Primordial Divine Emperor-Chapter 55 - 53: Qi and Intent in Conflict, Unity of Intent and Qi
"Ridiculous, simply ridiculous!"
Upon learning that Ye Xiaofan forcibly attempted to break through to the Profound Sea Realm without consuming the Profound Sea Pill and nearly lost his life, Dugu Nan was furious. He slammed his hand onto the table in front of the chessboard.
This scene left Ye Xiaofan slightly at a loss, but at the same time, a warm feeling flowed through his heart.
"Alright, I’ve never seen you this angry before. He’s fine now, and that’s a blessing amidst the misfortune." Qi Yun soothed Dugu Nan from the side, the two having already examined Ye Xiaofan’s body and found no foundational damage or lingering issues.
After speaking, Qi Yun ignored the still-angry Dugu Nan and stared intently at Ye Xiaofan. "Fan’Er, I’m very curious, how did you break through the Profound Sea Shackles without the Profound Sea Pill and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures?"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Nan couldn’t help but look over, clearly curious as well.
With Spiritual Power at the Tenth Layer Peak of the Profound Spirit, breaking through the Profound Sea Shackles should be impossible. For this boy to succeed, there must be some extraordinary action.
However, Ye Xiaofan felt secretly troubled upon hearing the question. He couldn’t possibly tell them that he could sense thirty-six types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and that his Martial Soul carried great horror.
Though Dugu Nan made him feel the bond of a mentor-student relationship, with his casual expressions of concern not seeming fake, Ye Xiaofan remained reluctant to fully reveal himself.
Therefore, after pondering for a bit, Ye Xiaofan scratched his head to mask his thoughts, saying, "Well, I just broke through like that."
After Ye Xiaofan spoke, Dugu Nan and Qi Yun stared in disbelief. What did he mean ’just broke through like that’?
Clearly, this boy had no intention of explaining.
However, Dugu Nan and Qi Yun didn’t press further, exchanging knowing glances that suggested an understanding.
Breaking through the Profound Sea Shackles requires a tremendous amount of Spiritual Power support. Without using the Profound Sea Pill or any Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, only a terrifyingly powerful Martial Soul could make it possible.
Such a Martial Soul could perceive a sufficient amount of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and absorb it fully, providing a continuous source of Spiritual Power to the breakthrougher.
Moreover, the Spiritual Power must be enough to fill the void. This implies that this boy’s Martial Soul might be beyond astonishing.
Thinking this, Dugu Nan didn’t directly ask about Ye Xiaofan’s Soul Level but instead instructed him to cultivate on the spot.
Ye Xiaofan hesitated for a moment but then sat cross-legged. Before activating the "Spiritual Absorption Technique," he imitated the scene from the Star Moon City measurement, nervously asking Dugu Nan and Qi Yun about their Soul Levels.
From their answers, Ye Xiaofan learned that Dugu Nan’s Martial Soul was a Celestial Tier Level Six, while Qi Yun’s was Celestial Tier Level Five.
This meant Dugu Nan could perceive the flow of sixteen types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, while Qi Yun could perceive fifteen types.
Upon learning this, Ye Xiaofan began to meditate and cultivate. In an instant, thirty-six types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged in, the Spiritual Qi on South Peak becoming unimaginably dense. When Ye Xiaofan activated the "Spiritual Absorption Technique," he was nearly overwhelmed by the Spiritual Qi.
As he absorbed the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, both Dugu Nan and Qi Yun’s expressions changed to shock, transfixed.
A quarter of an hour later, Ye Xiaofan gently ceased his cultivation and opened his eyes. The two had regained composure, at least outwardly calm.
"Fan’Er, be honest with your mentor, how many types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi can your Martial Soul perceive?" Dugu Nan asked.
Ye Xiaofan glanced at Qi Yun, a voice staunchly declaring, "Eighteen types."
Eighteen types—this was the answer he gave after careful deliberation.
However, upon hearing this, Dugu Nan’s brow raised involuntarily, while Qi Yun had a peculiar expression.
Ye Xiaofan sensed something off about their demeanor, and the atmosphere became subtly tense.
But then suddenly, Qi Yun sniffed the air, looking around, "What’s that smell?"
"Oh no, the meat in my pot is burnt." Upon hearing this, Dugu Nan also sniffed and instantly realized, rushing toward the kitchen. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
Seeing this, Ye Xiaofan involuntarily let out a sigh, as if narrowly escaping disaster.
Qi Yun took advantage of Dugu Nan’s absence to look at Ye Xiaofan meaningfully, "Eighteen types?"
Ye Xiaofan awkwardly smiled, just about to nod when Qi Yun gloatingly added, "Oh, forgot to tell you, actually I can perceive nineteen types of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, and as for your mentor, well, he can perceive twenty types. You kid, not very honest, are you?"
Ye Xiaofan was startled upon hearing this, then stood dumbfounded.
These two old fellows might have a hundred tricks between them.
At this time.
"Old Qi, come and lend a hand, this dish is inedible." Dugu Nan’s voice rang out.
"Coming, coming, I told you not to do this, but you insisted." Qi Yun complained while heading over.
Watching the busy pair, Ye Xiaofan felt a mix of emotions, even a touch of guilt, but mostly embarrassment, unease.
Evidently, the lie he spun to cover up his Martial Soul had already been easily unraveled by Dugu Nan and Qi Yun.
In Ye Xiaofan’s moment of uncertainty.
"What are you standing there for? Come and help." Qi Yun called out to Ye Xiaofan.
Ye Xiaofan replied promptly, rolled up his sleeves, and ran over.
Even though a pot of Holy Medicine stewed meat was ruined, breakfast and lunch were out of reach; the three of them remained occupied, constructing a hut for Ye Xiaofan nearby.
