Chapter Twenty-One: Wang Ran's Enlightenment
At the scene of enlightenment, Wang Ran took a single stride forward, heading straight for the high platform.
All eyes turned to him, and a wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
“That’s Wang Ran. He’s about to attempt enlightenment as well.”
“He’s a talented disciple, but he’s failed in his previous attempts.”
“He was just accepted as a personal disciple by the Grand Elder. The Grand Elder thinks so highly of him—if he fails now, it’ll be a great embarrassment.”
“Heh, I’d actually love to see that happen.”
The disciples watching pointed and whispered, their gazes on Wang Ran filled with both envy and jealousy.
Not far away, Ye Cang watched the high platform with a smile, his eyes narrowed. He seemed affable, but deep within his gaze, a cold glint flickered.
Now that Wang Ran had become the Grand Elder’s personal disciple, even Ye Cang would have to think twice before making a move against him, lest he incur the Grand Elder’s wrath. Wang Ran’s luck was enough to make even Ye Cang envious.
On another ridge, Feng Yazi also looked on with a smile. Seeing Wang Ran walk with his head held high, every step exuding authority, he felt a surge of joy in his heart, eagerly awaiting Wang Ran’s enlightenment and foundation building.
Under countless scrutinizing eyes, Wang Ran stood tall in the wind, his robes billowing.
He glanced up at the sky. Above the clouds, a grandeur beyond words brewed and tumbled through the heavens.
The Dao of Heaven.
This was the aura of the Heavenly Dao.
Summon the Heavenly Qi, seek fortune, open the gates of spirit, and establish the foundation of the Dao!
Once successful, and having comprehended his own life-bound technique, he would truly step onto the broad path of cultivation, shedding his mortal shell and gaining the right to seek immortality and the secrets of everlasting life.
Thunder rumbled.
A moment later, Wang Ran withdrew his gaze, sat cross-legged atop the high platform, and stone walls slowly rose around him until his figure was entirely enclosed.
His vision plunged into darkness.
Within the sealed, tiny cave, Wang Ran remained calm and unhurried. He opened his system interface.
“Let’s begin.”
With anticipation in his eyes, Wang Ran tapped the first option: Dao Technique Extraction.
“Ding. Would you like to spend ten Dao Points to randomly extract a Dao technique?”
“Yes.”
Familiar with the process, Wang Ran deftly made his selection, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
As the Dao technique wheel spun, a beam of golden light materialized out of thin air.
“Ding. Congratulations, Host Wang Ran, you have obtained a one-star cultivation technique: ‘Eighteen Sweeping Forms.’ Would you like to learn it?”
When he heard the system notification, Wang Ran was momentarily stunned.
A one-star technique?
Seriously? How unlucky could he get!
As the most dashing, charismatic idol of the Only Me Sect, he was now being offered a one-star technique? Where was his dignity?
Heart aching for the ten Dao Points he’d just spent, Wang Ran promptly refused.
But while Wang Ran was busy extracting techniques, he was unaware that a commotion was already erupting outside.
Because the instant the one-star technique appeared, a wisp of green energy manifested above Wang Ran’s head.
It was a feeble strand, even weaker than the one that had appeared above the big janitor before—a sight utterly unprecedented in the history of enlightenment.
Seeing that thread of green, as fine as a single hair, the watching disciples’ eyes brimmed with contempt. Even the Grand Elder blinked in surprise.
The green aura was so thin that anyone with poor eyesight would have missed it entirely...
Ye Cang snorted coldly, as did the various outer sect prodigies—Tony Mu among them, his narrow eyes almost squeezing shut with disdainful laughter.
“And they call Wang Ran a genius?”
“Please, the so-called once-in-a-century talent? What a joke.”
“Exactly! This is the weakest foundation technique in the sect’s history!”
“That thread of green Qi is laughable.”
“Clearly, Senior Brother Tony Mu is far superior. Compared to Wang Ran, it’s as if Tony’s Qi is a mighty river.”
“A one-star foundation... How can Wang Ran even call himself the Grand Elder’s disciple now?”
“Huh? That Qi just vanished.”
“Is he going to attempt enlightenment again?”
“Seems he realized how humiliating a one-star foundation would be. Compared to the other prodigies, he’d be a laughingstock.”
“But what if next time he doesn’t even get a one-star?”
“Well, true, hahaha!”
A crowd of outer sect disciples mocked him relentlessly, their banter growing ever more lively.
At that moment, another surge of green Qi appeared in the sky, stronger than any before, even surpassing Tony Mu.
This time, the Qi came from... Zhao Xiaobai!
