Thanks to Tai Tan's incredible speed, the group arrived at Shrek Academy in less than half a day.
But Wang Dong'er's wish to invite all her friends to her home was dashed—aside from Ning Tian and Wu Feng, everyone else, including Bei Bei, had been dispatched on Inspection Corps missions. They wouldn't return for at least half a month.
That left Wang Dong'er momentarily crestfallen.
Still, both Ning Tian and Wu Feng readily accepted her invitation and agreed to join the trip to her family estate.
Before long, they caught sight of Tian Dou City.
"It's Tian Dou City!"
After more than two years away, Ning Tian couldn't help but cling tighter. Leaning against Chen Junting, she gazed down at the landscape below.
"Come to think of it," she murmured softly, "it's been a long time since we've been here."
Chen Junting gently stroked her hair, his voice tender. "Let me think… it's been nearly ten years."
With six people inside the soul force barrier, Tai Tan had expanded it into a spacious, dome-like enclosure—roughly eighty square meters—giving everyone room to move comfortably.
Naturally, Chen Junting and Ning Tian, reunited after so long, claimed a cozy corner for themselves, whispering sweet nothings.
"When did they ever come to Tian Dou City together?" Wu Feng, overhearing their conversation from the sidelines, scratched his head in confusion.
"Probably during one of their private getaways," Wang Dong'er shot back instantly—never one to miss a chance to needle Wu Feng.
She drove the verbal dagger straight into Wu Feng's chest!
But she wasn't done yet. Seemingly to show off, Wang Dong'er—despite the murderous glare Tai Tan shot toward Huo Yuhao—blushed prettily, wrapped her arms around Huo Yuhao's neck, and shamelessly flaunted their affection right in front of everyone.
Wu Feng ground her teeth in irritation!
Until… her eyes accidentally drifted downward—landing on Wang Dong'er's chest.
Compared to her own voluptuous figure, Wang Dong'er's flatness made Wu Feng instantly straighten her back with smug confidence.
"So what if you have a boyfriend? At least this is bigger than yours."
She formed the silent words—flat as an airport—with her lips.
That was it.
The last thread of Wang Dong'er's sanity snapped.
Gritting her teeth, she ignored Huo Yuhao's attempts to hold her back and lunged straight at Wu Feng, determined to "flatten" her rival. The two girls immediately broke into a chaotic, no-holds-barred scuffle—as if no one else existed!
Leaving Huo Yuhao to offer an awkward smile to Gu Tianchen.
As for how their brawl finally ended…
"Quiet. Stop arguing."
No one except Tai Tan noticed how Chen Junting moved.
All they heard were two crisp flicks—thwack, thwack—and suddenly, Wang Dong'er and Wu Feng were clutching their foreheads, instantly separating like obedient children.
Then, under Wang Dong'er's pitying gaze, Wu Feng grumbled, "Seriously? You're throwing dog food everywhere but won't even let the dogs bark?"
"Cheeky!"
"Ow!"
—
Hao Tian Fortress lay near Tian Dou City. Soon, a towering, steep-sided mountain loomed into view—three of its faces sheer as if carved by a blade, the fourth still inclined at a daunting eighty-degree angle.
Few orthodox sects would ever choose such an inaccessible location—it was hard to climb up, and even harder to descend.
But for a hidden, reclusive sect? Perfect.
"Everyone, this is my home," Wang Dong'er announced with a cheerful grin. Seeing their awestruck expressions, her pride swelled even more. "Pretty amazing, right? I call it 'Clouds Deep, Where Heaven's Path Is Hidden.'"
"Oh-ho~" Wu Feng drawled sarcastically. "So someone's gotten fancy with poetry now?"
"Hmph. Better than some airheaded bimbo with nothing but curves," Wang Dong'er shot back—her retort so practiced it was practically reflexive.
"Enough."
Tai Tan, who'd remained silent until now, finally spoke.
The moment he did, all eyes turned to him.
"Since you've come as guests to Hao Tian Fortress, I, as your uncle, will give you your first gift. How much you grasp—how deeply you understand—it's all up to you."
"Now, we descend."
With a single step forward, before anyone could react, they'd already landed halfway up the mountain.
Cloud seas swirled around them. The colossal peak stretched like a pillar between heaven and earth, evoking the grandeur of 'standing atop the summit, all other mountains seem small.'
Thanks to Tai Tan's control, they touched down smoothly.
Faced with the boundless sea of clouds, everyone but Wang Dong'er—who'd grown up here and was thoroughly unimpressed—was captivated by the breathtaking vista.
Wang Dong'er frowned slightly, turning back. "Second Dad… is this the gift you meant?"
"Of course," Tai Tan replied, arms crossed, brimming with confidence. "This moment of enlightenment is the gift. As for who receives it…"
He didn't finish—his gaze had already settled on Chen Junting, who, unsurprisingly, showed no trace of confusion.
