Chapter 36

The master and disciple drank until dawn. When Ye Tianming woke up, Mu Guanchen was already gone from the grand hall.

Ye Tianming felt his head was very swollen. Because he had drunk alcohol yesterday, he did not use his cultivation to resist the alcohol. He shook his head vigorously, and the mystic qi in his body circulated, instantly dispelling the alcohol.

Ye Tianming said, "Grandmaster, I didn't say anything crazy last night, did I?"

Little Pagoda replied, "What do you think?"

Ye Tianming: "......"

Little Pagoda continued, "Don't worry, your teacher also said many things he shouldn't have."

Ye Tianming became curious, "What did my teacher say?"

Little Pagoda said, "All sorts of rebellious words. You should ask him yourself."

Ye Tianming: "......"

Ye Tianming looked around and then got up and walked outside. He didn't see Mu Guanchen outside, so he went to the back mountain to practice. He slowly closed his eyes, and the earth's energy began to surge beneath his feet. This time, he started to guide the earth's energy into his body. Since his physical body had been strengthened, his body could now withstand more earth's energy.

Soon, countless streams of earth's energy entered his body. He slowly clenched his fists, feeling his body filled with power.

Suddenly, he pointed with his fingers, and a stream of earth's energy transformed into a golden qi sword, flying out and slicing through a massive rock dozens of feet away. Not only that, the qi sword also plunged into the ground, tearing a deep, invisible crack in the earth.

Seeing this, a smile spread across Ye Tianming's face. At his current level, he could control the qi sword, but the power of the qi sword formed by the earth's energy far exceeded that of a regular qi sword, at least several times more powerful.

And he could now control nine swords at once!

The power was immense, and because it was the earth's energy, he didn't have to worry about the consumption of mystic qi. In other words, his control of the qi sword could be endless. Of course, this was theoretically true, as controlling the sword didn't consume mystic qi but did consume mental energy. However, the good thing was that it didn't consume the mystic qi in his body.

In the following time, he began to study the earth's energy, sword control, and mental energy.

He could introduce the earth's energy into his body and then form a sword to fly out and attack enemies. Similarly, he could directly control the earth's energy without it passing through his body... but this way, the power would be uncontrollable, a true all-or-nothing approach. Once used, his mental energy would not be able to withstand it, leading to unconsciousness or even death.

His idea was to control the earth's energy outside his body without it passing through his body, making the earth his dantian and his physical body.

He shared his thoughts with Grandmaster Pagoda. After listening, Little Pagoda said, "It's not impossible, but it requires extremely high mental and control abilities..."

Ye Tianming nodded, "I know, but my true goal is not just to control the earth's energy."

Little Pagoda was puzzled, "What is your goal?"

Ye Tianming said seriously, "To establish a cultivation system of my own!"

"Ah?"

Little Pagoda was shocked, "You... what?"

Ye Tianming said firmly, "To establish a cultivation system of my own."

Little Pagoda: "......"

Ye Tianming said seriously, "My cultivation method is special, not only can it absorb, but it can also control. Since I can control the earth's energy, I can also control other energies. Of course, I won't aim too high right now. I will thoroughly understand the earth's energy and develop a complete cultivation system before trying others."

Little Pagoda was curious, "Why do you have this idea?"

Ye Tianming said solemnly, "Grandmaster, I can't compare my resources to those of the major families and sects. Therefore, following the normal cultivation system and methods, I will never catch up to them unless you give me a shortcut!"

Little Pagoda was greatly surprised, "Do you know what a shortcut is?"

Ye Tianming countered, "Grandmaster, do you know?"

Little Pagoda: "......"

Ye Tianming said, "I read it in some books in the Great Dao Bookshop and asked the bookseller, who explained it to me. Grandmaster, how do you know the meaning of this term?"

Little Pagoda said, "Have you forgotten? I am a wise being, a great wise being. I have read more books than you have eaten meals."

Ye Tianming laughed, "That's true... of course, even with a shortcut, I wouldn't want it."

Little Pagoda was puzzled, "Why?"

Ye Tianming thought, "Over-reliance on external things will make one a slave to them, right?"

Little Pagoda said, "Right."

Ye Tianming said seriously, "Grandmaster, I feel I can establish a cultivation method of my own because my cultivation method has great potential. Of course, I'm not saying I won't learn from existing systems. I can learn and draw inspiration, but I can also try to find my own path..."