Above Zhao Xiaobai’s head, the green energy swirled like a mass of primordial chaos, emanating a terrifying presence.
Everyone gasped in shock.
“That—that’s...”
“Heavens, that’s at least a seven-star technique!”
“No wonder he’s the reincarnation of the Killing Star—Zhao Xiaobai is incredible!”
“Even Senior Brother Tony Mu is no match for him!”
Zhao Xiaobai’s enlightenment instantly caused a sensation.
Just then, within Wang Ran’s stone chamber...
“Ding. Massive Heavenly Dao energy detected. Dao Technique Extraction luck greatly increased!”
Wang Ran was taken aback by the notification.
So the aura of the Dao of Heaven could boost the system’s luck in the lottery?
With that in mind, he decided to try again.
A flash of brilliance, and a golden light far stronger than before appeared.
“Ding. Congratulations, Host Wang Ran, you have obtained a six-star cultivation technique: ‘Pure Water Formula.’ Would you like to cultivate it?”
Wang Ran was delighted—a six-star this time!
Still, he wasn’t satisfied. This was to be his life-bound technique; he had to be cautious. “Pure Water Formula” sounded generic, and six stars still didn’t match his status...
So he chose to give it up again.
Meanwhile, outside—
Astonishment swept through the crowd as two surges of green Qi appeared in the sky, one after another, both of similar strength!
“What’s going on?”
“I’m not surprised about Zhao Xiaobai, but who is the other one?”
“Could it be Wang Ran?”
“No way—he actually summoned six-star Qi?”
“This is... unbelievable!”
Just as the disciples were abuzz, another twist occurred in the sky.
Those two dazzlingly powerful surges of green Qi both dissipated at once.
In other words, both Wang Ran and Zhao Xiaobai had given up on their enlightenment!
They would both try again!
The various prodigies stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
“I’m not surprised Zhao Xiaobai is going again, but how did Wang Ran also get a six-star opportunity?”
“Incredible. To get a six-star opportunity is already rare, yet he dares to give it up?”
Tony Mu, who had only managed a six-star foundation himself, felt a pang of displeasure at seeing Wang Ran—whom he’d just scorned—rise to his level.
Among the prodigies, Ye Cang stood with hands clasped behind his back, eyes narrowing before he sneered, “Tricks of the trade.”
He didn’t care about a six-star foundation.
On the other side of the plaza, the junior sister was thrilled.
“Senior Brother is amazing! Others would dream their whole lives of a six-star foundation, but he gave it up just like that, seeking an even greater opportunity. That’s a true hero.”
Yan Wanrou’s delicate face flushed with shyness, her mind filled with images of Wang Ran’s dashing figure.
By her side, Feng Yazi stroked his beard. “This Wang Ran truly has some backbone. Jianjia, what do you think? How many stars will he reach?”
Yao Jianjia, clad in ethereal white, wore her usual icy expression. She offered a slight salute. “I do not know, Master. But with Junior Brother’s character, I doubt he will be weak.”
“Is that so? I have a feeling your junior brother will surprise us all.” Feng Yazi laughed heartily, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Within the stone chamber, Wang Ran was in no rush to draw again after refusing the six-star technique. He waited for Zhao Xiaobai to attempt enlightenment first.
Only when Zhao Xiaobai summoned the Heavenly Dao’s aura would his own luck be doubled during the lottery draw.
But this time, Zhao Xiaobai remained quiet for a long while.
Without his enlightenment, Wang Ran couldn’t continue drawing, and a strange silence settled over the scene.
Seeing no green Qi in the sky, the disciples exchanged puzzled glances.
Just as impatience was about to set in, Zhao Xiaobai finally acted!
The previously cloudless sky erupted with an endless tide of green Qi, roaring forth with overwhelming might.
This time, the force far surpassed all previous occurrences combined. Even the sky itself showed signs of anomaly, as if a boundless killing intent was descending over the entire Only Me Sect.
Many disciples were stunned, their legs going weak; even the prodigies scarcely dared to breathe.
Grand Elder Feng Yazi suddenly leaped to his feet, gazing solemnly at the sky.
Amid the vast, surging green Qi, a thread of purple flickered through.
“That’s... eight stars!!”
Feng Yazi was overjoyed. After so many years, the Only Me Sect had finally produced another eight-star foundation!
The last time had been when true disciple Yao Jianjia established her foundation. She’d created her own Dao technique, drawing forth a miracle of heaven and earth: within the ultimate green, a trace of purple was born.
And today, eight stars had appeared once more!
The endless aura of slaughter swirled in the sky, refusing to dissipate; even through the stone barrier, Wang Ran could feel it.
