Chapter 25: A Hair's Breadth

After refining the Feathered Robe, Mao Wangchen briefly explained its operation to Chen Fan.

With Chen Fan’s profound true essence, he could sense numerous miniature formations embedded within the robe.

At a thought, the white Feathered Robe suddenly turned transparent. With another thought, it transformed into the blue scholar’s robe worn by disciples in the Martial Academy. Of course, the details differed slightly but were indistinguishable unless examined closely.

This was only a fraction of the many miniature formations inside. Most of the functions were beyond Chen Fan’s ability to activate at his current strength.

Chen Fan happily donned the robe, bid farewell to the two academy heads, and returned to study it at his leisure.

Watching Chen Fan leave, Ye Wuji smiled:

“This kid has a solid foundation. I expected his strength to surge after entering the Martial Academy, but not this rapidly. To reach this level in less than half a year—he might even surpass Changsun Shichuan back then!”

Changsun Shichuan was a prodigy who, twenty years ago, entered the Martial Academy and ranked among the top three disciples of the Radiant Sun Tower.

Mao Wangchen narrowed his eyes and shook his head:

“Changsun Shichuan is a blood-body type. His strength before the sixth level was immense, so rapid progress is normal. What’s truly impressive is that it took him ten years to reach Grandmaster—his comprehension is unparalleled! Chen Fan is undoubtedly outstanding now, but since his cultivation is bolstered by pills, a higher level doesn’t necessarily mean much...”

“Without the right realm breakthrough, no matter how gifted he is, or if he breaks through the fifth level early, even if he reaches the sixth level next year, no one can guarantee he’ll become a Grandmaster in ten years like Changsun Shichuan.”

Across the Great Qian Realm, blood-body types are numerous, many possessing far superior combat prowess than the Yingxu blood-body type. They can easily fight beyond their level, their strength far surpassing ordinary martial artists.

However, blood-body types cannot compare to the Law-body type. No matter how powerful, they cannot grasp unity or comprehend the realm.

Blood-body types are easier to cultivate, and with proper nurturing, reaching the sixth level by their early twenties is not difficult. With ample time, they can focus on martial arts comprehension, gaining advantages far beyond ordinary practitioners.

Yet, without understanding the realm, even the strongest blood-body finds it difficult to defeat a seventh-level opponent at the sixth level. No matter how fast their early cultivation progresses, they will eventually fade into obscurity.

Ye Wuji hesitated but ultimately nodded.

Mao Wangchen added:

“However, Chen Fan’s current strength guarantees a higher chance of securing a spot at Huaqing Pool in a month’s competition. This is a tremendous boon for both the Martial Academy and him!”

Ye Wuji nodded again.

An opportunity for enlightenment is precious; perhaps it will clarify Chen Fan’s path to Grandmaster.

---

With ample Yuan points in hand, Chen Fan spent his spare time meticulously exploring the myriad uses of the Luminous Feathered Robe.

He refrained from leaving the academy during this time.

After a month of effort, his “Three Thousand Thunder Movements” still fell just short of a breakthrough.

As he neared unity, the thunderlight from the Myriad Illusions Hall became increasingly ineffective. Though only a sliver away, it felt like a vast chasm.

On the other hand, his newly practiced “Blazing Fire Palm” advanced rapidly with the hall’s aid, nearing perfection.

During cultivation, he also visited the Heart-Query Hall, ascending a few steps higher.

Though his Yuan point earnings were meager, his willpower was tempered, giving him a sensation that his strength could be better realized—whether illusion or not.

He increasingly sensed the critical importance of willpower.

Chen Fan had a vague intuition: “The establishment of the Heart-Query Hall by the Martial Academy must hold profound significance. For disciples, willpower likely relates closely to post-Grandmaster cultivation, though its effects are subtle at lower levels.”

Chen Fan was not yet a Grandmaster. Even attending lectures, he only knew that the seventh, eighth, and ninth levels are the realm of transcendence, after which one cultivates the realm to manipulate the power of heaven and earth to perfect oneself.

He did not know the specific conditions required to leap to the tenth level, the pinnacle of martial cultivation.

Lost in arduous training, Chen Fan lost track of time until Ye Wuji sent another spirit token, reminding him the competition for Huaqing Pool spots was imminent.

---

“Academy Heads!”

Chen Fan arrived at the Martial Academy’s council hall to find the academy heads and Ye Wuji awaiting him, along with two other disciples.

One was in his early twenties, the other nearing thirty.

Both bore the Mingyue Tower’s identification badges and were recognized prodigies.

“We had little hope for the under-eighteen quota, as aside from you, our strongest disciple ranks beyond four hundred. Even those with Yingxu blood-body types are only at the third level of martial cultivation. But with your help, victory is assured!” Mao Wangchen stroked his beard, visibly excited.

Four under-eighteen spots for Huaqing Pool were at stake, and Chen Fan’s victory would carry the greatest prestige.

“These two are your senior brothers from Mingyue Tower, also participating in this contest. Get to know each other.”

The two were twenty-four and twenty-nine, the strongest the academy could field at their ages.

They were not necessarily the most powerful overall, as Mingyue Tower’s disciples were strongest after thirty and often unable to compete due to age restrictions.

Still, their entry into Mingyue Tower indicated they ranked at least above Chen Fan.

---

Especially the younger one, Ju Ningshou, a native of Qinghe County’s prefectural city. At his age, entering Mingyue Tower marked him as one of the academy’s top talents.

His strength had surpassed the sixth level, ranking near the top one hundred. With two more years of training, he could be among Qinghe County’s top ten young martial artists.

Chen Fan admired him.

Even his own senior brothers could not match Ju Ningshou.

The eldest senior brother, Fan Zhong, had just reached the sixth level but was already twenty-eight, nearly thirty—not particularly outstanding within the academy.

The second senior brother, Tao Xi’an, also entered Mingyue Tower, boasting superior talent and strength compared to the eldest brother, but ranked beyond two hundred, far behind Ju Ningshou.

---

Though both were prodigies in their age groups, when facing Chen Fan, they showed no arrogance but rather politeness.

Chen Fan’s astonishing progress upon entering was unprecedented in Qingming Martial Academy’s history.

Though new disciples often experience rapid growth, few matched Chen Fan’s rate.

Mingyue Tower housed even stronger disciples, many over thirty, but age barred them from competition.

Ye Wuji sighed softly:

“Unfortunately, at the start of this year, Ji Guanjian was trapped in danger but, by a twist of fate, harnessed the power of heaven and earth to ascend to Grandmaster and escape... Thus, he cannot participate in this contest; otherwise, he would have surely won a match.”

Huaqing Pool’s secret realm only admits disciples below Grandmaster, and this competition was limited to such warriors.

Ji Guanjian, once ranked top ten in Mingyue Tower and under thirty, could have represented the academy in the under-thirty contest, but his early Grandmaster ascension made him miss this enlightenment opportunity.

The twenty-nine-year-old Mingyue Tower disciple looked embarrassed but had no retort. Even before Ji Guanjian’s ascension, his strength was far inferior.

---

Soon after, they set off.

This expedition was led personally by Ye Wuji, who did not leave the academy but instead led the disciples up Luoyun Mountain.

At the mountaintop plaza, before Chen Fan and the others, appeared a tremendous eagle-like demon beast!