80: Chapter 80 Unlimited Potential

Several days passed.

Duobao Sect, Fubao Peak.

The peak was shrouded in clouds and mist, with spirit cranes circling above.

A magnificent grand hall stood in the center of the peak, and the plaza in front of the hall was paved with white jade, smooth as a mirror.

At this moment, inside the hall.

Tang Aotian stood at the center with his head bowed. His brocade robes were spotless, yet a faint gloom hung between his brows.

Three zhang in front of him, a towering figure stood with his back turned, hands behind his back, gazing at the sea of clouds outside the hall.

The figure was not tall, yet it seemed to merge into the entire mountain, his aura as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea.

Merely standing there, he caused the air in the hall to stagnate.

The Master of Fubao Peak.

"Revered Master."

Tang Aotian bowed respectfully, his voice tinged with suppression: "Regarding the Trial Assessment, it is because I am useless and have failed to live up to Revered Master's expectations."

The Master of Fubao Peak did not respond immediately.

He continued to gaze at the sea of clouds, and after a long while, he sighed softly.

The sigh was light, but it made Tang Aotian's heart sink.

Over the past few days, Revered Master had never proactively mentioned the Trial Assessment.

Tang Aotian knew this was Revered Master protecting his self-esteem, not wanting to put too much pressure on him.

However, he himself could not get past this hurdle.

He was the closing Disciple personally taken in by the Master of Fubao Peak, possessed a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and had mastered the second volume of the Heavenly Talisman Scripture in less than a year of entering the Sect.

Everyone said he was a once-in-a-millennium Genius of the Dao of Talismans and would surely become a Heavenly Talisman Revered Master in the future.

Revered Master had also once said: "Aotian, with your talent, the future top spot on the hidden dragon ranking will be within your grasp."

But what about now?

He had stopped at the second level, ranked thirty-third.

In truth, this was considered a very good result.

However, that was only if Chu Feng did not exist.

Both were newly promoted true Disciples, both were Talisman Revered Masters, yet Chu Feng had charged all the way to the top of the hidden dragon ranking!

This was not just about the ranking; it was a negation of his talent, his hard work, and all his pride.

"My Disciple."

The Master of Fubao Peak finally turned around, his gaze gentle.

Looking at Tang Aotian now, there was no disappointment in his eyes, only a kind of detachment that comes from seeing through the ways of the world.

"Revered Master once said that your speed of comprehending the Heavenly Talisman Scripture is rare in the world. As long as you maintain it, ascending to a Heaven-Grade true Disciple is only a matter of time."

He walked up to Tang Aotian and reached out to pat his closing Disciple's shoulder.

"As for this Trial Assessment ranking, you do not need to take it to heart."

"A single trial does not represent anything. With your talent, you will sooner or later be able to ascend to the top three of the hidden dragon ranking."

Tang Aotian's heart sank slightly.

He remembered very clearly that it was not "sooner or later"; Revered Master had originally said "definitely" and "within your grasp."

Now it had changed to "sooner or later be able to ascend to the top three."

He could hear the difference in this.

But he did not show it, only respectfully saying: "Yes, Revered Master. This Disciple will definitely do his utmost to comprehend the Heavenly Talisman Scripture and strive to ascend to the top spot as soon as possible!"

He said "top spot," not "top three."

A trace of complexity flashed in the eyes of the Master of Fubao Peak, but it quickly turned into a gentle smile: "Disciple, having confidence is a good thing, and Revered Master also firmly believes in this."

He paused, his tone turning solemn: "Remember, do not be disturbed by worldly affairs. That Chu Feng has his own Opportunity; you only need to calm your heart to comprehend your own Dao and walk your own path."

"Yes." Tang Aotian bowed his head.

"In a while, after you have completely mastered the second volume, Revered Master will take you to the Talisman Hall."

The Master of Fubao Peak said, "There are notes and insights left behind by past Heavenly Talisman Revered Masters, which will be of great help to you. At that time, you may conduct the Trial Assessment again."

Talisman Hall!

Tang Aotian's eyes brightened.

That was a place where even many Heaven-Grade true Disciples were not qualified to enter!

"Thank you, Revered Master!" He bowed respectfully.

"Go, practice well."

"Yes, this Disciple takes his leave."

Tang Aotian exited the hall, and the moment he turned around, a flame of unwillingness to admit defeat flashed in his eyes.

Chu Feng...

He had remembered this name.

Inside the hall, the Master of Fubao Peak watched his Disciple's departing back and shook his head helplessly.

How could he not see the unwillingness in Tang Aotian's heart?

But some things, he could not say too bluntly.

