Was Xiao Chen the Destiny's Chosen?

Elder Chen immediately analyzed, "You may not have heard of it, but Fortune Theory was once popular in the Cultivation World."

"Some people are born bearing Heaven's favor above and fate's blessing below. They are called Children of Destiny."

"Fortune is elusive and unpredictable, like clouds and mist veiling the sun, like flowing water in its constancy. Generally speaking, there is no need to pay attention to it."

"However, your situation resembles being Fortune-Blessed. That is why everything has gone so smoothly for you during this period."

Xiao Chen let out a slight sigh of relief. So that was what you meant. I nearly thought Hextech had been discovered.

Manager Chen was so astonished that he could not close his mouth. "Could Xiao Chen be the Destiny's Chosen?"

Elder Chen waved a hand. "Not quite. His circumstances clearly do not qualify him for that. In my view, he merely has a little fortune by his side."

"Compared to the Destiny's Chosen, he is but a single grain in the vast sea. Still, he must not be underestimated. If he makes good use of it, Foundation Establishment may be within reach in the future."

At that, Manager Chen smiled first.

In a place like Li Province, achieving Foundation Establishment was already remarkable.

When traveling abroad and roaming the four corners, most Rogue Cultivators had to respectfully address one as a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

In some smaller cultivation families, the strongest member of the clan was merely an ancestor at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Xiao Chen, however, remained very calm. His current goal was only to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining as soon as possible and obtain a new Hextech Enhancement.

As for the future, Foundation Establishment was only the beginning. His goal was to Transcend Tribulation and Ascend, proving the path to eternal life.

A cultivator who did not wish to become an immortal was no good cultivator.

Elder Chen had been observing Xiao Chen's expression all along. Seeing this, he nodded slightly.

Not bad. Hearing such joyous news as Foundation Establishment being within reach, yet keeping such an ordinary expression—he was a promising talent.

With a brush of his hand over his waist, he took out a Bright Pearl. "In my opinion, you will likely cross the minor bottleneck of Late-Stage Qi Refining and enter the Inner Sect within two years."

"When that time comes, you will inevitably have to go out on missions, representing the sect as you uphold righteousness and slay demons and devils."

"As it happens, I have a Golden Light Pearl here. I will give it to you in advance; it can serve as some assistance when the time comes."

Manager Chen gave Xiao Chen a meaningful look. "Why aren't you quickly thanking the Elder? I heard that since entering the sect, you have not gone out to acquire any Dharma artifacts. This pearl is just what you need."

Only after Xiao Chen thanked him and accepted it did he continue his instructions. "A Dharma artifact like the Golden Light Pearl requires nurturing the artifact with qi. Keep it on you often in the future, and you will achieve twice the result with half the effort."

Many Dharma artifacts had such a trait. By staying with a cultivator year after year and linking their qi mechanisms, they became easier to wield.

That was why those disciples from Great Families had all uniformly chosen the Three Stars Synergy Technique.

Although some of them had other channels through which to obtain the cultivation manual for the Three Stars Synergy Technique, that would ultimately be taboo. It was better to choose it openly and aboveboard like this.

Next, Elder Chen took out another Peach Blossom. "I heard from Zhi'an that you have broken through consecutively over the past half year. Such rapid advancement will inevitably leave your aura unsteady, which is detrimental to your subsequent cultivation."

"I also have a Purple Peach Blossom here. I will give it to you as well. This flower can Consolidate Foundation and Nourish Origin, making it most suitable for strengthening one's foundation."

Manager Chen added, "There are no special requirements for consuming the Purple Peach Blossom. There is only one thing to note: after taking it, immediately circulate your cultivation technique to disperse its medicinal properties."

"It is best to prepare more than two hours for circulating your technique, lest it go to waste."

Xiao Chen accepted it with both hands. "Thank you for your concern, Elder. This disciple will certainly remember it in his heart."

"Mm." Elder Chen nodded in satisfaction once more. "You must also keep a peaceful mindset and guard against arrogance and impatience."

"I have seen many talented disciples whose cultivation surpassed those of their peers while they were still young. Many even reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining Ninth Layer before the age of thirty."

