Chapter 38: Biyun Tower

The courtyard fell silent. Meng Dajiang and Liu Yebai stared blankly at Meng Chuan, speechless. Sixteen years old and comprehending 'potential'? Was the legendary genius standing right before them?

Five patrolling guards also rushed into the courtyard. They had heard the sound of the collapsing wall, but their speed was clearly much slower than Meng Dajiang's group.

"Master," the five guards respectfully greeted. The guard captain looked at the collapsed wall and couldn't help but say, "This wall..."

"Chuan'er and I were sparring, and we accidentally damaged it," Meng Dajiang replied, regaining his composure. He immediately instructed, "Arrange for someone to repair the wall first thing tomorrow morning. Now, please leave."

"Yes, sir," the five guards replied, bowing respectfully before leaving. They were somewhat puzzled, thinking, "They damaged the wall while sparring? Master and Young Master really do cause a stir."

Silence returned to the courtyard. Meng Dajiang and Liu Yebai continued to gaze at Meng Chuan.

"Father, Uncle Liu," Meng Chuan couldn't help but speak, "You two..."

"Dajiang, your son is truly extraordinary," Liu Yebai whispered. "To comprehend 'potential' at sixteen, my heavens! His entry into Yuanchu Mountain is guaranteed. If I had such a brilliant son, I'd wake up laughing every day!"

At this moment, Meng Dajiang's mind raced with many thoughts: his wife's entrustment, the days he personally taught Meng Chuan blade arts, instructing him daily since childhood, and how young Meng Chuan diligently practiced. His foundation was solid, built step by step, making him one of the most outstanding among the Five Great Godfiend families. At fifteen, he had finally begun to shine. Now, at sixteen, comprehending 'potential' made him unparalleled in Dongning Prefecture.

Meng Dajiang's eyes reddened slightly. He knew how diligent his son was. He smiled, his eyes moist, and said, "Excellent, truly excellent."

"Is 'excellent' all you can say?" Liu Yebai commented from the side.

"Father," Meng Chuan also looked at his father. His diligent cultivation, besides his vow to become a Godfiend and slay demons, was also driven by a desire to make his father proud. As a son, making his father proud was an innate desire.

Meng Dajiang smiled, then immediately pulled a signal flare tube from his pocket. He pulled the trigger, and a flare shot into the sky, prominently visible in the night.

At the Meng family's ancestral home. "Hmm?" Aunt Meng, leaning on her staff, walked out of her room and looked up at the flare in the distant sky. That particular signal flare had been personally given to Meng Dajiang by her. It bore her True Qi imprint, allowing her to sense its activation within a hundred-mile radius.

"Why would Dajiang suddenly send a distress signal?" Aunt Meng wondered. Despite her confusion, she took a single step and vanished from her courtyard.

In just over ten breaths, Aunt Meng arrived at the Meng Estate by Mirror Lake. She reached the courtyard, saw the partially collapsed wall, and found Meng Dajiang, his son, and Liu Yebai.

"What happened?" Aunt Meng asked, looking at the collapsed wall with a hint of confusion. "Dajiang, you don't seem to be injured at all. Why did you suddenly send a distress signal?" She had only given out five such flares, and Meng Chuan and Meng Dajiang were among the recipients.

"Aunt," Meng Dajiang said softly, a barely suppressible joy on his face. "Chuan'er... he has comprehended blade 'potential'."

Aunt Meng paused, then her eyes lit up as she looked at Meng Chuan. "He comprehended blade 'potential'?"

"Yes, Great-Aunt," Meng Chuan respectfully replied.

"Could you demonstrate it for your Great-Aunt?" Aunt Meng asked.

Meng Chuan nodded. He directly swung his palm, and with the blade 'potential' integrated, True Qi flowed from his palm, forming a blurry blade light that cut into the ground, leaving a furrow about ten feet long.

"True Qi projected," Aunt Meng's body trembled slightly as she watched. Her eyes were filled with excitement, and she murmured, "Excellent, excellent, truly excellent."

True Qi is inherently formless and nearly impossible to project externally without a medium. However, once 'potential' guides it, it undergoes a complete qualitative change, like soft water forming a sharp 'water blade.' Even the physical body, under the command of blade 'potential,' can unleash greater potential.

"May our ancestors bless us, may our ancestors bless us," Aunt Meng murmured, putting down her staff, pressing her palms together, and closing her eyes.

Meng Chuan, Meng Dajiang, and Liu Yebai all fell silent, not wishing to disturb Aunt Meng at that moment.

"Meng Chuan," Aunt Meng opened her eyes and sat down on a stone stool nearby. She smiled and said, "Come, sit down."

Meng Chuan obediently sat on a nearby stone stool.

Aunt Meng looked at Meng Chuan, her eyes filled with affection. She smiled, "I wasn't wrong about you. To comprehend 'potential' at sixteen, you would be considered a genius even in the Imperial Capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty. As long as you don't slack off in the coming years, your entry into Yuanchu Mountain is guaranteed."

