Chapter 292: The Altar
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Is the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect also sending people into the mystic realm?”
In Feng Xiupu’s courtyard, Chen Fei and Feng Xiupu sat by a stone table, with the aroma of tea filling the air.
After receiving the news, Chen Fei had returned to the sect as soon as possible.
When a mystic realm advances in rank, it will produce a plethora of spiritual materials in a short period of time. As the saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” and this situation also applies within the mystic realm.
The overall advancement of the mystic realm will bring tremendous benefits to everything inside it. This is why, during the previous True Transmission Trial, when the elemental energy in the mystic realm fluctuated, the creatures inside became so terrifying.
And that time, it was only a fluctuation in elemental energy concentration. This time, with the overall advancement in rank, everything inside the mystic realm would receive even greater benefits. While it may not be overflowing with spiritual materials, they would certainly become more common.
Chen Fei’s current cultivation path involved continuously opening up acupoints, but he could only open one or two more acupoints at most before having to pause and wait for the enhancement of his core soul energy before proceeding to open more acupoints.
The Spirit Suppression of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant technique, Thousand Thread Technique, the slight tempering of the Strange Heart Realm, and the feedback of elemental energy to core soul energy—all of these could enhance Chen Fei’s core soul energy.
In terms of speed, although it couldn’t compare to the effects of taking pills like the Spirit Enhancing Pill, it was by no means slow.
If you looked at it from the perspective of an ordinary cultivator in the Aperture Tempering Realm, opening one acupoint a year was already a dream-like speed. Chen Fei’s core soul energy could easily keep up with that pace.
In fact, Chen Fei’s rate of core soul energy growth was sufficient to support opening two acupoints a year.
Opening two acupoints a year was a level of efficiency that not only independent cultivators but also martial cultivators from various sects would envy. However, Chen Fei was starting to feel dissatisfied with this speed.
Having experienced the earlier rapid progress, the speed of cultivation suddenly plummeted, and most people couldn’t accept it. Going from extravagance to frugality truly tests one’s character.
Before this, Chen Fei had even been considering whether or not to explore the Strange Heart Realm. Inside the Strange Heart Realm, there were definitely treasures that could enhance core soul energy.
Chen Fei didn’t plan to go in alone but intended to bring Si Yuanhai and his grandson along to explore the Strange Heart Realm together. After all, the Strange Tamers lineage had been dealing with the Strange Heart Realm for generations, and their knowledge and understanding of it far surpassed Chen Fei’s.
However, this plan hadn’t been put into action yet when news of the mystic realm advancing in rank came.
Compared to the uncertainty of the Strange Heart Realm, the mystic realm was somewhat more familiar. Of course, due to the advancement in rank, the mystic realm had undoubtedly become more dangerous than it was initially.
But in terms of strength, Chen Fei had likely improved many times over compared to before.
So, Chen Fei would enter this mystic realm.
Devoting oneself to cultivation was certainly an option, but on the path of martial arts, there were times when you had to compete. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be enough resources for you.
Currently, the seemingly peaceful relationship between the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect and the Divine Flame Sect concealed hidden tensions. The Long Rainbow Sect, which was slightly stronger than the Primordial Sword Sect, was no longer in the picture.
If one day the Divine Flame Sect were to suddenly target the Primordial Sword Sect, what would the Primordial Sword Sect use to defend itself, and what would Chen Fei use?
Entering the mystic realm, the herbs for enhancing elemental energy cultivation were secondary. What was of utmost importance was those that could boost core soul energy. As long as core soul energy was elevated, Chen Fei could continue to rapidly open acupoints.
“It’s inevitable that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect would be tempted by a second-order mystic realm,” Feng Xiupu said, taking a sip of tea and letting out a slight sigh.
Initially, the mystic realm was jointly managed by the four sects, but that was because it was only a first-order mystic realm, which the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect didn’t really value, so they decided to share it with the other three sects.
However, in a second-order mystic realm, there were continuously growing spiritual materials and herbs that could greatly assist in cultivating elemental energy.
While the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect already had its own second-order mystic realm, no sect would consider such a level of resource abundance to be excessive, and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was no exception.
This time, they were requesting to explore it together, and afterward, they would likely propose shared management. If it weren’t for the current special circumstances with the Divine Flame Sect lurking nearby.
Considering the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s past behavior, this second-order mystic realm would ultimately be claimed by the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
With only three sects remaining out of the original four, there was no strength left to resist the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, even though there might be some reluctance. In the face of lesser power, they had no choice but to accept.
“Master, are you going this time?” Chen Fei asked, raising his head.
“Of course, I will. On the path of cultivation, we must seize every opportunity, especially for a newly born second-order mystic realm!” Feng Xiupu nodded decisively.
Because of his past injuries, Feng Xiupu had wasted many years of his life. Now that he had finally recovered, he was determined not to remain at the early stage of the Aperture Tempering Realm for the rest of his life. This mystic realm was an excellent opportunity.
“I’m going too!” Chen Fei said with a smile.
“Even if you didn’t want to go, the Sect Master would still send you,” Feng Xiupu replied.
Feng Xiupu thought about Chen Fei’s strength. On the surface, he was the weakest among the Aperture Tempering Realm disciples of the Primordial Sword Sect, but in reality, it was a question whether anyone within the sect, also at the Aperture Tempering Realm initial stage, could defeat Chen Fei.
After all, not everyone could, when facing an encirclement by three other Aperture Tempering Realm initial stage cultivators, not only emerge unscathed but also directly suppress and defeat all three.
Even now, Feng Xiupu found it unbelievable how fast his disciple was progressing.
