Peerless Prodigy, Unrivaled Talent

The next day, at the Ninth Prince's residence.

Fang Heng washed and changed, attended to by Yun Menglan.

Just as he was about to enjoy breakfast, a streak of green light descended into the residence.

The green light dissipated, revealing Daoist Xuanqing.

"Master, what brings you here?"

Fang Heng blurted out in surprise.

Without waiting for a reply, Daoist Xuanqing took quick strides to Fang Heng's side, complaining.

"Disciple, you've kept a big secret from your master."

"When did you master the Life-Nourishing Art?"

Fang Heng already had an excuse prepared for Daoist Xuanqing's question.

"Just a few days ago, it somehow just… finished."

"At first, I didn't even realize the Life-Nourishing Art had been perfected!"

"Only after breaking through to the Dao realm did I realize that the Life-Nourishing Art had condensed a Post-natal Immortal Root."

Daoist Xuanqing didn't doubt Fang Heng's explanation.

After all, only the founding patriarch had ever cultivated the Life-Nourishing Art to its perfected state throughout history.

Daoist Xuanqing could only infer the specific circumstances.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Daoist Xuanqing beamed, repeating "good" three times before producing a jade plate.

"This is a Spirit-Testing Plate, specifically used to test the quality of an Immortal Root."

"Disciple, place your hand on the Spirit-Testing Plate."

Fang Heng placed his right hand on the Spirit-Testing Plate, and soon, the plate reacted.

A towering, ethereal image of a divine tree emerged.

Seeing the divine tree's image, Daoist Xuanqing's normally calm eyes shifted dramatically, bursting with two sharp beams of light.

"Immortal Root Manifestation."

"Top-tier aptitude, not inferior to any spiritual or Dao body."

Daoist Xuanqing's face lit up with joy, and his gaze towards Fang Heng grew increasingly satisfied and gentle.

He had initially taken him as a disciple simply not to offend Consort Ning.

He never expected to have stumbled upon such a great find.

Daoist School Immortal Roots, according to their grade, can be categorized into lower-grade, middle-grade, and upper-grade Immortal Roots.

Above upper-grade Immortal Roots is Immortal Root Manifestation, where they condense into a specific form.

The aptitude of Immortal Root Manifestation is not inferior to any spiritual body, sacred body, immortal body, or Dao body.

It is a rare and most supreme cultivation foundation.

Most importantly, Fang Heng's Immortal Root was shaped like a divine tree.

Although Daoist Xuanqing couldn't identify which mythical divine tree it was, there was no doubt that it was naturally suited for cultivating the Evergreen Temple's Everlasting Evergreen Scripture.

"Master, do you know what kind of divine tree my manifested Immortal Root is?" Fang Heng asked.

Although he had a hunch that his Immortal Root was likely the legendary Jianmu (Divine Tree), he had no proof, only speculation.

Daoist Xuanqing was a high-ranking Daoist, so perhaps he had other insights.

"This tree—" Daoist Xuanqing pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Even I don't recognize it."

"Later, I'll help you check the ancient texts left by our patriarch."

"Our patriarch traveled the world and recorded over ten thousand types of manifested Immortal Roots; perhaps we'll find something."

Then, Daoist Xuanqing changed the subject.

"Disciple, since you've already broken through to the Dao realm, it's time you cultivated the techniques of our Evergreen Temple."

"Our Evergreen Temple has Four Absolutes; do you know what they are?"

Fang Heng had been a disciple of the Evergreen Temple for over a decade, and although he couldn't cultivate, he had long heard of the fame of these Four Absolutes.

But seeing Daoist Xuanqing wanting to tease him, he decided to play along with his master.

"This disciple does not know; please enlighten me, Master."

"The Four Absolutes of our Evergreen Temple are: first, thunder techniques; second, sword techniques; third, alchemy; and fourth, the Indestructible Method."

"These four ultimate inheritances are the foundational pillars of our Evergreen Temple."

"Today, I will impart to you the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method, one of the four绝."

"Wood-thunder, thunder, the beginning of yang energy. Wood is supreme and belongs to yang, hence its resemblance to thunder."

"Therefore, the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method is a thunder of pure yang."

"It specifically restrains all kinds of demons, ghosts, and malevolent spirits."

"Disciple, this Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method is incredibly powerful. Even among the Ten Great Dao Courts, it is a top-tier thunder cultivation legacy."

Daoist Xuanqing, fearing Fang Heng might underestimate the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method, praised it extensively before teaching it.

Of course, Daoist Xuanqing's praise wasn't misplaced.

The Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method was indeed one of Great Qian's top thunder cultivation methods.

Among the Ten Great Dao Courts, the Divine Firmament Sect, renowned for its thunder cultivation methods, once sparred with Evergreen Temple's founding patriarch and spoke highly of the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method.

Fang Heng led Daoist Xuanqing to the training ground in the backyard.

Daoist Xuanqing stood with his hands behind his back, his sleeves fluttering in the breeze, looking every bit the reclusive master.

