Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“So quickly?” He Mengxi was shocked. A 24-year-old Dharma adept? Exactly what kind of treasure did her Little Brother receive…
“That’s not fast at all,” replied Zhou Donghuang, shaking his head. His progress was much slower than the esteemed disciples of the Supreme Sects and Star Clans. For them, it was typical to achieve the Dharma stage before the age of twenty.
“Furthermore, it’s the work of the elixir that I told you about just now,” continued Zhou Donghuang. “That elixir is an old formula. It is powerful beyond imagination. Sister, how long has Da Zhuang been at the ultimate Primal Core stage?” he asked.
Da Zhuang was only a few years older than him.
“About two years or so,” replied He Mengxi after thinking about it carefully.
Zhou Donghuang nodded. “When I come back from the Summer Valley, I will give Da Zhuang one of the ancient elixirs. As long as there are sufficient spirit stones to set up an energy-gathering position, within a month, he will be able to attain the Dharma stage!” Zhou Donghuang finished in an immensely confident tone. It was a confidence that could not be questioned. The ancient elixir’s power had already been tried and tested by Zhou Donghuang, so he understood its potency and had high confidence in it.
Zhou Donghuang’s conviction was enough to convince He Mengxi. She asked, “That ancient elixir, what exactly is it? How can it enable Da Zhuang to attain the Dharma stage within a mere month?”
Zhou Donghuang smiled as he replied, “This elixir allows Golden Essence adepts to produce a Dharma within a short time and thus attain the Dharma stage. But this is only for Golden Essence adepts. As long as there are enough spirit stones to set up a Qi-gathering formation to aid one’s practice, after using the elixir, even a Golden Essence adept who has just attained the Ultimate Primal Core stage will be able to enter the Dharma stage within a short time.” Here, Zhou Donghuang paused slightly and looked at He Mengxi before continuing, “Now that I think of it, I produced this elixir using an old recipe that I learned in my dream.”
Dream! Hearing Zhou Donghuang mention his dream again, He Mengxi drew in a short breath. Now, she believed every word that her little brother was saying. Hence, she felt fortunate; her little brother’s appearance in advance would give her the chance to change her and her father’s fates. Otherwise, her father would die, and she would leave the planet and the Hengliu Galaxy, and be stranded in the vast outside universe.
He Mengxi turned to Zhou Donghuang with a gentle gaze and said, “Little Brother, I know that you just attained the Dharma stage, and your confidence is brimming. Back when I’d just attained the Dharma stage, I was the same way. But, Lian Can of the Summer Valley already attained the Dharma stage a few years ago. Now, he may even be close to the middle Dharma stage. His Dharma is far stronger than yours after so many years of training.” He Mengxi did not think that Zhou Donghuang was a match for Lian Can. “Although the two of us can defeat him, someone from the Summer Valley will certainly come to help him.”
If He Mengxi squared off alone against Lian Can, nobody would step out to support Lian Can since the two of them were at the same level. But once He Mengxi joined forces with Zhou Donghuang against Lian Can, the people of Summer Valley would not stand by and do nothing.
“Together?” Zhou Donghuang was surprised. He could not help but shake his head and smile, “Third Sister, there is no need for that.”
Seeing Zhou Donghuang’s confident smile, He Mengxi was swayed. “Can it be that this little brother is so confident?”
Lian Can’s father was the Summer Valley chief, Lian Kun, and they lived in the same residence. As the leader of the valley, although Lian Kun’s home could not be considered lavish, it was spacious and contained many rooms, enough for many people to live in.
“Lian Can, my Little Brother would like to spar with you.” He Mengxi brought Zhou Donghuang to the Summer Valley chief’s residence. She announced their arrival in a loud voice that traveled far.
Soon, many Summer Valley disciples were attracted by the commotion.
“It’s He Mengxi of the Autumn Valley!”
“He Mengxi caused trouble for Pan Yilin half a month ago, and it was Lian Can who stopped her. Then, Lian Can sparred with her, and they were both equally matched, so it was a draw in the end.”
“After half a month, why is she back again? She even said that her Little Brother wants to spar with Lian Can?”
“The young man in white beside her—is that the younger disciple she’s talking about?”
For most people in the Summer Valley, Zhou Donghuang was an unfamiliar face.
Pan Yilin had also come to watch the commotion, and he recognized Zhou Donghuang immediately. His recognition was followed by immense shock. “Isn’t that Zhou Donghuang from the Autumn Valley? He…he broke through the frontier?” In Pan Yilin’s memory, this Zhou Donghuang had only been a Golden Essence adept when they had met a month ago. Now, within a month, he had broken through to reach the Dharma stage?
“Zhou Donghuang?”
“Is he the one who indirectly sold all the fake goods to our Summer Valley disciples?”
“He is so young!”
“So young, but already a Dharma adept—how?”
