Chapter 130: This Junior Brother Was Too Greedy

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: This Junior Brother Was Too Greedy

"My apologies, Brother Kuang."

Xie Xichen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked at Thunderstorm, who had fallen to the ground. ’If not for the Spiritual Cuisine that stabilized my cultivation recently, I really might not have won this.’

"I lost. A Second Grade Spirit Chef truly is incredible."

Thunderstorm slowly rose to his feet, a helpless look in his eyes. When he fought Xie Xichen in the outer ring, they were evenly matched. How long had it been, and yet his opponent could now defeat him? It had to be the work of that Spirit Chef. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for such a gap in their combat strength to appear in such a short time.

"In that case, this pillar of light belongs to Purple Cloud Valley."

Xie Xichen didn’t respond, instead taking out a Token to activate the pillar of light.

Seeing this, Nangong Ye narrowed his eyes, turned, and walked away. After getting up, Thunderstorm glanced behind him helplessly and could only turn and leave as well.

An hour later, the pillar of light behind Xie Xichen drew in a Spirit Stone, signifying that it had been completely stabilized.

Xie Xichen didn’t leave right away. He waited for half an hour, and only after confirming that no new pillars of light were appearing did he return to the gathering area.

In his room, the Spiritual Qi swirling around Liu Chen suddenly ignited. A flash of insight struck his mind as the Magic Veins for the Lamp Burning Technique were gradually analyzed and restructured, completely changing their original composition and transforming into entirely new Magic Veins.

[Lamp Burning Technique: Unique]

’The essence of its ability to burn anything is that it burns Spiritual Power. Spiritual Power without Magic Veins, or the ambient Spiritual Qi that’s everywhere, can be ignited directly. But igniting an active Magic technique would be more difficult... unless I can see through my opponent’s Magic Veins.’

Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. ’To elevate a Basic Magic Technique from the Perfection Realm to something unique only requires five hours of continuous practice. The Spirit Stones needed for this aren’t an issue for me. The real challenge is the persistence it takes.’

’Without the Proficiency notifications, I could probably only last half an hour. But with them, there’s always something to keep me going.’

After his Lamp Burning Technique’s breakthrough, Liu Chen scanned the area with his Spiritual Sense, then threw on a Black Robe and slipped into the shadows. A few leaps later, he was outside the territory controlled by Purple Cloud Valley.

’There are wandering spirits everywhere. It seems not all the Loose Cultivators have left.’

Liu Chen had originally intended to just go out and clear his head. After cultivating for so long, he was feeling a bit cooped up. At least on Purple Bamboo Peak there was scenery to look at; Fire Dragon Valley had no scenery to speak of.

However, since he had run into these wandering spirits, Liu Chen decided he should help them all cross over. This would prevent a Ghost Cultivator like the Hundred Ghosts Elder from appearing in the future, and it would also conveniently increase his Proficiency with the Soul Crossing Technique.

This was the next technique he wanted to elevate to the Unique level.

[Soul Crossing Technique Proficiency +720]

After clearing away all thirty-six wandering spirits, Liu Chen paid a visit to the area beneath the lava illusion. It was a natural training ground, perfect for practicing other, more disruptive magic techniques.

Beyond that, Liu Chen also wanted to see if any wandering spirits were left from the Black Feather Dynasty’s battle, though he figured the volcanic environment would have greatly accelerated the process of their True Spirits returning to the heavens and earth.

Liu Chen’s guess was correct. The area beneath the lava illusion was empty. Not only were there no wandering spirits, but even the bone piles that were once there had vanished.

’So the final victor of the Black Feather Royal Family’s struggle was Eldest Prince Yu Haoyong. What was the point of that elaborate trial, then? Did they just think having too many Princes was a nuisance?’

Liu Chen recalled the deal for the pillar of light. Senior Brother Yang had explicitly said that the hidden pillar was what Yu Haoyong had traded for Spiritual Cuisine, which confirmed he was the ultimate victor among the Black Feather Royal Family.

Liu Chen shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it. ’It’s the Black Feather Royal Family’s business, and it has nothing to do with me.’

After a stroll through the central area of Fire Dragon Valley, Liu Chen returned to his room and began practicing the Soul Crossing Technique.

An hour later, Liu Chen sensed Senior Brother Yang leave the courtyard and stopped his cultivation. He had seen the pillar of light on the volcano that now belonged to Purple Cloud Valley. ’Since I’m the one who made the offer, I have to provide a free serving of Spiritual Cuisine to the sectmate who fought for it.’

[Soul Crossing Technique Proficiency +2000]

A notification for his Soul Crossing Technique’s Proficiency appeared, but Liu Chen ignored it. He straightened himself up a bit and slowly walked out of the courtyard.

Even with the Purification Technique, the mental exhaustion from going without sleep for so long was bound to show.

"Junior Brother, you haven’t been resting well?"

Yang Haichen walked in from outside the courtyard a moment later and was startled to see Liu Chen. Although his Junior Brother Liu Chen looked no different than usual, he could still sense an aura of exhaustion around him.

"I haven’t rested at all. I’ve been studying the Divine Movement Technique."

Liu Chen came up with a random excuse. ’The Divine Movement Technique was taught by Senior Brother Yang’s master, the Grand Elder of Purple Bamboo Peak. Senior Brother Yang is bound to be studying it too, so this excuse should be convincing enough.’

"The Divine Movement Technique is an Advanced Magic technique, Junior Brother. You don’t have to be in such a hurry. To be honest, I’ve been practicing it for over a month and still haven’t reached the Beginner stage."

Yang Haichen sighed helplessly. The Divine Movement Technique was not an easy skill to cultivate. He was even starting to think he would never be able to master this Advanced Magic in his lifetime.

"I see. It seems I underestimated Advanced Magic."

Liu Chen breathed a sigh of relief, now with a better gauge of how difficult Advanced Magic truly was. ’It seems my progress in practicing magic is completely abnormal. But then again, I used to find it very difficult, too.’

’If I had to pinpoint a turning point, it would be reaching Body Tempering Peak—or more accurately, it was after my Body Tempering Technique fully evolved into something unique. Only then did practicing magic become so smooth.’

’So, it seems evolving a Cultivation Technique to the Unique level really is essential.’

"If you and I can cultivate one or two Basic Magic Techniques to Minor Success before we step into the Meridian Passage Realm, that’s already considered excellent."

Yang Haichen spoke calmly. "Most of the techniques we grasp are only at the Beginner stage. Once an Attacking Skill reaches Minor Success, it’s basically a trump card. Perhaps at higher Realms, only Great Success counts as a trump card, but for Cultivators like us who are just starting out, Minor Success is more than enough."

"As for the Basic Magic Techniques for everyday use, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t reached the Beginner stage, as long as you can cast them."

"You have a point. I guess I was being too greedy."

Liu Chen nodded, silently committing Senior Brother Yang’s words to memory. ’I should do my best not to reveal my true aptitude for magic from now on. I should also get fewer techniques from Senior Brother Yang in the future. I remember where the Black Market is, anyway. Worst case, I’ll just go buy them myself.’

"Oh right, Junior Brother, the rules for the competition over the pillars of light are out. The Three Immortal Sects will face off in pairs. If you still want to provide Spiritual Cuisine, one serving a day will be enough."

Yang Haichen recalled his purpose. Senior Brother Xie Xichen had just come by asking for Spiritual Cuisine; apparently, he planned to represent Purple Cloud Valley and fight again when the pillar of light appeared at midnight.

"That’s perfect. Senior Brother, do you have any spare ingredients? To be honest, I’m a little hungry."

"Of course."