Chao Chen froze where he stood, his heart suddenly pounding wildly.
Wu Bufan took another step forward. Chao Chen hurried to keep up and whispered beside him, “Are you still mad?”
Wu Bufan replied evenly, “I’m not angry.”
“Then I’ll take it that you’re not,” Chao Chen said, blinking his eyes. “Hey… are you actually a top tier alchemist?”
Back in Xichuan Town, people used to whisper that Wu Yufeng was the master alchemist who sold supreme grade fasting pills. Chao Chen had always been half skeptical, until he personally tasted that extraordinary Breakthrough Pill.
Since then, suspicion had taken root in his mind. He had kept it to himself, not daring to ask outright. Yet Wu Bufan had again used an exceptional pill to tempt him and now his curiosity was burning uncontrollably.
Wu Bufan raised a brow, the corner of his mouth curving. “You want to know?”
Chao Chen nodded eagerly. “Mm hmm.”
Wu Bufan’s smile deepened, carrying a trace of mischief. “I only tell my Dao companion. Still want to know?”
Chao Chen’s face instantly flushed a vivid red.
How was that any different from admitting it outright?
For the rest of the journey, Chao Chen dared not utter another word, afraid Wu Bufan might say something even more shocking.
When Wu Bufan noticed Chao Chen had stopped walking midway, he turned back and asked, “Is it here?”
Chao Chen’s expression turned serious. “I can feel it. It’s right here.”
Whatever was hidden in this place had a faint resonance with him. Yet they were surrounded by towering trees, endless trunks and canopies stretching in every direction. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Wu Bufan’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Could it be related to that cultivation manual?”
Though there were countless strange techniques in the world, few were as peculiar as the one Chao Chen had practiced.
Chao Chen’s eyes lit up. He closed them and placed his hand against the nearest tree trunk, moving from one to another. When his palm pressed against a large tree to his left, his eyes suddenly opened wide. “Found it.”
Excited, he cut his fingertip and smeared blood over the bark. The moment light flared from the tree, he seemed to realize something and hastily grabbed Wu Bufan’s arm.
Wu Bufan squinted against the blinding glow. When his vision cleared, a hidden cave residence appeared before them.
The air inside was thick with spiritual energy, so dense it rivaled the energy within Wu Bufan’s private space. And the source of that spiritual power was none other than a radiant lotus blooming in the center of the cave.
The tiny wisp of light in Wu Bufan’s spiritual sea screamed in delight. “A Celestial Flame Lotus! And it hasn’t even gained sentience yet! Quick, quick! Take it! Absorb it! I never thought such a backwater place would have a heavenly treasure like this! If you refine it, your fire spiritual root could rise at least two grades!”
Spiritual roots had their own ranks and potentials, though no one on the northern continent seemed to know such things.
Wu Bufan’s heart stirred but he didn’t move.
Chao Chen possessed a fire spiritual root. The Celestial Flame Lotus clearly belonged to him.
Yet Chao Chen wasn’t looking at the lotus at all. His gaze was fixed on an ordinary earthen wall to the side.
Something about it drew him in. Slowly, he reached out. The moment his fingertips brushed against the wall, his hand seemed to sink into it and he felt something pulsing inside.
A heartbeat.
It was beating… in perfect rhythm with his own heart.
“Ah!!” Chao Chen gasped sharply, eyes flying open as he felt that heartbeat surge through his palm, flooding into his body.
Black light burst from within him.
Wu Bufan’s expression changed dramatically. He lunged forward but the little light spirit shrieked, “No! Don’t! Stay back!”
Wu Bufan froze mid step.
The light spirit’s voice trembled. “Why is a Chaos Aberrant Body here of all places!”
Chao Chen clutched his chest, groaning, his body trembling as he sank to his knees.
Wu Bufan snapped impatiently, “Speak plainly!”
The spirit took a long breath, steadying itself. “It’s good for him. Don’t interfere. If you get close, you’ll only make things worse.”
Wu Bufan’s tensed shoulders finally eased. Sitting cross legged, he asked grimly, “Then tell me, what exactly is a Chaos Aberrant Body?”
“It’s… troublesome. Very troublesome!” The spirit’s voice rose again in agitation. “I thought his eyes were some kind of cheating divine sight but no, his entire body is a living, breathing cheat! He’s literally a walking divine artifact!”
“Master,” it said fervently, “I fully support you pursuing him now. Remember this, win him over no matter what! A Chaos Aberrant Body can only be a friend, never an enemy! The ancient ones learned that the hard way, with blood!”
Wu Bufan fell silent.
So what was a Chaos Aberrant Body, really?
