Supreme Master - Chapter 46: Astonishment

Translator – Misty

Chapter 46: Astonishment

“In those years, the King of Crimson Heavens was besieged by a group of experts at the Great Qing Mountain. His Golden Core was destroyed. Ten years later, he returned with a vengeance, annihilating more than ten sects of the Great Qing Mountain without leaving a single survivor.”

“Back then, even though the soul of the King of Crimson Heavens was annihilated, after spending over twenty years in the Azure Sea, who in the world wouldn’t fear his return?”

“Back then…”

“Back then, the King of Crimson Heavens dominated the world for over two hundred years, engaging in countless battles. His Golden Core, True Body, Purple Palace, and Nascent Soul all shattered… He experienced nine rises and falls. After each demise, he always stood up again…”

“In comparison to what the King of Crimson Heavens endured, what significance does a mere Foundation Establishment failure hold?”

Fei Kui spoke leisurely, making Li Ziheng’s face turn ashen with anger and rendering him speechless. If the historical figures mentioned by Gu Qingfeng were unverifiable, then the deeds of the King of Crimson Heavens mentioned by Fei Kui were undoubtedly well-documented.

“He was called a king for a reason! How can this foundation failure be compared to the King of Crimson Heavens!” The arrogant Daoist Master Fei Xue spoke coldly.

If Li Ziheng, due to his relation with Li Sen, was unlikely to allow Gu Qingfeng to become an Inner Sect Disciple, then Daoist Master Fei Xue, because of his relationship with Ouyang Ye, would definitely not permit it either.

“Daoist Master Fei Xue, your words are not appropriate.”

Fei Kui, always humble, bowed his head and said: “Gu Qingfeng indeed cannot be compared to the King of Crimson Heavens now, but who can guarantee he won’t be able to in the future? Do not underestimate the young because of their current state, Daoist Master Fei Xue. Remember, the King of Crimson Heavens, a hero who once dominated and was revered in the Ancient Era, also started as a menial worker in our Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect.”

At this statement, everyone looked at each other in disbelief.

The King of Crimson Heavens having once been a menial worker in the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect was a painful memory for the sect, a shadow of humiliation that loomed over them, and an insurmountable peak they could never bypass.

“Elder Ren De, what do you think?”

Mentioning the King of Crimson Heavens, Elder Ren De’s expression turned complex, or more precisely, embarrassed. Twirling his white beard, he looked at Gu Qingfeng in the arena, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: “Failure in Foundation Establishment does not mean the end of the cultivation path. Today, I shall give this young man an opportunity.”

“But Elder Ren De…” Li Ziheng tried to interject, but Elder Ren De interrupted him: “Everyone deserves an equal opportunity. The story of the King of Crimson Heavens teaches us that nothing in this world is absolute.”

As the chief examiner, Elder Ren De’s words were final. Despite Li Ziheng’s reluctance, he had no choice but to accept.

“Thank you, Elder Ren De.”

Fei Kui bowed deeply in gratitude.

He knew Elder Ren De would agree.

Yes, he knew.

Because the King of Crimson Heavens had shown everyone with his tumultuous life that nothing in this world is absolute.

Compared to the King of Crimson Heavens, what did a mere failure in Foundation Establishment count for?

Most importantly, the King of Crimson Heavens had once been a menial worker in the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect – a scar of the sect.

Fei Kui knew that just by mentioning the King of Crimson Heavens, even if Elder Ren De was not present, Li Ziheng would not dare to disagree.

Beside them, Gu Qingfeng, with a smiling gaze, looked at the round and plump man. He hadn’t expected this ‘Fatty’ to be so eloquent and persuasive. No wonder Huo De said he would arrange everything properly.

“Elder Ren De, although it’s possible to reattempt Foundation Establishment after a failure…”

Daoist Master Fei Xue’s tone was always cold, as if devoid of any emotion, and she said, “But the reason for the failure of Foundation Establishment is often due to twisted and chaotic spiritual roots, Dantian, and meridians, making it difficult to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the future. Moreover, since his Foundation Establishment failure also triggered an anomaly and his spiritual roots have already dissipated, a person without spiritual roots is almost cut off from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth…”

“Yes, Elder Ren De, he doesn’t have a trace of spiritual energy in his body. If you allow him to take part in the examination, wouldn’t it be unfair to the other disciples?” Li Ziheng added.

