Chapter Forty-Eight: The Dragon Moon Dispels Doubts

Han Yan and Gu Xin had just arrived; their movements were quiet, and they hadn’t even approached the doorway. Yet, astonishingly, Chu Feng inside the training room was already aware of their arrival, something the two found difficult to comprehend.

Within the room, as Chu Feng finished speaking, he couldn’t help but open his eyes. A hint of surprise lingered on his face, revealing that even he didn’t quite understand his own actions.

Moments earlier, as Chu Feng was meditating, a mysterious force suddenly arose in his mind, granting him instant insight into everything around him. Though he never opened his eyes, the entire room—and even parts of the environment outside—appeared vividly in his mind, as if he had witnessed it firsthand. The walls were no obstacle, and he could clearly hear the conversation between the two outside.

Chu Feng was taken aback, stunned and unable to comprehend what had happened; it didn’t seem like something that should result from studying the Sword Dao.

Just as Chu Feng was lost in his bewilderment, Han Yan and Gu Xin pushed the door open and entered. They found Chu Feng sitting cross-legged with his back to them. Gu Xin exclaimed in surprise, “Boss, how did you know we were outside?”

Chu Feng put aside the Domain Sword and stood up, unsure how to explain. He smiled faintly and feigned mystery. “I have some remarkable techniques, which I’ll tell you about another time. It’s been ages since we’ve seen each other. Where are Di Han and Lin Yun?”

“Those two have gone home to enjoy themselves lately. We’ve been diligently training, too. If we fall too far behind you, Boss, it’d be embarrassing,” Han Yan replied with a grin.

“So early in the morning—was there something you needed?” Chu Feng asked.

Han Yan nodded. “I’ve heard that in the month before the grand competition of the Twenty Camps, we must leave the Sacred City and complete a trial mission.”

“Oh, so there’s such a thing,” Chu Feng replied.

“That’s right. It’s a tradition in the Newcomer Camp—every year, the same. The rewards for this mission are different from the usual tests. Completing different tasks earns different points. Points, you see—one point can be exchanged for ten thousand taels of silver in the Four Great Camps.”

Chu Feng was silent. He understood a little about these points—they were rare, treasured tokens used in the Heaven and Earth Four Camps. Even if one point could be traded for ten thousand taels, unless someone was desperate for money, no one would willingly make the exchange.

Han Yan was excited, rubbing his hands together. “Boss, next time you must take us with you. With you leading, we’re sure to complete a great mission and earn more points.”

There weren’t many restrictions on forming teams in the Spirit Battle Pavilion; the only requirement was that all members had to be newcomers.

“No problem. It’d be good for us to venture out together,” Chu Feng said.

After Han Yan and Gu Xin left, Chu Feng once more sat cross-legged. He closed his eyes and quieted his mind, and sure enough, everything around him surfaced in his mind once again.

“This is truly wondrous,” Chu Feng marveled, deeply shaken. In this special state, even thick walls could not block his perception.

He estimated that his range was not small—enough to see ten yards beyond his body.

“I’ll ask Long Yue about this tonight,” Chu Feng thought.

That evening, after dining in the cafeteria, Chu Feng went to the Heaven Camp to find Long Yue.

By the garden’s edge, Chu Feng told Long Yue about the unusual phenomenon. Long Yue stared at Chu Feng, her face filled with shock.

Seeing Long Yue so astonished, Chu Feng couldn’t help but ask, “What is it? Is it really that impressive? What exactly is going on?”

Long Yue’s large, lively eyes were fixed on Chu Feng. She said blankly, “Feng, you’re defying the heavens!”

Chu Feng was even more confused. “Little Yue, don’t keep me guessing.”

Long Yue took a deep breath, then said, “Actually, it’s a special function of the mind.”

“A special function of spiritual intent?” Chu Feng murmured.

“That’s right.” Long Yue nodded. “Spirit transformation happens when one awakens spiritual intent and perceives the spirit realm, then summons a spirit body. But at that stage, spiritual intent is weak and cannot leave the body at all. Only through constant cultivation does one’s spiritual intent grow stronger. Once it’s strong enough, it can be released and perceive everything nearby.”

“So that’s how it is,” Chu Feng muttered, though his mind was far from calm.

Long Yue continued, “But to reach this level of intent, one must at least become a Heaven-level Spirit Warrior. Even a Ninth-rank Earth-level Spirit Warrior would find it nearly impossible to release spiritual intent. At even higher levels, spiritual intent can be used for mental attacks—a true killing move. You’ll experience that for yourself in time.”

Chu Feng was more astounded, recalling the scene after the disaster in Ancient Qilin City when he met Yu Yang. He thought, “That’s right—Yu Yang said he awoke because he sensed my powerful intent.”

“Is my intent really that strong?” Chu Feng wondered aloud.

Long Yue looked at Chu Feng in silence for a moment, then said, “It seems that strengthening intent isn’t solely a matter of cultivation. Constantly refining the body appears even more effective. Feng, your intent is already so strong—why not try sensing the spirit realm again? Perhaps you’ll be able to summon your spirit body.”

