Chapter 41: Teaching You the Principles of Being Human

Chapter 41: Teaching You the Principles of Being Human

"Welcome, all junior brothers, to my celebration."

Yuan Hualong spoke, his voice deep and resonant, carrying an overwhelming, domineering aura. His towering figure seemed to prop up the heavens, and his presence was so refined and unified that it left everyone in awe.

As a peerless prodigy at the Body Forging Twelve Transformations and a Sect Heir Candidate, he had every right to address the hundreds present as his junior brothers.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Yuan!"

A True Disciple immediately stood up and declared loudly.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Yuan! May your martial path flourish!"

The others followed suit, rising to their feet one after another. For a moment, the voices echoed through the Shenglong Garden, vast and thunderous.

Chen Feng, however, was lost in thought.

"Earlier, it seemed none of the other Eight Great True Halls sent anyone..."

Though he had spent most of his time comprehending the mysteries of the First Form of the Juejian Thirteen Swords, that didn’t mean he was oblivious to the outside world.

At the very least, the person announcing at the entrance of the Shenglong Garden hadn’t mentioned the Eight Great True Halls or the Three Palaces.

Why was that?

Could it be that the Three Palaces and the Eight Great True Halls were at odds with the Canglong True Hall?

Competition was inevitable, but surely it hadn’t reached such a level.

"The Three Palaces have extremely high standards for accepting disciples. Even an innate Saint-Grade Divine Trait might not necessarily catch their eye."

At the very least, Chen Feng knew that the Three Palaces hadn’t taken in any disciples for three years. The last disciple they accepted three years ago had long since broken through beyond the Body Forging Realm.

As for the Nine Great True Halls, their standards weren’t as high as the Three Palaces, but they still surpassed the Seventy-Two Peaks.

This was why, when the Disciple Hall Master mentioned the "Three Palaces, Nine Halls, Seventy-Two Peaks," only representatives from the Seventy-Two Peaks showed up, while the Three Palaces and Nine Halls were nowhere to be seen.

They simply didn’t care.

At most, two True Disciples who struck the drum four times weren’t worth their attention.

Among this year’s batch of disciples, only Xiao Xuanwu, who struck the drum five times, was accepted under the master of Gu Yuan Peak. Last year, there were three prodigies who struck the drum five times, each taken by three of the Nine Great True Halls.

One of them was Yuan Hualong.

As for the other two, for some unknown reason, they hadn’t shown up.

The year before that, two innate Saint-Grade Divine Trait holders were taken in by two of the Nine Great True Halls. But those two had already become Sect Heir Candidates, more senior than Yuan Hualong, and naturally wouldn’t lower themselves to attend.

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, Chen Feng vaguely grasped the reasons behind it all.

"Please be seated, junior brothers." Yuan Hualong, in high spirits, laughed heartily and waved his sleeve with the bearing of a young monarch. "This celebration isn’t anything special—just an opportunity for you all to sample the Canglong True Hall’s Fierce Dragon Brew and Dragon Beast Stew. Beyond that, we’ll engage in martial exchanges."

A small table was placed before each person, and soon, wine and delicacies were served.

The delicacy was a bowl of meat stew, tender and fragrant, its steaming aroma rising like a coiling dragon.

Chen Feng took a bite and felt a unique, explosive burst of flavor on his tongue, unlike anything he had ever tasted.

Immediately, a wave of warmth spread through his body, seeping into his bones, muscles, and organs.

His entire body felt as if it were soaking in a hot spring—utterly comfortable.

Once the Divine Talisman Of Creation was refined and absorbed by Chen Feng's body, he keenly sensed that his Force had undergone an extremely subtle enhancement.

To think that his Huntian Sword Force, which he had cultivated to its absolute limit, could still be strengthened by a sliver after consuming and refining a bowl of Dragon Beast Stew—this alone spoke volumes about how astonishing the stew truly was.

More roasted meat and fruits were then served, making mouths water with anticipation.

"Junior brothers, how do you find the Dragon Beast Stew from our Canglong True Hall?" Yuan Hualong said with a laugh.

"Senior Brother Yuan, I’ve long admired the reputation of the Canglong True Hall’s Dragon Beast Stew. Today, I’ve finally had the privilege of tasting it, and it lives up to its name!"

"Indeed, after this bowl, all other food will taste like bland wax."

Many chimed in with praise.

"One cannot enjoy Dragon Beast Stew without the Fierce Dragon Brew. Junior brothers, let us drink together!" Yuan Hualong did not promise an endless supply of the stew—such a thing was impossible—so he raised his wine cup and declared loudly, "Bottoms up!"

"To Senior Brother Yuan!"

The crowd raised their cups in unison, and the atmosphere instantly grew lively.

Chen Feng also lifted his cup. The wine, amber in color, exuded an intensely rich aroma.

