After the Engagement Was Broken Off, I Was Pursued by Peerless Holy Maidens - Chapter 24:

Chapter 24: Slept and Rose Twenty-Seven Cultivation Stages?!:

After Xia Feng left, his mother remained silent for a moment before asking, “Old man, could it be that those five top Holy Maidens really came for us?”

Xia Feng’s father furrowed his brows and replied, “That’s unlikely. What happened back then, only he knows. He wouldn’t have spoken about it. Ever since my father died, my dantian was damaged, and Xia Feng’s talent was extremely poor. He let go of all interest in us and hasn’t paid attention since. Even if these Holy Maidens knew who we really are, I don’t think they’d act so recklessly. Still, the appearance of all five of them together might catch his attention again.”

Xia Feng’s mother nodded. “But if we gain the favor of the five great holy lands, even he might not dare make a move.”

Xia Feng’s father glanced at her and laughed. “So this is why you suggested having all five Holy Maidens marry Xia Feng? You’re too naive. Even if the girls themselves don’t object, the five holy lands would never agree.”

“How would we know if we don’t try?” Xia Feng’s mother didn’t give up.

Xia Feng’s father simply shook his head and left the room.

Meanwhile, Xia Feng had already arrived at Niu Zhan’s courtyard after leaving the hall.

“Master Niu, I’m Xia Feng. Sorry to bother you,” he called out at the gate.

Niu Zhan, who had been meditating inside the courtyard, frowned slightly. To be honest, he really didn’t want to get involved with Xia Feng. All he wanted was to stay quietly for a few days, and once the five Holy Maidens returned, he could consider the task completed.

Sixteen years old and still stuck at the Martial Disciple stage… His talent was abysmally bad—worse than even the lowest servant in Iron Horn Sect.

But since Xia Feng was the one being fought over by five top Holy Maidens, Niu Zhan didn’t dare offend him. No matter how unwilling he was, he forced a smile and said, “Young Master Xia, please come in.”

Xia Feng pushed the door open and came up to Niu Zhan. “Master Niu, I don’t quite understand this Iron Horn Art. Could I trouble you to explain it to me?”

He’d already looked through the technique on his way here. The name sounded simple, but the contents were anything but. It was extremely profound. With his talent, he might not figure anything out even after studying it for a year or two.

Niu Zhan gave him a look. This kid really wanted to cultivate the Iron Horn Art?

Though it was far from being a holy land’s secret technique, it was still a genuine top-grade martial art. Was someone with such poor talent even capable of learning it?

Still, since he had promised the five Holy Maidens to help guide Xia Feng’s cultivation, he had no choice. If he didn’t even explain it, he’d be in big trouble once they returned.

With that in mind, Niu Zhan said, “Sit beside me. I’ll explain it to you.”

“Thank you, Master Niu,” Xia Feng said with a bow, then sat beside him.

Niu Zhan began to explain patiently, “The Iron Horn Art refines one’s energy to become as resilient and enduring as an ox. It also tempers the body, storing some of the energy within the flesh. In battle, when your spiritual energy is depleted, you can suddenly release this hidden energy in your body for a surprise attack. The power is immense…”

He wasn’t hiding anything. These weren’t highly classified secrets. If the five Holy Maidens asked Iron Horn Sect about it, they’d find out anyway. Better to play it safe than anger them.

And besides, with Xia Feng’s talent, he probably couldn’t grasp any of it even after hearing it a hundred times.

As expected, Xia Feng understood a little at first, but as it got more complex, he started to get sleepy.

Just as Niu Zhan was speaking in earnest, he heard faint snoring. He turned and saw Xia Feng fast asleep. Anger immediately flared in his chest.

If this were his disciple, Niu Zhan would’ve slapped him awake long ago.

But thinking of Xia Feng’s special status, he forced himself to stay calm and didn’t act on his anger.

The guy was asleep—no point continuing the lecture.

Why was he even hoping that someone still stuck in the Martial Disciple stage at sixteen could comprehend a top-tier martial art?

He sighed and went back into the house.

What he didn’t know was that deep inside Xia Feng’s soul, a pearl glowed faintly. As he slept, it constructed a dream world, recording Niu Zhan’s explanation and replaying it inside the dream.

Inside this world, Xia Feng sat cross-legged, entering a cultivation state. Niu Zhan’s voice echoed around him like the voice of the Dao, constantly resounding in his ears.

One year… ten years… one hundred… two hundred… five hundred years passed in that dream.

Xia Feng’s aura kept rising.

But in reality, only about an hour and a half had gone by.

