Only at that moment...
After personally experiencing the power of this divine ability, the old ancestor Chen Haotian truly understood how terrifying the Divine Ability Method was.
Now, against Quasi-Emperor Realm opponents who had once been his equals, he had the confidence to fight ten at once—or even more!
Before Chen Changqing's sermon, he had wanted to comprehend an Immortality Divine Ability like Chen Changqing's.
But the moment he truly sensed the Dao, he understood the gulf between them.
He was nowhere near qualified to touch a Dao on the level of immortality. He could not even imitate a similar divine ability.
At last, he understood why Chen Changqing had said everyone's Dao was different, and that each person could only comprehend their own divine abilities.
He also recalled how Chen Changqing had turned those spells into divine abilities while fighting Chen Musen and the other two.
So he had tried comprehending one through the ocular art he knew best. To his surprise, he had succeeded!
And this divine ability was far more powerful than the original ocular art.
"Congratulations, old ancestor. You've taken your first step into the Divine Ability Method!"
Chen Changqing nodded in congratulations.
The divine ability the old ancestor had comprehended was only a Lesser Divine Ability, but it was a start.
From here, the old ancestor could continue his study, either comprehending more and stronger divine abilities or refining this Lesser Divine Ability step by step... Once he condensed a Dao Fruit, he could truly be considered accomplished in his cultivation.
Just then—
"I've got it! I've got it!"
A wild laugh, so excited it nearly cracked, suddenly burst from the crowd.
Following the sound, everyone saw a gaunt Supreme Elder with snow-white hair and beard spring to his feet. His aura swept outward like raging winds and crashing waves.
His hands traced stroke after stroke through the air. Profound, unfathomable patterns flowed from his fingertips, finally gathering into a palm-sized rune before him.
"Hahaha... I, Chen Jiuyuan, have been blessed by Ancestor Changqing's good fortune today! I've comprehended a divine ability—the Nine Heavens Star-Shattering Talisman!"
Then he flicked a finger.
Boom!
An earth-shaking blast tore through the air. A barren mountain thousands of yards high was blown apart at its waist. Its upper half crumbled inch by inch in dazzling silver light, turning to powder that sifted down from the sky.
"Hiss—"
The entire crowd erupted.
"That's terrifying!"
"If Elder Jiuyuan hit a Saint Emperor Realm expert with that... wouldn't they be reduced to ashes?"
Before anyone recovered from the shock, another peal of laughter followed.
"I've got it! This old man's got one too!"
"My divine ability is called—Heaven's Net!"
"With this divine ability, I'm confident I could trap and kill even an enemy at the peak of the Saint Emperor Realm!"
And it did not end there.
"Hahaha... I've got one too!"
"A divine ability—so this is what a divine ability is!"
"Ancestor Changqing truly is a god among men!"
One delighted laugh after another rang out across Purple Sun Peak.
The dozens of clansmen still immersed in comprehending the Dao woke one after another. Every one of them had grasped a divine ability.
One elder, usually quiet and utterly unremarkable, had comprehended an ability that made everyone's scalp prickle.
He reached into empty air and drew out a translucent, pitch-black scythe. A chilling aura of death curled around its blade. With a light swing, the lush trees on a distant hilltop withered in an instant. All life vanished, leaving the place deathly still.
Even he was startled by the result. He hurriedly put the scythe away and waved his hands. "An accident, an accident! I didn't know I'd comprehend something like this..."
But no one missed the pride he could not hide on his face.
For a time...
Divine abilities bloomed across Purple Sun Peak, strange phenomena appearing one after another.
The Chen Family disciples who had yet to comprehend a divine ability watched with reddened eyes, so envious they nearly ground their molars to pieces.
"I'm so jealous... When will I comprehend a divine ability of my own?"
Hearing the gasps and envious remarks all around them, the Supreme Elders and young prodigies who had comprehended divine abilities straightened their backs, their faces shining with undisguised pride.
A few of the more flamboyant ones had already begun comparing their abilities and looked ready to test them against each other on the spot.
Chen Changqing took it all in, his brow knitting almost imperceptibly.
He gave a slight shake of his head and cleared his throat.
"Everyone."
At that single word, the entire gathering fell silent.
All eyes turned to the figure in green robes, full of reverence and anticipation.
Chen Changqing looked over the dozen or so clansmen who had comprehended divine abilities and said calmly, "It is indeed commendable that you've comprehended divine abilities."
"However—"
Chen Changqing's tone shifted.
"These divine abilities all evolved from the cultivation methods and spells you practice. In essence, they borrow a trace of the Dao's meaning contained in those methods."
"In other words, your divine abilities still lean toward 'technique,' not the pure 'Dao.'"
"Abilities of this kind are all Lesser Divine Abilities."
At those words, the smiles froze on the faces of the Supreme Elders who had been so pleased with themselves.
