Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 696 - 302: Harmonization Recognition (Part 2)

His plan had been to snatch the Harmonization Profound Skill from him, yet the instant he learned it was destined for Ning Qi, he swiftly let go of any notion to claim it.

Fu Chen watched this unfold and grasped even better the tremendous reach of Ning Qi's authority.

Niu Man asked whether the alliance hierarch was there. After confirming the alliance hierarch was truly at the Wuji Arena, he pressed on, guiding Fu Chen straight to the arena.

Along the path, they went past the massive six-pointed star teleportation array, and Fu Chen questioned in his simple way:

"Brother Niu, what's this?"

Niu Man grinned with pride, "This is the grand teleportation array set up by the alliance hierarch. It links every sect across the Profound Truth Realm. Thanks to this grand teleportation array, the cultivators from various sects joining the Spirit Realm war made it to the Wuji Arena in just half a day!"

At these words, Fu Chen felt stunned, never imagining Ning Qi had command over such a formation.

Even Wei Wuya, lurking inside him, couldn't hide his surprise.

Right then, a few figures came their way.

They offered greetings to Niu Man, who answered back with a warm smile.

Their eyes eventually landed on Fu Chen.

"I was curious who it might be, but it's you after all."

The one speaking was Wu Qingxiao, once among the top ten true inheritors, joined by Jiang Qingxue, Wang Ye, and Qin Minghao.

Facing Fu Chen once more, these folks froze for a second in shock.

Previously, they had clashed with Fu Chen inside the Profound Truth Secret Realm.

Wu Qingxiao's chest bone had been cracked by Fu Chen's strike, needing ages to mend; in the end, Ning Qi stepped in to heal the wound completely.

Even when Jiang Qingxue and the other pair teamed up, they still fell short against Fu Chen.

Without Ning Qi showing up to frighten Fu Chen off, those three could have perished under his sword.

Memories of Fu Chen lingered sharply in their minds, marking him as their initial fierce rival beyond Senior Brother Ning.

But seeing his cultivation stuck at the late-period Void Path Realm now left them halted in disbelief.

The once-brilliant talent had been outpaced in the end.

Fu Chen, of course, spotted the progress in Wu Qingxiao and the rest.

Wu Qingxiao had hit the peak of the Void Path Realm, and Jiang Qingxue along with the others were on the verge of entering the Integration Realm, almost at the half-step Integration stage!

This sight filled Fu Chen with gloom.

He never thought those he had overpowered so effortlessly would now outstrip him in cultivation, even going beyond Niu Man.

Could this really be the reality of the Infinite Sword Sect under Ning Qi's leadership, and the Profound Truth Realm with Ning Qi as domain master?

The Wei Wuya inside him let out what seemed like a heavy sigh in Fu Chen's mind.

It wasn't clear if it mourned Fu Chen's plight or praised the thriving condition of the Profound Truth Realm today.

In the end, he murmured to Fu Chen, "Little Chen, you can sense the divide now, right? Despite my direct teachings, you've lagged behind Domain Master Ning Qi. Grab this final chance!"

Fu Chen stayed quiet briefly before answering at last, "Teacher, I get it."

...

Ning Qi showed up once more at the Wuji Arena he'd constructed himself.

As soon as he arrived, all those training halted right away and paid their respects with deep bows.

Ning Qi gave a casual nod, and the crowd dove back into their sessions, pushing harder than ever.

With Ning Qi leading them, the cultivators from different sects blended seamlessly, shattering old divides between groups. Their teamwork grew tighter than before.

A surge of assurance swept through everyone about the looming Spirit Realm war.

They were convinced no cultivators from rival major realms could match their level of harmony and synergy, uniting into a single unbreakable power.

Ning Qi took his seat at the head spot, and soon enough, Niu Man brought a newcomer right before him.

"Alliance hierarch, take a look at who I've escorted here," Niu Man declared with respect, hands cupped, a hint of tension in his voice.

Niu Man had advanced to the peak of the Void Path Realm in cultivation by now.

Still, he dared not speak to Ning Qi in the loose way from old times.

Not even Niu Dingtian could casually drop the title alliance hierarch when addressing Ning Qi, much less someone like him.

"Brother Niu, I've told you already, no need to stand on ceremony with me."

Niu Man shook his head fast and replied, "Alliance hierarch, I appreciate your kindness, but you've risen to alliance hierarch and domain master. How could I risk lessening your prestige?"

This fellow stayed as clever as always.

Ning Qi might overlook such niceties, but Niu Man always knew where to draw the line.

Calling Ning Qi Brother Ning like in the old days would draw Niu Dingtian's ire, and the stares from others could bury him alive!

Noting Niu Man's stance, Ning Qi let it go and shifted his focus to the visitor Niu Man had ushered in.

The figure standing there boasted a build solid as a bastion, wrapped in a blue robe, his wild locks flowing untamed, lending him a rougher edge than before—it was Fu Chen.

On his back hung the vivid, crimson Giant Cleaver, radiating a thick wave of killing intent.

Coming face-to-face with Ning Qi again, Fu Chen bent in salute and declared, "Fu Chen offers his respects to the Domain Master of Profound Truth Realm!"

Ning Qi answered coolly, "Out with it—why show yourself to me now, after vanishing since the Profound Truth Secret Realm?"

A subtle force pressed down on Fu Chen, making his late-period Void Path Realm cultivation feel utterly insignificant. Shock hit him hard, draining the color from his face!

All at once, the hidden Wei Wuya subtly shouldered some of that weight, letting Fu Chen muster a little control again.

He looked like he'd just surfaced from deep water, soaked through with perspiration.

Brushing off his fatigue, Fu Chen swiftly drew out the Harmonization Profound Skill he'd secured earlier, cradling the golden jade slip in his palms, and spoke to Ning Qi with utmost deference:

"This visit is to pledge myself to the domain master, hoping that in light of our history, the domain master will permit me to enter the Infinite Sword Sect."

"I offer this Harmonization Profound Skill to the domain master!"

Ning Qi ignored the jade slip and instead raised his eyes to Fu Chen, stating: