Except for Old Master Situ and Situ Yonghui, the three Supreme Elders of Tianmeng looked at Xiao Yufan as if he were some kind of monster…
“Indeed, there are no ordinary people in the Situ family!” The three exchanged glances, each seeing admiration in the other’s eyes. Xiao Yufan’s excellence had far exceeded their expectations.
Even Old Master Situ himself, and the genius Situ Yonghui—who had once been fiercely pursued by various Guardian Temples—had not reached Xiao Yufan’s current level at this age.
This clearly illustrated how extraordinary Xiao Yufan’s talent was. After all, just a year ago, he hadn’t even been considered a true internal energy expert. To have grown this much in such a short time could only be described as terrifying.
“The Ancient Martial Arts Gathering is approaching, and many old masters will soon emerge. They will spare no effort in cultivating the younger generation, so there will certainly be many brilliant young talents who will suddenly shine brightly!”
Old Master Situ murmured thoughtfully, his brows slightly furrowing. However, soon after, a faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips. He didn’t believe his grandson would be inferior to any of those prodigious youths.
“Yufan, do you want to become even stronger now…?”
After a brief hesitation, Old Master Situ’s gaze subtly shifted, and upon hearing these words, Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but be momentarily taken aback.
Everyone yearns for greater strength, and Xiao Yufan was no exception. If he could gain more power before the Ancient Martial Arts Gathering, he would naturally be delighted.
However, Xiao Yufan also understood that acquiring strength without effort might be tempting, but the path of cultivation must follow a gradual progression. Resorting to shortcuts could have serious consequences later on.
“I do want to become stronger, but I have some concerns. After all, the path of cultivation must proceed step by step. Even taking the Spirit Enhancement Pill was somewhat of a shortcut. If I further enhance my strength through external means, it might backfire.”
Xiao Yufan’s eyes gleamed with desire, but he honestly admitted his concerns. He understood that what his grandfather meant by becoming stronger likely involved some external enhancement method, which could carry many unpredictable risks.
“Haha, now you’re lecturing me, you cheeky brat! Your father was still getting scolded by me before you were even around. If enhancing your strength would bring any negative consequences, do you think I’d go to all this trouble for nothing?”
Old Master Situ laughed, but inwardly he felt a sense of pride. It was rare indeed to maintain such calmness and composure in the face of immense power.
“Hehe, well then, what should I do now?”
Xiao Yufan relaxed, knowing his grandfather would never deceive him. Gaining greater strength without harming his foundation was undoubtedly a good thing for him.
“Sublime Enlightenment—maximizing the awakening of your potential. I believe my grandson, Situ Lingyu’s descendant, will surely stand above all others!”
“Sublime Enlightenment?” Xiao Yufan looked at his grandfather with a mixture of curiosity and awe, eager to understand exactly what this “Sublime Enlightenment” entailed.
“When peak-level experts approach the end of their lives, they often choose a particularly gifted descendant to undergo Sublime Enlightenment. This process not only awakens one’s hidden potential but also significantly enhances one’s strength within a very short time!”
Old Master Situ continued, watching Xiao Yufan’s wide-eyed expression. “However, although this Sublime Enlightenment can temporarily boost one’s power, the recipient’s strength will often plateau afterward, making further progress extremely difficult.”
“If that’s the case, then how does giving me this enlightenment make sense?” Xiao Yufan asked in surprise. This process was essentially a transfer of power. If a supreme expert on the brink of death transferred their strength to someone else, wouldn’t that instantly create another supreme expert? No wonder some hidden clans and Guardian Temples remained powerful for generations.
“How could I be the same as those old fellows…”
Old Master Situ’s voice carried a clear note of pride. As the leader of Tianmeng—an existence standing above all—Situ Lingyu naturally possessed extraordinary methods. While others’ Sublime Enlightenment might harm both parties, he could enhance someone’s strength completely without any negative side effects!
“If that’s the case, then Grandfather, please proceed as you see fit. I also want to see just how much potential I truly possess!”
With determination on his face, Xiao Yufan’s lips curved into a faint smile. He longed for greater power, and this time, he would make the Hidden Guo family pay dearly.
Old Master Situ smiled, then nodded toward Situ Yonghui and the three Supreme Elders. Performing the Sublime Enlightenment on Xiao Yufan would surely draw attention, so it was necessary to have people standing guard outside.
By the next day, Hidden Guo Island was already packed with people. Around the lake’s surrounding islets, crowds gathered everywhere. As one young expert after another emerged, many couldn’t help but marvel—truly, this was an age of martial arts revival, with even the youth displaying astonishing strength.
At this moment, in a secluded residence, a graceful figure gazed at the crimson clouds in the sky. Her beautiful eyes concealed many secrets. Her presence was like jade—her smile could topple a city.
“I thought we’d never meet again. Are you still angry with me now, angry that I left you so coldly back then?”
Her red lips parted slightly as she stood alone, loneliness evident in her demeanor. Her soft whisper carried deep longing. If Xiao Yufan saw her face now, he would be stunned into silence.
This jade-like beauty was none other than Xiao Yufan’s long-cherished love—Qiao’er, Cheng Ying. She was the one person Xiao Yufan dared not think about, and since leaving that cave, his feelings for her had only grown stronger.
Compared to three years ago, Cheng Ying now appeared even more refined. Her elegant aura resembled that of a celestial being descended to Earth. She was the princess of the Southern Cheng family and the Holy Maiden of the Qing Ling Sect, yet many aspects of her life remained beyond her control.
Back then, she had chosen to leave, deeply hurting that man, simply because she didn’t want him to do anything reckless. If she had known Xiao Yufan’s true identity back then, perhaps everything would have been different. But now, could she really return to the past?
Her beautiful eyes misted over, and her delicate, pitiable appearance evoked deep sympathy from anyone who saw her. Combined with her breathtaking beauty, no man could resist her charm.
Yet this woman, seemingly blessed with all the beauty of heaven and earth, carried only one man’s image in her heart. For three years, not a single day had passed without her thinking of him.
If not for the twists of fate that had separated them, how could she have endured so much? Even during their unexpected reunion at Ma Teng’s wedding, Xiao Yufan had failed to notice her inner turmoil.
A soft sigh, filled with sorrow and longing, escaped her lips. Cheng Ying had never blamed Xiao Yufan, for she had no right to fault anyone. If blame was to be assigned, it was the coldness of the clans, or perhaps her own lack of trust in Xiao Yufan back then.
“Still thinking about him, aren’t you?” Just as Cheng Ying collected her thoughts and prepared to step inside, a voice suddenly echoed from behind her…
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