Chapter 75

Second update! Begging for favorites.

After killing Chai Letian and Yu Haobai, Chen Xi took a brief rest before returning to Bao Yue Mountain.

"The Kunpeng demon wants to use Du Qingxi and the others to refine medicinal pills. Even if they are still alive, their situation must be extremely dangerous, and they could lose their lives at any moment... It seems I need to act quickly."

As he pondered, Chen Xi quickly returned to Bao Yue Mountain.

In the cave, Mu Kui saw Chen Xi return and was overjoyed, trembling as he said, "Senior, you're finally back! I've been worried sick."

"Don't worry. I've already killed the Thunder Eagle King. It should be quiet for a while." Chen Xi sat cross-legged on a cushion and said, "I need to meditate to recover my strength. Help me guard."

"Senior, please focus on your cultivation. I'll leave right away."

Sigh!

After Mu Kui hurriedly left the cave, he could no longer contain his shock, drawing a sharp breath. Senior Chen Xi killed the Thunder Eagle King again?

...

"In the battle with the Black Ape King, my advantage was my martial arts cultivation, which far exceeded his. However, my cultivation was far inferior to his. If it weren't for the Gengjin Sword Bamboo in my hand, which could suppress those vengeful spirits, the outcome would have been uncertain."

"The Thunder Eagle King's cultivation is even deeper than the Black Ape King's. Unfortunately, he was too cunning, always trying to gain an absolute advantage through any means. He lacked the courage to charge forward. Although he had the Thousand Eagles Formation and the Purple Copper Mystic Peak, he was caught off guard by my stealth attack, and thus his advantages were nullified, leading to his inevitable defeat."

"However, if I could form a mysterious sword formation with eight Xuanming Flying Swords, I might be able to match the Thunder Eagle King even without a surprise attack."

Sitting cross-legged on the cushion, Chen Xi quietly reflected on the two battles of the day, gaining insights.

Practical combat is the sharpest whetstone for refining martial arts cultivation.

The more dangerous the situation, the greater the potential for improvement. Any expert must go through countless life-and-death experiences, facing death to achieve rapid growth.

By consecutively killing the Black Ape King and the Thunder Eagle King, Chen Xi not only recognized his strength but also identified his weaknesses. His cultivation was too low, and at the Purple Mansion First Stage, he would have to flee if he encountered cultivators with similar martial arts cultivation.

To make up for this shortcoming, besides diligent practice of qi cultivation, mastering powerful attack techniques is also a way.

"Each of the eight Xuanming Flying Swords has the power of a top-grade yellow item. I should spend some time studying the art of talismans and formations. If I can understand some techniques for setting up sword formations to kill enemies, my strength should improve to a new level."

Chen Xi pondered for a long time, shook his head, and dispelled the杂念 in his mind, beginning to meditate.

Swish!

The spiritual liquid in the octagonal palace bottle poured out.

In the boundless void of the Purple Mansion.

As Chen Xi performed the Ice Crane Technique, streams of crystalline true essence, like mystic ice, flowed into the Purple Mansion lake. Above the lake, the originally dim true essence stars gradually became bright, clear, and translucent, emitting a faint cold light, resonating with the lake with each breath.

After advancing to the Purple Mansion realm, each stage of improvement results in the formation of a true essence star within the Purple Mansion. These true essence stars resonate with the true essence lake, and the brighter they are, the purer and more condensed the true essence. After forming nine stars, a unique phenomenon of nine stars in a row will appear above the lake, like an arch bridge, preparing for the breakthrough to the Yellow Court realm.

Moreover, the strength of the Purple Mansion realm is closely related to the cultivation method used.

Top-tier cultivation methods can greatly expand the Purple Mansion lake. The larger and deeper the lake, the more powerful the true essence, and the more terrifying the effects.

Basic cultivation methods produce impure and unrefined true essence, and their effects on expanding the Purple Mansion lake are minimal. The power they produce is mediocre, and more importantly, such true essence becomes difficult to refine when advancing to higher realms.

However, cultivating top-tier methods is extremely resource-intensive. The larger and deeper the Purple Mansion lake, the more true essence stars, and the more true essence needs to be refined.

The Ice Crane Technique that Chen Xi cultivated was chosen by Ji Yu. Although it only covers the nine stages of the Purple Mansion realm, it is a top-tier method, producing both higher quality and quantity of true essence compared to ordinary Purple Mansion cultivators.

One day later.

Chen Xi woke up from his cultivation, having refined all the remaining 2,000 pounds of spiritual liquid in the octagonal palace bottle. The true essence star in the Purple Mansion space was now extremely bright and radiant, like ice and jade, emitting a dazzling icy light.

"Spiritual liquid, spiritual liquid... Cultivation truly cannot be separated from wealth. The disciples of large families and sects have endless resources for cultivation, and their cultivation naturally progresses rapidly, far surpassing ordinary scattered cultivators without status. If I want to quickly improve my strength, I must gather more spiritual liquid..."

Spending 2,000 pounds of spiritual liquid in one day for only a slight improvement in cultivation made Chen Xi sigh deeply. The path of cultivation is summarized in four words: wealth, companions, methods, and place, which have been true since ancient times.

