Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Chapter 94: Summoning Sun Qiang

Chapter 94: Summoning Sun Qiang

 

"Lu Mingrong…"

Clutching his chest, Liu Tianzheng felt his internal organs roil with pain. He was nearly beside himself with anger.

I'm the one who got injured here, alright?

If you want to spar, I'm happy to oblige. But why are you picking on Teacher Zhang? He's only just started cultivating and is merely at the mid-stage of the Energy Storing realm. How could he be a match for you?

Standing in front of Zhang Xuan, Lu Mingrong's expression was dark.

He had arrived late and only saw Liu Tianzheng preparing to attack. He hadn't witnessed Liu Tianzheng being beaten like a dog earlier and assumed Liu Tianzheng was just causing trouble.

"Mid-stage of the Energy Storing realm? The esteemed dean of White Roc Academy is lying through his teeth for the sake of an ordinary teacher. Is this what you call being an upright and exemplary educator?"

Liu Tianzheng's fury only grew after hearing this.

Who's ever heard of someone at the mid-stage of the Energy Storing realm knocking me down twice with just two moves? You must be kidding me!

No wonder I've seen him sneaking around with Yu Longqing. It all makes sense now.

"What do you mean by that?" Lu Mingrong narrowed his eyes.

"I mean exactly what you think!"

Liu Tianzheng took a step forward, and his full power surged forth once more. "I want to see if your famed 'Flowing Cloud Hands' is still unbeatable among those of the same level!"

Since Zhang Xuan was proving to be troublesome, Liu Tianzheng decided to vent his frustration on Lu Mingrong.

As the dean, Lu Mingrong had not only failed to properly care for his daughter but had also allowed her to become a disciple of someone like Zhang Xuan. That was reason enough to teach him a lesson and show him that the Liu family wasn't to be trifled with.

Moreover, they had crossed paths many times before, and although Lu Mingrong's cultivation was slightly weaker, the outcome of their battles had always been uncertain.

"Do you intend to fight me?" Lu Mingrong asked with a frown.

"If that's how you see it, then yes!"

With a sudden stomp, Liu Tianzheng shot forward, his body coiled like a bow, and his fist aimed like an arrow straight at Lu Mingrong.

Whoosh!

The full power of a late-stage Jade Bone Realm expert pierced the air, producing a shrill whistle. The sound came before the punch even landed.

This technique was known as the "Arrow Fist," a martial art honed through years of observing arrows. It was designed to be fast, so fast that without prior warning, it was almost impossible to block.

Knowing Lu Mingrong's strength, Liu Tianzheng didn't hold back from the start.

In the past, even if Lu Mingrong had been a level higher, he would have been caught off guard by such a sudden attack. But now, with his Divine Soul spreading out, Lu Mingrong could clearly see every move Liu Tianzheng made, down to the smallest detail.

With a slight shift of his foot, Liu Tianzheng's fist barely grazed Lu Mingrong's cheek before missing entirely. Lu Mingrong countered with a swift kick.

Bam!

Liu Tianzheng was struck in the abdomen again, just as he had been by Zhang Xuan earlier, and for the second time, he fell to his knees, nearly shattering his kneecaps.

The Jade Bone Realm was indeed powerful, but against someone like Dean Lu Mingrong, who had reached the Divine Soul Realm, it was no match.

"You… you've broken through?"

Realizing this, Liu Tianzheng was filled with disbelief.

The humiliation was secondary—what really shocked him was the fact that Lu Mingrong had overcome the bottleneck that had held him back for over ten years, reaching the eighth level of the Source Pool, the Divine Soul Realm!

This realm was considered elite even in the surrounding cities, not just in White Roc City.

Wasn't he supposed to be stuck due to a heart demon? How had he broken through?

Could it be…

A thought struck Liu Tianzheng, and he glanced toward the young man in the distance.

Yesterday, they had been joking about how Lu Mingrong might offer Zhang Xuan a Destiny Disk in exchange for help with his breakthrough, thinking it was impossible. Yet, after just one night, Lu Mingrong had actually succeeded.

Could it be that Zhang Xuan really helped him?

