The biting ravine wind, laden with fine ice crystals, whipped against their faces. Ye Chen and Wang Tiechui climbed arduelously upwards along the steep, slippery rock wall. Though their strength had improved immensely after months of secluded cultivation, the precipice of Dragon Fall Ravine was no easy obstacle.
Ye Chen's movements were agile, his fingertips occasionally leaving faint, almost imperceptible marks on the rock for leverage. The exquisite control over his body and Spiritual Power, gained from the Basic Body Tempering Art and the Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter, allowed him to find the most secure footing on the near-vertical cliff face. Wang Tiechui, on the other hand, relied entirely on his greatly increased brute strength. His fingers were like hooks, digging deep into the rock, and each step sent rock fragments flying. Though clumsy, he was as steady as a boulder.
The higher they climbed, the scarcer the water vapor became, and the fiercer the cold wind blew. The thunderous sound of water below gradually receded, replaced by a vast, silent wilderness. When the two finally crested the cliff top and set foot on solid, desolate ground, they were met with a vast, desolate expanse of low-lying hills. Withered yellow grass lay flattened by the cold wind, with sparse woodlands in the distance. The sky was a leaden gray, oppressive and distant.
Here, they were already far from the suffocating stillness and Taint of the Black Marsh.
"Finally... we're out," Wang Tiechui panted, slumping onto the ground. He gazed at the unfamiliar Heaven and Earth, a look of bewilderment and relief on his face.
Ye Chen took a deep breath of the cold, dry air, feeling the far more robust and condensed Chaos-colored Spiritual Power within him circulate on its own, repairing the minor wear and tear from the climb. His gaze sharply swept across their surroundings, discerning their direction. According to the markings on Zhao Hu's rough map, the other side of Dragon Fall Ravine should lead to a human settlement called Green Stone Town, which was also the first supply point on the way to the Azure Profound Dao Sect.
"Let's rest for a moment, then head east," Ye Chen said in a deep voice. He needed to gather information about the outside world quickly, confirm the date of the Azure Profound Dao Sect's Ascension Convention, and find a more accurate map.
However, this seemingly desolate region was not a place of peace.
Just as the two were preparing to move, a rustling sound, accompanied by hushed voices, came from the dry grass to their front left.
"Big brother, look! There are two people over there!"
"Heh, climbed up from Dragon Fall Ravine? They look like a couple of fleeing fat sheep?"
"That big guy is quite burly, and the kid next to him is fair-skinned and tender... If we pull this off, it'll be enough for us to have a good time for a few days!"
Before the words were even finished, five figures burst from the grass, forming a semi-circle to block their path. The leader was a burly Scar-faced Man, wielding a ghost-head saber, with a cultivation of roughly Qi Refining Second Layer, his eyes fierce. The other four were all Mortal strongmen, armed with clubs and sabers, their faces contorted into sinister grins.
It was a band of petty bandits who preyed on travelers here.
The Scar-faced Man's gaze swept over Ye Chen and Wang Tiechui, finally settling on the seemingly ordinary Beast Hide Storage Bag at Ye Chen's waist, his eyes filled with greed. "Kid, be smart and hand over everything valuable you have! If I'm in a good mood, I might spare your lives!"
Wang Tiechui immediately stood up, clenching his fists, his eyes wary, like a fierce beast whose territory had been invaded.
Ye Chen's expression was calm, but his heart was undisturbed. If it had been a few months ago, facing such a situation, he might have had to rack his brains, but now...
He took a step forward, positioning himself half a step behind Wang Tiechui, and looked indifferently at the Scar-faced Man. "Move aside."
His voice was not loud, but it carried an inexplicable penetrating power that made the Scar-faced Man's heart skip a beat. However, relying on his numbers and cultivation advantage, the Scar-faced Man quickly became enraged. "Damn it, you refuse a toast and insist on a penalty! Attack! Chop this kid!"
