Chapter 00242: The Power of a Name
# The Power of a Name
Chapter 242
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 242: The Power of a Name
Han Weicheng was feeling quite helpless.
The person he least wanted to see in his heart was Ding Huan, yet he had no choice but to go and meet him.
The reason was simple—he genuinely didn’t have Ding Huan’s communication bead.
Everything he had said before was mostly made up, except for the fact that he had indeed given Ding Huan some gifts.
The only thing that held any truth was Ding Huan’s promise to help him once.
Ding Huan had just finished purchasing some materials for setting up a teleportation array in Tianqi City and was about to leave.
To his surprise, as soon as he stepped out of the city, he saw Han Weicheng walking toward Tianqi City with a dejected look on his face.
Han Weicheng had come to Tianqi City to use the teleportation array.
He needed to find Ding Huan, and to do that, he had to first teleport to Ziyuan City.
From there, it would be much closer to reach the Blue Star Sect.
Right now, he was struggling to come up with an excuse to visit Ding Huan and was also pondering how many materials he should take from the Tianqi Pavilion to give as a gift.
“Old Han, did you lose a bet or have a fight with your wife? Why do you look so down?” Ding Huan called out to Han Weicheng.
Han Weicheng was startled.
He hadn’t expected Ding Huan to still be around and was surprised to run into him outside Tianqi City.
He quickly stepped forward and bowed, “Sect Master Ding, I’ve come to ask for your help. I’m really sorry to trouble you.”
He was trembling inside, wondering why Ding Huan hadn’t left yet.
“Go ahead, what’s the problem?” Ding Huan didn’t mind.
Considering the Void Sand Han Weicheng had given him, he was willing to help if he could.
Han Weicheng quickly explained, “It’s like this. My Tianqi Sect and the Seven Stars Sect have been having some disputes over a mineral vein. Recently, the two sects have had some conflicts…”
Ding Huan understood.
Before he established the Blue Star Sect, the Purple Mist Valley and the Nine Tones Sect had also clashed over the Ziyuan Mountains.
“Our sect’s Elder Chen Kuang and a Seven Stars Sect elder got into a fight over the mineral vein. Unfortunately, Elder Chen was outnumbered and was captured by the Seven Stars Sect. They’re demanding that we compensate them with a top-grade divine spirit vein and hand over the mineral vein before they’ll release him. We can’t possibly provide those things, but Elder Chen Kuang is our Tianqi Sect’s top elder…”
Chen Kuang was indeed crucial to the Tianqi Sect.
Bu Tangtang was the sect’s top refining master, and his master was none other than Elder Chen Kuang.
Chen Kuang was a natural repository of refining knowledge.
While he might not be the most skilled refiner, his theoretical knowledge of refining was unparalleled in the Tianqi Sect.
It could be said that the Tianqi Sect could survive without a sect master, but not without Chen Kuang.
“So, you want me to rescue Chen Kuang?” Ding Huan understood Han Weicheng’s request.
Han Weicheng rubbed his hands nervously, his tone awkward, “If it’s not too much trouble for you, Sect Master Ding. If it’s inconvenient, it’s fine.”
Ding Huan nodded, “Lead the way. We’ll head to the Seven Stars Sect now.”
What was there to be inconvenient about? His next stop was originally to collect a debt from the Moonlight Sect.
A detour to the Seven Stars Sect wasn’t a big deal.
“Thank you, Sect Master Ding!” Han Weicheng was overjoyed that Ding Huan had agreed so readily.
He quickly summoned his flying ship and took the lead.
He had been prepared to empty the Tianqi Pavilion to give Ding Huan as a gift, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Ding Huan simply followed behind Han Weicheng on his Farewell Spear.
The Seven Stars Sect and the Tianqi Sect were close by, and it only took half a day before Han Weicheng stopped outside a rather impressive sect.
What made it impressive in Ding Huan’s eyes was the seven stars floating outside the sect, arranged in a pattern that gave off a sense of vastness and mystery.
However, to Ding Huan, who cultivated the Great Universe Technique, these seven stars were merely connected by a starry sky array.
There was no real cosmic rule involved.
“Sect Master Ding, should I knock on the sect’s gate?” Han Weicheng asked for Ding Huan’s opinion.
Ding Huan gave him a look.
Wasn’t it obvious? Why even ask?
Han Weicheng realized he was being overly cautious and quickly approached the sect’s protective array to knock.
The array opened, and two guarding disciples saw Han Weicheng, their expressions darkening.
Clearly, they recognized him.
Han Weicheng held a decent position in the Tianqi Sect, but to them, he was just another cultivator.
They were guarding the sect’s gate, but they were also Foundation Establishment cultivators, just like Han Weicheng.
“Please inform your sect master that Han Weicheng of the Tianqi Sect requests an audience,” Han Weicheng said with a respectful bow.
One of the guards sneered, “A Foundation Establishment cultivator like you wants to see our sect master? Are you out of your mind?”