Chu Feng being able to reach the top spot did not rely on the progress of comprehending the Heavenly Talisman Scripture.

That kid had not even touched the second volume.

What he relied on was something even more terrifying: creativity, adaptability, and the potential that erupted in desperate situations.

This kind of talent was more precious and harder to replicate than the talent of learning scriptures step by step.

Tang Aotian was a Genius, but Chu Feng... might be a monster.

"The gap between the thirty-third and the top spot is too large."

The Master of Fubao Peak muttered to himself, "Even if Aotian is a Genius, it is almost impossible for him to catch up in a short time."

He walked to the hall door and gazed at the churning sea of clouds.

"Geniuses are arrogant by nature; I hope this setback can make him see the gap and rise to the challenge."

"If he is struck down and never recovers... that would mean his Dao Heart is not yet tough enough."

The road of cultivation is long; talent is certainly important, but Heart-Nature is the fundamental factor that determines how far one can go.

The Master of Fubao Peak hoped his Disciple could understand this principle.

...

Southern Continent, high altitude.

A flying boat, a hundred zhang long, cut through the clouds, traveling at high speed.

The flying boat was silver-white throughout, its hull carved with complex talismans, and a huge Duobao Pavilion logo floated at the bow.

It was a jade seal with the two characters "Duobao" on it, emitting a faint golden halo.

This was a specially made flying boat of the Duobao Sect; only Cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above were qualified to ride it.

At this moment, on the edge of the flying boat.

True Monarch Haori stood with his hands behind his back, wearing a moon-white robe, overlooking the landscape of mountains and rivers passing by below.

The mountains were like dark green eyebrows, and the rivers were like ribbons.

Towns and villages were scattered across the vast land like chess pieces on a board.

Occasionally, Cultivators could be seen flying on Magical Artifacts, and upon seeing this flying boat, they would all avoid it from afar and bow respectfully.

This was the might of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

But True Monarch Haori's mood was not as calm as his expression.

His thoughts were fluctuating.

"Chu Feng..."

He whispered this name, his eyes showing a complex expression.

Before leaving, his Revered Master, the Revered Master of Duobao Peak, had personally summoned him and said only one sentence:

"Haori, on this trip to Nanyun City, you must do your utmost to teach Chu Feng; this child's potential is Limitless!"

Limitless!

These four words were as heavy as Mount Tai.

True Monarch Haori had been shocked at the time.

He had followed his Revered Master for hundreds of years and had never heard his Revered Master give such a high evaluation to any junior.

Even for that Tang Aotian with the Heavenly Spiritual Root, his Revered Master had only said he could become a Soul Transformation Cultivator.

True Monarch Haori carefully recalled his only meeting with Chu Feng.

Although Chu Feng's talent in the Dao of Talismans was extremely high, and he had even had the thought of taking him as a Disciple, at that time, in his view, Chu Feng was far inferior to Tang Aotian.

Yet who would have thought that Chu Feng could actually reach the top of the hidden dragon ranking!

"Lord True Monarch."

A respectful voice came from behind.

The envoy in charge of the flying boat bowed and said: "Should we notify the Nanyun City Duobao Pavilion in advance so they can prepare to welcome you?"

According to custom, when a Nascent Soul True Monarch arrives, the local branch should welcome him grandly to show respect.

But True Monarch Haori waved his hand lightly: "No need."

He paused and added: "This trip is low-key; do not make a fuss."

"Yes." The envoy retreated.

True Monarch Haori looked toward the distance again.

His main purpose in returning this time was to teach and pass on the second volume of the Heavenly Talisman Scripture to Chu Feng.

Moreover, his Revered Master had strictly instructed to 'proceed in an orderly way'.

These four words had deep meaning.

One could not pull up the seedlings to help them grow, making Chu Feng's Foundation unstable; nor could one be too conservative and delay his growth.

Managing this balance required extremely high wisdom.

During the days on the road, True Monarch Haori had repeatedly pondered the deep meaning in his Revered Master's words.

He gradually understood a little.

Chu Feng was too dazzling now, so dazzling that he had already attracted the attention of various peaks in the Sect, and might even have attracted some attention that should not be there.

When a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will surely destroy it.

His Revered Master sending him to Nanyun City was not just for teaching, but also for protection.

With him, a Nascent Soul True Monarch, stationed there, those eyes secretly spying would surely restrain themselves somewhat.

"Chu Feng, oh Chu Feng..."

True Monarch Haori muttered to himself, a trace of anticipation flashing in his eyes, along with a trace of pressure.

The flying boat broke through the clouds, moving even faster.

Nanyun City was getting closer and closer.