Shock! Utter Shock!

Shock! Extreme shock! Su Yun donned his clean, pristine personal disciple robes and strode out of Cloud Abode.

With a flick of his mind, he deliberately loosened his Breath Concealment Art.

He suppressed the majority of his true aura, revealing only the cultivation fluctuations of the second level of Qi Refining to the outside world.

This was a measure he had intentionally calculated.

It could not be too high, as that would easily invite suspicion.

It could not be too low, as that would fail to achieve a shocking effect.

The second level of Qi Refining was just right.

It was enough to stun everyone while remaining within the reasonable range for a Heavenly Spirit Root.

He headed down the mountain, straight toward the main hall.

On both sides of the mountain path, inner sect disciples were coming and going in an endless stream.

Some were practicing sword techniques, some were hurrying along, and others were sitting in meditation to regulate their breath.

When the youth in white walked slowly down the stone steps, the disciples along the way reflexively stepped aside and cupped their hands in greeting.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Su."

Su Yun's expression remained indifferent; he nodded slightly and did not stop his pace.

But the moment they brushed past one another, several inner sect disciples with keen senses froze.

Their gazes suddenly locked.

Second... level of Qi Refining?

Someone could not help but stop their movements, their eyes fixed firmly on Su Yun's back.

They whispered in shock, keeping their voices low.

"Did I sense that correctly? Senior Brother Su is at the second level of Qi Refining?"

"You must be joking! He has only been in the sect for a full week!"

"A week! Going straight from a mortal to the second level of Qi Refining?"

In an instant, the entire mountain path fell silent for half a second.

Immediately after, fragmented discussions exploded wildly.

"Holy crap! This is too outrageous!"

"It took me eight full days just to guide Qi into my body! It took me three months to reach the second level!"

"As expected of a Heavenly Spirit Root! This cultivation speed is simply unreasonable!"

"The books say a Heavenly Spirit Root reaches a new level every five days. I used to think it was an exaggeration, but seeing it with my own eyes, I'm convinced."

"My goodness, he's basically a human cheat code; he's too monstrous."

Countless gazes focused on Su Yun.

Shock, envy, and disbelief filled the air.

Everyone's mind was a bit dazed.

Su Yun's ears were sharp, and he heard every bit of the discussion along the way clearly.

He did not change his expression, remaining calm as he continued to walk steadily forward.

Deep down, however, he was secretly chuckling.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

At this rate, within half a day, the entire Azure Cloud Sect would know of his monstrous talent.

This little act of showing off was executed perfectly.

Su Yun's lips curled slightly; the joy of a cheater was something ordinary people would never understand.

He continued straight ahead.

The closer he got to Azure Cloud Hall, the more gazes converged upon him.

On the plaza in front of the hall, dozens of inner sect disciples stopped their cultivation.

One by one, they turned their heads, their eyes falling in unison upon that figure in white.

Everyone wore a solemn expression, their eyes filled with shock.

One week, from a mortal to the second level of Qi Refining.

In the thousand-year history of the Azure Cloud Sect, such a thing had never happened before.

He completely shattered the sect's record for the fastest cultivation.

Many of the older disciples shook their heads with bitter smiles.

They had always felt their own talent was decent enough.

But compared to Su Yun now, they were no better than dirt.

Comparisons only lead to frustration.

"I've truly seen something today."

"To witness such a monster in this lifetime, it was worth it."

The crowd sighed inwardly.

Su Yun ignored all the gazes and stepped straight into the main hall.

Inside the hall.

Several deacon disciples stood on either side, waiting quietly.

Chu Fan was standing in the center of the hall, organizing recent sect mission documents.

He caught a glimpse of a white-clad figure at the entrance and looked up instinctively.

Seeing Su Yun, a polite smile appeared on his face, and he hurried forward to meet him.

"Senior Brother Su, what brings you to the main hall today? Are you here to see the Sect Master?"

As soon as the words left his mouth.

Chu Fan's gaze inadvertently swept over Su Yun.

A fluctuation of spiritual energy entered his perception.

Chu Fan's footsteps came to a screeching halt.

His eyes widened, his pupils contracting violently.

The smile on his face froze instantly, his mouth hung slightly open, and he stood there completely stunned.

I...

Second level of Qi Refining?

He instinctively blurted out a curse.

"Holy crap!"

As soon as the sound escaped, he jolted awake and quickly covered his mouth.

"My apologies, Senior Brother, this disciple spoke out of turn."

A monstrous tsunami was already raging in his heart.

What the hell!

It really is the second level of Qi Refining!

One week!

A week ago, Su Yun was still a mortal without a shred of cultivation.

One week later, he's already at the second level?

Chu Fan's scalp tingled with extreme shock.

Others take a week to reach two levels.

He had spent half a month just struggling to reach the first level.

The Heavenly Spirit Root is simply unreasonable; it's too outrageous!