Lesser Divine Abilities?
That name... didn't sound very impressive.
Chen Changqing ignored their changing expressions and continued evenly. "Lesser Divine Abilities may be powerful, but they are ultimately limited by the depth of the Dao's meaning within the methods they came from."
"If you're content with this, basking in your own success without striving further, I fear you'll spend your whole lives stuck on this lesser path!"
His words struck like a bucket of cold water dumped over their heads.
Chen Lingfeng, head of the Chen Family, promptly stepped forward and bowed with utmost sincerity. "Ancestor Changqing, Lingfeng will remember your teachings! I did let success go to my head just now. I'm ashamed!"
Once he spoke, the others came to their senses and bowed in unison.
"Thank you for your guidance, Ancestor. We've learned our lesson!"
Seeing this, Chen Changqing nodded slightly, his expression softening.
This was exactly what he wanted: for them to put aside their arrogance.
The path of the Divine Ability Method was long. A Lesser Divine Ability was only the first step across its threshold.
If this small achievement was enough to make them smug, how would they walk the road ahead?
"I'm glad you understand."
Chen Changqing's tone grew gentler as he looked over the crowd. "Whether it's a Lesser Divine Ability or a Greater Divine Ability, what matters isn't where you start. It's whether you keep studying and refining what you've learned."
"Think more. Comprehend more."
"Only then might you reach the level of Greater Divine Abilities, or even... condense Dao Fruits of your own."
His words were both a warning and a guide.
Everyone accepted them wholeheartedly, nodding in agreement. Not a trace of their earlier arrogance remained.
Once things quieted down, their attention turned to Chen Yuanba and the other two prodigies, who were still immersed in comprehending the Dao.
No one knew how much longer passed.
Suddenly—
Chen Yuanba's eyelids twitched.
The next instant, he opened his eyes.
To everyone's surprise,
Chen Yuanba did not wake up shouting like the elders and prodigies before him, nor did he rush to display his divine ability.
It was so unlike his usual bold, forceful manner that everyone present marveled in silence.
"Why does Brother Yuanba look like that? Could he... have failed?"
"No way. Even several Supreme Elders managed it. Brother Yuanba is more talented than they are. How could he fail?"
"But if he succeeded, why isn't he excited? Elder Jiuyuan and the others were beside themselves with joy."
"Exactly. This isn't like Brother Yuanba at all..."
Low whispers rippled through the crowd.
Chen Lingfeng could no longer hold back. He stepped forward, eyes fixed on Chen Yuanba with expectation and curiosity. "Yuanba, did you comprehend a divine ability?"
As the current head of the Chen Family, he had always placed great hopes on Chen Yuanba, who possessed the Azure Heaven Tyrant Body.
Chen Yuanba started at the question and hurriedly rose to his feet. He bowed respectfully to Chen Changqing, Chen Haotian, and the elders.
"Ancestor, family head, esteemed elders, I'm pleased to say I succeeded. I've comprehended a divine ability."
"Oh?"
The old ancestor Chen Haotian's interest flared at once. Curiosity filled his newly sharpened eyes as he took a couple of steps closer and pressed him like a mischievous old child. "What divine ability? Come on, tell us!"
Every divine ability he had seen so far was different, each with its own wonders.
What sort of divine ability, then, had this supreme Chen Family prodigy comprehended—a young man with the Azure Heaven Tyrant Body and the potential of a Great Emperor?
But unexpectedly—
At those words, two patches of red sprang up on Chen Yuanba's dark face, spreading from his cheeks to his ears.
He scratched the back of his head and let out a couple of awkward chuckles. His eyes darted toward Chen Changqing, and his voice dropped to a mosquito's buzz. "Ancestor, my divine ability... is a little strange. Please... please don't hold it against me. And don't laugh at me!"
"Is that so?"
Chen Changqing raised an eyebrow, an intrigued smile flashing in his eyes.
What could be strange about a divine ability?
He smiled faintly and said gently, "It's fine. Go ahead and show us. I promise I won't laugh."
"Ahem..."
Chen Yuanba drew a deep breath, as though making a momentous decision.
He looked around at all the expectant, curious faces, then settled his gaze on Chen Changqing. Clenching his teeth, he filled his lungs and roared:
"My divine ability is called—"
"Ancestor Blesses Me!"
The words fell.
An immense aura erupted from Chen Yuanba. His blood qi shot skyward like an erupting volcano, a crimson-gold rainbow piercing the clouds and blasting a vast hole through them high above.
Then—
A towering phantom a thousand yards tall surged up behind him and stood there, majestic and immovable.
Chaos Qi swirled around the phantom, obscuring its face. Only its eyes shone bright as the sun, moon, and stars, gazing down on all living beings with indifference to everything beneath them.
That bearing, that presence, that gaze looking down upon the world...
It was unmistakably—
Chen! Chang! Qing!
Before you continue