Eternal Heavenly Emperor

Pang Yi couldn't help but be astonished. A mere Outer Sect Disciple dared to stop him?

This kid has quite the nerve.

He turned around, his gaze chilling, and said, "Kid, you're far too disrespectful. What if you're the first of the Outer Sect? I could crush you with one finger."

Chu Hao smiled slightly and said, "I'd like to make a date with you as well, five months from now at the annual end-of-year competition."

—Even though he didn't know what the annual end-of-year competition actually was, but who cares? He had never been one to lose in terms of momentum.

"Haha, hahaha." Pang Yi paused for a moment and then burst out laughing, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. It took him a while to regain his composure, and then he coughed and said, "A mere Outer Sect Disciple, what right do you have to challenge me?"

Chu Hao took out his Identity Token and waved it.

"Pfft!"

"Inner Sect Disciple."

"How is that possible!"

Upon seeing this, the people with Pang Yi couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"So you've already become an Inner Sect Disciple." Pang Yi then looked a bit more serious, he stared at Chu Hao coldly and arrogantly said, "You truly don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. I'm of the Five Meridians; you've been here less than half a year, how can you catch up to me?"

"That's none of your concern, the battle at the end of the year will make things clear." Chu Hao was even more arrogant.

"Hahaha." Pang Yi laughed three times, looking at Chu Hao, "If you insist on making a fool of yourself in public, I don't mind obliging you. And don't think I don't know you're using a stalling strategy, to give yourself half a year to grow. Someone from the Lower World like you, even if you had three years, what difference would it make?"

"Let's go."

He waved his hand, taking the people upstairs with him and leaving.

"Chu Hao, you really became an Inner Sect Disciple?" Zhao Huan was extremely surprised.

"Yes." Chu Hao nodded, as they all came from the Lower World, they naturally felt closer to each other.

"You are very impressive." Zhao Huan nodded and said, "In the history of the Yunliu Sect, at least in the last hundred years, you're the first person from the Lower World to become an Inner Sect Disciple in just one year."

Chu Hao smiled and said, "It won't be long before there will be another one."

"What." Zhao Huan was taken aback, another one?

Chu Hao nodded, referring naturally to the exceptional Fu Xue.

"You should choose your Cultivation Technique first, then I'll also take you to our 'River Down Courtyard'," said Zhao Huan.

"River Down Courtyard?"

"Yes, the River Down Courtyard is full of people from the Lower World, it was established a thousand years ago, where everyone supports and helps each other," explained Zhao Huan.

"Okay." Chu Hao nodded, "Then I'll go pick first."

"Go ahead."

Chu Hao began to circle the bookshelves. His constitution was of the Fire Attribute, so it was naturally best for him to choose techniques related to the Fire Attribute that could maximize the benefits of his constitution.

However, since he could only choose one Cultivation Technique and one Martial Technique, there was no doubt about which Cultivation Technique to pick, but regarding the Martial Technique, he planned on choosing a movement technique.

In terms of attack power, he had the Izumo Sword Technique, Mad Wind Fist, Mad Demon Hammer Technique, and Sky Wind Eight Styles; he was just missing a movement technique. Even though choosing a Fire Attribute Martial Technique could further increase his attack power, he shouldn't focus too narrowly on just improving attack prowess. He needed to develop in a well-rounded manner.

Besides, there would be other opportunities to borrow books in the future.

He circled for a long time and chose a Cultivation Technique first.

Earth Flame Jue.

This was a Middle-Grade Human Level Cultivation Technique. Once mastered, the user could infuse Star Force into the ground under their feet, turning the surrounding ten meters into a molten land, making it difficult for weaker opponents even to come close.

Theoretically, Cultivation Techniques that ranged from the First Turn to the Eighteenth Turn of Star Force are all considered Middle-Grade Human Level, and this Earth Flame Jue could reach up to the Sixteenth Turn which made it quite strong among the Middle-Grade of Human Level.

