Chapter 105: However, It’s Not a Bad Thing

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: However, It’s Not a Bad Thing

Time spent cultivating in the cave flew by. In the blink of an eye, the second day of the ninth month was over. It was now likely the early morning of the third, though Liu Chen couldn’t tell the exact hour.

[Divine Movement Technique: Great Success: 400/5000]

[Escape Shadow Technique: Great Success: 400/5000]

After a day of arduous cultivation, Liu Chen had successfully advanced two Magic techniques to the Great Success Realm. Had they been Basic Magic Techniques, four hours of cultivation would have yielded eight thousand Proficiency points. But since the Divine Movement Technique and Escape Shadow Technique were both Advanced Magic, he only gained two thousand.

By that logic, cultivating an Intermediate Magic for half an hour would likely yield about five hundred Proficiency points.

At the Great Success Realm, the Escape Shadow Technique allowed Liu Chen to hide within a shadow for a full hour without fear of being discovered. It was truly worthy of being a Body-Protecting Technique from the Sect Leader; even among Advanced Magic, the Escape Shadow Technique was top-tier.

The Divine Movement Technique was relatively ordinary compared to the Escape Shadow Technique, but at the Great Success Realm, it still increased Liu Chen’s travel speed fivefold. He estimated that at the Perfection Realm, it could offer a tenfold boost. If it were to evolve into a unique, personalized version, the speed probably wouldn’t increase further. Instead, Liu Chen hoped it would reduce its Spiritual Power consumption.

This was enough to prove that the Grand Elder hadn’t just given him any random Magic; it was one chosen with careful consideration.

Combining the Escape Shadow Technique and Divine Movement Technique was enough to raise Liu Chen’s survivability by a whole new level.

The Escape Shadow Technique’s drawback was that he couldn’t move while hidden. Liu Chen’s idea for evolving it into a unique version was to enable him to jump between two separate shadows.

For now, that was certainly impossible for him. But he had only just reached the Great Success Realm. After that came Perfection and then the unique, personalized stage. Perhaps then he could achieve it.

Liu Chen used the cover of night to circle back to the rift valley. After confirming that the Cultivators from the Black Feather Dynasty were still there, he returned. His Magic had not yet evolved into its unique form, and his Cultivation Realm wasn’t high enough to guarantee his safety. Under these circumstances, it was better to wait a few more days.

He did notice, however, a pillar of light emanating from the hot spring in the rift valley. It was barely noticeable during the day, but at night, it shone as brightly as the morning star.

On the third day of the ninth month, as Nightfall descended, Liu Chen finished opening his Chong and Dai Meridians. The original Ren and Du Meridian Small Circulation instantly transformed into the Circulation of the Meridians through the Ren, Du, Chong, and Dai Four Meridians.

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter: Minor Success, 0/1000]

As his Cultivation Technique reached Minor Success, Liu Chen’s Realm advanced from Meridian Passage Beginner to the Meridian Passage Early Stage. Not only did his Spiritual Power nearly double, but his physical conditioning also improved. If he were to face the Third Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty at this Realm, Liu Chen wouldn’t even need to be cautious; he could have jumped down the cliff and still won with ease.

After his breakthrough, Liu Chen went to check on the rift valley again. The tents were still there, the pillar of light was still there, and the Cultivators from the Black Feather Dynasty were still there.

Having confirmed this, Liu Chen returned once more. He preferred to play it safe rather than rush in recklessly.

Using the Resting Technique to disguise his Cultivation as Meridian Passage Beginner, Liu Chen resumed his training.

Meanwhile, in a tent within the rift valley, Yu Haoxi sat in silence.

"Your Highness, the news is out. In a few days, people will begin hunting down Nangong Ye. Those Trial Takers from the Nangong Family probably won’t survive either."

A Guard at the Meridian Passage Realm entered and reported dutifully. "We were able to find this place thanks to our collusion with the original Loose Cultivators of Fire Dragon Valley. Those cowards are all gathered in the center of the valley, wanting no part in this trial."

