Qi Xuanxuan helped Han Fei to his feet. He had been kicked once, and his breathing was a little uncomfortable, but there was not a trace of discouragement on his face.
Shao Yun narrowed his eyes. "You still dare to spout nonsense? Haven't we beaten you into submission yet?"
Han Fei shook his head. "There's a famous saying in my hometown: if a dog bites me, I can't turn around and bite the dog, can I?"
Shao Yun said, "You..."
Gao Cheng waved a hand. "Enough, that's enough. From today onward, you are all Core Disciples of the sect. Not only will you cultivate together, you may even carry out missions together. There are fewer than sixty Core Disciples in total. This class is barely passable, with nineteen becoming Core Disciples. You senior brothers should be more accommodating."
"Of course, Shao Yun has already given out the welcome gifts. I wonder whether the new rookies found them satisfactory? From now on, you will systematically practice combat techniques, combat awareness, various applications of spiritual energy, different types of long-range attacks, and combat techniques for control-type Martial Artists in the Inner Court."
"Besides that, there are certain special fields that you may choose to study on your own, such as alchemy, artifact forging, Formation Arrays, and so on. However, those require talent in the respective fields."
After finishing his opening remarks, Gao Cheng assigned the nineteen newcomers to different groups.
Han Fei and most of the others were assigned to the combat group. A small number went to the support and control groups, while Qi Xuanxuan and another man and woman entered a special group to study alchemy and Formation Arrays.
Time flew by, and three years passed in the blink of an eye.
At the Inner Court's Windwatch Tower, Han Fei was standing guard. His cultivation had just broken through to the first level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, while Qi Xuanxuan had already become an expert at the fourth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm. Breaking through three levels in three years was not especially fast in the Inner Court.
Among the other disciples of Class Eighty-Eight, even the slowest had broken through four levels. Gu Yue had even advanced six levels, while Meng Qing had advanced five, all reaching the middle stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm.
It was not actually that Han Fei had advanced slowly. With his physique, combined with the change Fuxi had made to his fortune, Han Fei could have broken through ten levels in three years. But he was no longer the beginner who only pursued rapid breakthroughs.
He understood well that every realm required enough time to accumulate and build a solid foundation. It was not just spiritual energy that needed to be solidified; one's state of mind did as well. Only then would future breakthroughs be free of bottlenecks.
"Han Fei, Senior Brother has summoned the members of Class Eighty-Eight to New Yuan Hall." Qi Xuanxuan suddenly appeared behind him.
Han Fei nodded and took Qi Xuanxuan's hand as they headed toward New Yuan Hall.
After three years together, their relationship had long since become an unspoken understanding. It was just that neither of them had been the first to tear through that thin veil.
At twenty, one was not considered young in this world, but Han Fei did not consider himself old either. They could wait a little longer. In the world of Martial Artists, ninety-nine percent of those over a hundred had no companions. Only a small minority married and had children early.
When they arrived at New Yuan Hall, they found all nineteen disciples of Class Eighty-Eight gathered there.
Gao Cheng said, "Everyone's here, right? Today is the day your class graduates. The Inner Court grants you one day of leave to return to your respective main peaks and bid farewell to your former fellow disciples. After all, once you part, it may very well be forever."
"Also, after today, you will officially become Core Disciples of the sect. You may accept Core Disciple missions, or enter the Hidden Guard to earn your credentials. Naturally, you may also continue cultivating in the Inner Court. The choice is yours, and there is no need to report it to me. I'm sick of seeing you brats."
With that, Gao Cheng clasped his hands behind his back and slowly left New Yuan Hall.
The other disciples cheered. After all, three years of hellish training had finally come to an end.
Han Fei was also happy. He could return to see his fellow disciples at Taihe Peak, but he noticed that Qi Xuanxuan seemed rather downcast.
"What's wrong?"
Qi Xuanxuan said, "I have no friends at Tongtian Peak."
As she spoke, Qi Xuanxuan lowered her head.
Han Fei smiled. "That's all? Then go back and visit the Sect Master."
Qi Xuanxuan said, "My father has no time. It's always been this way since I was little. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent Qin, Qi, Shu, Hua to follow me."
Han Fei reached out and took Qi Xuanxuan's hand. "Then come with me."
At the summit plaza of Taihe Peak, several hundred disciples stood with their heads slightly lowered.
Above them, Daoist Sanyuan was reading out a list.
After today, most of the people here would leave. Only a small number who could continue improving their cultivation would become stewards.
Those with higher cultivation would become Silver-Masked Hidden Guards or be dispatched to nearby areas as overseers.
For example, the Spirit Stone mines nearby, the cities, villages, and towns under the jurisdiction of the Tianyuan Divine Sect, and the trading houses.
Some would also be allowed to remain for another term. Naturally, Daoist Sanyuan had to select them first. Only those he deemed sufficiently talented and capable of further improvement would have the chance to stay, and the number of slots was limited.
