Chapter 695 - 46: Communication

The moment the Snow Monarch Blade was in his hands, Chen Chuan felt a deep connection form with it.

If before, the connection was merely because the Mutated Organization within the blade was identical to his own, now there was a spiritual tie, as if the blade were an extension of his very self.

And as their spirits communicated, a piece of information was transmitted from the blade to his consciousness, making his eyes flash for a moment.

In that instant, he knew what the blade could now do.

He reached out with his other hand to grasp the hilt, but just as he was about to draw it, he paused. ’If it can really do that, I can’t test it here.’

After a moment of thought, he removed his Processing Bureau Realm Token and put on the old-fashioned one he had. Then, he went downstairs alone, found his Gard Car in the parking lot, drove out of Wuyi Academy, and got directly onto the elevated highway.

A little over an hour later, he exited the highway and followed the western National Path out of the city. After driving for another forty-five minutes or so and ensuring he was far enough from Central City, he pulled over.

After getting out of the car, he looked around. The area was vaguely familiar; it was where he had killed Zhao Qian and the Toad Blade.

Out here, there was no longer any surveillance from a Domain.

At the moment, there were no people or vehicles passing by. Unlike the south and southwest of Central City, which were filled with industrial zones and factories, the areas to the north and west were untamed wilderness where armed bandits lurked on both sides of the National Path. Aside from transport convoys, few vehicles typically passed through here; most people preferred to travel by Airship.

This place was perfect for his current needs.

He returned to the car and took out the Snow Monarch Blade. Gripping the hilt, he ran a hand lightly along the Sword Scabbard, and it fell away. A flash of snowy light glinted in the sun.

In the very next instant, wisps of luminous mist, as if freed from their bonds, burst outward, spreading to fill an area four to five meters around him.

At that moment, Chen Chuan could feel that, through the blade, his spirit had faintly connected to some other place. But the connection was extremely vague, as if a thick barrier stood in the way, preventing any direct link.

This barrier was seemingly ubiquitous. Although his physical body could move freely within it, his spirit felt as if it were tightly confined.

He carefully sensed that vague boundary. Holding the blade in one hand off to his side, he gathered his strength for a moment before unleashing a sharp, diagonal slash downward!

Instantly, a shimmering arc of blade light cut through the air, and a shallow gash appeared before him.

The slash seemed to have torn a fissure in that thick barrier, and immediately, shimmering motes of light, like fragmented streams, began to seep out from within.

He found himself staring at the light, able to perceive a familiar feeling coming from the other side.

But the fissure seemed to be a mere surface wound; it didn’t last long. After only a few breaths, it slowly closed like a healing cut.

Chen Chuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He raised the Snow Monarch Blade high above his head again, this time gripping it with both hands. After a brief pause, he let out a sharp cry from his chest and unleashed another powerful cleave into the empty space before him!

This time, he poured most of his Spiritual Power into it. As the blade’s light carved an arc through the atmosphere, he thought he heard the sound of something dense and solid tearing apart. Then, a wider, more brilliant fissure instantly appeared before him, its light illuminating his face.

Light scrambled to pour out from it. Although an external force was trying to constrain it, a power from within was also attempting to expand outward.

Chen Chuan held his post-strike stance. He glanced over and saw that his Second Self was showing clear signs of fading, but spiritually, he could sense a ceaseless stream of essence pouring through from the other side.

Behind the gash was indeed the other world!

The Snow Monarch Blade, combined with his own spirit, had cut open a Rift!

However, he sensed the Rift wouldn’t last long, likely due to the constraints of the World Ring. It would probably disappear after a short while. Therefore, if he wanted to use this Rift for long-term cultivation, there was only one way: to cross over to the other side.

’But if I go there, will I be able to return to my original location?’

He wasn’t sure.

Besides, there were likely many other beings on the other side. If he crossed over, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t encounter them, which would make peaceful cultivation impossible.

He thought back to the Rift on Feiguang Island. If not for a senior who had blocked the things coming from the other side for him, he never would have been able to sit there peacefully; he would have been constantly disturbed.

Not to mention, there might be inspection forces formed by a joint government and corporate alliance, as well as patrol and interception teams composed of elite experts to prevent unauthorized crossings.

There were too many uncertainties. Even if he decided to do it, he would need to be fully prepared.

For now, though, he had no such plans.

He stood before the Rift, waiting quietly and cultivating the essence that flowed from it.

But the power sustaining the Rift ultimately couldn’t withstand the absorption and binding force of the World Ring. As time went on, the Rift was slowly compressed, disappearing completely after a little over an hour.