The moment Chen Junting saw the clouds, he'd already understood.
No sooner had his feet touched the ground than he centered himself. Within three breaths, an indescribable intent began to rise from within him.
It felt as though drawn from nature itself—encompassing the myriad forms of existence, the vastness of oceans, the loftiness of mountains, the clarity of blue skies, the vitality of spring, and the desolation of winter…
Seemingly contradictory, yet deeply interconnected.
Then—pure, unadulterated sword intent erupted from his core, slashing forward into the sea of clouds!
The surrounding mist rippled and dispersed.
The others, too, began to experience their own insights—
Everyone except…
"Looks like someone's big in the chest but small in the brain," Wang Dong'er whispered teasingly into Wu Feng's ear.
Wu Feng, unwilling to disturb Chen Junting and Ning Tian's meditation, could only mouth silent curses. Though inaudible, her lip movements made it clear: her insults were very creative.
Only when Tai Tan spoke again did she finally quiet down.
"Alright. While your friends meditate, you two come with me to the sect. Xiao Dong, your First Dad has been eager to see you."
"But Second Dad—my friends?"
"Don't worry. I'll send disciples to guard them."
With that, Tai Tan led Wang Dong'er and Wu Feng further up the mountain.
Meanwhile, Chen Junting sensed something shift.
His third eye slowly opened—golden pupils fixed on the churning clouds.
Guided by the force of fate, he instinctively sat cross-legged.
In that instant, he grasped something profound—his spiritual sea surged violently.
His mind emptied into pure clarity. His spiritual sea pulsed gently, and his spiritual power began to undergo a transformation.
Within that sea, Electrolux watched silently.
Gazing through the barrier at the outer clouds, he murmured, "These clouds aren't ordinary."
One glance was enough. They weren't naturally formed—nor crafted by mortal means.
Woven into the mist was… divine consciousness.
That alone had elevated this cloud sea beyond the mundane.
Electrolux didn't interrupt Chen Junting. Instead, he studied the phenomenon in quiet contemplation.
Outside, figures in gray robes emerged silently from the mist, encircling the meditating group at a respectful distance.
Each disciple appeared robust and vigorous, aged between twenty-five and thirty-five—brimming with vitality.
They were Hao Tian Fortress's elite disciples.
Quickly, twenty of them formed a disciplined formation, following Second Sect Master Tai Tan's orders to guard the visitors.
As time passed, Chen Junting's spiritual power not only evolved—becoming formless yet substantial, and reaching a level comparable to a Title Douluo—but his pure sword intent also fused with his natural intent, which encompassed nature's vastness, the vibrant life of myriad living beings, and cosmic harmony.
The catalyst? The very threads of fate themselves.
In the next moment, his sword intent transformed.
Huuuuuum—!
At the resonant hum of a sword's cry, Chen Junting's eyes snapped open!
His unified intent warped the very light and shadow around him. Far above, the once-peaceful cloud sea began to shift—rearranging itself into a living tapestry of heaven and earth.
Within its endless transformations lurked terrifying killing intent.
But that wasn't all.
A second, utterly different sword intent surged forth—this one drenched in bloodshed, evoking visions of mountains of corpses and seas of blood: the Sword Intent of Slaughter.
The two intents echoed in perfect harmony, advancing side by side.
Blinking back to awareness, Chen Junting murmured softly:
"This… shall be called the Sword Intent of Entrapment."
He rose slowly, reining in his aura.
Noticing the gray-robed disciples watching him—eyes wide with shock, some burning with battle lust—he gave a polite bow.
"Thank you, all, for standing guard."
He also took careful note of them.
Their foundations were rock-solid. Combined with their Hao Tian Hammer martial souls, each was clearly capable of fighting far above their rank. Given Tang San's favor toward Hao Tian Sect… this was hardly surprising.
Soon after, Ning Tian, Huo Yuhao, and Gu Tianchen also awoke from their meditations.
Each had gained something—but Chen Junting's breakthrough was in a class of its own. Among the others, Huo Yuhao benefited the most, followed by Gu Tianchen, with Ning Tian gaining the least.
Ning Tian looked around. "Wu Feng and Xiao Dong already left with Second Dad?"
"Most likely," Chen Junting nodded, then turned to the lead gray-robed disciple. "Kindly lead the way."
"This way, please."
The disciple bowed, then stepped forward, guiding the group into the mist, ascending the stone steps.
Chen Junting took Ning Tian's hand. "Let's go."
In a flash, they followed.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Tianchen quickly caught up.
Along the way, Gu Tianchen had considered using Huo Yuhao's Spirit Detection to lock onto Hao Tian Fortress at the summit, share the coordinates, and then open a Void Gate to teleport directly there.
But to his surprise, the mist blocked spiritual energy completely—rendering all of Huo Yuhao's spiritual abilities useless.
So they had no choice.
One step at a time… they climbed.
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