NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 313
Chapter 313: The Depths of Potential
Three to four hours passed in a flash.
In the afternoon, Yan woke Lu Ming ahead of time. After lunch, Lu Ming followed Yan to the courtyard’s gate.
The door was closed, and as they stood before it, Yan's voice broke the silence.
“Senior Brother, by opening this door you’ll reach Teacher’s place.”
Lu Ming stepped forward, pushing the gate open. A swirling, vortex-like image appeared before his eyes. He hesitated for only a moment before stepping through. Dizzying vertigo overtook him briefly. When his vision cleared, he found himself back in the small classroom he had visited earlier that morning.
Beside him stood Lin Feng. In front of them both, Jiu Han was holding a book nearly half a meter thick.
Upon seeing his disciples, Jiu Han smiled warmly. The large tome floated from his hand and hovered before Lin Feng.
“This is the foundation of array formations,” Jiu Han said. “Study it thoroughly and memorize it until you're familiar with every detail. We’ll move on to the next step once you’ve mastered it.”
Lin Feng nodded obediently. “I understand, Teacher.”
Given the memory capacity of transcendents, Lin Feng estimated he could thoroughly study and memorize the entire book within a week, despite its daunting size.
Jiu Han smiled again and waved him away. “That’s all for now. You may return.”
Lin Feng froze, confusion flickering across his face.
That’s it?
He had been eagerly awaiting Jiu Han’s first lesson, only to be dismissed with nothing more than a thick book.
Glancing at Jiu Han, Lin Feng saw that his teacher’s attention was entirely focused on Lu Ming. Frustration surged within him.
As Lin Feng lowered his head, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
This… was what you call differential treatment.
It was also the source of Lin Feng’s growing desire to kill Lu Ming. But, of course, that wasn’t something he could do within Boshi Tower.
You’ve offended the Divine Realm among us Subverters, Lu Ming. Death is your only outcome!
You’ve chosen the wrong side, you fool!
Raging internally, Lin Feng slowly retreated until he reached the door. When he opened it, he found himself back in his own courtyard.
Shi-er stood waiting, wearing the same puzzled expression that Lin Feng imagined he had just moments ago.
“Senior Brother, you’re… already done?”
Shi-er’s innocent gaze only fueled Lin Feng’s frustration, but he forced a gentle smile.
“The lesson has ended. Teacher’s teaching style is… unique.”
Only Lu Ming and Jiu Han remained in the classroom.
Jiu Han’s eyes held a complex mixture of emotions—anticipation and curiosity, tinged with a hint of excitement.
After a long silence, Jiu Han finally spoke.
“I need to examine your body and the silver patterns again. Is that all right?”
Lu Ming nodded. “Of course.”
He had nothing to hide.
Or rather, nothing he could hide.
The system was undoubtedly Lu Ming’s greatest secret, but he doubted Jiu Han could detect its presence. While he acknowledged the risk, there wasn’t much he could do about it. Jiu Han, after all, was his only shield against Moonfiend Yue.
Though everything seemed to be going smoothly, Lu Ming knew the risk was always there. And Jiu Han was the biggest variable.
Lu Ming knew little about Jiu Han’s true nature. The world spoke highly of him, but reputations could be deceptive. He wasn’t naïve enough to place blind trust in rumors.
Jiu Han seemed decent so far—at the very least, he wasn’t as corrupt as Moonfiend Yue.
The real risk lay in the system.
If Jiu Han detected it, everything would spiral out of Lu Ming’s control.
Extending his hand, Lu Ming watched as Jiu Han pinched his wrist, running his fingers over his skin and bones. A faint energy flowed from Jiu Han’s hand into Lu Ming’s body, circulating through him before quickly flowing back out.
Lu Ming’s expression remained calm, but Jiu Han’s brow furrowed in thought.
After a moment, Jiu Han spoke.
“Now, I want you to cultivate a Body Forging technique in front of me.”
With a wave of his hand, a large pile of Flamestones appeared out of thin air, scattered around Lu Ming. Without hesitation, Lu Ming sat cross-legged and entered the Void Space.
He couldn’t quite understand what Jiu Han was thinking. Judging by his expression, it didn’t seem like Jiu Han had detected the system’s presence, which was a relief.
Though it appeared Jiu Han had discovered something significant.
But what?
Deciding not to dwell on it, Lu Ming focused on cultivating. Almost instinctively, he opened the attribute panel—and noticed something unusual.
“It’s flashing?”
Yes, the attribute panel was flashing, just as it had done back in the Flame Clan Ruins.
That could only mean one thing: Lu Ming was absorbing something from Boshi Tower itself.
“Void Power…? No, it’s not just Void Power. There’s also Divine Origin!”
In other words, Lu Ming was poaching from Boshi Tower.
His heart raced.
Jiu Han couldn’t be investigating this… right?
I’ve been careless.
What should I do?
Lu Ming felt a rising sense of helplessness. He was inadvertently siphoning energy from a Divine Realm expert’s artifact.
It was akin to stealing right under Jiu Han’s nose.
Just as panic set in, Jiu Han’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Come out.”
Obediently, Lu Ming ended his cultivation and exited the Void Space. As soon as he stood, he lowered his head, hands pressed to his thighs in the posture of a well-behaved student.
From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Jiu Han.
There was no anger on his teacher’s face. Instead, Jiu Han looked… surprised. And pleased.
Lu Ming couldn’t understand why.
His ability to absorb Divine Origin was undeniably extraordinary, something most couldn’t even fathom. But why the happiness?
Before Lu Ming could ponder further, Jiu Han reached out again, placing his hand on Lu Ming’s body. This time, his touch was more meticulous, his fingers tracing every line of Lu Ming’s frame. Faint golden light radiated from Jiu Han’s fingertips, flowing through Lu Ming like a pulse.
The process lasted over ten minutes before Jiu Han finally withdrew his hand. His gaze was now filled with a mixture of complexity and anticipation.
“You’re doing very well… exceptionally well.”
Lu Ming hesitated. “Teacher, what do you mean?”
Jiu Han repeated, “You’re doing very well… exceptionally well.”
Lu Ming still didn’t understand.
His voice seemed to break Jiu Han from his reverie. After a pause, Jiu Han asked, “Do you know what Divine Origin is?”
Lu Ming feigned confusion and shook his head. “I don’t.”
Jiu Han asked again, “Then, do you know that your body can absorb foreign energies—beneficial ones?”
Lu Ming nodded. “I know that much. It happened when I was at the Flame Clan Ruins.”
He briefly explained what had occurred there, including his advancement in the Void Realm. “But I don’t know why I can do such things. It’s probably due to some unique physique or undeveloped ability.”
Jiu Han seemed to accept this explanation. After a moment’s thought, he nodded.
“That’s probably it.”
Then, he shifted the conversation. “But none of that is what’s important right now.”
“What matters is that no one can absorb Divine Origin—let alone adapt to it—before becoming a Divine Spirit.”
He paused, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Lu Ming.
“Except for you.”
End of Chapter 313