"Mu Kui." Chen Xi walked out of the cave.

"Senior, what is it?" Mu Kui, who was meditating under a green pine tree, quickly stood up and asked respectfully.

"I need to go to Xiaoyue Ridge. If I don't return in three days, leave immediately and don't stay." Chen Xi said thoughtfully.

Mu Kui's heart trembled, and he asked in surprise, "Senior, are you going to kill the Kunpeng King?"

Chen Xi shook his head and said, "Just to save a few people." With that, he leaped into the clouds.

"Senior, wait. Here are the treasures left by the Black Ape King. Please take them." Mu Kui seemed to remember something, took out a storage bag, and hurriedly called out.

"Leave them for you. If this trip is successful, I will also leave the Southern Wilderness. Keep these treasures for protection."

Chen Xi's voice faded away as his figure disappeared into the horizon.

"How can this be? Just leaving like this?"

Mu Kui was lost in thought, muttering to himself. He was extremely reluctant to part with Chen Xi. In the days they spent together, he had already become deeply convinced of Chen Xi's worth and regarded him as a master to serve for life.

"No, I can't just let it be. I must cultivate well. Once I advance to the Purple Mansion realm, I will find Senior Chen Xi and ask him to take me in!"

Mu Kui looked at the place where Chen Xi disappeared, clenching his fists tightly, his eyes filled with determination.

...

Evening.

Xiaoyue Ridge, the towering mountain range resembling an ancient fierce beast, was painted with a deep blood-red hue by the setting sun, appearing even more desolate, bloody, and majestic.

Whoosh!

Ten miles away from Xiaoyue Ridge, Chen Xi landed and looked up at the ridge. He saw a thick cloud of demonic aura rising straight into the sky, blocking out the sun, exuding an endless sense of darkness and death.

In the center of Xiaoyue Ridge, three particularly thick and prominent demonic auras stood out, solid and unmoving, far surpassing the surrounding mist-like demonic auras.

Three demon kings? This is troublesome!

The Black Ape King and the Thunder Eagle King have already been killed by me. The Xuanjing Old Turtle King is elusive and hard to find. The Green Hill Fox King is on the same level as the Kunpeng King and is unlikely to be involved. That leaves only the Mo Dragon King of Moon Lake and the Green Python King of the Sunset Forest.

The Mo Dragon King and the Green Python King are slightly weaker than the Thunder Eagle King but stronger than the Black Ape King. With these two and the Kunpeng King, my chances of victory are slim.

What to do?

After pondering for a moment, Chen Xi decided to sneak in and act when the opportunity arose.

He couldn't just stand by and watch Du Qingxi and the others in trouble. Otherwise, the guilt in his heart would fester, becoming a heart demon that would erode his Dao heart and interfere with his cultivation.

"Are you really going to save them?" Ji Yu appeared and asked seriously.

Chen Xi was taken aback, not expecting Ji Yu to appear at this moment, but he nodded firmly.

"Why?" Ji Yu continued, "Do you know that they stood by and watched when you were in trouble? At best, you are just ordinary friends."

"When I was in the Sword Immortal Cave, the chaos caused by killing Chai Letian also involved them. I feel some guilt about this and want to make amends," Chen Xi replied slowly.

"What if you die?" Ji Yu continued.

Chen Xi had never considered this, hesitated, and then said, "I believe that whether it's the Heavenly Dao or the Human Dao, they all point to the heart. If the heart is not at peace, I will likely leave behind a heart demon. So even if I die, I will still do this. Haven't you said that on the path of cultivation, one must follow the Heavenly Dao and adhere to one's true heart?"

Ji Yu's eyes, filled with the wisdom of countless years, showed a trace of appreciation.

To face one's true heart and charge forward bravely in the face of great danger is extremely rare. In the million years Ji Yu had lived, he had seen many extraordinary figures, from divine and demonic body cultivators to supreme sword immortals, all with exceptional talent and potential. But in terms of the firmness and resilience of their Dao hearts, only a few could match Chen Xi.

After all, without a solid and firm Dao heart, no matter how talented one is, they cannot reach the pinnacle of the Dao.

"With such a heart, the Great Dao can be achieved." Ji Yu left these eight words and disappeared.

The Great Dao can be achieved? Let's see if you can come out of this dragon's lair and tiger's den...

Chen Xi muttered to himself and immediately moved, like a wisp of smoke, quietly approaching Xiaoyue Ridge ten miles away.

A moment later.

Using the incredibly effective Divine Wind Feather Escape Technique, Chen Xi avoided the large and small demons patrolling at the foot of the mountain without any trouble. He followed a secluded path and quickly ascended Xiaoyue Ridge. When he reached the halfway point, the scenery around him changed dramatically, as if he had suddenly entered the night from the day, with demonic fog everywhere, making it difficult to discern the terrain.

Whistling sounds rose, like the cries of ghosts and howls of wolves, carrying a strange force that could disturb the mind.

Array formation!

Chen Xi's divine soul had already reached a very high level and was not afraid of the interference from the sounds. He looked around and instantly understood his situation, his heart sinking.