After Xia Li collected Qiao Yuan's belongings and bid farewell.
Zhu Song and the others even watched him go for a while. They were all geniuses from major factions who had ventured out for training—the kind with fortuitous encounters.
As geniuses, they had naturally seen no shortage of other geniuses. But Xia Li still left a deep impression on them.
"Brother Zhu, do you think he might be a heavenly pride?"
Yu Miaofeng folded his fan and looked at Zhu Song with a question. His previously carefree, playful expression had also become much more serious.
"I wouldn't dare make such claims. So-called genius or heavenly pride—those are just empty titles. A wrong person walking on a wrong path, receiving wrong fortunes—does that make them mediocre?"
"And a right person walking on a right path, aided by the right opportunities—does that make them a so-called genius?"
Zhu Song had different views on the whole genius and heavenly pride discourse. In his opinion, the vast majority of people hadn't even reached the point where they needed to compete on innate upper limits. The world's so-called geniuses were mostly just people whose paths happened to be smoother.
This world had too many temptations of fame and fortune. From birth, one had to compare whether they were a prodigy or a dullard. In youth, one had to compare whether they were a genius or a fool.
Then, after centuries or millennia passed, if still alive, one had to compare whether they were a renowned powerhouse or an unknown weakling.
"Fellow Daoist Zhu thinks a lot. I'm just curious whether he's reached the standard for heavenly pride."
Yu Miaofeng's question wasn't about philosophy—he just wanted to know Xia Li's background. His own judgment was still lacking, not as sharp as Zhu Song's.
"If we consider bloodline inheritance, karmic fortune, or innate foundation—he might not compare to us, and falls far short of the Qiao Yuan he killed."
"But according to my earlier theory—he is. This person's Star Palace shows his Guiding Star in full brilliance. His guide is extraordinary."
A guide generally referred to someone like a master or parental figure—a role most directly connected to one's path in cultivation.
"Perhaps the legacy disciple of some old monster?"
Yu Miaofeng could only think of that, since Xia Li's extraordinary qualities all seemed to stem from his guide. This only meant his master was very responsible and taught well.
"How would I know? I already said my skills aren't refined. Anyway, meeting him counts as an acquaintance. If we meet again, we can try to befriend him—just try not to offend him."
Zhu Song hadn't told the complete truth. He didn't dare to, and felt he must have seen wrong.
His qi-reading technique was a star-gazing method. He could see a person's Star Palace distribution. Xia Li's Star Palace was quite ordinary—only the word "mediocre" could describe it.
But that single Guiding Star...
Good heavens—it was practically a galaxy of stars in full brilliance!
It was as if thousands upon thousands of responsible masters were teaching him. Utterly absurd. Even the Holy Sons of ancient great religions, taught by all the elders of an entire holy land—the most magnificent Guiding Star Palace he'd ever seen was merely a Seven-Star configuration.
A galaxy in full brilliance was absolutely unprecedented.
Of course...
If Zhu Song had more confidence in himself and dared to ask Xia Li directly, and if Xia Li was willing to answer, he would have said this was completely normal.
After all, his guide was human civilization.
The Heavenly Dao Computer was everyone's best teacher, and every bit of knowledge in the Heavenly Dao Computer came from the accumulated wisdom of all humanity.
And this was still under conditions of information blockades and knowledge barriers. The day humans completely eliminated knowledge barriers, it wouldn't just be a brilliant galaxy anymore.
"I definitely won't dare to offend him... That guy previously killed people from my Xuan Dan Sect. I heard when elders went to collect the disciples' bodies, they couldn't find a single intact head."
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"That guy definitely has some terrible fetish!"
Mentioning this made even Lü Li's hair stand on end. Xia Li was like a headhunter. Just like when he killed Qiao Yuan—first decapitation, then head explosion. Simply brutal.
"Lü Li, speaking of which—you really don't plan to betray him?"
Yu Miaofeng looked at Lü Li. Beyond her alchemy skills, Lü Li had also learned excellent healing techniques. She seemed timid and cowardly but was actually quite clever—which was why she qualified to be invited on this training journey.
As for Qiao Yuan...
The original intent was to use his defense specialty to cover the team's weakness—someone to step up when danger came. Who knew Qiao Yuan would be eliminated so quickly?
"I have no reason to betray him, either emotionally or rationally. Brother Yu, don't test me anymore. I know what you're thinking."
Lü Li wasn't stupid. Yu Miaofeng being so eager to know whether Xia Li was a heavenly pride already showed his intent to get closer to Xia Li.
So how would he present his credentials?
Simple.
Just kill her, wouldn't that do it!
Yu Miaofeng would love for her to immediately contact Xuan Dan Sect. He would immediately record evidence of her crime, then deliver her corpse to Xia Li.
"Hehe."
Seeing his thoughts exposed, Yu Miaofeng wasn't angry—he just felt his credential wasn't being cooperative.
"Lü Li, reporting this would definitely earn you a substantial reward. I guarantee I won't make a move on you."
"Who'd believe you!"
Without Qiao Yuan's protection and with Yu Miaofeng eyeing her like this, Lü Li was already thinking about running.
"Alright, alright, everyone stop harming our unity. Let's keep moving—the location marked on the map is almost there."
Zhu Song didn't want internal conflict. After smoothing over the team's atmosphere, they went around the black sandstorm and headed deeper.
Meanwhile.
Xia Li found another uninhabited spot, sat down cross-legged to cultivate, and waited for the Heaven Chip to analyze the black sandstorm's patterns.
His late Foundation Establishment cultivation, having been through a major battle, was now completely stabilized.
He had actually broken through to late Foundation Establishment on the road, but his realm hadn't yet stabilized. Both the Spirit Core and Heaven Chip needed time to adapt to the new spiritual energy intensity.
Time flew by quickly.
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed...
【Analysis progress has reached one hundred percent】
【This anomaly is a cyclone phenomenon similar to a typhoon. A calm eye exists at the center. High probability of rare treasures.】
【However, sand and dust lethality is extremely high. Recommended strength: standard late-stage Nascent Soul Perfection.】
【Your current probability of death upon entry: approximately 96%】
【For other detailed data, please view the report.】
Though the Heaven Chip had analyzed a method for safe entry, there were strength requirements. Xia Li's current cultivation level would mean certain death if he entered.
"What a pity. Looks like I'll have to come explore another time."
Xia Li didn't feel these dozen-plus days were wasted. At least he now knew what this black sandstorm was.
If it was similar to a typhoon, there would definitely be a windless zone at the center. But crossing through seemed impossible—which created a discrepancy with what the old monk had said.
Without crossing the Sand Heaven, how could one see Diamond Temple?
Wait... the old monk's exact words weren't "Diamond Temple" but "Great Diamond Temple."
Though only one character different, the concepts were worlds apart. In Buddhism, the character "Great" couldn't be used carelessly. There was strict distinction between great and small.
Lesser Vehicle and Greater Vehicle were different.
Great Thunder Sound Temple and Little Thunder Sound Temple were two different places entirely.
Then Diamond Temple and Great Diamond Temple were surely not the same location either.