When Niu Zhan came out of his room again and saw Xia Feng still sleeping and snoring loudly, he was speechless. He walked up and tapped him on the shoulder. “Young Master Xia, would you like me to continue the explanation?”

“Huh? You’re done already?” Xia Feng asked groggily, confused.

Niu Zhan took a deep breath, holding back his frustration, and forced a smile while nodding.

Xia Feng chuckled awkwardly. “Sorry, Master Niu. Your explanation was just… too good. I got lost in it and fell asleep. By the way, how long was I out?”

He had intended to listen to the explanation and then use it to dream about cultivating. But his talent was just too bad—he didn’t understand a thing and fell asleep quickly.

He felt like he’d had a dream, but couldn’t recall anything. He could only hope the Dream Pearl really worked.

“Too good?” 

“Lost in it?” 

“Then fell asleep?”

Niu Zhan nearly exploded.

Too good my ass! You didn’t understand a word, got bored, and passed out!

He’d met countless cultivators in his life, even those with average talent. But none were as hopeless as Xia Feng.

If it weren’t for the five Holy Maidens’ orders, he would’ve walked away long ago.

“You were only asleep for about an hour and a half,” Niu Zhan said flatly.

“An hour and a half? That long?” Xia Feng scratched his head and asked, “Shall we continue?”

Continue?

Continue what?! Niu Zhan cursed inwardly. The guy couldn’t even understand what he’d already explained—what was the point of continuing?

Still, he couldn’t show his annoyance and forced a smile. “Young Master Xia, what I explained is enough for you to reach the Martial Warrior stage. If you’ve got decent talent, you should be able to break through from Martial Disciple to Martial Warrior in half a month. Reaching Martial Master could take ten years.”

“Half a month, huh?” Xia Feng nodded. He knew that without some miracle, he’d never be able to break through in his lifetime.

“And you… I’m afraid…” Niu Zhan looked at him and hesitated.

“I…” Just as Xia Feng was about to acknowledge his shortcomings, his body suddenly tensed up.

A surge of wild spiritual energy flooded into him, rushing violently through his body.

“Master Niu, what’s happening?!” Xia Feng panicked. He couldn’t move.

Even Niu Zhan was stunned. He had never seen this before.

Xia Feng was still just a Martial Disciple—his body shouldn’t be able to handle such a surge of spiritual energy. If left unchecked, he could explode from within.

“Don’t move! I’ll disperse the energy,” Niu Zhan said, lifting his hand.

But then, he sensed faint fluctuations coming from Xia Feng’s body.

This kid… broke through?

Niu Zhan’s eyes widened.

He had stayed at the Martial Disciple stage for years, unable to make any progress. And now—just like that—he’d broken through?

But the spiritual energy didn’t stop. Xia Feng’s aura continued to rise.

2nd stage Yellow Realm… 3rd stage… 4th…

Niu Zhan was dumbfounded.

5th… 6th… then 1st stage Profound Realm!

Still climbing!

1st… 2nd… all the way to 9th stage Profound Realm.

The spiritual energy finally calmed down, and Xia Feng’s aura stabilized.

Niu Zhan stared at him, completely speechless.

Xia Feng sensed the vast inner energy flowing through him and asked uncertainly, “Master Niu, I think… I might’ve reached the 9th stage Profound Realm? Is Iron Horn Art supposed to work like this? It’s kinda scary…”

“…Yes—No—What the—this is insane!”

Niu Zhan was stuttering in shock.

He just… slept… and went up twenty-seven whole cultivation stages?

From Martial Disciple… straight to 9th stage Profound Realm?!

Was this what people called “poor talent”? More like a monster!

As the leader of Iron Horn Sect, Niu Zhan had seen countless geniuses. But nothing like this.

Maybe… maybe he wasn’t sleeping, but comprehending something?

But I heard him snoring!

And still—no one had ever gone from Martial Disciple to 9th stage Profound Realm in less than two hours.

Could Xia Feng truly be a born divine physique?

Thinking back to how the five Holy Maidens had clung to him, Niu Zhan became more convinced.

Only a divine body could explain this.

Xia Feng noticed Niu Zhan’s stunned expression, and a flash of excitement lit his eyes.

It had to be the Dream Pearl.

He couldn’t remember the dream clearly, but this kind of result could only be its doing.

He looked at Niu Zhan, smiled slightly, and said, “Master Niu, your explanation was amazing. I broke through as soon as you finished! Let’s continue with the next part. Oh, and if I fall asleep again—please, just ignore it!”