“Senior, you just said I can fuse with the Heavenly Gifted Power soon?” Chu Feng asked Old Man Ox-Nose eagerly.
“Yes, very soon,” Old Man replied.
“But Senior, didn’t you say fusing it requires forging a dantian, which takes at least three hundred years?” Chu Feng asked.
“Of course, forging your own dantian would take at least that long.”
“But this is an exception.”
As he spoke, Old Man opened his palm.
*Buzz—*
The world trembled, as if a mighty entity had emerged.
Chu Feng saw a radiant orb in Old Man’s hand.
His heart quaked.
The orb, no larger than a fingernail, felt like an entire world before him.
A boundless, immeasurable, powerful world!
“Senior, what is this?” Chu Feng asked solemnly, sensing it wasn’t a dantian but surpassed one—a cosmic treasure with dantian-like properties.
“This is the Heart of the Cosmos.”
“A treasure born of the universe. It took me great effort to subdue and refine it.”
“It can replace any part of your soul, including the dantian, and after my refining, it suits anyone.”
“With it, you don’t need to forge a dantian—it’ll merge perfectly with you, stronger than any you could craft.”
“This treasure is truly priceless. Not just in the Ancestral Martial Starfield, even in the Holy Light Galaxy, it’s near impossible to find.”
“But since you passed my test, you deserve a reward. This is my gift to you,” Old Man said.
Chu Feng was thrilled but also hesitant.
He desperately wanted this gift, but it was too precious.
Not because Old Man said so—Chu Feng could *feel* its value.
Though both were cosmic treasures, this Heart of the Cosmos outshone Chu Lingxi’s Deep Sea Eye.
It wouldn’t directly boost his martial cultivation, but the Four Symbols Divine Power’s restoration depended on it, and Chu Feng believed it could perfect their strength.
“The seventy-nine-day pact was to test your character.”
“You’ve proven worthy to be my disciple,” Old Man said.
“Disciple?” Chu Feng froze, then frowned.
Liangqiu’s expression grew complex too.
“What’s with that look? Something wrong?” Old Man asked.
“Senior, I swore never to take another master.”
“That’s why I even refused Master Liangqiu,” Chu Feng said.
“Chu Feng, your talent is extraordinary. I’ve always felt unworthy to be your master, as my help would be limited.”
“But Brother Zhu’s abilities far surpass mine. If he becomes your master, he’ll offer immense aid.”
“Don’t miss this chance, Chu Feng,” Liangqiu urged.
Though he knew “Brother Zhu” was Old Man’s disguise, he still called him that.
Despite Chu Feng’s past refusal, Liangqiu held no grudge and now encouraged him to accept Old Man as his master.
He knew the benefits Chu Feng could gain.
Old Man wasn’t from the Ancestral Martial Starfield, and his true power was a mystery, even to Liangqiu.
Chu Feng’s heart was torn, pained.
Accepting Old Man meant gaining the Heart of the Cosmos, skipping three hundred years to fuse the Heavenly Gifted Power.
But never taking a master was his sworn principle.
Initially, he’d vowed this to avoid dragging others into his troubles.
He’d since rejected many, including Liangqiu.
Accepting Old Man now, for the Heart, would be unfair to Liangqiu and others.
Finally, Chu Feng gritted his teeth, decided.
He bowed deeply to Liangqiu.
“Master Liangqiu, my refusal wasn’t about your strength.”
“Since leaving the Ancestral Martial Lower Realm, many sought to take me as a disciple. I rejected them all.”
“It’s not about strength—it’s my principle.”
Then he bowed to Old Man, “Senior, thank you for your help. You saved my life, and I’ll repay you. But I swore not to take a master, so even with you, I can’t accept.”
Between the shortcut and his principles, Chu Feng chose the latter.
Liangqiu sighed, “Such a pity…”
He felt Chu Feng’s loss was immense, regretting the sacrifice for a mere oath.
“Hahaha…”
But Old Man burst into laughter at Chu Feng’s refusal.
“You’re a fascinating kid. Whether you agree is your business.”
“But whether I take you as my disciple is mine.”
“I say you’re my disciple, and no one can argue otherwise.”
“Here’s my gift to you, take it!”
With a thrust, Old Man pushed his palm toward Chu Feng.
“Agh!”
Pain flashed across Chu Feng’s face, then vanished.
As Chu Feng and Liangqiu recovered, the Heart of the Cosmos was gone from Old Man’s hand.
“Senior, you!” Chu Feng’s expression grew complicated.
He felt it—his body now held two dantian.
One housed nine thunderous beasts.
The other was empty.
Yet it surpassed his original dantian.
It was the Heart of the Cosmos!
“Chu Feng, enough talk.”
“You know how to fuse the Heavenly Gifted Power, right?”
“Begin. Let Liangqiu see if my claim to help fuse it is true or false,” Old Man said with a grin.
Liangqiu’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
“Alright.”
Chu Feng didn’t hesitate. He closed his eyes, formed hand seals, and sat cross-legged.
If it was about fusing the Heavenly Gifted Power, Chu Feng was more eager than anyone.
