newbobooks Chapter 332 Sparring
Chapter 332 Sparring
Chapter 332 Sparring
Inside the cave, Chen Yi gently rubbed his cuff with his fingertips. Although his gaze was fixed on the void, his thoughts were racing.
On the day Chen Yi reached Nascent Soul stage, Ji Wuchen and Qiu Li silently supported him, taking the attacks from the Black Serpent and Lin Yunsheng. This was one of their acts of kindness to Chen Yi. Secondly, after leaving the secret realm, Ji Wuchen's smooth and seamless performance, and even his secret intervention to wipe away the traces left by that bald monk Yuanzhen, were also real causes and effects.
Debts of gratitude are the hardest to repay.
As for the early-stage fourth-tier Thunder Spirit Wine that Ji Wuchen requested—
Chen Yi silently muttered to himself that long before he formed his Nascent Soul, that thing was no longer a challenge for him.
Now that he has formed his Nascent Soul, his divine sense is as vast as the sea, and his magical power has undergone a qualitative leap. If he had a higher-level wine recipe, combined with enough aged Thunder Spirit Origin, he would dare to try brewing Thunder Wine, let alone the early stage, even the mid-stage of the fourth rank.
The problem isn't technology; the problem lies with people.
The second branch of the Ji family.
That behemoth that regards the Thunder Brewing tradition as forbidden and will not allow even a trace of it to leak out.
Once you get involved, you're threatening someone else's livelihood, and that's a cause-and-effect relationship that will never end.
The spiritual tea in the teacup emitted wisps of steam. Chen Yi picked it up and took a small sip, concealing the glint in his eyes. He didn't directly agree, but instead raised the most crucial point of contention: "Brother Ji, if I remember correctly, you once mentioned that the Ji family's ancestral precepts strictly forbid anyone outside the clan from possessing fourth-tier Thunder Brewing skills?"
Upon hearing this, Ji Wuchen couldn't help but show a look of disappointment and frustration. "Hmph."
Ji Wuchen snorted coldly, "Those old fogies from the second branch of the family are extremely short-sighted!"
He stood up and paced back and forth in the not-so-spacious quiet room, his steps hurried. "They really value this rule more than anything."
But the situation is different now. The second branch's mid-stage fourth-tier brewer, who is the pillar of the family, is nearing the end of his life and his vitality is declining. As a result, the production of his fourth-tier thunder brew has plummeted year after year.
As for the new recruits they're training? A bunch of useless trash, they can't even get close to the fourth tier.
Ji Wuchen suddenly stopped, turned around and stared intently at Chen Yi, his eyes burning: "This is a golden opportunity."
"If Brother Chen can help me produce high-quality Lei Brew, I will be able to crush the second branch with overwhelming force and regain the right to speak."
At that time, I will be the sole heir of the Ji family, and all the clan's resources will be under my control.
At this point, Ji Wuchen lowered his voice slightly, with a hint of probing and a touch of candor: "Of course, in the meantime—Brother Chen might have to face a little bit of pressure."
A little bit?
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow but did not reply.
Ji Wuchen rubbed his fingers awkwardly and continued, "In a few decades, I will be able to break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage."
As for the second branch—although that uncle is in the late Nascent Soul stage, he has been in seclusion for over two hundred years and his lifespan is running out. As long as the clan is not wiped out, he will never easily come out of seclusion to risk his life.
The remaining uncles, at most, are at the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm.
He took a deep breath, his chest heaving: "I, Ji Wuchen, will risk my life to withstand the pressure on you."
But if those old guys behind the scenes are playing dirty tricks, Brother Chen might need to deal with them a bit.
"But I promise!"
Ji Wuchen stepped forward, his tone resolute, "As long as Brother Chen helps me take over the Ji family this time, I will provide all high-level resources from the treasury without hesitation, no matter what you ask!"
You want the horse to run fast, and you want it to withstand thunder.
If this had happened before he reached the Nascent Soul stage, upon hearing that he would be facing a powerful cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage, even if it was just an old monster on his deathbed, Chen Yi would not hesitate to get up and see him off, and carry his cave away overnight.
The risks and rewards are completely disproportionate.
The resource blockade and assassinations brought about by a powerful family are enough to suffocate any lone cultivator.
But now—
Chen Yi put down his teacup and gently ran his fingertips along the warm porcelain surface.
Firstly, Ji Wuchen was truly open and honest this time, laying bare his cards and risks, clearly intending to pull him out of poverty and share wealth with him.
Secondly, he is no longer the same person he once was.
With the Nascent Soul already formed, the resources required for each step of cultivation—from the Vajra Technique and Thunder Spirit Body Refinement to the Thunder Soul Sect's secret methods and even the Divine Refinement Technique—will be astronomical.
Late stage of fourth rank, or even near fifth rank.
At this level, what kind of unclaimed opportunity is there?
