Chapter 007: The Golden Wings of the Magic Elephant

Within the Tianquan Cavern, the ancient magical elephant totem was exceedingly irritable. A hundred times unwilling, it could only let out a roar and slowly retract its dark golden wings, lying in wait.

Within him, the martial energy was circulating increasingly rapidly, and gradually, green smoke began to rise from his body. If this continued, Hong Lie would either completely go mad or perish from the internal combustion of his martial energy

Hong Yu was greatly astonished, never expecting that a teacher from Liling Academy could so easily sacrifice the efforts of several students and their entire future for such a trivial personal gain

Moreover, the ancient magic elephant totem itself is replete with magical essence

Hong Lie tilted his head and fell soundly asleep

Hong Yu had once entered the Military Book Repository, and the "Northern Wilderness Scripture" was precisely stored within it. Hong Shen was taken aback: Hong Yu had only entered the Military Book Repository three days ago, and in just three days, he had cultivated to such a level

Have you tried it? Hong Yu was greatly suspicious. Hong Lie had let something slip, and not wanting to deceive his younger brother, could only say: "You can ask Grandpa about this matter another day"

He rushed out to relieve himself, then returned to continue drinking. After downing the third jar, the ancient magic elephant totem became even more joyful. He ran in circles within the Heavenly Spring Cave. The thumping footsteps sounded like the war drums of the gods

At the very least, from what Hong Yu sees now, his elder brother Hong Lie's aptitude cannot be described as mediocre. While he may not be considered a genius, he certainly cannot be evaluated as "mediocre".

However, within Hong Lie's body, three acupoints emitted a faint red light. The red light formed a circular pattern, firmly binding the acupoints and restricting the amount of martial energy that could pass through the acupoints and meridians at any one time

However, the aura of the ancient magic elephant totem was excessively violent, and Hong Lie's eyes instantly turned blood red, as he was already controlled by a frenzied and destructive emotion.

Hong Shen outside was taken aback, almost unable to resist rushing in. However, he quickly realized that both Hong Yu and Hong Lie had very stable auras. Moreover, there was no presence of a third person in the room.

He then called for the servants to prepare mouthwash and brewed a hangover soup. Hong Lie, while drinking the hangover soup, doubted: "Did I really drink that much?"

Hong Yu sighed softly, if I had known it would be like this, it is fortunate that this young master was well prepared in advance

At present, this momentum of surging forward seems to show no signs of weakening. The aura within Hong Lie is growing increasingly powerful, with martial energy surging, quickly solidifying his mid-stage realm of the Eighth Grade Body Protection. He then continues to advance, as the effects of the Ancient Demon Elephant Totem are still in play. This aura guides Hong Lie, evoking the resentment he has felt over the years of being underestimated, insulted, and forgotten. This emotion resonates with the aura of the Ancient Demon Elephant Totem, and his realm continues to rise, gradually approaching the late stage of the Eighth Grade Body Protection.

Hong Yu was taken aback and exclaimed, "Copying the Six Classics ten times?!"

Moreover, this skill seems to have greatly exceeded Hong Yu's current capabilities; it was merely activated by chance, and when it can be activated again in the future remains entirely unknown

Hong Yu keenly sensed this, raising his left hand to touch him slightly

Although he felt strange inside, Hong Yu was still very decisive in executing his plan. He raised his left hand, and the aura of the Primordial Magic Elephant Totem swept through the entire room

Hong Yuxin was anxious and at a loss for what to do. As he watched the blue smoke around Hong Lie grow thicker, he realized that if he did not find a solution soon, it would be too late. The figure of the novice monk in the Dantian slowly raised his head and began to chant sutras.

This kind of prayer, although a subconscious act, soon made Hong Yu realize that his prayer had suddenly caused a fluctuation in something beyond his perception. In an instant, the entire cultivation route, the meridians and acupoints, as well as the bottlenecks of Hong Lie were all laid out before his eyes

Hong Yu instructed Hong Lie to stand in the center of the room, closed the doors and windows, and informed the outside that no one was to be disturbed

Bang

This quantity actually determines Hong Lie's realm

At this moment, Hong Lie finally understood that the cultivation method he practiced was different from that of Hong Shen, and thus the energy he could connect with was also different

The wine that Hong Lie drank was all brought from the Hong family's wine cellar, aged for over twenty years. After settling Hong Lie, Hong Yu stayed in the room, his nose twitching as waves of the wine's aroma wafted into his nostrils

Hong Lie looked up to the sky and let out a long sigh: "What else can we do? What Xiao Xu just said is correct; your elder brother, I, am currently unable to protect myself."

