The third day began with a grueling endurance run throughout the mountain range.

Zhuge set a relentless pace, testing Tianfeng's stamina and resolve.

Despite the pain and exhaustion, Tianfeng pushed through, driven by his desire to grow stronger.

In the afternoon, they focused on sparring. Zhuge held back just enough to challenge his disciple without overwhelming him, each clash of their weapons a lesson in technique and strategy.

"Anticipate your opponent's moves. Be adaptable," Zhuge leisurely instructed between strikes. "A true martial artist must be able to read and respond to any situation."

---

In his meditation that night, Zhuge focused intently on the Dao of Space.

Visualizing the fabric of space as a malleable entity, he extended his hand, coated it wit the qi of nothingness, and with a sharp motion, slashed through the air.

A tear formed, revealing a rift in the space before him.

Stepping through the tear, Zhuge found himself transported a short distance away.

The sensation was disorienting yet exhilarating, but it only took him a split second to get his senses back to normal.

He repeated the process multiple times, each slash more precise and the destination was more controlled than the last.

---

The fourth day saw Tianfeng mastering the techniques Zhuge had taught him.

His confidence grew, and his movements became even more refined.

They trained from dawn until dusk, each session pushing Tianfeng's limits further.

Zhuge's understanding of the Dao of Space continued to deepen. Each time he created a spatial rift, he could travel farther and with greater precision.

His proficiency in manipulating space was increasing exponentially, and he could now traverse significant distances with ease.

---

By the fifth day, both master and disciple had reached new heights.

Tianfeng’s skills had improved dramatically; his strikes were swift and powerful, his defenses nearly impenetrable.

Zhuge watched with pride as his disciple executed complex maneuvers with remarkable ease.

Tianfeng's growth was an evidence to his talents and potential that was fully unlocked to the extreme by Zhuge Minghui and his teachings.

If Zhao Tianfeng was second in terms of talent and potential, then there'd be no one at first.

Besides his master, of course.

Even the gods and demons would cry at his wake!

Zhuge himself had achieved a significant breakthrough. His comprehension of the Dao of Space had reached an unprecedented level.

Standing on a cliff's edge, he concentrated deeply, and with a precise, powerful slash, he tore open the fabric of space, creating a vast spatial rift.

What he saw through the rift was pure darkness, with lights varying in sizes flickering in certain areas.

After a quick observation, zhuge stepped through the rift.

As Zhuge Minghui stepped out of the other side, he emerged in a distant star system, the celestial bodies around him shimmering in the void of space.

He had achieved a level of mastery that allowed him to travel unimaginable distances instantly, a testament to his profound understanding of the Dao of Space.

As Zhuge returned to the training ground, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment. His new power would definitely be invaluable in their future endeavors.

On the sixth day of training, the air was thick with the sounds of practice as Zhao Tianfeng honed his skills in a secluded spot deep in their self-made training grounds in an open area of the forest.

Zhuge Minghui could be seen sitting still like a rock atop a nearby large boulder.

His eyes were closed and he was in a lotus position, seemingly detached from this world.

The tranquility of their session was abruptly shattered by the sudden appearance of a man from the woods, running, as he stumbled into the open field, his body covered in blood and his face twisted in fear.

Tianfeng watched in surprise as the man collapsed at their feet, gasping for breath, while Zhuge, although noticing it before the man even appeared from the woods, was still in the same position, eyes closed.

A few seconds in and five men, clearly the pursuers, burst into the clearing with their eyes fixed on the injured man.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

It was clear that they were his pursuers, intent on killing the injured person as if their life depended on it.

Their leader, a burly figure with a scar running down his cheek, pointed a finger at the fallen spy. "There he is! Don't let him escape!" he barked, his voice thick with rage and determination.

The others brandished their weapons, eyes burning with the intent to silence the man forever.

As the pursuers closed in, the injured man looked at Tianfeng, his eyes pleading for help.

Tianfeng quickly realized that the man was trying to reach out to him a note.

However, he didn't move from his where he's standing because he's currently hesitating to help.

"Young man, you must help me... Please... t-try to give this to the Righteous Alliance..."

"This paper will decide what the Jianghu will turn out years from now," the injured man said with difficulty, forcefully muttering even as his throat bled from visible slashes.

Zhuge Minghui, previously appearing indifferent, slowly opened his eyes.

