bookbashuk Chapter 356 The Younger Generation's Competition for Disciples
Chapter 356 The Younger Generation's Competition for Disciples
Chapter 356 The Younger Generation's Competition for Disciples
Not long after, in the northern border, at the Lingbao Pavilion.
The former main hall plaza has now been expanded to an immense size, with the ground paved with black cyan stone that can absorb impacts, and powerful arrays with flowing spiritual light protecting it from all sides, enough to withstand the battle fluctuations of the Earthly Sovereign level.
In the center of the square, two figures faced each other from a distance.
On one side stood Xiao Yan, dressed in black and carrying a massive Xuan Heavy Ruler. Ten years had passed, leaving behind a more composed and resolute demeanor, and his face had shed its youthful immaturity, gaining a more mature appearance.
His aura was powerful and restrained, vast and profound, indicating that he had already broken through to the early stage of the lower-level Earthly Sovereign. However, the refinement of his spiritual power and the solidity of his foundation were far beyond what ordinary people of the same level could compare to.
Standing opposite him was a boy who looked no more than eight or nine years old. The boy was dressed in a well-tailored embroidered white robe, with beautiful features, especially his bright, clear, and exceptionally lively eyes.
Although he was young, he stood in the center of the field with his hands behind his back, yet he possessed an innate composure. His spiritual power was contained and not revealed, subtly resonating with the spiritual energy of the surrounding world.
"Watch out, Xiao Fan!"
Xiao Yan laughed loudly, but there was not a trace of contempt in his eyes. He knew all too well the astonishing talent and power contained within this seemingly young boy.
With a slight thought, the powerful aura surrounding him, belonging to a lower-level Earthly Sovereign, rapidly receded and suppressed like a tide, eventually stabilizing at the level of a First-Grade Sovereign.
Even so, his refined will honed through countless battles and his meticulous control over power still made him appear profound and unyielding.
"Uncle Xiao Yan, don't hold back, come on!"
The boy's clear voice rang out, brimming with childlike energy and an indescribable confidence. Before he finished speaking, his aura suddenly shifted!
boom!
An indescribable, boundless light suddenly erupted from that small body, making it appear like a holy child of light. The dazzling light caused many onlookers to squint involuntarily.
"The Great Floating Pagoda Dharma Body!"
With a clear shout, light rapidly condensed, transforming behind him into a colossal, thousand-foot-tall, and dazzlingly bright shadow!
The colossal figure's majestic countenance began to emerge, its palm holding a crystal pagoda, only ten zhang in size, yet densely covered with runes and crystal clear. A sacred aura of suppression emanated from it, causing the surrounding protective array's light barrier to tremble.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan raised the corners of his mouth slightly, chuckled, and did not make any further moves, but simply flicked his sleeve casually.
In his palm, three flames of black, white, and emerald green quietly appeared. He then precisely suppressed and condensed them with his exquisite control, transforming them into an extremely refined phantom of a three-colored fire lotus.
This fire lotus may seem illusory and small in scale, but its internal structure is exquisite and the faintly flowing aura of destruction still made the group of powerful people watching the battle nod in approval.
"go!"
Xiao Yan flicked his finger, and the three-colored fire lotus spun around, silently tearing through space and heading straight towards the oppressive, thousand-foot-tall giant shadow of light.
"The Wall of Light!"
The boy's expression turned serious, and he uttered a low shout. Suddenly, the other arm of the giant shadow of light was raised, and endless radiance rapidly condensed in front of it, transforming into a thick, dazzling barrier of light with flowing runes, attempting to forcefully confront the fire lotus.
boom!
The Fire Lotus and the Barrier of Light collided violently!
The anticipated earth-shattering explosion did not occur. The tricolored fire lotus, like a persistent, malignant infection, clung tightly to the barrier of light, continuously decomposing and eroding the pure spiritual energy of light.
The stalemate lasted only a few breaths.
Click—
A soft sound, like glass shattering, rang out. At the point in the palm of the giant shadow of light that had been continuously struck by the fire lotus, a tiny crack appeared!
Although the crack was small, it instantly disrupted the perfect cycle of the Dharma body's power.
The enormous, luminous shadow emitted a deep hum before collapsing and dissipating into countless points of light.
The boy in the arena turned pale, swayed, staggered back two steps, and the brilliant light around him quickly dimmed, his aura weakening considerably.
He was still young, and his control over the "Great Buddha Body" was still in its early stages. His spiritual power was also incomparable to that of Xiao Yan, a seasoned expert who had mastered his power to the extreme, even if the latter suppressed his spiritual power to the same level.
"I lost."
The boy bit his lip, a hint of resentment flashing in his bright eyes, but it was quickly replaced by clear and open-mindedness. He looked up at Xiao Yan, who stood with his palms closed and his breathing calm, and said earnestly, "Uncle Xiao Yan is so amazing, that lotus flower—I couldn't stop it."