That is the aura of the "Beihuang Scripture," which Hong Shen is very familiar with. Hong Lie practices the "Beihuang Scripture," but if Hong Lie possessed such momentum, would he still be called a mediocre talent? He would undoubtedly be the number one young genius in Wudu!

A dull, thunderous sound erupted as two protrusions split apart, revealing a pair of enormous wings radiating a dark golden light. With the emergence of these dark golden wings, the aura of destruction, brutality, and chaos emanating from the ancient magic elephant totem instantly expanded, multiplying in intensity

Hong Lieqi gritted his teeth: "It must be another of Du Jincheng's insidious tactics!"

Hong Yu became interested, grabbing another jar and downing it in one go. The alcohol was completely absorbed by the ancient magic elephant totem, yet this primordial divine beast seemed to show no signs of intoxication

Each of the Six Classics contains over ten thousand characters. In this world, the writing is done with a brush. Even if one were to copy the Six Classics ten times in a day and night, it would be impossible to complete, even for someone like Xu Yong, who has already reached the pinnacle of the Ninth Rank of the Spring of Vitality.

Xu Yong shook his head helplessly: "He is a gentleman, what can we do? For the past seven days, I have been punished every day, and even now I have not been able to complete the texts I was assigned to copy on the first day. Du Jincheng already has enough excuses to expel me from Liling Academy."

Hong Lie still had some doubts. Hong Yu said: "You sit down first. Later, cooperate with me fully. When I say to charge, you must gather all your martial energy and charge through in one breath"

However, Hong Yu could sense that the power of the Ancient Demon Elephant Totem was rapidly increasing. What could be the reason for this? Could it be that this ancient divine beast benefits from drinking alcohol in its cultivation?

The ancient magic elephant totem let out a roar, dispersing all the wine clouds, standing proudly between heaven and earth in its fury. Its power surged continuously in its rage, making its already enormous body appear even more like a mountain.

Hong Lie exclaimed, "But I have already tried, and it doesn't work..."

A cacophony of sounds erupted, as the tables, chairs, vases, and incense burners in the room were thrown into disarray, and then, amidst the violent atmosphere, they were all shattered to pieces

Liling Academy is the foremost academy of the Great Xia, serving as the foundation for entry into the Great Xia.

Hong Yu can no longer endure; it is not the brain that surrenders first, but the bladder

Hong Yu sighed, helped him onto the bed, removed his shoes and socks, and covered him with the quilt

Young Master Hong's second son looked at him with admiration, unabashedly giving a thumbs up and saying, "Big brother, you are magnanimous"

Hong Lie thought about it and concluded that his alcohol tolerance had greatly increased. As a result, six months later, during a wine tasting with friends, he boasted loudly about his experiences and knowledge, ultimately leading to a humiliating situation that he preferred not to mention.

Hong Yu is basically certain that his elder brother, under the repeated evaluations of being a "mediocre talent" by others, has been continuously undermined, lost confidence, and thus has repeatedly faced difficulties in breaking through, remaining stuck at this level.

The golden mist flowed along Hong Yu's arm into Hong Lie's body, then spread out and disappeared within him

"What benefits does this bring him?" Hong Yu asked, puzzled

Under the dual influence of "clear at a glance" and "responding to every request," Hong Yu clearly saw the problem with Hong Lie. He couldn't help but furrow his brow

At that moment, the martial energy from Hong Lie's "Beihuang Zhenjing" surged forth, roaring and howling, as if a flood were rushing through his meridians. The previous three bottleneck acupoints posed no obstruction to his breakthrough this time, and were immediately shattered

Hong Yu and the others had just tidied up when they were about to speak of their plans, but suddenly a servant reported from outside: "Young Master, Young Master Xu is here to visit"

He had never told anyone about his bottleneck, not even his grandfather, Hong Shengri. However, Hong Yu accurately pointed it out! If only one was correct, it could still be considered good luck, but with three being correct, it is definitely not luck but rather strength

The subordinate received the order and left. Hong Lie found a clean set of clothes to change into, explaining to Hong Yu as he changed: "Xu Yong hails from the Xu family in Haicheng and is the best friend of my elder brother in the academy"

Gradually, Hong Yu felt that something was amiss; the clouds of wine were increasing, slowly enveloping the Tianquan Cave, and he could no longer "see" the situation inside clearly

The physique of a warrior far exceeds that of an ordinary person, especially since Hong Lie has already reached the eighth rank of body refinement. This realm is precisely the stage where the martial energy cultivated through training comprehensively enhances one's self. Therefore, although Hong Lie is heavily intoxicated, he has only been in a deep sleep for one hour, and it is now mid-morning.