Chu Feng’s face lit up with excitement. He immediately sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, calmed his mind, and formed several special hand seals, finally raising his right hand, fingers together like a sword, to his brow, and uttered, “Spirit transformation!”

In that instant, Chu Feng felt his consciousness submerged by a vast ocean of mental energy. He seemed to enter a hazy world.

He could perceive only a vague outline of this world, unable to see clearly, but the sensation was extraordinarily comfortable and marvelous.

The spirit realm was truly omnipresent; at that moment, Chu Feng felt it was right beside him.

Chu Feng’s heart stirred. Was it really possible to summon a spirit body? He held his breath, steadied his mind, and, following the steps for summoning a spirit body, tried to sense and call out within the vast world.

But after a long time, there was no response from this mysterious world, and Chu Feng could not summon a spirit body.

“How can this be?” Chu Feng’s heart sank, filled with doubt and frustration. He persisted, refusing to give up, continuing his attempts to summon the spirit body.

Half an hour later, Chu Feng’s face was pale, utterly exhausted, and he had to withdraw from the spirit realm, abandoning the attempt.

“Feng, how did it go?” Long Yue asked anxiously, and gave Chu Feng a Restoration Pill.

This pill was used to restore vitality, and after swallowing it, Chu Feng’s complexion improved greatly.

He stood up with a bitter smile, shook his head, and said, “I could sense the spirit realm, but couldn’t summon a spirit body. It’s as if the spirit realm doesn’t hold a spirit body for me. It seems this path of cultivation wasn’t meant for me.”

Long Yue was perplexed and replied, “This is indeed strange. If you couldn’t sense the spirit realm, that would be one thing. But your spiritual intent connects to the realm, yet you can’t summon a spirit body—such a thing has never happened before.”

Chu Feng smiled. “Looks like I’m an oddity, after all.”

Though Chu Feng was a little disappointed at his failure to summon a spirit body, he didn’t mind much. He knew there was another path more suited to him, and Yu Yang had once said that spirit transformation wasn’t necessarily the best. Chu Feng believed his path would let him surpass many cultivators.

With Long Yue’s current knowledge, she truly couldn’t grasp Chu Feng’s path. Long Yue smiled. “No matter what, I believe you’re destined to shine. Your powerful intent already surpasses so many people. If used in battle, it would be as if you had eyes in the back of your head—your combat power would surely reach new heights, no matter how many opponents you face.”

Chu Feng nodded inwardly. This special ability was almost prophetic, even more useful than real eyes.

“Feng, in a few days I’ll be leaving the Sacred City on a mission. Take care of yourself,” Long Yue said.

Chu Feng felt warmth in his heart and smiled. “Don’t worry. You must stay safe, too.”

Afterward, Chu Feng left the Heaven Camp. Along the way, he was naturally excited, but after thinking for a long time, he realized his intent must have always been strong—it simply hadn’t been released. Now, through studying the Sword Dao, he had gradually guided it out.

His horse galloped briskly along the main road, whose heavy blue stone was broad and solid. A small stream meandered nearby, sometimes running parallel to the road, sometimes crossing beneath a bridge.

Among the Four Great Camps—Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow—the Heaven Camp was furthest from the Newcomer Camp, while the Yellow Camp was closest.

Chu Feng spurred his horse onward, and as he passed near the Black Camp, a solitary figure by the stream caught his attention.

He frowned slightly; the figure seemed familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.

Chu Feng rode a few steps closer, and upon seeing the figure in profile, he was startled and murmured, “It’s him!”

Chu Feng immediately halted, and memories of passing by the Yu Residence surfaced in his mind. That distant figure was the very youth from the Yu Residence.

Because of Yu Yang, Chu Feng felt a special affection for the Yu Residence. If the opportunity arose, he would even visit in person.

Last time, the youth from the Yu Residence had been bullied, and Chu Feng had been furious, wishing he could drive those tormentors away.

Now, the Yu Residence youth sat alone by the stream, drinking. There were bruises on his face, and his figure seemed especially lonely.

Seeing this, Chu Feng’s heart ached. He dismounted and walked over to the youth.

“Drinking alone is dull—why not share a drink with someone?” Chu Feng said cheerfully, approaching the youth.

The youth glanced back, looking at Chu Feng’s newcomer badge with mild surprise, then turned away and replied coolly, “If you knew who I was, you wouldn’t say that. You should leave—drinking with me won’t do you any good.”

For years, the youth had no friends in the Black Camp; others dared not befriend him, knowing that anyone who did would be targeted by his enemies.

His words to Chu Feng were both out of habit and a warning to the newcomer, lest he bring trouble upon himself.

Chu Feng smiled. “I drink for enjoyment, not for gain. To share a drink with a descendant of Senior Yu Yang would be a rare delight. Brother Yu, would you grant me this wish?”