A little while later.
The middle-aged man and Dugu Nan both stood up, continually inspecting the unconscious young man before them.
"Brother Nan, what do you call this? Trying to steal a chicken only to end up losing the rice used to lure it?" The middle-aged man chuckled wryly.
Dugu Nan had originally intended to draw a trace of Martial Soul power, rely to test this disciple, after all, he had heard about Ye Xiaofan’s first and second tests both showing a Plant Martial Soul.
Unexpectedly, not only did the Martial Soul Soul Power he extracted fail to reveal the other party’s Martial Soul limits, but his soul power was entirely absorbed instead.
"Being able to absorb that soul power could be considered his good fortune," Dugu Nan murmured to himself, feeling not regretful for the soul power being absorbed by Ye Xiaofan, but rather sowhat gratified.
The middle-aged man nodded in agreent upon hearing this, yet still found it incredible: "I’m quite curious now, what exactly is this kid’s Martial Soul? To be able to absorb so much soul power, and it’s even the Sword Soul of the First Generation Sword Saint."
Dugu Nan suddenly looked up at the sound, his gaze incredibly sharp as he stared intensely at the middle-aged man: "What? Brother Yun, do you want to check his brow sea or his Sea of Qi?"
"Haha." The middle-aged man gave an awkward smile: "Brother Nan, you’re joking, the greatest taboo on the Martial Soul Continent is forcibly prying into others’ secrets, let alone the disciple of Brother Nan? How could Qi so easily pry into it?"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Nan’s expression softened. Every cultivator has their own secrets, and naturally, he wouldn’t let others pry into his disciple’s secrets either, including himself - without the disciple’s permission, he wouldn’t investigate randomly.
This is a tacit rule long established on the Martial Soul Continent.
Of course, the two are life-and-death friends, and this was just a little banter between them. Dugu Nan trusted that the middle-aged man wouldn’t act that way.
The middle-aged man didn’t dwell on the matter but was rather concernedly looking at the fainted Ye Xiaofan: "Brother Nan, is the kid okay?"
"What could be wrong? He just fainted from absorbing too much soul power. He’ll wake up naturally after sleeping and digesting it, truly insatiable." Dugu Nan muttered to himself for a mont, then turned and walked toward the small courtyard.
The middle-aged man stood in place, looking puzzled: "Brother Nan, are you just going to let him lie there? After all, he’s your heir, shouldn’t you bring him in to sleep?"
"The earth is his bed, the sky his blanket, sleeping here is his blessing." Upon finishing his words, Dugu Nan stood before the chessboard, looking at the middle-aged man: "Are we continuing this ga of chess? If not, I’ll see you out."
"Play, why not? I still want to have breakfast tomorrow morning." The middle-aged man readily agreed, casting a sympathetic glance at Ye Xiaofan, and then stepped toward the small courtyard.
Beneath the starry sky, two figures were playing a ga of chess in the small courtyard, while Ye Xiaofan lay face-down, snoring thunderously.
Ti slowly passed by.
The next morning.
"Hiss—"
Ye Xiaofan slowly woke up, feeling sore all over. He twisted his stiff neck and gradually climbed to his feet, only then realizing he had slept on the cold ground.
At the sa ti, two rather casual voices rang out.
"I tell you, don’t you know? You should put the at first and then the Holy dicine, otherwise, the aroma will disperse."
"I like putting it this way. If you know so much, why don’t you cook?"
"I can’t cook, but at least I know to put the at first, then the Holy dicine, otherwise it will be tasteless when served."
Listening to the bickering, Ye Xiaofan slowly climbed up and saw smoke swirling in the small courtyard. In the kitchen, two people were arguing fiercely in front of the stove.
"Master?"
Ye Xiaofan was slightly taken aback upon recognizing one of them—it was indeed Sword Saint Dugu Nan.
However, Dugu Nan wasn’t holding a sword now, but a cooking ladle. Their faces even had quite a bit of soot on them.
Staring at this extrely incongruous scene in the courtyard left Ye Xiaofan’s mind sowhat muddled. This was vastly different from the usual image of the Sword Saint.
But after a brief mont of stretching, Ye Xiaofan cautiously walked into the courtyard.
