Emperor Yan pondered for a moment and looked at Yan Chuan: "Tan Valley King has spoken to me for the first time, I cannot refuse."

Then, he instructed the Minister of Revenue, Linghu Gan, listed thirteenth on the Heavenly List: "Minister Linghu, tomorrow withdraw 100 Primordial Pills from the Ministry of Revenue, purchase 500 'Scattering Flower Lamps' and 500 'Returning Light Divine Mirrors'."

Next, he ordered the newly appointed Director of the Xuanwu Department, Chu Qiang, Director of the Cangwu Department, Xu Yanfeng, Director of the Military Suppression Office, Deng Kunlun, Director of the Travelers Department, Tian Jing, and Commander of the Forbidden Army, Zong Xian: "From your respective government offices, each of you select a thousand elite soldiers, forming a thousand 'Projection Teams'. Once the 'Scattering Flower Lamps' and 'Returning Light Divine Mirrors' are in place, set off immediately!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Good Emperor Yan!

Yan Chuan was pleasantly surprised.

He initially thought the court would at most purchase 500 'Scattering Flower Lamps' or 'Returning Light Divine Mirrors', unexpectedly, Emperor Yan showed great resolve, requesting a thousand, simultaneously distributing 100 Primordial Pills.

And that's just the 'hardware cost'.

Additionally, there's the 'labor cost'——

"To activate 'Returning Light Divine Mirror', at least Limit-breaking, Postnatal strength is needed, 500 'Returning Light Divine Mirror Projection Teams', requiring at least 500 Limit-breaking individuals, or seeking local support."

Don't be misled by Yan Chuan's current ease of slaying breakthroughs like slaughtering dogs, once 'Ksitigarbha Heavenly Dragon Roar' is unleashed, thousands of Limit-breaking individuals must perish, yet in Great Yan, Limit-breaking remains rare.

For example, in Guangling Academy, last year during the Jian Province Competition, Limit-breaking surged, yet only numbered over a dozen. This year, resources soared, with Yan Chuan's martial arts lectures, Limit-breaking increased but only a little over doubled, accounting for the Ten Elders is just over forty people.

A single Guangling Academy has over forty Limit-breaking individuals.

The combined Nine Counties of Jian Province's nine major academies don't exceed two hundred fifty.

Therefore ——

The court organizing 1000 'Projection Teams', among them 500 'Returning Light Divine Mirror Projection Teams', the Limit-breaking numbers just matches two Jian Province academies' Limit-breaking count.

This calculation is at its minimum.

In fact, 'Returning Light Divine Mirror' can record six segments of image, each segment lasting two hours, while one Limit-breaking at the most can persist for two hours, wanting continuous playback, even if all five members of a Projection Team achieved Limit-breaking, they would still need a second round for coverage.

Further, while 'Scattering Flower Lamp' seemingly doesn't require Limit-breaking for activation, each 'Scattering Flower Lamp' is valued at 800 jin of Essence Stone, plus a team carrying dozens or hundreds of jin of lamp oil, together totals nearly nine hundred or a thousand Essence Stone.

Extremely valuable!

Without dispatching Limit-breaking to lead, can it be safeguarded?

From such calculations.

Even doubling and redoubling, five hundred Limit-breaking is insufficient, even one thousand, or one thousand five hundred may not suffice!

Yan Chuan previously only intended to personally organize 500 Projection Teams, lack of Primordial Pills certainly being a primary concern, but inadequacy of Limit-breaking is also a significant factor.

Among the thirty thousand Tan Valley Army, there are five hundred Limit-breaking, yet those are elites, once diverted, the painstakingly trained Tan Valley Army becomes useless.

This is a difficulty.

Not only is it Yan Chuan's difficulty, but it is also Emperor Yan and the court's difficulty, yet Emperor Yan seems capable of overcoming?

"That's great!"

Yan Chuan rejoiced.

...

"Master has arrived!"

"Upon arrival, aiding Shi Qingke in proving Dao!"

Chou Character Arena, Wei Quan gazed upward with joy.

That is his master!

With a few words, enlightening the Innate!

In this world, who else possesses such ability?

Wei Quan was overjoyed.

Seeing his master brought joy.

Seeing his master helping Shi Qingke in proving Dao and manifesting divine presence brought joy.

Seeing his master aiding Shi Qingke in proving Dao then remembering himself brought joy: "If master can help outsiders prove Dao, I, the third disciple, can't be left behind?"

