The candles flickered in the vast hall.

Yun Wei poured another cup of tea for Gu Zhan and said, "Actually, you’re not inferior to those prodigies on the top tier. To be accurate, it’s your talent that’s even stronger than theirs.

I’ve investigated you. You’ve only been cultivating for just over three years. In terms of realm advancement, you’re not as frightening as those legendary prodigies, but your foundation is extremely strong."

Gu Zhan was a bit surprised,

For he started from scratch, achieving the status of Fifth Realm Great Cultivator in merely three years.

Yun Wei also noticed Gu Zhan’s confusion and said, "I’m not saying your progress speed isn’t terrifying; it’s just, compared to those legendary figures, you’re slightly lacking. You’ve heard of the Sword Son from Sword King City in Yunzhou, ranked second on the Celestial Pride List, right?"

Gu Zhan nodded,

The Sword Son from Sword King City, named Sword One, is currently recognized as a prodigy who could rival Qi Baiyu. Although ranked below Qi Baiyu mainly due to his background, having never killed anyone, hence he’s second.

Yun Wei chuckled lightly, "Most only know he ranks second on the Celestial Pride List but don’t know that Sword One was still an ordinary person ignorant of Martial Arts at age twenty. It was then that the Sect Leader of Sword King City discovered him among the populace and brought him into the city. However, Sword One didn’t enter under the Sect Leader as a disciple, but was accepted as a peer under the Sect Leader’s guidance.

After entering Sword King City, Sword One still didn’t cultivate Martial Arts. Instead, he spent every day reading and cleansing swords in Sword Tomb, staying there for three years, leading many in Sword King City to forget this young person with such high seniority.

Until five years ago, Sword One suddenly walked out of Sword Tomb, sought out the Sect Leader of Sword King City, requested to cultivate, and subsequently practiced the Yellow Court Scripture of Sword King City. He entered Postnatal in one day, Innate in three, Dao Realm in half a month, and straight to Fifth Realm Great Cultivator in three months.

It’s said he could directly enter Grandmaster, but voluntarily stopped to begin practicing Swordsmanship, starting from Basic Sword Technique despite his Fifth Realm Cultivation. He has made six appearances afterward,

First defeated Postnatal, second defeated Innate, third defeated Dao Realm, fourth defeated Grandmaster, fifth defeated Great Grandmaster, sixth went to Celestial Mountain Dao Pavilion to challenge Sword Fool Qin Hongyi, thirty moves with no result, returned to Sword King City to cleanse swords to date."

Gu Zhan: "..."

Isn’t this a cheat?

Yun Wei chuckled softly and said, "Not feeling overwhelmed, are you?"

Gu Zhan chuckled softly without saying much.

After all, his cheat might be stronger.

Yun Wei continued, "Speaking of which, you and Qi Baiyu are quite similar. Among the prodigies on Yunzhou’s Celestial Pride List, only you and Qi Baiyu aren’t from prestigious backgrounds. Qi Baiyu doesn’t have Sword One’s terrifying talent,

He hails from an insignificant small family, practiced sword at age three, without a renowned master, without a background, managed to carve out his path entirely by himself, hence why I would favor Qi Baiyu if he fought Sword One. Sword One’s sword is Swordsmanship, Qi Baiyu’s sword is Killing Skill."

Gu Zhan pondered a bit, shook his head slightly without comment.

Yun Wei chuckled, "In this world, there are always some people who are different, like the Young Valley Master of Medicine King Valley. He fell off a cliff while collecting herbs, yet found fortune amidst misfortune, accidentally consuming an unknown Spirit Medicine, cleansing his body and meridians, even inheriting ancient legacy, growing to be ranked third on Celestial Pride List within short two years. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

And Qin Hongyi, whom Sword One went to Dao Pavilion to challenge earlier, is the foremost prodigy of Liangzhou. Just after birth, a Dao Pavilion Divine Sword flew thousands of miles to recognize him as its master, born a Dao Realm Great Cultivator, never learned any sword technique yet defeated Grandmasters as easily as drinking water."

Gu Zhan squinted his eyes slightly,

Feeling somewhat introspective, indeed only the higher you stand, the broader your view. If he stayed in a place like Linjiang City all his life, he might never imagine such people exist in this world.

Yun Wei smiled and said, "However, Gu Zhan, actually you are not inferior to these people. Observing you today in action, I realized your foundation is beyond impressive,

From my brief observation, you possess at least no less than ten Martial Arts techniques, albeit very eclectic. What amazed me is that despite such varied and unrelated techniques, you have cultivated them to Mastery, reaching Peak of Perfection,

Your talent in cultivating Martial Arts is something I haven’t seen or heard in my life. Some possess Sword Heart Clarity, capable of learning a sword technique at a glance, others with terrifying talent can even self-learn and create techniques, but they all focus on one discipline,

Before encountering you, I wouldn’t have believed one’s energy could be so extensive, mastering various Martial Arts as if effortlessly. It’s truly astonishing, hence I believe you have the potential to be in the top tier of prodigies, what you lack is possibly background and heritage, you lack Divine Techniques!"

Gu Zhan asked puzzled, "What’s Divine Technique?"

Yun Wei responded solemnly, "Divine Technique is what the Martial World refers to as Celestial Tier Martial Arts, but that’s merely a rumor. In truth, when a Martial technique reaches Earth Tier Upper Grade, that’s already the limit; Celestial Tier is Divine Technique, a transcendent means of Martial Arts to communicate with heaven and earth, drawing upon the Great Dao."

Gu Zhan’s eyes lit up, saluting, "Please guide me, Cloud Protector."

Yun Wei said, "Normally, only Grandmasters can practice Divine Technique because its basic requirement is to communicate with the heavens and invoke resonance. However, those top-tier prodigies defy conventions, capable of cultivating Divine Technique with Dao Realm Cultivation.