He was interested in how Tianfeng would respond to the injured man's request.

Tianfeng, realizing that the notes outlined something crucial to the peace of Jianghu, hesitated to accept the paper.

His heart pounded as he processed the scene. The spy's words echoed in his mind.

'The peace of Jianghu... Could it truly depend on these notes? But who were these people? What was their agenda?'

It was clearly not an act as the man's literally dying.

It could only get truer due to the slight hint of fear in the pursuers' eyes when they saw the injured man handing the notes onto him.

Tianfeng took a deep breath, his decision solidifying. He couldn't allow the potential for peace to be destroyed, not when he had the power to intervene.

"Very well," he said, stepping forward and taking the notes from the spy's hand. "I will ensure these reach the Righteous Alliance."

The injured man’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope and gratitude. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You are the hope of Jianghu."

Zhuge, from a distance, didn't have any changes in his expression. It's not known what he is thinking.

Nevertheless, he kept on watching solely because he wants to see how much his disciple has improved.

The leader of the pursuers sneered, stepping forward with menace. "You think you can protect him? You're just a boy. Hand over those notes, and we might let you live."

Tianfeng's grip tightened around the notes.

He turned to face the assailants, determination hardening his resolve. "I will not allow you to disrupt the peace of Jianghu. If it means fighting, so be it."

The burly man smirked, "Heh, don't think that we're intimidated by your physique! Everyone, let's subdue this brat and teach him a lesson!" the leader shouted.

Unaware that Zhuge Minghui was observing him from a distance, Tianfeng made the first move and launched into action.

The clash was swift and brutal, but despite the prowess of the five men, Tianfeng moved with a precision and strength that belied his youth.

Each strike was a testament to his training, showcasing a blend of power and the intent to destroy.

His movements are reckless as well, indicating that he's not similar to his master and his graceful flow of movements.

It was more like he was tanking their attacks and using raw power to counter with double the force!

One of the pursuers swung a heavy blade towards Tianfeng's shoulder, but he braced himself, letting the blade fall onto his flesh.

The moment the blade fell, it only penetrated for an inch or two which only caused minor bleeding.

This is a heavy blade!

Even martial artists at the Grandmaster realm would have their arms heavily damaged if caught unprepared!

However, due to the intensity of the fight, the heavy blade wielder only felt that he cleaved at cold steel and then quickly decided to retract his heavy blade.

The moment the attacker tried getting the blade back, Tianfeng was faster as he retaliated with a bone-crushing punch to the sternum, sending the man flying backward, with his insides being crushed, his condition unknown.

Another assailant lunged at Tianfeng from the side, aiming for his ribs.

Tianfeng didn't dodge; instead, he took the hit head-on, feeling the blade's edge bite into his side.

This time, the blade dug a bit deeper, and using the pain as fuel, he grabbed the attacker's arm, twisted it violently, and delivered a devastating elbow to the man's face, shattering his lower face and sending him to the ground.

The remaining three pursuers tried to surround Tianfeng, hoping to use their numbers to their advantage.

They attacked simultaneously, their weapons slicing through the air.

Tianfeng stood his ground, absorbing their blows with gritted teeth. Each impact seemed to ignite a fierce determination within him.

He countered with ferocious strength, catching one man by the neck and slamming him into the ground with enough force to leave a pit as well as cracks on the ground.

His grip was so strong that the man's neck was deformed due to the neck being too compressed.

As the battle intensified, Tianfeng's eyes blazed with an unquenchable fire, his heart pounding with the thrill of battle.

The pain from each blow he absorbed only fueled his fervor, transforming his reckless movements into a symphony of destruction.

He felt an exhilarating rush course through his veins, awakening a dormant ferocity within him.

With each counterattack, his strikes doubled in power, his body moving with the precision and strength of a war god.

The more his enemies fought, the more motivated he became, driven by an insatiable thirst for combat and destruction.

Another swung a sword at Tianfeng's head, but Tianfeng caught the blade with his bare hand, his palms undamaged which shocked the attacker.

With a deep grunt, he yanked the weapon from the man's grasp and snapped it over his knee before driving his fist into the attacker's chest, leaving a shallow dent on it and sending him sprawling.

The last pursuer, seeing his comrades defeated, hesitated for a moment too long.