He asked again, “Is it very powerful?”
The spirit snorted meaningfully. “Raw talent and power are the least impressive things about a Chaos Aberrant Body.”
The black light gradually faded from Chao Chen’s body. Wu Bufan hurried to his side, pulling him into his arms. “I’m not even going to ask what that means right now. Just tell me, what’s happening to him?”
He felt like he’d just listened to an entire speech of nonsense.
The spirit sighed. “The Chaos Aberrant Body is human yet transcends the human realm. Such a person is born under tribulation lightning. Even if they survive birth, growing up is nearly impossible. Too many fear them. Perhaps because of that, someone once took nine tenths of his heart and sealed it here.”
Wu Bufan’s arms tightened around Chao Chen. His voice roughened. “His heart was taken out, how could he have survived?”
“That’s why I panicked earlier!” the spirit snapped. “Because he’s the Chaos Aberrant Body! He’s practically unkillable. As long as a trace of life remains, he endures.”
If his heart hadn’t been removed and sealed, how could he still be stuck at the lowly Qi Refining stage?
Chao Chen’s lashes fluttered. Slowly, he opened his eyes.
There was still a haze of confusion in them. Realizing he was being held, he flushed and pushed Wu Bufan away, clutching his chest. “So this is what Father meant by ‘becoming whole’?” he murmured.
He glanced awkwardly at Wu Bufan. “The best thing here seems to have gone to me, so… that lotus is yours.”
He didn’t even know exactly what kind of lotus it was but it clearly wasn’t ordinary.
Wu Bufan shook his head. “Keep it.”
Chao Chen was the Chaos Aberrant Body, he needed strength to protect himself.
“Ah?” Chao Chen frowned a little. “Why do you keep refusing everything? There’s nothing else here!”
He muttered under his breath about how stingy his father must have been to leave such a big cave with only two treasures in it.
Then his eyes brightened suddenly. “Oh! Fine, you can have the rest, then. I’ll just take the lotus.”
Wu Bufan blinked, curious.
Chao Chen motioned for him to come closer. When Wu Bufan stepped forward, he watched Chao Chen place his palm against the wall.
Ripples spread out across the surface like water and a wave of green light unfolded before them like a painting coming to life. A surge of fresh spiritual energy washed over them.
Wu Bufan’s pupils dilated.
Inside the wall was a small paradise, a lush cluster of spiritual herbs, most of them high grade yellow tier and at the very center grew several black tier Qi and Blood Replenishing Herbs.
Normally, those herbs only existed in the yellow tier. For them to mutate into black tier meant they had absorbed the power of some extraordinary treasure.
The little light spirit shrieked again. “No wonder I couldn’t find any good herbs elsewhere in the secret realm! This shameless brat got here first!”
Wu Bufan felt a twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“Mutated herbs mean there’s a heavenly material nearby!” the spirit urged. “Quick, look for it!”
Wu Bufan crouched beside the herbs and examined the soil beneath them. It was faintly green.
His heart leapt. Sure enough, the spirit cried out again, “Pure Wood Crystal Soil! It can elevate any spiritual herb’s grade! Wu Bufan, you’ve struck gold!”
Wu Bufan stayed quiet, though a hint of satisfaction glimmered in his eyes.
Chao Chen leaned over eagerly. “Want me to help you collect them?”
With a wave of his sleeve, Wu Bufan gathered all the herbs, soil and all, into his spatial ring. Not a leaf was left behind.
Chao Chen’s jaw dropped.
He had wanted to help!
Wu Bufan said calmly, “Go absorb the Celestial Flame Lotus outside. Its medicinal nature is gentle and will only benefit you.”
“Oh.” Chao Chen nodded automatically and started walking toward the lotus.
Then he paused mid step, frowning.
Wait, why was he listening so obediently?
Even as he thought that, he still obediently sat cross legged beside the glowing lotus and began absorbing its essence.
The light spirit could only watch as Chao Chen drew the Celestial Flame Lotus into his body, wailing in regret.
Wu Bufan ignored the spirit and settled down himself, taking out herbs for refining. Among them was Spirit Red Grass, the main ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills.
The spirit asked, “You’re not planning to rely on a Foundation Pill to break through, are you?”
Wu Bufan glanced sideways. “Why not? Or should I just soak myself in the Spirit Spring instead?”
The Spirit Spring was a treasure born of heaven and earth, a naturally formed source of pure spiritual essence. Of course it was far better than relying on any man made pill.
The little light spirit fell silent for a long moment.
“…I feel like my intelligence just got crushed,” it muttered at last.