“This…”

Elder Ren De fell into hesitation.

Gu Qingfeng spoke leisurely: “Who told you I have no spiritual energy in my body?”

“Even if you have spiritual power, it’s derived from consuming medicinal pills and is undoubtedly impure.”

“Then open your eyes and see for yourself whether my spiritual power is impure or not.” Gu Qingfeng said with a faint smile, raising his hand to ignite a wisp of flame in his palm. The flame was like mist and light, crystal clear without any impurities.

Witnessing this scene, everyone present was shocked. Gu Qingfeng’s spiritual power was not only clear of impurities but also extremely pure, as immaculate as innate spiritual power, incredibly pure.

“Have you seen clearly?”

Gu Qingfeng asked indifferently: “Impure or not?”

“You!”

Li Ziheng was stunned and speechless, his face turning ashen. He couldn’t fathom how a person without spiritual roots could possess such pure spiritual power.

He couldn’t understand, and neither could anyone else.

For any cultivator, no one dares claim their spiritual power is absolutely pure, as the spiritual energy of the world is inherently impure. The transformation into one’s own spiritual power cannot be pure, especially in a world where cultivation is inseparable from medicinal pills. Consuming even one pill taints the spiritual power, and the more consumed, the more impure it becomes.

It’s not impossible to maintain absolute purity of spiritual power, but no one would do so, as it’s extremely difficult and tedious. It requires refining one’s spiritual power over and over again. Each refinement may increase its purity but at the cost of reducing its quantity.

Could it be that he refined his spiritual power to purity after consuming medicinal pills?

No one knew.

“Such pure spiritual power!”

Elder Ren De seemed excited, his eyes wide in shock, exclaiming: “I’ve cultivated for hundreds of years and have never seen such pure spiritual power. Young man, how did you achieve this?”

“By refining it.”

Refining it?
Clearly, Elder Ren De found it hard to believe, as he himself had tried refining his spiritual power and knew the arduousness of the process.

“Do any of you have any further objections?” Gu Qingfeng smiled and said, “If not, let’s continue. There are two more disciples waiting.”

“Young man, how are your Immortal Arts?”

“Alright.”

Fei Kui stepped forward, saying: “Gu Qingfeng’s musical skills are particularly exquisite. He once played the ‘Serenade of the Azure Sea’ in the First Rate Villa, creating an ambiance with just the melody alone. At that time, Master Wen Zhu personally praised him.”

“Fei Kui! What is he to you? You seem to have been advocating for him all along?” Li Ziheng seemed to notice something amiss.

“Gu Qingfeng is nobody to me. I am just stating a fact and cannot bear to see a talent buried due to a failed Foundation Establishment.”

“Talent? Hmm! I don’t know about his musical skills and haven’t seen them personally. All I know is that our Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect’s Inner Sect exam tests the Immortal Arts of ‘Fire Cloudy Palm’, ‘Blazing Thunder Technique’, and ‘Long Rainbow Sword Technique’.”

The Ten Immortal Arts, martial arts, spells, and sword techniques are the mainstream Immortal Arts.

And Fire Cloudy Palm, Blazing Thunder Technique, and Long Rainbow Sword Technique are the fundamental Immortal Arts of the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect, also the mandatory arts. These three basic Immortal Arts, if one reaches minor achievement in any one of them, they can be promoted.

“Immortal Art, is that all? Just minor achievement is enough, right?”

True to his name, Gu Qingfeng was like a gentle breeze, calm and pleasant, serenely raising his arm, flicking his fingertip, and suddenly a blaze and thunder appeared in the air.

The blaze and thunder stretched about two meters, crackling as it appeared, with flashes of lightning within it. This was the power of Blazing Thunder, with a total of twenty-seven principles.

It’s well known that the Cloudy Rosy Heaven Sect’s Blazing Thunder Technique consists of eighty-one principles of Blazing Thunder.

If one can conjure nine principles of Blazing Thunder, it’s considered the entry-level.

Eighteen principles indicate proficiency.

Twenty-seven principles signify minor achievement.

And the Blazing Thunder Technique demonstrated by Gu Qingfeng, containing exactly twenty-seven principles of Blazing Thunder, showed that he had cultivated this technique to the level of minor achievement.

(End of Chapter)