"How did you do it? Are you hiding your true cultivation level?"

Wang Mingyue kept questioning Zhang Yang, her eyes filled with disbelief.

A Golden Core cultivator wielding one spirit-grade tool was already impressive, but Zhang Yang had actually controlled two.

Where did a Golden Core cultivator get so much spiritual power?

Even more shocking was that Zhang Yang had forcibly taken control of someone else's flying vessel.

She was a bit wary, worried that Zhang Yang might approach her flying vessel's core and take control of it too.

She couldn't figure out how any of this was possible.

Not only her, but the middle-aged man in green was also baffled.

He saw clearly that Zhang Yang's cultivation level was only at Core Formation, yet his spiritual power was more abundant than that of a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

This was completely abnormal!

He looked at Lingyunzi and found that Lingyunzi was also shocked, asking in surprise through a voice transmission, "Fellow Daoist Lingyun, you don't know about his situation?"

Lingyunzi shook his head with a wry smile and replied, "Before today, he hadn't fought anyone!"

Zhang Yang was their next generation sect master in training, always protected by one of the Seven Sons of Azurecloud wherever he went. When trouble arose, the Seven Sons would have already resolved it.

If Zhang Yang hadn't insisted on taking action today, Lingyunzi might never have discovered that Zhang Yang had such deep spiritual power.

As for the spirit-grade tools, those were given to Zhang Yang for protection.

Spirit-grade tools have their own spirit and can protect the owner automatically without needing to be activated. Of course, without sufficient spiritual power to drive them, they can't exert their full strength.

Judging by the performance of the Immortal-binding Rope and the Restriction-breaking Banner just now, although the power displayed wasn't great, they were indeed activated!

So, Lingyunzi also couldn't understand what was going on.

After questioning Zhang Yang for a long time and getting no answers, Wang Mingyue finally gave up and asked, "How long did it take you to gather Qi?"

"Well... let's say a day!" Zhang Yang answered honestly.

Wang Mingyue was dissatisfied and huffed, "What do you mean by 'let's say'? Either it was a day or it wasn't. I know you're talented, but there's no point in being secretive."

Zhang Yang smiled and said, "When my master and uncles taught me Qi Gathering, I couldn't sense any spiritual qi at first, and it took me a day. Later, when they gathered spiritual qi for me, I finally sensed it and succeeded immediately, so it counts as a day."

Wang Mingyue was stunned.

To gather Qi, one must first sense the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, then absorb it into the body. This whole process is called Qi Gathering.

When she gathered Qi for the first time, it took her three days to absorb the first strand of spiritual qi.

And Zhang Yang, just because he couldn't sense the qi at first, took a day... doesn't that mean the actual time to succeed in Qi Gathering was far less than a day?

A genius?

This is a monster!

She knew that anyone chosen by the Azurecloud Sect as the acting sect master must be extraordinarily talented, but she didn't expect it to be this extraordinary.

However, she was even more puzzled.

"If you're so talented, why are you still at the Core Formation stage?" Wang Mingyue looked at Zhang Yang, "Which part of the process slowed you down? How long did Body Tempering take?"

Zhang Yang looked at Wang Mingyue and asked back, "There are eighty-seven people in Azurecloud who took a few days to gather Qi. Can you see Azurecloud's potential now?"

Wang Mingyue, a bit impatient, said, "I admit Azurecloud has great potential, alright? Rest assured, since we've agreed to come to the Azurecloud Market, we're almost ready to cooperate. As a partner, it's reasonable for me to understand your talent, isn't it?"

"Reasonable!" Zhang Yang nodded, "Since you want to know, I don't mind telling you. I took one day for Qi Gathering, one month for Body Tempering, succeeded in Sea-parting after two months, and after three more months, the Dao Seed appeared, and I successfully established my Foundation. Then, in half a year, I reached Core Formation!"

Wang Mingyue gasped, "You've only been cultivating for a year?"

"I've been cultivating for ten years! I reached Core Formation nine years ago, and I'm still at Core Formation now."

"This... this..."

Wang Mingyue didn't know what to say.

Reaching Core Formation in a year is indeed monstrous, but being stuck at Core Formation for ten years is just ordinary talent, right?

Zhang Yang smiled, "Maybe I've learned too many things and haven't rushed to break through. I've been at Core Formation all these years. I have one master and six uncles, and I've learned all sorts of skills from them."

Wang Mingyue thought that must be the case. She shook her head and said regretfully, "If you had focused all your efforts on cultivation, who knows what level you'd be at now."

Zhang Yang smiled slightly and said nothing.

It's not that he didn't want to break through; he simply couldn't!

His Golden Core was like a bottomless pit, and nine years of Qi Refining couldn't fill it... Otherwise, why would he be eager to reform the Azurecloud Sect?

Isn't it just to hope for a breakthrough with a large amount of resources?

The flying vessel arrived at the Azurecloud Market, which was much smaller than Anqing City. Wang Mingyue sighed, "This place is really dilapidated! Developing it won't be easy."

Zhang Yang nodded in agreement.

"The current Azurecloud Market is formed by the gathering of nearby villagers and those who stayed for the Azurecloud assessments a hundred years ago. Such an Azurecloud Market indeed doesn't have much appeal. However, once the name of the Azurecloud Sect re-enters the public eye, the Azurecloud Market will surely attract attention. Especially when talismans, alchemical pills, and magical treasures produced by the Azurecloud Sect are sold here, many people will definitely come."

Zhang Yang paused and continued, "Moreover, the Azurecloud Sect will recruit a large number of disciples in the future. This will attract people from all directions for assessments, including other forces gathering at the Azurecloud Market, which will also bring business opportunities.

Additionally, our Azurecloud Sect will discuss measures to stimulate the market's economy.

For example, we might consider opening up secret realms."

Lingyunzi was stunned; the Azurecloud Sect didn't have other secret realms?

Wang Mingyue, unaware of the Azurecloud Sect's details, was shocked, "The Azurecloud Sect is willing to open its secret realms to outsiders?"

Zhang Yang smiled faintly, "If there's an opportunity, why not?"

Wang Mingyue stared at Zhang Yang, surprised by his exceptional talent and boldness.

She suddenly said, "It seems I made the right decision to come to the Azurecloud Market. I agree to this cooperation. I'll invest in your Azurecloud, hoping you won't disappoint me."

Zhang Yang was secretly delighted. He had showcased his talent and persuaded her, all to attract investment for the Azurecloud Sect.

Now, the investment had finally arrived.

However, he didn't agree immediately but said meaningfully, "Cooperation requires sincerity. Right now, I don't even know Miss Mingyue's background, and even your name might be fake. Without basic trust, how can we cooperate?"

"Fair enough!" Wang Mingyue wiped her face, revealing her true appearance with a charming smile, "Situ Mingyue from Yunteng Trading Union, greetings to Acting Sect Master Zhang Yang of Azurecloud, and greetings to Senior Lingyun!"

Looking at the face and figure before him, Zhang Yang thought to himself, My goodness, even Sister Mi is here!