Chapter 377 - Seventh River Stage
Even Long Chen himself could not remember how large his haul was. Both him and Xiaolang enjoyed a complete change in reputation after returning from the Pyro Passageways.
After the three Demon Elders left in a rage, everyone eyed this extraordinary person in awe, only accepting the truth after Zhao Qingyun had made the announcement.
Then Zhao Qingyun smiled and said, “Long Chen, to celebrate your receiving of the two stages of the Demon Seed Planting Technique, the Heavenly Demon Palace shall hold a grand feast. What do you think?”
“There’s no need for that,” Long Chen said hurriedly. “Master, I’m actually itching to cultivate the Demon Seed Planting Technique now. How could I have time for a feast?”
Zhao Qingyun genuinely approved of this and said, “You’re a good kid. You live up to the name of being my disciple with that desire to improve. If you work this hard, you’re much better than some disciples already. If that is the case, everyone, you may return!”
Under Zhao Qingyun’s instructions, everyone left unwillingly. They all wanted to see Long Chen a few more times. He was the teenager who had shaken the whole Heavenly Demon Palace, the guy who had broken the Heavenly Demon Palace’s records!
“The Demon Seed Planting Technique has two stages, and I have both scriptures with me. Since you have already successfully cultivated Traceless Demon Shadow, return it to me.” Zhao Qingyun took out two books similar to the Traceless Demon Shadow scripture, though they were not as thick.
“Thank you, Master!” After he received the Demon Seed Planting Technique, he gave Zhao Qingyun the Traceless Demon Shadow scripture from his Universe Pouch and said, “Master, if there’s nothing else, may I return?”
“Mhm!” Zhao Qingyun nodded with a smile. He was proud that Long Chen had worked hard and had not slacked off.
In reality, Long Chen was not that impatient to cultivate the Demon Seed Planting Technique. He was just worried that Yang Danfeng would attack Wang Xing, an innocent bystander. After bidding Zhao Qingyun farewell, he rushed back to the Azure Cloud Residence as fast as he could. Thankfully, Wang Xing was fine.
“Brother Chen, you’ve returned from the Pyro Passageways!” Wang Xing was overjoyed to see Long Chen, and quickly ran up to him.
“Brother Chen, how many Fire Essences did you get? Fifty? A hundred?” Wang Xing asked admiringly.
“I got two thousand. Do you believe me?” Long Chen said with a smile.
“Brother Chen, you and your jokes!” Wang Xing chuckled.
“It doesn’t matter how many I got anymore. But I did get the Demon Seed Planting Technique,” Long Chen said with a grin.
“That’s awesome! I knew you were stronger than Yang Jun,” said Wang Xing.
“Wang Xing, it’s a chaotic time in the Heavenly Demon Palace. Stay in my room for the next few days. Don’t go anywhere, and you don’t need to do anything else. If someone says something, just tell them that these were my instructions. If they have questions, they can ask me!”
“Huh?” Wang Xing was confused. As an errand boy, he had many chores to do every day. He was the only one dealing with daily chores for the nine direct disciples.
However, the other eight direct disciples rarely saw Zhao Qingyun. Long Chen was his favorite, and also the strongest. After some thought, he felt like he would be fine if he listened to Long Chen.
“This is for your own good. It’s fine to stay here too. If you have anything you don’t understand related to cultivation, I can explain it today. From today onwards, I will be training here, and you can cultivate in this yard. If anything out of the ordinary happens, shout. Do you understand?” Long Chen did not actually have to take Wang Xing’s safety this seriously, since they were merely acquaintances. However, he did not want his personal matters to bring harm to others, which was why he was being extra careful.
“Understood!” Wang Xing agreed hurriedly.
Long Chen nodded, and with a light tap of his foot, he leaped up to the roof. This was the spot nearest to the stars. Due to Wang Xing being here, he could not go to the peak of Demon Emperor Mountain.
Plus, I don’t know if the three old geezers are angry enough to attack me. That’s why it’s best I don’t go to the peak too often.
After making his decision, he prepared to start cultivating, though not before giving Xiaolang all his remaining Fire Essences and Divine Essence Crystals.
“Xiaolang, there are a lot of Fire Essences and Divine Essence Crystals here. Is this enough for you to reach Category Nine Earth-tier?” Long Chen asked expectantly.
