[Because the primary focuses of the Great Brahma Prajna and the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao are different—the former emphasizes tempering the cultivator's physical body, while the latter focuses on comprehending the natural world—there is some initial conflict when practicing both, leading to a slower cultivation speed. However, once both techniques are cultivated to the first level, the speed of cultivation will gradually increase.
For example, in the original storyline, Zhang Xiaofan spent a full three years cultivating both techniques before he finally reached the first level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao. After reaching the first level in both techniques, it took him only a year to advance to the second level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao.
After extracting the cultivation method of the The Great Brahma Prajna from Zhang Xiaofan, you temporarily halted your practice of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao and began to focus intensely on the The Great Brahma Prajna.]
[Seventh Month: After more than three months of rigorous cultivation, you finally reached the first level of the The Great Brahma Prajna. With the full operation of these two top-tier techniques, your cultivation level began to soar rapidly, and you became completely immersed in the sensation of continuously growing stronger.]
[First Year: After more than half a year of intense cultivation, you finally reached the second level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao. Since Tian Buyi had not yet taught you the third level's cultivation method, you had no choice but to reveal your true cultivation level. Upon learning that you had reached the second level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao in less than two years, everyone on Dazhu Peak was astonished. After examining your body, Tian Buyi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Although your cultivation speed was only considered above average within the entire Qingyun Sect, Tian Buyi knew that your innate talent was mediocre. Seeing your rapid progress, he couldn't help but feel as though he had stumbled upon a treasure. After the initial shock, the people of Dazhu Peak quickly regained their composure and congratulated you. After all, everyone knew how diligently you had been practicing, so your achievements didn't provoke jealousy, only admiration and remarks about how "heaven rewards the diligent."]
[Third Year: After three years of rigorous cultivation, Zhang Xiaofan finally reached the first level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao. When the people of Dazhu Peak learned of this, they were both amused and exasperated, and Tian Buyi was so frustrated that he lost his appetite. Just as the atmosphere became awkward, you suddenly announced that you had reached the third level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao and expressed your hope that Tian Buyi would teach you the fourth level's cultivation method. Upon hearing this good news, Tian Buyi, who had been too upset to eat, happily devoured two large bowls of rice.
After obtaining the fourth level's cultivation method, you resumed your rigorous training. Soon, it was time for your and Zhang Xiaofan's entrance examination. Under the watchful eyes of the Dazhu Peak members, you easily passed the test. Although Zhang Xiaofan was weaker, he managed to cut through a black bamboo stalk in less than half an hour, completing the entrance examination.
Zhang Xiaofan was able to pass the test so quickly because you had secretly stolen the Blood Devouring Pearl and hidden it in a remote cave. Without the Blood Devouring Pearl, Zhang Xiaofan couldn't accidentally refine the Soul-Devouring Staff with his blood essence, and thus he didn't suffer from severe blood loss, which nearly caused him to fail the entrance examination in the original storyline.
You chose to steal the Blood Devouring Pearl not because you coveted the power of this demonic artifact, but because you wanted to change Zhang Xiaofan's tragic fate, repaying him for teaching you the The Great Brahma Prajna. Although the Blood Devouring Pearl was powerful, it easily induced negative emotions in its user, leading to extreme behavior. For example, Pu Zhi, influenced by the Blood Devouring Pearl, committed the heinous act of massacring Caomiao Village. Similarly, Zhang Xiaofan, influenced by the Blood Devouring Pearl, gradually fell into demonic ways after learning the truth about the destruction of Caomiao Village.
In a sense, the Blood Devouring Pearl was the root of all Zhang Xiaofan's tragedies, so your act of secretly stealing it was actually a boon for him.
After you and Zhang Xiaofan completed the entrance examination, Qi Hao, the senior disciple of Longshou Peak, soon arrived at Dazhu Peak with Lin Jingyu to discuss the upcoming Seven Peaks Competition with Tian Buyi. Seeing that Lin Jingyu had reached the fourth level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao in just three years, Tian Buyi couldn't help but envy Cang Song Daoist for having such a talented disciple. Fortunately, your cultivation speed was only slightly inferior to Lin Jingyu's, so Tian Buyi didn't feel jealous.
Under your influence, Tian Ling'er didn't fall in love at first sight with Qi Hao, who was nearly a hundred years old, as she did in the original storyline. Unlike the reserved Zhang Xiaofan, you easily charmed Tian Ling'er. After three years of interaction, Tian Ling'er had already developed feelings for you, her cheerful and hardworking seventh junior brother, and naturally wouldn't easily shift her affections. Moreover, Tian Buyi and his wife were very satisfied with you, and upon noticing the budding romance between you and Tian Ling'er, they were happy to let it develop.]
[Fifth Year: The Qingyun Sect's Seven Peaks Competition finally began. By this time, you had reached the fifth level of the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao. Although you couldn't compare to a super genius like Lu Xueqi, your cultivation level was on par with senior brother Song Daren, making you one of the top disciples among your peers. Because of this, Tian Buyi was very pleased with you. When you reached the fourth level of the Jade Clear Realm, he didn't waste your time by sending you down the mountain to search for a magical artifact. Instead, he gave you the artifact he had used in his youth.
On your way to the Seven Peaks Competition, you encountered Lu Xueqi, the most beautiful woman in the Qingyun Sect. She was indeed an ethereal ice beauty, but you had no intention of pursuing her. It wasn't that you didn't find her attractive, but your current strength was too weak. Unless you risked refining the Blood Devouring Pearl, there was no way you could defeat Lu Xueqi, who had already reached the ninth level of the Jade Clear Realm, while you were only at the fifth level. Moreover, you and Tian Ling'er were childhood sweethearts, and you were nearing the point of marriage. If Tian Buyi and the others found out that you had betrayed Tian Ling'er or intended to marry Lu Xueqi as well, they would surely beat you to a pulp.
You were fortunate to have reached the top eight of the Seven Peaks Competition with your fifth-level Jade Clear Realm cultivation, narrowly losing to Lu Xueqi. However, you weren't discouraged, as you knew that the top four disciples of this competition would be sent down the mountain to battle demonic cultivators, a mission fraught with danger. You had no intention of joining that adventure.]
(End of Chapter)
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