After just two lessons, he had captivated Liu Mingyue so much that she defied her father. He had absorbed all the Heaven's Fate Energy from an entire Destiny Disk without a trace and had cultivation nearly as strong as Liu Tianzheng's…

Just how many secrets and cards did this guy have up his sleeve?

And why was he hiding them?

Could he be the "Chaotic Fate Practitioner" that Xu Xin was looking for?

Liu Tianzheng's face darkened as he clenched his fists.

If that were true, there was no need to confront him head-on. Reporting it honestly would be enough, and others would take care of the rest.

Seeing that Liu Tianzheng had figured it out, Lu Mingrong didn't bother hiding the truth. "Yes, I've broken through to the Divine Soul Realm. Though I'm not sure what grudge you have against Teacher Zhang, I owe my success entirely to his guidance. So if you want to attack him, you'll have to go through me first!"

"We have no grudge. I just want Teacher Zhang to let my daughter go and stay away from her…"

Hearing Lu Mingrong's words, Liu Tianzheng realized that he couldn't act against Zhang Xuan anymore and said, "If he really is a Chaotic Fate Practitioner, my daughter can't have any more dealings with him. Otherwise, not only will she be in danger, but the entire Liu family might also be destroyed."

"Let your daughter go?"

Lu Mingrong was taken aback. He then noticed Liu Mingyue still kneeling nearby. "What's going on here?"

"Dean, it's like this…" Yu Xiaoyu quickly explained the situation in detail.

Understanding the full story, Lu Mingrong's expression grew stern. "Who you choose to be your teacher is Liu Mingyue's decision. Even if you want the best for your daughter, Liu family head, you shouldn't be so overbearing. Besides, becoming Teacher Zhang's student is a rare opportunity."

"A rare opportunity? I don't see it that way."

Liu Tianzheng glanced at his daughter. "Liu Mingyue, I'm giving you one last chance. Come with me right now, and I'll overlook everything that's happened. Otherwise, don't bother coming back to the Liu family!"

Liu Mingyue shook her head. "Father, I won't go back with you."

"You'd rather leave the Liu family than give up on him?" Liu Tianzheng was genuinely shocked.

"If life with the Liu family means constant unhappiness, then yes, I'd rather leave," Liu Mingyue replied.

"You're still young and don't know what's truly good for you. Someday, you'll realize the mistake you've made. I just hope you won't regret it later."

"I won't regret it!" Liu Mingyue's gaze was resolute.

"Very well. Very well!"

Realizing that she wouldn't change her mind and that taking her away by force was nearly impossible, Liu Tianzheng bowed to Lu Mingrong. "Dean Lu, I take my leave."

With that, he turned and walked away.

He had initially planned to keep Zhang Xuan's secrets, but since Zhang Xuan had now turned his daughter against him, Liu Tianzheng would make sure to report everything to Xu Xin as soon as he returned.

As the Liu family head left, Zhang Xuan turned to the girl still kneeling on the ground, somewhat surprised. "Are you really willing to give up the Liu family just to become my student? This isn't a small matter. I hope you'll think it through carefully before making a decision."

"Teacher Zhang, I've made up my mind!"

Liu Mingyue kowtowed again, her eyes full of hope. "I was foolish before, always opposing you. But you were gracious enough to forgive my transgressions… Now that I've made my decision, I humbly ask that you accept me as your student."

Zhang Xuan hesitated for a moment before replying, "Alright, I'll accept you as an auditing student for now. You'll be allowed to attend classes and train, but you'll only become a formal disciple if you prove yourself worthy. If you disappoint me, you'll be expelled immediately, with no second chances."

Earlier, Zhang Xuan had been reluctant to take her as a student, but after seeing her determination and resolve, he changed his mind. Anyone willing to give up everything for the chance to learn was likely to achieve great things.

Of course, she would only be an auditing student for now. To become a full disciple, she still had a long way to go.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Relieved, Liu Mingyue quickly stood up, her eyes brimming with excitement. She clenched her fists in determination.

Although she was only an auditing student, it was a step closer to becoming a formal disciple. There was still hope!

"This is the cultivation method I've prepared for you. Follow it diligently and try to catch up with Yu Xiaoyu and the others."

Zhang Xuan handed her a book.

He had anticipated that she might choose to follow him, so he had prepared a technique based on her physique. This method, developed through Heaven's Path Order, would allow her to quickly increase her cultivation.