"Disciple Ye Xiaofan, greets Master." After entering the small courtyard, Ye Xiaofan slightly bowed, paying deep respect to Dugu Nan from a distance.
This greeting also interrupted the quarrel between the two.
"Awake?" Hearing the voice, Dugu Nan turned around, glanced at the ladle in his hand with disdain, tossed it aside instantly, and, resuming his usual stern deanor, beckoned Ye Xiaofan over: "Co here."
"Mm." Ye Xiaofan nodded, stepping toward the two.
Dugu Nan sat down at the small courtyard’s chessboard and indicated to the middle-aged man beside him for an introduction: "Let introduce you, this is the Peak Master of Talisman Peak, Senior Qi Yun. Have you t Senior Qi before?"
"Xiaofan has t Senior Qi." Ye Xiaofan imdiately bowed to Qi Yun, feeling utterly shocked. The middle-aged man before him was actually the Peak Master of Talisman Peak of the Divine Sword Sect, the First Generation Talisman Saint, Qi Yun.
Qi Yun slightly nodded at this and then slowly sat down.
After the two sat down, Dugu Nan looked at Ye Xiaofan, examining closely the disciple he had chosen.
Seeing his master scrutinizing him made Ye Xiaofan feel slightly uneasy.
Fortunately, Dugu Nan retracted his gaze soon after, saying slowly: "Since you’re here, let’s check the results."
"Results?" Ye Xiaofan didn’t imdiately understand.
"’Falling Feather Sword Technique.’" Qi Yun reminded from the side.
Ye Xiaofan suddenly realized; when Dugu Nan had taken him as his disciple in Star Moon City, he ntioned that once Ye Xiaofan arrived at the Divine Sword Sect, he would assess his cultivation results of the ’Falling Feather Sword Technique.’
"Reporting to Master, this disciple may be dull, but after three months of rigorous practice, I have cultivated the ’Falling Feather Sword Decision’ to the Realm of Great Success. I wonder if it ets Master’s expectations?" Ye Xiaofan responded anxiously.
Although he wasn’t very familiar with the Sword Technique, he knew that achieving Great Success in a Sword Technique wasn’t the highest realm.
However, when Dugu Nan and Qi Yun heard these words, they were slightly stunned. The two exchanged a glance, both with a hint of doubt.
"Are you saying that you achieved the Great Success Realm in the Falling Feather Sword Technique in just three months?" Dugu Nan looked skeptical, clearly not convinced by this result.
It wasn’t that Dugu Nan doubted his chosen disciple was exaggerating; rather, he seriously suspected that the boy might not even know what the Great Success realm of a Sword Technique was, and perhaps mistakenly thought reaching a certain level of power ant Great Success.
"Show the Falling Feather Sword Technique so I can see for myself." Dugu Nan said, whether true or false, displaying it once would make it clear.
"Yes."
Ye Xiaofan didn’t dare hesitate. He imdiately took out the Luoyu Sword and was about to perform the Sword Technique when he subconsciously glanced at the small courtyard.
The power of the Falling Feather Sword Technique was too terrifying. He worried that displaying this technique might destroy the small courtyard.
Qi Yun seed to notice Ye Xiaofan’s concern and imdiately laughed, "Don’t worry, just go ahead and perform it. Your master has placed a Restriction here. Even if you cleave through the sky, it won’t harm the courtyard in the slightest. If you feel it’s not suitable to perform here, you can also go outside the courtyard."
Upon hearing this, Ye Xiaofan finally felt at ease. After thinking briefly, he decided to move outside the courtyard.
Once outside, Ye Xiaofan glanced at Dugu Nan, then took a deep breath and slowly composed himself.
In the next mont, he suddenly lifted his gaze, the Luoyu Sword in his hand swiftly turned, and he swung out with a slash.
Instantly, sword winds arose on South Peak, sword like a swimming dragon, terrifying Sword Qi burst forth one after another.
Now, Ye Xiaofan’s understanding of Sword Dao had vastly improved; the Sword Qi he could unleash had grown from about two ters to ten zhang.
For a ti, Sword Qi crisscrossed across South Peak, imperably dense, Sword Qi tearing through the void, clusters of terrifying Sword Intent unintentionally gathered at the Sword Peak, capturing the soul.
