Not long after.
Lu Xuan felt a sudden shift, a subtle hum deep within him. He slowly extended his right hand, and a gentle wisp of spirit fire rose from his palm, seemingly soft, yet radiating an intense, controlled heat. He had effortlessly stepped into the Path of Spirit Fire, achieving Perfected Mastery! This was the true essence of Perfected Mastery—the power of spirit fire perfectly internalized, flowing and retracting at will, its scorching might returning to a state of utter "naturalness."
He retracted the spirit fire, shifted into a more comfortable position, and continued reading his book. Ji Fuyao’s talent was truly extraordinary. He was keenly anticipating how much his cultivation and spirit fire comprehension would soar as she continued her training in the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds.
Meanwhile, within the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds, Ji Fuyao’s spirit fire tempering had concluded, yielding immense benefits. She pressed deeper into the first layer. The further she went, the more Fire Beasts emerged. Each one was grotesque, wreathed in scorching flames, moving like miniature mountains, their power easily rivaling a Profound Emperor cultivator. Like a stampeding herd, they charged at Ji Fuyao.
Ji Fuyao extended her delicate hand, spirit fire surging around her, and simply swatted them away. Boom! A vast swarm of Fire Beasts disintegrated into ash. The surrounding disciples watched in utter shock. How could it be that easy? Back in their Profound Emperor days, they’d have to expend tremendous effort to fell just one Fire Beast!
In that moment, she was like the sovereign of the fire domain. Her soft lips parted, and she uttered a single word: "Vanish!" As if by decree, countless Fire Beasts in her path dissolved into spirit fire, vanishing into thin air. Like autumn leaves swept away by a gale, these Fire Beasts couldn’t put up even a sliver of resistance against Ji Fuyao.
A day later, a venerable voice echoed through the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds.
"Ji Fuyao has slain over 12,345 Fire Beasts in a single day, setting a new record! Grant her the Spirit Fire Tempering Rite!"
A massive river of spirit fire, alive with glittering Dao patterns, descended and enveloped Ji Fuyao. Witnessing this, the disciples’ hearts churned with a tidal wave of awe. Ji Fuyao had broken another Profound Emperor record? She’d slaughtered over ten thousand Fire Beasts! That was more than ten times the previous record holder, Luo Lingkong! When did Fire Beasts get so weak?
They immediately relayed the news to their respective Saints and the Sect Master. The Sect Master and the others were utterly stunned. What is a genius? This is a genius! The Sect Master was delighted. "As expected of the prodigy who resonated with the Grand Dao Bell! Such a performance would place her among the very best in the entire history of our Grand Dao Sect!"
"At this rate," said the Sword Peak Saint, "Fuyao might very well break through to the Profound Sovereign realm right here in the Fire Abyss!"
Hiss! The Sect Master and the others gasped in shock. From Grand Profound King to Profound Sovereign in just one month! Such cultivation speed was simply terrifying. The Sect Master’s face contorted. "Unacceptable! I must confront Lu Xuan! Did he force-feed Ji Fuyao pills? How else could her cultivation speed be so preposterous?"
Elder Mu advised, "Go ahead and ask. If Lu Xuan is artificially boosting her cultivation, at least we can prepare a countermeasure, yes?"
The Sect Master immediately departed, flying towards Azure Mystery Peak.
On Azure Mystery Peak, Lu Xuan lay stretched out in his reclining chair, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"Ding! Host’s Eldest Disciple, Ji Fuyao, is increasing her cultivation! Synchronizing now!"
"Ding! Host’s Eldest Disciple, Ji Fuyao, is gaining insight into the power of spirit fire! Synchronizing now!"
As the notifications faded, an incredibly pure stream of spiritual energy surged into his body. Simultaneously, his spirit fire attainments deepened. Lu Xuan was in excellent spirits. His eldest disciple, Ji Fuyao, was truly remarkable. Such immense talent, coupled with such diligence! And all he had to do was lie there and reap the rewards. It made Lu Xuan feel a tiny bit guilty.
Growl. Lu Xuan rubbed his stomach, glanced at the position of the sun, and mumbled, "Time for dinner again. Food."
He stepped into his thatched hut, warmed up the dishes Ji Fuyao had prepared in advance, and brought them out to the stone table. The aroma wafted through the air. Lu Xuan ate with relish. Ji Fuyao’s cooking skills had improved significantly. In a little while, she might even be ready to graduate from culinary apprenticeship.
Just then, Boom! A brilliant divine rainbow erupted in the distance, hurtling towards Azure Mystery Peak, carrying with it the terrifying pressure of a Profound Saint. The Sect Master landed with a thud on Azure Mystery Peak. Seeing Lu Xuan eating, the Sect Master’s anger flared instantly. Eat! All he ever does is sleep and eat! This is Lu Xuan’s daily routine! The Sect Master stormed towards Lu Xuan, seething. His disciple was toiling away in bitter cultivation in the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds, while Lu Xuan was here enjoying himself? Was this how a master behaved?
"Lu! Xuan!" the Sect Master ground out, enunciating each word, sparks of fury practically flying from his eyes.
Lu Xuan paused, lowering his chopsticks. "Sect Master, you’ve arrived."
The Sect Master stopped before Lu Xuan, his face a mask of utter exasperation. "Do you have any idea what your disciple has accomplished in the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds?"
Lu Xuan frowned slightly. He quickly checked Ji Fuyao’s status panel. No injuries! And her cultivation and insights are steadily increasing! Safe! Lu Xuan was baffled. What was the Sect Master getting at?
Seeing Lu Xuan’s bewildered expression, the Sect Master roared, "Ji Fuyao has broken two Profound Emperor records in the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds!"
Lu Xuan nodded. "Excellent."