Even as an auditing student, she was still under his tutelage, so she couldn't afford to be weak.

"For me?"

Liu Mingyue was taken aback. As she opened the book and read through the method, her eyes welled up with tears.

How did Teacher Zhang know about the old injury on the left side of my abdomen, or that the meridians there are weaker and need extra care? How did he know that a venomous snake once bit my right leg?

The method was incredibly detailed, not only outlining potential issues in her cultivation but also addressing old injuries she had suffered, optimizing her training accordingly.

This is like a custom-made outfit compared to off-the-rack clothes.

All the previous techniques she had learned were based on general experience. Even when something didn't feel right, she had to adapt to the technique. But now… this method was tailored perfectly to her needs. Every movement would flow smoothly, without any discomfort.

Was this technique created just for me?

From childhood, she had tried to be the perfect daughter, suppressing her own desires to fulfill her father's expectations. This was the first time someone had truly considered her needs.

Her heart felt as if it had been drenched in honey, overflowing with warmth and happiness.

I'm so glad I came back and sincerely asked to be accepted as his student. If I had missed this opportunity, I would have had to watch Yu Xiaoyu grow stronger and stronger while I fell further and further behind.

"We all received techniques tailored to our needs. That's the only way we could have made such rapid progress in just an hour," Yu Xiaoyu explained with a smile, noticing Liu Mingyue's amazement.

She had been just as surprised earlier, but now she understood. Teacher Zhang must have put in a tremendous amount of effort to create these methods, a debt of gratitude she could never fully repay.

Realizing this, Liu Mingyue clenched her fists.

Each of the three students had been given a technique that suited them perfectly. The care and attention to detail far surpassed that of any other teacher. Even the highly regarded Dean Lu Mingrong probably couldn't match it.

While Liu Mingyue was filled with excitement and awe, Lu Mingrong approached Zhang Xuan with a hint of concern. "Teacher Zhang, the Liu family head, isn't one to let things go easily. I'm worried he'll cause trouble for you in the future. If you notice anything suspicious, please don't hesitate to inform me. Don't try to handle it on your own."

Knowing how self-centered and arrogant Liu Tianzheng could be, Lu Mingrong was genuinely concerned. Now that Liu Tianzheng had been publicly defied by his daughter, there was little hope of reconciliation.

"Understood."

Zhang Xuan nodded, appreciating the advice.

Lu Mingrong continued, "By the way, Chen Hao has been kneeling for an entire day and night. How should we deal with him?"

Zhang Xuan waved a hand dismissively. "Have the Chen family head take him back and discipline him properly."

If Chen Hao hadn't repeatedly caused trouble, Zhang Xuan wouldn't have bothered with him. Besides, the Chen family head had already paid a hefty sum of Source Coins to resolve the issue, so it wouldn't be right to hold a grudge.

After all, Zhang Xuan was still a guest elder of the Chen family, and it wouldn't be appropriate to keep their young master kneeling indefinitely.

"Understood," Lu Mingrong nodded.

The exchange between the two left Yu Xiaoyu, Liu Mingyue, and Hong Yi all stunned.

Why does it feel like Teacher Zhang is the dean, and Dean Lu is just an ordinary teacher?

Unaware of his students' thoughts, Zhang Xuan chatted with Lu Mingrong for a while longer before saying, "Dean Lu, I have some matters to attend to, so I'll be heading back now."

"Take care, Teacher Zhang." Lu Mingrong turned and left.

After he was out of sight, Zhang Xuan walked briskly back to his residence. Once inside, he made sure no one was around, then focused his mind and entered the New World.

Even after entering the Source World, the New World continued to absorb Source Energy, expanding in size until it was now so vast that Zhang Xuan couldn't see its boundaries.

Compared to the New World, the Master Teacher Continent was like a tiny grain of sand in a vast ocean.

At the highest point, the Xuan World, used for Zhang Xuan's cultivation, was now filled with refined Source Energy, its power immense and overwhelming.

"Time to summon them."

Zhang Xuan smiled to himself.

He had just tested his strength against the Liu family head without needing to burn the New World. At this level of power, he was more than capable of holding his ground in White Roc City. It seemed the time had come to bring Sun Qiang and the others over.