Back in his Cave Mansion, Chen Che laid out the small cubes of Divine Court Wood he had cut, arranging them neatly.
Next, he planned to improve the Concentration Incense:
He would grind the Divine Court Wood into powder, mix in a suitable amount, and use it to remake the incense.
This was because improving one’s Divine Sense was a long process.
The most common thods were visualization or seated ditation. Those from wealthy families could also use external aids to speed up the growth of their Divine Sense.
Therefore, on Earth Elent Star, it wasn’t rare for soone in the Qi Refining Realm to have a Divine Sense comparable to a Mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
On the contrary, it was a standard feature for top-tier geniuses.
Take Ye Zhihan, for example. His family had pinned their hopes on him since he was a child, supporting his cultivation with all their resources, allowing him to awaken his Divine Sense at a very early age.
Aside from a few exceptionally talented individuals, most students could only rely on a slow, grinding effort to gradually increase it.
This was why the debate over ’thods’ versus ’ans’ had never ceased on Earth Elent Star.
If he could successfully create the new blend,
he wouldn’t have to worry about cultivating his Divine Sense for at least the next few years.
At the sa ti, he could also use his Divine Sense to fully open up all the ridians in his body sooner.
...
「In the Primordial Sect, far from the Sixteen States.」
This Major Sect, which had been glorious for eight hundred years, carried an air completely incomparable to the Jinyun Valley Market.
The city at the foot of its mountain was encircled by a ninety-foot-tall wall, resembling a small mountain one had to crane their neck to see. The entire city looked like a Fierce Beast prostrated on the plain, majestic and spectacular. A massive bronze gate locked the pass, like the gaping maw of the beast.
The streets were orderly and lined with buildings in neat rows.
All sorts of banners and signs fluttered in the wind, and the streets bustled with cultivators coming and going.
"This is the Xiao Mansion!"
The main gate was sealed, and even after half a year, the faint scent of blood still wafted from the cracks.
As people passed by, they would quicken their pace, yet couldn’t help but cast a sideways glance.
After all, the bloody massacre half a year ago had shocked everyone.
But those who knew the inside story couldn’t help but feel it was a pity, while also being secretly astonished at Xiao Chan’s ruthlessness and forbearance. Unfortunately, the result of a common man’s fury—a splatter of blood within five paces—was that he was now like a stray dog.
’No one knows where he’s hiding now...’
However, no one would have guessed that deep within the mansion, in a secret chamber, a young man was sitting cross-legged.
Beside him was a Soul-Calling Banner, and though there was no wind, the banner’s fabric churned and billowed continuously.
It was Xiao Chan.
With the Xiao Family’s history of several hundred years, it naturally had a few secrets.
BOOM!
As a roar echoed in his mind, Xiao Chan, who had been sitting for a long ti, suddenly shuddered.
Then, without any wind, his body abruptly lifted three feet off the ground, and he floated in mid-air.
"Whew, I’ve finally reached Foundation Establishnt!"
Xiao Chan slowly opened his eyes.
The vast True Essence within his body had already condensed from its previous gaseous state into a liquid.
Not only that, but under the gaze of his Divine Sense, it was as if a veil had been completely lifted from everything. He could perceive the true nature of things, no longer needing to see the world with his naked eyes.
’Brother Chen’s pill is several tis more effective than a Foundation Establishnt Pill!’
Although he was only twenty-three, his life force had been severely depleted from repeated use of the Soul-Calling Banner.
His chances of reaching Foundation Establishnt were only thirty percent.
Even if he consud an entire Fish Dragon, his chances would only increase to fifty percent. But for the cultivators of this world, a fifty percent chance was already incredibly rare.
Cultivation itself is an act of defying the heavens!
Many cultivators would risk it all even for a one percent chance.
Because once one reached Foundation Establishnt, not only would their strength soar, but their lifespan would also increase. The power, status, and wealth that followed were far beyond what a Qi Refining Cultivator could compare to.
The temptation was sothing no one could resist.
Of course, Xiao Chan wasn’t after these things; he only wanted revenge.
But he never expected that a single Dragon Fish Pill would allow him to reach Foundation Establishnt so smoothly and without any danger.
’Foundation Establishnt is complete. Now it’s ti to do what an Evil Cultivator should do!’
After calming himself for a mont and getting used to the vast, liquid True Essence in his body, Xiao Chan let out a long breath of turbid air and slowly rose to his feet.
Most of the Primordial Sect’s disciples, including so of the higher-ups, ca from the city below.
The city was also ho to the friends, relatives, and descendants of the Primordial Sect’s cultivators. However, since the Primordial Sect was rich in resources, its recruitnt conditions weren’t as harsh as Jinyun Valley’s; one only needed a Middle Spirit Root to join the Sect.
Most sects in this region were the sa.
Only weaker factions that lacked resources and were unwilling to spend a fortune training disciples would set up various hurdles to select only the best candidates.
A few monts later, he arrived before a mansion several tis more imposing than the Xiao Mansion.
The two words on the plaque, ’Cao Mansion,’ were written with flourishes like dragons and snakes.
This was the residence of Cao Xiong, a Major Cultivator of the Primordial Sect and the Chief Steward of the Law Enforcent Hall.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
Xiao Chan stepped forward and lightly tapped the tiger-head ring knocker on the crimson-lacquered main gate. He stood quietly for a mont. Then, an elderly man dressed as a steward slowly pulled the gate open. Seeing the young man in a black robe and a bamboo hat, he frowned and asked:
"And you are?"
Xiao Chan slowly raised his head and grinned, revealing a set of bone-white teeth.
"An old friend of Cao Xiong!"
...