Every medicinal herb and every piece of ore either grows in a desolate, man-eating place or is locked in the sect's treasure vault.
Thinking you can break through to a higher realm by hiding in the deep mountains and forests? It's not as easy as it used to be.
not to mention----
He now possesses near-fifth-level divination skills.
This allowed him to see the world in a way that transcended the mundane realities of his present life.
In the vague guidance of the divination, he glimpsed the limitations of this world, a sense of oppression like a cage.
Looking down from this height, the mere second branch of the Ji family is nothing more than a slightly stronger cricket in a cage.
I can handle this kind of pressure.
Chen Yi raised his head, meeting Ji Wuchen's anxious gaze, and said calmly, "Brother Ji, since we've come this far, I won't hide anything from you."
"In terms of skill alone, I do have a good chance of successfully refining that fourth-tier Thunder Brew Spirit Crystal."
Ji Wuchen's pupils suddenly contracted, and he held his breath.
Chen Yi changed the subject: "But even a skilled cook can't cook without rice."
To make this item, one needs the essence of a thunder spirit that has been around for over ten thousand years as a guide, supplemented by the blood essence of a fourth-grade thunder beast. I do not have these things on hand.
and----"
He paused, then tapped his fingers lightly on the table: "If we had a higher-level recipe for Thunder Brewing to refer to, the success rate would be even higher."
"Good! Good! Good!"
Ji Wuchen exclaimed "Good!" three times in succession, so excited that he almost couldn't control the spiritual pressure emanating from his body. He slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Brother Chen is indeed a man of great talent! I knew I hadn't misjudged him!"
"Leave the materials to me! I'll go and mobilize my private coffers right now; I'll even offer a bounty on the black market to gather the necessary supplies for you!"
Ji Wuchen paced back and forth, his face glowing with excitement: "As for the recipe—I can't produce a higher-level one for the time being, but my Ji family's second branch has a forbidden area called Thunder Source Mountain."
There is a strange rock on that mountain, from which one can comprehend the supreme mysteries of the source of thunder spirit. The thunder brewing tradition of my Ji family today is something our ancestor comprehended from it.
He stopped and solemnly promised, "If this power grab succeeds, I will, on the orders of the family head, invite Brother Chen to Leiyuan Mountain for enlightenment."
And there's my Ji family's famous Cleansing Spirit Pool, with only ten spots available every six months. I'm determined to secure one for Brother Chen!
Leiyuan Mountain, the Cleansing Spirit Pool.
Chen Yi's heart stirred slightly; both of these items were useful to him.
Moreover, Chen Yi knew that Ji Wuchen had paid the price of this spot when he invited Yuan Lingling to guide him.
Given Yuan Lingling's arrogance back then, and her incredibly insightful guidance on the fourth-order body refinement technique, it's clear that the cleansing spirit pool was indeed extremely effective.
"make a deal."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, then held up two fingers. "However, I have one condition. For the next twenty years, Brother Ji must keep this secret for me."
It would be best if the entire Ji family believed that the mysterious fourth-tier Thunder Brewmaster was someone else entirely, and that they absolutely mustn't draw attention to me.
"Twenty years?"
Ji Wuchen was taken aback, then patted his chest and burst into laughter: "What does fifty years matter! Heaven, earth, you, and I know this, and no third person will ever know!"
With the agreement reached, the atmosphere immediately relaxed.
Ji Wuchen sat back down on the stone bench, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drank it all in one gulp.
Perhaps due to the suppression he had endured for too long, he now saw a glimmer of hope for a comeback. This usually shrewd and capable young master of the Ji family suddenly displayed a degree of fanaticism.
"Brother Chen, you have no idea how long I've put up with those old guys."
Ji Wuchen held the empty teacup, his eyes gleaming with a light called ambition. "Their minds are corrupt, they're just sitting around squandering their ancestors' wealth. All they know is how to scheme against this and suppress that, they just want to grab all the resources of the Great Qing cultivation world for themselves."
"What's the use?"
"Even if they accumulate enough power for a thousand years to create a Nascent Soul cultivator, what then? They'll still be trapped in this Great Green prison, and ultimately, they'll all die!"
Ji Wuchen grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, violently waving his arms as if to tear the void before him: "Change is necessary! Innovation is necessary! We must break this stagnant pattern!"
He grabbed Chen Yi's arm, his gaze intense, as if looking at a like-minded revolutionary comrade: "Brother Chen, let's join forces, this time, let's pull off something big!"
In that instant, Chen Yi felt a chill run down his spine.
As if he had been burned, he jerked his arm back, waved his hands repeatedly, and instinctively leaned his body backward.
"No, no, no! Brother Ji, please be careful what you say!"
Chen Yi looked terrified. "What are you going to do? Don't drag me into this!"