Xiaolang shook his head.
“It takes that many fire treasures to reach Category Nine?” Long Chen was a little tongue-tied. He could not afford to keep feeding the little brat at all. He had consumed countless Ember Beast demonic cores in the Pyro Passageways, as well as Divine Ember Beast demonic cores, Fire Essences, and Divine Essence Crystals. Yet it was not enough for him to reach Category Nine Earth-tier.
After Long Chen gave him all his Fire Essences and Divine Essence Crystals, Xiaolang left happily. He would likely find a spot nearby to refine them on his own. After he left, Long Chen finally prepared for his own work.
I’ve gotten so many things from this trip. Both stages of the Demon Seed Planting Technique and the Frost Soul Essence. First, I should use the Frost Soul Essence to boost my cultivation level, thought Long Chen.
He was constantly thinking about becoming stronger so he could storm the Biyang Imperial Capital, so he did not waste any time.
He took out the Frost Soul Essence.
It was a cold, icy core made out of thick, condensed earthly Qi. After swallowing it, it would melt into spiritual Qi and turn into the person’s Qi. Although the Frost Soul Essence was only the size of a thumb, it would give him a great boost.
Long Chen placed the Frost Soul Essence in his mouth without hesitation. It instantly turned into an icy fluid that rushed into his throat. He then felt a bone-chilling cold, as if he was in a freezer. The coldness spread from inside of his body to outside, and he could feel every blood vessel and organ in him become numb and turn into solid ice.
I need to quickly refine and cultivate it!
This was the only thought in his mind. Instant improvement was impossible. Although the Frost Soul Essence could help him, it contained a lot of cold Qi. If he did not resist or use enough Qi to cultivate, he would freeze to death.
“Ha!”
Long Chen let out a cry and exhaled a cold, blue breath. His Qi started to flow, and his frozen blood vessels were cleared by the vibrations. The ice shards that were shaken off all turned into blue Qi molecules, which were absorbed by Long Chen’s blood-red Qi.
The ice that had formed in Long Chen’s body all melted and merged with his Qi due to the powerful heat generated from the burning Qi in his body. When he was strong enough to control the cold from spreading, he would finally be able to enjoy its essence.
In the beginning, a layer of frost covered the surface of his body. Then it slowly melted and was absorbed into his body, merging with his Qi.
As time passed, more and more energy from the Frost Soul Essence turned into his own energy, and his Qi levels skyrocketed. After one night, he reached a breaking point and knew that the time for a breakthrough had arrived.
He was going to reach the Seventh River Stage.
This was a level he had not reached before, and it had long been his dream. There was a huge gap between the sixth and seventh stages, as it signified progressing from the intermediate to the advanced Heavenly River Realm.
A large amount of Qi surged through his body, almost causing his vessels to explode. What he needed to do next was use the energy harnessed from the stars to stabilize his body. Then, using his Qi, he would condense the seventh pair of Star Rivers in his body.
The Heavenly River Pills he had taken from Song Zhongcheng of the Harmony family were enough to last him until the Eighth River Stage. That was why he was not worried about the number of pills in his possession. There was enough in his Universe Pouch, and with his current status, Zhao Qingyun would surely give him many more as long as he asked.
A bright ray of starlight poured from the sky into Long Chen’s body, immersing him in dreamy starlight. The Heavenly River Pills he consumed interacted with the starlight, and ripples formed on Long Chen’s body.
He meticulously condensed the seventh pair of star rivers inside him.
Time passed slowly, and the requirements were fulfilled. This breakthrough was very quick. Soon after he consumed the Heavenly River Pills, the starlight on his body slowly faded away. His eyes sprang open and two bright rays of light shot out of them like a pair of swords flying through the sky!
The rays of light were very attention-catching in the night sky.
Whoosh! Zhao Qingyun appeared not far behind Long Chen. Long Chen had already closed his eyes and began quietly cultivating again. He sensed that he had only used half of the Frost Soul Essence’s power. There was still another half left for him to refine.
“Isn’t this ... the scent of the Frost Soul Essence?” Zhao Qingyun was very surprised. There had been instances of a Frost Soul Essence appearing in the Pyro Passageways before. He never expected Long Chen to find one ...
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