Chapter 1335: Mentor Fei's Advice

All around was dead silent, including Mentor Fei, each revealing deep shock.

Breaking through to half-step domain was acceptable, but reaching true domain from that level in three breaths, merely because of someone's words... the violent shock was beyond words.

Even a nine-star mentor had never heard of someone breaking through so quickly.

"Impressive move!"

Zhang Xu, who had been completely indifferent, narrowed his eyes.

"Move?"

"That slap just now was likely deliberately arranged by this Zhang Xuan, using Chen Leyao to provoke Zhang Zhuo, all to make the latter's power surge!"

Zhang Xu nodded and said, "Power increased through secret arts, though formidable, is actually 'false power'!"

"False power?" The young man nearby was puzzled.

"False power is a kind of power that doesn't belong to oneself, like a bubble—though its volume increases, once a change occurs, it vanishes without a trace! This power is not as pure as one's own cultivation; the true qi lacks attributes and is easily devoured or refined!"

Zhang Xu snorted, "This Zhang Xuan precisely used this point, openly fighting Zhang Zhuo while secretly letting Chen Leyao borrow his power to break through her internal shackles and thus successfully impact the domain realm!"

The young man couldn't believe it: "In the midst of battle, with life and death hanging by a thread... not through power transfer, and this works?"

In some families and major powers, some experts perform power transfer, also known as initiation, to help juniors quickly improve their strength.

Initiation can rapidly help someone break through, but the requirements are extremely high: first, the two must share the same lineage and cultivate identical techniques; second, both must be willing without any resistance; otherwise, even a slight misstep can cause the recipient to explode and die.

This is one way to borrow power.

Fighting with life and death in an instant... borrowing power in such a situation requires how much confidence and ability?

"This Zhang Xuan probably investigated Zhang Zhuo in advance, knowing his cultivation technique, strength, and type of secret art, then combined that with Chen Leyao's strength to deduce and analyze... Knowing these beforehand, setting up this scene isn't too difficult!"

With a flicker in his eyes, Zhang Xu seemed to see through the issue.

Borrowing the opponent's power during battle to break through sounds complicated, but in reality, as long as one clearly investigates both sides' strengths and then deduces, there's still a good chance of achieving this.

"The key point... Chen Leyao's strength wasn't as weak as imagined; she was probably on the verge of breaking through! That is to say... her seemingly shocked expression was just a double act coordinated with that Zhang Xuan. Otherwise, do you think an initial Soul Departure realm cultivator, and a loose cultivator at that, could understand cultivation better than Chen Leyao, Zhang Zhuo, or even us?"

Smiling, Zhang Xu looked confident.

"This..."

The young man suddenly understood.

Said this way, though still difficult, it had become acceptable.

"Young but scheming..." Snorting, the young man no longer felt admiration.

"Coming to the Saint Son Hall naturally to make a name, and stepping on the Zhang family spreads fame fastest. This Zhang Xuan has no small ambition!" Zhang Xu sneered.

"Indeed, not small. Should I teach him a lesson?" The young man frowned.

"No need. If he doesn't provoke me, fine; if he does, I won't mind giving him a lesson he'll never forget!" Waving his hand, Zhang Xu said no more.

To him, this Zhang Xuan, though somewhat talented, was nothing to worry about.

While they were whispering, Zhang Zhuo was utterly enraged.

His surging power had been used by the other party to break through, which was like slapping him in the face again. Overwhelmed by fury, he roared and charged again.

"Alright, since she's broken through, he's useless. Knock him out. Retreat three steps, seventh form of Crane Step, combined with second move of Empty Palm!"

Before Zhang Zhuo reached her, Chen Leyao heard Zhang Shi's voice again in her ears.

This time, without any hesitation, she executed exactly as instructed. Half a breath later, she saw Zhang Zhuo's pupils contract, his face full of disbelief as he fell to the ground, unconscious.

"I won... and broke through?"

Filled with excitement, Chen Leyao hurried back to Zhang Xuan, her face full of admiration.

Zhang Xu thought she knew her strength thoroughly and had analyzed it in advance, but she knew she had only truly met him yesterday. Though they had spent some time together, she had never displayed any techniques or revealed her cultivation.

That is, before this, he had no idea about her strength!

Instead, relying on his insight, he guided her on the spot to complete the comeback, breaking through in five breaths!

This ability was simply incredible.

No wonder he could modify the Yin and Yang Techniques, solving the problem that had stumped countless experts in the Ice Abyss Palace for tens of thousands of years. Truly formidable!

"You should be glad this was a spar between students. If it were a life-and-death fight, you might have been killed long ago!"

Seeing her so excited, Zhang Xuan said.

