五月丁香五月丁香激情

“Still no progress…” Zhang Xuan opened his eyes.

After teaching Min Jiangtao, he began to comprehend the Flowing Light Spear Technique, attempting to elevate it to the third stage. However, it was evident that breaking through was no simple task. Without practical sparring or a sudden inspiration, relying on mere imagination wouldn’t suffice.

“Master Zhang, we’ve arrived at Zouyi City!” Min Jiangtao’s voice echoed, drawing Zhang Xuan’s attention. Looking down, he saw a vast and majestic city stretching endlessly across the horizon.

“Alright, find a convenient location for purchasing an estate and drop me off. We’ll part ways here.” Knowing this city was where Kong Shi had been pursued, and that Zhi Lan Valley, where he hid, wasn’t far, Zhang Xuan let out a sigh of relief and gave a slight smile.

“Yes!” Min Jiangtao nodded.

Though Zhang Xuan wasn’t his junior brother but instead the man who had killed Ling Buyang, it wouldn’t be appropriate to take him directly to his teacher. The situation required careful handling; otherwise, if his teacher offended Zhang Xuan, the entire Mo Dao Sect might face destruction.

Soon, the Iron-Scaled Winged Beast descended in front of a massive trading house.

“Master Zhang, this is the largest property market in Zouyi City. Whether renting or purchasing, you can find a suitable estate here,” Min Jiangtao explained.

Zhang Xuan nodded and turned to Sun Qiang. “Find a fitting residence quickly.”

“Yes!” Sun Qiang promptly entered the trading house. After a short while, he returned with a middle-aged man who appeared to be a merchant.

“Gentlemen, I have a spacious estate near the Destiny Hall, with an excellent location. However, the price is rather steep—it will cost three billion Source Coins…” The merchant wore a wide smile, clearly addressing Zhang Xuan as the decision-maker.

“Master Zhang, I’ll take my leave now…” With the arrangements made, Min Jiangtao clasped his hands in farewell.

“Wait. Upon your return, I suspect you might encounter trouble. Let me teach you a knife technique—it may come in handy.” Zhang Xuan entrusted the property purchase to Sun Qiang and sought temporary lodging at a small inn with a courtyard. He then gestured for Min Jiangtao to step forward, smiling as he spoke.

The fact that Mo Baiye had deliberately taught Min Jiangtao a flawed spear technique showed he intended to suppress his disciple’s potential. With Zhang Xuan’s guidance, Min Jiangtao had already detected the issue and was advancing rapidly. Such progress wouldn’t go unnoticed, and once discovered, trouble was inevitable.

This was Zhang Xuan’s carefully cultivated “spokesperson,” and he couldn’t afford for him to fall so quickly.

“Understood!” Min Jiangtao nodded, though inwardly he was skeptical. His teacher, though harsh toward others, had raised him for many years with deep affection. Surely, he wouldn’t resort to killing him over discovering flaws in the technique?

However, receiving guidance from a master like Zhang Xuan was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.

Without addressing Min Jiangtao’s doubts, Zhang Xuan reached out, and the Mo Dao in Min Jiangtao’s hand flew into his palm. With a light motion, Zhang Xuan raised the blade and slashed downward.

In an instant, an overwhelming blade energy swept through the air, creating sonic booms as it cut through at incredible speed.

Although Zhang Xuan hadn’t advanced the Flowing Light Heaven’s Fate to the third stage, his recent insights had deepened his understanding of the Mo Dao Technique.

Typically, spear techniques like Flowing Light and knife techniques like the Mo Dao were incompatible. However, using the emotional threads of the Pathos of Heaven, he had managed to fuse elements of the two. Thus, this knife technique had come to life.

“What a powerful knife technique… Does it have a name?” Min Jiangtao was awestruck, his face glowing with excitement.

The move, though unique and distinct from his teacher’s style, struck directly at the essence of the Mo Dao Heaven’s Fate. Mastery of it could very well propel him to the third stage!

