Chapter 34: Xiao Chen Awakens the Divine Physique, Shocking the Wendao Academy
Above the Wendao Academy, purple aura surged in from the east, stretching across hundreds of li.
Spiritual energy from within a hundred li radius rushed toward the academy like rivers converging into the sea.
In the skies, countless birds flew in from all directions.
Within the Beast Taming Academy, a chorus of roars rang out from a hundred different beasts.
In the Herbal Garden behind the Alchemy Dao Institute, countless spirit herbs rejuvenated, growing at speeds visible to the naked eye.
All these changes naturally did not escape the eyes of everyone in the Wendao Academy.
At first, the phenomenon over the Sword Dao Institute had captured the attention of the various heads of the eight great institutes—but soon, they realized something was off.
The source of this heavenly sign… wasn't in the Sword Dao Institute.
It was in the direction of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
Inside the Sword Dao Institute, the Sword Martial King's expression went from elation to confusion in under three minutes.
A disciple asked nervously, "Head, what… what's going on?"
The Sword Martial King responded, "Someone has awakened a Divine Physique."
The moment those words fell, the entire crowd erupted.
There were only a handful of individuals in the entire Wendao Academy who had awakened a Divine Physique—each of their names known to all.
Aside from the two ancestors currently in seclusion…
Only the Headmaster and the Heavenly Spirit Academy's head, the Carefree Sword King, possessed such a body. The latter was even hailed as the next potential saint of the academy.
And now, they were about to witness the birth of the fifth Divine Physique in the academy's history.
The Sword Martial King turned to the crowd. "All of you stay here and guard Lin Qingyu's breakthrough. I'll go see who has awakened the Divine Physique."
It wasn't just the Sword Dao Institute—the heads of the other seven great institutes also flew toward the spiritual energy's focal point the moment they sensed it.
Even the Headmaster of the Wendao Academy was stirred by this phenomenon.
He looked to the sky and murmured, "I wonder which of our academy's prodigies has awakened a Divine Physique upon breaking through to the Nirvana Realm."
"With a Divine Physique in our younger generation, we finally have someone who can rival the geniuses of the sacred lands."
"Headmaster, shall we go together and take a look?" an elder asked.
"Let's go!"
In just a few breaths, the upper echelon of the Wendao Academy arrived at the rear mountain behind the Miscellaneous Dao Institute.
When they saw Xiao Chen sitting cross-legged on the mountaintop in the midst of breaking through, their expressions turned strange.
Because next to Xiao Chen…
There was a blazing earth fire cave.
And inside that fire pit—someone else was cultivating.
He's breaking through in a place like this? Isn't he afraid of entering deviation?
Cultivators typically sought a quiet, disturbance-free place for breakthroughs.
This kind of setting was simply too reckless.
Clearly, he hadn't chosen the right master. Otherwise, he wouldn't even lack a proper place to break through.
"Which institute do these two disciples belong to? Why are they cultivating in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"
The Headmaster asked instinctively upon seeing the scene.
An elder beside him replied, "Reporting to Headmaster, that is Xiao Chen, a disciple of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. As for the one inside the earth fire… I'm not sure."
The Xuanhuo Alchemy King stepped forward. "Reporting to Headmaster, that young man is also a disciple of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."
The Headmaster's face filled with doubt. "The Miscellaneous Dao Institute… has disciples now?"
As the head of the Wendao Academy, he didn't bother paying attention to whether such a tiny institute had disciples.
He vaguely recalled that the heads of the eight great institutes had once jointly petitioned to have the Miscellaneous Dao Institute dissolved.
And yet now, a disciple from there had awakened a Divine Physique?
What in the world was going on?
"Where is the head of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"
Everyone looked around, only to spot a figure strolling unhurriedly up the back mountain.
The Xuanhuo Alchemy King spoke, "Headmaster, Chu Feng is down there."
Sweeping his divine sense, the Headmaster spotted a familiar face.
After thinking for a moment, he remembered—Chu Feng was just an ordinary mortal.
No wonder he wasn't with the group.
He chose not to ask further, instead turning his gaze to the prodigy in the spotlight—Xiao Chen.
Chu Feng himself hadn't expected Xiao Chen's breakthrough to cause such a commotion.
As soon as he reached the rear mountain, he saw countless figures flying in from afar.
So he decided not to rush—just strolled along quietly instead.
With all these big shots around, Xiao Chen was in no danger.
As for him… he'd just be a quiet, handsome bystander.
Time ticked by.
Several hours later—
Xiao Chen's aura finally stabilized. A soft divine radiance enveloped his entire body.
