"Hahaha, good, this is truly wonderful! I originally thought that it would be impressive enough for Chu Feng to reach the eighth step."
"As it turns out, this Nine Layers Heavenly Thunder Platform was an enhanced version, and Chu Feng's final results actually surpassed yours!"
"Haha, the student has surpassed the master — this truly is the student surpassing the master. Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!" The Old Ape was so excited that he couldn't stop laughing, even slapping his own thigh with abandon.
At that moment, Zi Ling had already pieced together the whole story from their words, and a sweet smile had bloomed across her face — she was happy for Chu Feng.
"Zi Ling, once Feng'er enters beyond the heavens, his days will be filled with hardship. But you, staying here, may not necessarily have it any easier than him."
"Every single day from now on, you won't be able to rest. The training intensity I've arranged for you will surpass anything you've ever experienced in your martial cultivation."
"But this is a necessary path for you to grow stronger. I will restructure your Heavenly Bestowed Bloodline — it will be a kind of pain you have never known before."
"To be reborn, one must first be destroyed. If you want to transform into something greater, this is the only choice."
"Are you mentally prepared?" Chu Xuanyuan looked at Zi Ling and said.
"Mm." Zi Ling nodded firmly, her beautiful eyes blazing with unwavering determination.
…………
After a period of travel, Chu Feng finally returned to the Nine Provinces Continent of the Eastern Sea Region.
He arrived above Purple Gold City once more, because he found that everyone from that day had not gone to rest at the Azure Dragon Sect — they had all remained here in Purple Gold City, waiting for Chu Feng.
Yet the moment they saw Chu Feng return, every face among them turned solemn.
"Chu Feng, where are the Four Great Sacred Beasts?" Xian Miaomiao stepped forward and asked upon seeing Chu Feng arrive alone.
As Chu Feng spoke, the Four Great Supreme Secret Arts manifested around him.
"They… they've turned into Secret Arts?" Xian Miaomiao asked in astonishment, and the others' eyes were equally filled with surprise.
"To be precise, they've turned back into Secret Arts. They revived in order to help me, but that state couldn't last forever. Becoming Secret Arts again was the best solution," Chu Feng explained.
"So that's how it was." Hearing this, the crowd finally looked relieved.
"Chu Feng, that's not right — your aura!!!" But at that very moment, Xian Miaomiao stared at Chu Feng with renewed shock, her beautiful eyes round as saucers.
"Chu Feng, you… you've already become a First Level Half Ancestor!" And in the next instant, it dawned on everyone — Chu Feng's aura was nothing like the Seventh Level Martial Emperor he had been before. He was now a genuine First Level Half Ancestor.
"Holy crap, wh-wh-what the — how is this possible?! You were gone for such a short time and you jumped three whole levels of cultivation?! Are you even going to let me live?!" Wang Qiang's face was a mask of disbelief.
Wang Qiang had originally been a First Level Half Ancestor, far surpassing Chu Feng. But now, Chu Feng had already caught up to him.
"My father helped me," Chu Feng said, making no attempt to hide it. After all, everyone knew that Chu Feng had entered the Heavenly Path to visit his father.
"Hssss——" At that moment, everyone involuntarily drew in a sharp breath.
Those who knew Chu Feng understood just how difficult it was for him to break through even a single level of cultivation. Reaching the Seventh Level Martial Emperor had been nothing short of miraculous.
Yet his father had so effortlessly elevated him all the way to the First Level Half Ancestor. From that alone, everyone could imagine just what kind of terrifyingly powerful figure Chu Feng's father truly was.