C20 Teacher's Virtue!!!

Lee Changgeng felt utterly humiliated today. "Wang Ping, aren't you the strong, silent type? What happened to you? Why have you turned into such a coward all of a sudden?"

Chen Ming glanced at Lee Changgeng with a smile. "My disciple, your respect for your teacher is commendable. If only my Qingyao were as thoughtful as you. I must have her take a leaf out of your book."

With his face flushed, Lee Changgeng chuckled awkwardly. "You flatter me."

Zhuo Qingyao turned to the referee and inquired, "Am I allowed to challenge a direct disciple now?"

The referee scratched his head. "In all my years of overseeing these competitions, I've never seen one proceed so swiftly. Yes, you may challenge."

Brandishing her sword, Zhuo Qingyao pointed at Lee Qianer. "Senior Sister Lee Qianer, would you honor me with some guidance in a match?"

Lee Qianer, undaunted by Zhuo Qingyao unlike the other disciples, leaped onto the stage with a grin. "If you're so eager to rush to your doom, I'll be more than happy to 'educate' you properly!"

Zhuo Qingyao bowed slightly. "Then I look forward to receiving your 'education,' Senior Sister."

The referee's eyes flickered with concern. Was there bad blood here?

The referee, though a direct disciple himself, found it easy to manage the novice competitions. But now, the situation seemed to be slipping from his grasp.

Lee Qianer laughed. "This sparring is trivial, hardly a teaching moment. How can it reveal the true essence of our practice? Let's have a real battle, life or death. What do you say?"

Zhuo Qingyao was actually hoping for a real fight. "Good, I welcome your instruction, Senior Sister!"

The referee sighed in relief. No need to worry about control now.

Chen Ming was disinterested in the unfolding drama; his attention was captured by a sudden alert in his mind.

"Ding! By aiding Zhuo Qingyao in securing first place in the novice competition, you've earned 1,000 Teacher's Virtue points and a second disciple slot!"

Wow, what a generous reward! Another disciple slot, no less!

A disciple with extraordinary talent is like a fast-growing leek to him. Take Zhuo Qingyao, for instance; in Chen Ming's view, she's a rapidly sprouting leek!

Harvesting leeks is a delightfully satisfying activity.

However, at the moment, Chen Ming's focus isn't on such matters. He's preoccupied with the potential heights his demonic techniques can achieve. The level of the technique sets the ceiling for one's cultivation level. Likewise, the more advanced the technique, the quicker the cultivation pace. Presently, he has amassed 1,180 points of Teacher's Virtue and a substantial 4,100 points of Spirit Sense, placing him at the fourth stage of the Dao Entering Stage.

His Spirit Sense is nearly sufficient to propel the Fire Crow Spell to the fourth stage of the Dao Entering Stage. Although that's the theory, the practice is different. It's not until the technique reaches the stage where it condenses into a Dao Seed that it can assume human form. Without it, a human-shaped demon would look downright bizarre.

Without a second thought, Chen Ming inwardly commands, "Enlighten the Fire Crow Spell!"

"Ding! To enlighten the Fire Crow Spell, 1080 points of Teacher's Virtue are required. Proceed with enlightenment?"

"Enlighten. Go ahead with it!"

In a flash, he's enveloped in intense flames. Inside him, the Dao Palace undergoes drastic transformations. Within the Fire Crow Spell's Dao Palace, the flames coalesce into an egg. Normally, hatching would take an exceedingly long time, but Chen Ming is experiencing enlightenment. The fiery egg cracks open in an instant, and a three-legged fire crow emerges, wreathed in fierce flames, its eyes gleaming with golden light, its three legs razor-sharp, and its wings like two vast clouds of fire.

This is Chen Ming's inaugural Dao Seed. Unexpectedly, his first Dao Seed is one of the Demon Race.

Upon reviewing his current level of cultivation, he realizes that by forming a Dao Seed, the Fire Crow Spell has ascended to the Dao Entering Stage. Chen Ming immediately inquires within himself, "How much Spirit Sense is needed to elevate the Fire Crow Spell to the fourth stage of the Dao Entering Stage?"

"It requires 3108 Spirit Sense points."

"Elevate the Fire Crow Spell to the fourth level of the Dao Entering Stage!"

Chen Ming reserved over a thousand Spirit Sense points for emergencies, to avoid any unforeseen complications. Feeling the overwhelming mana within him, he had finally spent all the rewards from his previous missions, resulting in a significant boost in strength!

[Ding! Host detected to possess one Dao Seed and two cultivation techniques. To facilitate combat power calculations, a danger index panel has been added.]

