NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 125: Reunion
At the Dao Seeking School, Feng Fan sat cross-legged in Luo Rong's abode, tirelessly absorbing spiritual qi, determined to break through the barrier that separated him from the Golden Core Formation and Organ Tempering realms.
'The Young Generation Competition is almost here; it's now or never!' he thought, his face set with resolve.
With a high-grade spiritual qi stone on his lap, Feng Fan focused his cultivation technique, drawing in spiritual qi from the air and the stone until it was completely drained.
The qi flowed into his body, coursing toward the pillars inside his dantian and into his bones, taking him closer to the next realm.
But just as he was about to succeed, an overwhelming sense of danger gripped him, as though death itself had come to take his puny life.
His cultivation technique reversed suddenly, and he coughed up blood before being sent crashing into the wall behind him with a thud.
'Damn it, why can't I break through?!' Feng Fan roared inside his mind.
This was his fourth attempt within a month. Each time he tried to break through to the Golden Core Formation and Organ Tempering realms, he was struck by a violent backlash.
Due to the high density of spiritual qi in the air, Feng Fan's cultivation skyrocketed.
In just three months, he advanced from the 4th stage of Foundation Establishment and Bone Forging realms to the 9th stage. Yet, he still couldn't take the final step toward the next realm.
Knowing he wouldn't have another opportunity to improve, Feng Fan spent the remaining time focusing on healing. His cultivation technique ran continuously, allowing his body to recover and stabilize.
Just as he finished, a woman appeared in front of him.
"Hey," said Luo Rong, her voice calm but direct. "It's time. Let's go. I'll take you to the location of your competition."
Feng Fan nodded. "Let's go."
Luo Rong turned and left her abode, Feng Fan following closely behind. Without saying a word, she wrapped him in her spiritual qi and took him through the air.
They flew for a few seconds before landing on a grand plaza. Luo Rong descended gently, bringing Feng Fan with her.
Feng Fan looked around, his curiosity piqued. He noticed many people leaving from a portal.
Most of them had dejected expressions, but a few seemed happy. The variety of robes they wore made it clear that they weren't from the Dao Seeking School.
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"Who are they?" Feng Fan asked, pointing toward the group of cultivators.
"They're from another region controlled by the Dao Seeking School, the Mao Empire," Luo Rong replied. "Much like your Qian Empire, they were participating in a competition to determine how their sect's cultivation resources will be allocated for the coming years."
Feng Fan's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Wow, the weakest among them is at the 8th Foundation Establishment realm!"
Luo Rong glanced at him with a hint of disdain. "Of course. The Qian Empire is a backwater. It can't be compared to the Mao Empire."
Feng Fan brushed off her insulting remarks and focused on the scene before him.
After everyone had passed through the portal and entered the plaza, the cultivators from the Mao Empire gathered around their elders. Each group numbered between fifty and a hundred people.
They all turned their attention to an elder from the Dao Seeking School, who was levitating in the air above them.
The elder nodded as he saw the waiting crowd. "With this, I declare the end of the Young Generation Competition for the Mao Empire. Please follow me; the results will be announced shortly."
The elder soared into the air, flying in the opposite direction from the plaza where Feng Fan stood. The cultivators from the Mao Empire followed closely behind him, rising into the sky.
"Your people should be arriving shortly," said Luo Rong. "Another elder from the Dao Seeking School will preside over the competition. Please wait here."
Feng Fan looked at her and nodded. "Thank you, Senior Sister Luo Rong."
He reached into his space ring and pulled out a token, tossing it to her. It was the same token she had given him when he first arrived.
Luo Rong caught the token and placed it into her own space ring before returning his smile with warmth. "Good luck. Until we meet again."
With that, she turned and flew off in the same direction she had come from.
Feng Fan didn't have to wait long. Within a few minutes, numerous cultivators appeared on the horizon. As he spotted them, his eyes narrowed.
'The Blue Dragon Sect. The gift you gave me, I'll return it soon.'
Dozens of meters behind the Blue Dragon Sect cultivators, Feng Fan spotted Elder Jiang and the White Crow Sect Master. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
'I never thought I'd be so glad to see this old man's face,' thought Feng Fan, looking at Elder Jiang.
Feng Fan instinctively reached for his space ring, intending to summon the Suppression Relic to fly toward them. But before he could act, he remembered that his weapon still wasn't responding.
'Damn it, more than three months, and it's still not back. What the hell happened?'
Instead of flying, Feng Fan sprinted toward where Elder Jiang and the White Crow Sect were landing. By the time they touched the ground, he was already there, grinning widely.
"Elder Jiang! It's been so long, did you miss me?"
Elder Jiang's face twisted in annoyance. "Not even a little! I hope you didn't cause any trouble here, or else…"
Feng Fan feigned innocence. "Elder Jiang, what are you talking about? I stayed in my cultivation room the whole time, didn't leave a single step…"
Elder Jiang let out a relieved sigh. "Thank goodness…"
"Feng Fan!" A voice rang out from the crowd. It was Xue Qiang.
She pushed through the disciples, rushing to him, and jumped into his arms, hugging him tightly. Feng Fan opened his arms and embraced her in return.
"I missed you so much…" Xue Qiang murmured, resting her head on his chest.