Tianfeng's eyes had a murderous gleam to it as he seized the opponent's hesitation, flashing like he was teleporting and had his two hands on his jaw and shoulders respectively, tearing up the man's head and body into two before throwing his body parts carelessly to the ground.

Tianfeng stood victorious, his chest heaving with exertion but his eyes shining with triumph and blazing with intensity.

As he turned back to the injured man, the notes clutched in the man's trembling hand reminded him of the importance of his task.

He reached out, ready to accept the papers, driven by desire to protect the peace of Jianghu..

Tianfeng then looked back to the spy, who had collapsed from his injuries.

He knelt one knee beside the man, gripping the notes tightly. "Rest easy," he said softly.

"Your mission will be completed. The peace of Jianghu will not be shattered on my watch."

From his vantage point, Zhuge Minghui watched everything with an indifferent expression.

After a moment, Zhuge Minghui approached with a knowing smile on his face. "Well done, Tianfeng," he praised.

"You have truly proven your potential and talent. Your future will never be less than those one in a million years super geniuses."

Tianfeng bowed, a sense of pride swelling within him.

Under Zhuge's guidance, he had become a force to be reckoned with, a warrior capable of facing any challenge that came his way.

Zhuge's smile faded into a stern expression as he approached Tianfeng.

"However," he started, his voice cutting through the air with a cold edge, "sentimentality has no place in the path of cultivation."

"The weak will always be the prey of the strong. It's the way of the omniverse, of life. Your ideals of protecting the weak are nothing but illusions and comforting lies that cloud your judgment."

Tianfeng looked back, taken aback by his master's harsh words. "But, Master," he started, "isn't it our duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves? To uphold justice and righteousness?"

Zhuge's gaze bore into Tianfeng, unwavering. "Duty?" he scoffed. "There is no duty but to oneself. Justice and righteousness are merely concepts used by the weak to justify their existence."

"If you helped the weak, when do you think will they become strong? Are you willing to carry dead weight just because of your morality?"

"In the end, strength is the only truth. You must learn to see beyond the surface and understand the true nature of power."

Tianfeng felt a chill run down his spine as he listened to Zhuge's words. His beliefs were being challenged, his convictions shaken to the core.

He had always thought that he was fighting for a noble cause, but now, faced with the harsh reality of Zhuge's teachings, he began to doubt everything he had ever known.

"You have potential, Tianfeng," Zhuge continued, his voice low and menacing.

"But potential alone is meaningless without the will to do what is necessary."

"Remember this: in the world of cultivation, only the strong survive. If you wish to succeed, you must cast aside your illusions and embrace the truth."

Tianfeng's mind was in turmoil, his beliefs shaken by Zhuge's words.

He stood up slowly, looking at the notes in his hand with uncertainty. "Master, I... I don't know what to think anymore," he admitted, his voice tinged with doubt.

Zhuge's expression softened slightly, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes.

"It's natural to question your beliefs when faced with the harsh realities of the world," he said, his tone a bit gentler now with a mixture of insistence.

"But remember, doubt can be a powerful motivator for growth. Use this opportunity to reassess your principles and strengthen your resolve."

With a deep breath, Tianfeng nodded, his determination returning. "I will do as you say, Master," he declared, a newfound resolve in his voice.

Zhuge nodded in approval. "Good. Remember, Tianfeng, strength is not just about physical power. It's also about mental fortitude and the ability to adapt to any situation. Use this experience to hone your skills and become the warrior you were meant to be."

Zhuge glanced at Tianfeng once more, and then thought for a moment. "Now, we will still deliver these notes to the Righteous Alliance,"

he continued, "not because it is our duty to protect the weak, but because it is an opportunity for you to grow stronger and wiser," Zhuge grinned.

With that, the master and disciple set off towards the Righteous Alliance.

Tianfeng's mind, albeit still foggy from the sermon he got from his master, is still trying to absorb the sentiment that his master wants to impart to him.

He had much to learn, but with Zhuge's guidance, he knew that he could only get stronger as he emerges from this trial.

PS: the realms within Murim, from weakest to strongest are: Beginner Realm, Intermediate Realm, Advanced Realm, Master Realm, Grandmaster Realm, Evolutionary Realm, Supreme Realm, Transcendent Realm.

There would be more realms but these are what I'll disclose for now.

For reference, Tianfeng's enemies were around the Master Realm.