Cultivation knew no years; in the blink of an eye, twenty days had passed.
The contest between the Chen and Luo families was no longer anything new in the Moon Gazing Mountain Range.
After all, cultivators of the Southern Profound Domain were naturally fond of fighting, and life-and-death contests were commonplace.
However, the two families held such a contest once every ten years, wagering on which family could claim a larger share of the Little Bamboo Peak spirit mine's mining rights.
The stakes could not be called light, and the contest between the two families consisted of three matches.
They respectively involved the three major cultivation realms of late Qi Refining, Mid Qi Refining, and early Qi Refining.
Each match had to produce a victor, so the cultivators of both families naturally went all out.
The gap between Qi Refining cultivators of the same realm was not great, and the contest did not permit external items beyond one's cultivation realm.
When the cultivators of the two families fought, they would naturally clash with real blades and real staves, making the magical battles a spectacular sight.
To the cultivators on the southern foothills of the Moon Gazing Mountain Range, this was a grand event that came only once every decade.
Many cultivators had headed to Little Bamboo Peak early, claiming viewing spots in advance as they waited for the contest to begin.
Some wished to observe and learn from it, some merely wanted to watch the excitement, and some sought to gather intelligence.
Some had even prepared Image Recording Jade Slips long beforehand, intending to record the entire event.
Jade slips containing magical battles where both sides went all out and fought to the death sold quite well in the market, bringing in a considerable number of spirit stones.
In order to secure prime viewing spots, quite a few cultivators had already come into conflict, even resorting to magical combat.
However, Azure Profound Sect cultivators were stationed at the Little Bamboo Peak spirit mine. Fearing they might disturb the peace of their betters, these cultivators did not dare act too recklessly.
Yet Chen Heng, one of the parties involved, did not care at all about the turmoil outside.
He immersed himself wholeheartedly in his comprehension under Lu Qi enhancement.
Although Qi Refining cultivators had not yet reached fasting and could not escape worldly needs, still requiring food, drink, excretion, and sleep,
the old servant Uncle Fu stood guard outside his door, so Chen Heng naturally did not need to concern himself with such mundane affairs.
However, under the enhancement of Lu Qi, his appetite had greatly increased.
The portions of Spirit Rice, demonic beast meat, and Spirit Cuisine originally supplied by the Chen family could no longer satisfy Chen Heng's needs.
The elder responsible for distributing supplies had originally been quite critical of this.
But when he considered that Chen Heng might not even survive the contest, he said nothing further.
He even silently increased Chen Heng's allotment by quite a bit.
Chen Heng felt nothing toward this warmth or goodwill. To him, it felt somewhat like giving a condemned prisoner a full meal before sending him on the road.
However, his progress in the body-tempering technique, Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation,
came to a complete halt after Chen Heng condensed ten Divine Ape Spirit Marks and attained the strength of one hundred thousand jin.
After all, this technique was incomplete, and there was no continuation beyond this point.
He was helpless about it, but there was nothing he could do.
He could only sigh inwardly: this mysterious arcane mirror was ultimately not the Martial Ancestor's Stone Talisman, capable of deducing and perfecting techniques.
However, Chen Heng had made a new discovery.
When he had chosen his techniques, the elder who transmitted techniques at the Lineage's Scripture Pavilion had once said:
"The path of cultivation resides in one's own heart. If you wish to achieve success in cultivation, do not force yourself to suit a technique; seek instead a technique that suits yourself."
"Never covet strange arts and exotic methods. Only what accords with oneself is the best strategy."
Chen Heng deeply agreed, which was why he had chosen the three techniques: [Fiery Eyes Water Ape Transformation], [Water Fire Heaven-Reaching Staff Technique], and [Water Fire Defense Scripture].
But only now did he discover that these three techniques likely came from the same source.
Unfortunately, the most important cultivation techniques among them—the body-tempering technique—could only be cultivated to Mid Qi Refining.
If he could cultivate them to Peak Qi Refining, Chen Heng could wait until after Foundation Establishment before considering changing his cultivation technique.
But now, once he entered Mid Qi Refining, he would have to begin planning for it.
On the path of cultivation, wealth, companions, techniques, and a place to cultivate truly lacked none of the four.
That day.
Halfway up Jade Spring Mountain, a streak of escaping light swept down from above and landed before the small wooden cabin where Chen Heng lived at the foot of the mountain.
