Heavenly Spirit Pool

Lu Chuan knew the two would not believe him so easily, so he did not waste words. He spread his hands and activated the Sky Swallowing Art.

At once, a terrifying suction force swept outward. The spiritual energy in the room surged toward Lu Chuan, forming a vortex a full foot wide before him.

At the center of the vortex was Lu Chuan's right palm.

"Th-this is..."

"The Sky Swallowing Art at the Proficient Level!"

Lin Lei was no longer as calm as before. In a flash, he appeared before Lu Chuan, seized his wrist with his right hand, and carefully sensed it.

A moment later, Lin Lei suddenly threw back his head and laughed. "Hahahaha..."

"Heaven has not treated the Combat Department poorly! It has not treated me, Lin Lei, poorly!"

"It actually sent such a peerless prodigy right before my eyes!"

In less than a month, Lu Chuan had cultivated the Sky Swallowing Art to the Proficient Level. What did that mean? It meant Lu Chuan had a great chance of forming the Devouring Physique!

The Devouring Physique was a peerless constitution capable of leading one to the pinnacle of power!

Looking across the world, there were no more than a handful of constitutions that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Devouring Physique.

If Lu Chuan could form the Devouring Physique, the revival of the Combat Department would only be a matter of time!

Not only the Combat Department—perhaps the entire human race would advance another step in the rankings of the Ten Thousand Races because of Lu Chuan!

How could Lin Lei not be moved by such a future?

Amid his excitement, Chu Feng suggested, "Master, why not tell Martial Uncle this news?"

Chu Feng's Martial Uncle—Lin Lei's senior brother—was Song Wanshan, the current head of the Combat Department faction!

"Tell Senior Brother?"

The smile on Lin Lei's face vanished in an instant. He snorted coldly. "Hmph! What would be the point of telling him? So he can use Lu Chuan as a chess piece to play against others?"

"As the dignified head of the Combat Department, instead of cultivating properly, he spends all day plotting against this person and scheming against that one. Sooner or later, our Combat Department will be schemed into the grave by him!"

"Listen carefully. News of Lu Chuan must be kept secret. I do not want the future of our Combat Department to become a sacrificial victim in someone else's struggle!"

"This..."

Chu Feng hesitated for a moment, then nodded heavily. "I understand, Master."

Listening to their conversation, Lu Chuan narrowed his eyes. It seemed his master and the faction head were not exactly on good terms.

But what did that have to do with him? For now, he needed to find a way to raise his strength.

Once his strength reached a certain level, he would naturally have no fear of schemes and conspiracies.

"Lu Chuan, remember this: before you possess sufficient strength, do not reveal your talent for comprehension to anyone. Do you understand?" After rejecting Chu Feng's suggestion, Lin Lei turned to instruct Lu Chuan.

"I understand." Lu Chuan nodded.

Wasn't it just keeping a low profile? He was familiar with that.

"Master, since Lu Chuan has already cultivated the Sky Swallowing Art to the Proficient Level, why not let him make a trip to the Heavenly Spirit Pool?" As if recalling something, Chu Feng made another suggestion.

"The Heavenly Spirit Pool?"

Lin Lei frowned slightly. "Wouldn't that be too early? If I remember correctly, you were already Fifth Rank when you went."

"Not early, not early."

Chu Feng waved his hands repeatedly. "The Heavenly Spirit Pool does not require a warrior's realm. It only requires proficiency in the Sky Swallowing Art."

"Lu Chuan is perfectly suited for it."

"Besides, Master, can you really bear to give the Heavenly Spirit Pool's slot to someone else?"

The moment those words were spoken, Lin Lei's resolve hardened. "Fine. Take Lu Chuan to the Heavenly Spirit Pool right now."

"Hmph! It was left to me by my father. I can let whoever I want use it!"

"Yes!" Chu Feng nodded, then looked at Lu Chuan. "Lu Chuan, come with me."

"Wait, Brother Feng." Lu Chuan looked at Lin Lei. "Master, my reward..."

This was the main reason Lu Chuan had come.

"You brat..."

Lin Lei could not help but laugh. "Would I possibly short you on Academic Credits?"

"Since you completed the mission beyond expectations, I'll give you an extra thousand Academic Credits."

"That makes six thousand Academic Credits in total. Go back and check them yourself."

"Thank you, Master!" Lu Chuan was overjoyed. He had not expected an unexpected bonus.

"Can you come with me now?" Chu Feng teased from the side.

"Of course," Lu Chuan said with a smile.

Within Azure Dragon Academy, inside a mysterious manor.

Looking at the manor before them, Lu Chuan could not help asking, "Brother Feng, what exactly is this Heavenly Spirit Pool?"

"A treasured land that can assist cultivation."

Chu Feng explained, "The Heavenly Spirit Pool contains exceptionally pure and abundant spiritual energy. Warriors below Fifth Rank who enter it can raise their rank by at least one level."

"As for warriors of our Combat Department, if they can enter and devour the spiritual energy, they can raise their rank by no less than two levels."

"If you have the ability to drain the entire Heavenly Spirit Pool dry, you might even soar to the heavens in a single day and become a Ninth Rank expert outright."

"Of course, that is impossible."

"There is a special pressure within the Heavenly Spirit Pool. Even Ninth Rank experts cannot remain inside for too long, much less people like you."

"What would happen if someone forcibly stayed inside?" Lu Chuan asked.

Chu Feng revealed a mysterious smile. "Your soul would be ground to pieces, your body would be refined away, and you would sink to the bottom, vanishing between heaven and earth."

Lu Chuan could not help shivering. It was that dangerous?

"You need not be afraid. As long as you come out in time, there will be no danger." Chu Feng smiled and patted Lu Chuan's shoulder reassuringly.

"Then how long do you think I can last, Senior Brother?" Lu Chuan asked again.

"Ten minutes, perhaps."

Chu Feng thought seriously for a moment before saying, "When I cultivated in the Heavenly Spirit Pool back then, I lasted for ten... thirty minutes in total."

"At the time, I was already Fifth Rank. My ability to withstand pressure was definitely stronger than yours is now."

"With your current strength, I estimate you can only last about ten minutes."

"But don't be discouraged. Those ten minutes will be enough to raise your cultivation to the Fifth Rank."

Chu Feng took a deep breath, nearly letting it slip.

If Lu Chuan found out that he had only lasted ten minutes himself, how would he maintain his prestige as a senior brother?

"Ten minutes..."

Lu Chuan fell silent for a moment, then looked at Chu Feng. "Senior Brother, I remember you told Master that the Heavenly Spirit Pool does not require a warrior's realm."

"It truly does not." Chu Feng smiled. "Even ordinary people can enter and cultivate, let alone warriors."

"But if my realm were higher, wouldn't I be able to last longer?" Lu Chuan asked in confusion.

"You wish."

Chu Feng rolled his eyes at Lu Chuan. "Have you never heard the saying, 'Time waits for no one'?"

"Quite a few forces within the academy have their eyes on the Heavenly Spirit Pool. If you do not use it now, the slot will belong to someone else in a few days."

"Times have changed. It is already quite good that Master can keep hold of the Heavenly Spirit Pool. As for the slot..."

"To be honest, even Master cannot forcibly reserve the slot for you until your cultivation succeeds."

"The Heavenly Spirit Pool opens once every three years. If Master cannot use it now, he can only give it to someone else."

"That is why I suggested you come to the Heavenly Spirit Pool now. After all, it is better for one of our own to waste some of it than to give it to others."