Chapter 685 - Chapter 685: Chapter 308: Reunion of Deep Affection

Chapter 685: Chapter 308: Reunion of Deep Affection

Shenwu, the 6th year, 11th month, 13th day.

Upon Lu Yuan’s summons, Zhou Qing and Sun Siwen hurried from Xiangyang for days and finally arrived at Baling City.

Without taking time to rest, the two arrived in the city and immediately went to meet Lu Yuan.

“Master!”

“Brother Lu!”

As soon as they met, Zhou Qing and Sun Siwen couldn’t help but take a couple of steps forward, excitedly surrounding Lu Yuan.

Their relationship was as close as can be, all of them having come from their hometown of Dayu County. Afterwards, they remained inseparable during their time in Changning County, Wugang County, and Shaoyang Prefecture.

Lu Yuan had always regarded Zhou Qing as a son, and Sun Siwen as a brother. The two of them also regarded him as a father and brother, their bond as close as family.

Although there was now a monarch-minister relationship between the three of them, it didn’t affect their friendship.

Furthermore, Lu Yuan had specifically emphasized that they should not use the royal title in private. Instead, they should continue to address each other as before, using “Master” and “Brother.”

“Hahaha, Brother Sun, Xiaoqing!”

It had been two years since they last saw each other, and Lu Yuan laughed heartily upon seeing them, extremely delighted. He hurried forward to shake their hands and inspect them closely.

Two years had passed, and both of their appearances had changed considerably. Their auras and demeanors had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

When Lu Yuan went to Xiangyang to guide Zhou Qing in the past, his eldest disciple’s Cultivation was still at the peak of the first-tier and had not yet broken through into the Innate realm.

Now, he had reached the Innate stage, having undergone Washing Marrow, and appeared five or six years younger. He had transformed from his original mid-thirties to around thirty, becoming much more handsome and full of vigor.

Moreover, his demeanor was reserved, and upon closer inspection, he seemed to harbor a blazing sun beneath his refined appearance, as if shrouded in darkness and all the more unfathomable and terrifying.

Lu Yuan knew that when the darkness was torn apart by the blazing sun, the radiance of the rising sun would attract the attention of the entire world.

‘The Sun Rising from the Abyss, is this Xiaoqing’s martial arts external body?’

Withdrawing his gaze, Lu Yuan silently pondered, but a smile of happiness still lingered on his face. Patting Zhou Qing’s shoulder, he said, “Good, good, good! You have not disappointed me in the two years we have not seen each other. You have successfully broken through into the Innate realm and have built a solid foundation. As long as you continue to accumulate True Pneuma, comprehend Heaven and Earth, and nourish your soul, the day you reach the Second Tier of Innate is just around the corner.”

Zhou Qing, worthy of being a person without external help and who could compete with Lu Yuan in terms of progress, had managed to stand firm in the Innate realm solely relying on himself.

He even took another step forward in his cultivation.

Lu Yuan’s previous worries now seemed completely unnecessary.

Even without his help, considering Zhou Qing’s capabilities, as long as there was a sufficient supply of elixirs and spiritual medicines, it would take at most twenty years for him to break through into the Second Tier of Innate.

Even without that much supply, by persisting for fifty or sixty years, he would still have the opportunity to reach that realm.

Compared to Lu Yuan, Zhou Qing was the true genius.

“Disciple owes his achievements today to Master’s teachings and guidance. If it were not for Master’s personal guidance in Xiangyang, teaching me how to break through the Innate realm, as well as the key points of cultivation, disciple would not have been able to solidify his realm so quickly.” Zhou Qing, as always, showed the utmost respect and humility towards his Master.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan simply smiled and nodded, inwardly sighing with emotion. ‘In the future, our Chu State will have another Pillar Holding up the Sky.’

Delighted by his disciple’s innate talent, Lu Yuan turned to Sun Siwen and expressed his further happiness. “Brother Sun, you too have made progress in martial arts over the past two years, achieving minor success and breaking through to the Tier Two realm. It’s truly a cause for celebration. At this rate, it won’t be long before you reach the Innate realm.”

Perhaps it was because of practicing martial arts, but Sun Siwen’s physique had also become much stronger and more robust. His facial features had become more rugged, and his blood and energy surged like a cloud, with radiant eyes.

A fierce aura was hidden underneath his scholarly demeanor, cultivated from years of studying. Although it didn’t make him appear weak, it only made him more unfathomable.

With just one glance, Lu Yuan knew that Sun Siwen had already reached the Tier Two realm of martial arts.

However, as he had just broken through this realm, he had not yet fully converged the blood and energy within his body. This had caused a slight conflict in his aura, creating a strange phenomenon.

But given Sun Siwen’s temperament and with Lu Yuan’s guidance, it would likely take no more than half a month to completely consolidate this realm.

“Brother Lu spent precious elixirs to help me in my cultivation. In three years, I have only reached the Tier Two realm, which makes me feel deeply ashamed. I don’t dare to accept such praise.” Faced with Lu Yuan’s compliments, Sun Siwen appeared somewhat embarrassed and hesitant to accept it.

Throughout these years of cultivation, Sun Siwen spent the first year studying the essentials of the Chi Yang Divine Skill, learning about the meridians in the human body and the Daoist school’s principles to build his foundation.

In the following two years, under Zhou Qing’s supervision, he officially began his martial arts cultivation.

After initially cultivating Inner Strength and consolidating it for a month, Sun Siwen began taking the Divine Blood Elixir with Zhou Qing’s help, breaking through meridians and realms.

One elixir could help break through one meridian.

Over two years, Sun Siwen took a total of six elixirs, an average of one every four months, barely managing to break through to the Tier Two realm.

His aptitude for martial arts was indeed inferior to that of Lu Yuan and Zhou Qing, even somewhat below average.

If not for the help of the elixirs, it wouldn’t have been so easy for him to reach his current realm.

Fortunately, what he lacked in aptitude was made up for in realm.

Sun Siwen had studied Confucian classics for forty years. Influenced by Lu Yuan, he also studied the Daoist and Buddhist schools, and his state of mind was quite extraordinary. Having served as a local official and as Prime Minister at the center of power, he had a resolute will tempered by worldly experiences.