Chapter 666 17: Cultivation

Beneath the waves, Chen Chuan followed Tarlu, diving deeper and deeper. The light that initially surrounded them faded as they descended, and their surroundings grew dim and blurry.

However, it had little effect on him. The Mutated senses of a Fighter were incredibly keen. Even without light, his Spiritual Power and projected Domain allowed him to clearly perceive any changes in his environment.

Tarlu, swimming ahead, made a hand signal. He instantly understood: the entrance wasn't far.

Yet he couldn't sense anything. Even when he projected his Spiritual Power to its absolute limit, he came up empty.

'It seems this kind of long-term, stable Rift is indeed different from the ones that erupt so suddenly.'

The Rift in Central City had erupted with brilliant light and powerful air currents. Countless creatures poured out, making its presence overwhelming. Here, however, he couldn't detect the slightest trace. 'No wonder it couldn't be found after it was lost.'

This made him greatly admire the previous Tarlu who had rediscovered this Rift. That predecessor hadn't known its exact location and wasn't even certain it still existed. The thought of searching for such a place in the vast, open ocean was daunting enough to drive one to despair.

As he continued his descent, Tarlu suddenly vanished from his senses. Intrigued, he kept diving toward the spot where she had disappeared. All at once, he felt the surrounding seawater recede.

The next moment, his feet touched solid ground. He found himself standing in a softly glowing space. It resembled a vast hall, supported on both sides by layers of curved, rib-like bones. The glow emanated from countless points of light seeping through the inner walls, growing brighter further in without being blinding. 'This doesn't feel like a Rift at all.'

Water droplets rolled off both their bodies, leaving them completely dry. This was particularly true for Chen Chuan; white steam billowed from his skin, and the moisture in his clothes evaporated in an instant.

Beneath her thick brows, Tarlu's eyes sparkled. "Mr. Chen, are you using the Furnace Breathing Method?"

Chen Chuan said, "Yes."

Tarlu said, "The Furnace Breathing Method is a Secret Transmission within our School. I've heard the requirements to master it are very demanding. I've seen others who have mastered the Breathing Technique, Mr. Chen, but your results seem a little different from theirs."

The others she'd seen only developed red, scalding skin and a faint wisp of steam. She had never witnessed someone produce billowing white smoke like Chen Chuan. If not for the searing heat she felt up close and his distinctive respiratory rhythm, she wouldn't have been certain.

Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgment. 'Things like Secret Transmissions and Techniques manifest differently for every Fighter, depending on their Mutated Organization's coverage and their individual physiology.'

'My Mutated Organization coverage is extremely high, and it's built upon the foundation of the Circulation Technique. That's probably why its external manifestation is more impressive than the orthodox Furnace Breathing Method.'

'Still, anyone familiar with it could identify which Breathing Technique I practice just by my respiratory rhythm at close range.'

He surveyed his surroundings. "I've been in other Rifts. They were vastly different from this."

Tarlu glanced upward. "That's because generations of our Single Stream Sect predecessors developed this place, achieving a kind of balance with the other side."

"One of our predecessors from the Single Stream Hall even merged with a lifeform from within the Rift. Many of our Secret Transmissions are now contained within his Domain."

"So, where is he..."

Chen Chuan started to ask where this predecessor was, but a sudden possibility made him stop. He looked around again.

Tarlu stated matter-of-factly, "We're inside his body."

She took a few steps forward into an open area. "It is his body that acts as a barrier, blocking the erosion from the other side of the Rift and keeping the entrance stable. However, he must bear the brunt of all these incursions."

"They say he was still conscious a long time ago, but it gradually faded, leaving only his body's instinct to maintain this place."

'No wonder I didn't get the same feeling as when I entered other Rifts,' Chen Chuan thought. 'This unique lifeform must be the reason.'

Tarlu added, "It is said that every stable Rift passed down from the old era contains a lifeform that merged with an entity from the other side. They must all be predecessors from the various Fighter Halls."

Chen Chuan took a moment to extend his senses. The creature was bizarre; it possessed no Spiritual Power. Just as Tarlu had said, only a kind of instinct remained.

He followed Tarlu to the far end of the chamber, where they faced a wall formed from countless coiled and interwoven tendrils.

As Tarlu drew near, the interwoven tendrils began to loosen and slowly bloom outward, apparently without her doing anything. It seemed they were merely reacting to the projection of her Biological Domain. Instantly, a brilliant light burst forth from the newly formed gap.

Chen Chuan immediately felt a spiritual incursion, and along with it came faint wisps of pure essence. It was far weaker and less abundant than when the Celestial Gate had opened, but an opening had definitely been created.

