C15 The Disguised Master

Ye Chen watched his eldest senior brother practice his swordplay with increasing speed and agitation, his brow furrowed in concern. He recognized the signs of impending Qi deviation in his senior brother's frenzied movements. If left unchecked, the consequences could range from regression in cultivation to the catastrophic collapse of his meridians, leading to death.

As Ye Chen observed his eldest senior brother's descent into obsession and the dangerous path toward Qi deviation, he pondered how he could assist his well-intentioned senior. With the Yin-Yang Holy Body and the support of his system, Ye Chen's cultivation level was rapidly approaching that of Lee Zhenfeng. Among the ranks of the Polaris Holy Land, his talent was unparalleled.

Yet, Ye Chen remained humble. He felt no pride in catching up to his eldest senior brother's three years of cultivation, nor did he look down upon him. On the contrary, he admired his senior's exceptional talent and relentless dedication to cultivation.

While most of the Polaris disciples had retired for the night, the eldest senior brother persisted in his training. It was clear that such remarkable achievements were not solely the result of talent but also the product of persistent effort.

Regrettably, the eldest senior brother's diligence seemed to have led him to a bottleneck, trapping him in an obsession that teetered on the brink of Qi deviation. "Is it the prolonged stagnation in the late Soul Nurturing period that has made him so desperate?" Ye Chen mused, his concern evident.

Despite his own status as a middle-period Soul Nurturing cultivator, Ye Chen's Yin-Yang Holy Body and mastery of the Polaris Holy Land's most sacred text, the Tome of the Celestial Way, gave him insights far beyond those of his senior brother in the late period. He could clearly perceive the gravity of his senior's predicament.

Moreover, through their recent interactions, Ye Chen had learned that his eldest senior brother had been stuck in the late Soul Nurturing period for quite some time, unable to break through to perfection. While peers from other sects had reached this milestone, Lee Zhenfeng's lack of progress was a source of deep frustration.

Advancing from the late period of the Soul Nurturing stage to perfection is tantamount to refining every facet of the Soul Nurturing realm, bringing one's spirit to the ultimate state of the God-Man. Even for those with exceptional talent, this stage presents a formidable challenge.

Without unique opportunities, breaking through this barrier is incredibly difficult and typically requires an extensive period of diligent cultivation and accumulation.

Lee Zhenfeng was currently feeling the pressure, which led to a dangerous state of overexertion.

Considering that he might one day encounter a similar predicament, Ye Chen took a moment to ponder before deciding to offer some guidance.

It's often easier to see the solution from the outside looking in, and as an observer, Ye Chen could discern Lee Zhenfeng's current plight and knew how to assist him in overcoming this psychological hurdle.

However, Ye Chen was aware that he needed to be cautious not to reveal his identity while lending a hand.

Ye Chen's ultimate aim was to reach a state of invincibility before reemerging from seclusion. Until he could ensure his own safety, it was wiser to remain discreet.

"Fortunately, I've acquired quite a few valuable items recently, and now's the time to put them to use."

Without further ado, Ye Chen produced a talisman from his hand—the Veil of Deception.

This talisman, which he had obtained at the Rune Hall, was designed to conceal one's aura and disguise one's appearance.

The Veil of Deception was of a high grade, undetectable even to those in the God-Man realm unless someone from the Cave Heaven realm intervened.

Utilizing the Veil of Deception, Ye Chen instantly materialized before Lee Zhenfeng.

"Who's there?"

Lee Zhenfeng, who was fervently practicing his swordsmanship, sensed the intrusion and immediately shifted from training to a defensive stance.

His iron sword sliced through the air, emitting a dazzling trail of light.

Wielding his sword with formidable might, Lee Zhenfeng's attack was as swift as lightning.

Indeed, as the eldest senior brother among the young disciples of the Polaris, Lee Zhenfeng's skills and combat prowess were second to none.

Within the Polaris Holy Land, aside from the Sect Master, numerous elders, and a handful of deacons, there was scarcely anyone who could rival him. Regrettably, the young and dazzling Lee Zhenfeng encountered Ye Chen, whose talents were even more exceptional.

With the two fingers of his right hand joined together as if they were a sword, Ye Chen pointed forward. A glint of cold light shimmered, resembling the luminous trail of a dragon-shaped sword beam.

With a resounding bang, a torrent of majestic sword intent surged forth, effortlessly dissolving Lee Zhenfeng's forceful sword strike. Ye Chen's fingers vibrated, deftly clamping down on the tip of Lee Zhenfeng's blade. The ease with which he locked the sword between his fingers seemed as effortless as flicking away a speck of dust.

"What?" Lee Zhenfeng exclaimed, his face etched with astonishment.

A surge of potent wakan erupted from his dantian, with the powerful waves of the late Soul Nurturing period attempting to wrest the sword back. Yet, to his dismay, he discovered that the sword remained motionless, trapped between the fingers of the enigmatic figure before him.

"Your sword is too hasty, much like a brute who lacks the wisdom to assess the situation. That's not how you wield a sword," Ye Chen said, his voice carrying the weight of ages, before releasing his grip.

Only then did Lee Zhenfeng manage to retrieve his sword. The profound words echoed in his mind, causing a violent tremor in his spirit, yet he refrained from launching another attack. He was acutely aware that he stood no chance against this inscrutable presence.

Moreover, the stranger's observations were a precise reflection of his current predicament. It wasn't just his sword that was rash; his heart was racing too.

"Who are you, really? What do you intend to do?" Lee Zhenfeng asked, his gaze fixed warily on the hazy figure before him. Despite the overwhelming power of his opponent, he remained composed, opting not to flee.

He was deep within the Polaris Holy Land, a place shrouded by protective runes. It would be exceedingly difficult for an outsider to penetrate this sanctuary without triggering an alarm among the sect's powerhouses. Although Lee Zhenfeng couldn't discern the features of the person before him, he could sense an air of ease about them, betraying no concern for being detected.

Could the other person be a senior from our sect?

"Is it the enigmatic senior who vanquished the demon and thwarted its plans?"

This thought surfaced in Lee Zhenfeng's mind.

Before his journey to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Sect Master had mentioned to Zhenfeng about an ancestor from their sect concealed near the temple, an ancestor of formidable strength.

His master's intention for sending him to the Imperial Ancestral Temple was not only to guard it and atone for past mistakes but also in hopes that he might catch the attention of this secretive ancestor and receive some guidance.

Ye Chen was somewhat taken aback to see the portly eldest senior brother regain his composure so swiftly.

To remain collected in the face of the unknown spoke volumes about the eldest senior brother's mental fortitude.

Without offering any explanation, Ye Chen spoke up: "Your sword, though it brims with malevolence, lacks sharpness, and your resolve is not steadfast enough."

"A concentrated will can penetrate the hardest stone. Swordsmanship demands an unstoppable momentum."

"Only when will and body are in harmony can the spiritual consciousness truly connect, and the concept of limitlessness persist within the soul. A true master always maintains the heart of a disciple, and haste has no place in mastery."

"Over-fixation on a single issue often leads to running in circles. Sometimes, stepping outside of that circle can reveal much more. As the saying goes, 'the spectator sees the game better.' Why not step out and observe your own martial path from a distance? Reflect on this, remember my words, and you will break through your bottleneck."

The will to penetrate stone, an unstoppable spirit, and the perpetual heart of a learner—no need for rush?

In that moment, something clicked for Lee Zhenfeng, and he was profoundly moved.