Pan Yilin’s words shocked many of the Summer Valley disciples around him.
“Zhou Donghuang!”
“How dare you come to our Summer Valley!”
Soon, Zhong Yin and Fang Baiwei, the two Summer Valley disciples who had bought fake goods from Zhou Donghuang, arrived on the scene and glared at Zhou Donghuang.
Many other Summer Valley disciples and elders who had been cheated by Zhou Donghuang also gathered.
“From what He Mengxi is saying, it sounds like Zhou Donghuang wants to challenge Lian Can.”
“I heard from Pan Yilin that Zhou Donghuang was still a Golden Essence adept last year. That means that he only attained the Dharma stage within the last month.”
“Less than a month as a Dharma adept, and he is challenging Lian Can? He is out to embarrass himself!”
Among the group that had gathered, none of them thought that Zhou Donghuang could match Lian Can. After all, Lian Can had already attained the Dharma stage a few years ago and was not far from the middle Dharma stage now. In a few years, Lian Can had already managed to train his Dharma so that it had almost no cracks in its armor, and he was skillful at handling it.
“It’s that lass, Mengxi.” Although the Summer Valley’s leader, Lian Kun, had not opened the door, he could tell that it was her from the voice alone. “The Little Brother that she is talking about must be Zhou Donghuang. He dares to challenge you, which means he is quite confident.”
Lian Kun looked at Lian Can and asked, “Are you confident? If you are not, you do not have to take on this fight. If you are sure of winning, it would be good for you to take him on. After all, he sold so many fake goods to the Summer Valley, and some of his victims were our elders. If you can defeat him, you will earn their praise, which will be good for you when you become chief one day,” explained Lian Kun.
From what Lian Kun had said, it was clear that he planned to pass on his position as Summer Valley chief to his eldest son and disciple, Lian Can. According to the Lightning Sword Sect’s rules, as a chief, he had the power to choose his successor. Once his chosen successor passed the Lightning Sword Sect’s test, he would be eligible to rule over the Summer Valley.
“Master, from your tone, do you think that I may not be Zhou Donghuang’s match?” asked Lian Can with a smile. “Don’t you know that he was only a Golden Essence adept just a month ago?”
“I heard.” Lian Kun nodded, then continued, “Even so, something here is rather strange. Someone who has just attained the Dharma stage dares to challenge you—what can that mean? Is he here to embarrass himself? Would someone who can produce such high-quality fakes and forgeries that can even trick some of our elders be the kind of person who embarrasses himself?” Lian Kun’s eyes were alert and vigilant.
“Master, you are too cautious.” Lian Can shook his head and said condescendingly, “If I am not able to defeat a small lad who just entered the Dharma stage, how can I possibly take over as Summer Valley chief? I must accept.”
Lian Can bid farewell to Lian Kun and walked out of the house.
As Lian Can was leaving, Lian Kun called out a reminder to his son from behind, “Don’t be too careless. Always be ready to use your ultimate Dharma spirit weapon.”
“Sure,” Lian Can replied carelessly. To him, a small lad who had just entered the Dharma stage less than a month ago did not merit the use of his Dharma spirit weapon—unless he started using one first.
“Forget it. If he fails, it will be a lesson for him to learn that there is always someone stronger.” Although Lian Kun had never seen Zhou Donghuang, his understanding of Zhou Donghuang was based on his high level of skill in forgery. Based on that alone, he would not dare to look down on Zhou Donghuang. Now, Zhou Donghuang had come knocking on their door to challenge Lian Can. This move was enough to show that he was confident of winning this battle.
As Lian Can stepped out, Lian Kun called out to him loudly, like thunder clapping. “Lian Can! Since this is a spar between disciples of the same sect, there’s no need to go all the way. A light tap is enough.”
“It’s the chief!”
“It looks like he is afraid that Lian Can will attack Zhou Donghuang too strongly and hurt him.”
“Zhou Donghuang challenged him, so if it is not made clear that a light tap is enough, as long as Lian Can does not kill him, even if he is disabled, the sect will not take any action on Zhou Donghuang’s behalf.”
Outside, the group of Summer Valley elders and disciples that had gathered all thought that their chief was protecting Zhou Donghuang.
“Yes, Master.” Although Lian Can was unwilling, he did not dare to go against his Master’s orders.
“Lian Can,” sensing Lian Can’s unwillingness, Zhou Donghuang called out to him, “if you are not willing to stop there, remember that this is a sparring battle. Let’s set no boundaries other than nobody can be killed. How about that?”
With that, Zhou Donghuang’s eyes flashed murderously.
The crowd thought that Zhou Donghuang did not know his weight. Lian Can was about to agree with his father, and his expression was dark.
Chief Lian Kun’s voice rang out again, “Zhou Donghuang, we are both part of the same sect, so let’s not go overboard.”