Haha!

Can I achieve Innate too?

Wei Quan thought this, naturally feeling joyful.

Then looking back to the platform ——

"Senior brother is too absorbed!" Yu Jinpeng sat before the Mist Rain Stele, watching the stele, the reverse side showed a picture depicting layers of peaks, with the main peak towering, side peaks hazy, a natural landscape. In the middle and close-range view, ancient temples and famous monasteries were hidden in the misty rain. On the wide lake's surface, islands lay still, wild trees formed forests, villages scattered about. Embankment slopes built cottages under thick groves, and lone wooden bridges spanned the waters.

The front side bore the words 'He Feng' ——

"Gentle wind and misty rain arrive, where mountain villages are lost in illusion."

"This is the [He Feng Rainy Mist Painting]!"

Yu Jinpeng sat in front of the 'He Feng Rainy Mist Painting', engrossed, not even realizing Yan Chuan's arrival, fully immersed.

On the vast arena ——

Wei Quan, Che Qi were not contributing.

Yu Jinpeng was immersed.

Only Jin Yutang endured with difficulty.

He follows Yan Chuan in practicing 'Baji Fist', already Divinely skilled, firmly standing as an Absolute, yet relying solely on 'Baji Fist' in the Absolute appears mediocre, lacking distinctiveness.

However, Jin Yutang also possesses 'Eight Gates Secret Skill' ——

"The human body holds secret chambers, stored within Eight Gates, Open, Rest, Live, Hurt, Block, View, Death, Shock, opening each gate uncovers more potential."

Yet at the cost of Primordial Qi.

This secret technique is similar to Yan Chuan's development of 'Qiankun Great Shifting' or 'Nine Yang True Seed' and 'Divine Light True Seed', all meant for unearthing potential, but Jin Yutang's is more enigmatic ——

Eight Gate Secret Chambers!

Transcend the ordinary!

Recognize the hidden!

This secret technique allows Yu Jinpeng to absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi even in Postnatal Realm, gathering within Eight Gates, usually assisting cultivation, during combat and battle, releasing Primordial Qi stored in Eight Gates, enabling stronger prowess.

In the Sword Discussion, Jin Yutang relied on opening Eight Gates to endure round after round.

Until five seven, he had opened four gates.

In the sixth and seventh stages, two more gates are opened.

In the seventh stage, another two gates are opened.

Now, on the last day of the seventh stage, with no gates left unopened, if Jin Yutang still wants to 'explode', he must deplete his own potential within the Eight Gates and exploit his hidden reserves. This is too extravagant, with endless hidden dangers.

However, Jin Yutang glances at his master, who is unseen in the clouds above, then at his senior brother sitting cross-legged in front of the 'He Feng Rainy Mist Stele'. He grits his teeth, "If necessary, I can still make one more attempt!"

...

Yan Chuan conducts the martial arts lecture.

Shi Qingke proves the Dao.

Emperor Yan rewards the heroes.

These are but interludes.

Below.

At the peak of Chess Stone Peak, after a group of Heavenly Prides is shocked, the Sword Discussion continues.

After Shi Qingke proves the Dao, he firmly occupies a Wu Character Arena, becoming immovable. Unlike Situ Fei, Ding Xiang, and others who came back after proving the Dao, Shi Qingke is like Chen Ze back then, proving the innate Dao during the discussion. This is not only not disgraceful but rather an enviable glory.

Moreover, the lowest reward for the Twelve Strong in the Sword Discussion is the Fourth Tier, with twenty thousand catties of Essence Stone. Considering Shi Qingke's performance, he deserves at least the Second Tier reward, with forty thousand catties of Essence Stone, equivalent to four Primordial Pills, which is not a small number for a newly-advanced innate.

Why not take it if you can?

Shi Qingke proves the Dao.

The Wu Character Arena is unshakeable.

Yet the competition for the remaining eleven arenas grows fiercer.

"Look, more excitement!"

The Heavenly Masters look down below, only to see the Zi Character Arena, where the defender is 'Iron Fire Judge' Peng Fannian, and the challenger is—

"Ban Xianfu!"

...

"The 'Half-human Half-demon' Ban Xianfu, once ranked fourth on the Hidden Dragon, was the first to claim Absolute in the Avici Saber Technique in the first Sword Discussion, causing the Heavenly Prides to retreat, no one daring to face him, until the Sword Discussion's forty-seven first test of 'Forbidden Treasure, Absolute Surprise Weapon', banning Ban Xianfu's saber, after which he found it difficult to perform."