Chen Chuan watched the Rift vanish before his eyes. ’Theoretically,’ he thought, ’I could slash again and achieve continuous cultivation.’ However, he could feel a sense of fatigue from the Snow Monarch Blade, and the wisps of luminous mist surrounding it slowly receded back into the blade.

This meant there was a cost to opening a Rift, and he likely couldn’t do it again right away. After sensing it carefully, he determined the Snow Monarch Blade should recover within a day or two.

In that case, he could cultivate for over an hour every two days. It wasn’t long, but it was far better than cultivating with Aromatic Medicine. He also realized that if he had the right supplements, he might be able to shorten the recovery time.

One thing immediately came to mind. Whether it was the Fumu or an active Consciousness Body, a large part of their maintenance relied on High-Energy Nutrient Supplements. ’Perhaps that stuff will work,’ he thought. ’I can try it when I get back.’

Furthermore, based on the current situation, the entity that had fused with the Snow Monarch Blade could still grow. When it became stronger, it should be able to slash open a larger rift and maintain it for a longer duration.

This meant he would probably need to come out here to cultivate every day or two, which wasn’t too much trouble for now.

He scanned his surroundings to confirm he had left no traces, then walked a few steps, bent down to pick up the Sword Scabbard, and sheathed the Snow Monarch Blade. Afterward, he returned to his Gard Car, started the engine, and headed back toward Central City.

By the time he returned to Wuding District, it was already past three in the afternoon. He planned to make a trip to Lu Fang’s place to check on Xiaojin, but while still on the road, his Realm Token chimed. Seeing it was a call from the academy, he accepted it.

Assistant Ling’s voice came from the other end. "Teacher Chen, this is Ling Jianxing. Do you have a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you."

Chen Chuan asked, "Is this about the academy?"

Assistant Ling said, "Yes."

Chen Chuan replied, "Alright, I’m on my way."

He immediately turned the steering wheel and headed toward the Profound Palace Building.

Ten minutes later, he entered the underground parking garage via a dedicated access tunnel and, following Assistant Ling’s directions, took an elevator to the ninetieth floor.

When the elevator doors opened, he followed the guidance of a female teaching assistant into a Sky Garden with a vast dome. The moment he stepped inside, the air felt exceptionally fresh, and the sounds of a babbling brook and pleasant birdsong filled his ears.

Assistant Ling was waiting for him up ahead. He had streaks of white at his temples and a neatly trimmed beard. With a smile on his face and dressed in an imported, dark gray formal suit, he looked like a very mature and charismatic man.

He dismissed the female assistant, then gestured to a long bench backed by greenery. "Teacher Chen, please have a seat."

Chen Chuan walked over. Assistant Ling picked up a drink, came over, and handed it to him. "This is Valley Treasure Juice, a delicacy from the Merging Land. I’m quite fond of it. Teacher Chen, please give it a try."

Chen Chuan took it and had a sip. He felt a surge of abundance that invigorated his Mutated Organization, which seemed to greatly enjoy its contents. "It is indeed very good," he commented.

Assistant Ling smiled. He turned, took two steps, and sat down on the bench opposite Chen Chuan. Holding his own cup, he said, "It’s already September tenth. In a few more days, the Lynx diplomatic delegation will arrive. I’m sure you’re aware of this, Teacher Chen."

This time, the delegation will include an academic team with several dozen teachers and students. The academy has already been notified that during their visit, they may engage in a ’friendly exchange’ with us."

He took a sip from his cup before continuing, "The focus will be on student exchanges, but exchanges between teachers are not out of the question. The conflict between our Dashun and the Lynx Federation has always existed; the overt and covert struggles have never ceased. And since this exchange is happening on our home turf, we absolutely cannot lose."

He looked at Chen Chuan. "Therefore, I would like to add you to the list of teachers for this exchange, Teacher Chen. I wonder if you would be willing?"

Chen Chuan said, "That is not something I can decide on my own. Besides my role as a Wuyi teacher, I am also an Investigation Chief for the Processing Bureau, and I have my own mission priorities. I can only say that if time and circumstances permit, I would not be opposed to an exchange with them."

Assistant Ling smiled. "That’s good enough." He tapped his Realm Token. "Here is a list of the students. Please take a look, Manager Chen, and see if there are any issues."

Chen Chuan glanced at the list that was sent over. It was filled with the top-performing students from Wuyi Academy, and Weidong’s name was among them.

He said, "I have no objections. In fact, Assistant Ling, you shouldn’t be asking me about this. Here at the academy, I am just a teacher. And as an Investigation Chief for the Processing Bureau, my responsibilities do not lie with academy affairs."

Assistant Ling set his cup down and smiled. "In that case, I won’t trouble you with academy matters, Teacher Chen. However, on a personal level, there are a few things I’d like to discuss with you."

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