Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art

After hearing Elder Xie's words, Chen Xuan felt reassured.

The Outer Sect Grand Competition was only open to disciples with Mortal Bodies?

He felt that placing in the top three wouldn't be too difficult after all.

"Elder, do you know when the next Outer Sect Grand Competition will be?"

Chen Xuan asked curiously.

"The next one is in three months. You can give it a try. If you don't make it, it'd be best to wait another three years.

"Compared to breaking through to the Spirit Sea Realm as soon as possible, forming a better Spirit Sea is more important."

Elder Xie said, stroking his beard.

As soon as Chen Xuan had arrived, Elder Xie had seen that he was already at Qi Gathering Perfection.

He was a little surprised, but it wasn't beyond belief.

After all, he had known for a long time that Chen Xuan's talent was every bit as good as that of a Spirit Body. The first three months had merely been wasted because Chen Xuan was stuck in Hundred Herb Valley.

Now that he had come to Danxiao Peak, where the spiritual energy was much denser, and had earned more than fifty thousand Contribution Points in the Floating Cloud Trial, Chen Xuan could afford plenty of resources.

So it was only natural that he had advanced all the way to Qi Gathering Perfection in such a short time.

Of course, although Elder Xie could already see that Chen Xuan had reached Qi Gathering Perfection,

he wasn't optimistic at all about Chen Xuan placing in the top three at the next Outer Sect Grand Competition.

One had to understand that, although disciples with Spirit Bodies weren't allowed to participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition,

many of those who did take part had deliberately lingered in the Qi Gathering Realm for years.

They did it to fight for a top-three finish in the Outer Sect Grand Competition and win a Purple Spirit Sea, or even a Golden Spirit Sea.

These senior disciples were all exceptionally capable in actual combat, and their mastery of Dao Techniques was impressive as well.

No matter how you looked at it, Chen Xuan was still a little short.

There were only three months left, and Chen Xuan would probably find it difficult to catch up with some of the senior disciples.

Elder Xie estimated that even if Chen Xuan took part in this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition, his best result would probably be a place in the top ten.

"Thank you, Elder."

Chen Xuan paid no heed to Elder Xie's words. He simply cupped his hands in thanks.

He was definitely going to give it a try.

But he didn't want to wait another three years.

Compared to some of the senior disciples, he had his own advantages: Flowing Cloud Moon-Chasing and Purple Imperial Dragon Flame.

Most Mortal Body disciples in the Qi Gathering Realm could hardly obtain another top-tier Dao Technique beyond Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms, which they received upon joining the sect.

After all, not everyone was like Chen Xuan, able to take first place in the Floating Cloud Trial and earn another top-tier Dao Technique.

Most disciples could obtain, at best, a new high-grade Dao Technique in the Qi Gathering Realm.

Besides, Chen Xuan's Purple Imperial Dragon Flame was terrifyingly powerful.

That gave Chen Xuan plenty of confidence.

Chen Xuan and Jiang Qiong didn't stay with Elder Xie much longer. The two soon left together.

After they left,

Jiang Qiong looked at Chen Xuan and said, "Junior Brother, don't be in a hurry. Your talent is no worse than that of a Spirit Body. Even if you've lost three years, it's nothing."

Chen Xuan smiled and nodded. He knew Jiang Qiong was trying to comfort him. He didn't think he needed comforting, but he said nothing and accepted her kindness.

"Senior Sister, do you know much about the Outer Sect Grand Competition?"

Chen Xuan began asking about the competition again, trying to learn about his rivals.

During the Floating Cloud Trial, at least he had known that his biggest opponents were those three Spirit Bodies.

But he was truly in the dark about the Outer Sect Grand Competition.

After all, the Cloud Sea Sect had an enormous number of outer disciples.

"I don't know much either, so I can't offer you much advice...

"But I remember that every year, the Dao Techniques of the top three in the Outer Sect Grand Competition had reached Minor Accomplishment. Sometimes, disciples with Dao Techniques at Great Accomplishment even showed up."

Jiang Qiong thought for a moment before answering.

All participants in the Outer Sect Grand Competition had to be at Qi Gathering Perfection, and they were only allowed to use the Floating Cloud Sword issued by the sect.

So the competition would mainly come down to Dao Techniques.

Chen Xuan felt reassured when he heard that.

Minor Accomplishment?

With three months left, he should be able to reach that level at the rate he was cultivating his Dao Techniques, barring any surprises.

Purple Imperial Dragon Flame probably wouldn't reach Minor Accomplishment, though. He could only get it to Proficient.

But Purple Imperial Dragon Flame was powerful. It could easily make up for its lower level of mastery.

So he had a good chance of competing for a top-three finish in this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Still, to be on the safe side, he had to find a way to improve his strength further.

Chen Xuan pondered for a moment.

He had one Spirit Awakening Point left. Mastering another skill could give his strength a further boost.

Besides, that was where his system excelled.

He needed to keep shoring up his weak points.

Chen Xuan thought of body cultivation. He would have to train his body sooner or later, so he might as well start early.

"Senior Sister, do you know if the sect's Technique Pavilion has any good body-cultivation techniques?"

Chen Xuan asked again.

"Body-cultivation techniques?"

Jiang Qiong was taken aback.

Then she asked curiously, "Junior Brother, are you still hoping to compete in this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition?"

"If I have a chance, I should give it a try."

Chen Xuan didn't deny it.

"With your comprehension, if you keep cultivating steadily, you're practically certain to reach Minor Accomplishment in Dao Techniques within three years. You might even reach Great Accomplishment.

"If you start cultivating another body-cultivation technique now, it could set back your progress. And body cultivation isn't easy; it also consumes quite a lot of resources.

"But... I suppose it won't stop you from placing in the top three three years from now. All right, do as you like."

Jiang Qiong had initially wanted to persuade Chen Xuan.

But as she spoke, she realized that even if Chen Xuan cultivated another body-cultivation technique, it wouldn't matter much.

Chen Xuan's comprehension was more than enough. Even if he spent some of his energy on body cultivation, at most it would affect his result in this year's Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Three years from now, he would still have an excellent chance of placing in the top three.

Chen Xuan smiled and asked again, "So, do you have any techniques you'd recommend?"

Jiang Qiong thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up. "There's one body-cultivation technique in the sect that left a deep impression on me.

"It's called the Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art. They say that, when cultivated to its peak, its physical strength can rival the Dragon Clan.

"One of the sect's elders cultivates this very technique, and he's quite famous for it.

"But... although the technique is powerful, the resources it requires are even more precious."

Chen Xuan was slightly startled when he heard the name.

It was exactly the same as the name of a cultivation technique in a novel he had read in his previous life.

That immediately piqued his interest.

"Does this technique cost a lot of Contribution Points?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"If you wanted the complete version, you definitely couldn't afford it.

"But techniques are different from Dao Techniques. You can redeem them one section at a time.

"The Azure Heaven Dragon Transformation Art is divided into five volumes. You can still afford to redeem just the first volume."

Jiang Qiong explained.

Chen Xuan nodded. He would go to the Technique Pavilion and take a look at the technique. If there was nothing better, he would choose to cultivate it.

After that, Chen Xuan and Jiang Qiong returned to Danxiao Peak.

They went their separate ways. Jiang Qiong headed back, while Chen Xuan turned toward Cloud Sea Peak.

Cloud Sea Peak, Technique Pavilion.

Much like the Dao Technique Pavilion, this building also had an elder stationed there, and inside it was another world.