He looked up thoughtfully, realizing this commotion was caused by Zhao Xiaobai, and couldn’t help but smile and shake his head.
He opened the lottery interface. This time, the Heavenly Dao aura was so thick that his luck was boosted even more. After a flash of radiance, a seven-star technique appeared!
But Wang Ran sighed softly. Was seven-star foundation his ultimate fate?
He knew Zhao Xiaobai wouldn’t give up this time—this was the moment he’d been waiting for. Eight-star foundation: this was Zhao Xiaobai’s limit.
In the entire Only Me Sect, aside from the true disciples, there was no one else with an eight-star foundation. As for Ye Cang... he had nine stars!
Ye Cang possessed the Sacred Body of the Millennium. A nine-star foundation—he was hailed as the sect’s number one prodigy.
Zhao Xiaobai might not surpass Ye Cang, but eight stars was enough for pride.
Yet Wang Ran was reluctant to settle. Extracting high-level techniques was so difficult; without the boost from Zhao Xiaobai’s enlightenment, he doubted his success.
But a seven-star foundation still felt a notch below the best.
As he hesitated, a wave of killing intent swept from the sky, fell upon the plaza, and merged into Zhao Xiaobai’s body. In the next moment, the surging green Qi dissipated, and Zhao Xiaobai burst from his stone chamber.
Foundation established!
The disciples stared in astonishment as Zhao Xiaobai strode out, brimming with confidence and envied by all. No one noticed that the instant Zhao Xiaobai appeared, the killing aura around him unconsciously spread, with a wisp drifting into Wang Ran’s stone chamber.
No one paid any mind to this detail; everyone was busy congratulating Zhao Xiaobai, elders included.
Zhao Xiaobai smiled lightly, gently fanned his white feather fan, and bowed with clasped fists. “Disciple Zhao Xiaobai has comprehended the Dao of Heaven, merged with his own fortune, created the eight-star Dao ‘God of Slaughter Path,’ and successfully established his foundation. I have come to report!”
His voice was gentle, but an invisible killing aura spread with it. Many of the janitor disciples’ knees buckled, and they collapsed on the spot.
Feng Yazi burst into hearty laughter. “Who would have thought the outer sect harbored such a prodigy! The Only Me Sect has gained another outstanding talent. Pass my order: Zhao Xiaobai is to be promoted to the inner sect immediately, rewarded with a thousand spirit jades and a residence of his own!”
After Feng Yazi’s announcement, Zhao Xiaobai gave thanks but didn’t leave. Instead, his gaze turned to the last remaining stone chamber.
His action drew further attention.
“Hmm? Wang Ran is still attempting enlightenment?”
“Wait, is that green Qi above his head?”
“There’s so much of it—it must be seven stars!”
“Looks like Wang Ran is a prodigy after all, not someone we can compare to!”
As the crowd saw the green Qi above Wang Ran’s head, they voiced their admiration. Even Feng Yazi glanced over and nodded approvingly.
A seven-star foundation was not on par with Ye Cang or Zhao Xiaobai, but it was still enough to be called a prodigy—already quite impressive.
But just as everyone was marveling, the green Qi above Wang Ran’s head suddenly... dissipated!
“He gave up on enlightenment again?”
“That was a seven-star technique—has he gone mad?”
“Does he think he’s Zhao Xiaobai or something?”
“This Wang Ran is too arrogant, isn’t he?”
Seeing Wang Ran’s Qi vanish once more, the disciples were shocked, and even Feng Yazi was briefly taken aback, then frowned.
A seven-star foundation was already something to be proud of, yet he gave it up again. This bordered on recklessness, for such opportunities were rare and not to be wasted.
Everyone was baffled by Wang Ran’s actions—some thinking him arrogant, others suspecting he had failed.
While the outside world speculated, inside the stone chamber, Wang Ran sat utterly still, as if petrified. Most strange of all, his black pupils had disappeared entirely, leaving only blank whiteness!
Even the system had ceased to operate; the virtual interface was shrouded in darkness.
Inside Wang Ran’s stone chamber, all seemed frozen.
Rewind to a few moments earlier.
After the killing aura that Zhao Xiaobai summoned from the Dao of Heaven inadvertently spilled over Wang Ran’s chamber, the Wang Ran who had been preparing to learn the seven-star technique was suddenly disturbed by that power.
This interference was crucial—for the system was affected as well, experiencing a momentary error. In that instant, Wang Ran’s mind and spirit merged as one, and he entered a state he had never known before...
He was in a true state of enlightenment.
At this moment, he was... enlightening on his own!