The Wind and Clouds Rises

The Wind and Clouds Rises

Orchon stood out from the rest, especially when compared to Qiu Mo. He was only at the 9th level of Arterial Circulation and had yet to break through to the Yuanfu Realm. Consequently, reaching the 4th level of the Astral River Hall presented a challenge several times more formidable for him. It was evident that Orchon's chances of condensing his 3rd Astral Soul from the 4th Heavenly Layer far surpassed Qiu Mo's.

"Bouncing back from shame and undergoing such a transformation. With Orchon's determination, breaking into Yuanfu is only a matter of time," Janus commented with a knowing smile. His gaze briefly flicked toward the 1st level of the Astral River Hall, where Qin Wentian still sat seemingly idle. A sardonic smirk crossed Janus's face as he muttered, "Pretending to be mysterious."

Janus wasn't foolish enough to believe that Qin Wentian couldn't advance to the 2nd level.

At this moment, Qin Wentian was wholly absorbed in his world of comprehension, having lost track of time. He paid no heed to who was ascending to which level. His focus was entirely on the mysterious runic pathways and the manifestations driven by the innate technique's power.

The constellations continued their celestial dance, and the intricate runic pathways became increasingly distinct. They slowly converged into the shape of a fist, bursting forth toward Qin Wentian. However, these attacks could no longer disrupt his concentration. He calmly contemplated them, striving for deeper insights.

Time flowed on. Twelve days passed in the blink of an eye, and Mo Qingcheng reached the 4th level of the Astral River Hall. But even there, they encountered an insurmountable barrier. The 4th level exerted an unparalleled pressure on their consciousness. Qiu Mo had already left the Astral River Hall, unable to endure this invisible energy pressing upon his mind.

"You're still on the 1st level?" A bewildered expression crossed Qiu Mo's face. What was Qin Wentian up to?

Within his consciousness, Qin Wentian had already gained a clear view of the myriad runic pathways. He realized that his initial approach had been misguided. He shouldn't be observing completed inscriptions' revolving pathways. Each divine imprint was a distinct entity, embodying a unique concept. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. This enlightenment felt profoundly marvelous.

Activating his innate technique, Qin Wentian willed himself into his dreamscape.

In his dream, he stood alone within a desolate courtyard, clutching an Astral Heavenly Hammer. Runic lines of divine imprints intertwined within his body.

Suddenly, Astral Energy surged as Qin Wentian's Heavenly Hammer descended towards the ground. In an instant, the image of a divine imprint materialized before him – the very human-type divine imprint he had created.

"Forging-type Astral Soul wielders are born weaponsmiths. They can directly inscribe divine imprints within their own bodies," Qin Wentian mused silently. Perhaps, this was the true essence of natural-born weaponsmiths.

An ancient halberd appeared in his grasp. Standing there, Qin Wentian's aura surged mightily.

Without warning, his form fragmented into countless afterimages. Faint illusions of Garuda wings graced his back as the ancient halberd thrust forth with fury, the tip giving rise to a furious wind that transformed into a fearsome whirlwind.

"Boom!" An explosion rang out as the ground quaked and shattered before him. This attack wasn't part of the Berserker Beast Halberd Technique; rather, it was his own creation, mirroring the ferocity of his divine inscription painting. However, it remained imperfect, and he couldn't yet replicate the same heaven-defying might in reality.

As Qin Wentian explored the sensation, he embarked on perfecting this halberd technique. This strike incorporated his Astral Soul, aura, and Divine Yuan, evolving into his ultimate attack.

"Since this halberd technique was born within my dream, I shall name it the Great Dream Halberd Art. Furthermore, I'll dub the initial attack stance of the Great Dream Halberd Art as the Mountain Splitter." Qin Wentian decided, harboring intentions of crafting a complete set of unique halberd techniques. In the future, he would devise fresh divine imprints and continue creating new innate techniques.

This first attack stance exuded a majestic aura, possessing the power to cleave mountains in twain. Mountain Splitter, a fitting name.

Qin Wentian continued refining the Mountain Splitter Stance, expanding the boundaries of his dreamscape. He envisioned himself as an entity capable of rending the heavens and sundering the earth, akin to a Garuda navigating the universe unchecked.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had elapsed. Most of those from the first batch had already left the Astral River Hall. Baffled expressions overtook their faces as they beheld Qin Wentian still on the 1st level. But today, he finally opened his eyes, rose, broke through the 1st level's restriction, and entered the 2nd level.

