132: Chapter 91 Lecture

The people below were whispering to each other, their faces filled with disbelief.

"A Foundation Establishment Third Stage Cultivator teaching those at the Fourth and Fifth Stages? That doesn't seem right, does it?"

Chen Xuan ignored them and continued.

"Half a month ago, in the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, I killed a Golden Core Middle Stage Cloud-Swallowing Eagle."

The lecture hall fell completely silent.

"In that battle, I was not alone, but I can responsibly tell you all that Golden Core Yao Beasts can be killed by Foundation Establishment Cultivators. It is not by luck, nor by talisman treasures, but by this."

He pointed to his head, "And this." He then pointed to his heart.

"For the first lesson today, I will teach you one thing: there is a chasm between Foundation Establishment and Golden Core, but it is not insurmountable. If you understand the habits of a Yao Beast, know its weaknesses, choose the right timing, and use the right methods, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator can also kill a Golden Core."

He began to describe the habits, weaknesses, attack methods, and defensive blind spots of the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle. Every detail was explained thoroughly, from the defensive strength of its feathers to the condensation time of its wind blades, and from the location of its wing-break wounds to the attack frequency of its Golden Core.

The people below listened more and more intently; some began taking notes, while others could not help but nod.

An elderly Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Fourth Stage raised his hand to ask, "Master Yun, everything you said is specific to the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle. If it were a different Golden Core Yao Beast, would it still work?"

Chen Xuan looked at him, "It would not work, but the principle is the same. If you want to kill a Golden Core Yao Beast, you must first understand it. Its habits, its weaknesses, its attack methods, its defensive blind spots. The more thoroughly you understand it, the greater your chances of winning. Cultivating immortality is not about brute force; it is about using your brain."

The old Loose Cultivator fell silent, then cupped his hands, "I have been taught."

When the three-hour class concluded and Chen Xuan walked out of the Dharma Propagation Hall, it was already dark. Liu Lili was waiting for him at the entrance, holding a bowl of hot soup. She was leaning against the doorpost, and when she heard footsteps, she looked up and smiled.

"Junior Brother, how did the lecture go?" "It was alright."

Chen Xuan took the soup bowl and took a sip. It was still spirit chicken soup, but it had a few more medicinal herbs than last time, and the flavor was richer.

"Senior Sister, did you add extra ingredients?" "Yes, I asked the Senior Sister at the Medicine Hall again, and she said this soup is most nourishing when you add thousand-year-old Angelica."

Chen Xuan looked at her for a long time, "Senior Sister, you don't need to make soup for me every day."

"I want to," Liu Lili said firmly, "You are out there risking your life every day, and I cannot help you, so I can only do these small things. If you won't even let me do these little things, what meaning is there in me staying in the Immortal City?"

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Fine, you make it, I will drink it."

Liu Lili smiled and reached out to flick his forehead, "That's better."

The two walked side by side on the Central Street. The lanterns on both sides of the street were lit, illuminating the bluestone pavement. The main branch of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce was still open, with its interior brightly lit. President Liu Yishou was behind the counter calculating accounts, and when he saw Chen Xuan passing by, he looked up and nodded.

Chen Xuan returned the gesture and continued walking forward.

When he reached the entrance of the Inner City, he stopped. Senior Sister Wen Yao was standing at the entrance, with twin swords hanging at her waist and her long hair tied into a ponytail. The moonlight fell on the red lotus petal mark between her brows, and those three marks emitted a faint red glow.

"Junior Brother." She spoke, her voice very soft. "Senior Sister, is something the matter?"

Senior Sister Wen Yao was silent for a moment, "Revered Master asked me to ask you if you are willing to take charge of the Dharma Propagation Hall."

Chen Xuan frowned, "Head of the Dharma Propagation Hall? I am only at Foundation Establishment Third Stage; my seniority is not enough."

"Not the Head," Senior Sister Wen Yao shook her head, "It is the successor of the Dharma lineage. The Dharma Propagation Hall was established by the The Three Sects, but each sect's teaching Legacy has its own Dharma lineage. Revered Master's intention is for you to inherit the Dharma lineage of the Conquest Hall branch. When you reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, you will be the Deputy Head of the Dharma Propagation Hall, responsible for all teaching affairs of the Liuyang Sword Sect branch. When you reach the Golden Core, you will be the Head."

Chen Xuan fell silent. Successor of the Dharma lineage. This was not just a position; it was a form of recognition. It meant that Master Liu Yun already regarded him as the successor to the Conquest Hall branch, and that in the future, he would have to shoulder the Legacy of this branch. Senior Brother Zhang Qian was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, had joined the sect the earliest, and had the highest cultivation base, but Revered Master did not choose him. Second Senior Sister Xu Miao was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage with illustrious battle achievements, but Revered Master did not choose her either. Third Senior Brother Yun He was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, was worldly-wise, and had the best interpersonal relationships, but Revered Master still did not choose him. Fourth Senior Sister Wen Yao was at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, but she had joined early and was reliable, yet Revered Master did not choose her either. Revered Master had chosen him. A Disciple who had only joined for a few years, a young man at the Foundation Establishment Third Stage.