The third stage of Heaven’s Fate corresponded to the fourth level of the Star River Realm, a significant leap toward becoming a Three-Star Heaven’s Fate Master capable of entering the Middle Star River.

“Naturally, it has a name. I call it **‘Red Cherry.’” Zhang Xuan smiled serenely.

Since the move incorporated elements of the Flowing Light Spear Technique, its core spirit remained: The flowing light forsakes men, reddens cherries, and greens plantains.

“Red Cherry?” Min Jiangtao froze, then quickly understood. “A fitting name!”

Clearly, Zhang Xuan must have felt the technique was as impactful as slicing an opponent’s head into cherry-red fragments. A bold and bloody name indeed.

Unaware of Min Jiangtao’s thoughts, Zhang Xuan lifted the Mo Dao, saying, “I’ll demonstrate it once more. How much you can grasp depends on your comprehension.”

“Yes!” Min Jiangtao watched attentively, committing the move to memory. He then took the knife and practiced it slowly, managing to emulate two or three-tenths of its essence.

“Not bad…” Zhang Xuan complimented with a faint smile.

Though inheriting from the same lineage of martial techniques, mastering the basics after only two demonstrations was a testament to Min Jiangtao’s talent.

“All right, practice at your own pace.” Without lingering, Zhang Xuan turned to return to his room but suddenly froze. A torrent of Heaven\'s Fate Energy surged toward him, entering the Library of Heaven’s Path and forming new books.

“This…” Zhang Xuan looked at Min Jiangtao in surprise.

He was certain this energy originated from the disciple of Mo Baiye. But why was he benefiting from Min Jiangtao’s comprehension?

According to the principles of Heaven’s Fate, any advancements by a student would benefit their teacher. This was the mechanism behind the student-teacher bond. Yet, Min Jiangtao was Mo Baiye’s disciple. How could Zhang Xuan, who had only imparted a single move, reap such rewards?

“Could it be because Mo Baiye’s technique was flawed, and my guidance not only corrected it but also introduced a novel concept?” A thought dawned on him.

If this was true, then it was no mere mentorship but a seizure of the grand path itself!

A quick look into the Library of Heaven’s Path confirmed his speculation. The third-stage Mo Dao Heaven’s Fate had thickened, evolving from the early stage to the mid-stage. A stream of energy flowed from the void, consolidating his advancement.

“This is… Min Jiangtao’s Heaven’s Fate!” Zhang Xuan’s eyelid twitched.

He had successfully diverted Min Jiangtao’s Heaven’s Fate away from Mo Baiye. From now on, any breakthroughs Min Jiangtao made would yield no benefits to his teacher.

No wonder the Destiny Hall feared Chaotic Fate Practitioners so deeply. The ability to seize students’ Heaven’s Fate at will was enough to terrify anyone!

Shaking off his shock, Zhang Xuan masked his emotions and headed back to his room. He needed to determine whether this ability was unique to him or could be replicated by others. Since direct inquiry wasn’t an option, consulting the library archives seemed the best approach.

Meanwhile, Min Jiangtao, oblivious to the shift in his Heaven’s Fate, focused on perfecting the Red Cherry technique. After over an hour of practice, he finally achieved proficiency and exhaled in relief.

“Time to head back.” Grateful, he bowed deeply toward Zhang Xuan’s room before mounting the Iron-Scaled Winged Beast and speeding toward the Mo Dao Sect.

Upon arrival, disciples greeted him warmly. As a personal disciple of Mo Baiye, Min Jiangtao held considerable esteem among his peers.

“Where’s the teacher?” he inquired.

“The teacher’s whereabouts are unknown, but Senior Brother instructed us to send you to him immediately,” a disciple replied.

Nodding, Min Jiangtao proceeded to his senior brother’s residence. Upon entering the courtyard, he was greeted with silence. Knocking on the door yielded no response.

“Senior Brother, are you here?” he called, stepping through the threshold.

Before he could take another step, an ominous premonition struck. Retreating swiftly, he narrowly avoided a lethal blade light slashing down where he had just stood.

Had he hesitated, he might have become the very image of “Red Cherry.”

Author\'s Note