The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Feng Wei felt as though she were in a dream, yet everything was utterly real. The manifestation of the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Manual was unfolding right before her eyes.

"H-How… How did you do it?"

Feng Wei was certain this was no Illusion Technique. The scene materializing before her was imbued with the profound truths of the Dao in motion—something no Illusion Technique could possibly simulate.

Chen Dong chuckled. "Why do you think your Sect Leader had you monitor me? It's because I comprehended the complete Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Manual in the Dragon Phoenix Valley Sect."

Feng Wei shook her head. "That's not the main issue. The point is, how are you able to manifest it? You have to understand, this is something even our sect's founder was unable to do."

Chen Dong was merely at Early-stage Foundation Establishment. Yet he had accomplished something the founder of the Qixia Sect had failed to do, even at the precipice of Mahayana Ascension. How could Feng Wei not be astonished?

In truth, Chen Dong manifested the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Manual by relying on the radiance from the Six Paths Light Pillars in his Sea of Consciousness. By consuming this radiance, he could manifest the manual. Moreover, the consumption was minuscule. With his current reserves, Chen Dong had more than enough radiance to sustain the manifestation for twenty years.

Chen Dong casually withdrew the manifestation. "How I do it is my secret," he said. "The only question is, do you agree to this deal or not?"

Feng Wei had only managed to grasp a fraction of the Treasure Manual Technique and naturally yearned to comprehend it in its entirety. She immediately asked, "You haven't even explained the terms of the deal."

Chen Dong stated plainly, "It's not difficult. I need you to find the location of this world's Realm Passage."

'Feng Wei's Realm was higher than his, her status carried more weight, and she had access to far more secrets. It would be much better to have her investigate than for him to search through books on his own.'

But Feng Wei's brow furrowed. "A Realm Passage? I've never heard of such a thing."

Chen Dong had no choice but to explain. "It's a passage that connects worlds. By using a Realm Passage, you can travel to other worlds."

Her frown deepened. "Does such a thing even exist? You're not just making this up to mess with me, are you?"

Her status as one of the foremost disciples of the Five Great Sects was considered among the highest in the Wangyou Realm. If someone of her standing had never heard of a Realm Passage, she couldn't help but suspect Chen Dong was toying with her.

Chen Dong retorted, "Haven't you ever wondered? Where did all the mighty figures above the Nascent Soul Realm go? If there are no Realm Passages, could they all have simply died?"

"Aren't they all just in secluded cultivation?" But as soon as the words left her mouth, a sense of dread washed over her.

'That can't be right. Even if they were in seclusion, there would be some news! There have been no records of those mighty figures for nearly a thousand years. In her entire life as a cultivator, she had never even heard mention of anyone above the Nascent Soul Realm.'

The implications were horrifying.

'If Realm Passages truly exist, then to conceal the information so perfectly… only the Five Great Sects would have the power to do so.'

At this, she began to take the deal with Chen Dong seriously. Her expression turned solemn. "Is finding the passage's location all you need? And why are you investigating this? You're only at Early-stage Foundation Establishment. There's no need for you to know about these things. Focusing on your cultivation is the proper path!"

'Chen Dong was beginning to understand You's perspective. He just wanted to go home!'

But he couldn't tell Feng Wei that he wasn't from this world. He hadn't yet figured out the situation in this realm, and he couldn't rule out the possibility of a realm war, just as You had described. His home world was undoubtedly much weaker than the Wangyou Realm. Furthermore, the Qixia Sect's Sect Leader was an ambitious man. Even if Chen Dong had managed to intimidate him by posing as a Saint, the man would inevitably get ideas if he learned of a weaker world ripe for the taking.

So Chen Dong said, "I'm just curious. Do your best to investigate, and I guarantee I will help you comprehend the complete Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Manual."

Feng Wei pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I agree."

Chen Dong smiled and once again unfurled the manual's manifestation. "Comprehend it first. Go investigate after you've grasped one of the techniques." At the same time, he began flipping through the unofficial histories and biographies he had borrowed. His internal True Qi continued to circulate rhythmically—he was cultivating, reading, and helping Feng Wei all at once.

In the days that followed, Chen Dong shuttled between Hidden Mist Peak and Little Mist Peak. He discovered that the historical texts contained no useful information, so he moved on to reading books on the Alchemy Dao, Artifact Refining, and Talismanic Techniques.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed. Feng Wei finally managed to comprehend one of the techniques, and Chen Dong's own cultivation reached the Fifth-Layer Foundation Establishment. The radiance in his Sea of Consciousness had increased once more, making the small amount he had consumed utterly negligible in comparison. Not only had his power grown, but his Divine Sense had also expanded to a radius of over five thousand meters.

With that, Feng Wei left Little Mist Peak. She made Chen Dong promise not to leave the Qixia Sect and to wait for her return, otherwise she wouldn't be able to answer to the Sect Leader.

In turn, Chen Dong made her promise to investigate in secret and not inform her Sect Leader, threatening to cut off her access to the manual if she did. In Chen Dong's eyes, the Sect Leader of the Qixia Sect was simply not a trustworthy person.

Another month passed in a flash. Feng Wei had yet to return, and the Mu Chenzhong rang out once more within the sect.

This time, Chen Dong had nothing else to do, so his curiosity got the better of him and he headed over.

He saw that the wide mountain paths of the Qixia Sect were packed with disciples. The White Jade Square atop the main peak was also filled with Inner Sect Disciples, followed by the Elders and True Disciples…

"The heavens have blessed our Qixia Sect! We are graced with a peerless prodigy who has comprehended five techniques in the Dragon and Phoenix Valley Holy Land—an achievement unrivaled in millennia! The entire sect is hereby gathered to witness this ceremony and to bestow upon her the title of Saintess!"

Feng Fu's voice reverberated ethereally across all the mountain peaks. From the edge of the crowd, Chen Dong watched as Wang Wan'Er, dressed in the Holy Robe and Gauze Skirt, walked slowly toward the main peak…