Chapter 111: I Hope for Senior’s Forbearance

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: I Hope for Senior’s Forbearance

Nightfall gradually receded from Fire Dragon Valley as the sun’s first light once again shone upon the area.

It was now the sixth day of the trial, the sixth day of the ninth month. Compared to the hectic pace of the previous few days, Liu Chen’s life today was quite structured.

He spent eight hours practicing the Meridian Passage Technique, opening his Yin Qiao and Yangqiao Meridians in preparation to break through to the Meridian Passage Middle Stage—the Great Success Realm of the technique.

Liu Chen’s ideal Cultivation level was the Meridian Passage Late Stage. This was the highest Realm one could have and still participate in the trial after the Fire Dragon Valley’s Array was formed. Only by reaching that level would Liu Chen feel secure.

Another eight hours were for practicing the Escape Shadow Technique, and the final eight hours were naturally for the Divine Movement Technique.

Liu Chen maintained this disciplined routine until the eighth day of the ninth month. It wasn’t that no one passed by his location during this time, but upon seeing the Black Feather Dynasty’s flag from a distance, the vast majority of trial participants and Loose Cultivators chose to make a detour.

The few who did draw near sensed the fluctuations of the Meridian Passage Realm from Liu Chen, and they too would offer their apologies before slowly departing.

Deep in the night, Liu Chen completed his final practice session for the day. He had successfully opened his Yin Qiao and Yangqiao Meridians. A continuous stream of Spiritual Power surged into them, and the sore, swollen sensation vanished in a flash along with his Cyan Lotus Bamboo Leaf Spirit Pattern. The Spiritual Power that had originally been circulating through the Ren, Du, Chong, and Dai Four Meridians now incorporated the newly opened Yin Qiao and Yangqiao meridians into its path. However, this was still just a Small Circulation Cycle.

Only when all eight meridians were complete would it be a true Great Cycle of Heaven. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Meridian Passage Chapter: Great Success, 50/5000]

With his Meridian Passage Technique entering the Great Success Realm, Liu Chen’s Cultivation advanced to the Meridian Passage Middle Stage. His Spiritual Power and Spiritual Sense both doubled, though the improvement to his physical constitution was harder to quantify.

’It’ll take twenty-five days for my Cultivation Technique to reach the next Realm. The trial should be over by then. I’ll focus on practicing Magic after this. If nothing else, I definitely have to go check out what’s at the base of that main peak.’

Liu Chen exhaled a breath of turbid air and glanced at the pillar of light rising into the Nightfall, then prepared to continue cultivating.

Just then, Liu Chen detected two figures approaching his tent. Judging by their attire, they were likely Loose Cultivators—one at the Meridian Passage Beginner stage, the other at Body Tempering Late Stage.

"Xiao Chen of the Xiao Family has come to seek refuge with the Black Feather Dynasty! I hope the Prince will grant me an audience!"

Xiao Chen’s disheveled figure emerged from the darkness. By blending in with Loose Cultivators, he and his Personal Guard had indeed escaped Xiao Shaojie’s pursuit and made it to Fire Dragon Valley.

But entering Fire Dragon Valley was only the beginning of his tragedy. Xiao Shaojie had already made his move, using his status as the Xiao Family’s Young Master to familiarize himself with the various Noble Families and even the Inner Sect Disciples of the Three Immortal Sects. This had thwarted Xiao Chen’s plan to seek refuge with the sects, and he had only managed to escape Xiao Shaojie’s subsequent pursuit after much difficulty.

"The Second Prince is resting. You can get lost."

’I’ve never heard of the Xiao Family, but I don’t want to get involved in this mess. Besides, the so-called Second Prince is long dead. I’m only staying here to use the Black Feather Dynasty’s reputation as a deterrent so I can cultivate in peace.’

’This arrangement won’t last long anyway. Once the other three Princes arrive, my cover will be blown sooner or later.’

’I didn’t expect the first to find me wouldn’t be Cultivators from the Black Feather Dynasty, but someone from the Xiao Family. A family that can afford a Meridian Passage Realm Guard must be quite powerful. I just wonder if they’re from the Black Feather Dynasty or the Great Xia Dynasty.’

"Senior, please calm your anger! This junior is willing to offer the Xiao Family’s Family Swordsmanship. I ask that Senior be accommodating."

Xiao Chen took a swordsmanship manual from his Storage Ring and presented it respectfully. ’I don’t know why that bastard Xiao Shaojie is still trying to hunt me to extinction even after getting the Spirit Sword and the swordsmanship manual,’ he thought, ’but since he’s shown no mercy, he can’t blame me for seeking refuge with the Black Feather Dynasty to survive.’

