Library of Heaven’s Path 2: Eternal Destiny

Chapter 51: Mid-Energy Storing Realm

"He's still absorbing..." Ran Qingxu felt like crying.

He was the Great Elder of White Roc Academy, a late-stage Source Pool Seventh Level Jade Bone Realm expert. Not only had his vast power been drained, but he had almost exhausted his supply of pills. The worst part was that Zhang Xuan was still absorbing, seemingly without end...

This wasn't just a Source Pool; it was more like a Source Ocean, a bottomless abyss!

"I'm out of pills and energy; what do we do now?" Elder He Qin's voice trembled.

With good intentions, they had tried to hide the genius's identity, but they almost ended up dying in the process... Such an event was unprecedented in the history of the Source World. It was truly a disaster!

Ran Qingxu sighed, "I don't know either. We need to ask the dean..."

"Well..." Seeing the responsibility thrown his way, Lu Mingrong felt equally helpless. To be honest, his pills were almost gone too. Like the others, he wanted to continue but lacked the strength.

"If it really doesn't work, we can forcibly cut off the connection. Even if it causes a Source Energy vacuum and exposes the genius's identity, we can't be blamed... We've tried our best!"

Though they were passively trapped by the Source Dragon Swallowing the Elephant phenomenon, they could escape if they really wanted to. Given Zhang Xuan's current strength, he was still too weak. If he were at their level, they might have been sucked dry without even having a chance to take their pills.

Hearing this, everyone sighed in relief.

Most places, when a genius appeared, only needed money and resources. This time, it required lives! And the worst part was... Zhang Xuan had no idea!

"I'll count to three, and we'll all cut off our energy simultaneously. One, two..." Knowing a decision had to be made, Lu Mingrong began to call out. But before he could finish, he stumbled forward. The power that had been constantly draining him suddenly stopped.

Not just him, but the other thirteen elders and Vice Principles also staggered, instinctively looking forward.

At this moment, the nine Source Dragons around Zhang Xuan gradually dissipated. He slowly woke from his state of enlightenment, his eyes opening to see the crowd before him. He looked slightly bewildered and confused.

"Dean Lu, Vice Principle Wu... Elders, are you all here to read too?"

‘What's going on?’

He had only been cultivating for a short while, and so many experts had gathered. Could they have discovered that he was absorbing Source Energy?

That shouldn't be the case! He had tried his best to keep a low profile...

"Tomorrow's class is coming up, so I gathered everyone to study," Lu Mingrong said, lying without batting an eye.

"I see!" Zhang Xuan sighed in relief.

Luckily, he had been cautious and controlled his absorption of Source Energy. Otherwise, he would have been discovered for sure. He felt fortunate.

Seeing that Zhang Xuan did not suspect anything, Lu Mingrong couldn't help but ask, "I saw you seemed to have found a method for storing energy. How is it? Have you reached the peak of the Energy Storing Realm?"

"My absorption speed isn't very fast; I've just reached the mid-stage. It's still far from the peak..." Zhang Xuan explained earnestly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Although his absorption speed was fast, the Xuan World was vast. It was only half full so far, and far from being complete.

The technique mentioned that absorbing a hundred or two hundred strands of Source Energy daily was impressive. But as the lord of a world, he couldn't use that as a standard. Moreover, his was the Xuan World, not just a Source Pool.

"Not fast?"

"Only mid-stage Energy Storing Realm?"

Ran Qingxu, Wu Liuyun, and the others were flabbergasted.

‘You nearly drained us all, depleted the Source Energy within hundreds of meters, and you say it's not fast…’

‘My heart, liver, and lungs... they hurt so much.’

‘If you call this not fast, then what are we?’

‘Even if you want to stay low-key, you don't have to pretend so blatantly!’

Everyone felt a wave of frustration but saw that Zhang Xuan's expression was sincere and genuine, indicating he truly believed what he said.

Absorbing Source Energy had caused the phenomena of Devouring Source Dragon and Source Dragon Swallowing the Elephant, yet he still thought it was average...

‘Can you not show off?’

"Dean, should we tell him the truth?"

Suppressing the urge to give Zhang Xuan a good beating, Wu Yunzhou whispered.

"No matter if he's pretending or truly unaware, once the truth is revealed, our relationship won't be as natural as it is now..." Lu Mingrong smiled bitterly. "It's like if the richest man disguised himself to play with you; everyone pretending not to know would make things more enjoyable. Once the truth is out, the relationship loses its purity."

This was the current situation.

To maintain a good relationship, they couldn't rashly expose the truth. Otherwise, if Zhang Xuan knew that they were only there because of his talent, all their efforts would become meaningless.

"I understand!" Wu Yunzhou nodded. "I'll instruct Su Qiao and the others to keep their mouths shut."

"Good!" Lu Mingrong nodded, then turned his attention back to the young man before him, trying to hide his embarrassment. "Cultivation needs to be done step by step. Don't rush it."

Speaking to a genius in this manner was truly awkward...

"I understand!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Rest assured, Dean, I will work hard and live up to your expectations!"

‘You understand nothing…’ Lu Mingrong thought, but he kept smiling. "So, will you continue cultivating here, or..."

"I'll head back now," Zhang Xuan quickly said, feeling embarrassed under the scrutiny of so many people. He didn't want to draw any more attention and risk revealing anything. With so many experts around, it was best to stay as low-key as possible.

Seeing Zhang Xuan leave the library, Lu Mingrong and the others could no longer hold on. They collapsed to the ground, breathing heavily, their faces pale, and legs weak, losing all the dignity of the dean and elders.

"Although it was exhausting and demanding, at least... we managed to cover up the phenomenon he caused, sparing us a lot of trouble. The remaining stages of physical body cultivation, like the Muscle and Viscera realms, shouldn't require as much Source Energy, so we won't need to be as cautious," Lu Mingrong said after a brief rest.

"Yes, it shouldn't be as difficult," Wu Yunzhou agreed. "The physical body, muscles, and viscera stages all involve cultivating oneself. We shouldn't need to assist anymore, and we can conceal it just fine."

"To be honest, he's quite low-key and should be aware of his actions..."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The first time absorbing Source Energy in the Energy Storing Realm could be difficult to control, causing significant commotion. However, he would undoubtedly become more restrained afterward.

After all, the young man appeared quite amicable and well-behaved.

...

Unaware of the elders' discussion, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief as he left the library.

"Luckily, I stopped cultivating on a whim, otherwise, how would I have concealed it?"

After his enlightenment, his entire focus was within the Xuan World, oblivious to what was happening outside. He had no idea when Dean Lu and the others had arrived. Judging by their expressions, they hadn't noticed anything unusual about him.

That was good; otherwise, he wouldn't have known how to explain it.

"Although I only completed half of the Energy Storing Realm, my injuries have healed significantly, and my strength has improved. Most importantly, I have a thorough understanding of the Energy Storing Realm. It was worth the trip..."

With a smile, Zhang Xuan headed towards his residence. Before he reached it, he saw a groom standing quietly at the door with a tall horse. Next to him was a beautiful girl, seemingly waiting for him.

It was Liu Mingyue and her prized Dao Li.