Ye Qingchen and Li Nian’er had just returned to Shenmu Academy when they saw Qin Chuan and Cheng Lu playing a game of chess while Zhu Liang watched from the side.

When the trio saw Ye Qingchen and Li Nian’er appear, they all stopped what they were doing. They turned to the two newcomers with curious gazes, and Cheng Lu even ran over to fawn over Li Nian’er.

Li Nian’er chose to ignore him entirely and instead spoke to Qin Chuan. "Big Senior Brother, Little Junior Brother’s training is finished. It’s up to you to arrange the next step of his cultivation."

Qin Chuan nodded with a smile, not asking for details. His gaze swept over Cheng Lu and Zhu Liang as he considered who would be the most appropriate choice for Ye Qingchen’s next instructor.

Curious, Cheng Lu asked Li Nian’er, "Little Junior Sister, wasn’t it supposed to be half a month? Did it end in just a week? No matter. It’s your first time teaching on Master’s behalf, so it’s normal to be unprepared. Why don’t you let Little Junior Brother train with me for the next step?"

Li Nian’er shot Cheng Lu an annoyed look. "If you don’t know what to say, then say less. Who told you I wasn’t prepared just because it’s my first time teaching? If I showed you the results of Little Junior Brother’s training from this past week, I’d scare you so badly you’d fall flat on your face—that is, if you could even stand in the first place!"

Cheng Lu laughed heartily. Qin Chuan and Zhu Liang approached Li Nian’er with smiles, and Qin Chuan said comfortingly, "It’s all right, Little Junior Sister. Since the training is over, let Little Junior Brother continue with Third Junior Brother."

Li Nian’er pouted and turned to Qin Chuan. "Big Senior Brother, you don’t believe me either? Fine! Ye Qingchen!" With that, she pulled Ye Qingchen over and urged, "Show them the results of our week’s training!"

Ye Qingchen looked at his three senior brothers, who were all staring at him with curiosity. Then he saw Li Nian’er’s puffed cheeks and her sulking, doll-like face, and couldn’t help but smile wryly.

Given Li Nian’er’s temperament, he had already made her angry. If he caused her to lose face in front of their senior brothers now, he would be completely on her bad side. The problem was, he had just exhausted all of his Wood Attribute Energy. He hadn’t meditated on the way back, so his internal Energy hadn’t recovered yet.

Seeing that Ye Qingchen didn’t immediately conjure his Wood Attribute Energy, Li Nian’er glared at him fiercely. "Little Junior Brother, are you doing this on purpose?"

Ye Qingchen quickly shook his head. He knew it was best not to explain at this moment and could only brace himself, circulating his Cultivation Technique to mobilize the Wood Attribute Energy within him.

Bright green specks of light appeared at his fingertips, only to vanish a moment later. The small amount of Energy he had just managed to recover was entirely depleted in that instant.

Embarrassed, Ye Qingchen scratched his head. He had thought his less-than-impressive display would surely anger Li Nian’er.

To his surprise, however, his three senior brothers, including Qin Chuan, were all staring at him as if he were a monster, their mouths agape wide enough to fit an egg.

Li Nian’er, on the other hand, was radiating smugness, clearly reveling in the shock on her senior brothers’ faces.

While the three were still in disbelief, Elder Yang, who had been sleeping inside the house, suddenly appeared before them. He too stared at Ye Qingchen in astonishment. "You’ve mastered Wood Attribute Energy?"

Although the bright green light had vanished in a flash, they were all top-tier experts and had instantly sensed the aura of Wood Attribute Energy. Just as Li Nian’er had claimed, no one on the Heaven Desolate Continent had ever managed to grasp Attribute Energy before reaching the Martial Emperor Realm. Yet Ye Qingchen had done so at the fifth level of the Martial King Realm. This realization left them utterly astonished.

Li Nian’er couldn’t help but boast to Elder Yang, "How about that, old geezer? I’m quite something, aren’t I? Little Junior Brother mastering Wood Attribute Energy is all thanks to me."

At this, the others finally snapped out of their stupor, though they were still too shocked by Ye Qingchen’s feat to speak.

Elder Yang gave Ye Qingchen a meaningful look before turning to Cheng Lu and Zhu Liang. "For his next training, Qingchen will spend half a month with Cheng Lu and one week with Zhu Liang. For the remaining half a month, I will personally guide his training!"

After speaking, Elder Yang vanished once more. Qin Chuan and his martial brothers bowed in the direction Elder Yang had disappeared. Only Li Nian’er pouted, continuing to slander the elder in her heart.

Qin Chuan turned to Cheng Lu. "Third Junior Brother, since Master gave the order himself, he must think Little Junior Brother is qualified to learn your Cultivation Technique. He even specifically gave you half a month. Don’t you dare hold anything back!"

Cheng Lu smiled and nodded. "You jest, Big Senior Brother. We’re all family. How could I possibly keep secrets from Little Junior Brother?"

Zhu Liang was still staring at Ye Qingchen in shock. "Big Senior Brother, if Little Junior Brother learns Third Junior Brother’s Cultivation Technique, won’t that make him invincible?"

Qin Chuan burst into laughter. "I think so too, Second Junior Brother. I’m afraid your title of ’unbeatable at the same level’ is about to change hands. But you should also use this time to prepare. When Little Junior Brother comes to you, you can get started right away."

Zhu Liang nodded with a smile. "I couldn’t be happier to be surpassed by my own junior brother. Don’t worry, Big Senior Brother. I’ll start preparing now." With that, he turned and returned to his room to begin planning Ye Qingchen’s training regimen.

Li Nian’er wasn’t curious about Ye Qingchen’s future training. His performance had already given her more than enough face, so she was in a great mood. After a quick word with Qin Chuan, she went down the mountain to have some fun.

Cheng Lu cupped his fist toward Qin Chuan. "Big Senior Brother, I’ll take Little Junior Brother with me then."

After Ye Qingchen also said his farewells to Qin Chuan, he left with Cheng Lu.

Cheng Lu took Ye Qingchen to one of the Training Rooms provided by the Central Celestial Academy for its disciples.

Cheng Lu obviously held a high status within the academy. The moment he presented his disciple token, even the teacher in charge of the Training Rooms became respectful and led them to one of the academy’s best.

Meanwhile, Ye Qingchen remained very curious about what Qin Chuan had said. From their conversation, he could tell that Cheng Lu must possess a very powerful Cultivation Technique. But he was currently practicing the Divine-Level Cultivation Technique, the Divine Wood Art. Although it was still incomplete, with the help of his Dual Pupil Martial Soul, he was confident it would one day be fully restored.