"Great Success Realm?"
Originally sitting in the courtyard, Dugu Nan’s eyes flashed with astonishnt upon seeing this, unconsciously speaking out.
Even Qi Yun, mainly focused on Talisman Dao, looked shocked. At the mont Ye Xiaofan raised his sword to the heavens, they both suddenly looked up, even standing and moving outside to stand at the courtyard entrance, staring dumbfounded at Ye Xiaofan furiously performing the Falling Feather Sword Technique.
As Ye Xiaofan perford the Falling Feather Sword Technique, Dugu Nan and Qi Yun’s eyes grew increasingly filled with shock.
"Brother Nan, how long did it take you back then to reach the Great Success Realm with this Sword Technique?" Qi Yun asked instinctively.
Dugu Nan t his gaze and didn’t answer, but from Dugu Nan’s eyes, Qi Yun had his answer.
Evidently, this child’s Sword Dao Talent was frightfully impressive, even hinting at a tendency to surpass Dugu Nan.
This left Qi Yun deeply startled.
A quarter of an hour later.
The Sword Qi retracted on South Peak, Ye Xiaofan finally completed the performance of the Falling Feather Sword Technique, slowly sheathed his sword, and eagerly ca before Dugu Nan.
"Master, disciple has completed the performance. How does Master feel?" Ye Xiaofan asked cautiously, eager to hear Dugu Nan’s evaluation.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Nan stood with hands behind his back, secretly swallowed, imnsely amazed internally, yet outwardly as calm as still water: "Barely counts as Great Success. Cultivating to such a realm in just three months is rare. Back then, when I achieved Great Success, it rely took two months."
"Only two months?" Ye Xiaofan responded, a hint of disappointnt flashed in his eyes. He thought achieving Great Success in three months was incredibly remarkable, but unexpectedly his master took only two months then, such a big gap.
However, Qi Yun was left bewildered, couldn’t help looking at Dugu Nan, a face full of peculiarity: Brother Nan, I vaguely recall you took three and a half months back then?
Seemingly sensing Qi Yun’s gaze, Dugu Nan coughed lightly a few tis, making Qi Yun’s brow slightly raised, choosing silence.
But after Dugu Nan finished speaking, he furrowed his eyebrows, stared piercingly at Ye Xiaofan: "Fan’Er, while you were performing the Sword Technique just now, I noticed so Profound Sea aura fluctuation from you. Have you broken through to the Profound Sea Realm?"
With these words, Qi Yun couldn’t help but look at Ye Xiaofan. He too sensed a trace of Profound Sea aura fluctuation earlier.
In the Martial Soul Continent, there are only two ways to know soone else’s cultivation.
One is if the other party actively releases the aura, the other is if a stronger cultivator forcibly probes.
Clearly, the latter could evoke resentnt and rejection, thus neither Dugu Nan nor Qi Yun used Divine Sense to probe Ye Xiaofan.
Seeing his master inquire directly, Ye Xiaofan didn’t hide it, promptly answering truthfully.
Upon learning the boy stepped into the Profound Sea Realm in just three months, Dugu Nan and Qi Yun both had a flash of surprise that quickly vanished.
"So, you broke the Profound Sea Shackles on your way here, who gave you the Profound Sea Pill, Mu Yan?" Dugu Nan furrowed his brow even tighter.
If his disciple indeed accepted the Profound Sea Pill from the Elder of Divine Sword Peak, it would an he owed Mu Yan a favor.
Not understanding such social nuances, this disciple might be overly naive. Even if he succeeds in Sword Dao, he might struggle in this scheming world.
But Ye Xiaofan’s subsequent words left Dugu Nan and Qi Yun utterly shocked and astonished.
"What did you say? You didn’t take the Profound Sea Pill?" Qi Yun was the first to speak, his words filled with disbelief.
Upon discovering that Ye Xiaofan not only didn’t take the Profound Sea Pill, but also didn’t use Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures or Spirit Stones, the two were completely stunned.
Dugu Nan and Qi Yun exchanged glances, eyes stirring up monstrous waves, both simultaneously thinking of one thing.
This boy, there’s sothing off!
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