The old servant Uncle Fu, who had been waiting outside the cabin, hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. "This old servant greets Fourth Elder."
The newcomer waved a hand, signaling him to step forward and ring the bell to summon Chen Heng.
Ding!
A sound like a clear spring flowing arose, audible both inside and outside the wooden cabin.
The two waited for a moment, but the cabin door remained tightly shut.
Fourth Elder frowned deeply, impatience written across his face as he prepared to push the door open and enter directly.
At that moment, Chen Heng, who had heard the bell while in the underground meditation chamber, hurriedly ceased his cultivation and rose to his full height.
At this moment, the ten Divine Ape Spirit Marks spread across his arms, shoulders, chest, and back were like ten demonic beasts, containing terrifying strength.
Unfortunately, because the technique was incomplete, he could not condense Divine Ape Spirit Marks on his legs.
To him, increasing his agility and ability to flee was more important.
Chen Heng put on an ordinary gray robe, then left the underground meditation chamber without haste. He strolled to the door and opened it.
Just in time to see the visitor reaching out to push his way inside.
His cultivation dwelling was rather simple and located in a remote place. Few people came here, and he had not set up any profound formations or restrictions.
It truly could not stop someone determined to break in.
The man had shadowed eyes, a lean build, and wore black robes. There was nothing particularly distinctive about his features.
Yet Chen Heng recognized him at a glance. He was Chen Xinshen, the Fourth Elder responsible for the Chen family's external intelligence gathering.
Chen Xinshen did not know Chen Heng's past. He had only learned of Chen Heng's existence within the Lineage on the day of the drawing.
He casually looked Chen Heng up and down. Seeing that his aura was restrained and his breath steady,
he knew Chen Heng should be a Lineage disciple devoted to cultivation. It was a pity that he had been forced to take part in the contest.
However, the contest roster had long since been finalized and could not be changed.
Chen Xinshen's expression eased slightly as he slowly said, "Chen Heng, the contest roster has already been submitted to the superior sect and cannot be changed."
Hearing this, Chen Heng raised a brow and could not help muttering inwardly, Wasn't this decided long ago? He came here like a cat crying over a dead mouse, putting on false compassion.
Chen Xinshen ignored the subtle change in Chen Heng's expression and continued, "This is the intelligence jade slip on your designated opponent, Luo Yuyan of the Luo Family."
"This woman possesses a superior-grade wind spiritual root. The Luo Family's protection of her is exceptionally strict, and the intelligence gathered by our Lineage is not extensive."
"Chen Heng, take care of yourself. The drawing was a decision discussed by the clan elders. Do not harbor resentment toward the Lineage."
After saying this, Chen Xinshen patted Chen Heng on the shoulder and handed him a jade slip.
He then turned and departed on a flying artifact without looking back.
In his view, Chen Heng likely had no hope of defeating the Luo Family's heaven-blessed daughter, Luo Yuyan.
The best possible outcome would be for him to end up crippled and drag out a miserable existence for the rest of his life.
Azure Profound Sect claimed to be a righteous sect, after all. In the contest, once someone completely lost the ability to fight, they would not stand by and watch the other side brazenly continue killing.
However, the Chen and Luo families had all manner of old grudges and disputes between them.
If they had an opportunity to openly and honorably eliminate the other, the cultivators of both families naturally would not show mercy.
Spells were merciless. In a contest of magical arts, anything could happen.
Chen Heng tightened his grip on the jade slip in his hand, then shook his head and smiled in relief.
What was there to dwell on over the Lineage's little scraps of favor? It was more important to focus first on the coming contest.
Thus,
he returned to the underground meditation chamber, sat cross-legged on a simple meditation cushion, pressed the intelligence jade slip to his forehead, and read the contents recorded within.
"Luo Yuyan possesses a superior-grade wind spiritual root and cultivates the [Wind Origin Sword Canon]. Her movements are nimble and graceful, her magical combat ability sharp and fierce. She once slew a mid-stage first-rank Gale Demonic Wolf alone with a single sword..."
Chen Heng frowned deeply. This intelligence was far too scant. Aside from her cultivation technique being rather distinctive and thus recognized by the Chen family,
the jade slip recorded nothing about what spells she had mastered, her habits in magical combat, or the artifacts she used most often.
This Fourth Elder had been quite forthright. Everything he said had been the plain truth.
Before you continue