Hong Lie stood honestly, while Hong Yu lowered his head and began to pray in his heart. Compared to the last time, this time the response from the novice monk was much quicker. It slowly raised its head and opened its eyes.

Within the Heavenly Spring Cavern, the ancient magical elephant totem is still soundly asleep, enveloped by swirling dark gray clouds of liquor that tightly wrap around the entire cavern

Hong Lie began to have doubts in his heart, thinking that the method from last night was no longer effective—he still believed that the only solution Hong Lie could come up with was that one, and thus he remained without much hope

Hong Yu himself was taken aback: What on earth is this creature? How can it enhance its strength just by drinking alcohol?

Xu Yong has an ordinary appearance, yet amidst his simple attire, there emanates a sincerity that inspires a strong sense of trust in others

Du Jincheng has just been transferred from Leizhou City to Wudu and is eager to achieve results. If he can elevate the average level of the entire class by one tier, it would undoubtedly be a significant accomplishment for him, allowing him to firmly establish himself at Liling Academy in the future

Hong Yu pushed the door open and entered. Behind the desk, Hong Lie's eyes were bloodshot. The room was cluttered with seven or eight wine jars in disarray. Hong Lie attempted to stand up, but with a thud, he fell to the ground.

Xiao Xu, do not worry; I will think of a solution for you.

But what level is Hong Yu? Who in the Hong family doesn't know? He is actually able to identify his own bottleneck; this insight is comparable to that of his grandfather. Even Shen Shu, I fear, may not possess such ability

Hong Yu was pleased to see the shock on his face, as this was the effect he desired. Otherwise, how could Hong Lie trust him, let alone be manipulated by him

Hong Lieyi said: "Is Xu Yong here? Please invite him to the living room to wait, I will change my clothes and come over."

On its back, two dark golden bulges gradually emerged and quickly expanded

However, just as he was about to break through to the late stage of the Eighth Rank Body Tempering, Hong Lie's momentum seemed somewhat lacking

Boom

He sat in the chair, stroking his chin, lost in his own thoughts

Within the Tianquan Cavern, the ancient magic elephant totem let out a roar, and a surge of violent energy instantly surged into Hong Lie's body. The last bit that Hong Lie was lacking immediately broke through

Only three jars of wine were left in the room. Hong Yu called out, and soon someone brought more. Thus, Hong Yu continued to drink. After downing a jar in one go, he ran to the restroom several times. The ancient magic elephant totem finally swayed its head in the Tianquan Cave, becoming somewhat unsteady. Then, with a loud crash, it toppled over in the Tianquan Cave, falling asleep with a snore.

Hong Yu had no choice but to refrain from asking further, and then said: "Come on, big brother, let me see what your cultivation level is like."

Hong Shen found it hard to believe: Could it be Hong Yu? It seems there is only this explanation!

Hong Yu attempted to communicate with this fellow, but the ancient magic elephant totem remained unresponsive, only occasionally flashing a dark purple lightning amidst the swirling clouds of wine

Hong Lie was deeply pained: "But Xiao Xu, after more than ten years of effort, you finally entered Liling Academy. Can you really just give up all this hard work?"

Hong Yu raised his hand and tapped him three times: "It is these three acupoints that restrict your realm"

Within the house, Hong Lie's astonishment was no less than that of Hong Shen. After Hong Yu completely released the aura of the Ancient Demon Elephant Totem, Hong Lie's spiritual perception fully merged with that aura, and he finally experienced the sensation that Hong Shen had previously explained to him—his spiritual perception was entirely connected to the aura of the Ancient Demon Elephant

Xu Yong cast a grateful glance at him, but shook his head and said: "Brother Hong, I am aware of your current situation. Du Jincheng wants to curry favor with Zong Xinyue, you... sigh, let's just leave it at that. I came from Haicheng to Wudu, and everyone looks down on me for being a side branch of the Xu family, for my ninth-grade Yongquan cultivation. Only you, Brother Hong, have lowered yourself to associate with me. This parting is unavoidable, but I must say, Brother Hong, you are my esteemed mentor and friend. In the future, no matter what matters arise that require my assistance, just send someone to convey the message, and Xu Yong will not hesitate to face fire and water, even at the cost of my life!" This parting is unavoidable, but I must say, Brother Hong, you are my esteemed mentor and friend. In the future, no matter what matters arise that require my assistance, just send someone to convey the message, and Xu Yong will not hesitate to face fire and water, even at the cost of my life!

