Chapter 264: King Against King
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Upon seeing the simplified results, a smile appeared on Chen Fei’s face. He liked this kind of nesting doll-style simplification. Because with some simplifications, it’s hard to predict what the results will be.
Simple ones are easy to handle, but when they get a bit more complex, the process can become troublesome. If it really becomes too challenging, a second round of simplification might be necessary.
However, the current cost of simplifying the technique at the level of the Aperture Tempering realm was quite substantial. Chen Fei didn’t have that kind of money to spare for such endeavors.
Inside the secret chamber, Chen Fei activated the Spatial Travel technique. Several phantoms of himself appeared in place while insights into the Soaring Heaven Technique began to flow continuously into his mind.
A few months ago, when Chen Fei had just begun learning the Soaring Heaven Technique, he would gain insights every time he practiced, more or less.
If he was in a good state of mind on a particular day and grasped a certain aspect of the technique, he would have a lot of insights.
However, as he delved deeper into the technique, he couldn’t guarantee insights every time he practiced. Sometimes, it took several sessions just to make a slight improvement.
This situation, as time passed and Chen Fei delved deeper into the technique, became increasingly severe.
This is a situation most martial practitioners encounter unless they possess truly extraordinary talent and comprehension abilities. Otherwise, practicing a technique is akin to a gradual, painstaking process.
But now, with the simplification of the Soaring Heaven Technique, as Chen Fei activated Spatial Travel, the feeling of insights into the Soaring Heaven Technique rippling in his sea of consciousness made him feel like he had returned to the early days of practicing the technique.
Back then, it was this feeling that made Chen Fei realize that his comprehension had improved significantly, whether due to the influence of the ancient village or the breakthrough to the Aperture Tempering realm, it naturally led to improvement.
In any case, Chen Fei’s comprehension had genuinely improved a lot, but as time went on, it became clear that his slight increase in comprehension was still far from reaching an astonishing level.
Ten days passed quickly, and Chen Fei’s life remained as busy as ever.
Both the Soaring Heaven Technique and the Zhongyuan Sword, the two core techniques of the Primordial Sword Sect, were steadily increasing in proficiency.
With the abundant supply of materials for the Snow Spirit Pill recipe in these three days, the proficiency in that skill was also rapidly advancing towards perfection.
During these ten days, in addition to practicing these techniques, Chen Fei visited the Alchemist Alliance twice and took on two tasks to refine Snow Spirit Pills. One task involved three furnaces of Snow Spirit Pills, and the other was for five furnaces.
In total, Chen Fei completed the task of refining eight furnaces of Snow Spirit Pills as usual, earning him twenty-four thousand alliance contribution points.
Apart from the contribution points, the most crucial reward was the five additional Snow Spirit Pills that Chen Fei received.
This time, instead of selling them to an apothecary, Chen Fei swallowed them directly. These five Snow Spirit Pills directly boosted his cultivation by nearly fifteen days.
In less than a month, Chen Fei’s first aperture would likely be filled to capacity.
Spending nearly half a year to fill the first aperture was an unimaginable speed among rogue cultivators. Even within sects, only those with strong backgrounds or who relied on pills could achieve such progress.
Chen Fei, in the Aperture Tempering realm, hadn’t relied heavily on elixirs. Initially, when he broke through, he had used his vital energy to fill half of his first aperture.
However, now, with Chen Fei earning Snow Spirit Pills, his future cultivation speed would definitely not be slower than before. In other words, opening one aperture every six months was entirely possible for Chen Fei.
Moreover, as he continued to practice the Zhongyuan Sword to perfection, the enhanced cultivation efficiency, the stable rate of earning elixirs after reaching perfection, would further accelerate Chen Fei’s cultivation.
Two days later, Chen Fei stood in the main hall’s doorway, observing the sect elders around him.
Chen Fei had been practicing in the courtyard when the Sect Master summoned him. Upon arriving, he saw the scene in front of him. Compared to when he had last come up here, there was now an additional elder in the hall.
However, this elder appeared to be quite old, not only in terms of age, but his vitality also seemed to have diminished.
Despite his weakened spirit, the aura he emitted was incredibly majestic. In fact, it was on par with the Sect Master, Qiu Qingsheng, if not slightly stronger.
In fact, in terms of intensity, this elder’s presence gave Chen Fei a stronger impression.
“He is Elder Zhou, who has been in seclusion for some time,” whispered Feng Xiupu beside Chen Fei.
“Trying to break through to the Combined Aperture tempering realm?”
Elder Zhou’s cultivation was in the late Aperture Tempering realm, and now his vitality seemed to be waning, indicating that he was nearing the end of his life. If he wanted to extend his lifespan, the only way was to break through to the Combined Aperture tempering realm.
Achieving that would instantly add a hundred years to his life.
“Yes,” Feng Xiupu nodded without saying more.
It was evident that Elder Zhou had failed in his breakthrough attempt; otherwise, he wouldn’t appear in such a state.
The Primordial Sword Sect possessed three complete legacies, making them exceptionally strong compared to rogue cultivators.
