Chapter 20: Have You Awakened Again?

Chapter 20: Have You Awakened Again?

"Are you saying Xiao Chen only scored sixty-five points?"

"The information is absolutely reliable?"

"You may leave now. I need some time alone."

Su Wanning's delicate brows furrowed as she struggled to comprehend this intelligence.

She had personally witnessed that enormous sack filled with spirit beast core tokens.

Xiao Chen could have easily claimed first place in any Sub-Academy and earned a mystic-tier spell.

Yet he deliberately avoided doing so, not even attempting to secure a top-three position.

When circumstances defy normal patterns, something unusual must be at work.

Su Wanning had every reason to believe Xiao Chen's deliberate abandonment of the mystic-tier spell stemmed from deeper motives.

As one of the buyers, she easily deduced those missing core tokens had likely been exchanged for spirit stones.

"Spells, treasures, companions, land - under what circumstances would someone forsake techniques for wealth?"

"There's only one explanation!"

"Eliminating the possibility that Xiao Chen suddenly became an idiot, this means he must already consider mystic-tier spells beneath him!"

Su Wanning murmured to herself, quickly unraveling the fundamental logic.

She reached her conclusion: "He's acquired a superior technique!"

In a sense, Su Wanning's guess held truth - Xiao Chen had indeed chosen a more beneficial technique for himself.

However, her speculation had taken a slightly incorrect direction.

"Slap!"

She clapped her hands together. "That explains everything!"

Suddenly recalling how she'd marveled at the pangolin's wound after Xiao Chen left: "No wonder he pierced through that spirit beast completely - he used an earth-tier technique!"

At the time, she'd wondered how fireball technique had suddenly become so powerful. Now everything made perfect sense.

Combining this with Xiao Chen's three-year stagnation at Lian Qi Stage One followed by his sudden breakthrough and consecutive 'Awakenings' into Qi Condensation Fifth Layer...

Su Wanning declared decisively: "That 'Awakening' was just a facade. He must have encountered some extraordinary fortune!"

Cultivation legends often spoke of young cultivators accidentally obtaining ancient legacies from deceased experts, transforming them into rising stars of their era.

Following this logic, she speculated further: "If this was truly some powerful legacy, Xiao Chen's future cultivation speed will be extraordinary."

Testing this hypothesis wouldn't be difficult.

She summoned another clan member: "Monitor a disciple named Xiao Chen at the Second Sub-Academy. Report any developments to me immediately."

The clansman looked puzzled - why would the young mistress suddenly care about a male cultivator? "Miss, he's merely a Qi Condensation Fifth Layer cultivator. What makes him special?"

"No, no. His current Foundation Building Sixth Layer status is temporary."

Su Wanning shook her head, raising one finger: "Just watch him for one month. I have a premonition Xiao Chen will breakthrough to Foundation Building Sixth Layer within thirty days."

Hearing this, the clansman's eyes widened in shock: "Understood, Miss. I'll watch him immediately."

Three days later...

Most disciples still trudged back to Lihuo Sect on foot.

The Sect's reasoning? "One must finish what they start. If you walked here, you should walk back."

It was also framed as valuable training: "You should cherish such growth opportunities."

Xiao Chen almost believed Elder Jiang's righteous speech.

Until he saw arriving inner sect disciples boarding returning flying vessels.

This blatant favoritism confirmed their outsider status - no wonder they were called outer sect disciples.

The following day back...

Steward Chen specially organized an exchange meeting to summarize the trial experience: "Feel free to ask any questions."

Li Shidi shot up: "Manager, I'd like Brother Xiao to explain how he killed so many Foundation Building Sixth Layer spirit beasts."

"As far as I know, Brother Xiao was only Qi Condensation Fifth Layer yet submitted multiple Foundation Building Sixth Layer spirit beast jade tokens."

After the top ten rankings emerged, some disciples had already suspected Xiao Chen of cheating.

Li Shidi was among them.

Now his eyes locked onto Xiao Chen with clear accusation.

Steward Chen directly called him out: "Xiao Chen, please share specifically - how did you, at Qi Condensation Fifth Layer, manage to kill so many Foundation Building Sixth Layer spirit beasts?"

This question also piqued Steward Chen's personal curiosity.

"First correction - you should address me as senior sect brother now."

Xiao Chen stood, projecting his Foundation Building Sixth Layer aura toward Li Shidi before calmly replying: "Senior Brother, I simply fought normally."

"You broke through! When?!"

Steward Chen's face changed as he immediately extended his spiritual sense, confirming Xiao Chen's genuine Foundation Building Sixth Layer status.

"Manager, I broke through midway through this trial."

Xiao Chen's answer cleverly straddled truth and omission.

While he actually breakthrough after crossing the mountain range, technically the trial hadn't officially ended - calling it "mid-trial" wasn't inaccurate.

Steward Chen naturally interpreted this as Xiao Chen choosing to breakthrough mid-mountain crossing.

His face darkened: "Nonsense! Didn't I emphasize finding safe locations for breakthroughs?"

But seeing Xiao Chen unharmed, his expression softened slightly: "Your success is good news, but this reckless habit must change."

"Can you guarantee similar luck next time? Remember my teachings - copy the Sect's disciple code and submit it the day after tomorrow."

After habitually scolding him, Steward Chen suddenly realized something, staring blankly at Xiao Chen in shock.

Whispers already rippled through the audience.

Unbelievable!

Ordinarily, cultivators entering the outer sect who reach Foundation Building Sixth Layer within three years are considered fast-rising talents.

Xiao Chen had only been here half a year - how could he already be Foundation Building Sixth Layer?

Does this make any sense?

Wait, you haven't... Awakened again, have you?

Steward Chen voiced the collective doubt: "You wouldn't happen to have... Awakened again?"

"Mm." Xiao Chen nodded calmly: "During my battle with spirit beasts in the mountains, I suddenly gained new insights."

This wasn't exactly a lie. He truly felt the might of hexing - one fireball spell, one spirit beast down, spirit stones pouring in!

Combat enlightenment still counted as enlightenment.

Yet this response triggered another wave of astonished murmurs.

Senior sect brothers exchanged bewildered glances, struggling to believe their ears.

Some cultivators never Awakened once in their lifetimes. How could someone Awaken three times in a single year?

Does this follow any natural law?

Is there any justice left?

We all cultivate diligently, yet you breakthrough whenever you please. What does that make our hard work?

Steward Chen himself stood there, stunned and disbelieving.

But Awakening followed no universal rules. No decree limited Awakenings to twice yearly.

In fact, this might be the only explanation.

Xiao Chen possessed a low-grade wood spirit root, cultivating with only a yellow-rank manual. Without genuine Awakenings, how else could he progress so rapidly?

Only through repeated Awakenings could such meteoric advancement be explained.

Realizing this, Steward Chen's gaze toward Xiao Chen transformed completely.

He immediately stood and approached Xiao Chen.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end