It was just a pity that the only Middle-Grade Earth Level Cultivation Technique in the Yunliu Sect was of the Water Attribute, now lying lonely stored within the Mustard Seed Ring, buried deep underground, basically wasted. However, attribute-based techniques all had significant characteristics, even if he was of the Water Attribute constitution, he wouldn't dare to cultivate it, as once he began, the Sect's experts would quickly see the clues.

He circled a few more times and picked a Martial Technique.

Sky Stepping Technique.

The most notable feature of this movement technique was its strong hovering ability, like soaring up and then lightly tapping with both feet in a mysterious way that allowed one to hover in the air and continue to climb upward for a certain distance.

This required high skill, as one must perfect the Sky Stepping Technique to the Third Layer.

—Whether it was Cultivation Techniques or movement techniques, there was only one book cover available, with an introduction to the features of the technique printed on the back to help those who came to make a selection.

After Chu Hao made his selection, Zhao Huan had already made his choice; as an Inner Sect Disciple, he could enter the Scripture Pavilion unrestricted and had picked his desired Cultivation Technique or Martial Technique early on.

The two went downstairs and handed over their book covers to exchange for the corresponding hand-copied versions.

"The copy can be kept for seven days, after which it must be returned. Additionally, no lending to others, no private transmissions, and no making extra copies. If it is discovered, you will be executed immediately. Do you understand?" the presiding elder said sternly.

"Yes." Both Chu Hao and Zhao Huan nodded.

"Go ahead." The elder waved his hand, his eyes closed the whole time.

After walking a long distance, Chu Hao asked, "Who was that old man, and does he have a problem with his eyes?"

"That's Elder Shi Zhao," Zhao Huan quickly made a silencing gesture, seemingly worried that even at this distance they could be overheard, "It is said that Elder Shi is cultivating a unique technique and must keep his eyes closed at all times, locking away all his energy."

How strange.

"Come, let's head to River Down Courtyard," Zhao Huan led the way.

They descended from Broken Blade Peak to Raising Hoof Peak. Since people from the Lower World all resided in River Down Courtyard, Chu Hao did not need to find another place to stay.

This was a large courtyard, reportedly established a thousand years ago by several ancestors from the Lower World together, providing a common place for the Martial Artists of the Lower World.

In fact, the entire Inner Sect could be seen as a miniature version of numerous noble families.

Yunliu Sect was made up of nine Sixth Rank Noble Families and forty-five Seventh Rank Noble Families—as for the Eighth and Ninth Rank lesser noble families, they were negligible. Within the Inner Sect, every Sixth and Seventh Rank Noble Family would form their own powers.

For example, the Pang Family was known as Pang Sect, led by Pang Yi, and then some disciples joined, some from poor backgrounds, while others were vassals of the Pang Family itself.

As the leader of a "sect," the stronger one's own strength, and the higher the rank of the family backing him, the more and stronger talents one could attract.

For instance, Cao Jingwen, who ranked first, merely his nine major generals under his command were all Eighth Tier martial masters, far more powerful than the leader Pang Yi.

"Boss." When Zhao Huan entered, several young practitioners sparring in the courtyard greeted him.

Seeing Chu Hao's puzzled look, Zhao Huan laughed and said, "My cultivation is a bit higher, so everyone has made me their leader." He paused and introduced Chu Hao, "This is our new fellow, Chu Hao, the number one of the Outer Sect this year, who has just entered the Inner Sect."

"The number one of the Outer Sect, huh?"

"And he's the first-year Outer Sect number one, which is really prestigious."

"I personally witnessed Junior Brother Chu's duel with Mo Guxin; his talent is undeniable."

"Haha, we finally have a genius who can hold his own here," said the people in the courtyard, their attitude toward Chu Hao immensely warm, without any hint of jealousy over his talent.

Chu Hao nodded quietly. The conflict between the Native Faction and the Outsider Faction at least had one benefit—it made the people from the Lower World more united. He smiled and made a fist-and-palm salute, saying, "Junior Chu greets all fellow senior brothers and sisters."

