I was just making up techniques... how did all of you become Emperors?

Chapter 242: The Golden-Winged Eagle King Comprehends the True Essence of the Great Dao

"If it takes a hundred true essences of the Great Dao to become a Saint, then yes—I'm not far off."

Chu Feng didn't conceal anything and simply admitted it with ease.

Hiss...

The Golden-Winged Eagle King sucked in a breath. "Brother, you only just became a Half-Saint not long ago—how is your cultivation progressing so quickly?"

Chu Feng smiled. "Don't ask. Even if you did, you wouldn't understand."

Golden-Winged Eagle King: "..."

Chu Feng said, "Alright, let's set this matter aside for now. Once I refine the Enlightenment Pills, I'll give them to you all first."

Through this conversation, Chu Feng had already thought through how best to use the Enlightenment Pills to maximize their value.

"Brother, you truly are my blood brother!"

The Golden-Winged Eagle King was so excited that he began hopping around with joy.

Bing Yan didn't speak, merely stood quietly off to the side watching.

Chu Feng patted the Golden-Winged Eagle King on the shoulder. "Enough jumping around. Pack up—we should be on our way again."

"Got it!"

The Golden-Winged Eagle King was already sick of staying in this small Linjiang City.

Half an hour later, a carriage slowly rolled out of the city, heading south along the river.

Inside the carriage—

Chu Feng gently patted Chen Qianqian's little head. "Qianqian, would you like to learn some skills from your master?"

Chen Qianqian nodded. "I do! I want to be as powerful as Master!"

Chu Feng said, "What I'm best at is the four arts: zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Among them, zither and calligraphy are already being cultivated by other disciples. That leaves chess and painting—choose one."

Chen Qianqian tilted her small head and thought for a moment before saying, "Master, only children make choices. I'm a little grown-up now—can I learn both?"

"You little rascal."

Chu Feng chuckled. "Of course you can. But if you want to cultivate both to the level your master has reached, it won't be easy. Are you ready to endure hardship?"

Chen Qianqian replied firmly, "I'll work hard. I won't let Master down."

"Very well. Starting tomorrow, I'll first teach you chess. You'll study chess on odd days, painting on even days. Once you've grasped the basics of both, I'll teach you other techniques."

Chu Feng spoke unhurriedly.

"Mhm!"

Chen Qianqian nodded, already looking forward to the days of learning to come.

The next morning, Chu Feng began teaching her chess. He didn't start with lofty theories but only taught her the most basic rules.

The painting lesson on the second day was the same. Besides chess and painting, he also taught her to read and occasionally instilled her with some foundational philosophies, reshaping her worldview.

Day by day, time passed.

Before long, it had already been about a year since Chu Feng left Wendao Academy.

That morning, just as Chu Feng woke up, a familiar voice rang in his mind.

"Disciple Xiao Chen has broken through to the fifth layer of the Spirit Nurturing Realm. Rewarding host with 50 years of cultivation."

It had been a long time since he'd heard news of Xiao Chen's breakthroughs. Chu Feng had thought the kid had hit a bottleneck.

Just a few days ago, he'd received news that Cao Youqian broke through to the second layer of Spirit Nurturing.

This year, aside from Nie Xiuyuan who was still at the first layer of Path Union, all the other disciples had advanced.

Qin Qin had reached the ninth layer of Heavenly Origin, Wang Baole the fourth layer of Heavenly Origin, Ye Beixuan the fourth layer of True Fate, Xu Caichen the third layer of True Fate, Han Ping the ninth layer of Dao Foundation, Chu Caiyi the fourth layer of Dao Foundation. Together, these disciples had brought him several hundred more years of cultivation.

At present, Chu Feng had accumulated more than 2,600 years of cultivation.

However, what Chu Feng was most looking forward to now was what insights the Golden-Winged Eagle King would gain from his meditation on the Buddhist scriptures—and what kind of benefit it would bring to him.