"You didn’t leave any tracks, did you?"

Yu Haoxi asked after a moment of silence. If anyone discovered the news had come from him, it would be difficult to explain when he returned to the Black Feather Dynasty.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. I spread the news in the Fire Dragon Valley Black Market. By morning, everyone will know that Nangong Ye killed the Third Prince. No one will be able to trace it back to us."

The Meridian Passage Realm Guard was completely composed. Although he had ambushed the Third Prince from behind, the attack had only severely wounded him. The one who truly killed him was Nangong Ye with his final Celestial Thunder Technique.

"Well done. There will be a great reward for you when we return. You may go and cultivate now."

A smile spread across Yu Haoxi’s face. The Guard acknowledged this and slowly withdrew. Once he was alone in the tent, Yu Haoxi’s expression turned cold and indifferent, a flicker of viciousness in his eyes.

’It’s fine as long as no one can trace it back to me. But if someone does discover the truth... I’ll have to find a way to make this Guard disappear.’

’Ruthlessness was something he had learned from his Royal Father, and it was the quality he admired most. Better to kill than to let emotions hold you back.’

In a hidden cave, Nangong Ye slowly exhaled a cloudy breath. He raised his hand and looked at the Cyan Eagle Blood Mark that was still there, sighing helplessly.

"Yu Haenze, you got an easy death. But because of your family’s damn messes, I and the entire younger generation of the Nangong Family might have to be buried with you."

Nangong Ye clenched his fists. It wasn’t that he couldn’t accept defeat, but he couldn’t accept such a shameful victory. He hadn’t won because he was stronger than Yu Haenze, or because he was in better condition. He had won by a fluke, only because Yu Haenze had been ambushed by someone else.

"Then again, this might not be a bad thing. The Nangong Family is rotten to the core. As long as they can’t find me, my troublemaking brothers will all be dealt with. Then, all the hopes of the Nangong Family will rest on my shoulders. This is the only way to prevent the family from offending someone it can’t afford to and being wiped out."

Nangong Ye muttered to himself. He had already fled his original cave, not even hesitating to use the Disposable Protective Spiritual Artifact his Master had given him. It was all to drive the Cultivators of the Black Feather Dynasty into a frenzy.

And perhaps not just the Black Feather Dynasty’s Cultivators. Once the trial ends, the Three Immortal Sects won’t allow any Loose Cultivators to remain here. Most of the Loose Cultivators in Fire Dragon Valley had fled here after offending someone in the Great Xia Dynasty’s Cultivation Realm. Their only option for survival would be the Black Feather Dynasty.

’And this is an opportunity for them,’ he thought. ’They can take the heads of the Nangong Family’s younger generation and pledge allegiance to one of the other Princes. No matter what, they’ll get a ticket into the Black Feather Dynasty. They might even be able to pledge themselves directly to the Black Feather Royal Family, elevating their status in a single stroke.’

’That "senior" is using a borrowed knife to target the Nangong Family, with the other Princes of the Black Feather Dynasty as the blade. But perhaps I can use that same blade to cut the rot from the Nangong Family at its very root.’

A slow smile spread across Nangong Ye’s face, yet two streams of tears fell from the corners of his eyes. It was, after all, a matter of fratricide. Who could truly not care? But compared to the survival of the Nangong Family, their deaths were a necessity. And if the Black Feather Dynasty refused to let the matter drop, he too was willing to sacrifice himself for the family.

In a rather luxurious courtyard, nestled among the eighteen interconnected volcanoes of Fire Dragon Valley, Nangong Mu slowly rose from within a house.

Nangong Mu stepped out of the room. Two Nangong Family Guards went inside and carried out the body of a dead female Loose Cultivator.

Nangong Mu watched the scene in silence, an involuntary lick of his lips. ’These Fire Dragon Valley Loose Cultivators are so stupid,’ he thought. ’Did she really think she could become my concubine on looks alone?’

A pity. This type was only good for satisfying an itch; they were of no benefit to his Cultivation.