Ding Huan couldn’t stand Han Weicheng’s inefficiency.
He stepped forward and announced, “Ding Huan of the Blue Star Sect, passing by the Seven Stars Sect, requests an audience.”
Ding Huan?
The two guards froze at the name, instinctively reaching for their weapons.
But then they realized—if Ding Huan wanted to attack the Seven Stars Sect, what good would their weapons do?
Before they could figure out how to inform their sect, several figures rushed over in streaks of light.
“Which one is Sect Master Ding? I am Luo Changqing, sect master of the Seven Stars Sect,” a young man with a scholarly appearance stepped forward and bowed politely.
Ding Huan returned the gesture, “I am Ding Huan. Sorry for the disturbance, Sect Master Luo.”
Luo Changqing laughed warmly, “It’s an honor for the Seven Stars Sect to have Sect Master Ding visit. Please, come in.”
The elders behind Luo Changqing also bowed to Ding Huan, completely ignoring Han Weicheng.
Han Weicheng didn’t feel slighted or disrespected.
Instead, he marveled at the power of a name.
Just by announcing himself, Sect Master Ding had the sect master rushing out to greet him.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ding Huan said, “I’m just passing through. I’ll visit properly next time. Today, I’m here to help the Tianqi Sect with a small matter. I heard there’s some minor conflict between your sects…”
Before Ding Huan could finish, Luo Changqing laughed again, “Oh, that’s nothing. Elder Du Xun, go and bring Elder Chen Kuang of the Tianqi Sect here.”
Han Weicheng was stunned.
That was it? Not only had the Seven Stars Sect’s sect master come out to greet them, but Ding Huan hadn’t even entered the sect before Luo Changqing guessed his purpose and immediately sent someone to fetch Chen Kuang.
In no time at all, Elder Du Xun returned with a wild-haired man.
“Elder Chen!” Han Weicheng quickly stepped forward to greet him.
Chen Kuang laughed heartily, “So that’s why I was released. It must be because of you, Elder Han.”
Chen Kuang was wild, but not stupid.
He knew this had nothing to do with Han Weicheng, but he had to say it to maintain the Tianqi Sect’s dignity.
Han Weicheng broke into a cold sweat.
Elder Chen, do you really think I have that kind of influence? To make the Seven Stars Sect’s sect master and five elders come out to greet me?
“Elder Chen, this is Sect Master Ding of the Blue Star Sect,” Han Weicheng quickly introduced Ding Huan.
Chen Kuang immediately understood that his release was due to Ding Huan.
He quickly bowed in gratitude.
After exchanging a few more words, Ding Huan said, “Elder Han, you and Elder Chen should head back first. I’ll have a few words with Sect Master Luo.”
“Of course. Sect Master Ding, if you ever pass by the Tianqi Sect again, please visit. Let me show you some hospitality,” Han Weicheng said, trying to save face by implying he had a close relationship with Ding Huan.
Once Han Weicheng and Chen Kuang left, Luo Changqing invited Ding Huan again.
Ding Huan waved his hand, “I do have other matters to attend to. But I noticed that Sect Master Luo’s cultivation seems to be stuck at the True Dan Realm, just shy of perfection.”
Luo Changqing was taken aback, then sighed, “Yes, perhaps it’s due to my talent. I’ve been trying to break through for decades, but I just can’t seem to cross that final hurdle.”
Ding Huan smiled, “Sect Master Luo, would you mind demonstrating your cultivation for me?”
Not only was Luo Changqing stunned, but the other elders also looked furious.
They had already released Chen Kuang without any conditions out of fear of Ding Huan.
Now, Ding Huan was asking their sect master to demonstrate his cultivation in front of everyone? That was beyond disrespectful.
But Luo Changqing quickly realized that Ding Huan had no reason to humiliate him.
He immediately sat down and began circulating his cultivation technique.
The other elders sighed inwardly, lamenting their sect’s weakness and the need to endure such humiliation.
Luo Changqing cultivated the Seven Stars Art.
As soon as he began circulating his energy, Ding Huan spotted the problem.
After just two cycles, Ding Huan spoke, “The stars give birth to the mysterious apertures, and the Dan is the gold within the stars… The path of the star energy through the cycles is the work of the three vehicles, moving between the three fields. When the star energy cycle is first formed, it moves to the lower field… When it reaches perfection, it moves to the upper field. At this point, there is no need to return to transform the spirit or energy. This is the true cycle…”
Luo Changqing’s heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly understood.
He had been going about it the wrong way.
His cycle was unnecessarily complicated.
Sect Master Ding was guiding him.
Without hesitation, Luo Changqing adjusted his cultivation according to Ding Huan’s instructions.
After just seven cycles, his True Dan reached perfection.
Luo Changqing knew this was his opportunity.
Without stopping, he began to break through to the Yuan Soul Realm.
After just one cycle, a deep rumble of thunder echoed through the sky.
(End of Chapter)