Chapter 30: The Sect of the Divine Spirit Path

“Hidden sect?” Chen Fan shook his head.

Dong Guzhi sighed. “Don’t you find it odd that your Uncle Li Linliu, so young and yet so powerful, stayed in Yandu City for only a few years before leaving?”

Chen Fan’s heart stirred. “Master, you and Uncle, are you both from a hidden sect? But you…”

His master, Dong Guzhi, had founded the White Cloud Dojo years ago and always resided in Yandu City. He’d never heard of him belonging to any sect.

Dong Guzhi sighed again. “Many years ago, I was part of a sect. Due to special circumstances, I left and established my livelihood here in Yandu. As for your Uncle, he remained in the sect because of his unique constitution. We reunited a few years ago when he was sent out for worldly experience. He was still a child when I left. I never thought he’d remember me…”

Chen Fan suddenly understood. He had once asked others about Li Linliu’s origins, only to find that the man seemed to have sprung out of nowhere, arriving in Yandu just a few years ago, gaining fame in a short time. He’d suspected Li Linliu came from some secret power; now he realized his master did as well.

Dong Guzhi continued, “My sect is called the Spirit God Dao Sect, one of the most powerful in the northwest of the continent. ‘Hidden’ doesn’t mean untouched by the mundane world, but rather looking down from a higher vantage, indifferent to worldly affairs. Even a great dynasty like Daqian fears the power of the hidden sects.”

“In sheer size, Spirit God Dao Sect cannot compare to the entire dynasty. But unless Daqian gathers all its core strength, it cannot match the might of Spirit God Dao Sect. The two stand as equals, not as superior and subordinate…”

Chen Fan was stunned. Not to mention the entire Daqian Dynasty—even Qinghe County alone had a population in the hundreds of millions, prosperous and teeming with warriors. The whole dynasty spanned dozens of counties, vast beyond measure. Yet a hidden sect could stand equal to such a power! The concept of a single sect being on par with a dynasty was beyond his comprehension.

He asked, “Is that why our White Cloud Dojo keeps its distance from the Martial Academy—because you’re from a hidden sect, Master?”

Dong Guzhi nodded. “My identity is clear. Since I have not wholly aligned myself with them, they can’t fully trust me. And though I left the sect, I still think of it and hope to return one day. Your talent has given me hope.”

Chen Fan was taken aback. “Master, you mean…”

Dong Guzhi’s face grew solemn. “Your talent and understanding are unparalleled, surpassing all your senior brothers and sisters. While the limit of blood and energy can be pushed by external means, you, at just fifteen, have already attained subtle insight—very likely due to a special body attuned to the natural world. I’m willing to risk my reputation to take you back to the sect and win you a place.”

Chen Fan hesitated, then waved his hand. “Though my blood and energy are strong, I don’t think I possess any special constitution…”

He knew his own situation best.

Dong Guzhi shook his head. “Whether you do or not, the sect has ways to test it. But you must be prepared—Spirit God Dao Sect is immense and complicated within. I left because ‘White Cloud Peak’ perished. There are countless factions in the sect, and some look down on White Cloud Peak. My recommendation for you to enter will not be easy…”

Chen Fan frowned. “Enemies within the sect? Then how did Uncle stay, and why did you not suffer retaliation after leaving?”

“Because your uncle’s talent is overwhelming!” Dong Guzhi’s expression grew serious. “There are generally two types of special constitutions in the world. One is called ‘Blood Body,’ like Yan Linchu from Feiling County—born with unique blood and energy, granting great advantage in tempering the body, but useless for breaking through the seventh level.”

“The other is ‘Dharma Body.’ Outwardly, they appear normal, but they’re attuned to heaven and earth, advancing in understanding with great speed. Your uncle broke through the seventh level in his twenties because he possesses such a Dharma Body.”

“Alas, talent doesn’t equal strength. He’s still young and only just reached the seventh level. Though his status in the sect has risen, his influence remains limited. Not until the tenth level will he have real authority…”

Chen Fan’s eyes widened. “Tenth level?”

Dong Guzhi nodded, explaining patiently. “The common folk divide martial arts into ten levels, but in the sect, there are four major realms. First is Foundation, laying the groundwork and honing blood and energy. Then, after mastering true techniques, levels one through six are the Tempering Realm—these two are closely related and the most crucial.”

“Levels seven through nine, what people call ‘Grandmasters,’ are actually the Transcending Realm—melding with heaven and earth, perfecting the self until flawless. The most important, the tenth level, is called ‘Fish Leaping’—like a fish leaping from the sea, no longer ordinary. In this realm, one wields miraculous abilities.”

Chen Fan was amazed, never having heard such explanations, his heart restless with anticipation.

Dong Guzhi went on. “Even in Spirit God Dao Sect, the tenth level of martial arts means an absolute powerhouse—very few attain it. Reaching it, you can command your own peak and rule it absolutely. If space allows, you can bring in as many people as you wish.”

Chen Fan nodded. “I see now.”

Having finished his brief introduction, Dong Guzhi looked at Chen Fan. “This is all a bit ahead, but I called you here to ask if you’d accompany me to Spirit God Dao Sect. Of course, you must be prepared—it might all come to nothing…”

Chen Fan promptly cupped his fists. “I am willing!”