"But this time, after a year, Ban Xianfu returns unfettered by saber skills, or rather, he has mastered the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill, reaching the peak of side schools, making his entire being a weapon—"

"Hand Blade! Leg Blade! Yin Blade! Yang Blade! Blood Saber! Killing Blade! Devil Sword!"

"Compared to last year, Ban Xianfu's saber techniques this year are more demonic than lethal! He deliberately indulges, and under the harassment of the Sword Discussion's sixth and seventh third test 'Demon Barrier', Ban Xianfu deliberately embraces the 'Demon Barrier', making him even more demonic, his saber skills more murderous, a pure side school path!"

The heavenly voice comes again!

Yan Chuan talks martial once more!

This time discussing his old friend Peng Fannian and Ban Xianfu.

Ban Xianfu originally practiced the Avici Saber Technique. Later, lacking one member for the King City Competition, Yan Chuan taught Ban Xianfu the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill, hoping he could quickly reach seven hundred points to qualify, but it was Ma Hongniang who took the last baton instead.

However, Ban Xianfu, with his strong bloodthirstiness and deep demonic nature, finds the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill quite fitting, far surpassing the likes of Wang Zhengyi, Ding Xiang, Wang Ge, and Ma Hongniang who also practiced it, advancing rapidly, with significant improvements, and becoming one of the strongest in the first Heavenly Pride Peak State, perhaps second only to Lu Yuru.

Very powerful!

However, the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill also has its shortcomings. It's the peak of side schools, a technique rather than a method, which increases combat power but not cultivation power. Thus, while Ban Xianfu keeps pushing his combat power upward with the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill, nearing its limit, the innate realm remains distant, perhaps even the furthest among those previously deemed Absolute.

He is making efforts.

And trying.

For example, this time, voluntarily accepting the 'Demon Barrier', choosing to 'enter madness', seeking rebirth from destruction.

The idea is right.

"The Holy Fire Order Divine Skill inherently walks a precarious path, prone to demonic influence, and with the 'Demon Barrier', goes even deeper, one misstep and it's eternal downfall, too extreme."

"But demonic techniques and nature are meant to walk extremes!"

Ban Xianfu is treading the right path!

But walking the right path doesn't mean succeeding. Ban Xianfu's path is more perilous than Shi Qingke's battlefield Dao proving, as it endangers silently, a slight misstep into complete madness, leading to eternal damnation.

Extreme!

Demonic nature!

Ban Xianfu is too dangerous.

"Side school."

"Walking the precarious path."

"Entering madness isn't necessarily becoming demonic, madness isn't necessarily lunacy."

Yan Chuan lectures martial arts, discusses Ban Xianfu, talks about the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill, but also about the new saber technique he recently developed called 'Newborn'. This True Skill Saber Technique Innate Chapter has been completed, with 'Thunderclap', 'Sky-tearing', 'Ghost Shadow', 'Seven Absolute', 'Residual Dream', 'Mad Demon', verified through Luo the Madman's cultivation, pointing directly to the Sixth Grade, not inferior at all.

Ban Xianfu's heavy bloodlust and deep-seated demonic nature, the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill doesn't cultivate the root. Following this path, increasing combat power is possible, but proving the Dao is too difficult.

But the 'Newborn' Saber Technique is developed by Yan Chuan, combining the demonic nature of the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill with many Absolute Saber Techniques and Luo the Madman's Mad Demon Saber Technique, resulting in a more correct and solid path.

"Mad Demon Mad Demon!"

"Both mad and demon!"

"Neither mad nor demon!"

Yan Chuan looks down at the arena, sometimes explaining Peng Fannian's One Yang Finger and Innate Skill, but mostly talking about the Holy Fire Order Divine Skill, extending from it to Mad Demon and Newborn—

"Mad Demon isn't the goal!"

"Newborn is the pursuit!"

Yan Chuan speaks passionately from the air, like a clapping thunder: "Ban Xianfu, the demon is high, but the Dao is higher than a foot, do not be lost in delusion!"

A mighty shout.

All were astonished on the field—

"Here it comes, here it comes!"

"He's at it again!"

"Good good good! Doing it again, aren't you! Yelling again, are you! Scolding one to prove one, right! Damn it, why don't you scold me!"

...