This kind of situation could only happen in such non-lethal sparring. In a real life-and-death battle, Zhang Zhuo would have used killing moves from the start, and under the impact of sharp power, no amount of methods would be of any use!

Thus, this breakthrough was not replicable.

"Moreover, breaking through by absorbing others' power makes the foundation unstable. I'll write you a technique to stabilize your cultivation later. Cultivate it well, so that future breakthroughs won't leave aftereffects!"

Zhang Xuan continued.

Breaking through this way, though fast, was somewhat opportunistic, easily leading to an unstable foundation, requiring more effort.

Not everyone had his talent, where cultivation always reached the peak.

"Yes!"

Nodding, Chen Leyao remembered something and flipped her wrist: "These three bottles of Cold Ice Spiritual Liquid are all my savings. If you need them, Master Zhang, I'll give them to you!"

She had said earlier that if he could help her break through, she would give him the liquid without hesitation.

Now not only had she succeeded, but she had also reached a level she had never imagined. She would not go back on her word.

"Thank you..."

His eyes brightening, Zhang Xuan did not stand on ceremony.

To be honest, without his guidance, even if Chen Leyao could break through to the domain realm, it would have taken at least half a year or even a year of accumulation. Saving her so much time, receiving some reward was nothing.

Taking the liquid in his palm, he casually pulled out the stopper, again feeling the rich spiritual energy and astonishing chill. Without further ado, he opened his mouth and drank one bottle.

After a moment's hesitation, he then drank the remaining two bottles as well.

Time waited for no one. Having been at the Saint Son Hall for nearly a day, his cultivation had only increased by two minor levels—far too slow.

Since he had gathered the Soul Departure realm techniques, he might as well break through quickly!

"All of it?"

Knowing this master's methods were extraordinary, seeing him drink three bottles of spiritual liquid like that still made Chen Leyao shrink back.

As the liquid entered his body, the Heavenly Dao true qi circulated, quickly restoring his depleted stamina. Then, the abundant spiritual energy continued to accumulate, making the power within Zhang Xuan grow stronger.

"Fortunate to witness such a splendid breakthrough. Truly, the geniuses of the elite class each possess unique skills!"

Just as he was about to charge toward the peak of Soul Departure realm, he heard Mentor Fei's voice again.

Looking up, he saw Zhang Zhuo had been awakened and was sitting aside sulking, while Mentor Fei looked over excitedly, his expression full of admiration.

Though his thoughts were the same as Zhang Xu's, believing Chen Leyao's breakthrough was prearranged, he was still full of admiration.

No matter how thorough the plan, if poorly executed, it would not only fail to intimidate but also become a laughingstock.

"However, let me say in advance: no matter the spar, it's just mutual exchange. Please don't hold grudges!"

Knowing the previous fight might displease Zhang Zhuo or even the Zhang family, Mentor Fei smiled: "Most of you come from major families and powers. You should know the importance of connections. Becoming classmates in the same cohort and class is a great fate! I hope you cherish the bond between classmates. Even if you later dominate a region, this relationship will facilitate better interactions..."

"Indeed, connections are important!"

"Rest assured, Mentor Fei, we will cherish the bond between classmates!"

Understanding his meaning, everyone laughed.

As descendants of major families and powers, they could progress quickly even without coming here. The reason they worked so hard to get in was, first, for the true words and atmosphere left by Master Kong, and second, precisely for connections.

With a solid network of connections, even after returning to their families, they would be regarded differently and quickly gain greater power.

"Alright, I won't hold you up any longer. Interact well, then go choose suitable teachers..."

Seeing everyone understood, Mentor Fei said no more.

Everyone knew it wasn't easy to gather together. Once cultivation began, people like them would basically disappear without a trace. So they cherished this opportunity and began chatting with each other.

Mentor Fei smiled and came to Zhang Xuan.

"Master Zhang, I've specially looked into your background. Starting from Tianxuan Kingdom, you became the dean of Hongyuan Academy of Mentors before the age of twenty, and successfully passed the hall challenge twice in a row. Your talent is admirable!"

As the class advisor, he had read Zhang Xuan's profile in advance. Even with his experience, he couldn't help but admire.

Being able to pass the hall challenge, even in a small place like Qingyuan Empire, represented talent and strength.

"You flatter me, Mentor Fei..."

Zhang Xuan clasped his fists.

"Having talent and ability is good, but connections are also important... The Zhang family is the number one family on the continent. I hope you can maintain good relations with them and avoid conflict!"

After a moment's hesitation, Mentor Fei said.

This young man had been at the Saint Son Hall for less than a day and had already beaten three members of the Zhang family, putting him in a difficult position as well.