Su Yun took in every detail of Chu Fan's expression, remaining calm on the surface while laughing uncontrollably inside.

He's scared like this by just this much cultivation?

If he knew his true cultivation had already reached the fifth level of Qi Refining.

He would probably faint on the spot.

Su Yun spoke indifferently.

"It is fine."

"Is Master in? I came to report on my recent cultivation progress."

Chu Fan finally steadied his mind and swallowed hard.

"The Sect Master is in the Inner Hall handling sect affairs. Please, follow me, Senior Brother."

Chu Fan led the way, his footsteps feeling somewhat unsteady.

The Inner Hall was quiet, with sandalwood incense curling in the air.

Li Mofan, dressed in a plain white Daoist robe, sat behind a jade desk reviewing documents.

Chu Fan knocked lightly on the door and reported in a low voice.

"Sect Master, Senior Brother Su requests an audience."

"Let him in."

Li Mofan replied casually, not even lifting his head.

Su Yun pushed the door open and walked in, bowing in salute.

"Disciple Su Yun pays respects to Master."

Li Mofan's keen divine sense swept over Su Yun instinctively.

The next instant.

He stood up abruptly.

His figure flashed, leaving a white blur like a swift blade.

In the blink of an eye, he rushed directly in front of Su Yun.

His deep eyes stared fixedly at Su Yun.

His gaze swept back and forth, filled with both shock and joy.

The refined and steady expression on his face vanished completely, replaced by irrepressible ecstasy.

His tone carried disbelief.

"Disciple... you are now at the second level of Qi Refining?"

Su Yun nodded honestly.

"Reporting to Master, this disciple was fortunate enough to break through; I am now at the second level of Qi Refining."

Hahaha!

Li Mofan burst into loud laughter.

He had lived for several hundred years, and his state of mind had long been as still as an ancient well.

But at this moment, he could not suppress the excitement in his heart at all.

Ecstasy, excitement, relief.

Various emotions intertwined.

He screamed frantically in his heart.

What kind of monstrous disciple have I taken in?

Seven days!

A mere seven days!

A youth who had never touched cultivation before, a pure blank slate.

He had forcibly broken through from a mortal to the second level of Qi Refining.

In his original estimation.

No matter how high Su Yun's talent was, he lacked a foundation in cultivation.

Seven days.

To steadily guide Qi into his body and step into the first level of Qi Refining would already be the limit of what was heaven-defying.

He had even made plans to let Su Yun slowly adapt to spiritual energy for the first half-month.

Who could have imagined?

He skipped a level and broke through!

Li Mofan's eyes were burning as he stared fixedly at Su Yun.

Having lived for hundreds of years, he had never seen, nor even heard of, such terrifying cultivation speed.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Li Mofan was incredibly excited.

This old man's life has been worth it!

With such a disciple, the Azure Cloud Sect will surely rise!

When the old fellows from the various sects in Spirit Province find out, they will surely be green with envy!

At this moment.

Su Yun's status in Li Mofan's heart soared straight up.

From a talented disciple, he was elevated directly to the future of the sect, a key treasure.

Even if it meant exhausting all the sect's resources, he would cultivate Su Yun.

Li Mofan restrained his excitement, patted Su Yun on the shoulder, and spoke with immense satisfaction.

"Good disciple, you have truly brought honor to your master."

"Breaking through to the second level in seven days is unheard of since ancient times."

"If those old fogies from the four great sects of Spirit Province knew I had taken you in, they would likely be so jealous they'd cough up blood."

"In your future cultivation, if you encounter any confusion, bottlenecks, or difficulties, come find me at any time."

"As your master, I place no limits on frequency or time; I will personally resolve your doubts."

Su Yun lowered his head and bowed.

"Many thanks, Master."

He raised his eyes, revealing a well-behaved and slightly shy smile, and shamelessly spoke up.

"Master, my cultivation consumes a vast amount of resources."

"My medicinal pills and spirit stones have all been exhausted."

"Might I request some more cultivation resources?"

Li Mofan was in a fantastic mood and did not hesitate in the slightest.

With a grand wave of his hand, he was incredibly generous.

"Hahaha, a small matter."

His fingertip flashed.

A simple, elegant storage bag flew out of thin air and landed in Su Yun's hand.

"Inside are one hundred middle-grade spirit stones."

Su Yun's eyes went straight, and he nearly drooled.

Middle-grade spirit stones!

One middle-grade stone was equivalent to one hundred low-grade ones.

One hundred of them meant a total of ten thousand low-grade spirit stones!

Good heavens!

This was the benefit of having a sect master as a backer.

Resources were given freely, and every gesture was a grand display of wealth.

There was simply no need to worry about spirit stones.

Li Mofan said indifferently, "These spirit stones are of extremely high purity."

"Use them sparingly; they are enough for you to cultivate steadily until the ninth level of Qi Refining."

Su Yun gripped the storage bag tightly, "This disciple thanks Master for the reward!"