Volume One, Chapter 18: The Apprentice

Chen Fei recalled the scene he had just witnessed within his sea of consciousness—a vast, chaotic starry sea where no starry lights shone. Instead, there was only an endless, hazy expanse of stars, resembling a colossal cauldron standing firm in the cosmic void.

“No starry points at all,” Chen Fei shook his head. What he saw was merely a blurred starry sky.

“Not a single one?” Su Ran looked at him in surprise.

“Exactly,” Chen Fei nodded with certainty.

“Let me think of another way for you,” Su Ran sighed helplessly.

Noticing Su Ran’s disappointed expression, Chen Fei instantly understood and said, “Miss Su, didn’t you say I have the foundation of a Spirit Art Master?”

“The foundation is too weak, almost nonexistent,” Su Ran explained. “Normally, even the least talented can sense at least one starry light point upon entering their sea of consciousness.”

“Miss Su, what if what I saw was a hazy mist instead?” Chen Fei probed cautiously.

Although he saw no starry points, he did perceive a vast, indistinct luminous mist—like an enlarged version of the Void Heaven Cauldron within him.

“That’s impossible!” Su Ran chuckled. “The transformation from star light to mist is profound and unfathomable. Many Spirit Art Masters may never reach such a level in their entire lives, let alone on their first awakening.”

“Why is that?” Chen Fei pressed on.

“Don’t tell me you saw a mist in your sea of consciousness?” Su Ran’s tone carried disbelief.

“It was hazy. I’m not entirely sure,” Chen Fei clarified.

Upon hearing this, Su Ran’s face registered shock and disbelief. After a long silence, she said, “Whether it’s true or not, follow my instructions, and you will uncover the truth.”

Then, Su Ran imparted a cultivation method to Chen Fei, instructing him to circulate his energy accordingly.

Following her guidance, Chen Fei finished with a sharp exhalation, “Seal!”

Suddenly, he felt as if something was being drained from his mind, and before his eyes appeared a blazing ball of fire.

*Pfft!*

The fire exploded, sparks scattering onto the quilt and Su Ran’s clothes.

In an instant, the quilt and clothing ignited faster than gasoline.

Startled, Chen Fei nearly reflexively tried to extinguish the flames, but Su Ran reacted far quicker, immediately smothering the fire.

The quilt was reduced to less than a quarter of its original size, and more than half of Su Ran’s clothing was burned away, revealing a vast expanse of pristine skin that left Chen Fei dumbfounded and suddenly emboldened.

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“My goodness!”

“You really are a prodigy among Spirit Art Masters, a once-in-a-millennium talent!”

Su Ran was astonished by the talent Chen Fei displayed, momentarily forgetting the physiological reaction caused by the tattered quilt.

Startled, Chen Fei quickly adjusted his sitting posture to avoid Su Ran seeing anything embarrassing and asked with some confusion, “What just happened? I felt a sudden wave of heat.”

“That was the Fireball Technique’s cultivation method I just taught you. You successfully manifested it.”

“I’ll teach you a method to cultivate your spiritual power and a few other techniques.”

“Practice diligently. If the chance arises, I’ll take you somewhere for advanced training.”

Su Ran had never expected Chen Fei to be such a rare talent among Spirit Art Masters.

She patiently guided him step-by-step—from cultivating spiritual power to harnessing it, and finally to casting spells.

Before they realized it, dawn had already broken.

“That should be enough for now. The rest is up to you to practice,” Su Ran said, evidently satisfied with her ‘apprentice.’

In just one night, from opening his sea of consciousness to casting spells, though still a bit awkward with the techniques, with persistent practice, Chen Fei could soon wield them at will.

“Are you heading back to the mining field again?” Chen Fei asked, reluctant.

Su Ran paused, turned to look at him, and said, “Chen Fei, cultivate hard. Qin Shuang will surely regret abandoning you.”

Chen Fei wanted to say more, but Su Ran had already opened the door and left.

“Qin Shuang?” he muttered coldly, shaking his head. That woman was truly incomparable to Su Ran.

Closing the door, Chen Fei returned to his bed and sat cross-legged.

“Though Su Ran’s cultivation method is exquisite, it’s no match for my Ten-Thousand Paths Technique.”

“She probably never considered that for me, casting spells is entirely different from what she teaches.”

“My spells must be channeled through the Void Heaven Cauldron to maximize their power.”

Chen Fei grinned broadly.

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The Essence Nourishing Pill not only unlocked Chen Fei’s sea of consciousness, enabling him to become a Spirit Art Master, but it also propelled him to the peak of the fifth level of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

At this pinnacle, combined with his mastery of martial arts and beast abilities, Chen Fei was confident he was invincible among peers.

Now, with the addition of spellcasting, it was like adding wings to a tiger.

Miao Yue brought breakfast and informed Chen Fei that the city lord’s mansion would hold a grand founding celebration the next day, and both Su Ran and he had been invited.

For this reason, Miao Yue’s task that day was to take Chen Fei out to purchase some items and properly dress him up—so as not to embarrass her lady.

Hearing this, Chen Fei was both amused and annoyed. His reputation in Huangwu City had long been ruined due to Qin Shuang’s betrayal.

No matter how he dressed, in everyone’s eyes, he was still the blind cripple.

“That can’t be the same,” Miao Yue argued confidently. “If you’re poorly dressed and look down, people will say my lady mistreats her husband.”

“Fine, I’ll listen to you,” Chen Fei nodded.

After breakfast, the two left the Su residence and wandered the city all morning. Miao Yue did her best to dress Chen Fei, but she still felt something was lacking.

From time to time, she glanced at Chen Fei’s eyes. No matter what kind of eye patch she chose to cover the empty sockets, she remained unsatisfied.

Chen Fei noticed everything. Clearly, even Miao Yue harbored reservations about his blindness.

If Miao Yue felt that way, what about Su Ran?

Tomorrow, as his other self, he would accompany Su Ran to the city lord’s founding celebration, where nearly all the prominent figures of Huangwu City would gather.

If anyone insisted on provoking trouble, mocking Su Ran because of his appearance and broken dantian, it would surely disgrace her.

“Miao Yue, you go back first. I’m going to buy something,” Chen Fei said.

“What are you going to buy, master?” Miao Yue asked curiously.

Chen Fei said nothing but turned to leave.

Miao Yue was about to follow, but Chen Fei stopped her with a stern look.

“No need to follow. I want to give Miss Su a surprise.”

“A surprise?” Miao Yue was puzzled but seeing Chen Fei’s determination, she stopped pursuing.

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