Unrivaled Comprehension: From Mortal to Immortal King

The three young disciples had just reached the Fifth Prohibition Realm. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn't have been able to advance so quickly, not even with Lin Jiufeng's Rain Sigil Technique, which had drawn down an immense amount of spiritual energy.

They needed time to accumulate and consolidate their cultivation.

But no one expected that a Dao Rain—a divine phenomenon that unfolded like a painting of the Great Dao across the sky—would allow them to complete this accumulation overnight.

Each of them had comprehended their own Dao, and with the boundless spiritual energy raining down, their cultivation surged to the peak of the Fifth Prohibition Realm, triggering their breakthroughs.

Lin Jiufeng didn't disturb them. These three were prodigies, and their foundations had been fortified by last night's enlightenment. He had no doubt that their breakthrough would be smooth.

His gaze shifted to the rooftop of the Scripture Pavilion, where another aura pulsed violently, surging and receding like waves.

—It was the little fox.

She, too, had gained tremendous enlightenment last night. Now, she was struggling to contain her own burgeoning energy, causing demonic qi to spread throughout the Scripture Pavilion.

Lin Jiufeng stepped onto the rooftop and saw the little fox engulfed in flames.

Yes—she was burning.

A brilliant azure flame enveloped her entire body, flickering intensely.

Yet, strangely, her fur remained unscathed. The wooden beams of the pavilion were untouched.

More remarkably, instead of writhing in pain, the little fox looked as if she were soaking in a hot spring, utterly relaxed.

Lin Jiufeng raised an eyebrow.

"What's happening to you?"

The little fox, Bai Ling, flashed him a sweet smile.

"Last night, as I gazed upon the Great Dao in the sky and absorbed the fresh spiritual energy, something unexpected happened—my bloodline began to regress toward its ancestral state. These flames are burning away my impurities, refining my lineage."

Her tone was filled with delight.

"It doesn't hurt at all," she added. "In fact, it feels quite nice."

Lin Jiufeng was relieved and smiled.

"This is indeed an unexpected boon. Your demonic bloodline was already rich, but now that it's regressing to its ancestral purity, your potential is boundless. Senior Brother Zhou would be proud."

The little fox nodded happily.

She then turned her gaze toward the Golden Summit Hall, where a powerful aura resonated through the sect's highest peak.

"Everyone gained a great deal last night, didn't they?" she asked.

Lin Jiufeng nodded. His eyes lingered on the hall's gilded roof as he spoke.

"But if we're talking about the biggest gain… it's definitely Bai Yunfei."

The little fox tilted her head, puzzled.

Lin Jiufeng's voice was calm as he revealed the shocking truth.

"Last night, Bai Yunfei broke through to the Ninth Prohibition Realm."

☀️☀️☀️

As the morning sun bathed the Golden Summit Hall, its golden radiance shimmered in all directions.

Inside the grand hall, a figure sat cross-legged, exuding an aura infused with the essence of the Great Dao.

The little fox's eyes widened in disbelief.

"How did he break through so fast?!"

"The stronger a cultivator is, the more they can comprehend from last night's Dao Rain," Lin Jiufeng explained.

"Bai Yunfei has exceptional talent and a strong foundation. He grasped the deeper truths of Feathered Ascension from the heavenly painting and, with the boundless spiritual energy available, shattered the barriers of the Ninth Prohibition Realm in one swift breakthrough."

The little fox sighed wistfully.

"If only I were stronger… I could have comprehended even more."

Lin Jiufeng chuckled.

"Greed leads to downfall. You've already undergone a bloodline reversion—long-term, your gains surpass Bai Yunfei's breakthrough."

The little fox giggled and stopped complaining. She curled into a fluffy ball, letting the azure flames purify her.

Seeing her at ease, Lin Jiufeng turned and vanished into the air, stepping onto the Golden Summit.

Just as he arrived, Bai Yunfei emerged from the great hall, beaming with excitement.

The moment he saw Lin Jiufeng, he rushed forward and wrapped him in a bear hug.

"Senior Brother! I did it!" Bai Yunfei was ecstatic.

Lin Jiufeng pried him off with a laugh.

"Congratulations," he said. "With your breakthrough, Tai Shang Dao and the Wen Family will have to think twice before making any moves against us."

A Ninth Prohibition cultivator, especially one who had mastered the Feathered Ascension Canon, was a force to be reckoned with. Though Bai Yunfei had only just entered the Ninth Prohibition, he already possessed the strength of a late-stage cultivator in that realm.

Bai Yunfei was still overwhelmed by what had transpired.

"Senior Brother… how did you create that heavenly painting?" he asked in awe.

Lin Jiufeng shook his head.

"The world painting was a rare cosmic phenomenon. Even I cannot replicate it at will. Do not dwell on it—what matters now is that you've reached the Ninth Prohibition. With this strength, you must begin rebuilding and expanding Feathered Ascension Sect."

Bai Yunfei's excitement dimmed slightly.

"That's the problem… Our sect has declined for too long, and recruiting good disciples is difficult."

Lin Jiufeng smiled.

"There are plenty of good disciples right in front of us. Why worry?"

Bai Yunfei followed his gaze, looking down from the mountaintop.

All he saw were trees, mountains, rivers… and a few wild beasts.

His brow furrowed.

"…Where?"

Lin Jiufeng led him down the mountain, stopping beneath a towering ancient tree that had stood for centuries.

"Do you know how much spiritual energy has descended from these Dao Rains?" Lin Jiufeng asked.

Bai Yunfei nodded.

"With such vast energy, do you think we absorbed all of it?"

Bai Yunfei thought for a moment.

"No… Some of it must have seeped into the land, mountains, and rivers."

"Exactly," Lin Jiufeng said with a smirk.

"This means that trees, rocks, and beasts have also absorbed spiritual energy. Some of them have awakened sentience."

He patted the trunk of the massive tree.

A moment later, the ancient tree bent forward, revealing a face on its bark.

"Greetings, esteemed seniors." The tree's voice rumbled with reverence.

Bai Yunfei was dumbstruck.

"Y-You've… gained sentience?!"

The tree nodded.

"I awakened during the first Dao Rain and have been absorbing energy ever since."

Lin Jiufeng smiled.

"Would you like to join Feathered Ascension Sect?"

The tree hesitated.

"C-Can I?"

"Why not?" Lin Jiufeng countered.

"I am a spirit, not a human…"

"That," Lin Jiufeng said, turning to Bai Yunfei, "is up to the Sect Master."

Bai Yunfei didn't hesitate.

"Of course we accept you! Our sect welcomes all who seek enlightenment—regardless of race or origin!"

The ancient tree was overjoyed. With a surge of energy, it transformed—its wooden body shrinking into the form of a burly old man with lush green leaves atop his head.

"Disciple Bai Liu greets the Sect Master!" he bowed.

Lin Jiufeng grinned.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother. Feathered Ascension Sect is no longer lacking in disciples."

Before the day was over, Bai Yunfei had recruited 300 new disciples—all awakened spirits of nature, each with astonishing potential.

Thus, a new generation of Feathered Ascension cultivators was born.