The Path to Another World

Suddenly, the azure gemstone shone brightly, emanating a soft, mesmerizing blue light. The entire room was bathed in this blue glow, a truly beautiful sight. Ye Fan abruptly stopped channeling his spiritual energy, utterly stunned. His astonishment wasn't at the breathtaking scene, but at the sudden, visibly restored spiritual energy he had just lost. It had been fully restored in just a few minutes, even slightly stronger than before. His Dao power bottleneck, which had stagnated for years, was showing signs of loosening. What was happening? Although he knew many strange tales, this was the first time he had encountered anything like it. However, as Tian Jun had said, this was truly a treasure. Even disregarding its artistic value, its ability to restore and enhance spiritual energy was enough to make reclusive sects fight tooth and nail for it. Ye Fan had never even heard of such a treasure before. He estimated that even hundreds of antiques would be worth exchanging for it.

Everyone is born with varying degrees of mental strength. Those with strong mental strength possess abundant energy, and their memory and learning abilities far surpass those of ordinary people—these are the so-called geniuses. They excel in any field of study, and many among them are individuals with abnormal mental strength, becoming what people call "superpowered individuals." Conversely, those with weaker mental strength are perpetually listless, their physical condition far inferior to that of ordinary people, and they are prone to drowsiness and illness. Methods for cultivating mental strength are rare, mostly kept secret by reclusive sects or families. For example, the Ye family's training method is the ancient Longhu Mountain's secret technique, passed down only through generations. There are also some unorthodox methods that artificially increase mental strength, but the methods are extremely terrifying: maximizing the stimulation of the body's pain receptors, forcing the trainee to endure inhuman suffering repeatedly to achieve their goal. Each stimulation is like walking through the eighteen levels of the underworld; many succumb to the pain and choose to bite their tongues to commit suicide, while others who endure the torment end up as mentally disabled. For those who cultivate the Tao, spiritual power is especially important, as it is a testament to their future growth potential. Many disciples of reclusive sects, when they encounter ordinary people with naturally strong spiritual power during their trials in the mortal world, will try to bring them into their sect, teach them cultivation, and pass on their lineage to ensure that the sect's heritage is not lost.

"You've followed your grandfather for so many years, you should know a lot about these things. Do you recognize what this is? What is it used for?" Looking at the room full of mesmerizing blue, Tian Jun asked Ye Fan dumbfounded.

Ye Fan was still mesmerized by the miracle he had just witnessed. He shook his head blankly, not bothering to mock Tian Jun. Even with his extensive experience, Tian Jun was still just an ordinary person with a bit more knowledge. "Perhaps, this really is something from Western magic, but how could something have such heaven-defying power!" he muttered to himself.

The vibrant blue lasted for about a minute before falling silent again under the reluctant gazes of the two, becoming just another ordinary decoration. "You promised I could pick whatever I wanted! You've really lost out!" Tian Jun stared blankly at the pendant in his hand, drooling all over the floor. He rubbed the pendant against his face, his expression extremely lewd, his eyes fixed on Ye Fan, as if afraid he would change his mind.

"Don't worry, if it's yours, it's yours. We're brothers, after all! But when we get home, you have to lend it to me for a bit. I need to ask Grandpa about it. I'll feel uneasy until I figure it out." Ye Fan laughed freely, though he was also reluctant to part with it. After all, he really needed that incredible effect; it would be a huge help to him. He had been stuck on that level for three years, and this might be the opportunity for a breakthrough. Perhaps with its help, he could save a lot of time.

"Don't worry, it's right here with me. You can take it whenever you need it. What do you think? Does it suit me?" Tian Jun happily hung the pendant on his chest. He was already more feminine than a woman, but now, with such a striking blue pendant on his white sweater, the soft blue light added a touch of devilish charm to his already handsome face, making him even more alluring.

Ye Fan glanced at him and couldn't help but be stunned, thinking to himself, "So beautiful." Luckily, he knew Tian Jun's identity, otherwise he would have really thought it was some random beauty. "Not bad, with padding your chest, you could rival the popular actress Lin Ke'er; even without padding, you'd be comparable to Thailand's national treasure," Ye Fan teased Tian Jun, his words a veiled compliment.

One sentence struck a nerve with Tian Jun. As a real man, although he looked rather effeminate, he hated being told he looked like a woman. That damned Ye Fan not only called him a woman, but he even compared him to Thai ladyboys. "You little brat, haven't seen you in years, are you itching for a beating again? Let's see how much your kung fu has improved," Tian Jun laughed and cursed, his body transforming into a series of afterimages as he pounced on Ye Fan from several directions. It was none other than his family's inherited skill, "Divine Speed ​​and Hundred Transformations." The Tian family had made a living by tomb raiding and treasure hunting for generations, frequently encountering various dangers, and escaping was commonplace. Therefore, their footwork was extraordinary. Due to their incredible speed, it seemed as if he had multiplied into several people, creating whistling sounds.

"What's wrong, little hand? You hit a nerve! Haha, who told you to be so beautiful and a man? I'm actually buddies with such a handsome man. You should be a woman! Let's see how your kung fu has improved these past few years. Remember how you used to always be the one getting beaten up?" Seeing Tian Jun pounce on him, Ye Fan knew he wasn't really angry, but testing his skills, so he teased him even more. His body, however, was anything but hesitant. His mental energy spread outwards like a spiderweb. Although Tian Jun's movements were fast, every single one was already clear in Ye Fan's mind. He could tell which was real and which was feint, making him invincible. This was the benefit of strong mental energy. With his hands behind his back and his feet in a reverse seven-star stance, Ye Fan moved gracefully through Tian Jun's numerous attacks. Although Tian Jun's attack speed was fast, he didn't even touch Ye Fan's clothes. Each time, he narrowly avoided Tian Jun's punches or flying kicks, occasionally even patting Tian Jun on the shoulder to provoke him.

The two played a game of cat and mouse for about fifteen minutes before Tian Jun was defeated. Looking at Ye Fan, who was still calm and smiling, Tian Jun could only pant and smile bitterly. He had attacked hundreds of times, but he hadn't even touched the hem of Ye Fan's clothes. Ye Fan had patted his shoulder dozens of times, though. Compared to their match a few years ago, the gap between them had widened considerably. "What a monster! No, I need to learn the Dao," Tian Jun said with a wry smile.

"You're considered by your grandfather to be a once-in-a-century genius in this field! You want to learn Taoism? See if your grandfather won't beat you to death!" Ye Fan laughed.

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