Chapter 5

The entire process was slow but solid. Relying on the third-grade cultivation technique, *Divine Furnace of Starfire*, Hong Shen, who had shown remarkable talent from a young age, steadily improved step by step. Now, he had already reached the early stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm. Even Hong Shengri would no longer simply regard him as a subordinate.

However, Hong Shen was well aware that *Divine Furnace of Starfire* was only a third-grade cultivation technique, and at most, it could only be cultivated to the peak of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm. Once one entered the third-grade Manifested Saint realm, progress would become extremely slow. There was even a saying, "The path of the third grade is endless."

Hong Shen's cultivation had always been smooth sailing, and he had never lingered at any realm for more than five years. However, he had been at the early stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm for seven years and was still stuck there.

For the past three years, he had felt that he should be breaking through to the middle stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm. But after three years, this feeling accompanied him through every starlit night of cultivation, and he still had not broken through.

Tonight was no different. The beautiful starlight brought a large amount of energy, which transformed into the highest-quality martial qi. The feeling of impending breakthrough was always there, but he just couldn't break through!

Hong Shen sighed inwardly and prepared to end his cultivation.

In his spiritual sense, Hong Yu was very quiet, with a long and steady breath, sleeping soundly.

Hong Shen's cultivation was almost over, and he was about to finish, but at that moment, the Dharma Image of the novice monk in Hong Yu's body began to recite scriptures. Waves of Buddhist sounds turned into a faint golden mist, circulating in Hong Yu's meridians. In Hong Yu's dream, the Buddhist sounds grew louder and louder, gradually turning into a torrent, surging back and forth in his meridians!

At the same time, Hong Yu disappeared again from Hong Shen's spiritual sense!

Hong Shen was greatly alarmed, his mind shaken, almost falling into a state of demonic possession!

The *Divine Furnace of Starfire* technique, which he had relied on all his life, had shown two flaws in one night. This was absolutely fatal. If it had happened in a life-and-death battle, he, a super expert at the third-grade Manifested Saint realm, would have died twice.

Just as Hong Shen finally managed to straighten out the chaotic martial qi in his meridians and opened his spiritual sense to search for Hong Yu again, Hong Yu's aura suddenly reappeared in his spiritual sense. At the same time, he felt his spiritual sense connect with something, and a vast, majestic, humble, and peaceful feeling surged into his spiritual sense.

This feeling quickly dominated his entire spiritual sense.

Hong Shen's current spiritual sense range was fifty zhang! Within fifty zhang, Buddhist sounds echoed, and the vast and bright feeling made Hong Shen feel as if he were basking in the warm and gentle sunlight of early spring, feeling incredibly comfortable all over.

For someone at the third-grade Manifested Saint realm like him, he had long forgotten the feeling of being "immersed" in something, as he always had his spiritual sense extended outward, always on guard and never relaxing.

But now, he once again tasted this feeling.

This vast and bright feeling surged in his spiritual sense, and then it actually stirred the martial qi in his body, rushing through his meridians in wave after wave!

Hong Shen didn't know why, but he wasn't worried at all about his martial qi being somewhat out of control under the influence of the external force.

Perhaps it was because that vast and bright feeling made him trust it completely, and he opened his mind entirely.

The martial qi surged, and the power it generated grew stronger and more magnificent. Finally, this immense power found an outlet and burst forth...

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Rolling thunder echoed within Hong Shen's body. He sat still, a gentle smile on his face, and slowly opened his eyes, tears welling up!

The early stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm, which had held him back for seven years, was finally broken through. He was now at the middle stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm. Although it was just a small grade, at the third-grade realm, every step of improvement was extremely difficult.

What surprised him the most was that after seven years of effort, he had finally broken through thanks to that mysterious, vast, and bright feeling!

Thinking about this, Hong Shen suddenly realized that that feeling had quickly faded from his spiritual sense, leaving no trace.

Hong Yu's aura in his spiritual sense was very stable, as if the two mysterious disappearances had never happened.

Hong Shen wiped away his tears, slightly felt the powerful strength of the middle stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm, and then stood up, floating to Hong Yu's door, looking at Hong Yu lying on the bed in confusion.

Hong Yu hadn't even turned over, still lying there quietly.

Inside his body, the Dharma Image of the novice monk had returned to its calm state, eyes closed, head bowed, hands clasped, and unmoving.

