Chapter 7421
Imminent Awakening
Xiao Chen knew.
He had to race against time to heal his injuries, consolidate his cultivation, and, more importantly, digest the insights and gains from this fierce battle.
A bone-chilling exhaustion swept over him like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing his mind, yet a fiercer fighting spirit burned deep within his eyes.
At this moment, Xiao Chen was acutely aware of his own shortcomings... Wu Feifei was definitely not the last top expert he would encounter.
Even though he has reached the pinnacle of secular martial arts and can remain among the top in the Ancient Sea Secret Realm, there are countless secret realms in this world, and the Spirit Realm is even more full of hidden talents.
A seemingly delicate little girl from the Spirit Realm was able to severely injure him and leave him on the verge of death, which shows that there are always stronger people out there.
Moreover, there are those dormant powerful members of the Prison Clan who have never even taken the Spirit Realm seriously. Although most of them have not yet recovered, they are still a sword hanging over our heads and cannot be taken lightly.
Only now did he suddenly understand…
The reason why the Soul Tower's inheritance sets many restrictions on the assistance of those ancient powerhouses is not to deliberately make things difficult, but to prevent them from developing a sense of dependence, which would eventually erode their original martial arts spirit of striving for progress and overcoming obstacles.
On the path of spiritual practice, the most terrifying thing is never a powerful enemy, but the inner demon of greed for shortcuts and the desire for something for nothing. It can silently erode even the most resilient will.
The enemies of the future may be more terrifying than Wu Feifei. Only by strengthening oneself at all costs and squeezing every bit of potential to the extreme can one remain invincible.
Just as Xiao Chen was wholeheartedly guiding the flow of divine energy to repair his injuries, the second soul tablet deep within the Soul Tower broke free of its restraints and slowly floated in front of him, emitting a faint yet pure aura.
In an instant, the spiritual energy in the surrounding world seemed to be drawn in by an invisible force, rushing into his body like a raging river, several times faster than before, and a warm, full feeling came from his meridians.
Even more bizarrely, if Xiao Chen were to open his eyes at this moment, he would be greatly shocked... The soul tablet was quietly absorbing the bloodthirsty aura emanating from his body.
These malevolent energies originated from the repeated massacres at Qiyun Manor. They were originally a breeding ground for inner demons, something ordinary cultivators would avoid at all costs. But now they have become the most sought-after tonic for the soul tablets, being absorbed and exhausted in an endless stream.
Nourished by the pure and violent aura of slaughter, the soul tablet emitted a faint hum and trembled violently. The cracks on its surface spread and deepened at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, with faint golden light seeping out from the cracks.
Even more surprisingly, the third soul tablet in the Soul Tower also moved, as if a thin cocoon on its surface was rapidly peeling off, faintly revealing the fluctuations of the divine soul sealed within, as if it were about to awaken.
……
Inside the presidential suite on the top floor of the Yunlan International Hotel, the venue for the grand event in the western region.
"Knock knock".
A gentle knock broke the silence inside.
"Enter."
Li Changcun stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the dazzling city night view below, and slowly turned around upon hearing the sound.
He had expected his men to bring Xiao Chen here, but instead, he saw one of his men walk into the room alone, pale-faced and breathing erratically, his brows furrowed with shock.
His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. Had something gone wrong? Had that kid ultimately perished at Qiyun Manor? Though it was somewhat expected, a faint sense of disappointment still flickered in his heart…
I had wanted to see this arrogant fellow's abilities for myself, but now it's less interesting.
"Where is he?" Li Changcun's voice was flat and emotionless, revealing no emotion.
The wiry man knelt down on one knee with a thud, his head bowed low, his voice trembling violently, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth:
"Your subordinate... is incompetent! He failed to bring Xiao Chen back!"
"Dead?" Li Changcun raised an eyebrow, his tone still indifferent. It was common for arrogant people to die at the hands of stronger individuals; it was nothing unusual in the martial arts world.
The man shook his head violently, his Adam's apple bobbing, and with difficulty uttered words that were enough to overturn any understanding:
"My lord... Xiao Chen is not dead! What died were... all the core experts of the Lü family, and... that Venerable one who came down from Zhongnan Mountain! They were all... completely wiped out, not one of them survived!"
"what?!"
Li Changcun's face, which had remained calm and expressionless for decades, suddenly changed dramatically at this moment!
His pupils shrank to pinpoints, and his aura instantly went out of control. He took a step forward, his figure flashing like a ghost in front of the man. His five fingers were like hooks, and he grabbed the man's collar, lifting him directly into the air!
An incomparably violent aura erupted from his body like a tsunami. The million-dollar mahogany coffee table and leather sofa behind him were instantly torn apart by the force of the energy, cracking open with several spiderweb-like deep marks, before collapsing with a crash, sending debris flying everywhere.
"Say that again?! The entire Lü family was wiped out, Venerable Zhongnan perished, yet that bastard is still alive?! That's absolutely impossible!"
Li Changcun's voice was hoarse, and for the first time, all composure had vanished, replaced by disbelief, shock, and raging fury.
He was absolutely certain that, given the strength Xiao Chen had previously displayed, there was absolutely no way he could shake the Venerable Zhongnan, let alone destroy the Lü family!
Unless... this kid has been deliberately hiding his strength, or has encountered a miraculous event that could defy fate! If that's the case, this kid's potential is probably already among the top ten on the Dragon Kingdom's Celestial Ranking!
The man's face turned from white to green as he was choked. His hands futilely clawed at Li Changcun's arm, only able to make hoarse "hoarse" sounds, his eyes filled with fear.
Li Changcun suppressed the turmoil in his heart, loosened his grip, and threw the man heavily to the ground.
A cold voice slammed into the ground, carrying an undeniable ruthlessness: "Speak! Recount everything that happened at Qiyun Manor in every detail! If you omit even the slightest thing, you know the consequences!"
The man collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. Still shaken, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and, without the slightest hesitation, quickly recounted everything he had seen and heard…
From Xiao Chen's earth-shattering duel with Venerable Zhongnan, to Ji Yin's sudden emergence and crushing of Venerable Zhongnan in two moves, and then to Lu Cangluan, the new martial arts association's law enforcement officer, leading the crowd to launch an attack.
Finally, the mysterious masked forces appeared and counter-encircled, and even the bizarre scene of Xiao Chen injuring Lü Cangluan without lifting a finger was reported in detail.
The more Li Changcun listened, the greater the shock became. His Dao heart, which had been cultivated for decades and was already as solid as a rock, was now being repeatedly bombarded by an invisible heavy hammer, shaking incessantly, and almost shattered!
He finally realized that he had made a fatal mistake... From beginning to end, he had underestimated this young man who was regarded as a "country bumpkin".
In just a few months, from Linhai to the Western Region, this boy has grown to such an astonishing level! The number one in the Western Region?
No... at this rate, given time, he might even be able to covet the top spot on the Dragon Kingdom's Celestial Ranking!
He forcibly suppressed his turbulent emotions and asked in a deep voice, "That Ji Yin, is he Xiao Chen's accomplice?"
The man nodded quickly, then added, "That must be it! Last time Xiao Chen fought Duanmu Jue, Ji Yin stepped in to help, killing three experts ranked around eighty on the Heavenly Ranking in one go!" (End of Chapter)