History's Number 1 Founder
chapter-328

After emerging from the Hidden Dragon Gorge, Zhu Yi went to Lin Feng and bowed. Following which, he faced in the direction of the Great Qin Empire, which was also where Jiao Junchen was, and did a gesture of respect.

Jiao Junchen returned the gesture before paying his respects to Shi Zongyue, Vivant Joy Holy Man and Zhuge Guang. He spoke calmly, "After this exciting battle with my friend, Zhu Yi, I have learnt much and also realized that I have yet to fully understand much of what I have read in the past."

"Hence, I hope to seek your permission to return back and train. If it is possible, I would not be attending the later half of the Spiritual Conference."

Everyone present was totally caught off guard as the three Immortal Soul stage cultivators stared at each other. The Vivant Joy Holy Man advised, "After the Spiritual Conference, there is still the training phase in the Ancient Huanghai World. The world is only opened once every thousand year. The opportunity doesn’t come by easily."

Jiao Junchen laughed lightheartedly, "I have already gained much from my fight with Zhu Yi. What I have gained is already more than what I will gain from the trip to the Ancient Huanghai World. I believe that it would be better if I could take this time to digest what I have picked up as much as possible."

Shi Zongyue thought deeply for a short moment before nodding his head, "Alright, you may take your leave then."

After sending his regards to the group of Immortal Soul elders, Jiao Junchen went back to talk to Zhu Yi. "I hope to hear good news about you getting the title of the top scholar at the Zhou Empire Imperial Exams very soon."

After finishing his words, Jiao Junchen turned and leave without any hesitation.

The masses who were attending the Spiritual Conference began to discuss among themselves as they had never expected the fight to end up with Jiao Junchen returning home.

Shi Shaoqian gaped as he muttered, "So he’s leaving just like this? I didn’t know that the batle with Zhu Yi had left such a huge impact on him…"

Shi Xingyun who was next to him also let out a dry laugh as he staed at Zhu Yi, Xiao Budian and the rest before shaking his head. "Don’t you belittle Zhu Yi simply because he is still at the Aurous Core Stage. He has just overcome an enormous bottleneck and will now transit to a stage where he will develop at a rapid speed."

"If nothing goes wrong, I believe that no one will be able to stop him from rising to become a legend in his own right."

Shi Xingyun’s opinion was apparently shared by many who were present. Zhu Yi’s potential was apparent and his ascent would be unstoppable.

Looking at Zhu Yi, many cultivators who were at the Aurous Core Stage felt an incomprehensible sense of fear eroding their confidence.

Usually, when one could form the aurous core within their body, it would mean that they possessed a certain level of talent and psychological strength. Fear was an emotion that had become somewhat unfamiliar for them. But right now, when they looked at Zhu Yi, they found that long lost sense of fear resurfacing again.

At the initial level of the Aurous Core stage, Zhu Yi could already barge past almost all Aurous Core stage cultivators. With the help of the Nascent Soul stage magic item, he could be almost on par with any grandmaster at the initial level of the Nascent Soul stage.

Huo Ming was already considered a top notch cultivator at the Aurous Core stage. However, he too did not manage to escape the fate of defeat in Zhu Yi’s hands.

Jiao Junchen was even stronger than Huo Ming and had once suppressed Zhu Yi. But nonetheless, he was also not spared. In fact, his defeat paved the way of ascension for Zhu Yi as he attained the middle level of the Aurous Core stage.

Now, Zhu Yi’s powers had also increased with his advancement. Was there any other cultivator at the Aurous Core stage that could put up a fight against him?

In fact, many of the people present were already stealing glances at the Nascent Soul stage grandmasters.

The expressions on the Nascent Soul stage grandmasters’ faces were all varied but generally glum. In fact, some of the cultivators who were at the middle level of the Nascent Soul stage were also taking Zhu Yi seriously.

Jiao Junchen’s final attack in the battle had already caught the eye of many of the Nascent Soul stage grandmasters. However, Zhu Yi was still able to defeat him.

And after this battle, Zhu Yi had advanced to the middle level of the Aurous Core stage, which beckoned for them to pay greater attention to him.

What made a large group of the people worried was an old and familiar question.

If he had already possessed such astounding abilities at the initial level of the Aurous Core stage, how powerful would he be once he had attained the final level of the Aurous Core stage?

What about after he had formed his Nascent Soul?

Everyone turned their heads to look at the group of cultivators from the Celestial Sect of Wonders. A single thought ran through everyone’s heads, "It seems...seems like maybe… everyone in this sect has this potential and ability?"

Lin Feng watched as the Popularity Score in the system soared and he nodded his head in satisfaction, "Excellent. It seems like it won’t be a wasted trip coming here for the conference."

He turned and spoke to Zhu Yi, "Zhu Yi, sit down and regulate your breathing. Consolidate your learnings and strengthen your foundation. You have accumulated much and had only used a little of it. What had happened earlier is nothing but the beginning. Your first usage and release of your accumulated insights and wisdom had already allowed you to advance into the middle level of the Aurous Core stage."

Zhu Yi smiled and nodded his head, "Yes, Master. I share the same sentiments with you." Following which, he sat down in a cross-legged manner and started to nourish his aurous core which had just went through the tribulations of the Yin Fire.

The Vivant Joy Holy Man let out a dry cough and spoke, "At our Spiritual Conference, it is rare to witness an advancement in cultivation right after a duel. I guess it can be considered a beautiful occurrence. Over here, I would like to congratulate Lord Lin!"