Hong Lie's eyes flickered with anger as he said, "This is his purpose! It's not just Xu Yong; there are several students in the class who are at the ninth rank of the Spring of Surge. As long as they lack any family background, they will all be subjected to such tactics by Du Jincheng, forcing them to leave. Before Xu Yong, two other students had already been driven away by him. I, too, was once filled with rage and spoke a few words, which led Du Jincheng to harbor resentment against me. Moreover, he wants to curry favor with Zong Xinyue, which is why he targets me at every turn"

Hong Yu nodded. Haicheng is a major stronghold in the eastern part of the Daxia Dynasty, bearing the important responsibility of facilitating trade transit between Daxia and the Huolang Kingdom and the Hesang Kingdom. The Xu family in Haicheng is not well-known, but Hong Lie is not elitist and would never choose friends based on their social status.

The enormous trunk of the elephant gazes at the two jagged ivory tusks, directed towards the sky, and with each snort, a wisp of pale gray mist is released!

Elder brother

There is a way! Hong Yudao said: "As long as you can elevate your realm, making Du Jincheng speechless and unable to find excuses against you, we will ultimately still be the Four Great Pillars. At that time, when you speak, Du Jincheng will have to take heed!"

Hong Yu was filled with indignation as he grasped his elder brother's shoulder: "Elder brother, we cannot allow Du Jincheng to be so utterly immoral!"

Such a simple sentence left Hong Lie stunned and speechless: "How did you know that!"

Hong Yu was also taken aback; his "clear at a glance" was still in effect. He had originally planned to assist Hong Lie at a critical moment, but he did not expect that the ancient magic elephant totem, which had erupted in fury due to the knowledge that he could not drink alcohol in the future, would be so formidable, effortlessly helping Hong Lie break through his realm.

When Hong Yu hesitated, Hong Lie on the bed groaned and woke up. As soon as he sat up, he was startled to see a room full of wine jars: "Did I drink this much?!"

To be honest, Hong Yu himself is not certain, because the information that is "clear at a glance" is quite random. Hong Yu continuously prays in his heart, hoping to see what he wishes to see

This is the opportunity that Hong Yu and others have been waiting for. He shouted in his heart: "From now on, you will never have a drop of alcohol to drink! Absolutely not!"

Hong Lie had already lost all hope, and seeing Hong Yu like this made him feel utterly despairing. He walked over to Hong Yu and patted him on the shoulder: "Second brother, it's alright. I've gotten used to it. After all, I am a member of the Hong family, and Du Jincheng wouldn't dare to truly do anything to me. It's just a pity for Xiao Xu and the others, sigh..."

A tremendous roar erupted, and the wine clouds exploded, unleashing countless dark purple lightning bolts that shot out from the fissures in the wine clouds, as if the thick bolts of lightning were intent on annihilating this expanse of heaven and earth

Within Hong Lie's body, the violent dark golden martial energy was suddenly cooled down as if a basin of ice water had been poured over raging flames. The speed of its operation gradually slowed, ultimately transforming from an enraged wild beast into a docile pet, gradually settling into the dantian.

You come with me

He has fallen into a state of obsession! Hong Yu was drenched in cold sweat, feeling extremely anxious. He wanted to help his elder brother, but his understanding of the martial arts of this world was still limited, and he was insufficiently prepared for the dangers that come with continuously advancing in rank.

Hong Lie was taken aback: "Farewell? What happened, what is going on?"

A golden mist was released, flowing along Hong Yu's meridians and coursing through his left arm

Hong Yu hurriedly helped him up, while Hong Lie grasped his brother's arm tightly, his red eyes revealing endless pain: "Second Brother, I feel so suffocated!"

Hong Yu was drinking heartily, while the Ancient Magic Elephant Totem was savoring the essence in the Heavenly Spring Cave. After he finished a jar of wine, the Ancient Magic Elephant Totem jumped around a few times within the Heavenly Spring Cave, causing the earth to tremble and the sky to sway

The reason why martial artists emphasize a steady and solid approach, establishing a strong foundation, is that rapid advancement can easily lead to obsession and deviation from the right path

After all, he has been suppressed at the initial stage of the eighth rank for too long; even though his martial energy has accumulated significantly, it still falls short of the later stages.