He slowly opened his eyes and whispered, "I've finally broken through to the True Fate Realm."
At the same time, a familiar mechanical voice echoed in Chu Feng's mind:
"Your chief disciple has broken through to the True Fate Realm and awakened the Collapse Heaven Physique—one of the Divine Physiques. Awarding the host with ten years of cultivation. Collapse Heaven Physique: Perfection Stage."
As the voice faded, Chu Feng felt his body undergo an extraordinary transformation. The impurities within him were instantly expelled.
He felt as though he had ascended to a new level of existence.
Thankfully—it was a system reward.
With the attention of all the powerful figures fixed entirely on Xiao Chen, no one noticed the subtle transformation taking place on Chu Feng's body.
He circulated his internal spiritual power, reducing the impurities within him to dust, and casually brushed them off.
In an instant, his entire being felt refreshed and invigorated.
As the crowd of elites watched Xiao Chen complete his breakthrough to the True Fate Realm, they began landing one by one.
"Disciple Xiao Chen greets the Headmaster and esteemed seniors."
Xiao Chen bowed respectfully to everyone present.
"No need for formality."
The Headmaster responded calmly and began examining Xiao Chen closely.
"This one believes you've awakened the Collapse Heaven Physique—one of the Divine Physiques. Truly something to celebrate!"
Xiao Chen replied respectfully, "This disciple owes today's accomplishments to the nurturing of Wendao Academy."
The Headmaster was very pleased with this answer. Although Wendao Academy wasn't a sect, seeing students display such loyalty and sense of belonging was a good thing.
If this prodigy could stay within Wendao Academy, all the better.
"Are you still cultivating in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?" he asked.
Xiao Chen replied, "Yes, Headmaster. I am still cultivating in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute."
"And where do you plan to cultivate next?" the Headmaster continued.
Xiao Chen answered with unwavering resolve, "I intend to remain in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. One day, I hope to become one of Wendao Academy's titled nobles."
The Headmaster paused in surprise. After finally witnessing such a promising talent emerge within Wendao Academy, this young man actually intended to remain in a place like the Miscellaneous Dao Institute—an institute with no resources.
If word got out, others might think Wendao Academy couldn't recognize treasure even if it slapped them in the face.
The Sword Martial King spoke up. "Xiao Chen, with your current status, it's no longer appropriate for you to remain in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. I recommend you transfer to another institute for your cultivation."
He was bitter beyond words.
Had he known Xiao Chen's talent was this monstrous, he would've defied all opposition and kept him in the Sword Dao Institute.
Then, a hundred years from now, the Sword Dao Institute might have become the most powerful among all the academies.
The other institute heads remained silent. With the Headmaster present, it wasn't their place to try poaching.
Xiao Chen replied respectfully, "Thank you for the kind offer, Senior, but I believe the Miscellaneous Dao Institute is where I'm best suited to cultivate.
"If I had been in another institute, at most I might've awakened a Sacred Physique in this lifetime. I would never have reached the height I have today."
As soon as those words were spoken, the faces of all the other institute heads turned ugly.
Only the Headmaster showed a glimmer of intrigue as he asked, "Xiao Chen, are you saying all your skills were learned in the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"
"That's right. I could've broken through to the True Fate Realm long ago, but my state of mind wasn't complete. After returning to the Miscellaneous Dao Institute and receiving guidance from my master, I deepened my comprehension of sword intent, and that's how I awakened the Divine Physique today."
Xiao Chen's words were clear and forceful—so loud that even Chu Feng, standing at a distance, could hear him without issue.
The crowd turned and looked at Chu Feng, who stood not far away with a gentle smile on his face. Suddenly, they all felt an overwhelming urge to punch someone.
This bastard is definitely showing off.
The Headmaster turned his gaze toward Chu Feng.
"Xiao Feng, why don't you tell us how you guided your disciple's cultivation?"
Chu Feng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to the Headmaster, I simply had Xiao Chen put into practice some theories I read in a novel. That's all."
Looking at him speak nonsense so seriously, the crowd was momentarily speechless.
Even the Headmaster, a Saint himself, froze for a moment. Narrowing his eyes, he swept his divine sense over Chu Feng.
But then—his eyes flickered with astonishment.
This kid isn't being honest. He clearly has cultivation, yet he's still pretending to be a mortal.
The Headmaster's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "So you're saying the techniques you taught your disciple… were made up?"
As soon as he said that, all the other big shots on the mountain looked utterly bewildered.
They stared at the Headmaster in disbelief.
Even you… actually believe this nonsense?
"Hehe."
Chu Feng chuckled. "Headmaster, you really do have a discerning eye!"
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