A faint smile touched Xu Luo's lips. Huo Wannian's insight fragments were as powerful as he'd thought. In just four hours, he had raised "Huo Feng's" strength from the Fifth Layer of Transformation Realm to the Sixth Layer of Transformation Realm!
Then, Xu Luo closed his eyes once more, continuing to refine the insight fragments and use them to test against his own martial knowledge.
Two hours later, another powerful aura erupted from Xu Luo's body.
His strength had risen from the Sixth Layer of Transformation Realm to the Seventh Layer!
Just like that, Xu Luo cultivated on the nameless hill for an entire day and night. His strength rocketed from the initial Fifth Layer of Transformation Realm all the way to the peak of the Ninth Layer of Transformation Realm!
If word of this got out, it would undoubtedly leave countless people shocked and incredulous.
Even a peerless prodigy could never... advance four minor realms in just a single day and night.
It was too unbelievable. This was enough to rewrite the history of cultivation in this world.
Even Xu Luo himself had to admit that the insight fragments of a Divine Power Realm powerhouse were truly potent! But this was not an opportunity that just anyone could obtain.
"Standing on the shoulders of giants certainly lets you see farther," Xu Luo murmured to himself.
With that, he stood up and began walking in the direction of his home.
...
"Young Master Lin, we've confirmed it. Huo Feng is cultivating on a small hill not far from his residence. He's been there for a day and a night."
"Is he putting on a show? Trying to let everyone know how hard he's working? A Transformation Realm powerhouse who's almost thirty... What a joke," Huo Lin said with a look of disgust.
The young man with the grating voice and harsh features, Huo Xu, chimed in, "Of course it's for show. He's the Old Ancestor's new favorite, so he's definitely trying to use this time to score some points. It's just a shame... it's a little too late for that."
Huo Dong gritted his teeth. "If the timing wasn't wrong, I would have crippled him right then and there!"
"There will be a chance sooner or later. We don't need to bother with him now," Huo Lin said coolly. "He's just a small fry trying to become a dragon... He's a long way off! He can't make any big waves. In fact, the one I fear isn't him at all. It's his mother!"
"The woman who married in from the Bai Family?" A mocking expression crossed Huo Dong's face. "She's just a woman. What's there to be afraid of? Young Master Lin, you must be joking, right?"
"I'm serious." A gloomy look clouded Huo Lin's handsome, young face as he said sinisterly, "That woman is not simple at all. I just received word that she's extremely ambitious and her methods are formidable!"
"Young Master Lin, over there... you've already?" Both Huo Dong and Huo Xu were surprised. They hadn't expected Huo Lin to be so capable. After all, that was Master Huo Qi's territory. Even though Huo Lin was the Patriarch's own grandson, planting a spy there would not have been an easy task.
The corners of Huo Lin's mouth curled up slightly. But, facing his most trusted confidants, he decided to reveal a little. Otherwise, they might end up with a situation of friendly fire in the future, creating an unmanageable mess.
"It's Huo Jinshan. He was unwilling to follow that piece of trash Huo Feng, so he defected to my side."
Although his tone was nonchalant, an unmistakable hint of pride still laced Huo Lin's words.
"Young Master Lin is truly amazing!"
"Young Master Lin is mighty!"
"Huo Jinshan really has good judgment!"
"He really is smart. He knew to choose the right path!"
Huo Dong and Huo Xu immediately began to lay on the flattery.
Huo Xu grinned. "I never would've thought... that Huo Jinshan is actually quite clever, knowing who he should pledge allegiance to."
Huo Dong said coldly, "It's a shame the rest of them aren't so wise. There are still two old men from the 'Wan' generation who aren't smart enough!"
Huo Lin smiled faintly. "To each their own. Perhaps they believe following Huo Feng offers a more promising future."
"Hahaha, then we'll just have to wait and see!" Huo Dong sneered.
...
The news of Xu Luo's advancement didn't get out, but the fact that he had cultivated on the small hill for a day and a night quickly spread throughout the entire Huo Family.
Reactions were mixed, but the majority of voices were tinged with mockery.
"Who's Huo Feng?"
"A direct descendant. The one from Master Huo Qi's branch... ahem, that young master."
"Oh, that one... Didn't he go to the Central Plains Star Continent? He actually came back alive?"
"I know, right? Huo Wanzhang and the others were so unlucky. Even Huo Feng made it back alive, but they suffered a crushing defeat... What a disgrace!"
"I heard Huo Feng is riding high right now, having earned the Old Ancestor's favor!"
"I heard that too! The Old Ancestor even had the Patriarch assign five clansmen at the peak of the Fourth Level of Divine Power Realm to his side... Tsk tsk, that's the kind of treatment reserved for a future successor!"
"Future successor? Him? Don't make me laugh! Hahahaha, if he can become the successor, then I can become the Patriarch!"
All sorts of voices could be heard, most of them filled with malice. Very, very few people thought highly of Huo Feng.
This made Huo Wanchong and the others anxious. Huo Jinshan, of course, was the exception. Having already sided with Young Master Lin, he was secretly hoping for Huo Feng to meet a disastrous end.
Xu Luo took in all these voices and the reactions of those around him, sneering inwardly. He thought, 'Since you all look down on Huo Feng so much, I might as well help him make a name for himself!'
Several days later, a piece of news suddenly began to circulate.
"Beidou's Eighth Star has appeared on the Ancient Race Continent!"