Even within Hong Lie's meridians, there remains a portion of martial energy that has not settled in the dantian.

Within the Tianquan Cavern, the ancient magical elephant totem howls towards the sky, and waves of joyous emotions are distinctly evident

Hong Yu thought for a moment and agreed

Hong Lie was taken aback, finding it somewhat hard to believe: "Do you have a way?"

The surging martial energy rose wave after wave, and after breaking through the mid-stage of the eighth rank body refinement, Hong Lie showed no signs of stagnation, continuing to advance vigorously and relentlessly.

What does this indicate? It signifies a devastating aura, emanating from one of the two individuals in the room

Within Hong Lie's dantian, a deep, dark golden light shimmered like the ocean; this was his reserve of martial energy. Thanks to Hong Yu's intensive study of the foundational knowledge of martial arts during this period, he was able to ascertain that this amount had undoubtedly surpassed the mid-stage of the eighth-grade body refinement.

Brother, can I really deceive you over such a trivial matter

Xu Yong gazed up at the sky in sorrow: "I have aspired to enter Liling Academy since I was five years old, to bring glory to my family. My family is a branch of the Xu family from Haicheng, often subjected to humiliation by the main family. My father passed away in despair, and my mother placed all her hopes on me. After twelve years of arduous study, I finally gained admission to Liling Academy. My mother thought I could finally hold my head high and bring honor to our family, but unexpectedly... Alas! My efforts and future, in the eyes of Du Jincheng, are simply not as important as others' achievements!"

Hong Shen felt a strange sensation: Did Young Master Yu really come up with some solution?

After he replied, he suddenly realized: "What do you mean by that? Who told you it was impossible?"

This particular skill, compared to being straightforward, is far more exhausting. Hong Yu immediately felt a strong sense of fatigue, and the golden light of the Sha Mi Dharma image in the Tan Zhong acupoint also dimmed considerably

Hong Yu smiled, casually grabbing a jar of wine and gulping it down. As the strong liquor entered his stomach, the scent of alcohol enveloped Hong Yu. The ancient magic elephant totem was exceedingly joyful, its long trunk raised to the sky, and with a sudden inhale, it absorbed all the alcohol from within Hong Yu's body.

A sudden clarity arose in Hong Yuxin's mind; in addition to being "self-evident," it seemed that he had inadvertently triggered another skill: the ability to fulfill any request!

Then, by ingratiating himself with such a promising family as the Zong family, he would be able to thrive in Liling Academy for the next several decades

Xu Yong gave a bitter smile: "Today, I was punished by Mr. Du again, having to copy the Six Classics of Confucianism ten times. I must submit it tomorrow; rather than waiting for him to expel me, I might as well withdraw from school myself"

Xu Yong cupped his hands in farewell and departed, while Hong Lie sat dazed in his chair, unable to regain his composure for quite some time

Hong Yu found it somewhat strange and said, "Elder brother, what is Du Jincheng doing? He is clearly trying to force Xu Yong away!"

Hong Lie hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly: "Alright"

Beside Hong Yu, there was a bowl of wine. It was the last bowl left over from before. As this bowl of wine was consumed, a surge of power suddenly arose from the ancient magic elephant totem in the Tianquan acupoint.

Hong Yu staggered slightly, taking a step back to sit down in the chair

Hong Lie laughed and said: "Xiao Xu, what brings you here?"

I certainly have it

Regardless of who it is, gaining admission to this academy requires immense effort. However, their sweat and dedication are completely disregarded in the presence of a person like Du Jincheng, whose selfish and self-serving nature far outweighs their contributions

Brother, do you now believe that I have a way?

Xu Yong is one year younger than Hong Lie, yet his demeanor appears somewhat melancholic. Upon seeing Hong Lie, he cupped his hands in salute and forced a smile, saying: "Brother Hong, I... am here to bid you farewell."

Hong Yushun replied casually: "Brother, we are the Four Great Pillars! How dare a bumpkin from Leizhou cause you trouble? This matter cannot be let go just like that"

The two individuals sat cross-legged, with Hong Lie in front and Hong Yu behind. The reason Hong Yu was so confident was that Hong Lie practiced the "Northern Wilderness True Scripture"; if it were any other mental cultivation method, he would truly have no way to handle it.