The Sect Master’s brow furrowed deeply. Excellent, you say? Was it your teaching? Does it have even the slightest thing to do with you, Lu Xuan?
"Fuyao’s cultivation speed is unbelievably fast," the Sect Master pressed, "Did you give her some sort of pill?"
Lu Xuan blinked, then nodded. "Indeed." He had, after all, given her a Heaven-Tier Dao Foundation Pill. Could the Sect Master have discovered it? Unlikely, surely.
At this, the Sect Master’s face grew darker and darker. His worst fears had been confirmed. Fuyao’s cultivation had been artificially boosted by pills! Damn that Lu Xuan! He truly wanted to pummel Lu Xuan right then and there. Wasn’t this just ruining a genius?
Just then, Lu Xuan stood up and walked towards the hut. "Sect Master, would you like to eat? Fuyao prepared enough food for many days before she left."
The Sect Master followed, utterly perplexed. "What do you mean?"
Lu Xuan gestured to the many portions of food on the wooden table, smiling. "When Fuyao left for the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds, she prepared meals for me in advance."
"Huh?" The Sect Master was dumbfounded, utterly speechless. That Lu Xuan! Ji Fuyao is your disciple, not your personal chef! He was practically itching to beat Lu Xuan senseless! Wasn’t this just a monstrous waste of Ji Fuyao’s talent? What he couldn’t fathom was why Ji Fuyao was so willing to cook for Lu Xuan. Why was she so good to him? What could Lu Xuan possibly offer her? That scoundrel must have used the Qing Xuan Saint’s legacy to deceive Ji Fuyao! The more the Sect Master thought, the angrier he became, his face growing even blacker.
Just endure Lu Xuan for half a month more… the Sect Master inwardly admonished himself, fighting back the urge to strike. Lu Xuan rubbed his nose, asking innocently, "Sect Master, why do you look so terrible?"
"Agh!" The Sect Master stomped his foot with all his might and let out a guttural roar. He had completely broken! He couldn’t stand to be on this Azure Mystery Peak for another second! Half a month… just half a month more. The next instant, the Sect Master spun around and bolted, rising into the air as a divine rainbow, vanishing into the void.
Lu Xuan watched him go, utterly confused. Uh… What was that about? Did he suddenly have an emergency? He shrugged, deciding not to dwell on it, and continued his meal.
Meanwhile, the Sect Master entered the Grand Dao Sect and sought out Elder Mu. His face was ghastly. "Elder Mu, it’s just as we suspected. Lu Xuan gave Fuyao pills; that’s why her cultivation speed is so incredible."
Elder Mu sighed. "Indeed, her cultivation has been artificially boosted by elixirs."
"It seems we need to devise a cultivation plan to consolidate Fuyao’s foundation!" the Sect Master declared. "Relying solely on the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds for her to mess around is nowhere near enough!"
Elder Mu’s eyes gleamed with a profound depth. "A cultivator’s foundation is everything; it must be solid, never superficial. After the Inner Sect Trials, you should personally guide Fuyao."
"Very well," the Sect Master replied, his gaze distant.
...
Over the next few days, the disciples once again witnessed Ji Fuyao’s monstrous talent. The voice of the Fire Abyss Trial Grounds’ will echoed continuously:
"Ji Fuyao has slain a Profound Sovereign-level Fire Beast, setting a new Profound Emperor record! Grant her the Spirit Fire Tempering Rite…"
"Ji Fuyao’s spirit fire attainments have broken a Profound Emperor record! Grant her the Spirit Fire Tempering Rite…"
"Ji Fuyao…" The sound of breaking records was incessant! The disciples were utterly dumbfounded. Was Ji Fuyao trying to defy the heavens? She had broken another record, and then another! She had single-handedly claimed all the Profound Emperor records and even established several new ones!
When the Sect Master and the others heard, they were both ecstatic and pained. Ecstatic over Ji Fuyao’s demonic talent for spirit fire. Pained that Lu Xuan, her master, did nothing but lie around all day. Grieved by his misfortune, angered by his inaction indeed! At this point, Ji Fuyao had reached the entrance to the second layer of the Fire Abyss.
Some core disciples cried out in alarm, "Junior Sister, are you really going to enter the second layer of the Fire Abyss?"
Ji Fuyao tilted her graceful neck and nodded. The first layer of the Fire Abyss no longer posed much challenge to her. She intended to enter the second layer and use its power to break through to the Profound Sovereign realm!
Several disciples tried to stop her. "Junior Sister Fuyao, to enter the second layer, you must defeat the Trial Guardian Fire Beast! With your current strength, it’s simply impossible!"
"That’s right! Even a mid-stage Profound Sovereign disciple would struggle to defeat that Trial Guardian Fire Beast!"
Ji Fuyao merely smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brothers. I know what I’m doing."
Not long after, Ji Fuyao stood before the Trial Guardian Fire Beast of the second layer. This beast was gargantuan, like a small mountain, its body wreathed in terrifying flames, strange Dao patterns swirling across its form. Its pupils were as vast as carriage wheels, and its gaping maw was filled with countless interlocking fangs, all woven from spirit fire, exuding an overwhelming aura. This was the Trial Guardian Fire Beast! Defeat it, and one could enter the second layer of the Fire Abyss.
The Trial Guardian Fire Beast licked its lips, slowly rising to its full height, looking at Ji Fuyao with some confusion. "I sensed someone rampaging through my Fire Beast kin, but I never expected it to be a Profound Emperor?"
Ji Fuyao’s starry eyes glinted as she said calmly, "You are no match for me."
Trial Guardian Fire Beast: "???" It shook its head, examining Ji Fuyao. "You little sprout, just a Profound Emperor barely past your teens! I’ve guarded this place for thousands of years, and I’ve never seen a disciple as arrogant as you!"