He paused and then continued, "Grandmaster, do you think I'm overestimating myself?"

Little Pagoda said, "Don't ask me, what do you think?"

Ye Tianming said sincerely, "This is just my personal idea, but I know my knowledge and understanding of cultivation are still very shallow. I have never seen the big world and am completely ignorant of the outside world. Therefore, although I want to take a different path, I am still somewhat hesitant and confused. So, I want Grandmaster to guide me and help me set the direction for my future life."

Hearing this, Little Pagoda smiled lovingly like a father, "I am very pleased. In the past, I was most afraid that you would become arrogant and complacent after achieving a little success, but now it seems you haven't."

Ye Tianming quickly said, "All thanks to Grandmaster's guidance."

"Ha ha!"

Little Pagoda laughed, "Don't flatter me. I am not a tower with a vain heart. I am a tower that has transcended low-level interests."

Ye Tianming said seriously, "I am not flattering you. I mean every word. Grandmaster, I will take care of you in the future."

Little Pagoda smiled, "I believe you are sincere because you are a straightforward person."

His happiness was genuine. After all, what kind of life did he have with those three in the past?

The first one was always burning his soul or self-destructing, the next two were always trying to trick him and take advantage of him. Who knew how he had survived all these years.

Now, finally, he had met a loyal and honest person.

Little Pagoda smiled, "You said you want to establish a new cultivation system. I think this idea is good and completely feasible. Don't worry, think boldly and act boldly."

Ye Tianming was somewhat worried, "I'm just afraid of what might happen later..."

Little Pagoda interrupted him directly, "Don't be afraid, listen to me, think boldly and act boldly. Everything will be taken care of by Grandmaster."

Ye Tianming smiled, "With Grandmaster's words, I am reassured."

He was not flattering, nor was he playing any tricks. Everything he said was sincere. He had never underestimated Grandmaster, who he believed was on a much higher level than him. Moreover, Grandmaster had been very good to him, so he genuinely respected him.

Moreover, he understood a principle: when facing such a powerful being, the only thing he could do was to be sincere. He must not pretend to know what he doesn't or play any tricks, because such a powerful being could see through everything. Playing tricks and using schemes would only bring humiliation.

In short, he needed to be sincere in his dealings with people and matters. As for whether he could gain good fortune and opportunities, that was up to fate.

In the following time, he continued to study his sword control and the earth's energy, aiming to thoroughly understand them.

Unconsciously, he practiced until the afternoon. He tidied up and returned to the academy. As soon as he returned, the academy head, Song Shi, appeared before him, "Follow me tomorrow morning."

Ye Tianming was excited, "Headmaster, are we going to a real battle?"

Song Shi looked at him, "Hmm... why are you so excited?"

Ye Tianming smiled, "No, I just really want to engage in a real battle."

Song Shi laughed, "Don't be too happy... get some rest early tonight. We will leave early tomorrow morning."

Ye Tianming nodded, "Okay."

After Song Shi left, Ye Tianming walked into the grand hall where Mu Guanchen lived. Mu Guanchen was sitting at a desk, writing something.

Seeing Ye Tianming enter, Mu Guanchen stopped writing and looked at him, smiling, "The headmaster has already told you?"

Ye Tianming nodded, "Yes."

Mu Guanchen said, "Then get some rest early."

Ye Tianming nodded, "Teacher, you should also get some rest."

He walked to the bed in the corner and lay down. Since he had given his room to his senior sister Fucang, he had been sharing a room with his teacher, Mu Guanchen.

He didn't sleep but took out the book given to him by the bookseller from the Great Dao Bookshop and read it. He read it every night before sleeping. He read silently, "Class issues, no mercy, must overthrow everything..."

Mu Guanchen sat at the desk, sometimes writing, sometimes deep in thought.

The night passed.

The next day, after tidying up, Ye Tianming arrived early at the mountain gate. As soon as he got there, he saw Song Shi and Fucang.

Ye Tianming was surprised, "Is senior sister also going?"

Fucang looked at him but didn't say anything.

Song Shi smiled, "Of course, follow me."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the sky.

Fucang lightly stomped her right foot, and a piercing sound echoed. Immediately, she appeared at the horizon, leaving a terrifying long trench behind her... her movement had torn the space apart.

Ye Tianming was stunned... was this senior sister a max-level expert playing in the beginner zone?

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