"So your name is Chu Feng. Good, a fine name."
"Chu Feng, no need for such formality. Rise. To have broken through from the fourth level of Spirit Martial to the seventh level of Yuan Martial within a single year—your talent is impressive. It was not in vain that I granted you Mental Power back then and gave you the map to enter this place."
"Follow me. I have long prepared a great gift for you, awaiting your arrival." After sizing up Chu Feng with satisfaction, the Dragon Daoist turned and walked toward the depths of the great hall.
Chu Feng dared not delay and hurried to follow, though at the same time, his admiration for the Dragon Daoist grew, for from the Daoist's words he had confirmed that his Mental Power had indeed been awakened by him.
"This old man has some skill. Your Mental Power, though innately present and not bestowed by him, would have remained bound by its seal indefinitely if he hadn't forcefully broken it. You wouldn't have met me, and certainly wouldn't have made such rapid progress," Dan Dan reminded him.
"So Mental Power truly can be granted? As long as one possesses sufficient strength, even someone without Mental Power can be made to have it?" Chu Feng was astonished, for if Dan Dan said so, then what the Dragon Daoist claimed must be true.
"Of course. However, the recipient's physique must be strong enough to endure it. The ones who hunted you down earlier also received Mental Power, but they perished because they couldn't withstand it."
"Furthermore, the one granting Mental Power must be a Spirit World Master. Only through barrier techniques can Mental Power be converted and transferred into another's body. And that Spirit World Master must, at the very least, possess the skill of a Blue-Robed Spirit World Master," Dan Dan explained.
"What? A Blue-Robed Spirit World Master? Could it be that the Sect's Founding Ancestor was a Blue-Robed Spirit World Master?" Chu Feng was greatly startled.
"What's there to be surprised about? In my assessment, his cultivation level during his lifetime likely surpassed that of a Blue-Robed Master. He was probably infinitely close to, or had already reached, the level of a Purple-Robed Spirit World Master," Dan Dan said.
"That powerful?" Chu Feng couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, the respect in his gaze toward the Dragon Daoist deepening further.
But after some thought, he was no longer so surprised. After all, the Dragon Daoist had been the foremost expert of the Nine Provinces Continent. It was hardly strange for such a figure to possess the abilities of a Purple-Robed Spirit World Master.
"Chu Feng, the Spirit World companion within you is quite remarkable. To devour so many essences in such a short time—it has quite the appetite," the Dragon Daoist suddenly remarked.
"Ancestor, you..." Hearing this, Chu Feng was startled. He never imagined that the Spirit World companion within him had already been seen through by the other party.
"No need for nervousness. Given your talent, it's not strange for a Spirit World companion to be willing to aid you. Moreover, a formidable one like this is a good thing. I am very happy for you." The Dragon Daoist smiled warmly.
Seeing that the Ancestor did not press further, Chu Feng relaxed and quickly changed the subject: "Ancestor, those white bones—where did they come from? What caused so many experts to perish here?"
"Chu Feng, to be frank, within the borders of Qingzhou, there exists an Imperial Tomb. This is one of its entrances. In the past, countless experts came here, hoping to open that Imperial Tomb, but ultimately, they all perished in this place."
"Those outside were merely the first to die. Deeper within this Imperial Tomb, even the bones of Heaven Martial Realm experts could pile up into mountains," the Dragon Daoist recounted.
"This Imperial Tomb is that terrifying?" Chu Feng was taken aback.
But the Dan Dan within him was ecstatic, saying to Chu Feng, "Chu Feng, quick, ask the old man where the remains of those Heaven Martial Realm experts are!"
However, before Chu Feng could even ask, the Dragon Daoist spoke first: "Tell the Spirit World companion within you not to covet the essences of those remains. Because you cannot enter that place at all. Not even I can."
Hearing this, Chu Feng asked no more questions, realizing that this Dragon Daoist was truly formidable—like a worm in his belly, completely able to see through his thoughts, and even those of Dan Dan.
During the subsequent journey, the Dragon Daoist only inquired about Chu Feng's experiences over the past year, never once asking about the Azure Dragon Sect. It was clear this elder did not seem concerned about the sect he himself had founded.
After traveling for some time, the two finally arrived at the edge of a peculiar pool. The water was less than two meters deep, yet bottomless, and it emitted a mist-like vapor.
Most importantly, within that water, Chu Feng sensed the endless flow of heaven and earth energy—Spiritual Energy, Yuan Force, even Mystic Force could all be felt within it.
"Ancestor, this water!!!" Chu Feng was utterly astonished, knowing this water was undoubtedly a treasure—a treasure of immense help for cultivation. For him personally, even breaking through one level required vast resources, yet the Mystic Force and Yuan Force in this pool could absolutely help him break through as quickly as possible.
"This is the gift I have prepared for you: the Essence Spirit Pond!"
"The Essence Spirit Pond contains Spiritual Energy, Yuan Force, and Mystic Force. Although Spiritual Energy is the most abundant, Yuan Force is moderate, and Mystic Force is relatively weaker, it is of immense help to a cultivator at your current level."
"If you cultivate within this pond and possess sufficient comprehension, in just a few days, you should be able to break through to the eighth level of Yuan Martial," the Dragon Daoist explained.
With a splash, Chu Feng impatiently jumped in.
The moment Chu Feng stepped into it, the Spiritual Energy, Yuan Force, and Mystic Force within the Essence Spirit Pond began to form vortexes, surging frantically toward him as he absorbed and refined them.
"This boy's comprehension is somewhat frightening. Looking at this, it might not even take a few days. He should be able to break through to the eighth level of Yuan Martial in just a single day."
Watching the churning water in the pool and then the composed Chu Feng, the Dragon Daoist stroked his snow-white beard and smiled happily.
Hum— However, at that very moment, within the Essence Spirit Pond, a strange fluctuation suddenly appeared. Chu Feng's aura skyrocketed, reaching the eighth level of Yuan Martial.
"This..." At that instant, the Dragon Daoist's previously calm expression changed drastically, filled with shock and unable to remain composed.