Chen Ming revisited his status panel, which had undergone major changes:

Name: Chen Ming

Reputation: 355

Status: Intermediate Cannon Fodder

Stage: Dao Entering Stage (Apparently, the stage isn't closely tied to one's actual strength)

Constitution: Infinite Dao Body

Cultivation Techniques: Fire Crow Spell at Great Perfection. Dragon Elephant Power Level Six (advance to Level Nine to condense a Dao Seed). Ninety-nine Profound Technique Level Twenty-Four (advance to Level Seventy-Two to condense a Dao Seed). Heavenly Thunder Nine Changes Level One, Dao Scripture Level One.

Magical Arts: Prince Su Sword with Kingly Sword Heart. Jade Maiden Sword at the beginner level.

Dao Seed: Fire Crow

Disciples: Zhuo Qingyao

Teacher's Virtue: 91

Spirit Sense: 1000

Aura: Killing Intent

Danger Index: 180 (This value excludes attribute suppression)

Danger Rating: Dangerous

Destiny: At the Devil Slaying Conference, one year after the Great World Opening, the host will fall to Armo, the Devil Dao's Eldest Disciple.

With these preparations in place, Chen Ming shifted his attention back to Zhuo Qingyao and Lee Qianer in the arena. Zhuo Qingyao had a danger index of 54, while Lee Qianer's was 48, suggesting that victory over Lee Qianer should be manageable barring any accidents.

The battle between Zhuo Qingyao and Lee Qianer was intense, with each exchange fraught with danger. However, Zhuo Qingyao was currently wielding the Yunv Sword Technique, employing only her sword qi without unleashing her most formidable moves.

Meanwhile, the entry-level disciples who had previously been in a bind had casually returned, relieved that they weren't the ones confronting Zhuo Qingyao. "Good thing we got out when we did. Zhuo Qingyao is already holding her own against the personal disciples. If we had to face her, the outcome would be too dreadful to contemplate!"

"Elder Chen is truly fearsome. In just one month, Senior Sister Zhuo Qingyao has become incredibly powerful!"

"It's the mark of a great teacher to have such outstanding students. But let's not forget, Senior Sister Zhuo Qingyao is exceptionally gifted. Without her innate talent, even Elder Chen's teachings wouldn't have propelled her forward so rapidly."

"If only I could master even a single technique from Elder Chen, I'd be able to vanquish all foes with ease!"

"Imagine the progress one could make, not just by becoming Elder Chen's disciple, but simply by spending time under his guidance!"

Suddenly, the atmosphere in the arena shifted dramatically. After several exchanges, the novice disciples stepped back, wary of the sweeping sword Qi. Zhuo Qingyao realized she couldn't delay any longer. With her sword pointing to the heavens, she initiated the formidable opening stance of the Overbearing World!

Even before she fully executed the technique, the disciples sensed the overwhelming power of her sword. "Can it really be?"

"Senior Sister Zhuo Qingyao's technique looks like Elder Chen's signature move."

"That's the Overbearing World!"

The elders in the stands were visibly moved, their eyes fixed on Zhuo Qingyao. "This sensation is unmistakable. It's Elder Chen's Overbearing World!"

"Her talent is truly in a league of its own, soaring high above the rest!"

"With Elder Chen and now Zhuo Qingyao, our Ten Thousand Swords Sect is destined for greatness!"

"To think she mastered Elder Chen's Overbearing World in just one month!"

"Such talent is unprecedented, the likes of which we've never seen or heard of before!"

Boom!

With a single stroke, Zhuo Qingyao unleashed a sword Qi ten feet long, shattering Lee Qianer's sword and sending her flying, coughing up blood. Zhuo Qingyao was relentless, leaping into the air with her Jade Maiden Sword, her killing intent fierce and clear.

You threw me off the cliff, and now, taking your life is only just!

As Zhuo Qingyao's Jade Maiden Sword was about to strike Lee Qianer, a thunderous voice commanded, "Stop!"

A sword Qi shot towards Zhuo Qingyao, causing her to cough up blood as a foot-long gash appeared on her back. Had it not been for her cultivation of the Ninety-nine Profound Technique, which made her far more resilient than her peers, that sword Qi would have been fatal.

Rage erupted within Chen Ming's heart as the Killing Intent flared to life in an instant. It was so palpable that it enveloped the area, leaving everyone around him in a stupor. With his mana raging uncontrollably, Chen Ming fixed his gaze on the assailant and declared, “Gongsun Zhi, you are asking for death!”