Time quietly passed by, while Dugu Nan and Qi Yun mentioned nothing about Ye Xiaofan’s concealment of his Martial Soul, as if the matter had never occurred, which offered Ye Xiaofan some relief.
Soon, night fell; in the small courtyard.
Ye Xiaofan looked at the pitch-black, ink-like gourmet dishes before him, his expression thick with disbelief. Still, since it was cooked by Dugu Nan himself, he dared not voice any complaints.
The First Generation Sword Saint, terrifying in their Sword Dao talent, but their cooking skills are lackluster. This pitch-black mess, are you sure it’s meant for people to eat?
Qi Yun seemed to have noticed Ye Xiaofan’s thoughts and sighed gently.
"Don’t be so critical. Having the chance to eat something made personally by the First Generation Sword Saint—how many people would yearn for that?"
After speaking, Qi Yun looked at Dugu Nan who was busy in the kitchen, his expression gentle, muttering: "Actually, your master and I can’t cook at all. Who would have thought that one day the First Generation Sword Saint would hold not a sword, but a cooking spoon?"
After speaking, Qi Yun looked at Ye Xiaofan with a benevolent expression.
Ye Xiaofan paused slightly, seeming to understand the intention behind Qi Yun’s words: "Senior’s meaning is, Master is doing this for Xiaofan, is that it...?"
Ye Xiaofan didn’t need to ask, he already knew what this was all about.
Dugu Nan and Qi Yun are Ascenders, they have no need to eat.
Looking across South Peak, only he and the two Sword Boys had insufficient cultivation, not yet reaching the Grain Avoidance Realm, thus needing food.
As the First Generation Sword Saint, Dugu Nan naturally wouldn’t cook for the Sword Boys, which undoubtedly meant the spoon in Dugu Nan’s hand was picked up for Ye Xiaofan.
"Brother Nan has been alone all his life, without any partner or offspring. You are his only successor, his first disciple. You don’t know how to be a good disciple, and he doesn’t know how to be a good master, it’s difficult for him too."
Qi Yun shook his head slightly, looked at Ye Xiaofan again and said: "A day as a teacher, a lifetime as a father. Fan’Er, don’t disappoint the bond of this master-disciple relationship with Brother Nan."
Upon hearing these words, Ye Xiaofan was stunned, suddenly a sour feeling in his nose; he never thought Dugu Nan would pick up a spoon and step into the kitchen for him.
At this moment, Dugu Nan came over with the last dish, placing the dish and sitting down: "What’s the matter? Does it taste bad? Why aren’t you eating?"
"Delicious, especially delicious." Ye Xiaofan held back tears, picked up the bowl and shoveled food into his mouth furiously.
Dugu Nan looked surprised, glancing at Qi Yun: "Is it really that good? Let me taste it."
Speaking, Dugu Nan picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, his face turned green, and he spat it out as soon as it entered his mouth.
As Dugu Nan spat it out, Ye Xiaofan couldn’t hold back any longer, buried his head and started retching, the three of them looked at each other and burst into laughter.
For a moment, the courtyard was filled with cheerful sounds of laughter.
Half an hour later.
Qi Yun got up to bid farewell, returning to Talisman Peak.
Ye Xiaofan watched Dugu Nan throwing away the food in the kitchen, and slowly walked over.
Under the night sky at South Peak, it was exceptionally quiet, Ye Xiaofan walked behind Dugu Nan, somewhat lacking confidence said: "Master."
Dugu Nan turned his head at the sound, looking at Ye Xiaofan.
"Master, I didn’t intentionally hide this from you, actually I can sense... ."
"Fan’Er!"
Ye Xiaofan was about to tell Dugu Nan about sensing thirty-six kinds of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but was interrupted sharply by the latter.
Looking at Ye Xiaofan, Dugu Nan smiled slightly, his expression gradually calming.
"Fan’Er, you don’t need to feel guilty. On the contrary, your actions today made me quite pleased."
"In the vast world, which cultivator doesn’t have some secrets?"
"Remember, in this world, the more terrifying the secret, the more you cannot reveal it to others: even if they are closest to you, you must keep your lips sealed."
"If you expose your secrets to those closest due to temporary guilt, not only will it bring danger to yourself, but also those closest to you might find themselves in endless calamity."
"I don’t want to forcefully know your secrets, when you want to tell me, when you can tell me, you naturally will."
Dugu Nan not only didn’t blame Ye Xiaofan for the earlier events but comforted him instead.
Hearing this, Ye Xiaofan immediately bowed deeply to Dugu Nan, knowing he had found the right person and chosen the right master.
Dugu Nan smiled lightly upon seeing this, then shifted the topic: "Come, demonstrate the Falling Feather Sword Technique you used during the day again, I want to see it."
"Yes, Master." Ye Xiaofan nodded immediately.
A short time later, outside the courtyard.
Ye Xiaofan moved with his sword, and for a time, on South Peak, beneath the stars, Sword Qi swept across, terrifying beyond measure.
Dugu Nan stood with hands behind his back, quietly watching Ye Xiaofan demonstrate the sword technique, every move seemingly entering the eyes of the Sword Saint.
At a certain moment.
Dugu Nan slowly closed his eyes, even with his eyes closed, he seemed able to clearly see every move and swing of the sword.
A moment passed, Dugu Nan slightly tilted his head, murmuring to himself:
"Intent and Qi clash, Unity of Intent and Qi."
Ye Xiaofan, who was demonstrating the Falling Feather Sword Technique, suddenly paused, his gaze turned sharply towards Dugu Nan.
The next moment.
He was left stunned on the spot.