Xiao Yan stepped forward and gently patted the boy's hair with his warm hand, his eyes full of admiration: "It's already remarkable, Xiao Fan. At the age of eight, to be able to wield the Great Floating Pagoda Dharma Body to such an extent is enough to make countless geniuses in the entire Great Thousand Worlds blush with shame."
He paused, then explained earnestly, "My fire lotus attack just now was clever, targeting the point that was almost non-existent when your Dharma body was newly formed and your spiritual energy was flowing.
"In terms of pure spiritual power intensity, I have suppressed my realm and have no advantage. Once you have mastered and perfected your control over your Dharma body, the outcome will be uncertain."
Upon hearing this, the slight sadness in the little boy's eyes quickly faded, replaced by understanding and fighting spirit.
Just then, two petite figures, like fluttering butterflies, quickly ran over from the crowd at the edge of the square.
"Brother Fan!"
A clear, bell-like voice rang out first.
A girl in a bright red dress and with cute pigtails ran up to them. Her eyes were lively and she vaguely resembled Tang Huo'er, but the cleverness and occasional slyness in her bright black eyes were a perfect replica of Xiao Yan.
It was Xiao Yan, the beloved daughter of Xiao Yan and Tang Huo'er.
She grabbed Lu Fan's hand without hesitation, her little face puffed up with anger as she turned to Xiao Yan: "Daddy's bullying me! You're so strong, yet you deliberately target the parts that Brother Fan isn't familiar with!"
After saying that, she turned to Lu Fan and comforted him in a clear voice, "Brother Fan, don't be sad. When you grow up a bit more and have more spiritual power, you'll definitely be able to beat Father to a pulp!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan touched his nose, both amused and exasperated.
Another figure quietly approached Lu Fan's side. It was a girl dressed in an elegant moon-white dress, about the same age as Xiao Yan, but with a calm and serene demeanor.
She has a beautiful appearance, especially her eyes, which are clear and bright, seemingly able to reflect people's hearts with their glances, and subtly revealing a wisdom and serenity beyond her years.
Her voice was soft, yet it carried a strange, comforting power: "Brother Lu Fan, Uncle Xiao Yan is absolutely right. The Great Floating Pagoda Dharma Body is one of the highest Dharma Bodies of our clan, and its cultivation is inherently difficult. For you to have successfully condensed it at such a young age is already an extraordinary talent. Just persevere, and as your foundation deepens, the power of the Dharma Body will naturally be fully revealed."
The two girls, one lively and enthusiastic, the other calm and witty, chatted away, quickly bringing a smile back to Lu Fan's face. The resentment he felt from his defeat had long since vanished.
At the edge of the square, Little Fairy Doctor and Zi Yan smiled at each other, their eyes full of tenderness.
Xun'er stood a little ahead, watching Lu Fan in the arena, whose eyes were clear and who quickly adjusted his mindset despite his defeat, and a gratified smile appeared on her lips.
Tang Huo'er watched her daughter's "righteous" and protective manner towards her friend, and covered her mouth to chuckle, her eyes full of doting affection.
On the towering rooftop of the Lingbao Pavilion's main hall, two figures with contrasting expressions watched all of this unfold.
The man, dressed in a simple gray robe, with an ancient face and deep, unfathomable eyes, was none other than Futu Xuan, the Great Elder of the Futu Ancient Clan.
The other person was Qing Xuanjun, the head of the Qingmai sect. Both of them possessed a vast and boundless aura, suppressing their own pressure to the extreme, yet they still gave people a sense of awe and reverence.
"The Eight-Year-Old Supreme————"
Looking at Lu Fan in the arena, Fu Tu Xuan couldn't help but let a hint of amazement cross his usually calm face. "Those good-for-nothings from the Xuanmai reached the Ninth Rank Supreme in their early twenties and became complacent. Compared to him, they are worlds apart."
"
Upon hearing this, Qing Xuanjun couldn't help but reveal a proud smile, saying, "The talent of the Nine Divine Veins is indeed extraordinary. This child, Xiao Fan, formally guided his spirit into his body at the age of six, and after two years of arduous cultivation, he naturally stepped into the Supreme Realm. The solidity of his foundation is truly the best I have ever seen in my life."
Fu Tu Xuan's gaze fell heavily on the small figure below. He spoke slowly, his tone carrying an undeniable weight: "This child's talent and temperament are both exceptional. Our Fu Tu Ancient Clan has been dormant for a long time, and we need such an extraordinary talent to carry on the legacy and bring glory to our clan."
This statement is not merely praise, but also implies a determination to succeed.
How could Qing Xuanjun not understand the deeper meaning? His gentle smile remained unchanged as he turned to look at him, his tone composed yet subtly carrying a sense of defiance: "The Grand Elder is quite right. Xiao Fan's talent is indeed the hope for our clan's future. Precisely for this reason, the choice of his mentor must be made with utmost care."