Lin Feng smiled gently, "I have to thank Prince Anliang, the Vivant Joy Holy Man and the Gambling Holy Man for their generosity instead."

"You are very polite, Lord Lin." Shi Zongyue continued as he turned to look at the Vivant Joy Holy Man, "The Top Four have been confirmed. Let’s begin the drawing of lots for the Fourth round of battle."

The Vivant Joy Holy Man nodded his head as he waved his hand. Four nametags appeared in the air and on them were the names of the four different remaining participants - Zhu Yi, Shi Tianhao, Shi Xingyun and Song Qingyun.

At the sight of this, many cultivators were embarrassed with their own performances.

Amongst the top four, once again, the Celestial Sect of Wonders have two of the four seats. What made everyone embarrassed was that they had entered with two participants and the very same two had gone straight all the way to the top four.

And Zhu Yi’s display of his strength earlier had already made him the best bet to become champion!

After Shi Xingyun’s evaluation of Zhu Yi, at least in the Spiritual Conference of Huanghai, no one would want to or even dare to challenge him.

No one would want to face him!

The cultivators from both the Great Qin Empire and the Heaven Lake Sect were all praying hard that their own members would not be drawn into the same group as Zhu Yi. They did not want to see their own sect or group humiliated by him.

Even if their own guy were capable of beating Zhu Yi, it would be at a cost that would be unimaginable! The victor would never be able to put up a fight in the finals.

Right now, both the Great Qin Empire and the Heaven Lake Sect wanted the Vivant Joy Holy Man to draw both Zhu Yi and Xiao Budian into the same gorup.

Let the freak fight the freak!

However, there were also some that had different ideas. They wanted their own representative to draw Xiao Budian as their competitor.

After all, regardless of whether it was Song Qingyuan or Shi Xingyun, they had both displayed relatively strong power. If they were to be drawn into the same group, there was still uncertainty as to who would triumph over the other.

Conversely, Xiao Budian’s previous performance appeared to be slightly weaker than the rest of the three from the top four. And coupled with the fact that he had yet to recover from his previous injury, he was the ideal competitor to be drawn with.

Shi Shaoqian also shared the same analysis with the majority of the people from the Great Qin Empire and the Heaven Lake Sect. But after he had shared his opinion with Shi Xingyun, he watched his usually prim and proper sister rolled her eyes.

"If we are looking for a passionate battle, it doesn’t matter who we draw. But if we really want to enter the finals, Song Qingyuan is a suitable opponent." Song Xingyun went on, "As for the two from the Celestial Sect of Wonders, it would be better if they could settle it between themselves."

Shi Shaoqian was confused by his sister’s reaction, "But Sister, even if Shi Tianhao had recovered from his injuries and regained his previous form, he would still be unable to defeat you."

Shi Xingyun did not answer immediately but stared at Shi Tianhao for a good while before muttering, "It does seems like this for now. But there is just this uneasy feeling inside me."

"Maybe it’s because I know that if Tianhao only possessed this amount of power, he would never be able to look for the Man with Polycoria for revenge. Because the gap between them is simply too big."

Shi Xingyun continued to mutter to herself, "After acquiring Tianhao’s Supreme Spiritual Altar and coupled with his own innate gifts from his polycoria condition, Shi Tianyi’s potential is out of scale. Tianhao should know this better than anyone."

"But for some weird reason, I can sense an attitude and confidence that was not in the least affected by this fact. It seems like he is totally okay without having to find Shi Tianyi for revenge. This confidence is not coming from his mysterious master but instead, originates from him."

At this juncture, Shi Xingyun was increasingly confused and perplexed. "With such a confidence, this can only mean that his abilities are definitely more than what meets the eye. However, if he was deliberately trying to conceal his strengths, he couldn’t have done so in the previous round against Mu Jihai because any little mishap would result in him losing."

Just as Shi Xingyun was pondering over this matter, the Vivant Joy Holy Man had already deposited all four nametags into the bronze can. And very quickly, he fished out the first nametag.

Shi Tianhao.

And following which, the Vivant Joy Holy Man had to draw Xiao Budian’s opponent.

Song Qingyuan.

After the announcement of Song Qingyuan’s name, one could hear the sound of the cultivators in the Heaven Lake Sect rejoicing.

In their eyes, such a draw was simply perfect. Let Shi Xingyun figure out how to handle Zhu Yi!

The Nascent Soul stage grandmasters and Aurous Core stage elders from the Heaven Lake Sect glared at the young disciple viciously upon hearing the sound of them rejoicing.

Their behavior was as good as telling the rest of the people that were present that even they themselves were not confident that Song Qingyuan could win Zhu Yi.

Although they themselves also heaved a sigh of relief, they still placed quite a lot of importance in the necessary appearance that their Sect had to put up.

Song Qingyuan was calm and expressionless. In fact, he was reflecting, "Zhu Yi is stronger than I thought. Previously, I had already tried to think of him as someone very powerful. But it seems like I had still underestimated him."

"If his opponent for the Third round was me instead of Jiao Junchen, it could really have been a tough battle."

He shifted his gaze onto Xiao Budian and thought to himself, "Does that mean I might have underestimated this fellow as well? He might have injured himself quite badly in his previous duel with Mu Jihai, but it doesn’t mean that he didn’t conceal any of his trump cards."

"I had wanted to reserve my trump card for the finals but it seems like I might have to play by ear. I will have to use it if necessary."

Just as Song Qingyuan was deep in his thoughts, he received a voice projection from his Master, Cao Wei. "Qingyuan, I have something I will need you to do. You must remember this one thing later during your duel with Shi Tianhao."