Chapter 42: What Senior Brother Can Do, I—Cao Youqian—Can Do Too
Elder Hong asked, "What's your name?"
Before Cao Youqian could reply, the elder from the Alchemy Institute surnamed Cao stepped in. "Elder Hong, no need to ask—Youqian is a member of the Cao Clan."
Elder Hong paused. "Since when did the Alchemy Institute produce body cultivators?"
Elder Gao from the Heaven Spirit Institute, noticing the brewing argument, interjected, "Cao Youqian, was it? Would you be willing to join my tutelage? I'm willing to make an exception and take you as my disciple. I'll personally provide the resources to help you break through to the True Fate Realm!"
"Shameless!"
Elder Hong and Elder Cao shouted in unison.
Elder Gao ignored the two and continued speaking to Cao Youqian. "I forgot to introduce myself. I'm an elder of the Heaven Spirit Institute—also the only body cultivator elder within our ranks."
The moment those words dropped, Elder Hong and Elder Cao nearly lost control and threw fists on the spot.
But Cao Youqian wasn't a fool. In fact, he'd seen this kind of scene before—with his senior brother.
The only difference was that when it came to Senior Brother Xiao Chen, it was the heads of the major institutes who were fighting over him. Now, for him, it was three inner elders.
Still… not bad. He was getting closer to Senior Brother's level.
Facing Elder Gao, he said respectfully, "Thank you, Elder Gao, Elder Hong, and Third Uncle, for your kind intentions. But this disciple already has a master, and I have no plans of switching institutes."
As soon as he said this, all three elders were stunned.
Elder Cao's face darkened. "Youqian, have you lost your mind? What can you even learn in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"
"Sure, Xiao Chen came from there, but he was originally a prodigy of the Sword Dao Institute."
"Why don't you return to our Alchemy Institute? If you need body tempering pills, your third uncle will refine them for you."
The other two elders recovered as well.
Though they didn't get along with Elder Cao, their stance was the same.
Elder Hong said, "Exactly. Though you've undergone two body temperings, the Miscellaneous Dao Institute doesn't have follow-up cultivation methods. Staying there will only waste your future."
Elder Gao nodded. "Cao Youqian, this elder sincerely hopes you reconsider."
Cao Youqian smiled. "No need to reconsider. What Senior Brother has done, I, Cao Youqian, can do as well. Besides, the legacy I've received from my master is in no way inferior to Senior Brother's. I bid you all farewell!"
With that, Cao Youqian calmly walked past the three elders.
Leaving behind a crowd of wide-eyed onlookers.
Wendao Academy had seen its fair share of rising talents over the years.
But someone like Cao Youqian—a publicly scorned, arrogant rich kid—being fought over by three inner court elders less than a year later? No one had ever seen that before.
And the craziest part? He actually refused them.
One of those three was even a Heaven Spirit Institute elder!
This scene spread quickly across the entirety of Wendao Academy.
Even the heads of the various institutes received the news.
When the Pillfire King of the Alchemy Institute heard the report from his nephew, he laughed.
"Good! That boy Youqian hasn't let me down. Seems I made the right call back then, promising that brat Chu Feng the resources."
"???"
Elder Cao stared, dumbfounded. "Grand-uncle… you were helping him?"
Smack!
The Pillfire King slapped him lightly on the head.
"What do you mean 'helping the enemy'? Youqian joining the Miscellaneous Dao Institute doesn't mean he's not part of the Cao Clan anymore!"
"When he becomes a titled noble one day, won't he still return to our clan to honor the ancestors?"
That rhetorical double-strike left Elder Cao completely stunned.
But then his eyes lit up. "Right! No matter what, Youqian is still a member of the Cao Clan, and I'm still his third uncle!"
"So in the end, we didn't lose an inner disciple—we gained a future noble!"
"You're not completely brainless after all," the Pillfire King said. "From now on, whatever Youqian asks for, give it to him without hesitation."
"Of course."
Elder Cao added, "What about the resources he was using before?"
