After You Broke Off the Engagement, I Broke Through Twelve Realms in a Single Day! - Chapter 18:

Chapter 18: Alarmed the Vice Dean

The air over the entire square froze. Silence fell, broken only by the sound of strained breathing from students struggling under the overwhelming weight.

Li Feng’s Martial Emperor pressure pressed down like a mountain on everyone’s heads. Even the proudest prodigies had pale faces, exerting all their strength but still forced to lower their heads.

Even the new students with superior-grade heaven Martial Veins had weak knees, almost collapsing. As for those who hadn’t even reached the superior-grade heaven Martial Vein level, they could only support themselves with trembling hands on the ground, blue veins bulging, unable to lift their heads, sweat dripping onto the earth.

“This… how is this possible…” Chen Chuan gritted his teeth, his whole body trembling under the pressure.

He had never imagined that anyone among his peers could reach such a realm, completely shattering his understanding and overturning his worldview.

That soul-deep oppression made him experience, for the first time, what it truly meant to have an insurmountable gap!

If he was a genius, then what was Li Feng?

A monster!

Su Zijin stared dumbfounded at the scene, his paper fan falling to the ground with a soft “plop.”

“A peerless prodigy indeed. No wonder Master values him so highly,” Su Zijin muttered, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, his pupils trembling.

He suddenly recalled what Master had said on the way back from Luoxing City.

“This child is extraordinary, a once-in-ten-thousand-years prodigy. If he inherits my legacy, the Great Qing can enjoy another three centuries of peace!”

At the time, he thought it was an exaggeration.

Wasn’t Master implying that Li Feng’s breakthrough to the Martial Venerable Realm was already a certainty?

Could Li Feng truly become the second Martial Venerable of the Great Qing?

Now it seemed Master had even underestimated him!

At eighteen, Li Feng was already a Martial Emperor, with two hundred more years ahead to break through to the Martial Venerable Realm. Who could say that was his limit?

Li Feng wasn’t like those old Martial Emperors whose bloodlines were exhausted, their potential drained upon reaching Martial Emperor, leaving them to stagnate for decades.

The oppressive force lasted for a full ten breaths before Li Feng slowly withdrew his aura.

When the suffocating pressure vanished, the square echoed with gasps for breath. Some students collapsed, others had to lean on companions to stand up.

“Now, does anyone still question my cultivation?”

Li Feng swept his gaze across the crowd, and no one dared to meet his eyes. The brilliance in his gaze made every freshman feel utterly inferior.

Li Feng’s eyes returned to Chen Chuan. “Since you said you wanted to compete in comprehending the Heaven and Man Record, I’ll grant your wish. But remember, the stakes must be changed to Martial Emperor to Martial Venerable cultivation resources. Do you still dare to challenge me?”

Chen Chuan’s face alternated between green and white.

He had planned to suppress Li Feng’s momentum but hadn’t expected such terrifying strength.

An eighteen-year-old Martial Emperor completely exceeded his expectations. Without extraordinary comprehension, how could Li Feng possibly have broken through at such a young age?

Yet, under the watchful eyes of everyone, if he backed down now, he would lose his standing in the academy, and the Chen family would become the laughingstock of the world.

“Fine! The Chen family can provide that!” Chen Chuan forced himself to stand tall. He couldn’t allow the Chen family to lose face.

“But high cultivation doesn’t mean high comprehension. The Heaven and Man Record values perception, not Martial Vein talent!”

Li Feng chuckled. Truly, some people wouldn’t shed tears until they saw the coffin.

“Then let Senior Brother Su be the witness,” he said, turning to Su Zijin with a slight bow.

Su Zijin finally came back to his senses and quickly nodded. “Since both of you insist on competing, we’ll follow the academy’s rules. Please sit under the Heaven and Man Record and begin your comprehension.”

Once Li Feng and Chen Chuan sat cross-legged beneath the Heaven and Man Record, Su Zijin placed a simple bronze mirror beside them.

The mirror’s surface rippled with a strange light like water.

“This is the academy’s treasure, the Mirror of Heaven and Man. It can directly display a cultivator’s comprehension level of the Heaven and Man Record,” Su Zijin explained to the new students. Those who mastered the Heaven and Man Record could use this spirit-grade treasure to wield the power to slay Martial Venerables even as Martial Emperors!

“According to the Dean, the Heaven and Man Record has three levels: From Man to Heaven, Heaven and Man Induction, and Heaven and Man Unity. Each level has four stages: Insight, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, and Perfection. If one can cultivate to Heaven and Man Induction, even an earth-grade Martial Vein cultivator can break through to the Martial Emperor Realm!”

