"What explanation?"
Chu Feng took a sip of tea, looking puzzled as he replied.
Marquis Yishan said, "Weren't you just an ordinary person before? And you've only been at Wendao Academy for less than ten years. You're not even thirty—how did you become a Half-Saint?"
Chu Feng calmly continued drinking tea, but in his mind he was thinking, 'How am I supposed to fool these old foxes?'
At that moment, King Hengjiang spoke: "Looks like what the Dean and Chief Kong said back then was true."
???
All the elders turned to King Hengjiang with curious looks.
Chu Feng: 'King Hengjiang, you're my eternal friend!'
'I haven't even had time to make something up, and you've already helped me out.'
King Hengjiang said, "Have you all forgotten? When Chief Chu joined Wendao Academy, both the Dean and Chief Kong praised him as having the bearing of an Emperor."
Hearing this, Chu Feng felt a chill and muttered softly, "Luckily my surname isn't Wang."
Everyone began to look thoughtful, recalling past events.
After a while, Marquis Yishan murmured, "That's right. Back then, aside from cultivation, Chief Chu mastered all sorts of arts at the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. Whether it was music, chess, calligraphy, painting, tea, cooking, even farming and pig-raising—he picked up anything just by seeing it once. In just a year, he'd already surpassed Chief Kong in every art."
King Hengjiang continued, "Not only that, Chief Chu also had his own understanding of techniques. Even for the same cultivation method, his explanations always brought new insight."
Chu Feng was a bit embarrassed by the praise and smiled politely: "You're overpraising me, seniors. I just learn a tiny bit faster than others."
The elders all nodded slightly. They had heard about Chu Feng's achievements back then, but since he was unable to cultivate for so long, and with so many geniuses at Wendao Academy, his brilliance was quickly overshadowed.
Gradually, everyone just remembered that Chu Feng couldn't cultivate, forgetting the legendary feats he achieved.
Suddenly, Elder Bing raised his hand and asked, "Chief Chu, how did you suddenly gain enlightenment and start cultivating?"
Chu Feng smiled and explained, "Of course it was by reading more books, comprehending the spirit of literature. Later, I wrote a piece that will be passed down through the ages, and only then did I embark on the path of cultivation."
'Anyway, I'm strong enough now; whatever I say goes.'
King Hengjiang stroked his beard and said, "It seems Chief Kong was right back then. He said you only needed a moment of enlightenment to soar to the heavens. Reaching Saint in a hundred days was no big deal. That's why he spent resources to find sacred medicine to help you reach enlightenment."
'Damn, I finally understand why all those big shots were so hard on me before. Turns out the old man hyped me up so much back then.'
Chu Feng awkwardly took another sip of tea. 'Thankfully, the old man exaggerated enough. Otherwise, I'd still be racking my brains to come up with excuses.'
'But honestly, my progress hasn't really lived up to his hype. I need to go back and push my disciples harder, or else what stories will I have to brag about in the future?'
He spoke up: "Seniors, is there anything else you'd like to ask?"
Everyone exchanged looks. King Hengjiang said, "Nothing else. Seeing you've become a Half-Saint, this old man is relieved."
"Then I'll take my leave."
Chu Feng finished, stood up, bowed to everyone, and turned to leave.
Only then did Marquis Yishan turn to King Hengjiang. "Senior brother, are you still hiding something from us?"
"Mm."
King Hengjiang simply admitted it, and slowly explained, "There was indeed one thing I didn't mention. The Dean and Chief Kong always believed Chief Chu was the reincarnation of a Sage of Culture. To protect him, they never made this public.
Now that Xiao Feng is already a Half-Saint, it's fine if everyone knows. The Dean agreed to dissolve the Miscellaneous Dao Institute just so he could bring Xiao Feng by his side to cultivate.
But who would have thought this kid would give us so many surprises?"
"Then aren't we in trouble? We used to mock Chief Chu all the time," an elder from the Beast Taming Institute said, looking aggrieved.
King Hengjiang laughed. "Xiao Feng isn't the type to hold grudges. If you feel bad, just go and apologize to him in person."
Everyone exchanged glances, and a tacit understanding formed among them.
Chu Feng returned to his own tent, where Xiao Chen and the others were already waiting.
Although they knew their master was powerful, this was the first time they had actually seen him fight before their eyes.
The might of a Half-Saint left an overwhelming impression on these lower-realm cultivators.
"We greet Master."
"No need for formalities."
After Chu Feng spoke, he took the main seat.
Cao Youqian hurried to his side to massage his shoulders.
Chu Feng shot him a look of annoyance: "Kid, can't you ever be serious?"
Cao Youqian: "..."
'But Master, you weren't like this before.'
Everyone burst into laughter, and Cao Youqian could only retreat in silence.
After the laughter, Chu Feng said, "Your performance in this Taixu Secret Realm trial made me very satisfied."
Xiao Chen asked, "Master, how far have you progressed on the path of a Half-Saint?"
Chu Feng replied, "I've only just managed to obtain a bit over twenty Dao True Meanings. I'm still a long way from becoming a Saint."
Among the four disciples before him, Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian had each provided him with seven Dao True Meanings, while Xiaopang and Qin Qin each contributed three. This was already with his culinary and musical skills perfected.
Adding in the three Dao True Meanings from Elder Bing, that made twenty-three in total.
According to the books of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute, it takes a hundred Dao True Meanings to enter the Dao perfectly, so saying he was still far from Sainthood was entirely accurate.
He asked, "What do you all plan to do next?"
Xiao Chen stepped forward first: "I plan to keep traveling the world to cultivate."
Cao Youqian said, "Me too."
Qin Qin said respectfully, "I wish to stay by Master's side to cultivate."
"Alright."
Chu Feng's gaze finally fell on Wang Baole. "Xiaopang, what about you?"
Wang Baole scratched his head: "I want to go back to the Wang family for a bit. After all, I've been away for a while—it's time to visit home."
Chu Feng said, "Alright. Now that you're in the True Fate Realm, it's good to go home and have a look."
"Thank you, Master."
Wang Baole bowed deeply.
"Alright, you're all dismissed. I'm a little tired," Chu Feng waved his hand, signaling his disciples to withdraw.
"Yes."
They answered in unison and departed.
Outside the tent, Xiao Chen turned to Wang Baole: "Fourth Junior Brother, how about Da Qian, Junior Sister Liu, and I go with you to the Wang family?"
Wang Baole beamed: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"
Xiao Chen smiled: "No need for thanks between us. If you go back alone, the Wang family might think you have no support from Wendao Academy."
Cao Youqian chimed in, "Exactly!"
"With two senior brothers to help, I'm sure my visit to the Wang family will go smoothly," Wang Baole said, already looking forward to it.
The next day, all the major powers set out for their own sects.
This Taixu Secret Realm expedition shocked the world—Wendao Academy became the talk of the land.
Before the flying boat even returned, the upper ranks and all the students of Wendao Academy had already received the news.
The entire academy was in an uproar; everyone was talking about Chu Feng becoming a Half-Saint.
The eight chief seats stared dumbfounded at the message brought by the crane.
Sword King Wu murmured, "That brat Chu Feng really became a Half-Saint?"
Sword King Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with excitement: "At last, a worthy rival among the chief seats! From today on, I'll enter seclusion to break through to Half-Saint!"
The Dean smiled and muttered to himself, "Brother Kong, we were right all along. Wendao Academy is finally going to produce another Emperor!"
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