CHAPTER 96: CHAPTER 95: YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE AN OUTSTANDING CIRCUS PERFORMER

Inside the flying boat, in a certain place, Chen Zhen followed Chen Qingdai in cultivating spirit plants, fertilizing and watering them.

"Sis, why are you always picking on me? I’ve been making progress lately. Also, can you stop being prejudiced against Xiang’er!" Chen Zhen put down the porcelain watering pot, his face showing discontent.

"That Hong Yuan didn’t even make it into the Sect competition rankings. It’s clear he got in through the back door and is just skating by. Am I not better than him?"

Chen Qingdai didn’t even lift her head as she continued pruning the spirit plants. "I don’t care about Hong Yuan. In any case, you can’t keep entangling yourself with Liu Xiang’er. She’s not a good match for you; she’s simply not suitable."

"HMPH." Chen Zhen huffed and turned to leave. He was an adult now, yet his sister still treated him like a child! Did she truly believe he was unable to discern right from wrong, or how to strive and improve?

After leaving his sister’s sight, Chen Zhen didn’t go to look for Liu Xiang’er. Instead, he wandered through the various locations on the flying boat, bustling about, planning to form factions with other disciples to help each other out.

Generally, those qualified for experiential training were the crème de la crème among the disciples of the various halls and palaces, the dragons and phoenixes among people. Having many friends opens many paths, and Chen Zhen believed that making connections with these disciples would be beneficial.

At that moment, he set his sights on Guan Lan, a disciple cultivating in the Book Pavilion. Guan Lan was the top ranker in this Sect competition. His meteoric rise and defeat of Chu Tianjiao had astonished countless people.

Guan Lan, fond of cultivating, likes the quiet... The information about Guan Lan flashed through Chen Zhen’s mind as he walked forward eagerly, wanting to make Guan Lan’s acquaintance.

「Three days later,」

Hong Yuan felt somewhat stifled from having stayed in his small room. With tranquility leading to restlessness, he left his small room and headed towards the lecture platform.

I hope the lecturer today isn’t just one of the usual True Disciples, but an externally-stationed Elder from the Talisman Array Hall, Hong Yuan thought to himself.

The lecture platform of the Phoenix Heron Flying Boat was a unique place, functioning similarly to a university professor’s lecture in Hong Yuan’s previous life. It was where Elders or True Disciples with fourth or fifth-tier cultivation shared their Martial Arts insights, enlightening the lower-ranked disciples. Unlike a university lecture, attending a session on the lecture platform required handing over a certain number of Energy Stones. The price was determined by the lecturer.

THUD THUD.

Hong Yuan’s light footsteps echoed on the wooden planks as he quickly arrived at the entrance to the lecture platform. The structure resembled a large classroom. Outside, several small wooden plaques hung, indicating the lecturer, topic, and time for different sessions. Hong Yuan looked down the list:

[Spirit Beast Hall True Disciple Mo Bo, Coordination Between Flying Demon Beasts and Ground Demon Beasts, 1,000 Energy Stones, Hour of the Serpent]

[Book Pavilion Sect Elder Li Tianqing, Choice and Shaping of a Taoist Ture Body, 3,000 Energy Stones, Hour of the Horse]

[Talisman Array Hall True Disciple, Tricks of Fire-type Talismans and Formations, 1,000 Energy Stones, Hour of the Ram]

[...]

Looking at these small wooden plaques, Hong Yuan fell into contemplation. He had heard Elder Zhu briefly mention the concept of a Taoist Ture Body, but at that time, Elder Zhu thought he was just a beginner second-tier and shouldn’t think too much about it. However, the truth was that Hong Yuan’s Martial Arts cultivation had already reached an advanced second-tier, and he was not far from the third tier. The reason third-tier Martial Artists were so formidable was that they could begin to shape their Taoist Ture Body.

It’s already the Hour of the Serpent, approaching the Hour of the Horse. The lecture fees for True Disciples are a bit lower, while the fees for a Sect Elder’s lecture are at least double. But spending a bit in advance to understand the path of third-tier Martial Artists and broaden my horizons should be no problem. Anyone who dares to teach this must have far greater insight into the Taoist Ture Body than others.

With a thought, Hong Yuan took out the large-size storage bag pinned inside his chest and paid the fees at the lecture platform’s service area. Then, he received an "A33" number tag and sat down in the waiting room for the Hour of the Horse to arrive.

While waiting, Hong Yuan was not idle. He lightly closed his eyes, pretending to rest, and concentrated his mind on his Demonic Body, continuing to delve into the Divine Power of Ten Thousand Heavy Water. When one’s main focus is on a certain matter, time passes very quickly.

The Hour of the Serpent passed, and the Hour of the Horse arrived. Disciples eager to hear Elder Li Tianqing’s lecture began to gather in the waiting room, while the disciples from the previous session in the lecture platform bustled out of the building.

Chen Zhen had made a point to arrive early today, purchasing two number tags, "A05" and "A06," and brought Liu Xiang’er to listen to Elder Li Tianqing’s teachings. When he saw Hong Yuan leisurely resting with his eyes closed, he secretly despised him. Although I’ve been busy these past few days, I’ve made many friends and opened up quite a few pathways, contributing to my Martial Arts journey. As for this Hong Yuan, TSK TSK TSK...

"Xiang’er, some people just don’t strive to progress. They’re lazy and relaxed, not realizing the value of time," Chen Zhen said deliberately as he walked up beside Hong Yuan, head held high.

Hong Yuan shifted his consciousness back to his human body and opened his eyes to see which dog dared to be so brazen. When he saw it was Chen Zhen, his anger surprisingly vanished. Hong Yuan watched with amusement as this little rascal put on a show, like watching a monkey perform.

"The Martial Arts path values essence, and even more so, diligence. Some people, TSK TSK TSK," Chen Zhen said, strolling slowly. Seeing that Hong Yuan had woken up and was watching him, Chen Zhen became even more enthusiastic, boasting incessantly about how hard he had worked and how busy he had been these past few days.

Liu Xiang’er, standing beside him, felt extremely embarrassed and cast an apologetic look at Hong Yuan. Finally, when the classroom at the lecture platform became available and Elder Li Tianqing took his place, Chen Zhen ceased his boasting.

In the end, Chen Zhen said earnestly, pretending to be wise beyond his years, "You reap what you sow; the Heavenly Tao rewards the diligent~"

Amidst Hong Yuan’s bemused gaze, Chen Zhen strutted proudly past him with Liu Xiang’er to take their seats. Hong Yuan had to admit that this lad, Chen Zhen, had boundless potential to become an outstanding circus performer!

All hustle and bustle, never slacking on the Martial Arts journey... This is the path of a normal Martial Artist. How diligent~ Hong Yuan suddenly had a thought, and a smile appeared on his face. I’m so incredibly envious; I just can’t follow such a path. Every day, I can only stay in my room in frustration, leisurely doing the things I like. How pitiful I am, boo hoo hoo...

With a light shake of his head, Hong Yuan put this little interlude aside. He entered the lecture platform, preparing to listen to Elder Li Tianqing’s teachings and understand what the path of a third-tier Martial Artist and beyond was like.

Inside the lecture platform was a spacious and bright classroom, divided into three areas—A, B, and C—each furnished with Taoist mats and small wooden desks corresponding to different number tags. Many disciples were already seated on the Taoist mats, taking out ink brushes and white paper to take notes. The cleverer disciples even took out record stones but were warned by the attendants that no recording was allowed.

After Hong Yuan found his place, he too took out paper and ink, preparing to record key information.