263 Divine Will

Li Yu and Luo Wuchen had both never intended to pass on an Immortal training style such as the Technique of Everlasting Youth to anyone else.

They were afraid that the Technique of Everlasting Youth would be used to harm themselves and the Luo family. Furthermore, they felt that they owed Zhou Donghuang, and thus, they never intended to pass the Technique of Everlasting Youth to anyone else.

There was one person that they had planned to pass on the Technique of Everlasting Youth to. This person was Luo Qinghan.

Li Yu and Luo Wuchen were very clear of the fact that when Zhou Donghuang had first passed on the Technique of Everlasting Youth as a betrothal gift, he had intended for it to be passed on to Luo Qinghan. Now, they had familiarized themselves with the technique. However, Luo Qinghan had been unwilling to train using the technique, and they felt unhappy with that. They wanted to convince Luo Qinghan to convert to using the Technique of Everlasting Youth. However, Luo Qinghan was extremely stubborn and stuck to her stance.

Luo Qinghan said, "Father, Granny, I previously promised Donghuang that I would not use the training method he gifted you to train... Furthermore, it would be a futile attempt. I will not train using this method." Luo Qinghan had a stubborn nature. She already owed Zhou Donghuang too much. At this point, she was already unable to repay him. If she owed him further, she would feel like she was taking advantage of his kindness. She was not that kind of person.

Because of that, Luo Qinghan was able to enjoy the success she had now. Furthermore, she was naturally talented in the martial arts. She had also taken sufficient elixirs and had a high energy-gathering position and had taken up the pointers given to her by her grandmother, Li Yu,

Of course, if she had chosen to use the Technique of Everlasting Youth, she would be even more successful in her training now.

"There's still half a year's time..."

Luo Qinghan's eyes shone brightly and sparkled. "From now onwards till the end of the Alliance Hunt, at the point where points and rankings are tabulated... I'm sure that those who are about to surpass the Dharma stage will put such a feat on hold in order to be selected by their sects to enter the Alliance Hunt.

"No matter who it is, if they were to surpass the Dharma stage before the rankings and points are out... They will either be disqualified or their results will no longer count.

"I am sure that I will not be able to cross over to the mid Dharma stage within this short period of time, no matter how hard I train. However, keeping in mind such a rule, I should then focus on training on my own Dharma Power.

"Once my Dharma Power is stronger, that will improve my chances even though I am unable to reach the next Dharma stage in time."

The last time she was here, her grandmother had accidentally let slip that the tips and knowledge that she had on training her Dharma Power had been inherited from Zhou Donghuang's Technique of Everlasting Youth and not from her own experiences. This had been an uncomfortable realization for Luo Qinghan, and she felt rather put out.

However, this time, although Luo Qinghan did not return home, since the Jihan Sect was extremely strict with its disciples who were sent to represent the sect in the Alliance Hunt, she had sought the advice of several of the elders of the sect, who had trained their Dharma Powers to the highest degree possible. In the remaining half of the year, Luo Qinghan remained focused on her training and the teachings of her elders.

The people that helped Luo Qinghan also included some of the disciples of the 40 nominees; they all trained together to improve and upgrade their Dharma Power.

During this process, Luo Qinghan gained some valuable insights.　　

Among the group of elders who had trained their Dharma Power to the highest degree possible, although they organized classes and did not hold back in their knowledge, their teachings were still not as helpful as the pointers that her grandmother had given her.

If she had still been unaware that the pointers her grandmother gave her were based off of the Technique of Everlasting Youth by Zhou Donghuang, she would definitely return home and gain more insights from her grandmother to improve her skills and upgrade herself. She would then only return back to the Jihan Sect when the Alliance Hunt drew near.

However, since she was now made aware of this fact, she could not bear to return home now.

She already owed that man too much.

...

The Tielao planet.

The Thunder Knife Sect.

About a year ago, before he had headed for the Thunder Knife Sect, a disciple of the sect, Han Yuzheng had been labeled and recognized as one of the rare martial arts talents produced by the Thunder Knife Sect. Furthermore, he was seen as the top disciple of the younger generation of the Tielao planet.

However, in a showcase of martial arts talent before heading for the Thunder Knife Sect, instead of having an assured victory, Han Yuzheng was utterly destroyed.

Han Yuzheng fought with a young man from the sect who was his age and trained using the same style, but had still lost.

From that point onwards, the people of the Thunder Knife Sect knew that the Lightning Sword Sect had a disciple called Zhou Donghuang, who was allegedly stronger than Han Yuzheng and had a higher level of talent as well.

Han Yuzheng had felt humiliated and wanted to find a chance to prove himself and get rid of such rumors.

"Yuzheng, do you still remember last time when you lost to the disciple of the Lightning Sword Sect, Zhou Donghuang?"

The Thunder Knife Sect Leader, Luo Yuanqiu, called the sect's most talented disciple to the front and questioned him.

"Master, I would never forget him." Han Yuzheng's eyes shone with anger and indignation. "When the Alliance Hunt starts... I will defeat him and earn back my reputation!"

Ever since he had been defeated, Han Yuzheng had returned to the Thunder Knife Sect and trained even harder.

Now that he had managed to cross over into the late Dharma stage and had improved his Dharma Power as well, he had almost mastered Dharma-body integration.