He downed it in one gulp. The brew was mellow and fragrant upon entry, but in an instant, it turned scorching, as if flames were coursing through his entire body and rushing straight to his head. In that brief moment, Chen Feng’s face flushed crimson, and a wave of dizziness washed over him, making him feel as if he were floating.

This was his first time drinking alcohol.

Fortunately, Chen Feng’s physique was formidable, and with the protection of the Divine Talisman Of Creation, the dizziness faded after just a breath. Instead, he felt invigorated, his mind clear and refreshed.

His eyes gleamed with realization—it was as if a new door had opened before him.

"Haha, excellent wine!" someone immediately roared with laughter, leaping to his feet and landing nimbly in the open space at the center. His face flushed, he swept his gaze around and declared, "I am Yang Guang, a Core Disciple of Qing Shan Peak, at the Tenth Level of the Body Forging Realm with five temperings of Force. Today, I am honored to attend Senior Brother Yuan’s celebration. Who will spar with me to commemorate this joyous occasion?"

The Fierce Dragon Brew was potent, and after just one bowl, many were already feeling its effects.

"I am Lin Xinrong, a Core Disciple of Qian Yun Peak, also at the Tenth Level of the Body Forging Realm with five temperings of Force. I accept your challenge!"

Without hesitation, another voice rang out as a figure leaped forward and immediately struck with a palm.

Both were at the Tenth Level of the Body Forging Realm, and under the influence of alcohol, their battle grew fiercely intense.

They fought with abandon—partly to celebrate, but also with another motive: if they could impress Yuan Hualong and be taken as his followers, that would be far better than remaining mere Core Disciples.

After all, as a Sect Heir Candidate, Yuan Hualong was eligible to compete for the position of Sect Heir. Becoming his follower would be a far greater opportunity than their current status.

Half a quarter-hour later, one of them was knocked back and fell to the ground.

"My thanks for the match," the victor said with a cupped fist.

Though the alcohol had heightened their excitement, it hadn’t robbed them of reason. Their spar had been measured and controlled.

Yuan Hualong applauded lightly.

"I am Shi Lei, a True Disciple of Tiancang Peak, at the Tenth Level of the Body Forging Realm with eight temperings of Force." A young man beside Ye Yunqi stood up abruptly, his sharp eyes sweeping across the crowd before settling on one figure. "Junior Brother Chen Feng of Juejian Peak, dare you face me in battle?"

Shi Lei had also joined the Huntian Sect last year, a prodigy of the main branch with an Innate King-Grade Divine Trait. Were it not for Ye Yunqi's bloodline breaking through and transforming into a Saint-Grade, his status would not have been inferior to Ye Yunqi's. Yet now, he had no choice but to follow Ye Yunqi's lead.

Chen Feng's gaze sharpened as it landed on them.

Ye Yunqi wore a cold smirk, as did the others beside him.

Chen Feng immediately understood—nine times out of ten, Ye Yunqi was behind this.

"I, Chen Feng, True Disciple of Juejian Peak, Tenth Level of the Body Forging Realm with Nine Refinements of Force," Chen Feng declared without rising, his voice steady as he stared at Shi Lei. "You are no match for me."

The crowd erupted in shock.

Nine Refinements of Force!

It had only been a little over three months since Chen Feng joined the Huntian Sect, yet he had already completed nine refinements. Such an astonishing cultivation speed!

"This man must possess a Saint-Grade Divine Trait—perhaps even an extraordinary one!"

"Indeed, only a Saint-Grade Divine Trait could achieve nine refinements. And yet he denied it? How devious..."

Ye Yunqi's face darkened to the extreme. Even with his own Saint-Grade Divine Trait, he too had only reached nine refinements, and breaking through to the Eleventh Transformation of the Body Forging Realm was no easy feat.

"Nonsense!" Shi Lei roared, leaping to his feet and landing in the open space, glaring at Chen Feng. "Junior Brother Chen, if you're too afraid, just admit defeat. After all, Juejian Peak will be disbanded in a few years anyway."

With things having escalated to this point, Chen Feng had no reason to refuse.

In a flash, like a howling gale, Chen Feng landed in the open space.

"Junior Brother Chen, as your senior, I'll teach you a lesson today—know your place," Shi Lei sneered.

"You, who joined a year earlier yet still lag behind me in cultivation, have no right to spout such arrogance in front of me," Chen Feng retorted without hesitation.

His words were as sharp as a sword, piercing straight to the heart.

"Enough talk!" Shi Lei's expression twisted in fury. With a roar, he lunged forward, not even drawing his blade. Surging with the domineering Huntian Force, he slashed downward with a palm like a blade, splitting the air itself. The force of his strike sent shockwaves rippling outward.

So what if Chen Feng's cultivation was higher?

Shi Lei had joined the Huntian Sect a year earlier—an extra year of training. Who was to say he couldn't defeat Chen Feng?