The four Mortal strongmen shouted and charged forward, brandishing their weapons. The Scar-faced Man let out a sinister laugh, and a faint spiritual energy glowed on his ghost-head saber. He moved with increased Speed, slashing directly at Ye Chen's face! In his eyes, dealing with this seemingly leading youth first would make the simpleton no threat.Facing the surging enemy, Ye Chen moved.
He didn't use any flashy Spells. He simply took half a step to the front left, his body like a Ghostly apparition, evading the Scar-faced Man's determined strike at the last possible moment. Simultaneously, he formed his right hand into a sword, striking faster than his opponent. A faint wisp of Chaos-colored Qi Force coiled around his fingertip, and with pinpoint accuracy, he struck the pulse point on the Scar-faced Man's wrist where he held the saber!
This strike was fast! Accurate! Ruthless!
It contained not just power, but highly condensed Spiritual Power Quenched by the Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter!
"Ugh!"
The Scar-faced Man felt as if his wrist had been pierced by a red-hot iron rod. The pain was excruciating, his Spiritual Power circulation instantly interrupted, rendering his entire arm numb and powerless. The ghost-head saber clattered to the ground! His face was filled with horror and disbelief. This kid's aura was not strong, so why was his attack so fierce?!
As Ye Chen repelled the Scar-faced Man with his finger strike, he pivoted on his left foot, his body spinning like a whirlwind, and his right leg swept out like a steel whip!
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Four muffled thuds sounded almost simultaneously! The four Mortal strongmen who had charged forward felt as if their chests had been struck by massive logs. They cried out and were sent flying backward, crashing to the ground and losing consciousness.
In the blink of an eye, the battle was nearly over!
The Scar-faced Man clutched his wrist and retreated repeatedly, looking at Ye Chen, who stood proudly with steady breathing, as if he had seen a ghost. His Qi Refining Second Layer cultivation was like a clay chicken and a pottery dog before this opponent!
"You... Who exactly are you?!" the Scar-faced Man stammered.
Ye Chen did not answer. He slowly raised his palm, and within it, a wisp of Chaos-colored Spiritual Power leaped and condensed like a living thing, emitting a spiritual pressure far exceeding the Qi Refining Early Stage!
Feeling the spiritual pressure of the solidified Spiritual Power, the Scar-faced Man's last shred of resistance crumbled. He fell to his knees with a thud. "Senior, spare me! This humble one had no eyes and offended you! Spare me!"
Ye Chen dispersed the Spiritual Power in his palm, his tone still calm. "Green Stone Town, which way?"
"Go east! Keep going east! You'll see it in about fifty miles!" the Scar-faced Man said hurriedly, pointing east and kowtowing profusely.
Ye Chen no longer looked at him and said to Wang Tiechui, "Let's go."
The two walked eastward. From beginning to end, Ye Chen never glanced at the Scar-faced Man who was kneeling and begging for mercy.
Only when their backs disappeared at the end of the hills did the Scar-faced Man dare to look up, his body drenched in cold sweat. He looked at his unconscious subordinates on the ground and the fallen Ghost Head Knife, his face filled with lingering fear and relief.
"Damn it... I kicked a steel plate... That kid is definitely a disciple from some major Sect on a trial! This Spiritual Power... it's too terrifying..."
...
Along the way, Wang Tiechui looked at Ye Chen, his honest face full of admiration: "Ye Chen, you're so amazing now! You took them all down in one go!"
Ye Chen smiled, feeling the ceaseless flow of power within him, but without much pride. This was just a small test, verifying the leap in strength brought by the 《Primordial Dao Foundation Chapter》. The real Challenge lay in the Vast world filled with Immortal Gates, and in the upcoming Ascension Convention.
He touched the Ascension Token in his embrace, which remained ancient yet was closely tied to his destiny."Tiechui, the real test is still ahead."
In the distance, at the end of the horizon, traces of human activity could be vaguely seen. Green Stone Town was just ahead. And further to the east was the End of his journey, and also the beginning—the Azure Profound Dao Sect.
A new chapter was about to unfold.
Volume Two 【Ascension Token】, begins.