“Hmm?”

Mu Feng raised an eyebrow slightly, a glint of amused interest appearing in his eyes. Could it be… that this Han Lie still wanted to compare cultivation aptitudes with him?

“May I ask, Young Master Mu Feng, how old are you this year? And how many years have you been cultivating?” Han Lie asked calmly.

“I began Qi Refining at the age of eight, and it has been sixty-eight years since then.”

In front of so many people, Mu Feng couldn’t very well exaggerate his age or achievements. Others might not know the specifics, but Qin Lianyi beside him knew his background all too well. Moreover, with his cultivation speed, he could easily crush Han Lie. Why would he need to falsify anything?

Han Lie stroked his beard and chuckled softly. “So, Young Master Mu Feng is seventy-six this year. With your eighth-grade spiritual vein aptitude, this humble Daoist can give you a rough estimate.”

“Barring any accidents, you should have broken through to Foundation Establishment at fourteen.”

“You reached the Golden Core Stage at twenty-eight, mid-Golden Core Stage at forty-five, and late-Golden Core Stage around seventy, maintaining that realm until now. Is that correct?”

“Though there are slight discrepancies, your deduction is largely accurate.” Mu Feng nodded slightly, speaking with undisguised pride.

Such cultivation speed was already quite outstanding. Even across the entire Tianyuan Continent, while perhaps not the absolute peak of the era, it was certainly enough to be considered among the best.

Following his current trajectory, barring any cultivation deviations, he could advance to the Nascent Soul stage around the age of two or three hundred, officially becoming a revered Nascent Soul Ancestor.

As for what lay beyond the Nascent Soul… that would no longer depend solely on spiritual vein grades. Comprehension, opportunity, temperament, willpower, and resilience—all were indispensable!

From the head seat, Zhuo Cheng nodded approvingly. It must be said that this Mu Feng was indeed exceptionally talented. Compared to him, even his own daughter, Zhuo Hongyi, seemed inferior.

“Hehe, Young Master Mu Feng’s cultivation speed is truly enviable and astonishing. Across the entire Great Qin Dynasty, those who could rival you probably number no more than the fingers on one hand?” Han Lie said with a half-smile.

“Naturally.”

On this point, Mu Feng had absolute confidence in himself. His spiritual vein grade was naturally high, and combined with the immense resource allocation from the Mu family, his success was inevitable. Thus, at such an age, he had already reached the late Golden Core Stage.

“Hmm…” Han Lie nodded slowly, then his expression shifted. “This humble Daoist originally did not wish to boast about this matter. But since Young Master Mu Feng has questioned this humble Daoist’s cultivation aptitude…”

“Then naturally, this humble Daoist must clear my own name.”

Han Lie swept his gaze across the room.

“This humble Daoist is one hundred and eighteen years old this year. Sect Leader Zhuo has already inquired about this earlier.”

From the head seat, Zhuo Cheng nodded to confirm that this was indeed the case.

When Han Lie reached this point, both Mu Feng and Qin Lianyi beside him began to vaguely sense something amiss.

“Generally speaking, as long as one reaches Foundation Establishment before fifty or sixty years old—even if they don’t break through to the Golden Core and gain additional lifespan—the spiritual energy nourishes the body. They can maintain a youthful appearance until at least one hundred and fifty years old.”

Han Lie leaned forward slightly.

“Young Master Mu Feng, do you know why this humble Daoist, at one hundred and eighteen years old and in the mid-Golden Core Stage, looks like this?”

“……”

Mu Feng shook his head, a frown creasing his brow.

Han Lie’s words indeed made sense. Even if Han Lie wasn’t at the mid-Golden Core Stage but had merely reached Foundation Establishment, according to common sense, he shouldn’t have aged this noticeably before one hundred and fifty.

Yet the present Han Lie resembled a middle-aged or even elderly man, similar in appearance to Zhuo Cheng.

This was quite perplexing.

Both Mu Feng and Qin Lianyi realized something was off but couldn’t explain it immediately.

Zhuo Cheng also realized the contradiction. Right! Calculating from Han Lie being one hundred and eighteen and at the mid-Golden Core Stage meant he must have reached Foundation Establishment around thirty years old at most. So why did his appearance resemble that of a mortal entering his twilight years?