Huo Feng stood before the Old Ancestor, speaking passionately and with an air of righteousness. "Old Ancestor," he said loudly, "I naturally pay no mind to the mockery from within the family. With the support of the Old Ancestor and the Patriarch, I don't care about such noise. However, I am still holding in my frustrations, and I wish to prove myself! I ask for the Old Ancestor and the Patriarch to grant my request!"
As Xu Luo spoke, he glanced at the Huo Family's Old Ancestor, Huo Tongtian, whose eyes were half-closed, and then at the expressionless face of the Huo Family Patriarch. He thought to himself, 'I'm not afraid you won't take the bait—unless you have no real interest in Beidou's Eighth Star!'
"In just over ten days, breaking through from the Fifth Layer of Transformation Realm all the way to the Ninth Layer... Heh, interesting. In the past... I truly underestimated you." As the Old Ancestor's eyes opened and closed, a sharp light flashed within them. His gaze toward "Huo Feng" was filled with appreciation.
The Huo Family Patriarch was filled with shock. He stared at "Huo Feng" in disbelief. Before, he had never paid this young junior any mind; promoting him... was merely a way to sharpen his own grandson, Huo Lin.
To Huo Lin, Huo Feng was like a whetstone. Just as jade must be carved to be useful, his existence was meant to make Huo Lin work harder and ultimately achieve greatness!
This was the true purpose behind why the Huo Family Patriarch had joined the Old Ancestor in promoting Huo Feng from the very beginning.
But he never imagined that this young man had been hiding his strength to such a degree!
If he had intentionally hidden his true abilities over the past years, constantly suppressing his realm so his strength wouldn't advance too quickly... only to have it all burst forth after receiving recognition...
Then, this person's cunning... was simply too terrifying, wasn't it?
Considering his age, Huo Feng's current strength was nothing remarkable in the Huo Family. At best... he could be rated as "excellent," and even that was a stretch.
But if this person had been a mere Fifth Layer Transformation Realm Martial Artist just ten days ago, bearing the reputation of a wastrel...
...and now, ten days later, he had become a powerhouse at the peak of the Ninth Layer of Transformation Realm, just one step away from entering the Divine Power Realm... then no matter who it was, even those who couldn't stand the sight of Huo Feng would have to give him a thumbs-up and say, "This is a genius!"
Advancing four minor stages of the Transformation Realm in ten days was simply unheard of! No one in the entire Huo Family had ever accomplished such a feat!
It could even be said that no one on the entire Ancient Race Continent had ever been heard of advancing at such a speed!
'This young man... is terrifying!' The Huo Family Patriarch was inwardly gasping in shock, but his face wore a delighted smile. He looked at Xu Luo and said, "Huo Feng, I never thought you were so outstanding! This is truly worthy of celebration. My Huo Family... has finally produced another peerlessly talented disciple!"
Xu Luo lowered his head with a humble expression. "The Old Ancestor and the Patriarch praise me too much. I know that I was mischievous and incorrigible in the past, causing the seniors much worry. Now that I have received the Old Ancestor's and Patriarch's favor, I must naturally work hard. More importantly, I must achieve something to show all those who look down on me! I want to prove that I am no worse than anyone else!"
The Huo Family Patriarch's eyes filled with praise as he declared loudly, "Good child! You have ambition!" Inwardly, however, he was ice-cold, waves of killing intent rising within him, but he forcefully suppressed them, not daring to show it in front of the Old Ancestor.
A faint, unreadable smile played on the lips of the Huo Family's Old Ancestor. He glanced at the Huo Family Patriarch, then nodded at Xu Luo. "Good. Feng'Er, to have such a disposition is a blessing for the Huo Family! You just said... you wish to prove yourself?"
"That's right, I want to prove myself!" Xu Luo nodded emphatically.
The Huo Family Old Ancestor said coolly, "And how do you plan to prove yourself?"
"I have heard that Beidou's Eighth Star has appeared on the Ancient Race Continent. I would like to lead a group to find his tracks and, if possible, capture him and bring him before the Old Ancestor!" Xu Luo declared, thinking to himself, 'That's impossible!'
"It is good that you have such intentions! This news... it's hard to tell if it's true or false. The heavenly secrets are in chaos right now, making things difficult to see..." Old Ancestor Huo Tongtian sighed and said, "Very well... Summon all the family Elders. I will... perform another inference in front of everyone! Then we will send people out and strive to capture that Beidou's Eighth Star in one fell swoop!"
"Old Ancestor... your body?" The Huo Family Patriarch looked at the Old Ancestor with no small amount of concern, but inwardly he was cursing, 'Huo Feng, you little bastard! I couldn't care less if you live or die, but if anything should happen to the Old Ancestor, the Huo Family will be in real danger!'
The Huo Family Patriarch was filled with resentment toward Huo Feng, believing that the Old Ancestor was only forcing himself to use the Inference Skill again because of his appreciation for Huo Feng.
This kind of inference was equivalent to prying into heavenly secrets, an act that defied the heavens. Naturally, it was not tolerated by the world, and thus, every inference would result in a backlash of varying severity.
For the Huo Family Patriarch, it was only natural that he didn't want the Old Ancestor to be in any danger.
"It is no matter... Finding Beidou's Eighth Star is a lifelong wish of mine as well. I understand your thoughts, but it's fine. Go!" Old Ancestor Huo Tongtian waved his hand, dismissing the Huo Family Patriarch to summon the Elders.