Half a month ago, they arrived at Mingyue Gorge by the Linjiang River, and the Golden-Winged Eagle King entered closed-door cultivation to prepare for breaking through to Half-Saint.

Chu Feng and the others found a scenic spot nearby to stay and protect him during this critical time.

He usually spent his days traveling the mountains and rivers with Bing Yan and Chen Qianqian, painting and playing chess. Life was leisurely and pleasant.

The joyful days even made Chu Feng consider the idea of settling down here.

After the Golden-Winged Eagle King had been in seclusion for forty-nine days, a familiar mechanical voice finally echoed in Chu Feng's mind.

"The disciple Golden-Winged Eagle King, under the host's guidance, has comprehended a fragment of Buddhist Dao truth from the scriptures. Rewarding host with +10 True Essences of the Great Dao."

Hearing this, Chu Feng casually placed his chess piece on the board, instantly wiping out Chen Qianqian's entire formation.

Seeing herself lose, Chen Qianqian pouted. "Master, you lied! You said I still had ten more moves!"

Chu Feng chuckled. "Master didn't lie. It's just that your Uncle Jinchi is about to break through."

"Really?!"

Chen Qianqian and Bing Yan both spoke in unison.

Chu Feng replied, "Indeed. Let's go. Although there aren't any powerful cultivators or demons in Mingyue Gorge, it would be unfortunate if someone disrupted Brother Diao's breakthrough."

"Alright."

Bing Yan answered, then picked up Chen Qianqian, and the three of them flew toward the cave where the Golden-Winged Eagle King was cultivating.

As soon as they landed, they sensed a powerful aura emanating from the cave.

Even though the area around the cave was protected by defensive formations, that overwhelming aura still spread outward.

Feeling it, Chen Qianqian instinctively shrank into Bing Yan's arms, cold sweat beading on her forehead.

Seeing this, Bing Yan quickly formed a protective barrier with her spiritual power to shield Chen Qianqian.

Chen Qianqian immediately felt much better. She looked up and said, "Thank you, Mistress. You're the best."

Bing Yan smiled and pinched her cheek. "Why are you saying so much to your Mistress, you little rascal?"

Chu Feng acted as if he hadn't heard their exchange. His feelings toward Bing Yan were complicated—it reminded him of the ambiguous relationships one might have with an aloof goddess in a past life.

This must be what people call "feelings born of time." No—that's too imprecise. Things hadn't reached that stage yet. As for when he'd confess?

Chu Feng hadn't even considered the question. Based on his past-life experience, confession isn't a request—it's a declaration.

Besides, he personally preferred this ambiguous stage.

At that moment, Chu Feng sensed the Golden-Winged Eagle King's aura rising rapidly. The moment he broke through, it would erupt like a volcano.

Within a hundred miles, cultivators and demons alike trembled at the terrifying aura.

Even some Nirvana-level experts didn't dare approach.

BOOM!!!

Several hours later, the Golden-Winged Eagle King finally broke through his bottleneck. His aura surged, increasing several dozenfold.

But this surge vanished just as quickly.

In its place, thunderclouds began to roll across the sky. What had been a clear day was suddenly shrouded in darkness.

Nirvana-level cultivators within a thousand miles of Mingyue Gorge looked up at the tribulation clouds in the sky, each of them harboring different thoughts.

To reach Nirvana, one had to be well-traveled and experienced. There were no major powers near Mingyue Gorge, which could only mean one thing—a powerful being was undergoing tribulation in the wild.

That was a critical moment. Whether cultivator or demon, undergoing tribulation left one in their weakest state.

If that expert failed their tribulation, it would be their opportunity.

With that thought, multiple Nirvana-level cultivators flew toward the mountain shrouded in tribulation clouds.

Chu Feng had already extended his divine sense over a hundred-mile radius. Any disturbance within this range was within his grasp.

Sensing several Nirvana cultivators and demon kings approaching Mingyue Gorge, he smiled slightly and turned to Chen Qianqian.

"Qianqian, would you like to see how a cultivator of the Dao of Chess handles enemies?"

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