"But some of them, under such circumstances, grew full of themselves and looked down on everything. In the end, they became trapped by bottlenecks, accomplished nothing, and wasted their talents for nothing."

"You must not learn from such people. If you are to learn, then learn more from outstanding examples like Song Zhongwen and Jiang Cungang."

Seeing a trace of confusion on Xiao Chen's face, Elder Chen slapped his thigh. "Look at me—I forgot that you are not from a cultivation family."

"Jiang Cungang is the third child of the Jiang Family Main Lineage. Back when he joined the Outer Sect, he broke through to the 7th level of Qi Refining in only two and a half years."

"He is now at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Elder Jiang of the Pill Refining Hall took notice of him and accepted him as a Direct Disciple. He officially became a First-Order Pill Refiner the year before last and received a post within the sect."

"Song Zhongwen is the eldest son of the Song Family Sixth Branch. Back then, he entered the Inner Sect in only two years."

"He is now at Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Elder Song of the market town took notice of him and accepted him as a Direct Disciple. Three years ago, he went traveling in search of an opportunity for breakthrough, which is why you had not heard of him before."

Listening to all this Elder Jiang and Elder Song talk, Xiao Chen seriously suspected that this was not simply their own people showing favoritism.

But now was not the time to think about that. "This disciple understands. From now on, I will take these two senior brothers as examples and strive to enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible."

Hearing this, Elder Chen smiled kindly. "Good. Very good."

"When you previously broke through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer, Zhi'an mentioned you to me. I told him then that I thought highly of your long-term prospects. Now, it has indeed come true."

At the side, Manager Chen's eyes widened. Was that what you said back then? You clearly said he had no value worth cultivating.

Still, he had to help cover up the lie. "That's right. Third Uncle thought you had potential back then. You must cultivate well in the future and not disappoint Third Uncle's expectations."

Xiao Chen immediately declared, "This disciple will certainly discipline himself strictly and focus on cultivation, striving to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining as soon as possible."

After the three chatted briefly about everyday matters, Manager Chen took the initiative to lead Xiao Chen away and bid farewell.

Once the two emerged from the garden, Manager Chen waved his hand and took out a small jade bottle. "I do not have much at hand to give you, so I will gift you a bottle of Qi Gathering Pills."

Qi Gathering Pills were twice as effective as Qi Nourishing Pills and were also very well-known supplementary cultivation pills.

"Thank you for your guidance, Manager. I..."

Before Xiao Chen could finish, Manager Chen raised a hand to interrupt him. "No need to be polite with me. Just remember the Elder's guidance."

"Alright, I have something to do nearby. Return on your own."

Xiao Chen watched Manager Chen head toward the summit. "Understood. Take care, Manager."

Only then did he return along the original path to Branch 2 and his little house.

In the half month or so surrounding the Trial, his wealth had multiplied several dozen times, and he had also gained quite a few things.

Now that he finally had some free time, he could sort through them properly.

Aside from Spirit Stones, he had obtained a suspected Inner Core, a Storage Box, a Stealth Cloak, and a copy of the Star Gazing Qi Observation Technique during the Trial.

He had just received the Golden Light Pearl, Purple Peach Blossom, and Qi Gathering Pills as well. His arms were nearly stuffed full.

Whenever this happened, Xiao Chen longed to enter the Inner Sect sooner and receive the Storage Bag issued by the sect.

Now that he had the Purple Peach Blossom and Qi Gathering Pills to aid his cultivation, that day presumably would not be far off.

But before that, there was one matter he needed to handle quickly—searching through records to identify the Inner Core.

This was the foremost task after returning to the mountain.

Once he confirmed that it truly was an Inner Core, it would become Xiao Chen's most valuable harvest from this Trial, without question.

A Spirit Beast's Inner Core could play a crucial role whether one was breaking through to Late-Stage Qi Refining or attempting Foundation Establishment.

Of course, all that depended on it truly being an Inner Core rather than a beautiful misunderstanding.

Normally, such important records had to be consulted at the Main Scripture Pavilion on Main Peak. Outer Sect Disciples had no authority to access it at all.

Fortunately, during the past three years, Xiao Chen had discovered a small loophole he could exploit.