Chapter 49

Second update! I'm about to be overwhelmed again, I'm so anxious!! Brothers, give me some red tickets and favorites? I'll go write the third chapter!

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Bang!

A black shadow fell like a massive boulder, crashing onto the pitch-black rock covered in sand, producing a dull, loud sound.

After an unknown amount of time, Chen Xi was awakened by intense pain. The excruciating pain, as if a thousand swords were piercing his heart and countless ants were gnawing at him, restored a bit of his sanity. He opened his eyes to a thick, impenetrable fog, unable to see the surroundings clearly.

Chen Xi could only confirm that he was not dead and that this place was clearly the abyss within the Crimson Flame Mountain Range.

"Awake?"

With the sound, the lurid, blood-red fog around him suddenly dispersed, revealing Ji Yu's gaunt face.

Chen Xi stretched his body. Apart from the burning pain, he felt no other discomfort. He gritted his teeth, struggled to his feet, and was drenched in cold sweat by the time he stood up.

"Going through this is actually a good thing for you," Ji Yu's expression was extremely serious as he said solemnly, "You must always remember, unless it's a matter of life and death, entrusting your back to someone else is a desecration of your own life!"

Chen Xi nodded silently. If he had been more cautious at the time, he wouldn't have been ambushed by Chai Letian.

"Let's go."

Ji Yu seemed to understand that this incident had a significant impact on Chen Xi. Seeing Chen Xi agree with his point of view, he didn't say more. His body flickered, and he floated like a small boat, moving into the depths of the fog.

Chen Xi looked around and asked in a daze, "Where are we going?"

"About a hundred miles ahead of this abyss is the base of the great array. If you want to get out, destroy its base," Ji Yu's voice drifted from the fog.

...

The fog was surging, and the beasts were roaring.

Chen Xi followed behind Ji Yu, his nerves taut to the extreme as he watched the thick, syrup-like red fog and the groups of vicious beasts charging through it. He even saw a beast as large as a small hill slowly emerge from the fog, its aura of ferocity and terror making him catch his breath.

However, what surprised Chen Xi was that as long as he followed behind Ji Yu, not only did the thick fog automatically avoid them, but the vicious beasts also dared not approach. They proceeded without a single attack!

After a while.

Ji Yu stopped in front of a pitch-black cliff in the abyss.

Chen Xi looked up and saw intricate patterns carved on the black cliff, the lines rugged and seemingly natural, some parts already blurred, exuding an ancient, desolate aura.

"It seems my guess was correct; this mountain range is indeed a giant mountain-gathering array."

Ji Yu examined the patterns on the cliff for a moment, then stepped forward, waving his sleeve, and a misty green light swept out, striking the cliff.

Rumble!

The black cliff, carved with countless patterns, split open, revealing a pitch-black cave. At the same time, an extremely cold aura rushed out, instantly forming a thick layer of black ice on the ground.

So cold!

Blown by this cold aura, Chen Xi couldn't help but shiver, his teeth chattering. He quickly circulated his true essence to dispel the icy cold that had invaded his body.

Following Ji Yu into the cave, Chen Xi finally saw the environment inside.

It seemed to be an extremely ancient cave, with dark green, rugged stone walls, the natural stone texture dry and rough, showing no signs of artificial carving.

In the center was an octagonal pool, with eight long swords, emitting a cold light, inserted at each corner. The pool contained a pure black liquid, like milk, slowly flowing, creating ripples, and spreading a bone-chilling cold.

The most eye-catching was a black lotus in full bloom in the center of the pool, with thirty-six petals, each like black jade, exuding a calming and tranquil force.

"There are swords to attract the aura, a lotus to condense the aura, and an eight-palace bottle to store the aura. The array setter has prepared everything, but unfortunately, the quality is too poor, and it's missing a spirit pearl. Without someone to control the array, it can only be abandoned," Ji Yu walked around the pool, shaking his head and sighing.

Chen Xi was confused, thinking, "How can the treasures used by a great array master be considered of poor quality by Senior Ji Yu?"

"However, these things can still be useful to you."

Ji Yu pondered for a moment, then waved his sleeve, and the eight swords by the pool let out a long hum, rising from the ground, transforming into eight bright streaks of light, and landing in his palm.

"These eight swords were originally heavenly-grade treasures, but after being sealed for a long time and eroded by the dark aura for countless years, they are now at most top-grade yellow-grade treasures."

Ji Yu commented, then threw the eight swords to Chen Xi. He waved his sleeve again, and the black lotus in the center of the pool was uprooted, landing in his palm.

"This lotus is quite good, a naturally born ice soul heart lotus. Placing it near your body during cultivation can dispel heart demons and cleanse your mind."