The Pillfire King replied, "If he wants them, give them. Though, to be honest, a future peerless genius probably won't even care about that kind of stuff."
In the Sword Dao Institute—
The Sword Martial King, having heard the news, was stunned.
He murmured, "Chu Feng again… I really did underestimate that kid back then."
An elder beside him comforted, "Chief, this is actually a good thing!"
"Explain yourself properly."
The Sword Martial King wore a stern face, the kind that screamed: If you don't give me a good explanation, watch how I deal with you.
The elder said, "Chief, have you forgotten? Cao Youqian is from the Cao Clan—and he's a body cultivator. If he breaks through to the True Fate Realm, there'll be at least three factions vying to recruit him."
"If he turns them all down again, more than half the factions in Wendao Academy will take offense at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."
"That Chu Feng brat will find it harder than ascending to heaven if he wants to recruit another disciple."
"Fair point. But I just can't stand seeing that brat showing off all over the place."
The Sword Martial King's expression twisted as he recalled the day Chu Feng talked back to him.
In the Heaven Spirit Institute
Elder Bing, having heard the news, immediately went to find Elder Gao.
"Brother Gao, do you still want to take Cao Youqian as your disciple?"
"Of course I do. But that boy's missing a few screws—he actually compared himself to Xiao Chen. What am I supposed to do with that?"
Elder Gao's frustration was palpable. After all, the Heaven Spirit Institute was the golden nameplate of Wendao Academy.
In the past, whenever they extended an offer to a disciple, it was never refused.
But now—he'd been turned down outright.
Elder Bing chuckled. "If the Miscellaneous Dao Institute didn't exist, wouldn't you be able to take Cao Youqian openly and rightfully?"
"Hm?"
Elder Gao froze for a moment, then realization dawned. "You want me to give your little disciple a hand?"
"Exactly. It's a win-win situation. I'm sure Brother Gao won't refuse."
Elder Bing smiled confidently.
Elder Gao raised an eyebrow. "Name your terms."
Elder Bing said, "No need to provide resources. Just have one of your top students spar with Rou'er."
"Very well. I accept."
Back at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute
Chu Feng examined the youth before him, nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad. This round of body tempering could be called flawless."
Cao Youqian said with a wry smile, "But Master, my spiritual energy is already full again. If I go through another round of tempering, I won't be able to suppress my breakthrough."
"No worries. I know 'Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin.'"
Chu Feng looked as casual as if it were no big deal.
Cao Youqian's eyes lit up. "Master, is 'Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin' a core technique of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"
Chu Feng patted his shoulder. "I didn't have any cultivation back then, so when I was creating techniques, I just practiced them myself to test them. Turns out—I mastered them too."
"..."
Cao Youqian stared in stunned silence.
As expected, Master is no ordinary man. If anyone dares say my master's just a mortal, I'll fight them on the spot!
"Please, Master—do it!"
Chu Feng immediately unleashed the sword technique that targeted energy blockages, draining all of Cao Youqian's internal spiritual energy in one breath.
Moments later, Cao Youqian stared at Chu Feng in fear.
The same technique, but coming from Master, it was absolutely terrifying.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, he asked, "Master… just how strong are you, really?"
"I'm not sure either. Let's try it out."
Chu Feng grabbed Cao Youqian and flew dozens of miles outside Wendao Academy. Then he raised two fingers, forming a sword seal, and turned the discarded spiritual energy into sword qi, slicing upward toward the sky.
A streak of sword light—hundreds of meters long—split the clouds clean in half.
"Holy—!"
Cao Youqian looked at the clouds still split above them and shouted in awe, "Master, you're ridiculously strong!"
Chu Feng, carrying Cao Youqian back to the institute, said calmly, "Average, at best. I'm maybe evenly matched with the Eight Institute Chiefs."
Cao Youqian: "..."
====================================================================================
Get access to 20 chapters in advance and enjoy 2 daily updates by supporting the series. Available on Patreon: https://patreon.com/Alex_Cruise or Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/anish_44