“How many of us will be going this time?” Chen Fei asked.
“Including you and me, there will be a total of seven Aperture Tempering Realm cultivators, as well as fifty disciples at the Visceral Tempering Realm who will accompany us,” Feng Xiupu replied, setting down his teacup.
He looked at Chen Fei and continued, “These numbers were decided upon through discussions among the sects, including the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.”
Two hours later, in the courtyard where Chen Fei resided.
“Are you also going to the mystic realm?” Chen Fei asked, looking at Ge Hongjie and Zhang Fangqiong, somewhat surprised.
“I’ve made a slight attempt at opening my acupoints, but my confidence is still a bit low. If we can find spiritual herbs in the mystic realm that enhance core soul energy, it will increase our chances of success,” Ge Hongjie replied in a low voice.
Compared to their previous brotherly relationship, he felt somewhat inferior facing Chen Fei now. The gap between the Visceral Tempering Realm and the Aperture Tempering Realm was like night and day.
“If the mystic realm hasn’t advanced in rank, we could have just focused on consolidating our cultivation and forcibly breaking through. But now that we have a better opportunity, we naturally want to make the most of it,” Zhang Fangqiong added with a playful smile as she gazed at Chen Fei, her eyes filled with flirtatious charm.
After listening to the words of the two, Chen Fei nodded slightly.
Ge Hongjie and Zhang Fangqiong both possessed an unwavering martial spirit. Even when the Strange Wind Realm was so dangerous back then, they still ventured into it. Now, with the mystic realm opening, it held even more precious treasures.
If they were to acquire spiritual herbs that enhanced core soul energy, it would be of immeasurable benefit for breaking through to the Aperture Tempering Realm.
“This time, there will be Aperture Tempering Realm cultivators from other sects in the mystic realm, so be extra cautious!” Chen Fei looked at the two and earnestly advised.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the four sects gathered in a valley at the entrance of the mystic realm. The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect stood in one location, while the other three sects instinctively kept their distance, creating a gap between them and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
Chen Fei stood among the crowd, observing the leaders of each sect who were at the Aperture Tempering Realm.
Judging solely by their aura, the leaders of each sect had reached nearly the peak of the early-Aperture Tempering Realm, having opened over thirty acupoints.
Among them, Liao Hanqin of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect exhibited the strongest aura. His presence seemed to be on the verge of breaking through to the mid-Aperture Tempering Realm, indicating that he had already successfully opened all thirty-six acupoints.
For a cultivator to advance to the mid-Aperture Tempering Realm, they needed to synchronize the thirty-six acupoints they had already opened, forming a cohesive whole.
Only by harnessing the combined power of all thirty-six acupoints could they open new ones and truly enter the mid-Aperture Tempering Realm. This synchronization made the mid-Aperture Tempering Realm significantly stronger than the initial stage.
The difficulty of synchronizing acupoints depended on the cultivator’s cultivation technique and the strength of their core soul energy.
Liao Hanqin’s cultivation was undoubtedly the highest present, and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s cultivation techniques were naturally superior to those of the other three sects. What’s more, the spiritual sword he held in his hand was a top-grade spiritual weapon.
Liao Hanqin didn’t deliberately emit his aura, but the faint sense of oppression he exuded made many people’s hearts tighten.
With his level of cultivation and the power of a top-grade spiritual weapon, Liao Hanqin alone could suppress several cultivators of the same level.
As for the other Aperture Tempering Realm cultivators around Liao Hanqin, their exact levels were difficult to discern, but the weapons they wielded were all exceptionally strong.
Three of them held spiritual swords that had reached the level of middle-grade spiritual weapons, and there were only two with lower-grade spiritual swords.
However, even those lower-grade spiritual swords exuded a lively spiritual essence, making them stand out among lower-grade spiritual weapons.
On the other hand, when it came to the leaders of the other three sects, their auras were slightly weaker than Liao Hanqin’s, and the highest-grade spiritual weapons they held were middle-grade at best.
If they were to engage in combat with Liao Hanqin, their ability to withstand even a few moves would be questionable.
Of course, the three sects also had top-grade spiritual weapons, but those were typically reserved for guarding their sects’ entrances, such as the Primordial Sword Sect’s Spirit-Locking Tower.
They couldn’t possibly bring such heavy artifacts into the mystic realm. Therefore, middle-grade spiritual weapons were the highest configuration they could take.
“After we enter the mystic realm, everyone should head towards the nearest fellow sect members and avoid acting alone!” Ren Zhongyang looked at the disciples of the Primordial Sword Sect and solemnly cautioned.
In this mystic realm, the random distribution of participants couldn’t be avoided, even for Aperture Tempering Realm cultivators. If they resisted this distribution, they would be repelled by the mystic realm’s power, and ultimately, they wouldn’t be able to enter at all.
“Yes!” The disciples replied in unison, and the other elders nodded in agreement.
Ren Zhongyang then turned his gaze toward Chen Fei, thinking about the instructions given to him by the sect leader, Qu Qingsheng. Even though several days had passed, Ren Zhongyang found it hard to believe.
But in matters like this, the sect leader had no reason to joke around. It could only be said that most people had underestimated Chen Fei’s talent. Chen Fei might just become one of the Primordial Sword Sect’s hidden aces in this expedition.
Half an hour later, with a slight tremor in the ground, a ripple appeared in the center of the valley—the entrance to the mystic realm. The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect wasted no time and entered first, with the other three sects following closely behind.
At the same time, dozens of miles away in a dense forest, members of the Divine Flame Sect gathered there.
A formation resembling an altar descended to the ground, with a jade plaque placed at its center..