Chapter Twenty-One: Wang Ran's Enlightenment

At the moment of enlightenment.

Wang Ran took a step forward, heading directly toward the high dais.

All eyes turned to him, and a wave of murmuring spread through the crowd.

“That’s Wang Ran—he’s going to attempt enlightenment as well.”

“He’s a genius disciple, but unfortunately he’s failed every attempt so far.”

“He was just accepted as the Grand Elder’s disciple. The Grand Elder thinks so highly of him—if he fails again here, it’ll be a real embarrassment.”

“Heh, I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing that happen.”

The gathering disciples pointed and whispered, looking at Wang Ran with a mix of envy and jealousy.

Not far away, Ye Cang watched the high platform with a smile, his eyes narrowed as if in warmth, but deep within his gaze, a chill gathered.

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—could he bear the Grand Elder’s wrath? Wang Ran’s luck truly inspired even Ye Cang’s envy.

On another rise, Feng Yazi observed the scene with a smile as well. He was pleased to see Wang Ran walking tall and proud, every step exuding confidence, and inwardly he rejoiced, hoping for Wang Ran’s enlightenment and foundation establishment.

Countless eyes watched as Wang Ran stood tall against the wind, his robes billowing.

He raised his head to the sky, sensing above the clouds an indescribably majestic presence churning amid the sea of clouds.

Heaven’s Way!

This was the aura of Heaven’s Way!

Draw down the will of the heavens, sense destiny, open the spiritual gate, and lay the foundation for the Dao!

If successful, one would comprehend their life-bound technique, officially stepping onto the grand road of cultivation, shedding the mortal shell, and gaining the right to pursue immortality and probe the mysteries of eternal life!

A rumble of thunder.

After a while, Wang Ran lowered his gaze, sat cross-legged atop the high platform, and stone walls slowly rose to enclose him completely.

His vision fell into darkness.

Within the sealed chamber, Wang Ran remained calm, opening his system interface.

“Let’s begin.”

Expectation shone in his eyes as he tapped the first option: Dao Technique Draw!

“Ding! Would you like to spend ten Dao Points to randomly draw a Dao technique?”

“Yes.”

Familiar with the process, Wang Ran quickly made his selection, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

The spinning wheel of Dao Techniques flashed, and a golden beam of light materialized out of thin air.

“Ding! Congratulations, host Wang Ran has obtained a one-star Dao Technique: ‘Eighteen Sweeping Techniques.’ Would you like to learn it?”

Upon hearing the system prompt, Wang Ran froze.

A one-star Dao technique?

Damn, could it get any worse?

As the most handsome, dashing idol of the Only-Me Sect, was he really supposed to learn a one-star Dao technique? Did he have no dignity left?

Feeling the sting of those ten precious Dao Points, he decisively refused.

Yet, as Wang Ran was drawing for a Dao technique, he was unaware that outside, the commotion had already begun.

At the very instant the one-star Dao technique appeared, a wisp of green energy emerged above Wang Ran’s head.

However, it was a feeble, almost invisible thread—even worse than the coarse servant from before. Truly, it was unprecedented in the sect’s history.

Staring at the hair-thin strand of green energy, the onlookers’ eyes brimmed with scorn; even the Grand Elder blinked in surprise.

The strand was so thin that anyone with poor eyesight would have missed it entirely…

Ye Cang snorted coldly, and the other outer-sect prodigies did the same. Tony Wood, for instance, sneered so hard that his narrow eyes nearly disappeared altogether.

“Is this Wang Ran really a genius?”

“Please, the so-called once-in-a-century prodigy is a joke.”

“Exactly! This is the weakest foundation technique in our sect’s history!”

“That green wisp is utterly laughable.”

“Clearly, Senior Brother Tony Wood is far superior—his green aura was so much thicker than Wang Ran’s.”

“One-star foundation… How can Wang Ran show his face as the Grand Elder’s disciple after this?”

“Huh? That wisp just faded away.”

“Is he trying again?”

“He must know that a one-star foundation is too humiliating—compared to the other prodigies, he’d only be dragging them down.”

“But what if he doesn’t even get a one-star next time?”

“True, hahahaha!”

The outer-sect disciples jeered and laughed, their mockery filling the air.

—

At that moment, another surge of green energy suddenly appeared in the sky, far stronger than any before—even Tony Wood was eclipsed.

This burst of green energy belonged to… Zhao Xiaobai!

Above Zhao Xiaobai’s head, the green aura coiled like a chaotic mass, terrifying in its intensity.

The crowd gasped.