Refining Foundation Establishment Pills was no simple task. Wu Bufan failed several times before he finally succeeded in producing the first one. Sweat trickled down his temples as he wiped his forehead, glancing toward Chao Chen, whose breathing had become wildly unstable.
“He won’t be discovered, will he?” Wu Bufan asked, his tone laced with concern. The waves of spiritual power emanating from Chao Chen were strong, too strong. If they leaked out, it might attract unwanted attention.
The light spirit snickered, clearly amused. “You worry too much. Even if a Golden Core cultivator happened to pass right over this spot, they wouldn’t sense a thing. Do you think the owner of this cave would hide the heart of a Chaos Aberrant Body here without laying down protections? Impossible.”
Just then, the light spirit suddenly darted out from Wu Bufan’s spiritual space, circling Chao Chen rapidly as if it had just made a shocking discovery.
“Huh? Wait a minute… not a fire spiritual root? Oh, that makes sense! Of course! How could a Chaos Aberrant Body have something as ordinary as a fire spiritual root? This is clearly a Chaos Spiritual Root!”
Wu Bufan frowned. “What do you mean?”
The little light explained with great excitement, “Your future Dao companion isn’t a fire spiritual root at all, he’s a Chaos Spiritual Root. The immense celestial energy released by that Celestial Flame Lotus must have activated his true root. His real nature is emerging now.”
Wu Bufan’s eyes darkened slightly as he listened.
The owner of this cave had arranged things with extraordinary care. The Celestial Flame Lotus had been deliberately placed in plain sight to attract attention.
If the person accompanying Chao Chen had harbored selfish or malicious intent, they would have immediately gone for the lotus, distracted by its brilliance. In that moment, Chao Chen could have quietly reclaimed his heart without anyone noticing.
The Chaos Aberrant Body’s most distinctive mark was the Chaos Spiritual Root. If someone ever suspected Chao Chen’s true identity and tried to forcibly examine his spiritual root while he was still weak, they would have only seen the false image of a fire root. It was a layer of protection, a perfect disguise.
If Chao Chen successfully obtained the Celestial Flame Lotus, the full activation of his Chaos Body would allow him to completely mask his aura, even to alter the very nature of his root.
It would grant him the ability to hide from anyone’s divine sense, perhaps even the power to blend among mortals unseen.
The master of this cave had truly gone to painstaking lengths to protect him, every step of the plan perfectly calculated.
The light spirit, however, seemed far more entertained than awed. “Sure, Chaos Spiritual Roots are incredible but they’re also the most expensive roots in existence,” it said gleefully.
Wu Bufan glanced at it sideways. “Expensive?”
“Very expensive,” it replied. “They’re just like mixed spiritual roots, only worse! Mixed roots already require several times the amount of energy a single root needs to advance but a Chaos Root is a bottomless pit. It devours spiritual energy endlessly. Yes, it’s powerful beyond compare, invincible among its peers but every breakthrough costs a mountain of resources!”
Wu Bufan’s expression grew solemn. “Can anyone tell? That he’s… not what he seems?” He lowered his voice, glancing at the still meditating Chao Chen. They were both still far too weak. If Chao Chen’s Chaos Root was exposed, it would surely invite disaster.
The light spirit puffed itself up proudly. “Do you underestimate the Chaos Aberrant Body? If he doesn’t want anyone to know what he is, no one will ever know. A Chaos Aberrant Body can choose to appear as any kind of root it wants. Even his aura can change at will. Do you realize what that means? He can frame people, impersonate others or vanish entirely. It’s the perfect talent for planting false evidence or slipping away unseen.”
Wu Bufan fell quiet, his thoughts unreadable. After a moment, he lowered his head and resumed refining pills with calm, steady movements.
The little light floated down in front of his face, blinking. “How can you be so calm right now?”
Wu Bufan lifted his eyes lazily. “Who said I was calm?”
“You’re literally refining pills while your future Dao companion is transforming into a legendary being!” the light spirit exclaimed. “That’s the opposite of panic?”
“If I don’t refine pills,” Wu Bufan said evenly, “I won’t have any money. Without money, how am I supposed to feed my future Dao companion? And if I can’t even afford to feed him, how could I ever hope to court him?”
He spoke in the same measured tone as though discussing the weather but there was a faint, determined glint in his eyes.
The light spirit fell silent again. After a long moment, it muttered weakly, “Well… I can’t argue with that. Makes perfect sense, actually.”
And so, while Chao Chen quietly absorbed the Celestial Flame Lotus and his chaotic aura began to settle into something vast and unknowable, Wu Bufan calmly continued his alchemy, the faint scent of herbs mixing with the hum of rising spiritual energy that filled the entire cave.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
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☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind