Everyone looked at Li Chen in shock.
He was also named Li Chen…
Could it be…
Li Tian’ao’s face was filled with disbelief. “You… you’re that Li Chen from the Qilin Holy Land?”
Li Chen nodded awkwardly.
The Foundation Establishment disciples were all stunned. So this is that Li Chen? The favored genius of the Qilin Holy Land!
The three Vice Sect Masters were just as astonished. Without hesitation, they descended from the sky and stood respectfully before Li Chen.
Li Tian’ao cupped his hands with reverence. “Fellow Daoist, it’s been a long time.”
He held great admiration for Li Chen. After all, Li Chen had once reached the peak of the Great Ascension Realm, while he himself was only at the Body Integration Realm. Even now, he had to call Li Chen “senior.”
Li Chen responded awkwardly, “Vice Sect Master, I’m just a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator now, and a disciple of the Myriad Demons Sect.”
Li Tian’ao waved his hand. “You were once a Great Ascension cultivator. I’ve only reached the Body Integration Realm. We’re separated by an entire realm. In the demonic path, we don’t fuss over titles. Based on your previous status, I must call you fellow Daoist.”
Vice Sect Master Long Chenghong said excitedly, “Having you join the Myriad Demons Sect is an honor. If there’s anything you don’t understand, please don’t hesitate to guide us.”
“You’re too kind, Vice Sect Master.”
“You may be at the Foundation Establishment Realm now, but your experience remains. With enough pills, you’ll soon reach the peak again.”
Vice Sect Master Tang Long nodded. “Fellow Daoist, you were once at the peak of the Great Ascension Realm. Whatever pills or treasures you need, the sect will provide them.”
None of them had expected that the man standing before them—this “Foundation Establishment disciple”—was actually that Li Chen from the Qilin Holy Land, the once-in-ten-thousand-years genius.
Li Chen cupped his fists. “Once I reach the Body Integration Realm, I’ll be happy to exchange insights with the Vice Sect Masters.”
The three were overjoyed.
This was a former Great Ascension expert. In just a century, he’d surely reach that realm again.
Fu Yao beamed. “Isn’t my brother amazing?”
“Fu Yao, you little troublemaker! Why didn’t you tell us earlier?” Li Tian’ao scolded with a stern face.
“I wanted to surprise you!” Fu Yao grinned mischievously.
“Such a crafty girl.”
“What do you mean crafty? I’m not a child anymore—I’m over a hundred years old!” Fu Yao pouted, clearly displeased.
Li Chen and Fu Yao left the square.
Long Chenghong looked at Li Chen’s figure in the distance and sighed, “What kind of method did the Sect Master use to pull Li Chen to our side? He was the Holy Son of the Qilin Holy Land!”
Li Tian’ao chuckled. “You don’t know? After Li Chen lost his cultivation, things weren’t going well for him in the Qilin Holy Land.”
“They kept demoting him—once a high and mighty Holy Son, he ended up as an inner sect disciple. He even suffered humiliation after humiliation.”
“Now that he’s regained his ability to cultivate, of course he wouldn’t want to stay in the Qilin Holy Land.”
Li Tian’ao snorted coldly. “That so-called righteous path is utter nonsense. I witnessed that battle with my own eyes—if it weren’t for Li Chen turning the tide, the Qilin Holy Land would’ve been annihilated.”
“And yet, just because he lost his cultivation, they humiliated him again and again. Only they could be so heartless.”
“Now that he’s joined the Myriad Demons Sect, we’ll rise to power again. Once the Qilin Holy Land finds out, they’ll be so mad they’ll spit blood with regret!”
… Find the original chapter at g.com.
Back at Fu Yao’s mountain peak cave residence—
Fu Yao wore a stern face. “Brother, didn’t I tell you to cultivate here from now on? This is my place—and yours too. Why are you asking for another cave residence? Isn’t this place good enough?”
She had heard that Li Chen wanted to leave the mountain and get his own cave residence, and it made her angry.
She pouted, looking displeased. “Is my mountain not good enough?”
Li Chen said, “This is your mountain peak. Besides, I’m an inner sect disciple—it’s not appropriate for me to stay here.”