"Why did Revered Master choose me?" Chen Xuan asked.

Senior Sister Wen Yao looked at him, her gaze calm, "Because you killed a Golden Core Yao Beast. Because you are a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment. Because your Dao Heart is firmer than any of ours. Because Revered Master said you are like a sword hidden in a scabbard; if it does not leave the scabbard, so be it, but if it does, it must draw blood. The Conquest Hall needs such a sword."

Chen Xuan was silent for a long time. Liu Lili stood beside him, not speaking, just quietly watching him. She reached out and took his hand. Her hand was warm, with thin calluses on her palms, which were worn from practicing the sword.

"I accept," Chen Xuan said.

Senior Sister Wen Yao nodded and took a token from her Storage Pouch to hand to him, "This is the Deacon token of the Dharma Propagation Hall. From today on, you are the successor of the Dharma lineage of the Conquest Hall branch and the candidate for Deputy Head of the Dharma Propagation Hall. Revered Master said that once you reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, it will be officially appointed."

Chen Xuan took the token. It was cyan, with the characters "Dharma Transmission" engraved on the front and "Conquest" on the back. He tucked the token into his robes and cupped his hands toward Senior Sister Wen Yao, "Thank you, Senior Sister."

Senior Sister Wen Yao shook her head and turned to walk into the Inner City. Her back was as straight as a sword, and the moonlight stretched her shadow very long.

Liu Lili watched her back and whispered, "Senior Sister Wen Yao is really a good person." "Hmm." "Does she have feelings for you?"

Chen Xuan turned to look at her, "Senior Sister, you are overthinking it."

Liu Lili snorted and did not continue the topic. She held Chen Xuan's hand and walked into the Inner City, following the bluestone path toward the east side. The moonlight spread over the stone steps like a thin layer of frost. The spirit bamboo on both sides rustled in the night wind, and the shadows of the bamboo leaves fell on the ground like an ink painting.

The two stopped in front of the side room on the east side. Liu Lili let go of his hand and turned to look at him.

"Junior Brother, you have to go to the Dharma Propagation Hall to teach tomorrow, so get some rest early." "Hmm."

She stood on tiptoe, kissed his cheek, and then turned and ran into her room. The door closed behind her with a soft sound.

Chen Xuan stood at the door, touching his cheek, where the warm sensation still lingered. He smiled, pushed the door open, and walked into his room.

An incense burner for calming the soul was lit in the room, with white smoke curling and slowly spiraling under the candlelight. He sat down on the meditation cushion and closed his eyes to look within. In his Dantian, the five-colored light of the Purple Mansion flowed, and the imagery of the City Wall Earth floated in the center; that dim yellow light resembled a miniature ancient city wall. After half a month of nourishment, the imagery was much more solid than when he had first obtained it, and the patterns on the city wall were clearly visible.

He circulated the Haohai Sword Art, and his magic power surged through his Meridians. His cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Third Stage Middle Stage was already stable; the next step was to move toward the Fourth Stage. There was a barrier between the Middle Stage and Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, which required a large amount of magic power and sufficient Comprehension Ability to break through. He had the foundation of a Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, so the barrier was not a problem for him, but the slow, grinding effort was unavoidable.

Chen Xuan opened his eyes and took a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch. It was the teaching outline for the Dharma Propagation Hall that Master Liu Yun had given him, listing the curriculum for the Advanced class for three months. For the first lesson, he had taught how to kill a Golden Core Yao Beast; for the second lesson, he would teach the introductory essentials of the Sword Dao Thunder Sound. The Sword Dao Thunder Sound was his trump card; those who could Revered Master this sword technique below the Golden Core stage could be counted on one hand. Revered Master having him teach this was, firstly, to increase the value of the Dharma Propagation Hall, and secondly, to make him, the successor of the Dharma lineage, legitimate.

Foundation Establishment Third Stage, mastered Sword Dao Thunder Sound, killed a Golden Core Yao Beast. Who would not be convinced by such a successor of the Dharma lineage?

Chen Xuan put away the Jade Slip, stood up, and walked to the window. Outside the window, the mountains of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range were looming in the moonlight. The Demonic Qi was already very faint, but it had not completely dissipated. He knew that deep in the mountains, countless Foundation Establishment Yao Beasts were entrenched; they were watching, waiting, waiting for the Human Race to reveal a flaw.

But he was not in a hurry. He had plenty of time. Three years, five years, ten years. He could cultivate slowly in the Wanyao Immortal City, slowly collect the metal-attribute imagery, and slowly polish his Sword Dao. When the day came for him to reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, the day he gathered the Heavenly Fire and City Wall Earth imagery, that would be the time to charge toward the Great Dao Golden Core.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze, sat down on the meditation cushion, and closed his eyes to cultivate.