The moment Lu Chen closed his eyes, a vast surge of spiritual energy rose from the depths of his body.
This spiritual energy was so pure and immense that it continuously filled his Heavenly Pool, sea of qi, and meridians.
In an instant, Lu Chen's cultivation threshold was smashed apart by the spiritual energy, carrying him directly to the great completion of the Qi Gathering Realm. The damage to his body also recovered straight to its peak state.
Inside the Twin Fish Plate, Feng Tiancheng had been about to intervene and save Lu Chen when he suddenly sensed an immensely powerful current of spiritual energy erupting from some unknown depth within Lu Chen's body, endlessly repairing him.
The power was so strong that it frightened Feng Tiancheng. He hurriedly used an Imperial Art to divine the future, only for a headless, tailless Divination Verse to appear: Born in response to calamity from the same source as Heaven and Earth; dies in response to calamity from the same source as Heaven and Earth.
"I have never seen nor heard of such a Divination Verse before. Little Lu, who exactly are you?"
Feng Tiancheng increasingly felt that Lu Chen's identity was far from ordinary.
Seeing Lu Chen awaken, the Sky-Swallowing Python immediately became incomparably violent. It no longer tangled with the Divine Tree Tentacles and charged toward Lu Chen, intending to kill him first.
Watching the Sky-Swallowing Python rush at him, Lu Chen had no time to investigate why he had recovered. He had to deal with it as quickly as possible. If his current state vanished, both he and Young Master Jun would die.
"Azure Emperor Divine Tree: Spiritual Energy Absorption!"
Lu Chen continuously controlled the Azure Emperor Divine Tree, extending its tentacles to attack the Sky-Swallowing Python's purple eye between its brows.
By now, the wound on the Sky-Swallowing Python's brow had become especially deep. Its blood was endlessly absorbed by the Divine Tree Tentacles, and its aura grew weaker and weaker.
Lu Chen felt the Sky-Swallowing Python's pressure on him diminish greatly, while his own spiritual energy grew denser and his attacks stronger.
As one rose while the other fell, Lu Chen felt that killing the Sky-Swallowing Python had become much easier.
"Six Yang Palms that Split the Heavens: Blazing Sun Splits the Heavens!"
"Azure Emperor Divine Tree!"
"Star Serpent Hidden in Clouds!"
Lu Chen condensed the Azure Emperor Divine Tree once more, shaping it into a palm. He gathered the fiery energy of the Yang Sea Pearl upon that formed hand and began attacking the Sky-Swallowing Python.
"Hiss..." The Sky-Swallowing Python constantly flicked its tongue, its aura weakening further and further.
At that moment, Lu Chen saw Young Master Jun rise with a flip, a long spear in hand. The lightning around him gradually formed a Lightning Giant before him.
"Little Junzi, you're all right?"
Young Master Jun had his eyes closed and ignored Lu Chen. He raised the twin spears in his hands and continuously swung them.
The Lightning Giant moved in tandem with Young Master Jun. Slowly, the black clouds in the sky gathered, while bolts of lightning shaped like dragons darted through them.
Feeling the pressure in the heavens grow stronger and stronger, the Sky-Swallowing Python sensed danger and turned to flee.
Though he did not know why Young Master Jun was ignoring him, Lu Chen recognized this as the prelude to the Heavenly Dao Control Art. He had to hold back the Sky-Swallowing Python and buy Young Master Jun time.
"Azure Emperor Divine Tree: Binding Attack!"
Lu Chen thrust out every tentacle toward the Sky-Swallowing Python, pinning it in place.
Just then, a heaven-shaking roar burst from the Lightning Giant's mouth.
"Zha!"
With a boom.
Purple heavenly lightning descended continuously from the black clouds, striking the Sky-Swallowing Python.
The Sky-Swallowing Python twisted its body, trying to escape, but Lu Chen yanked it back and bound it in place once more.
