"Sister Sang, there's nobody here."

After putting away his identity card, the young man called out to the woman.

The woman was slightly taken aback. She stepped to the foot of the giant tree where Jiang Chen was, glanced at the tree placard, and said in surprise, "That's odd, just now I did a round, and there really were people!"

"Sister Sang, maybe you were seeing things. Clearly, there's nobody here!"

The young man pointed at the empty tree placard.

"Seeing things? This... maybe!"

The woman hesitated for a moment, a hint of confusion in her eyes, unsure if she had really seen wrong.

"You must have been seeing things, Sister Sang. Go on up and cultivate!"

The young man advised with a light laugh.

"Alright!"

The woman took out her identity card and pressed it against the tree placard.

The young man glanced at the dense branches and leaves above, a cold smile curling at his lips.

Jiang Chen, if you interfere with Sister Sang's condensation of the original Power of the Great Dao, even if you are Elder Wine-crazed's disciple, Elder Sang and they won't let it go!

"I'll soon be able to condense the original Power of the Great Dao. If I can't cultivate here, it might take more time. Now I'm confident I can condense the original Power of the Great Dao within three hours. Thank you, Brother Meng, if it weren't for you, I would've missed it!"

The woman gave a light chuckle as she thanked the young man.

"You're welcome, I'll go cultivate then!"

The young man smiled slightly and turned to walk out of the forest.

Swoosh!

The woman leapt gracefully, arriving mid-tree to cultivate. Due to the tree's lushness, she did not see Jiang Chen at the treetop.

This was also because Jiang Chen's aura was restrained; even during cultivation, unless he comprehended something or deliberately absorbed energy, his Great Dao Aura and Spiritual Power fluctuations would only appear on the surface, not spreading out. The dense Wood Path aura in Qingmu Forest further masked Jiang Chen's surrounding Great Dao Aura from the woman's perception, given her lower cultivation level.

The two began their cultivation, one up and one down, on the same tree.

Swoosh!

Three hours later, Jian Wuheng descended from the tree he had been cultivating on.

He glanced at the tree placard where Jiang Chen was, slightly surprised, "Brother Jiang has finished cultivating? That was quick!"

Seeing Jiang Chen had already left, Jian Wuheng turned and walked out of the forest.

"Sister Sang will definitely be able to condense the original Power of the Great Dao this time."

"Indeed! Little sister's foundation is solid enough, there's no issue with condensing the original Power of the Great Dao."

Two young men approached, chatting as they walked.

Jian Wuheng stopped, cupped his fists towards the newcomers, "Brother Sang, Brother Ning."

"Senior Jian."

"Junior Jian!"

The two young men returned the greeting.

Buzz!

Just then, an obscure Great Dao Fluctuation was transmitted, and the Great Dao Aura on the giant tree began converging toward the mid-tree.

"Sister Sang has started condensing the original Power of the Great Dao!"

The younger Brother Ning exclaimed joyfully, looking up towards mid-tree where Jiang Chen was.

"At just nineteen, Little Sister is condensing the original Power of the Great Dao. Such talent, Junior Jian, how do you compare?"

The slightly older young man beamed as he looked at Jian Wuheng.

"Sister Sang Zhirou's talent surpasses mine. I condensed the original Power of the Great Dao when I was twenty."

Jian Wuheng responded with a light laugh.

Buzz!

Suddenly, another Great Dao Fluctuation emanated from the same tree, stronger and more profound than the first!

Buzz buzz buzz!

The Great Dao Aura on the tree charged upwards to the treetop, even the aura converging toward mid-tree redirected.

"There's someone else up there?!"

"How can there be someone else?"

The two young men's faces changed dramatically.

Jian Wuheng also froze; he recognized the aura as Jiang Chen's.

Brother Jiang didn't leave? Then where's his identity card?

Swoosh!

The older Brother Sang flashed to the giant tree, glanced at the tree placard, and his expression turned cold, "Junior Ning, get that rule-breaking bastard down here!"

"Yes!"

Brother Ning responded, preparing to leap to the treetop.

"Wait!"

Jian Wuheng's expression changed, hurriedly holding Brother Ning back.

"Senior Jian, what do you mean by this?"

Brother Ning's face darkened as he glared at Jian Wuheng.

"Gentlemen, there's a misunderstanding here."

Jian Wuheng dared not waste time; regardless of what Jiang Chen had realized, he couldn't be interrupted. Hastily, he said, "The one at the treetop is Brother Jiang Chen. I came with him, and I can attest to the fact that there was no one on this tree when we came. I watched Brother Jiang put his identity card up myself."

"Senior Jian, are you implying Sister Sang broke the rules? She's here to condense the original Power of the Great Dao; she'd never take such a risk!"

Brother Ning angrily retorted.

"Junior Jian, when did you arrive?"

Brother Sang asked coldly, staring at Jian Wuheng.

"We arrived four hours ago. I just finished cultivating."

Jian Wuheng answered truthfully.

"This... Sister Sang left her residence three hours ago!"

Brother Ning paused, startled.

"Why is my little sister's identity card on the tree placard then? Where's Jiang Chen's card?"

Brother Sang frowned, speaking in a low voice.

Jian Wuheng furrowed his brow, "I don't know. I just checked it a moment ago, and it was indeed Sister Sang's identity card."

"Could it be that Jiang Chen left and then returned to find the tree occupied, but went up anyway?"

Brother Ning speculated.

"No way!"

Jian Wuheng shook his head, "Brother Jiang isn't that kind of person."

Buzz buzz buzz!

At this moment, the tree's entire Great Dao Aura surged toward the treetop.

Meanwhile, mid-tree, a mass of Great Dao Aura struggled to intercept, causing the aura throughout the tree to become chaotic.

"Not good! The Great Dao Aura is so chaotic, Sister Sang's attempt to condense the original Power of the Great Dao will fail!"

Panic flickered in Brother Ning's eyes as he shouted.

"Junior Jian, consider this a favor I'll owe you and Brother Jiang. Please call him down. You should understand the importance and danger of condensing the original Power of the Great Dao. If my sister fails, her Great Dao Foundation will be damaged!"

A hint of pleading appeared in Brother Sang's eyes, filled with deep regret.

Originally thinking nothing would happen within the academy, and knowing Qingmu Forest's rules, even newcomers would be guided. He had come because he was worried, thinking it was about time to act as a protector, fearing his sister would be disturbed by someone else's realization. Yet unexpectedly, from the very beginning, someone was interfering!

"I..."

Jian Wuheng hesitated, gritting his teeth, "I'll go up and check."

Damage to the Great Dao Foundation is no small matter, affecting a cultivator's aptitude, foundation, among other aspects. If the damage isn't healed, the cultivator will never be able to comprehend the Great Dao again.

Swish!

Jian Wuheng leapt towards the treetop.

Brother Sang and Brother Ning exchanged a glance and hurriedly followed him up.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.