Chapter 74: The Shocked Yu Longqing

Hundreds of books passed under Zhang Xuan's fingers, and within just over a dozen breaths of time, they were all incorporated into the Library of Heaven's Path. With a single thought, streams of knowledge regarding horses flowed through his mind.

"Although not all the meridians in the steed's body are clearly marked, dozens are described in detail," he mused. "This should significantly increase the speed at which Dao Li absorbs Yuan Power…"

After leaving the horse farm, Zhang Xuan did not wander elsewhere but went straight back to the School Head.

His purpose for coming out this time was to buy fodder and find books on horse meridians. Not only had he accomplished both tasks, but he also earned a considerable amount of Origin Currency and secured the status of an honorary elder. For the short term, there seemed no need for further exertions.

Returning to his small courtyard, and once Dao Li had eaten its fill, Zhang Xuan detailed the condition of its meridians and, using Natural Heavenly Dao to deduce a secret manual tailored for its practice, he wrote it out for Dao Li to practice by. Then, he retired back to his room.

Although he had reached the Late Accumulative Realm, Thirdfold of Source Pool, he was still far from the pinnacle, and his injuries had not fully healed. It was best to address these two matters as soon as possible!

As he practiced, streams of pure Origin qi once again flowed into his body, ceaselessly filling his Source Pool and expanding his meridians, while his own strength slowly increased under this forging...

...

While Zhang Xuan practiced, not too far away in a student dormitory, a figure materialized silently by the window with a flash.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone gently tapped on the window.

"Who is it?" came the crisp voice of Yu Xiaoyu.

"Your dad!" the figure said.

The door opened, and City Lord Yu stepped in. He smiled slightly at his daughter. "You've waited for quite some time. Bring out the blood essence of the Qingguang Beast. I'll ignite your Furnace now. Don't worry, with me here, it will at least be a Spirit pinnacle. It won't be worse than Mo Yanxue's…"

Yu Xiaoyu's face showed embarrassment upon realizing her father truly came to help ignite her Source Pool. "Dad, there's no need; Teacher Zhang has already helped me ignite it…"

Yu Longqing was taken aback. "Didn't I tell Steward Liao to instruct you to hide the blood essence of the Qingguang Beast and use the Luo Zhi Bird's blood essence as a decoy?"

Yu Xiaoyu turned and took out a bottle, placing it in front of her with a bitter smile. "I didn't take out the blood essence of the Qingguang Beast. Teacher Zhang used the blood essence of the Luo Zhi Bird to help me ignite it…"

After carefully inspecting the bottle and seeing that, indeed, not a drop of the Qingguang Beast's blood essence had been used, Yu Longqing felt darkness looming before his eyes.

"This is over…"

The essence of the Luo Zhi Bird was the least effective Fire-Starting Material; in theory, it should not have succeeded. If it actually worked, could it mean... he had doomed his daughter?

His fingers went numb, and his voice trembled. "The Furnace you've ignited... It's not the weakest Low-grade Furnace, is it? Show me! How many strands of Origin qi can you absorb in a day? 10? 15? Or... 20?"

With a low-grade Furnace, the speed of absorbing Origin qi was slow. To progress more swiftly, it would likely require much effort and resources in seeking pills and artifacts to aid in cultivation.

"None of those! Let me show you…"

Knowing words alone wouldn't clarify, Yu Xiaoyu said nothing further. She sat down cross-legged, and the next moment, the surrounding Origin qi swiftly flowed into her body.

"One strand, two strands, three strands... This is Flowing Water Qi..."

Yu Longqing's eyes bulged. "A Peak of Pinnacle Furnace that can absorb 200 strands of Origin qi in a day?"

"Yes!"

Yu Xiaoyu stopped and was still baffled. "Teacher Zhang used the blood essence of the Luo Zhi Bird to ignite a Peak of Pinnacle Furnace capable of Flowing Water Qi for me."

Without waiting for an explanation, Yu Longqing was thoroughly confused. "How could this be? Tell me everything in detail!"

Yu Xiaoyu recalled the day's events and recounted everything, including the bet and the incident involving the weakly talented Hong Yi.

"No matter the strength of one's talent, being capable of igniting a Peak of Pinnacle Furnace with such trash as the Luo Zhi Bird or Cold-Backed Turtle... This Teacher Zhang's talent must be higher than I imagined!"

Yu Longqing clenched his fists involuntarily, his excitement mingling with regret. Had he not been so clever and directly given his daughter the blood essence of the Qingguang Beast, what level would have been ignited now?

Imperial-grade? Or even... Emperor-grade?

Such a fortunate opportunity had slipped away!

"Dad, did you know of Teacher Zhang's abilities, and that's why you insisted I take him as my teacher?" After her explanation, Yu Xiaoyu voiced her own doubts.

"I..." Yu Longqing was at a loss for words.

I knew jack!

If he had known, he wouldn't have prepared the blood essence of the Luo Zhi Bird...

However, he couldn't express this regret and instead sighed. "You don't need to know the reason. Just listen well to Teacher Zhang, afford him sufficient respect, and you'll find it brings endless benefits!"

"Yes!"

Seeing her father so earnest, Yu Xiaoyu nodded in agreement.

Eager to avoid further questions, Yu Longqing changed the subject. "You mentioned Teacher Zhang will teach you how to gather energy tomorrow?"

"Yes!"

Yu Longqing pondered momentarily before speaking. "Gathering Energy Storage, as the name implies, involves absorbing Yuan Power to accumulate strength. It's the most important threshold for Origin warriors as they enter the doorway of cultivation. It's likely that the technique he will teach is the orthodox cultivation method of the School Head, the Recovery and Energy Storage Technique. It's not that this technique is inadequate, but compared to the Five Directions Energy Storage Technique of Baiyan City which is Baiyan City's most powerful Accumulative cultivation technique, no other method comes close!"

"This is what you will do; regardless whether the cultivation technique Teacher Zhang explains is simple or complex, you'll say you've understood and learned it! Then at night when you come back, I will teach you the Five Directions Energy Storage Technique. Just show greater strength than expected the following day, and he will undoubtedly look at you in a new light..."