"That guy finally decided to proceed to the 2nd level," Luo Huan commented from outside, her tone somewhat exasperated. During these days of waiting, she had heard what others were saying about Qin Wentian. There were those who couldn't comprehend, and there were many with doubts.

Nonetheless, the crowd soon realized that unlike other elites who promptly overcame the 2nd level's restriction, Qin Wentian had once again seated himself cross-legged upon entering the 2nd level.

Many had already departed. Time for cultivation was precious; they couldn't afford to waste it watching Qin Wentian seemingly do nothing.

Four days later, the suspicions grew louder as Qin Wentian ascended to the 3rd level. Could it be that Qin Wentian was genuinely unworthy of his reputation? Did he need significant time to endure each level's pressure before breaking the restrictions?

Otherwise, why did he exhibit the same behavior on each level?

"The Jun Lin Banquet is approaching rapidly. Work hard, but remember to keep an eye on the time and leave here soon," Mo Qingcheng said with a smile as she looked at Qin Wentian, who was sitting cross-legged on the 3rd level of the Astral River Hall. She then hopped onto the white crane with Nolan and left the Emperor Star Academy.

Outside the Astral River Hall, the atmosphere gradually calmed as the crowd dispersed. However, within the Emperor Star Academy, excitement continued to build as the year-end Jun Lin Banquet drew nearer. Even the elite students who had been training outside the academy hurried back, unwilling to miss this opportunity.

Inside the Knight's Association, Orchon emanated a chilling aura. He glanced towards the Astral River Hall and asked, "What level is he on now?"

"He just entered the 4th level not too long ago," someone next to Orchon replied. "He" naturally referred to Qin Wentian.

"Still on the 4th level? It seems that this is his limit," Orchon calmly remarked.

Orchon was not the only one who thought this; many others shared the same sentiment. They believed that the 4th level of the Astral River Hall was Qin Wentian's limit. His ability to condense an Astral Soul from the 4th heavenly layer earlier had most likely been the result of an extraordinary stroke of luck.

With a few exceptions, most students had forgotten that Qin Wentian was still inside the Astral River Hall. Their main focus was on the returning students and their expected performance in the Jun Lin Banquet.

Orchon had also reached the 4th level of the Astral River Hall, and he had undergone a remarkable transformation. There was a chance that he might secure one of the top nine rankings and become one of the 10 prodigies.

Jiang Xiu, Luo Cheng, Luo Huan, and even Luo Qianqiu had achieved impressive results as well. Luo Qianqiu, in particular, had set his sights on claiming the first place in the Jun Lin Banquet. However, with so many outstanding geniuses participating, it would be a daunting challenge to achieve that goal. Rumor had it that even geniuses from the Snowcloud Country would join, making the competition even more intense.

The anticipation for this year's Jun Lin Banquet was palpable, not just within the Emperor Star Academy but throughout the entire Royal Capital.

The Royal Academy, Divine Wind Academy, and Seven Stars Martial Palace were all eagerly awaiting the event.

In the courtyard of the Royal Academy, Mu Rou stood beneath a tree, reflecting on her experiences in the past few days, feeling deeply moved by them.

Her family's support had grown significantly, and people's attitudes toward her had taken a turn for the better. Even her fellow students in the academy had become more enthusiastic when interacting with her. Mu Rou had learned to take everything in stride, gaining a deeper understanding of human complexity through her experiences.

As the Jun Lin Banquet approached, Mu Rou pondered about who would shine in the Royal Capital this time. She wondered if Qin Wentian would participate. While he might not achieve much this year, she believed that if he joined the following year, his talent would truly dazzle.

On that day, a group of flying demonic beasts traversed the skies of the Chu Country, pulling dragon carriages. Accompanying them were several powerful individuals, causing a stir throughout the Chu Country. The news quickly spread: the Crown Prince of the Snowcloud Country had arrived with the geniuses of his nation in tow.

In the Dark Forest, a group of cultivators led by the Asura Faction made their way back to the Royal Capital.

Meanwhile, the Heaven's Wonder Company, one of Chu's three largest corporations and the biggest casino in the Royal Capital, had already set up betting odds for individuals expected to secure a spot in the top 9 rankings at the Jun Lin Banquet. But that wasn't all – during the event, Heaven's Wonder would also offer separate betting odds for those who constantly made headlines. Naturally, the stakes for these bets included valuable items like Yuan Meteor Stones and other cultivation resources.

Heaven's Wonder had the lowest payout rate for a bet on Luo Qianqiu claiming the first rank, reflecting the high expectations they had for him at this year's Jun Lin Banquet.