As he spoke, Ji Yu lightly brushed the black lotus, and wisps of dark aura dissipated from it, quickly transforming into a snow-white lotus emitting a cool aura. "I've already driven out the dark aura inside for you. Take it!"

Chen Xi looked at the eight small flying swords in his right palm and the newly acquired ice soul heart lotus, feeling extremely excited.

In the cultivation world, weapons are divided into two major categories based on quality: ordinary weapons and magical treasures.

Cultivators at the acquired and innate stages can only use ordinary weapons. The Qing Chong Sword Chen Xi used before was a high-grade ordinary weapon.

Only those who have opened the Purple Mansion and laid the foundation of the Dao can drive magical treasures.

Magical treasures are divided into four grades: Heavenly, Earthly, Mysterious, and Yellow, each grade further divided into lower, middle, upper, and top grades.

Above magical treasures are divine weapons!

However, divine weapons are too distant for Chen Xi, almost impossible to obtain. At the moment, owning eight top-grade yellow-grade flying swords already made him overjoyed.

The ice soul heart lotus was also incredibly miraculous, possessing it could not only drive away heart demons and prevent cultivation mishaps but also greatly benefit cultivation speed.

"These eight swords have been eroded by the dark aura for ten thousand years and have finally fallen into my hands. It's a kind of fate. Let's call them the Dark Aura Swords."

Chen Xi was already eager to name his magical treasures. His brows furrowed as he thought, "I'm only at the innate realm, and I probably can't drive the Dark Aura Swords for now."

"Chen Xi, the dark aura in this pool has condensed into a liquid, perfect for tempering your body," Ji Yu's voice came from beside the pool.

Chen Xi quickly put the Dark Aura Swords and the ice soul heart lotus into his storage ring, walked forward, and asked, "What should I do?"

Ji Yu pointed to the pool: "Jump in and circulate the 'Heavenly Star Slaying Body Tempering Technique.' However, be careful. Although this dark aura is not as powerful as the star aura, it is still the well-known dark aura, extremely cold. If you feel you can't hold on, come out early."

Chen Xi immediately took off his clothes and walked toward the pool.

As soon as his skin touched the pure black liquid in the pool, a bone-chilling cold pierced his skin like a needle, spreading throughout his body. His face instantly turned purplish-blue, and his body began to tremble uncontrollably.

Chen Xi didn't hesitate. With a splash, he sat in the pool, immediately focusing his mind, clearing his thoughts, and quickly circulating the 'Heavenly Star Slaying Body Tempering Technique.'

The liquid dark aura in the pool barely covered Chen Xi's neck, leaving only his head exposed. His eyes tightly closed, a thick layer of black ice instantly formed on his face, making him look like a wax-sealed stone sculpture from a distance.

"This kid is so obedient, he doesn't even ask why I want him to do this..."

Ji Yu took a few gulps from his wine gourd, then shook his head and sighed, "It seems I've been too considerate of him. Being too dependent will never make him a true strong person."

"However, once he advances to the Purple Mansion realm and passes the first trial of the Heavenly Peak, I probably won't be able to come out anymore. Well, I'll take care of him. Back in the day, didn't the master also take care of me..."

His voice grew lower and lower, gradually fading away. Ji Yu seemed to recall some painful past, his eyes filled with a deep, indescribable sorrow.

Cold!

Bone-chilling cold!

Chen Xi felt as if an ice river was flowing through his flesh and bones, the cold from the inside out gradually numbing all his senses.

However, his soul remained extremely clear and calm, systematically circulating the technique, gradually absorbing the terrifying dark aura to temper his skin, muscles, bones, and flesh.

Compared to the pain caused by the star aura, the cold sensation from the dark aura was much easier for Chen Xi to bear.

Chen Xi's body cultivation had long broken through to the innate realm. Now, using the dark aura to focus on cultivation, his cultivation level was visibly improving at a rapid pace.

Three days later.

In the silent, dark cave, a series of crisp cracking sounds suddenly echoed.

In the pool, Chen Xi stood up, the thick layer of black ice on his skin cracking and falling off like powder, revealing a powerful, perfectly sculpted body, as if carved by a divine hand, exuding a captivating luster.

Rustle!

Chen Xi moved his limbs, feeling his blood and qi boiling, his energy surging like a rainbow, as if he could lift a mountain with a single hand.

On his back, faint black patterns were faintly visible, extremely mysterious.

"Born with witch patterns on the back, it seems you've advanced to the innate realm of body cultivation," Ji Yu, lying in a rattan chair, glanced at Chen Xi's back and said indifferently.

Innate realm of body cultivation!

Chen Xi was stunned, shocked speechless. In just three days, he had advanced to the innate realm of body cultivation?