Only Zhuo Hongyi knew best what Han Lie had been through.

“Hehe, you might not believe it when I say it out loud, but…”

Han Lie paused, his eyes narrowing sharply.

“To be frank with you all, until about two and a half years ago—around the age of one hundred and fifteen—this humble Daoist was still at the second level of Qi Refining.”

Silence descended on the hall.

“Young Master Mu Feng, your cultivation aptitude is indeed outstanding. But before This Senior here? You are but the faint glow of a firefly beneath the bright moon.”

“A firefly daring to vie with the bright moon? Heh… Don’t you find that laughable yourself?”

Han Lie’s tone was calm, almost casual.

But to Mu Feng’s ears—and those of Qin Lianyi and Zhuo Cheng—it struck like a thunderclap on a clear day!

It shocked them beyond measure!

“This… How is this possible!?” Zhuo Cheng was the first to exclaim in astonishment, gripping the armrests of his chair.

“You mean… you broke through from Qi Refining level two to the mid-Golden Core Stage in just two and a half years?” Mu Feng widened his eyes in disbelief, his composure cracking.

“……If true… This is simply too…” Qin Lianyi was so shocked she could barely speak coherently.

“To be precise: two years,” Han Lie corrected coldly. “This Senior has been at the mid-Golden Core Stage for over half a year now.”

“Hahahaha…!”

A moment later, Mu Feng suddenly covered his face and laughed loudly, the sound filled with mockery and relief.

“Daoist Priest Lin! Just now I thought you were an honest man. It seems I judged too soon.”

“Now it appears you’re more like someone who speaks without thinking—spouting absolute nonsense!”

Mu Feng pointed his fan at Han Lie accusationally.

“Two years from Qi Refining level two to mid-Golden Core Stage? Why don’t you claim you’ll fly up into the sky and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the sun tomorrow?”

“Do you think anyone under the heavens would believe such drivel? Even a three-year-old child would know better!”

If Han Lie had claimed it took ten years to go from Qi Refining to Golden Core, Mu Feng might have found it slightly credible. To that extent, those peerless geniuses with ninth-grade spiritual veins truly could achieve such feats.

But two years? Possible?

Did he think cultivating immortality was as simple as drinking water or eating rice?

Zhuo Cheng also felt Mu Feng made sense. Two years to bridge that gap was indeed too monstrous—so monstrous it felt like a fantastical lie. However, he didn’t refute Han Lie outright like Mu Feng did.

Qin Lianyi also chose to reserve judgment, her intelligent eyes watching Han Lie closely.

“Han Lie’s cultivation speed is indeed astonishing—but I can testify that what he says is true.”

At this moment, Zhuo Hongyi stepped forward, her voice firm.

“Oh?” Mu Feng sneered. “Please elaborate, Miss Zhuo Hongyi.”

“Oh? Please elaborate, Miss Zhuo Hongyi.” Qin Lianyi gestured for her to continue.

“Mm, roughly two and a half years ago, when I first came into contact with him, he was indeed around the third level of Qi Refining.”

“Then, because we were not in the same division, every time I saw him after a period of time, his cultivation was advancing by leaps and bounds.”

“Until more than a year ago, when he and I went out to execute a sect mission for the first time, that was when I realized he was already at the Golden Core stage.”

Zhuo Hongyi explained concisely.

“Hongyi, is what you say true? This kind of matter cannot be treated as child’s play!” Zhuo Cheng said with a grave tone.

After all, this matter sounded simply too outrageous. In all the years Zhuo Cheng had lived, this was truly the first time he had seen such a thing. Therefore, he dared not guarantee whether his daughter was giving false testimony to help Han Lie.

“Father, I dare to guarantee it with my head!” Zhuo Hongyi vowed solemnly.

“If that is the case… let alone this Zhuo Family.” Qin Lianyi took a deep breath, being the first to recover from the shock.

She looked at Han Lie and said, “With your cultivation speed that reigns supreme in the world, as long as Daoist Priest Han is willing, my Imperial Father would be very happy to recruit you as the Royal Son-in-Law of my Great Qin Dynasty.”