Dong Guzhi nodded in return. “Go and get ready. Even if nothing comes of it, it’ll take three to five days.”

Chen Fan nodded and hurried off to prepare.

Dong Guzhi watched his youngest disciple’s departing figure, his heart both excited and anxious.

“If Chen Fan truly possesses a Dharma Body related to enlightenment, he’ll be more formidable than any martial or blood body, and could directly enter as an inner disciple. But if not… his roots and talent will be tested, and at that stage, others may try to interfere…”

Though Chen Fan’s foundation and understanding were astonishing, these weren’t easily quantifiable.

Success or failure, Dong Guzhi wasn’t sure.

“All these years, I’ve kept my distance from the imperial martial academies, thinking of the old sect, even regarding my second disciple… But if this fails as well, then I can only…”

A flash of ruthlessness crossed his eyes. Because of the matter with his second disciple, Tao Xian, his heart had already begun to change…

…

The next day.

Chen Fan set out with his master on the journey to Spirit God Dao Sect.

They shared a carriage, departing from Yandu’s north gate, heading swiftly northwest.

After several changes of direction, and two or three days of travel, they crossed three or four counties.

On the way, though they encountered no wild beasts, they did run into two or three bands of mountain bandits.

The cities of the various counties they passed through were not as harmonious as Chen Fan had imagined. Though prosperous, they were chaotic, with gangs rampant everywhere.

Dong Guzhi explained, “The Daqian Emperor is gravely ill—some say terminal. In recent years, the martial academies and yamen have governed themselves with no central control, so chaos is inevitable…”

They didn’t linger in any of the counties, heading straight north out of Daqian’s borders.

Eventually, they stopped before a stretch of rolling green mountains.

“This land is under Spirit God Dao Sect’s jurisdiction, beyond the reach of any dynasty.”

Within the endless mountains stood peaks rising into the clouds, towering straight to the sky. Chen Fan could vaguely see the outlines of pavilions and towers beyond the white clouds, as if he gazed upon a celestial realm.

Even in his past life, he had never seen such a sight, and stood dazed for a moment.

His master alighted from the carriage. “From here, we can’t go any farther by cart. Come—let’s climb the mountain together!”

With one hand, Dong Guzhi lifted Chen Fan like an eagle carrying a chick. With a light step, they vanished from sight, speeding forward in a blur.

Chen Fan felt the scenery on either side streaming past, the wind howling in his ears.

In less than half an hour,

they arrived on a mountainside before a vast complex like a palace. Dong Guzhi paused, set Chen Fan down, took a deep breath, and looked nostalgically at the buildings. “This is the Outer Court of Spirit God Dao Sect, handling dealings with the mundane world. Wait here outside.”

With that, he strode inside, leaving Chen Fan alone.

After a time, Dong Guzhi finally returned. Beside him stood a middle-aged man in blue who gave Chen Fan a glance and smiled. “So this is Senior Brother Dong’s prized disciple—so young, yet his blood and energy surge impressively. Not bad, not bad…”

With a single look, this man could see Chen Fan’s solid foundation. Yet he was not especially surprised.

Dong Guzhi forced a smile, visibly awkward.

“Though it’s not the time for recruiting disciples, since he’s your student, Senior Brother, I’ll make an exception for the nephew.”

Dong Guzhi had been busy for a month, paying who knows what price to secure this opportunity for Chen Fan, though the man made it sound as if it were a special exception just for him.

Dong Guzhi could only cup his fists. “Thank you, Junior Brother…”

The blue-robed man nodded, smiling at Chen Fan. “Come with me.”

Spirit God Dao Sect was vast, with thousands of disciples and dozens of peaks. Despite years away, Dong Guzhi could still find an acquaintance to help, but not without cost.

The blue-robed man led Chen Fan forward, stopping at a building to register his basic information: age, cultivation, true technique, and so on.

“White Cloud True Technique—ah, the nephew practices our sect’s own method, already at the third level. Excellent, excellent. You’re truly remarkable. Come, show me a set of fist techniques—any will do.”

The man smiled throughout, but was not especially surprised.

After verifying his cultivation and techniques, he had Chen Fan undergo procedures resembling a physical exam: absorbing vital energy from a source stone within a set time, special instrument tests, and even a blood sample.

After more than half an hour, it finally ended.

“Senior Brother Dong knows the process. Come back in about an hour for the results. With your foundation, as long as your roots aren’t poor, you should be admitted!”

Dong Guzhi’s mouth twitched. “Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother.”

It was the phrase he’d used most that day.

The man smiled and nodded. “Since you’ve finally returned, take this chance to show your disciple around.”

Dong Guzhi nodded, a touch of longing in his expression. “I wonder… does White Cloud Peak have a new master?”

The blue-robed man paused. “White Cloud Peak remains unclaimed. Since you’re back, you might as well show your disciple.”

Dong Guzhi cupped his hands, then turned with Chen Fan.

As they departed, the blue-robed man narrowed his eyes, watching their figures fade into the distance, his gaze sharp. He quickly turned and entered another building.

Moments later, a talisman shot into the sky, streaking toward a distant peak.

On that peak, a man caught the talisman, glanced at its contents, and sneered.

“He once swore never to return, and yet here he comes with his tail between his legs. A disciple with a special constitution? Hmph, as if such a thing could be found so easily…”