Purple lightning continuously struck the Sky-Swallowing Python. At first, it could still writhe a few times, but gradually, its body was blasted black and charred.
As if still dissatisfied, the Lightning Giant continued releasing lightning.
Nantian Yijian stared toward the place where the lightning had crashed down. Remembering that Lu Chen and the other had run in that direction just moments ago, he hurried over.
At the Fengtian Prefecture military camp, Jun Wudi saw purple divine lightning continuously descending upon the back mountain and shouted, "This is bad! That's Heavenly Thunder Body Protection! Little Junzi is in danger!"
The people around the Secret Realm saw the lightning over the back mountain, then saw Jun Wudi charge in that direction. Thinking something major had happened, they all rushed toward the back mountain.
Jun Wudi and Nantian Yijian were the first to arrive at Lu Chen and Young Master Jun's location.
Jun Wudi hurriedly restrained Young Master Jun, directly dispersing the black clouds he had formed and recalling the Lightning Giant.
Nantian Yijian ran to Lu Chen and supported him.
"Little Lu, be careful."
"I'm fine, just a few scratches." Lu Chen told Nantian Yijian not to worry.
When Lu Chen withdrew the Divine Tree Tentacles, he felt a trace of lightning power follow them back into his Heavenly Pool.
When everyone arrived at the back mountain and saw Lu Chen, Young Master Jun, and the scene before them, they could not help but suck in a cold breath.
At their age, they had still been cultivating qi and tempering their bodies in the Qi Gathering Realm. Yet these two could already use such powerful techniques.
"Is this really the combat strength of the Qi Gathering Realm?" cries of shock continuously rang out from the crowd.
"Is this the power of a sect? They are already using techniques before even entering the Breath Regulation Realm."
"..."
Lu Chen ran to Young Master Jun's side. Young Master Jun was still unconscious, and the wound that had pierced his body had already been scorched black by lightning.
Young Master Jun slowly woke up. Seeing the scene before him, he smiled at Lu Chen.
"Little Lu, see? I told you we could do it. But we still haven't decided the victor this time."
Seeing how weak Young Master Jun was, Lu Chen hurriedly stopped him.
"Right, we won. We challenged the Breath Regulation Realm with the Qi Gathering Realm. Rest first. We can talk after your injuries have healed."
Seeing that everything was over and that there were no secret treasures to be found, the surrounding people sighed and departed one after another.
After Lu Chen and the others cleaned up the battlefield, they followed Jun Wudi back to the military camp.
After returning to his room, Lu Chen took out the Demonic Core he had just obtained and fed it to the Azure Emperor Divine Tree. Earlier, in front of everyone, he had not allowed the Divine Tree to directly devour the Demonic Core for fear of stirring up others' curiosity.
The moment Lu Chen fed the Demonic Core to the Azure Emperor Divine Tree, lightning suddenly erupted and coiled around the entire tree.
At that moment, Feng Tiancheng flew out of the Twin Fish Token and stared straight at Lu Chen.
"Grandpa Feng, where did you go just now? I encountered a demonic beast in the Breath Regulation Realm, and I've completed my thousand demonic beasts."
Feng Tiancheng said to Lu Chen, "I know. I was watching you the entire time. This is the second lesson I taught you in cultivation: the path of cultivation must be walked with caution. Otherwise, you will surely encounter situations like today's often in the future. By then, the dangers you face will not be so easily resolved."
"All right, Grandpa Feng. I'll definitely think it over carefully later and make sure I understand before acting." Lu Chen scratched his head as he spoke.
Thinking of the lightning, he hurriedly asked, "Grandpa Feng, the Divine Tree has been carrying lightning ever since earlier. Do you know what is going on?"
Lu Chen brought out the entire Azure Emperor Divine Tree.
At that moment, thick rings of purple lightning coiled around the Azure Emperor Divine Tree's trunk. Small bolts of lightning crackled over its branches, and even the spiritual energy flowing around the branches had begun to carry lightning attributes.