“This is…”

“Heavens, that’s at least a seven-star Dao technique!”

“No wonder he’s the reincarnation of the Star Slayer—Zhao Xiaobai is too powerful!”

“Even Senior Brother Tony Wood can’t compare—Zhao Xiaobai is stronger!”

Zhao Xiaobai’s enlightenment instantly caused a sensation.

Meanwhile, inside Wang Ran’s stone chamber—

“Ding! Massive Heavenly Dao aura detected—lucky draw bonus doubled!”

Wang Ran was stunned by the prompt.

So, the aura of Heaven’s Way could actually boost the luck of the system’s draw?

With that, Wang Ran tried his luck again.

A flash of brilliance, and this time a golden light several times brighter than before appeared.

“Ding! Congratulations, host Wang Ran has obtained a six-star Dao technique: ‘Clear Water Formula.’ Would you like to cultivate it?”

Delight flickered on Wang Ran’s face—a six-star technique this time!

But he still wasn’t satisfied. This was to select his life-bound technique, after all, and he had to be thoroughly cautious. The so-called ‘Clear Water Formula’ sounded utterly commonplace, and only six stars—it didn’t suit someone of his stature…

So he chose to decline once more.

Meanwhile, outside—

The crowd was in an uproar: two surges of green energy had appeared one after another in the sky, both nearly equal in strength!

“What’s going on here?”

“I’m not surprised by Zhao Xiaobai’s, but what about the second one?”

“Could that be Wang Ran’s?”

“No way—did he really summon a six-star foundation?”

“This… this is unbelievable!”

As the disciples buzzed in shock, yet another change occurred in the sky.

Those two much-envied surges of green energy suddenly dispersed.

In other words, both Wang Ran and Zhao Xiaobai had given up their chances at enlightenment!

They… were going to try again!

All the prodigies stared in disbelief.

“I’m not surprised Zhao Xiaobai is trying again, but how did Wang Ran get a six-star opportunity?”

“Incredible! A six-star fortune is already rare—he actually dared to give it up?”

Tony Wood himself had only managed a six-star foundation, and seeing Wang Ran—whom he’d just scorned—reach the same height instantly unsettled him.

Among the prodigies, Ye Cang stood with hands behind his back, his eyes narrowing before he sneered, “Tricks of the trade.”

A six-star foundation wasn’t worth his attention.

At the other end of the square—

The junior sister was ecstatic.

“Senior Brother is so amazing! Others spend their entire lives dreaming of a six-star foundation, but he cast it aside without hesitation, just to seek an even greater fortune—that’s a true hero!”

Yan Wanrou’s delicate cheeks flushed with shyness, her mind filled with images of Wang Ran’s striking silhouette.

Beside her, Feng Yazi stroked his beard and said, “This Wang Ran does indeed have courage. Jianjia, what do you think—how many stars will he achieve?”

Dressed all in white, ethereal as a dream, Yao Jianjia’s face remained as cold as ever. She cupped her fists and replied, “I do not know, but judging by Junior Brother’s character, I believe he will not be weak.”

“Is that so? I have a feeling your junior brother is about to surprise us all,” Feng Yazi laughed, his eyes brimming with anticipation.

—

Inside the stone chamber.

Having declined the six-star technique, Wang Ran didn’t rush to draw again. He waited for Zhao Xiaobai to attempt enlightenment first.

Only when Zhao Xiaobai attracted the aura of Heaven’s Way would Wang Ran’s luck be doubled during the draw.

But this time, Zhao Xiaobai took an unusually long time.

Without Zhao Xiaobai’s attempt, Wang Ran couldn’t continue drawing, and a strange silence fell over the scene.

Seeing no green aura in the sky, the disciples exchanged puzzled glances.

Just as the crowd began to grow restless, Zhao Xiaobai finally made his move!

In an instant, the previously clear sky filled with boundless green energy, surging with overwhelming might.

This time, the force was more terrifying than all the previous attempts combined. Even the sky manifested anomalies, as if an endless killing intent descended upon the entire Only-Me Sect.

—

Many disciples were struck dumb, their legs turning to jelly—even the prodigies dared hardly breathe.

The Grand Elder Feng Yazi abruptly stood, gazing at the sky with grave concern.

Within that vast, surging green aura, a trace of purple energy suddenly flickered!

“This is… eight stars!!”

Feng Yazi was overjoyed; after so many years, the Only-Me Sect had once again witnessed an eight-star foundation!

The last time eight stars appeared was when true disciple Yao Jianjia established her foundation—her self-created Dao technique had startled the heavens, birthing a single stroke of purple within the green.

