Chapter 248
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Chapter 248: Where is the Surprise?
A deep voice rang out as Su Hao descended from the sky with a kind smile.
“We pay our respects, Master!”
Ye Yun and Chen Ronghua bowed deeply. Su Ling skipped forward, clinging to Su Hao’s arm while sweetly calling “Father!”
Su Hao nodded. “Rise. I had other matters earlier, but they can wait. Follow me now.”
Leading the way, Su Hao walked ahead with Ye Yun and Chen Ronghua trailing behind. Su Ling turned and stuck her tongue out at Ye Yun.
The Side Peak stood modest in height. They halted halfway up the slope at a ten-zhang-wide platform.
Before Su Hao could speak, Chen Ronghua rushed forward. His fingers flickered through the air, sending streaks of light and shadow toward the cliff face.
Instantly, the rugged vine-covered cliff shimmered and became mirror-smooth. A door materialized and creaked open.
“This is where Shadowless Peak’s elite disciples cultivate. Come.” Su Hao gestured at Ye Yun.
Ye Yun’s eyes shone. True elite disciples had to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Rare Qi refining stage exceptions existed—geniuses handpicked from thousands, facing no obstacles in their ascent.
“Master, how many Foundation Establishment elites does Shadowless Peak have?” Ye Yun asked.
Su Hao paused. “A fair number. Currently… one hundred thirty-four.”
Ye Yun inhaled sharply. He knew Heavenly Sword Sect had few Foundation Establishment disciples, but this was shockingly low.
The sect housed hundreds of thousands of disciples. Shadowless Peak alone had thousands of inner disciples, yet only 134 reached Foundation Establishment—even counting higher-ups like Su Hao.
A year ago, Foundation Establishment seemed mythical to Ye Yun. Back then, becoming an outer disciple was his life’s goal. Now he’d risen from servant disciple to an invincible Qi refining inner disciple in mere months.
Life’s unpredictability struck him. Decades of toil couldn’t match a twist of fate. On the cultivation path, luck reigned supreme.
Passing through the cliff door revealed the unimaginable—an entire world within. Lush green mountains, azure skies, and gurgling streams stretched before them.
Without witnessing it firsthand, Ye Yun would’ve dismissed this spatial magical array as fantasy. Though Heavenly Sword Sect seemed weak, their spatial array mastery proved extraordinary. Those founders fleeing the Great Qin Empire a millennium ago must’ve been Golden Core experts. How else could such arrays exist? More impressively, their spatial law comprehension had endured through generations.
Towering peaks pierced clouds while wildflowers carpeted the earth.
“Our sect’s true strength lies in spatial arrays, not cultivation techniques or Celestial Arts.” Su Hao gestured at the vista. “That’s why I forced Ling’er to study spatial laws since childhood. Ultimate cultivation requires understanding Heaven’s Dao—and that begins with spatial laws. Never forget this.”
Ye Yun and Chen Ronghua nodded solemnly. While Chen Ronghua had heard this before, Ye Yun now learned the sect’s hidden truths.
“Master,” Ye Yun suddenly asked, “if spatial law mastery enables Golden Core stage, does our sect have Golden Core experts?”
Su Hao stopped walking. “Golden Core isn’t just about spatial laws. Even Foundation Establishment’s pinnacle remains worlds apart from Golden Core. It demands complete Heavenly Dao comprehension—a transformation as vast as heaven from earth.”
The trio waited silently.
Sighing, Su Hao continued, “There must be Golden Core masters here. Otherwise, how could our Sect Leader maintain control? Rumor claims a legendary Golden Core Elder backs him… though some say that Elder perished long ago.”
Ye Yun frowned briefly before relaxing. “This doesn’t concern me. Foundation Establishment is barely cultivation’s starting line—Golden Core marks the true beginning. Power and fame mean nothing. I must grow stronger. Heavenly Sword Sect’s too small. Even Jin Kingdom’s insignificant!”
Su Hao studied his Registered Disciple’s blazing eyes. The youth was right—both sect and kingdom were mere ponds to true cultivators.
Ordinary disciples didn’t know the truth, but Su Hao did. A millennium ago, Heavenly Sword Sect had flourished in the Great Qin Empire before collapsing. Survivors—Golden Core disciples—fled east to establish this branch sect.
The true Great Qin Empire ruled hundreds of kingdoms like Jin. There, Foundation Establishment cultivators swarmed like ants, Golden Core masters abounded, and rumors spoke of Nascent Soul existences who’d shattered their golden pills to rebirth. Compared to them, Heavenly Sword Sect was dust.
Su Hao once dreamt of visiting Great Qin. Though time tempered his fervor, the longing remained.
Yet here was Ye Yun—barely a disciple—already eyeing that horizon. It explained Elder Seven’s recent words: “That boy will leave us soon.”
Now Su Hao understood. Ye Yun’s ambitions transcended borders.
“Surprising you know of Great Qin,” Su Hao said mildly. “But going there’s no trifle. Foundation Establishment cultivators crowd its streets. At your current level, you’d be a nobody.”
Ye Yun grinned. “Which is why I’ll reach Foundation Establishment first. It won’t take long.”
His calm words thrummed with unshakable confidence.
Beside him, Chen Ronghua’s mouth twitched but stayed shut.
“Ye Yun! Take me too!” Su Ling lunged, grabbing his arm.
“Once you reach Foundation Establishment,” Ye Yun agreed.
Su Ling pouted. “That’ll take years!”
Su Hao flicked her forehead. “If you achieve it in years, your mother and I would weep for joy!”
“Two years.” Ye Yun clenched his fist. “I’ll break through in two. This place is too small.”
Amusement crinkled Su Hao’s eyes. He’d originally recruited Ye Yun for the Ten Killing Formation’s Thunder Spirit Qi—a weapon against Golden Core foes. Never did he expect such soaring ambition. No wonder Elder Seven noticed the boy.
“Master,” Ye Yun’s voice interrupted, “Ling’er mentioned you have a surprise for me?”
