For a group of elite Star Level students whose domains reached no higher than the sixth stage, cultivating a secret technique was difficult.
Over these past two years and more, never mind reaching the second level of the secret technique-many had not even crossed the threshold.
Even those students who had crossed the threshold, such as Harley, had yet to comprehend a tenth of the mysteries of the first level.
Compared to Parisi before them, they felt the immense gap deeply.
"Parisi only joined the Ganwu Dojo headquarters as an elite student ten years ago. Who would have thought his comprehension was so terrifying? He'll probably secure a spot in this Secret Realm Qualification Battle."
"He's an aloof loner without any friends. Who could have imagined he would be the first to successfully cultivate Teacher Lu's secret technique?"
"Teacher said in his email that the first student to successfully cultivate the secret technique would receive a surprise. I wonder what surprise he meant."
"No idea..."
Ignoring the students' discussions below the platform, Lu Qingshan looked at the proud, solitary figure standing opposite him and nodded.
"Parisi, you did well. Come to my residence after class."
Lu Qingshan spoke calmly.
"Yes, Teacher."
Parisi's body was wrapped in a black robe, leaving only his eyes exposed. He bowed to Lu Qingshan before slowly stepping down.
Lu Qingshan looked at the other students again and said, "Although you've missed out on the first-place reward, the secret technique is still very useful. At the very least, it will be a great help in the dojo's elite student ranking competition and the Secret Realm Qualification Battle."
"In the future, when I have the opportunity, I'll test the others' progress in cultivating the secret technique as well. If the results satisfy me, there will still be additional rewards."
Hearing Lu Qingshan say this, the students who had already cultivated the secret technique to the first level regained their confidence. Although they had missed out this time, there would still be opportunities in the future.
Below the platform, Lei Ming sat cross-legged in the middle of the crowd, a somewhat dejected expression on his face.
Over the past two years, he had never slacked off in cultivating this secret technique his teacher had created. Yet he was still just short of breaking through to the second level. He had thought victory was in sight, only for someone else to beat him to it.
Teacher, I've disappointed you. Next time... next time, I'll definitely be the first.
Taking a deep breath, Lei Ming adjusted his mindset and continued listening as his teacher guided the other students in their cultivation.
Several hours later, Lu Qingshan finished his public lecture and called Parisi over to return to the manor with him.
"Prepare some food first."
Lu Qingshan gave the instruction to his butler, Luo Er, then looked at the black-robed youth behind him.
"Parisi, you're from the Blade Race, correct?"
Lu Qingshan asked.
"Yes, Teacher. I'm from the Blade Race."
Parisi answered frankly.
As he spoke, he removed the black robe he normally used to disguise himself, revealing his true appearance.
The Blade Race were humans, but they looked very different from most humans. Their skin was blue-green all over, and scales covered their faces as though they wore blue-green helmets. A slightly curved, pointed horn grew from their bare foreheads.
Parisi was not the first member of the Blade Race Lu Qingshan had encountered. As far back as ninety thousand years ago, when Lu Qingshan participated in the Giant Axe Life-and-Death Battle, he had faced a powerful enemy from the Blade Race.
That member of the Blade Race had been incomparably formidable. With Lu Qingshan's strength at the time, he had stood almost no chance against him. Fortunately, that Blade Race warrior had suffered severe injuries in his previous battle. Relying on the speed advantage of his Light Domain, Lu Qingshan had fought a running battle with him before finally finishing him off.
Before that, the Blade Race warrior had eliminated another terrifying opponent for him.
Lu Qingshan had earned the title of Giant Axe Warrior in that Giant Axe Life-and-Death Battle, but he knew that his success had owed more to luck.
The Blade Race were born warriors. They were bloodthirsty and belligerent, and worshipped the strong... They had even broken the record for the strongest beings on a native planet when it first made contact with the universe. According to accounts passed down, countless years ago, when the Blade Race first encountered an interstellar civilization, their native planet had already produced Domain Lords.
Lu Qingshan silently mourned the first exploration team to reach the Blade Race's homeworld.
Barring any surprises, they had probably already reincarnated several hundred times.
Now, Blade Race warriors were scattered throughout the universe, with some fighting on the Outer Domain Battlefield. Their race even had Immortals.
"Parisi, you managed to reach the threshold of Thunderlight Flash's second level and cultivate a Phantom Body in two and a half years. You're a very fine genius."
"I once said that whoever was the first to cultivate Thunderlight Flash to the second level would receive a surprise from me."
After a pause, Lu Qingshan continued.
"Parisi, are you willing to become my personal disciple?"
Parisi's bloodthirsty eyes filled with shock.
He had never imagined that the surprise Teacher Lu had spoken of would be taking the first student to break through to the second level as his disciple.
Lu Qingshan smiled slightly and continued, "I know your Blade Race has many powerful experts. I can guarantee that, no matter who they are, the resources they provide cannot compare to mine. Moreover, my Law Comprehension surpassed that of most World Lords long ago. All I need is to accumulate Origin Force, and I can easily break through to the World Lord realm."
Parisi took a deep breath and chose to be frank. "Teacher, I've long since had no place left in the Blade Race. The reason I hesitated was that I feared implicating you."
Parisi explained the whole story.
It turned out that while Parisi was still among his people, he had clashed with a descendant of an important figure. That descendant had secretly acted to kill his parents.
Parisi had guessed that he was responsible and used the twin blades in his hands to chop him into a bloody pulp.
Parisi was a genius, after all. With the help of other members of his race, he had fled his homeland and joined the Ganwu Dojo.
Lu Qingshan shook his head. "You merely hacked a descendant of an Immortal family in the Blade Race to death. That's nothing. Under my tutelage, you'll soon be able to enter the Ganwu Mystic Region. Once you become a mystic region genius, never mind some insignificant Immortal's descendant-even if that Immortal stood before you, he wouldn't dare attack you at will..."
"As for me... you don't need to worry either. Before long, I'll be able to break through to World Lord. The Blade Race would have to be mad to attack a Three-Leaf Ganwu Practitioner. Besides, I won't leave the Ganwu Dojo until I have the strength to protect myself."
With Lu Qingshan having said this, how could Parisi hesitate any longer? He dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Your disciple, Parisi, pays his respects to Teacher."
Lu Qingshan laughed heartily. "Good, Parisi. From now on, you are my second personal disciple."
As he spoke, he took out a secret manual.
"You already have the manual for Thunderlight Flash's second level. That will suffice for now. I also have a copy of Nine Thunder Blades here. Take it back and practice diligently. As for your disciple-initiation gift, I'll deliver it to you in a year."
Parisi respectfully accepted the secret manual.
"Go, cultivate diligently. If you have any questions, email me at any time. When I'm free, I'll guide you personally."
(End of chapter)