"Disciple, watch closely. I will demonstrate the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method for you."

As his voice fell, Daoist Xuanqing's fingers moved in rapid succession, like butterflies flitting through flowers, forming a profound incantation.

Zzzzt—

Zzzzt—

Zzzzt—

Arcs of green lightning danced on Daoist Xuanqing's fingertips.

Each electric arc seemed to contain the power of ultimate rigidity and yang.

Capable of dispelling all demons, ghosts, and malevolent spirits.

"Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning!"

"Go!"

Daoist Xuanqing flicked his finger.

The green lightning transformed into a ball of electric light, shooting straight towards the sky.

It pierced through the clouds, like a rainbow streaking across the sun.

Only when it reached the ninth heaven did it explode with a thunderous roar.

Crackling!

The entire sky above the Ninth Prince's manor was enveloped by thunder.

The spectacle was immense, like the end of the world.

Yet, Daoist Xuanqing's control was exceptionally precise and extraordinary.

The range affected by the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning was limited strictly to the Ninth Prince's manor.

Not a single hair's breadth beyond.

Fang Heng gazed at the raging thunder in the sky, his heart filled with yearning.

It truly lived up to its reputation as one of Great Qian's top thunder cultivation methods.

"Disciple, what do you think?"

"Master is mighty!"

"Hahaha—listen closely. I will now impart the incantation for the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method to you."

"Wood-thunder…"

Fifteen minutes later.

Daoist Xuanqing had told Fang Heng all the incantations for the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method.

He also included his own insights from cultivating the Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method for Fang Heng to comprehend.

At this moment, the benefits of the two Fate Attributes, [Innate Immortal Seed] and [Wood-Thunder Body], became apparent.

The Wood-Thunder Cultivation Method, one of Evergreen Temple's four绝.

In Fang Heng's hands, it was incredibly easy to pick up.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Fang Heng had learned it.

"Master, I've already mastered it."

As he spoke, Fang Heng formed an incantation, and a lightning serpent coiled around his fingertips.

Seeing Fang Heng able to unleash the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning so quickly, Daoist Xuanqing was first stunned, then his brows furrowed slightly.

He instructed him earnestly.

"Disciple, you must not underestimate this thunder cultivation method."

"The Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning isn't that easy to master."

"When I first started cultivating it, I also thought I had mastered it."

"It was only later, after my master's guidance, that I realized the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning I had cultivated only had its form, but lacked its essence."

"In terms of power, it wasn't much stronger than a fart."

"Disciple, I'll suppress my cultivation to the mid-stage of Feasting on Rosy Clouds. You can unleash your Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning on me."

Daoist Xuanqing flicked his right hand, and the hem of his robe swished behind him.

His expression was calm and composed, truly befitting a master.

"Master… this… I'm afraid I'll hurt you."

Fang Heng muttered to himself when he saw Daoist Xuanqing asking him to use the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning against him, even suppressing his cultivation.

"Hahahaha—"

"Don't worry, disciple."

"You don't know this, but twenty years ago, I had already cultivated the Indestructible Method, the foremost of our temple's four绝, to the grand completion stage."

"At the same cultivation level, there are only a handful of people in the entire Great Qian who can truly harm me."

Daoist Xuanqing threw his head back and laughed, displaying a youthful vigor in his old age.

Martial arts techniques can be divided into four realms: minor completion, grand completion, flawless, and perfect.

The grand completion of the Indestructible Method was quite remarkable, even within the Evergreen Temple's ten-thousand-year history.

This disciple of his, Fang Heng, had exceptional talent, and it was inevitable that he would aim too high.

Today, he would use this sparring opportunity to give Fang Heng a wake-up call, to remind him not to underestimate the heroes of the world.

Seeing this, Fang Heng no longer hesitated. He took a deep breath, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning!"

He raised his hands, his ten fingers moving in unison, forming profound incantations in an instant.

The pure magical power cultivated from the Everlasting Evergreen Scripture flowed through Fang Heng's meridians.

Like a vast army, yet obedient to its commander, it converged entirely upon the magical seal.

This time, Fang Heng held nothing back.

He exerted his full strength, raising the power of the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning to its maximum.

Crackling!

More than a dozen lightning serpents danced and roared in the air.

Crackling!

It was as if thunder was booming.

A green bolt of lightning suddenly exploded.

It sounded like a divine punishment from the highest heavens, echoing in the sky.

With lightning speed, it struck downwards.

Daoist Xuanqing, like an old monk in meditation, activated the Indestructible Method, transcending self and other.

Let alone the Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning before him, even if it were true lightning divine punishment, he would not fear it in the slightest.

Rumble—

The Wood-Thunder Divine Lightning struck down from the sky.

A piercing blow, slamming downwards.

"The Flawless Realm?!"

"My disciple's talent is truly extraordinary!"

"He only saw it once, and he's already at the flawless realm…"

"Wait… it's not the flawless realm…"

"How can it be perfect?!"