He wasn’t being difficult. This was Fu Yao’s personal residence. There were all kinds of women’s clothing and undergarments around. It would be awkward for her to change clothes.
Though there were many rooms, Li Chen still decided to move out.
As long as he had a place to cultivate and could set up a spirit-gathering formation, that was enough.
Men and women should maintain proper boundaries. They weren’t Dao partners. If rumors spread, it wouldn’t be good—for either of them.
Even if not for himself, he had to consider Fu Yao’s reputation. She also needed space to cultivate—how could she focus with him taking up her residence?
Fu Yao thought for a moment. “How about this? My mountain is huge. There’s another cave next to it. I’ll have someone renovate it for you. Would that work?”
Li Chen considered it and nodded. “That’s fine.”
Fu Yao lit up with joy. “It’s settled then!”
She flashed away, heading straight to the sect to have the cave residence prepared.
There was already a cave there—just needed some remodeling. It wouldn’t be as good as her own, but it would be a decent place to stay.
Li Chen didn’t care about such things. All he wanted was to improve his strength.
He immediately went into seclusion to cultivate.
This time, he wouldn’t come out until he reached the Golden Core Realm.
With a sweep of his hand, he placed several hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones around him. Pure spiritual energy began to surge. Normally, Foundation Establishment cultivators could use low-grade stones to train.
But Li Chen used high-grade ones. The higher the quality, the purer the energy.
Low-grade spirit stones were full of impurities. High-grade ones were refined essence.
These had been gifted by Fu Yao.
With these hundreds of thousands of spirit stones, Li Chen could increase his strength rapidly.
As the energy from the spirit stones filled the spirit-gathering formation, Li Chen sat cross-legged, activated his technique, and absorbed the spiritual energy. It poured into his body and flowed into his dantian.
Spiritual energy was transformed into true qi.
As his true qi increased, so did his strength.
As expected of the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art.
All his pores opened, and his absorption speed far surpassed that of ordinary techniques.
In no time at all—
Time passed swiftly in seclusion—three days went by.
By now, his dantian had gathered so much true qi that it was like a balloon on the verge of bursting. There was no more space left.
His true qi had reached its peak—he stood at the very edge of the 9th stage of Foundation Establishment.
Now came the moment—
He would convert that true qi into magic power and condense his Golden Core.
Li Chen took a deep breath. He fused and compressed the true qi in his dantian, compressing it like air, until it formed a golden orb.
Golden Core—formed.
Li Chen was overjoyed. He had finally succeeded in forming his Golden Core.
Now, at last, he possessed true magical power.
He would continue cultivating to enhance that power.
Five days later, Li Chen emerged from his cave residence.
There were still over twenty days left before the Mystic Sky Secret Realm opened.
He had to start cultivating divine abilities and condense his divine ability seed. Only with a divine ability seed could he fully unleash the power of the Golden Core Realm.
There were seven main types of divine abilities—
Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Lightning.
Each one held unique powers.
Fu Yao gasped. “Brother! You’ve formed your Golden Core?”
Li Chen nodded. “Yes. I’m now preparing to cultivate a divine ability and get ready for the Mystic Sky Secret Realm.”
“Then let’s go to Central State. There are lots of cultivation resources there.”
Li Chen agreed. He had been thinking the same.
…
Meanwhile—
Zhao Xueyi and Yin Xiumei were waiting outside.
Yin Xiumei grumbled, “Senior Sister, we’ve been waiting here for days and Li Chen still hasn’t come out. Are we really going to wait forever? We might as well just go in and call him.”
Zhao Xueyi shook her head. “Senior Brother is very displeased with us. If we call him without permission, he’ll only resent us. This time, remember—you must apologize. Only then might he forgive us and return to the Holy Land.”
Yin Xiumei sneered.
Hmph! Senior Brother used to treat us so well. I just need to shed a few tears in front of him, and he’ll obediently follow us home.
This bastard can cultivate again—and he didn’t tell us sooner?
If we had known, we wouldn’t have let him leave the Holy Land to join that damn Myriad Demons Sect.
Zhao Xueyi suddenly exclaimed, “Senior Brother is coming out!”