Senior Brothers are in the depths of the Antarctic Immortal Mansion, in the ’Whale Sea Secret Realm’ for training. The secret realm is sealed and won’t open for a month or so."

"The Whale Sea Secret Realm..."

Chen Qingyun sighed lightly, unable to hide his envy.

He and Zhang Hongdao have been stuck at the second tribulation stage of Void Refining for nearly a thousand years. However, their Senior Brothers, with their superior talents, have long advanced to the fourth tribulation stage of Void Refining and were permitted access to the Antarctic Immortal Mansion for training.

The Dharma Master Hong Jue, originally an Integration Cultivator of the Antarctic Immortal Mansion, naturally established the Yunlu Daoist Palace as a branch of the Immortal Mansion’s Dao Vein.

Disciples who reach the fourth tribulation stage of Void Refining can undergo further training in the Immortal Mansion, which is replete with secret realm opportunities and distinguished senior cultivators, a dream destination for innumerable cultivators seeking advancement.

Yet, the path to this coveted Immortal Mansion was one their master never treaded.

As memories of his master’s cultivation journey flashed through his mind, Chen Qingyun felt an ever-growing respect.

His master advanced swiftly in cultivation, bypassing the Immortal Mansion training entirely, and ventured into the Chongli Heaven for training, achieving pinnacle Void Refining combat strength in just a few thousand years.

Moreover, his master is the only Direct Disciple of Dharma Master Hong Jue, with access to the best resources within the Daoist Palace, without needing to venture into the Immortal Mansion to compete for resources.

Suppressing his inner thoughts, Chen Qingyun pulled at Zhang Hongdao’s sleeve, his curiosity thoroughly piqued:

"By the way, what about the younger clan member you brought back? Is their talent truly better than yours?"

He knew Zhang Hongdao’s character too well—always measured in his words and actions, never exaggerating. Such praise from him surely indicated someone truly extraordinary.

Zhang Hongdao nodded:

"I’ve arranged for your child to join the Outer Sect’s ’Tempering Heart Hall.’ His talent and comprehension are exceptional, far surpassing mine when I first entered the Dao."

Chen Qingyun’s eyes lit up: "I must go and see!"

"Perhaps this child is destined for me; I might take him as my first disciple."

Having taught at the White Deer Academy for over a decade, he has gained some insights. If he finds a good prospect, he might cultivate a successor who surpasses himself.

Zhang Hongdao shook his head lightly, speaking with some consideration:

"Take it easy, Senior Brother. Though the child is talented, having been treasured within the clan from a young age, he is quite prideful, and his Dao Heart somewhat restless."

"Let him hone himself in the Outer Sect for a few years, wear away his edges, and then it’s not too late."

The Outer Sect of Yunlu Daoist Palace is not lacking in prodigies, with many named disciples of Dharma Master Hong Jue, including a few from the Inner Sect, all coming from the Outer Sect.

"Looks like I’m in a hurry."

Chen Qingyun chuckled upon hearing this, realizing that Zhang Hongdao had indeed considered everything thoroughly. For a genius, an unstable foundation is the greatest concern, and early setbacks are actually beneficial.

Just as he was about to further inquire about the child’s particular circumstances, a soft white light emerged beneath his feet.

The surrounding world retreated like a tide, and the previously imposing entrance of the hall suddenly was right before them, their bodies floating uncontrollably into the hall.

Upon the lotus platform in the center of the hall, a figure clad in a Profound Daoist Robe sat cross-legged—it was their mentor.

Before they could react, they hit the ground, and after steadying themselves, waves of awe surged in their hearts.

The technique just demonstrated—the ’Worlds Apart’—though seemingly effortless, had actually perfected the use of Void Power to its utmost, leaving these two Void Refining Cultivators completely unaware. Their mentor’s Divine Techniques were indeed unfathomable!

The two bowed in unison:

"Greetings, Mentor! Congratulations on your great advancement, ascending to the top of Star Tower!"

Though the pressure in the hall was mild, it instilled a deep reverence within them, a terrifying aura akin to the Twelve Tribulations Great Power.

Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, a trace of golden light flashing across them before retracting all pressure, his voice indifferent:

"Rise."

Years of contemplation, perceiving the essence of the Middle Thousand Worlds and comprehending the Great Dao, he achieved Perfection in the fourth volume, Void Refining Perfection, with battle power nearly reaching the Twelve Tribulations.

However, his avatar that practiced the way of cultivating a mandate had long possessed invincible Void Refining battle power, only by achieving Perfection in the fifth volume could he scarcely contend with it.

The two rose and stood on either side, as Chen Sheng’s gaze swept over them, asking mildly:

"Qingyun, how has your Void Sword Dao been honed? Hongdao, after a thousand years cultivating amongst your clan, have you made a breakthrough?"

Though secluding for tens of thousands of years, he constantly monitored the movements of his disciples through his avatar, their cultivation paths already clear to him.

The two promptly demonstrated their Dao, detailing their cultivation progress.

Chen Sheng nodded slightly, a bit of satisfaction in his demeanor:

"You have been diligent, not neglected."

He waved his hand, sending two streaks of golden light towards them:

"Qingyun, in the coming century, stay by my side to cultivate, I will help you unravel the intricacies of Void transformation, aiding you to breakthrough the third Void Refining Tribulation."

"Disciple obeys! Thank you, Mentor!"

Chen Qingyun was overjoyed, seeing direct teaching from his mentor as a great opportunity, with his mentor’s guidance, the odds of him breaking through his bottleneck increased by at least seventy percent!

Chen Sheng’s gaze shifted to Zhang Hongdao, his tone carrying more expectation:

"Hongdao, your heart is resolute, I shall impart a Technique to you."

Zhang Hongdao bowed deeply: "Disciple thanks the Mentor for Transmission of the Technique!"

What Chen Sheng intended to transmit to Zhang Hongdao was the cultivation path of establishing heart imagery and evolving a heart realm.

Unexpectedly, without intending it, fostering a growth inadvertently!

Chen Sheng hadn’t anticipated that his initial encouragement for Zhang Hongdao’s resoluteness would indirectly nurture a promising student in cultivating the heart Dao.

Fully aware his own talent was slightly wanting, after Mentor’s encouragement, Zhang Hongdao placed significant emphasis on training his heart.

Through barren lands and life-risking trials upon transforming to the common as generals and ministers, and eventually awakening through a thousand-year dream...

Over these years, his cultivation and battle power, while slightly inferior to Chen Qingyun, possessed the highest mindset among Chen Sheng’s disciples.

According to Chen Sheng’s deductions, if Zhang Hongdao transitioned to cultivating the heart Dao, he could potentially break through the limitations of talent and comprehension, becoming a top-tier Void Refining, even possibly reaching the threshold of Dharma Master.

On the other hand, for Chen Qingyun, though his sword talent stood out, bound by talent and comprehension, even with personal teachings from Chen Sheng, he would likely top out as a first-class Void Refining.

Chen Sheng raised his hand to summon a Jade Scroll:

"This is the annotated Technique, take the initiative to comprehend it."

"Yes!"