Tarlu offered a friendly warning, "Mr. Chen, if you're going to train, do it only from here. Whatever you do, don't go outside. It's impossible to say what's out there. Our predecessor's body can protect you in here, but it can't help you if you leave."

"Furthermore, the predecessor instinctively repels all foreign matter. If you cross over, you could be sealed out, and it would be very difficult to return."

Chen Chuan said gravely, "I understand. Thank you for the warning."

Tarlu retreated a few more steps, and the tendrils sealed shut. "Mr. Chen," she said, "the Rift is very unstable at the moment. Leaving it open for too long during the day can cause anomalies, which would likely attract the attention of the authorities. If you want to train, it's best to wait for nightfall. Let's head back for now."

Chen Chuan nodded. He knew the location now, and besides, he had some preparations to make. He and Tarlu exited the Rift. With no path leading up, they had to climb the cliff face again to reach the top. This was no difficult task for either of them, and they were soon back on the surface.

Once the water on his body had evaporated, he walked over to the thatched shed alone.

Chaoming was perched on the suitcase he had left behind. Seeing him approach, it let out a CHIRP.

He went over and stroked it a few times before picking up the suitcase. He then followed Tarlu down the mountain, planning to find a place to stay first.

Feiguang Island had a population of roughly three to four thousand. The largest village, home to over two thousand people, was nestled at the base of the central cliff. Most of the disciples accepted by the Single Stream Hall came from this village.

Of course, some hopefuls traveled from afar, drawn by the hall's reputation, to seek tutelage. However, since their backgrounds were often difficult to verify, very few were ultimately allowed to stay.

The Single Stream Hall had been the protector of Feiguang Island and its surrounding waters since ancient times. Back when the Fighter Halls had not yet fallen into decline, the position of Tarlu was one of very high status. Even the ruler of Luo Wang Island would often come to become a disciple in name.

But as the Fighting Halls declined, Luo Wang Island was annexed by another Island Country and became a simple tourist destination. Over the past century, the memory of the hall's role faded in the surrounding region. Only the people of Feiguang Island still revered them as guardian deities.

Since Chen Chuan had been brought here personally by Tarlu, the villagers gave him their best vacant room, one reserved for guests. He set down his belongings, rinsed off, and then went out to buy some supplies and tools.

Around five or six o'clock, carrying a newly purchased waterproof tote, he brought Chaoming back to the clifftop and sat down.

He sat at the cliff's edge, one hand resting on his bent knee, the Snow Monarch Blade lying casually beside him. He watched the magnificent sunset on the horizon, his expression relaxed and at ease.

The sea breeze ruffled his hair, making it flutter. The setting sun cast a golden-red glow upon his face and clothes, set against the backdrop of a deep purple sky.

'Ever since I arrived on this island, I've felt so relaxed.' It was a mental unwinding, like soaking in a warm spring.

'At my spiritual level, I can tell this is incredibly beneficial for a Fighter's mind-body harmony.'

'It seems this island is a treasure, not just the Rift below. The Single Stream Hall definitely had its reasons for choosing this place.'

He sat there until the sky had grown completely dark. Then he stood, picked up the waterproof bag, and leaped from the clifftop into the sea below.

Having been there once during the day, he could now sense the location's presence. He found it quickly this time. After diving several hundred meters, he felt the water around him recede as he arrived inside the Rift once more.

He walked forward, and with each step, water droplets rolled off his body as puffs of white steam rose into the air.

When he reached the wall of tendrils, they immediately split open, perhaps because they had registered his Domain earlier that day. Light from the other side spilled through, illuminating his form. A strong current of air followed, rustling his clothes and hair.

He stood there for a moment, sensing the energy. Although training would be more effective on the other side, he heeded Tarlu's warning and had no intention of crossing over.

He let the bag drop to the ground, took one more step forward, and sat down just over a meter from the entrance. Setting the Snow Monarch Blade aside, he felt the wisps of pure essence washing over him and began to circulate the Spiritual Reflection Method that Teacher Xue had taught him.

He focused for a moment. 'This is indeed much faster than my usual training, and I don't even need any medicinal aids.'

Normally, he used Aromatic Medicine to aid his spiritual training. As his Spiritual Power grew, he required higher grades of Aromatic Medicine, but none of that was necessary here. However, an unavoidable problem arose: his Second Self was showing strong signs of becoming illusory.

'Some kind of corruption from the other side is coming through with it.'

He ignored it, sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and immersed himself completely in his training.

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