**Ninth-Rank Martial Immortal.**
This was now Li Yue’er’s cultivation level.
Reflecting on her cultivation when they parted ways and comparing it to her current state, even Chu Feng was astonished by her progress.
At this moment, Chu Feng seemed to understand why others looked at him with such expressions when they saw his own rapid advancement.
Progressing too quickly truly left people in awe.
Moreover, Li Yue’er was currently attempting a breakthrough, aiming for the Exalted Realm.
Chu Feng believed her tremendous progress was likely due to the Li Clan’s Ancestral Formation.
Ever since entering the formation, Chu Feng could sense its extraordinary power. The deeper they went, the stronger the natural energy became.
This was indeed a rare cultivation sanctuary.
In such a place, Chu Feng had naturally tried to comprehend the natural energy here.
Unfortunately, the energy seemed bound to the Li Clan, as if only their members could harness it.
This was just a hypothesis, born from Chu Feng’s inability to comprehend the energy himself.
But Li Yue’er was clearly using this power to attempt her breakthrough, so while it was a guess, Chu Feng felt it was likely true.
“Sometimes, opportunities like this really make people envious,” Chu Feng couldn’t help but sigh.
Thinking back, after leaving the Hundred Refinements Ordinary Realm, Chu Feng had endured countless trials, braved numerous forbidden lands, and faced life-and-death situations to reach his current cultivation.
Yet Li Yue’er, with just this Li Clan Ancestral Formation, had made such leaps, fully proving a saying:
In the world of martial cultivators, talent and effort were essential.
But how far one could go ultimately depended on opportunities and luck.
Without sufficient opportunities and luck, no amount of effort would suffice unless one’s talent was truly heaven-defying.
Conversely, even without talent or effort, a massive opportunity could yield tremendous gains.
Chu Feng understood this deeply. While his current cultivation was inseparable from his talent and effort, without luck and the aid of powerful figures, he would have died countless times along the way.
Even Chu Feng had to admit his luck was exceptional.
But Li Yue’er’s luck seemed pretty good too.
*Ugh—*
Suddenly, Li Yue’er’s delicate face twisted in pain.
“This girl seems to be in trouble,” Chu Feng noted.
He had long noticed that the lightning within the formation’s core was triggered by Li Yue’er.
To break through in the Li Clan Ancestral Formation, comprehending the natural energy wasn’t enough.
She also had to endure the core’s power as a test.
“Looks like I need to help her,” Chu Feng said, preparing to step into the core.
“Young man, a word of advice,” a deep voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
Chu Feng looked around but saw no one, nor could he pinpoint the voice’s source.
“May I ask who you are, Senior?” Chu Feng asked, clasping his fists.
Chu Feng was cautious. He deduced that he and Li Yue’er weren’t alone in the formation—there was another presence, likely stronger than him.
“You don’t need to know who I am. I’m just telling you that this formation’s power is only for the Li Clan’s use,” the voice said.
“While only Li Clan descendants can benefit, if you enter the formation, the lightning will still attack you.”
“In simple terms, step into that formation, and you’ll gain nothing but suffer all the consequences,” the voice continued.
“Senior, I’m not after the benefits here. I just want to help my friend,” Chu Feng replied.
“Help her? A mere junior like you—have you even seen the lightning’s power? Step in there, and your body and soul will be obliterated,” the voice said mockingly, clearly doubting Chu Feng’s intentions.
Chu Feng wanted to continue the conversation, as the presence of an unknown entity in such a place made it unclear whether they were friend or foe.
But Li Yue’er’s pained expression grew worse.
Chu Feng knew he had to act, or she might be in mortal danger.
“Hey, didn’t you hear me?” the voice called out as Chu Feng moved toward the core. “Young man, I’m warning you—greed is fine, but know your limits. Don’t lose your life over a moment’s greed.”
“Thank you for the warning, Senior, but I know what I’m doing,” Chu Feng said, stepping into the core.
*Crackle—*
As Chu Feng entered, the lightning surged toward him, but he remained unharmed, protected by a layer of Saint-level barrier power.
“This kid… a Saint-Rank Spiritist?” the voice in the hall exclaimed, tinged with surprise.
Chu Feng ignored it.
He knew Li Yue’er’s breakthrough was at a critical juncture, and he had to help her succeed.
After entering the core, Chu Feng sat cross-legged behind Li Yue’er.
*Hum—*
Soon, the form of the Nine Dragons Saint Cloak manifested.
“This spiritist cloak has such power?” the voice remarked, seemingly sensing that with the cloak’s appearance, Chu Feng’s barrier power grew stronger.
With his barrier power enhanced, Chu Feng formed hand seals, closed his eyes, and remained still.
Despite the lightning in the core attacking him like an intruder, it was minimal. Most of the lightning continued to target Li Yue’er, as if she were its primary focus.
Under this onslaught, Li Yue’er’s pain intensified, her face growing paler, her body trembling, on the verge of collapse.
*Crackle—*
Suddenly, Chu Feng opened his eyes. At that moment, most of the core’s countless lightning bolts surged toward him.
Previously, his barrier had kept the lightning at bay, but now, as if weakened, the lightning began to pierce through, harming Chu Feng.
Pain flashed across his face.
“Greedy fool. I told you you can’t harness this power, yet you still try? You’re courting death—serves you right,” the voice in the hall sneered.
It seemed to realize Chu Feng had deliberately weakened his barrier to let the lightning strike him, attempting to gain something from the formation.
But the mysterious presence knew this was futile.
“What’s this guy doing?” the voice soon asked, now filled with doubt.
It noticed that as the lightning poured into Chu Feng, white light began to emanate from him—gentle natural energy.
Enduring the lightning granted this energy, but it was meant only for the Li Clan. For outsiders, even if they endured the lightning, the energy would dissipate.
Yet Chu Feng was controlling the energy within his body, preventing it from escaping.
Though he couldn’t refine it, he wouldn’t let it dissipate either.
*Swish—*
Suddenly, Chu Feng raised his hands, one pressing against the back of Li Yue’er’s head, the other against her back.
The natural energy gathered in his body began to flow into Li Yue’er.
“This guy… he’s actually helping that girl Yue’er?!?!” the voice exclaimed, shocked, amazed, and incredulous.