"I, Qingmai, have some expertise in the cultivation of spiritual power, the foundation of the Dharma body, and even the art of spiritual arrays—"
"Moreover, Xiao Fan's father was originally a member of my Qing lineage. In terms of lineage, Xiao Fan was born a member of my Qing lineage. Isn't it perfectly legitimate for me, the head of the Qing lineage, to personally teach him?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Tu Xuan frowned and said in a deep voice, "Xuan Jun, what you said makes some sense. But when teaching a child like this, we can't just look at whether he's from the Qing lineage; we also need to consider whether the person teaching him is capable enough."
He looked sharply at Qing Xuanjun, his body naturally exuding the majesty of someone who had long held a high position: "I have been in charge of clan affairs for many years, and my cultivation has reached the mid-stage of the Saint-grade Heavenly Sovereign. I am confident that my understanding of the spiritual power of heaven and earth is second to none."
"Only by teaching this child can I lay the best foundation for him. Although you are the head of the Qingmai lineage and may have some expertise in spirit arrays, when it comes to mastering advanced techniques and making progress in cultivation, you still have to look to this old man."
These words directly pressured him with their level of understanding and seniority.
Upon hearing this, Qing Xuanjun not only did not back down, but instead revealed a strange smile on his face. The smile contained a sense of composure that he had finally waited for this moment, and even a bit of—mischievousness.
He calmly adjusted the cuffs of his blue robe, raised his eyes to meet Fu Tu Xuan's gaze, and said in a measured tone, "Elder's words have reminded me. I remember—Elder seemed to have said in front of several elders of the clan: The position of clan leader has been vacant for a long time. If anyone can reach the realm of Grandmaster of Saint-grade Spirit Array, then he will be recommended as the new clan leader."
"Elder, this is something you personally promised—"
Fu Tu Xuan's pupils contracted slightly, and he secretly sensed something was wrong. He had indeed said this before, but at the time it was more of an encouraging remark. He believed that although Qing Xuan Jun had exceptional talent, it would still take him quite some time to reach the level of a Grandmaster of Saint-grade Spirit Arrays.
Who could have predicted this?
Qing Xuanjun, seeing the slight change in Fu Tu Xuan's expression, smiled even more broadly, even with a hint of teasing: "What a coincidence. Just before the Holy Son went into seclusion, I made a fortuitous discovery while comprehending the ancient array of the Heavenly Palace, and by sheer luck—I took that step."
"Now, does this mean we've met the conditions set by the Grand Elder?"
He stepped forward, his gaze fixed menacingly on Fu Tu Xuan, and continued, "Now that the conditions have been met, according to the Grand Elder's promise, this position of clan leader—it seems I am fit to take it?"
"Then, in the name of the patriarch of the Ancient Buddha Clan, I hereby accept Lu Fan as my disciple and will personally instruct him. Elder—are you perhaps disobeying my orders?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Tu Xuan's expression changed several times. He never expected that Qing Xuan Jun would bring up this matter at this moment, and at such a perfect time, leaving him in a dilemma.
Admitting it would mean losing Lu Fan's teaching authority; denying it would be a slap in the face and damage to his prestige.
At this delicate and tense moment, a gentle yet clear voice, like a breeze, swept across the rooftop, breaking the silence: "Oh? The clan leader has already broken through to the Saint-grade Spirit Array Grandmaster level? Didn't you say before that you were thinking of letting me become the clan leader after I came out of seclusion?"
Lu Yu had been standing there for some time now. He had his hands behind his back, his face calm, but his eyes held a just-right surprise and amusement. His gaze shifted between Fu Tu Xuan and Qing Xuan Jun, whose expressions had suddenly become quite interesting.
He looked at Qing Xuanjun and said with a smile, "This is great news, clan leader. I have no objection to your advancement and your willingness to take on the responsibility of clan leader and lead the entire clan. Congratulations!"
These words, spoken so casually, caused Qing Xuanjun's smile to freeze instantly, and he secretly thought to himself that something was wrong.
He originally intended to use this method to shut Fu Tu Xuan up and, incidentally, to legitimately take over the task of teaching Lu Fan. Who would have thought Lu Yu would suddenly return and, with a single sentence, push him into the position of "truly wanting to be the clan leader"?
He had no desire to be that troublesome and demanding clan leader!
Fu Tu Xuan was also taken aback. His gaze immediately turned to Lu Yu, who had suddenly appeared. His eyes flashed with undisguised surprise, which then turned into a deeper scrutiny.
He keenly sensed that the aura emanating from this holy son, who had been gone for ten years, was completely different; it was a kind of restrained yet unfathomable perfection.
"you----"
Fu Tu Xuan's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, his voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor, his gaze fixed intently on Lu Yu, "You—you've broken through to the Saint Rank?"
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