Seeing Ji Wuchen's astonished expression, Chen Yi smiled wryly and pointed to himself: "I risked getting involved with the karma of the second branch of the Ji family to help you this time, purely to repay Brother Ji for his previous loyalty."
As for reforming the Great Green Cultivation World—such a momentous event is beyond my capabilities; I, Chen, am utterly unworthy of it and cannot bear such overwhelming consequences.
What a joke.
innovation?
That would involve bloodshed, and it would require risking one's life.
Chen Yi shook his head inwardly. He did indeed have his own plans, even more far-reaching and profound than Ji Wuchen's.
But some things can only be done, not said.
Once it is spoken, it is a secret revealed, and a way out is cut off.
Looking at Ji Wuchen's face, which was filled with "grand ambitions," Chen Yi sighed silently in his heart.
Our paths diverge.
If you want to be that shooting star that streaks across the night, I won't stop you.
But I, Chen Yi, only want to be that ancient tortoise that lives to the very end.
"Brother Ji, just let me know when you have all the materials ready. We can talk about the rest later."
"Alright, Brother Chen, wait for my news."
Once Ji Wuchen and Chen Yi had reached a decision in secret, they did not delay any longer.
This cultivator, who was usually calm and collected, suddenly seemed to be walking with a bit of urgency. His figure blurred and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the sky. He was clearly going to prepare those important materials.
Qiu Li followed closely behind, nodded slightly to Chen Yi, turned and stepped into the depths of the cave. The stone door slammed shut, beginning a new round of seclusion.
The huge courtyard suddenly became empty, and the wind swirled up a few fallen leaves, rustling as they brushed against the ground.
Chen Yi was about to turn around when he saw a figure still standing in the same spot.
Today she wore a silver, form-fitting outfit that accentuated her stunning figure. She was extremely tall, with long, straight legs, and exuded an imposing aura of strength.
Her long hair was tied up high with a silver ribbon, revealing her smooth, full forehead and her sharp eyes that shone with a faint silver light.
It is a kind of aggressive beauty, like a peerless sword drawn from its sheath, which makes the surrounding air sharp just by standing there.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, the night is long, why not lend a hand again?"
Yuan Lingling spoke, her voice clear and resonant, carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
A slight smile played on her lips, and a hint of eager anticipation flickered in her eyes.
Chen Yi stopped, his gaze sweeping over the spirited woman, a smile appearing on his face: "Alright. Three moves, please?"
Upon hearing this, the air between the two seemed to freeze for a moment.
The scenes from decades ago are still vivid in my mind.
When Ji Wuchen first introduced her, Yuan Lingling was as arrogant as a deity in the clouds. She only made three moves before turning her back and leaving behind the words, "I hope that one day you can become one of us."
At that time, Chen Yi was just a promising junior in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Yuan Lingling paused slightly, then shook her head. The arrogance in her eyes diminished, replaced by a solemnity in the face of a peer.
"No restrictions on techniques, let's learn and discuss together."
In just a few decades, the person before me is no longer the same as before.
Yuan Lingling is confident, but not blindly so.
Chen Yi's aura was calm and unwavering, and even though he stood there motionless, he still made Chen Yi feel an inexplicable pressure.
Moreover, a huge question always lingered in his mind.
Who is Silver Horn?
Why would someone with such brilliant insight favor a human cultivator so much?
In terms of bloodline origins, the Silver Spirit Clan, to which Yuan Lingling belongs, is the direct descendant of the Lord. If Chen Yi possesses something that even Silver Horn desires, then, given their proximity, this opportunity should surely fall into her lap.
Chen Yi didn't say much, but simply turned slightly to the side and made a "please" gesture.
The two figures flashed and arrived at the training ground.
The area is surrounded by reinforced formations, and the ground is paved with black mystic stone, enough to withstand the onslaught of a fourth-level cultivator.
"please."
"please."
The two clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.
The moment the ceremony ended, Yuan Lingling's demeanor changed abruptly.
Within her tall, slender figure, it was as if a dormant volcano had been instantly awakened.
"Please instruct me on this 'Fireworks' move."
Before she finished speaking, Yuan Lingling suddenly spread her five fingers wide.
hum!
A low, resonant tremor emanated from the surrounding space.
Her fair, jade-like hands now possessed a metallic quality, a testament to her exceptional physical talent.
The fire elemental energy and spatial energy that roamed freely in the world seemed to be summoned by an emperor, frantically converging into her palm.
In an instant, five thin, yet dazzlingly bright silver lines took shape at his fingertips.
Those were not pure silver threads, but rather the product of flames being compressed to their extreme and forcibly fused with the power of space.
At the end of the silver thread, sparks exploded, dazzling like fireworks, yet exuding a chilling aura of destruction.
The power gathered from this strike firmly placed him at the peak of the early stage of the fourth tier.
Compared to those three perfunctory moves back then, the power pulsating from Yuan Lingling's fingertips now is several times stronger.