Looking at the lightning on the Azure Emperor Divine Tree, Feng Tiancheng said, "Lightning belongs to Wood among the Five Elements, while the Azure Emperor Divine Tree is also Wood-attributed. When the two are added together, they become Jia Wood, signifying life without end. The Azure Emperor Divine Tree was likely tempered by the heavenly lightning just now and gained this attribute."
Feng Tiancheng had already grown accustomed to the mutations around Lu Chen. Someone like Lu Chen underwent a major mutation every three days and a minor mutation every day. Feng Tiancheng had gradually adapted to it. Even if Lu Chen told him that his cultivation had crossed several major realms, Feng Tiancheng would find it possible.
After thinking for a moment, Feng Tiancheng turned to Lu Chen and said, "Unless there are special circumstances, it is best not to deliberately condense the lightning upon the Azure Emperor Divine Tree. Let it develop naturally. Your body already contains the Yang Sea Pearl and the Yin Sea Pearl, and now it has Jia Wood as well. I fear your body will not be able to endure having too many elements within it."
Listening to Feng Tiancheng, Lu Chen suddenly said, "Perhaps I'm simply different from ordinary people. Grandpa Feng, do you think I might possess all five attributes of Gold, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth?"
Feng Tiancheng heavily smacked the back of Lu Chen's head. "What are you thinking? If all five attributes were inside your body, forget cultivating. Your body would become a complete mess, and you would be utterly crippled—unless you could cultivate a Small World yourself."
"I was only thinking about it." Lu Chen rubbed his head and grinned foolishly.
Having figured out what harmful effects the lightning attribute might have on him, Lu Chen put away the Azure Emperor Divine Tree and began telling Feng Tiancheng about his plans. "Grandpa Feng, I've already reached the great completion of the Qi Gathering Realm. Once the Secret Realm ends, I want to go to Fengtian Prefecture to learn the current methods of cultivation. I also need an identity to travel the continent. What about you, Grandpa Feng? What are your plans?"
"After you enter the Secret Realm, I may enter deep sleep for a time to restore my cultivation. I have a premonition that something major will happen next. Before then, I must restore my cultivation to a sufficiently high level."
"After this battle, you are already a qualified cultivator. I can no longer teach you much. You must explore the road ahead for yourself. Besides, if I remain by your side, you will gradually develop a sense of dependence. That would be harmful to your future cultivation."
"Whether right or wrong, only choices made by yourself can deepen your understanding of cultivation."
Hearing Feng Tiancheng's approval, Lu Chen answered with a broad smile, "Yes, Grandpa Feng. I will definitely work hard."
"I will leave the method of finding the remaining fragments in your mind. During the time I sleep, you can try to search for them. But you cannot neglect your cultivation either. You still have your grandfather to save."
Feng Tiancheng placed a finger against Lu Chen's brow, leaving behind his insights into cultivation so that Lu Chen would have something to reference while cultivating. He also left several wooden puppet clones in the Twin Fish Plate that recorded cultivation techniques, allowing Lu Chen to battle them for practice after his realm improved.
After doing all this, Feng Tiancheng said, "I have stored some cultivation methods within the Twin Fish Plate. In addition, there are insights on artifact refinement, pill refinement, and formations, as well as some treasures I have stored away. They are kept in different locations according to your cultivation progress. As long as you find the other fragments and your cultivation is high enough, you can open those areas and obtain these things. You will also discover some unique things."
"Remember to gather the fragments. The world within the Twin Fish Plate holds things beyond your imagination. Do not underestimate it. Go search..." With that, Feng Tiancheng flew into the Twin Fish Plate and vanished. No matter how Lu Chen called out, no one answered.
Seeing that Feng Tiancheng had fallen into slumber and would no longer answer him, Lu Chen began cultivating within the Twin Fish Token.
Within the Twin Fish Token, one day equaled ten days outside, and the spiritual energy was so abundant. Lu Chen had no desire to waste time. After all, so many things were still waiting for him to do.
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