"I will certainly not slack off," Meng Chuan immediately responded.

"However, don't get too arrogant. Remember, there's always someone better," Aunt Meng cautioned with a smile. "For instance, the Fifth Young Master of the Anhai Wang family is renowned throughout the land. He reached the Unification Realm at ten, comprehended 'potential' at thirteen, and became a Godfiend at fifteen. Even the demon race fears his talent and has placed a bounty on his head. Yuanchu Mountain also values him highly; they immediately took him in when he comprehended 'potential' at thirteen."

"I've read many Godfiend biographies," Meng Chuan nodded. "Compared to those invincible Godfiends who left their mark on history, my talent is merely ordinary. I will not be arrogant."

"Haha, you have ambition, comparing yourself to those powerful Godfiends of history," Aunt Meng chuckled. "Ambition is good, but it's best to keep your comprehension of 'potential' a secret for now. Publicize it around the middle of next year. Comprehending 'potential' at seventeen is relatively less shocking."

"Understood," Meng Chuan nodded.

Comprehending 'potential' at sixteen would be considered genius level even in the Imperial Capital. Comprehending it at seventeen, however, would be a significant step down, though still considered a genius within a single prefecture, comparable to the Old Ancestor of the Zhang family. If one comprehended it at eighteen or nineteen? Entry into Yuanchu Mountain would be uncertain. And if one comprehended it at twenty? That would be Mei Yuanzhi's level, barely qualifying for the entrance examination, with very, very low chances of success.

"From today onwards, I will reside at your estate," Aunt Meng said with a smile. "I'll frequently join Meng Chuan for practice."

"Aunt, your health..." Meng Dajiang said, a little worried.

"Don't worry, sparring with you won't affect my injuries," Aunt Meng said with a smile.

"Thank you, Great-Aunt," Meng Chuan respectfully said.

Aunt Meng glanced at Liu Yebai. "Liu Yebai, you must also keep Meng Chuan's comprehension of blade 'potential' a strict secret."

"I'll vouch for Yebai with my life," Meng Dajiang declared.

"Please rest assured, Aunt Meng," Liu Yebai said. "I've watched Meng Chuan grow up like my own child; naturally, I'll keep it confidential."

Only then did Aunt Meng nod.

Days passed. Meng Chuan continued to cultivate diligently. True strength, after all, comes from relentless ascent, decades of consistent effort.

On the seventh day after Meng Chuan comprehended 'potential'. "Mmm, I'm so happy with all that food," Liu Qiyue said, looking content as she walked with Meng Chuan along a night street.

"You ate all my food; how could you not be happy?" Meng Chuan retorted, pouting.

"What's wrong with me having two meals on you, Young Master Meng?" Liu Qiyue huffed.

Meng Chuan said, "My family's Cloud River Restaurant is the best in Dongning Prefecture. Yet you don't eat there; you insist on going to other restaurants. I have to spend a lot of silver at those places."

"No matter how good Cloud River Restaurant is, I can't eat there all the time, can I?" Liu Qiyue argued. "Alright, alright, I'll treat you tomorrow. Is that acceptable?"

"That's more like it," Meng Chuan said, satisfied. Suddenly, he raised an eyebrow and looked toward a distant direction.

"What's wrong?" Liu Qiyue asked, puzzled.

"Qiyue, you go back first. I've spotted a friend," Meng Chuan said. "I'll head back a little later."

"Oh, alright. You should head back early too," Liu Qiyue nodded and left.

Meng Chuan then looked into the distance. He could sense all life forces within a one-mile radius. At that moment, he felt two fierce and bloody presences about half a mile away. These were presences tainted by countless lives! Meng Chuan had once sensed executioners who specialized in beheadings, but even their bloody aura wasn't as potent as these two.

This bloody aura seemed to carry the wails of countless lives, making it incredibly unique in his perception and instinctively filling Meng Chuan with revulsion.

"How many people must they have killed to have such a bloody aura?" Meng Chuan wondered to himself. "However, these two presences aren't particularly strong."

Meng Chuan immediately walked in that direction.

Soon, he arrived outside a brothel.

"Azure Cloud House?" Meng Chuan looked at the brothel before him. Azure Cloud House was brightly lit, bustling with people, and filled with the pleasant laughter of women. Many wealthy merchants and patrons were being welcomed inside.

"This is my first time entering a brothel," Meng Chuan thought, and walked straight in.

"Please come in, Young Master," the pimp at the door said fawningly. Suddenly, the madam standing nearby widened her eyes. "Young Master Meng?"

"Young Master Meng?" Instantly, several courtesans who were soliciting guests turned their heads, seeing the young master who had just walked in. "Is it Young Master Meng Chuan?" The brothel immediately erupted. The courtesans, like lovesick fans, swarmed him with overwhelming enthusiasm.