’The Xiao Family has nothing to do with me anymore, anyway. If it comes to it, I’ll just re-establish the Xiao Family in the Black Feather Dynasty.’

Inside the tent, Liu Chen reached out a hand, and the swordsmanship manual flew directly inside. ’No reason to turn down a free swordsmanship manual.’

’Frosty Winter Seven Tribulation Sword?’

Liu Chen, who had only intended to take a small advantage, narrowed his eyes. ’Isn’t this the same swordsmanship manual I bought at the Black Market along with the Snowflake Sword?’

’I was originally planning to practice it to deal with the Nangong Family, but then I discovered my Basic Sword Skill alone was enough to sweep aside Yu Haenze’s two Meridian Passage Realm Guards, so I gave up on learning it.’

’Now, the Nangong Family is down to its last heir, Nangong Ye, and he’s being hunted by a Prince of the Black Feather Dynasty. Under these circumstances, I feel there’s no need to practice this swordsmanship at all. How did it end up being connected to the Xiao Family, and their Family Swordsmanship at that?’

"The Second Prince is not here. When he returns, I will pass on your message."

Liu Chen didn’t voice his confusion. He had already found it strange that the Snowflake Sword came with a swordsmanship manual when he bought it. He figured there must have been some misunderstanding at the Black Market back then, but since the misunderstanding had already occurred, there was no need to explain it now.

’After this, though, I’ll be able to practice the Frosty Winter Seven Tribulation Sword openly on Purple Bamboo Peak. It wouldn’t be surprising for it to have been found among the Loose Cultivators in Fire Dragon Valley and eventually end up in the hands of a Spirit Chef.’

’The fact that I killed Yu Haoxi can’t be hidden forever. Others might not know if he’s still alive, but the Black Feather Dynasty will definitely find out. If they didn’t have a way to know, the Cyan Eagle Crying Blood would be a joke.’

’It’s only because the trial is still ongoing that they haven’t sent someone to investigate yet.’

"May I ask, Senior, when will the Second Prince return?"

Xiao Chen couldn’t help but ask. He had finally found a Prince’s location and offered his Family Swordsmanship, only to be told the Second Prince wasn’t here. If he hadn’t already been through countless near-death experiences recently, he would have charged straight in.

In the past, relying on his status as the Xiao Family’s Young Master, he certainly would have had the guts to do so. But not now. Now, he was no better than a stray dog.

He was even more pathetic than an ordinary Loose Cultivator. At least an ordinary Loose Cultivator wasn’t being hunted by the Xiao Family.

"The Xiao Family, I’ll remember it. I will report to the Holy Emperor that the Xiao Family intends to meddle in the struggle for succession."

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. ’I have no idea what’s actually going on, so I’ll just make something up. I need to get rid of these two quickly so I can go back to cultivating in peace.’

"Senior, it’s a misunderstanding! The Xiao Family has no such intention."

The Guard, who had been standing to the side with his head lowered, spoke up hastily. ’Xiao Chen is a traitor to the Xiao Family,’ he thought. ’But I’ve already pledged my allegiance to the Young Master. If this waste of space brings the wrath of the Black Feather Dynasty down on the Xiao Family, I’ll probably be cast aside as a pawn.’

"Uncle Liu, what are you doing?"

Xiao Chen’s eyes widened. This was the first time Uncle Liu—who had helped him all the way from the Xiao Family to the Purple Cloud Valley Marketplace, and then to Fire Dragon Valley—had shown any concern for the Xiao Family’s fate. ’Shouldn’t we be thinking about razing the current Xiao Family to the ground and rebuilding it?’

The moment Xiao Chen spoke, Liu Chen’s Spiritual Sense washed over them. Uncle Liu, who had been standing, immediately dropped to his knees, leaving only a bewildered Xiao Chen standing there alone.

"Senior, forgive me! Xiao Chen is a traitor to the Xiao Family! I was ordered by the Young Master to follow him only to retrieve the Xiao Family’s ancestral Patriarch’s Token, the Snowflake Sword! The Xiao Family has no intention of interfering in the struggle for succession. I hope Senior can be magnanimous!"

Sweat beaded on Uncle Liu’s forehead. He had originally thought the one here was just an ordinary Meridian Passage Realm Guard, but the Spiritual Sense just now had shattered his illusion.

"So that’s why the Xiao Family knew our every move! It was you!"