With a bit more time, Han Yuzheng was confident that he could master the Dharma-body integration before he entered the ultimate Dharma stage.

"Are you assuming that Zhou Donghuang would represent the Lightning Sword Sect as a mid Dharma adept and enter the Alliance Hunt?"

Luo Yuanqiu could of course guess what Han Yuzheng was thinking. He knew that Han Yuzheng had assumed that Zhou Donghuang was still a mid Dharma adept, and that his edge as a late Dharma adept was enough to allow him to defeat Zhou Donghuang. 　　

"Master, what are you saying... what do you mean by that?"

Han Yuzheng had an uneasy feeling in his heart. However, he still chose to push these doubts away. According to his knowledge, when Zhou Donghuang had dueled with him, he had only just entered the mid Dharma stage.

It had only been less than two years. Was it really possible that Zhou Donghuang had managed to cross over into the late Dharma stage like him?

"Based on the latest news that I heard... that Zhou Donghuang has entered into the Alliance Hunt under the list of late Dharma adepts."

Luo Yuanqiu sighed. "Although I can't quite believe it as well, at this point, I can't be in denial any longer. That Zhou Donghuang, like you, has entered the late Dharma stage.

"You were still so confident just now. Previously, with your new training style and newly trained Dharma Power, it would still be possible for you to defeat him.

"However, now that he is also at the late Dharma stage and of the same training as you, coupled with the fact that his Dharma Power surpasses yours, if you all fight, it is easy to guess that he would still emerge victorious."

Even though Han Yuzheng had prepared himself for this news, after hearing Luo Yuanqiu's words, he could not help but feel his heart drop.

He had never imagined that Zhou Donghuang had also managed to cross over into the late Dharma stage. "Hadn't he just reached the mid Dharma stage? It hasn't even been two years and he has managed to cross over into the late Dharma stage?"

Han Yuzheng's tone was full of indignation and disbelief.

One had to know that even for him to go from the mid Dharma stage to the late Dharma stage, it had taken close to three years' time.

This was even after his family and the Thunder Knife Sect had spent much of their priceless resources on him, and they had been fully committed to his growth.

Han Yuzheng's family was a strong force among the Tielao planet. In terms of status and power, if one included the powerful elite sects, the Lightning Sword Sect and the Thunder Knife Sect, his family would rank second in the entire community.

"Yuzheng, I know you may be unable to believe such facts now. However, this is the truth, and you have to learn to accept it!"

Luo Yuanqiu said in a low voice, "You have to know that every talented person will meet someone who is more talented than them. There will always be others who are greater than you... Zhou Donghuang's presence is a good chance for you to improve on your arrogance and humble yourself.

"Let's not even talk about the Hengliu galaxy. Even on the Tielao planet, at this moment, he is clearly stronger than you in all areas!

"Your little bit of success is not considered much in light of his."

Luo Yuanqiu's words were extremely blunt and straightforward, but they could not be rebuked.

He had done so in order to motivate and encourage the most promising disciple of his.

"Master, I have only lost to him previously, but this does not mean I will continue to lag behind!"

Han Yuzheng's gaze was steady and determined. With a steadfast tone, he bid the Sect Leader farewell and returned to his training as if he did not want to waste any more time.

Seeing this, a satisfied smile appeared on Luo Yuanqiu's fat face.

A second later, the smile and satisfaction was replaced by a sigh. "I thought that Yuzheng's presence could help our Thunder Knife Sect's younger generation get a leg up among all the other sects and prove our worth.

"I did not think that the Lightning Sword Sect would have such a character as Zhou Donghuang."

To Luo Yuanqiu, Zhou Donghuang's presence meant the doom of Han Yuzheng as he was being crushed in all areas.

However, judging solely by the current situation, although Han Yuzheng was temporarily weaker, this added pressure had become the fuel to motivate him. It would be a good thing for him in the long run.

"There's still half a year to go..."

Thinking as there were still six months before the commencement of the Alliance Hunt, Luo Yuanqiu's eyes narrowed and he mused to himself, "With that Zhou Donghuang's abilities, wanting to enter the top ten scorers will definitely be an easy feat for him."

"As for Yuzheng, well, if he is unable to master his Dharma-body integration within the next six months, it will be rather impossible for him to be a part of the top ten scorers."

The Hengliu galaxy's share of the sects within the Alliance included over ten elite sects, and there were several ingenious talents that each had produced.

In the upcoming Alliance Hunt, each of these elite sects would be sending out their best and most talented Dharma disciples. Towards this, he felt a mix of emotions and was excited and worried all at the same time.

Of course, there were few who were extremely calm about the hunt, but most people were equally as tense. 　　

Out of this rare group of people, Zhou Donghuang was one of them.

"I've finally managed to fully train that Divine Soul Shaper... As of today, my Divine Will has been formed. Entering the Primordial Soul stage and being able to agglomerate Divine Will is something that only very few living people in the entire infinite universe can do right now."

In the Autumn Valley of the Lightning Sword Sect, in a room in a random courtyard, the young man dressed in white was sitting cross-legged on a mattress. With a flash of light, a ripple traveled through the air in the skies above him, and the Divine Will swept past, trapping a corner of the city.

At this very moment, sitting inside his room, Zhou Donghuang had full control of all the events that had just took place outside his room.