And now, on this day, eight stars emerged once more!

The endless killing aura coiled in the sky, refusing to disperse. Even through the stone walls, Wang Ran could feel its presence.

He looked up thoughtfully, knowing this was all caused by Zhao Xiaobai, and he couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile.

He opened the draw interface. With the Heavenly Dao aura so intense, his luck was higher than ever. A flash of brilliance—and a seven-star Dao technique appeared!

Wang Ran sighed softly—was seven stars truly his ultimate fate?

He knew Zhao Xiaobai wouldn’t relinquish this chance. This was the moment he’d been waiting for—eight stars, his limit.

In the entire Only-Me Sect, apart from the true disciples, there had never been another eight-star foundation. As for Ye Cang… he had nine stars!

Ye Cang, the millennium saintly body, nine-star foundation, hailed as the sect’s greatest prodigy.

Zhao Xiaobai might not surpass Ye Cang, but an eight-star foundation was still enough for pride.

Yet Wang Ran was unwilling to accept it; drawing a higher-level Dao technique was too difficult, and without the fortune brought by Zhao Xiaobai’s green aura, he doubted he could succeed again.

But seven stars still felt inferior.

As he hesitated, a streak of killing intent swept down from the sky, striking the square and merging into Zhao Xiaobai’s body. In the next moment, the vast green aura dissipated, and Zhao Xiaobai shot out of the stone chamber.

Foundation established!

The disciples gazed on in awe as Zhao Xiaobai strode forth, brimming with spirit. Envy filled the air, but no one noticed that, at the instant Zhao Xiaobai appeared and his killing aura spread, a wisp of it slipped into Wang Ran’s stone chamber.

No one noticed this detail; all attention was on congratulating Zhao Xiaobai, elders included.

Zhao Xiaobai smiled gently, brushed his white-feathered fan, cupped his hands, and bowed. “Disciple Zhao Xiaobai has comprehended the Heavenly Dao, merged with his own destiny, created the eight-star Dao technique ‘God-Slayer Path,’ successfully established his foundation, and comes to report!”

Though his voice was gentle, an invisible bloodlust radiated outward, causing many servant disciples to collapse to the ground.

Feng Yazi laughed heartily, praising, “Who would have thought the outer sect held such a prodigy! The Only-Me Sect has gained another outstanding talent! Pass my order: Zhao Xiaobai is promoted to the inner sect at once, rewarded with a thousand spirit jades and a personal abode!”

After Feng Yazi’s words, Zhao Xiaobai bowed his thanks but did not leave right away. Instead, he looked toward the last remaining stone chamber.

His action drew the attention of many.

“Hm? Wang Ran is still attempting enlightenment?”

“Wait, is that green aura above his head?”

“So much—must be seven stars!”

“Looks like Wang Ran really is a prodigy—far beyond the likes of us!”

Seeing the green aura over Wang Ran’s head, voices rose in amazement. Feng Yazi, too, turned his gaze back and nodded approvingly.

A seven-star foundation—perhaps less than Ye Cang or Zhao Xiaobai, but still worthy of the title ‘prodigy’ and quite an achievement.

Yet, as the crowd marveled, the green aura above Wang Ran’s head suddenly… vanished!

“He actually gave up enlightenment again?”

“That’s a seven-star Dao technique—has he lost his mind?!”

“Does he think he’s Zhao Xiaobai?”

“This Wang Ran is far too arrogant!”

Watching the green aura dissipate yet again, the disciples were stunned—even Feng Yazi frowned slightly in puzzlement.

A seven-star foundation was a rare fortune, yet he had given it up once more—surely, this was reckless. Such opportunities were not easily found.

The crowd was confounded. Some thought Wang Ran too arrogant, others that he had failed in his attempt.

While the outside world speculated, inside the stone chamber—

Wang Ran remained utterly motionless, as if petrified. Most strikingly, his eyes: the black pupils had vanished, leaving only blank white.

Even the system had stopped running, the virtual screen pitch-black.

Inside Wang Ran’s chamber, all was frozen in stillness.

Let us return to the moment before.

After Zhao Xiaobai’s killing aura, derived from the Heavenly Dao, inadvertently spilled over and swept through Wang Ran’s stone chamber—

Wang Ran, who had been about to learn the seven-star Dao technique, was instantly disturbed by this force.

And this disturbance was no small matter—the system itself was affected, suffering a brief malfunction. In that instant, Wang Ran’s mind and spirit unexpectedly merged, and he entered, for the first time, a true state of enlightenment!

In other words, at this very moment, he was… comprehending the Dao on his own!