「In the blink of an eye.」
Nearly half a month had passed, and it was now early June.
The sun rose from the east. After a full night of cultivation, the True Essence in Chen Che’s body had reached a state of saturation.
The True Essence in his ridians churned within him like the waters of rivers and seas, over and over again.
Moreover, it surged in wave after wave, like a raging tide. With each new wave, his aura grew a little stronger.
At the sa ti, the Spiritual Qi in the Cave Mansion was nearly depleted as it was continuously converted into ultimate True Essence by the Energy-Introducing Technique and surged toward his limbs and bones.
Not even the tiniest ridians were left out.
BOOM!
When the very last ridian was filled with True Essence, his steadily rising aura seed to suddenly leap to a new level.
The True Essence in his body was still churning violently, but it was gradually calming down.
Nonetheless, Chen Che had completed his breakthrough and successfully beco a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator. The restrained but potent True Essence within him was several tis more powerful than before.
’I finally reached the Ninth Layer before sumr break!’
Chen Che opened his eyes.
He habitually glanced at his Micro Crystal Brain:
[Na: Chen Che]
[Realm: Qi Refining Ninth Layer (0.09%)]
[Qi and Blood: Qi Refining Ninth Layer (12.18%)]
[Divine Sense: Foundation Establishnt Eighth Layer (19.19%)]
[Warning: True Essence reserves are 497.1% higher than cultivators of the sa tier.]
Glancing at the final line about his True Essence reserves, Chen Che nodded in satisfaction.
Because he was close to Foundation Establishnt, he had recently been taking the Leopard Embryo Elixir while also going all out in using his Divine Sense to open his ridians. That was why the value had nearly doubled in just under half a month.
However, the growth of his Divine Sense had slowed down slightly compared to before, but this was normal.
After all, cultivation was like climbing a mountain; the higher the level, the more difficult it was to advance.
’It’s just a sha that...’
’I still haven’t figured out the right formula for the Divine Court Wood.’
After all, that piece of wood had nearly scattered his soul, so he was extrely cautious with every attempt. But after this period of experintation, he seed to have noticed a slight improvent in the Concentration Incense’s effect.
MOO—
Suddenly, a low moo echoed.
In a flash, his Divine Sense swept over the Cave Mansion, instantly revealing everything within.
"Hm?"
Chen Che frowned. In a flash, he appeared at the source of the sound.
He saw the Little Chick with its wings tucked in, constantly preening its ssy feathers with its beak. A grueso wound was visible on its chest, still oozing blood. But its claws were pinning down a massive water buffalo.
This water buffalo was as large as a mammoth.
Its brute strength was terrifying. Its hooves frantically pawed at the ground, and its horns scraped against the floor, instantly kicking up a trail of sparks.
It wasn’t in good shape either, though. Several claw marks were visible on its back, from which blood was still gushing. The dirt caked on its body had been stained bright red.
Apparently, the Little Chick had stumbled and struggled all the way back to capture it.
It might have even escaped halfway through.
"Pill, pill..."
Seeing Chen Che, the Little Chick imdiately spread its wings, begging for a Healing Elixir.
It had reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer even before Chen Che, and its Divine Sense had also gradually grown, so it could express itself more clearly than before.
’As expected of a dosticated Demon Beast...’
Chen Che couldn’t help but smile. A wild Demon Beast would have to rely on its own physique to recover.
Admittedly, Demon Beasts had powerful physiques and recovery abilities far superior to cultivators.
But because competition in Demon Beast society was even more brutal, many Great Demons with extraordinary bloodlines would die young. However, once they survived that vulnerable period, those who fought their way up from the bottom could beco existences that dominated a region.
He tossed out a pill, which the Little Chick swallowed in one gulp. The wound on its chest healed at a visible rate, closing up in just a mont.
Chen Che imdiately slaughtered the Demon Bull and enjoyed a delicious beef hotpot with the Little Chick.
Letting out a satisfied burp, he returned to Earth Elent Star.
Besides preparing to retrieve the Pure Jun Sword, he also had to make a trip to the locksmith’s shop—not because he’d gotten another safe box. It was because today was the day of the Spiritual Root test. Students who had finished their middle school entrance exams would be sorted today. Those with a Spiritual Root could enter a Xiann High School to cultivate.
Those without a Spiritual Root could only enroll in a regular high school.
Therefore, the Spiritual Root test was also known as the ’Little High School Entrance Exam’.
At tis like this, it was always a case of so families rejoicing while others grieved.
Since they were neighbors and on good terms, he naturally had to show so concern.
However, when he walked into the locksmith shop, he was taken aback. Wu Neng was sitting at the workbench, sullenly smoking a cigarette, while Wu Rui was slumped over the counter, her shoulders shaking and her sleeves soaked.
"Xiaochen, why are you leaving as soon as you arrive? Co in and sit for a bit."
Chen Che had just been about to turn around, but Wu Neng had already seen him.
"There’s no need."
Chen Che glanced at Wu Rui out of the corner of his eye.
Wu Rui raised her head. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was haggard and desolate.
"It’s nothing. She just didn’t test positive for a Spiritual Root, so she can’t go to a Xiann High School."
Wu Neng said with a forced smile, even bringing over a stool and gesturing for him to sit.
Once the results of the Spiritual Root test ca out, friends and family all called to ask. It was impossible to hide, so he might as well be direct about it.
"It’s just that she can’t cultivate. It’s not sothing to be ashad of."
"The long path of cultivation is not an easy one to walk. It’s an act of defying the heavens, and every step could lead to the end of one’s dao path. Sotis, it’s better to be a mortal and live out this life in peace. Whether she can cultivate or not, she’s still my daughter."
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