After all the disciples' assignments had been read out, Daoist Sanyuan began announcing the destinations of his six major disciples.
"Eighth disciple Ba Tu, join the thirty-first squad of Taihe Peak's direct Hidden Guard."
"Seventh disciple He Chong, join the thirty-first squad of Taihe Peak's direct Hidden Guard."
"Fifth disciple Wei Ying, join the thirty-first squad of Taihe Peak's direct Hidden Guard."
"Fourth disciple Du Kun, join the thirty-first squad of Taihe Peak's direct Hidden Guard."
"Third disciple Heran, assume the position of captain of the thirty-first squad of Taihe Peak's direct Hidden Guard."
"Second disciple Qi Mengyu, join the Divine Sect's direct Hidden Guard. Your specific assignment will await notification."
Qi Mengyu froze. She knew that the Divine Sect's direct Hidden Guard would be sent to Tongtian Peak, but because of her status, she did not wish to be at Tongtian Peak.
"Master, I..."
Daoist Sanyuan sighed. "With your cultivation and talent, remaining at Taihe Peak would be a waste. Go to Tongtian Peak. This is all your master can do for you."
Qi Mengyu could not speak. She could only give a deep bow.
Just then, Han Fei returned.
Several senior brothers and sisters were delighted to see Han Fei. Daoist Sanyuan was also very pleased when he saw Han Fei as he was now.
His appearance was sharp, yet he was inwardly restrained, making him impossible to read. This was the current Han Fei. His first impression on others was one of steadiness.
Han Fei said, "Master, today is the Tianyuan Divine Sect's graduation ceremony. After today, will new junior brothers be arriving?"
Daoist Sanyuan shook his head. "Not so quickly. They will arrive gradually over about a year. This time, we are the main peak for the Ascension Tournament, so we have priority in selection. I believe Taihe Peak will only get better in the future. The number of people will decrease accordingly. The higher-ranked the main peak, the fewer people it selects."
That night, Han Fei drank heartily with his many fellow disciples and bid them farewell one by one. Many Taihe Peak disciples cried their eyes out, looking nothing like Martial Artists.
They all understood that they would not have many chances to meet again. After leaving the Tianyuan Divine Sect, they would be assigned throughout the Four Great Empires.
A supply of just over twenty thousand talented people every ten years was truly nothing to the Four Great Empires.
Compared to the experts who died in war each year, more than twenty thousand people over ten years was even somewhat insufficient.
At dawn, Han Fei circulated his spiritual energy to dispel the alcohol. Then he left together with Qi Xuanxuan, who had been waiting at the edge of the plaza.
Qi Xuanxuan also knew that Han Fei was not in a good mood, so she could only offer him words of comfort.
"Where are we going next?" Qi Xuanxuan asked.
Han Fei shook his head. "I don't know for now, but I'm thinking of going out and seeing the world. Although the Inner Court provides inexhaustible resources, they are ultimately given to us. Some things can only be obtained through our own strength."
Qi Xuanxuan asked, "Such as?"
Han Fei said, "Such as real combat experience. In a greenhouse, one can never become truly strong, because we have no sense of crisis. And what the Inner Court lacks most is precisely that sense of crisis."
Qi Xuanxuan nodded in understanding.
After the two returned to the Inner Court, Han Fei went back to his room.
He opened the Primordial Group, intending to chat with the Ancient Gods.
But at that moment, Han Fei suddenly discovered that there was an additional person in the group.
Moreover, no one had spoken in the group for several days. He had no idea whether those Ancient Gods were sleeping.
"Notice: Due to advancement in cultivation, Dao Ancestor Hongjun has joined the Primordial Group."
Han Fei froze. Another big shot had arrived—Hongjun, progenitor of Daoism, master of the Dao laws of heaven and earth, known as the ancestor of all laws.
Hongjun said, "What is this?"
Fuxi said, "My heavens, even Old Ancestor Hongjun has joined. This group is getting livelier and livelier."
After that, Han Fei could not get a word in as the Primordial Group erupted into discussion. Several Ancient Gods took turns explaining the group's functions and its owner, Han Fei, to Hongjun.
Only after everyone had finished introducing things did Han Fei say, "Welcome, Old Ancestor Hongjun. My name is Han Fei, and I am the owner of this group."
Hongjun was quite courteous. He greeted Han Fei, then followed everyone's reminders and sent him a red packet.
"Ding-dong. Notice: You have an exclusive red packet waiting to be opened."
Without the slightest hesitation, Han Fei opened it directly.
"Obtained cultivation technique: Power of Heavenly Dao. Accept?"
After Han Fei selected confirm, a stream of information entered his mind.
"Power of Heavenly Dao: allows one to see through the origin of all spiritual energy techniques, calmly find the flaws in an opponent's moves, and even copy them for one's own use."
A cheat. This was obviously a cheat. Looking at this ability that was practically a cheat, Han Fei laughed aloud.
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