After everyone had introduced themselves to Chu Hao, Zhao Huan said, "Junior Brother Chu, you should go practice that cultivation technique and martial technique first, as you only have seven days."

"Yes." Chu Hao nodded to everyone again and made a greeting gesture with his fist before leaving.

First, he had to take care of Flying Fire and also tell Tang Xin and Fu Xue. It seemed this day was already doomed, not allowing for other activities.

Indeed, apart from Fu Xue who was in seclusion sensing Star Force, Tang Xin and the others all came to meet with Chu Hao, and the group went to a tavern in town for a drink, not dispersing until they had completely drunk Chu Hao under the table.

The next day when he woke up, Chu Hao's head throbbed with pain; he sat stunned for a while before he could get up to wash his face and rinse his mouth.

He began to cultivate Earth Flame Jue, guiding according to the technique.

Whoom, every cell within Chu Hao vibrated thunderously, as if each had become a separate furnace with its own life form, absorbing energy to refine and transform into his own Star Force.

This speed of cultivation!

Chu Hao was suddenly astonished. Right now the speed at which he absorbed and refined Star Stones was seventy percent faster than before—this was a Middle-Grade Human Level Technique, definitely stronger than the Seven Star Jue and the Nameless Technique. But he had just started cultivating, and the speed of converting Star Force was still the same as before, only nine turns.

Thus, it was not the high rank of the technique that brought this effect, but the attribute of his physique.

A technique aligning with one's body attributes halved the work for double the results.

If he pushed this technique to 15 turns, wouldn't his cultivation speed double or even increase further?

However, could an ordinary Fire Attribute body have such an exaggerated effect?

Chu Hao nodded quietly. Even if it were the same Fire Attribute, there would be different types, such as the Green Flame Fire, Undying Fire, or Sky Dragon Fire, each varying in the assistance they provided for cultivation.

Moreover, even if it were the same Green Flame Fire, there was also the issue of bloodline purity, and of course, the purer the bloodline, the more powerful it was.

Chu Hao thought about how he had been able to activate the Power of Flame with his physical body in the Martial Disciple Realm, which indeed wasn't just an ordinary Fire Attribute physique. Moreover, his bloodline purity was very high.

Merely in one afternoon, under the impetus of the Earth Flame Jue, his Star Force turning speed had reached 11 turns. At this rate, he only needed two more days to reach the maximum 15 turns.

If the fire cultivators of the sect knew this, they would definitely worship Chu Hao as a divine being.

Too fast.

Moreover, once the Star Force spiral exceeded nine turns, Chu Hao found that the Star Force inside his body became more condensed, and with the increase in rotational speed, this solidity also increased.

Worthy of being a Middle-Grade Human Level.

Chu Hao nodded quietly. If two people were at the same realm, theoretically their cultivations should also be the same, but one who cultivated a Lower-Grade Human Level Technique and another who cultivated a Middle-Grade Human Level Technique would see a significant difference in the quality of their Star Force, thus resulting in a clear disparity in strength.

Unfortunately, he couldn't cultivate the Flowing Water Jue, which was a Middle-Grade Earth Level Technique, with a rotational speed of 99, more than six times that of Earth Flame Jue.

By the afternoon, he started reading Sky Stepping Technique.

Sky Stepping Technique was divided into three realms, the first realm called Sliding Step, which used the interaction between Star Force and air to glide, significantly enhancing speed, and also making the movement technique more elusive and unpredictable. The second realm was called Space-Condensing, involving the use of rapid virtual points in the air with one's steps, allowing the body to stall in mid-air.

The third realm was called Reverse Sky, which, after the force of the ascent was exhausted, countered gravity to rise further.

However, according to the annotations, most people could only achieve the first realm, a few talents could reach the second realm, and the third realm was almost unattainable by anyone.

This shows that martial techniques are not necessarily easy to master just because they are of a lower rank.