The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Chen Dong was still deep in meditation. The cliffside he occupied was extremely remote, so no one disturbed him.

In the world of his meditation, a magnificent Fire Phoenix opened its beak and swallowed the sun. Boundless True Fire radiated from its body, as if every single feather was ablaze. The True Fire of the great sun made the Fire Phoenix even more divine. It let out a piercing cry that caused Chen Dong's cave to glow crimson, seeming as if it would melt into magma.

A phantasmal phoenix flickered behind Chen Dong. His hands moved through a series of Techniques, and a wisp of flame danced around his fingers.

Chen Dong smiled faintly and withdrew the flame.

'I've finally cultivated the embryonic form of this Divine Technique!'

A month ago, Chen Dong had comprehended a complete technique from the valley: the Phoenix True Fire. He was able to comprehend it largely thanks to Feng Wei. Chen Dong had once seen her use this technique on the sixth floor of the Drunken Immortal Tower, and with that as a reference, his comprehension had gone smoothly.

For the remaining two months, Chen Dong had been studying this Phoenix True Fire. Knowing a true technique was one thing, but cultivating it was another entirely.

Cultivating this Technique in the Dragon and Phoenix Valley provided a natural boost, so Chen Dong spent two months focused on it.

'My True Qi has already reached its limit, but I just can't break through the barrier. I might as well gain some more combat methods. Compared to the abstruse and difficult Yuqing Immortal Technique, this Technique I comprehended myself comes much more naturally.'

Once cultivated to mastery, this Phoenix True Fire became a Divine Technique. Those who could fully grasp a Divine Technique were all experts in the Nascent Soul Realm, a stage above Golden Core.

The environment of the Dragon and Phoenix Valley was a major factor in Chen Dong being able to cultivate the embryonic form of a Divine Technique while still in the Qi Refining Stage.

The tiny seed of fire in his hand possessed a might slightly stronger than an ordinary Golden Core cultivator's attack. This was a Divine Technique, and it was only in its embryonic form. If he could cultivate this True Fire to minor completion, Chen Dong was confident he could remain undefeated even against someone at Feng Wei's level of Foundation Establishment Perfection. If he could cultivate the Divine Technique to mastery, a Qi Cultivation cultivator slaying a Golden Core expert would no longer be a fantasy.

Chen Dong suppressed his joy and resumed his cultivation, striving to bring the Phoenix True Fire to minor completion by the time he left the valley.

While Chen Dong was arduously cultivating day and night, twenty-six withered leaves imbued with a divine charm drifted down from the towering, withered tree.

Chen Tianmo had led a group to wait there early on. The Inner Sect Disciples with lower cultivation levels couldn't even get close, to say nothing of the Outer Sect disciples who were only at the Qi Cultivation stage.

The leaves were instantly collected. Inner Sect Disciples at Ninth-Layer Qi Cultivation and Qi Cultivation Perfection were directly given a leaf each. Those at eighth-layer Qi Cultivation who had comprehended a minor technique also received one.

Only five of the twenty-six leaves remained. After taking one for himself, there were four left, which he kept.

One Ninth-Layer Qi Refining disciple, who had yet to comprehend a Technique, suddenly had an epiphany and comprehended one after refining a leaf. His ranking on the decree in the sky shot up from the fifties to ninth place.

"Perhaps these leaves can enhance one's comprehension!"

This idea immediately spread among the disciples. One by one, those on good terms with Chen Tianmo sought him out, hoping to get a leaf.

When Wang Xian'Er heard this rumor, she lost all interest in comprehending on her own; all she wanted was a leaf. 'If I refine a leaf, maybe I'll be able to comprehend a Technique and won't be ranked last anymore.'

She knew Chen Tianmo would never agree if she asked herself, so she set her sights on Wang Wan'Er.

"Wan'Er, can you go ask Senior Brother Chen for a leaf for me? I've been sitting here uselessly for over three months and gained nothing. If I had a leaf, I'm sure I could comprehend a Technique!"

Wang Wan'Er already felt guilty that her rank was higher than Wang Xian'Er's. Although asking Senior Brother Chen was rather pushy, for her young lady's sake, Wang Wan'Er swallowed her pride and approached Chen Tianmo.

"Senior Brother Chen, could you possibly give me a leaf?"

Chen Tianmo hesitated for a moment before putting on a smile. "With Junior Sister Wan'Er's rank and talent, not to mention Senior Sister Feng Wei's request, you certainly deserve one!" He spoke very loudly, as if intending for the other Inner Sect Disciples to hear.

Xu Sirong heard this and was filled with jealousy. She also hadn't comprehended a Technique and wanted a leaf, but Chen Tianmo didn't have a good impression of her. Asking him would just be asking for humiliation. Although her Dao Companion, Qian Hu, had gotten a leaf, he had already refined it himself and had no intention of giving it to her.

After receiving the leaf, Wang Wan'Er gave it directly to Wang Xian'Er.

A smile, the first since entering the Dragon and Phoenix Valley, appeared on Wang Xian'Er's round face. 'With this leaf, they definitely won't look down on me anymore.' She took the leaf and immediately began to refine it.

Twenty hours later, Wang Xian'Er's face was a mask of disappointment, her eyes vacant.

'Nothing. Still nothing!'

'No Cultivation Technique, no comprehension, nothing at all!'

'That's it! It must be that one leaf wasn't enough. If I had just one more, it would definitely work.'

Thinking this, Wang Xian'Er looked again toward Wang Wan'Er, who was not far away.

"Wan'Er, can you go ask for another one?"

Wang Wan'Er's face was pained. "Young Lady, there were only twenty-six leaves in total. Senior Brother Chen has surely given them all away. Even if he were willing to give us another, he wouldn't have any left!"

Wang Xian'Er didn't give up. Instead, as if possessed, she said, "Maybe... maybe he still has some? Go and ask!"

Wang Wan'Er looked at her Young Lady, who seemed like a stranger now, completely different from before.

Ever since Chen Dong had healed her, Wang Xian'Er's temperament had been changing. This time, after letting Chen Dong go, she had slapped Wang Wan'Er—who had once been like a sister to her—dozens of times.