Shang Zhengliang's Suspicion and Shock

"Li Xiaoyu!"

Shang Zhengliang's voice rang out like a heavy bell, the pressure of an Upper Purity Realm powerhouse bearing down on the youth in the courtyard like a mountain.

Li Xiaoyu paused mid-sweep, slowly lifting his head to look at his master at the door.

There was no panic on his face, only calm as he offered a respectful bow.

"Disciple greets Master."

Shang Zhengliang stepped into the courtyard, his sharp gaze locked onto Li Xiaoyu.

"Raise your head and look at me!"

Li Xiaoyu complied, lifting his head with clear eyes, meeting Shang Zhengliang's stare without flinching.

"Tell me, what exactly is going on with your cultivation?"

Shang Zhengliang's voice was icy. "Breaking through two realms in a single night—do you take me for a three-year-old child?"

"Speak! Have you been practicing some forbidden art from the Demon Sect?!"

His voice grew louder, the final words crashing like thunder, sending the fallen leaves in the small courtyard swirling into the air.

Facing his master's thunderous interrogation, Li Xiaoyu remained calm.

He knew this was a hurdle he had to cross.

No normal cultivator would believe such an unbelievable breakthrough.

"Master, this disciple has not practiced any demonic arts from the Demon Sect."

Li Xiaoyu's voice rang clearly in Shang Zhengliang's ears.

"Yesterday, after Junior Sister Tian called off the engagement, I was deeply troubled and went to drink alone on the back mountain cliff. I intended to drown my sorrows, but in that half-drunk, half-sober state, a sudden clarity struck me. The pent-up frustration released all at once, and I broke through the heart demon that had plagued me for six years."

"Six years of accumulation, a single moment of enlightenment—that's how I managed to break through."

This explanation was one Li Xiaoyu had prepared long ago.

The Immortal-Slaying Gourd was his greatest secret and could never be exposed.

And while enlightenment was rare, it wasn't without precedent.

Shang Zhengliang sneered. "Enlightenment? Fine, an enlightenment!"

"Do you think a few words like that can fool me?"

"Breaking a heart demon might let you reach the third layer, but it absolutely cannot push you straight into the fourth layer, the Object-Drive Realm!"

"Hold out your hand!"

Shang Zhengliang barked.

Li Xiaoyu didn't hesitate and extended his right hand.

Shang Zhengliang grabbed his wrist, and a stream of pure Upper Purity Realm spiritual energy surged into Li Xiaoyu's meridians, beginning to probe.

He would personally verify whether the spiritual energy inside Li Xiaoyu was righteous or evil.

Li Xiaoyu's expression didn't change as he let his master's energy roam through his body.

The spiritual energy within him had been devoured by the Immortal-Slaying Gourd after six years of bitter cultivation, then refined and returned—its purity far surpassing that of cultivators at the same level.

The moment Shang Zhengliang's energy entered Li Xiaoyu's meridians, his face froze again.

The sinister, violent demonic energy he had expected was nowhere to be found.

Instead, what he encountered was a pure, even majestic, righteous Taiji Profound Clarity Path spiritual energy.

And the purity and density of this energy shocked even him, an Upper Purity Realm powerhouse.

How was this possible?!

A disciple who had just broken through to the fourth layer of the Jade Purity Realm had spiritual energy quality higher than those who had spent decades in that realm?

This completely overturned Shang Zhengliang's understanding.

"This..."

Shang Zhengliang let go and stepped back, his face full of shock.

He couldn't comprehend what was happening.

If it wasn't demonic arts, then how could this breakthrough and this spiritual energy quality be explained?

Could he really be a peerless genius buried for six years?

Could that so-called "enlightenment" be real?

"Run through a cycle of your spiritual energy for me to see!"

Shang Zhengliang's voice came out dry.

"Yes, Master."

Li Xiaoyu complied, channeling the spiritual energy within him and gathering it in his palm.

A soft, green light bloomed—pure and flawless, radiating a rhythm of endless vitality and the Dao.

Immediately, he moved with a thought.

Hum.

The dust-covered teacup on the stone table not far away floated up out of nowhere, spinning and dancing before him in a smooth, unhindered motion.

This precise control clearly showed a solid grasp of the Object Driving Realm, far beyond what a novice just entering it could manage.

Shang Zhengliang stared blankly at the scene, the last shreds of doubt in his heart vanishing like smoke.

The facts lay before him, leaving no room for disbelief.

He looked at the calm-faced disciple before him, his emotions a tangled mess.

There was joy, excitement, but more than anything, guilt.

Six years!

A full six years!

He had mistaken such a rough gem for a common stone!

He had neglected him for his stagnation, grown disappointed in him for his decline.

And just moments ago, he had even suspected him of falling into the demonic path.

What a failure of a master he was!

"Good, good, good!"

Shang Zhengliang said the word "good" three times in a row, his voice trembling.

He stepped forward, reaching out a hand to pat Li Xiaoyu on the shoulder, but stopped mid-air, finally letting out a long sigh.

"This master, wronged you."

Shang Zhengliang said with some difficulty.

"Master, you speak too gravely."

Li Xiaoyu bowed slightly. "If not for Master bringing this disciple up to Green Cloud Sect back then, this disciple would already be a pile of bones down the mountain. There would be no today."

Shang Zhengliang watched his unruffled demeanor, his admiration growing.

Having endured six years of low points, rising in a single moment without a trace of arrogance—his steadiness of mind far surpassed his peers.

"You are very good."

Then, Shang Zhengliang's expression turned serious.

"But your sudden surge in cultivation is too shocking. Though this master trusts you, it's hard to guarantee others in the sect won't grow suspicious."

"From today, you will stay in the courtyard to stabilize your cultivation. This master will announce to the outside that it was a long accumulation finally breaking through in one go."

"Remember, the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Before you have absolute strength, be sure to know how to hide your brilliance."

"Yes, this disciple understands."

Li Xiaoyu replied respectfully.

Shang Zhengliang gave him another deep look, as if getting to know him all over again.

"Go now. Cultivate well."

With that, he turned, his form flickering, and vanished from the spot.

Only Li Xiaoyu remained, standing in the courtyard bathed in the first rays of dawn.

He watched the direction his master had left, a smile spreading across his face.

His road was still long.

Li Xiaoyu withdrew his gaze, picked up the broom again, and continued sweeping the fallen leaves on the ground.

His heart, however, was calmer than ever.

Shang Zhengliang returned to the main hall of Morning Sun Peak, his mind still churning.

He sat in the chief seat, replaying the scenes from moments ago over and over.

Li Xiaoyu's pure spiritual energy, his calm, placid gaze—all convinced him that the hope of Morning Sun Peak had returned!

Shang Zhengliang pondered for a moment, then instructed a waiting disciple outside the hall: "Go. Ring the council bell and summon all disciples of this peak to the Martial Arts Arena for a meeting."

"Yes, Peak Master!"

The disciple accepted the order and left.

Soon, the solemn sound of the bell spread to every corner of Morning Sun Peak.

At the Martial Arts Arena of Morning Sun Peak.

Hundreds of disciples arrived upon hearing the summons and lined up in order. They were all a bit puzzled, wondering why the Peak Master had called them together so early in the morning.

Among the crowd, the senior disciple of Morning Sun Peak, Shen Tiandou, was chatting and laughing with a few familiar fellow disciples.

Shen Tiandou was tall and broad, with an arrogant expression. As the foremost figure among the younger generation of Morning Sun Peak, his cultivation at the fifth layer of the Jade Purity Realm made him habitually look down on others.

"I wonder what Master wants to discuss with us?"

A disciple asked curiously.