Hong Shen found it hard to imagine that his breakthrough was brought about by this second-generation wastrel, a good-for-nothing and a family ruiner. Helping him break through a realm was a great favor. Hong Shen would never forget such kindness, but he found it hard to believe.

But if it wasn't for Hong Yu, he couldn't explain what had just happened. Although that feeling was mysterious, he was very sure it came from Hong Yu, and Hong Yu was his great benefactor.

If it were known that Hong Yu could help someone at the early stage of the third-grade Manifested Saint realm advance to the middle stage, those who had always looked down on Hong Yu in the entire martial capital would never believe it.

A smile appeared on Hong Shen's lips. He didn't know if Hong Yu had been hiding his strength or if he had recently had some good fortune, but it didn't matter. Everyone thought the Hong family was on the decline, but now they had a successor!

Hong Yu didn't know what had happened to him in his sleep. The next morning, he got up and called out, but no servants responded. Hong Yu wasn't annoyed; he went to the well in the courtyard to fetch water for washing and then went to have breakfast.

Hong Shen was still sitting in the bamboo grove, but Hong Yu didn't see him!

A third-grade Manifested Saint could hide so well that even if he stood in front of Hong Yu, he might not be noticed.

The family had breakfast together. When Hong Yu arrived at the dining room, only his elder brother Hong Lie was there. He predicted the expressions of his grandfather and younger sister, picked up two steamer baskets, and fled at his brother's call.

He ate as he walked, and his appetite had been particularly good lately. The steamed buns were fist-sized, eight in a basket, and he finished them in one breath. He patted his belly and thought he could still fit two bowls of porridge. But he decided against it, knowing that his grandfather would scold him and his younger sister might demand compensation for the Di Rong Long horse.

He casually threw away the steamer baskets, leaving them for someone to clean up or not. Compared to his usual behavior, this was a "good deed."

He went straight to the Military Book Repository, and Hong Shen, pretending to be serious, had already arrived and was waiting at the door: "Young Master Yu, are you here to read books today?"

Hong Yu looked at the gate of the Military Book Repository, guarded by divine beasts, and shook his head: "Not today. I'll read books over there."

He turned into a nearby building.

Outside the Military Book Repository was the Hong family's library, consisting of three four-story wooden buildings arranged in a pin shape. The Military Book Repository housed precious classics, while these three wooden buildings contained general martial arts classics.

Hong Yu entered the first wooden building. Each of the four floors was densely packed with bookshelves.

The bookshelves were made of camphor wood, which was not only sturdy but also insect-resistant. Each aisle between the bookshelves was only wide enough for one person. Each building housed more than ten thousand books!

With three buildings, that was over thirty thousand books. This was an astonishing number in the entire Qingyuan Continent. Hong Yu knew that this world was not the same as his previous one, where a simple USB drive could store hundreds of thousands of e-books. Even the sacred Liling Academy of the Scholarly Sect had only ten thousand books, and this "Pine Wave Book Sea" of ten thousand books was the pride of the Liling Academy and all the disciples of the Great Xia Dynasty!

As Hong Yu entered the building, the Dharma Image of the novice monk in his body opened its eyes again, and the One Glance Comprehension skill activated. In this entire floor, not a single book could be struck with the wooden fish board to reveal anything.

He touched the brick in his pocket, feeling a bit regretful but not disappointed—this was expected.

So, Hong Yu settled down, quietly taking out a book to read. His martial arts foundation was so poor that he needed to make up for a lot of basic knowledge.

With the One Glance Comprehension skill, Hong Yu had a photographic memory. Although these ordinary martial arts classics couldn't reveal Dharma Images or totems, each book he read still sent a golden thread of light slowly into his mind.

As he read, the golden threads of light almost unconsciously merged into his mind through his forehead.

Hong Yu immersed himself in the sea of books, and his meager foundation rapidly enriched. He learned that the Dharma Image of the novice monk was hidden in the Zhongshan acupoint on his chest, and the Taigu Demon Elephant Totem was parasitic in the Tianquan acupoint on his left arm.

Originally, Hong Yu's martial path was a castle in the air, built solely on the Dharma Image of the novice monk and the Taigu Demon Elephant Totem. But now, his foundation was being steadily reinforced.

...

Hong Shen stood outside, thought for a moment, and said to another third-grade Manifested Saint, Hong Yin, who was guarding the Military Book Repository: "Watch for a moment. I need to see the general."

Hong Yin nodded.