Chu Feng: To Practice This Art, You Must First...

"Holy shit, what sword technique was that? Why have I never seen it before?"

"Stylish! That Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin was so damn stylish, and sharp as well!"

"..."

In the stands, the big shots first turned their gazes to the Sword Martial King.

When they saw the old fellow's utterly bewildered expression, they shifted their gazes to Chu Feng.

Swish!

Chu Feng took a folding fan from his waist and began fanning himself, looking as though he hadn't noticed a thing.

The brat was actually putting on an act.

Seeing him like that, the big shots knew the sword technique had to have something to do with Chu Feng.

The Carefree Sword King gave the Profound Fire Pill King a look.

The latter understood at once. "Little Feng, was that Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin really a supreme art of your Miscellaneous Dao Institute? How come I've never heard of it?"

None of them believed the Miscellaneous Dao Institute possessed such a supreme art.

After all, the Miscellaneous Dao Institute had been dormant in the Dao-Seeking Academy for over ten thousand years. If it really had such a supreme art, how could they not know about it?

The Miscellaneous Dao Institute wouldn't have fallen so far, either.

Thus, they were more inclined to believe this was Xiao Chen's own fortuitous encounter.

After all, heaven's favored were like that. Out of nowhere, they would stumble upon opportunities no one else could obtain.

Chu Feng smiled. "You could say that. Didn't I tell you before that I wrote a cultivation art for that brat Xiao Chen? This Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin is the one. Not bad, right?"

The moment he finished speaking, the big shots fell silent, staring at Chu Feng in astonishment.

None of them had taken Chu Feng's words to heart before.

After all, each of their institutes possessed its own top-tier inheritance.

Even if Chu Feng, a man without any cultivation, had chanced upon a way to create a cultivation art, it couldn't compare to their institutes' inheritances.

Yet the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin Xiao Chen had just used could definitely be considered an institute-treasuring cultivation art.

"How did you come up with it, brat?"

The Profound Fire Pill King asked, his face full of curiosity.

"I happened to get some inspiration from a storybook and made it up."

Chu Feng spoke with a perfectly straight face.

Fengyun was a comic, the equivalent of a storybook in this world. Nothing wrong with that.

???

The big shots stared at Chu Feng in bewilderment, their faces clearly saying, I don't believe it.

The Profound Fire Pill King said irritably, "If you don't want to tell us, forget it. Can you tell us about this cultivation art of yours?"

"Of course."

Chu Feng agreed without even thinking.

The big shots hadn't expected the brat to agree so readily. Could there be a trick?

"Go on, tell us in detail."

The Profound Fire Pill King was simply curious; he didn't practice sword techniques.

Chu Feng took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "Ahem... to practice this art, you must first cripple your own cultivation..."

"Stop."

The Sword Martial King interrupted Chu Feng before he could finish.

"Brat, even if you don't want to tell us, there's no need to fob us off with that."

The other big shots said nothing, but they tacitly agreed with the Sword Martial King.

Chu Feng shrugged indifferently. "Senior, surely you haven't forgotten that Xiao Chen was already a cripple when he came to my Miscellaneous Dao Institute?

"Naturally, the cultivation art I tailored for him can only be practiced by someone who has lost all their cultivation."

"That makes sense."

The Profound Fire Pill King thought the old Sword Martial King had gone too far. He had wanted to hear more, but the old fellow had interrupted.

The Carefree Sword King also spoke up. "Indeed, extraordinary people need extraordinary cultivation methods.

"Little Feng, are there any special restrictions on practicing this cultivation art?"

"Yes."

Chu Feng said, "To practice this supreme art, one must be exceptionally gifted in the sword Dao. Anyone with ordinary talent has no chance of mastering Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin."

The big shots immediately lost interest when they heard that.

What they wanted was a cultivation art that the vast majority of disciples could practice.

Although Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin looked powerful now, not every heaven's favored had the courage to cripple their own cultivation to practice it.

Most importantly, no one knew just how far this cultivation art could take someone.

If it could only be cultivated to the Heavenly Origin Realm, wouldn't their talented disciples suffer a tremendous loss?

After all, this cultivation art had been written by a mortal without any cultivation.

Everyone turned their attention back to the arena to watch the next semifinal between Lin Qingyu and Mo Qingwu.

Compared to the previous semifinal, this one was a needle point against a wheat awn.

Mo Qingwu and Lin Qingyu both gave it their all.

Only after an hour of fierce fighting was the outcome decided. Lin Qingyu proved slightly superior and advanced to the final.

But he, too, was badly injured. When he thought of Xiao Chen's terrifying Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin from earlier,

he felt a sense of helplessness for the first time.

That sword strike was beyond what he could withstand at present.

The next day.

As expected, Xiao Chen defeated Lin Qingyu and took first place in the outer institute tournament.

After the tournament ended,

Lin Qingyu left the arena at once, utterly despondent.

He had lost to Xiao Chen once again, and he simply couldn't accept it.

Lin Qingyu had just left the square when a cold voice rang out.

"Qingyu, you've disappointed me greatly. A single defeat has robbed you of your confidence."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyu looked up at the newcomer and said, "Master, I've failed to live up to your high expectations."

"Hmph!"

The newcomer was the Sword Dao Institute's grand elder. After a cold snort, he said sternly,

"Do not call me Master. I'll give you two choices. First, forget this battle and follow me in cultivating at the inner institute. You will surely be able to defeat Xiao Chen one day.

"Second, choose another master after you enter the inner institute."

Lin Qingyu's expression changed slightly, but his gaze quickly grew resolute.

"This disciple is willing to forget this battle. I believe that once I enter the inner institute and learn stronger sword techniques, I will surely be able to defeat Xiao Chen."

"Good."

The Sword Dao Institute's grand elder nodded in satisfaction. "Let me tell you something. The sword technique Xiao Chen practices was merely created by the head of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.

"It might be somewhat useful in the outer institute, but once you enter the inner institute, it won't be worth mentioning. You'll still be starting from the same line."

Hearing this, Lin Qingyu felt the gloom in his heart instantly swept away.

Meanwhile, after enjoying the disciples' cheers, Xiao Chen immediately went up to the arena, wanting to share the hard-won good news with his master.

But the moment he stepped onto the arena, the gazes of the eight institute heads locked onto him.

"This disciple pays his respects to Master and to all the senior uncles."

"No need for ceremony."

The Carefree Sword King spoke.

If a disciple of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute's head had called them senior uncles in the past, they would have slapped the disciple across the face on the spot.

But Xiao Chen's addressing them that way did not displease them. Instead, they felt a little closer to him.

"Thank you, Senior Uncle."

With that, Xiao Chen walked straight up to Chu Feng.

"Master, I took first place."

Chu Feng patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Well done. Today we'll go to Dao-Seeking City and have a good drink to celebrate."

Xiao Chen's face lit up. "As you command, Master."

Chu Feng stood up and bowed to everyone. "Seniors, we'll take our leave."

"Mm."

The others did not ask Xiao Chen to stay. There was no rush to take him as a disciple; they would first let master and disciple enjoy themselves...