Su Zijin said seriously, “Ordinary students who can reach Insight in From Man to Heaven within three years are considered qualified. Those who reach Minor Achievement before graduation are eligible to compete for the position of personal disciple.”

Admiration and longing flashed in Chen Chuan’s eyes. “My grandfather said that Dean Zhang took three months to reach Insight in From Man to Heaven, one year for Minor Achievement, three years for Major Achievement, ten years for Perfection, fifty years to complete Heaven and Man Induction, and a hundred years to master Heaven and Man Unity.”

“I dare not compare myself to the Dean, but I believe my talent is not bad. I will surely gain recognition from the Heaven and Man Record!”

With a confident smile, Chen Chuan closed his eyes and began to comprehend the Heaven and Man Record.

Soon, strands of purple energy descended from the Heaven and Man Record, merging into Chen Chuan’s body—eighteen strands in total—startling the academy’s instructors.

“He’s been recognized by the Heaven and Man Record! To receive eighteen strands of purple energy on his first attempt surpasses even the Dean’s speed. He might truly master this spirit-grade technique!” Lin Mumu exclaimed, her beautiful eyes wide with shock.

“No wonder Chen Chuan dared to challenge Junior Brother Li. He really came prepared. Junior Brother Li could be in trouble now,” Su Zijin said worriedly, seeing that Li Feng had yet to trigger any response from the Heaven and Man Record.

As Chen Chuan continued his comprehension, the surface of the Mirror of Heaven and Man rippled, and images of mountains and rivers appeared, with visible spiritual energy flowing like an animated ink painting.

“Hmm? The Chen boy has already reached Minor Achievement in the first level of the Heaven and Man Record!” an elderly voice of surprise rang out.

Everyone looked up and saw a tall, thin old man in a blue robe standing in the air, holding an ancient book and wearing his white hair bound neatly, a slight smile of approval on his face as he looked at Chen Chuan.

“Greetings, Vice Dean!”

All the instructors bowed, and the new students quickly followed.

This old man was Zhou Danxin, the Vice Dean of Jishang Academy and its second-strongest expert.

With a 7th stage Martial Emperor cultivation, he could rival the heads of other major sects but chose to remain at Jishang Academy to teach and nurture talent.

“No need for formalities. I didn’t disturb you, did I? I sensed an anomaly in the Heaven and Man Record and came to take a look,” Zhou Danxin said with a smile to Su Zijin.

“Having the Vice Dean personally guide the new students is their great fortune,” Su Zijin replied respectfully, stepping aside to let Zhou Danxin preside.

Hearing this, the new students were in awe. Chen Chuan’s comprehension was so strong that it had attracted the Vice Dean himself!

“Chen Chuan is worthy of being the Imperial Capital’s top prodigy. To reach Minor Achievement in From Man to Heaven so soon after enrollment is rare in the academy’s history. He might really defeat Li Feng.”

“If Li Feng loses to Chen Chuan, it would be a huge embarrassment. Not only would he lose the position of personal disciple, but he would also have to live in Chen Chuan’s shadow forever!”

“After all, Li Feng is just a son-in-law from a small family. Compared to Chen Chuan, who’s been raised on rare treasures and immersed in heaven-grade techniques, the difference in their backgrounds is massive. It’s normal if he loses.”

“…”

Seeing that Li Feng had yet to show any response, many freshmen whispered gleefully. Many hoped Li Feng would lose to Chen Chuan, bringing him down a peg.

Most of them came from noble families. How could they tolerate a boy from humble beginnings standing above them?

Even Liu Ruyan couldn’t help but feel a glimmer of hope. If Li Feng lost, the attention on her would diminish, and her broken engagement wouldn’t be scrutinized.

Otherwise, the more dazzling Li Feng became, the more she would be mocked.

At this moment, Chen Chuan opened his eyes from his comprehension, naturally assuming the Vice Dean had been drawn by his talent. He glanced at the still serene Li Feng with a mocking smile.

“Li Feng, how’s your comprehension going? It’s not too late to admit defeat now. My grandfather said there are fewer than ten people in all of Jishang Academy who can reach Minor Achievement in From Man to Heaven. How can you beat me?”

Li Feng ignored Chen Chuan, but Zhou Danxin shook his head at him and said, “Don’t disturb him. His comprehension of the Heaven and Man Record is too profound. The anomaly I sensed was because of him.”

As these words fell, Chen Chuan’s smug expression froze, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

Impossible! I had my grandfather’s personal guidance. How could I lose to Li Feng, who’s never practiced the Heaven and Man Record before?

The students were equally stunned. It turned out the Vice Dean wasn’t here because of Chen Chuan but because of Li Feng!

But Li Feng hadn’t shown any abnormal signs!

Just as confusion filled the air, something extraordinary happened to Li Feng…