Most rogue cultivators couldn’t reach the late Aperture Tempering realm, and many of their techniques were either severely damaged or focused on the initial stages of the Aperture Tempering realm.
In comparison, the life of rogue cultivators seemed somewhat arduous. However, the Primordial Sword Sect had no intention of seeking superiority through comparisons with rogue cultivators.
The Primordial Sword Sect’s three legacies could be practiced up to the late Aperture Tempering realm but couldn’t reach the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
To attempt a breakthrough to the Combined Aperture tempering realm, one needed to be in the late Aperture Tempering realm. Clearly, the deeper one’s cultivation, the higher the chances of a successful breakthrough.
The Combined Aperture tempering realm was already incredibly challenging. The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, having two Combined Aperture tempering realm experts, laid the foundation for its dominance. Other nearby sects didn’t even have one Combined Aperture tempering realm cultivator, indicating the difficulty of reaching such a realm.
Before the Primordial Sword Sect lost its complete techniques, with enough talent, one could reach the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm. However, now, this had become a distant hope.
This naturally made it incredibly difficult for individuals from the Primordial Sword Sect to break through to the Combined Aperture tempering realm.
The sect members had considered repairing the Primordial Sword Canon or retrieving the lost parts over the years, but progress had been minimal.
As for finding a technique comparable to the Primordial Sword Canon, that was even more challenging than repairing the manual itself.
Unless the Primordial Sword Sect produced a Combined Aperture tempering realm expert to act as a foundation, it might be possible. However, reaching the Combined Aperture tempering realm was no easy feat.
“Today, I’ve gathered everyone for a reason,” Qiu Qingsheng stood at the top, looking at the assembled elders below, and said, “According to the information we’ve received, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect may have found some traces of the Divine Flame Sect. In the near future, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect is highly likely to send forces to besiege the Divine Flame Sect!”
“The Divine Flame Sect?” Many elders showed subtle reactions upon hearing Qiu Qingsheng’s words.
The enmity between the Divine Flame Sect and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had lasted for many years.
While the Divine Flame Sect occasionally harassed other nearby sects, their primary focus was on the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
To say they were in constant conflict was something of an understatement, as the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect would immediately dispatch forces to exterminate any trace of the Divine Flame Sect they discovered.
So, for many years, the Divine Flame Sect had been hiding and avoiding any potential discovery of their main base by the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect to prevent calamity from descending upon them.
“Have they found the Divine Flame Sect’s main headquarters?” Wu Guangyin asked.
The Sect Master had convened this meeting, so whatever the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had discovered this time was likely significant; otherwise, Qiu Qingsheng wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.
“We’re not clear about that yet. But even if it’s not the Divine Flame Sect’s main headquarters, it’s estimated to be of significant size,” Qiu Qingsheng said with a serious expression.
“When the time comes, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect should gather several sects, including us, to jointly participate in the siege. Prepare yourselves mentally!”
Chen Fei stood in the background, fearing that this was what Qiu Qingsheng wanted to advise today. If they were summoned, other sects would definitely send their experts.
In any battle, there was danger. While the Divine Flame Sect had been pressured by the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, it didn’t mean it was an easy target.
It was only because the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was exceptionally powerful that the Divine Flame Sect appeared weaker. Other sects lacked the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s strength and had to be cautious when dealing with the Divine Flame Sect.
After a while, everyone left the main hall one by one.
“This kind of thing has happened several times over the years. Every time, although the Divine Flame Sect was severely damaged or even wiped out, they resurfaced after a few years,” Feng Xiupu said to Chen Fei.
“Has the Sect Leader of the Divine Flame Sect never died?”
Chen Fei was puzzled. He had heard a lot about the Divine Flame Sect, given that they dared to confront the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect head-on.
“Maybe he died, maybe he’s still alive. No one knows for sure,” Feng Xiupu shook his head and said, “But this time, when the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect found traces of the Divine Flame Sect, and with the Sect Master’s specific instructions, it’s estimated that each sect will have to send a significant number of people.”
“Has it been like this in the past?”
“Yes. But don’t worry; the Sect Master won’t let you go,” Feng Xiupu said with a smile.
Chen Fei had recently broken through to the Aperture Tempering realm and didn’t even possess a Spirit Sword yet. He was at his weakest state, so there was no way he could be sent into battle.
Facing stronger Aperture Tempering realm cultivators would put his life in grave danger.
As for having Chen Fei specifically target the Divine Flame Sect’s Body Tempering realm cultivators, that was something they could only do discreetly. If Chen Fei were to be discovered, it would be even more dangerous, as he might be surrounded by the Divine Flame Sect’s Aperture Tempering realm experts.
It was an unspoken agreement: cultivators of the same realm wouldn’t attack each other’s Body Tempering realm experts. As long as you didn’t harm our Body Tempering realm cultivators, we wouldn’t go out of our way to attack yours. Of course, if a Body Tempering realm cultivator sought death by joining an Aperture Tempering realm battle and got killed, no one would have any objections.
So, if Chen Fei were sent into battle, he would undoubtedly face Aperture Tempering realm cultivators of the same level, which was extremely dangerous for him..