Chapter 71

The demon spirit of the mid-stage Human Pill Realm was still very useful to Jiang Chen. The Dragon Transformation Technique could directly refine and absorb it. This single demon spirit of the Rotating Wing Golden Lion could at least help Jiang Chen condense two more dragon patterns.

When Jiang Chen advanced to the early stage of the Human Pill Realm, he condensed fifteen dragon patterns. According to his estimation, to advance to the mid-stage of the Human Pill Realm, the number of dragon patterns would likely double, reaching thirty. If he were to reach the late stage of the Human Pill Realm, he would need sixty.

The Dragon Transformation Technique required ten thousand dragon patterns to transform into a dragon and fly. The gap between the current number of dragon patterns and ten thousand was still too vast. Moreover, cultivating the Dragon Transformation Technique, each dragon pattern condensed was a massive consumption of energy. The path he chose was itself a process of consumption. To put it bluntly, his consumption was equivalent to the combined consumption of thousands of geniuses.

Jiang Chen directly swallowed the demon spirit of the Rotating Wing Golden Lion. With the help of the Dragon Transformation Technique, he completely refined it in just a few minutes. Indeed, two more dragon patterns appeared in his qi sea, circling around the human pill. Seventeen dragon patterns seemed like loyal guardians.

Each dragon pattern condensed signified an increase in Jiang Chen's combat power.

For the next three days, the two people and the dog remained in the center of the mountain range. They encountered many powerful demon beasts along the way, even a pack of wolves. Fortunately, the three of them were powerful and managed to eliminate all the obstructing demon beasts.

When Jiang Chen and the others walked out of the central area, due to the refinement of the demon spirit, two more dragon patterns formed in his dantian, bringing the total to nineteen.

The four dragon patterns were the greatest gain from this journey through the Origin Mountain Range. The only regret was not encountering any strange-blooded beasts, which would have allowed him to gain new innate abilities.

The one who benefited the most was Yan Chenyu. The ten-thousand-year-old cold crystal aside, after these ten days of mountain training, Yan Chenyu's character had undergone a complete transformation. She had at least become accustomed to killing, and her innate combat skills were becoming more proficient. Her combat experience was also becoming richer.

The only one who was depressed was the big yellow dog. His face was gloomy, seeing that the two of them had gained a lot while he had gained nothing. It was truly not a pleasant feeling.

The big yellow dog sniffed around, trying to find some essence to soothe his injured heart, but he was ultimately disappointed.

Poor big yellow dog, despite having the ability to find treasures, there were no high-quality treasures here. The only thing he found, the ten-thousand-year-old cold crystal, he gave to Yan Chenyu.

Sigh! Why is a dog's life so hard?

After another three days, the two people and the dog had been traveling for half a month, finally approaching the border of Qi Prefecture. They were only a thousand miles away from the edge of the mountain range. This area no longer had any powerful demon beasts, and their speed had greatly increased.

"Another thousand miles, and we'll be in Qi Prefecture. Big Yellow, tell me about the major forces in Qi Prefecture."

Jiang Chen looked at the big yellow dog, who had previously come from Qi Prefecture, so he must have some knowledge of the major forces there.

"You've asked the right person. I've been in Qi Prefecture for so long, there's nothing I don't know. The Eastern Continent has a total of twenty-eight major prefectures, and Qi Prefecture is the smallest, only a few hundred thousand square miles."

The big yellow dog said.

"What? A few hundred thousand square miles is the smallest?"

Yan Chenyu exclaimed, unable to believe it. A few hundred thousand square miles was an unimaginable vastness, and this was just the smallest of the twenty-eight prefectures. So, the entire Eastern Continent must be unimaginably vast.

If the Eastern Continent was like this, what about the entire Holy Yuan Continent? Yan Chenyu couldn't even imagine it. Of course, this wasn't her fault. She had grown up in Chicheng and rarely left the Yan family, so she had no concept of the vast Holy Yuan Continent.

Jiang Chen smiled, neither confirming nor denying. The big yellow dog was right; a few hundred thousand square miles wasn't much compared to the Divine State Continent. Even the entire Eastern Continent was insignificant.

Powerful sages could tear through space with their bare hands and take a step of a million miles. That concept was beyond the understanding of ordinary people. Jiang Chen still had a long way to go to restore his peak state from his previous life.

"I've heard that Qi Prefecture has four major sects. Besides the Heavenly Sword Sect, what are the other three?"

Jiang Chen asked. They were about to enter Qi Prefecture, so it was necessary to understand the forces there.

"Qi Prefecture is a large prefecture, rich in resources. There are countless small and medium-sized forces, but they are all second or third-rate. The true major forces, besides the Heavenly Sword Sect, are the Mystic One Sect, the Bliss Valley, and the Burning Heaven Pavilion. These four major forces are in a state of rivalry in Qi Prefecture. The relationship between them is so tense that it's like water and fire. Disciples from different sects often fight."

The big yellow dog spoke fluently, knowing everything about the distribution of forces in Qi Prefecture.

"Where there is conflict, there is excitement."

Jiang Chen smiled. He was a troublemaker by nature and didn't fear trouble.

"Big Yellow, do you know what the strongest cultivation level is among these four major forces?"

Jiang Chen asked again.

"Taking the Heavenly Sword Sect as an example, the Qi Sea Realm can only be a named disciple. Reaching the Human Pill Realm makes one an outer sect disciple. The Heavenly Pill Realm is an inner sect disciple. I've heard that there are a few core disciples above, who are all Divine Pill Realm. If I'm not mistaken, the Heavenly Sword Sect might have hidden War Spirit Realm experts. Of course, this is just a guess. There probably aren't many War Spirit Realm experts in the entire Eastern Continent."

The big yellow dog said.

"War Spirit Realm, huh?"

Jiang Chen smiled. In cultivation, the Qi Realm, Qi Sea Realm, Human Pill Realm, Heavenly Pill Realm, and Divine Pill Realm were just the basic five realms. Only after surpassing the Divine Pill Realm could one truly condense a war body and form a war spirit in the qi sea, known as the War Spirit Realm.

The gap between the Divine Pill Realm and the War Spirit Realm was incomparable. Crossing this gap was extremely difficult. It was like a natural barrier, blocking countless heroes. Many Divine Pill Realm experts spent their entire lives unable to cross this step, let alone reach the higher War King Realm, which was the realm of true rulers.

Qi Prefecture was a place of outstanding people and abundant resources, with many geniuses. Although the Heavenly Sword Sect had Divine Pill Realm geniuses as core disciples, it was uncertain whether they had any War Spirit Realm experts.

"However, since we killed the Heavenly Sword Sect's disciples, it's best to stay away from Heavenly Sword Sect people in the future."

The big yellow dog said somewhat guiltily.

Mentioning this, Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel a headache. He wished he could stew this dog. If it weren't for this guy, he wouldn't have offended a major sect before even arriving.

"Damn it, dead dog, we're parting ways here."

Jiang Chen suddenly realized that the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples all recognized this dog. If it stayed with him, it would be a disaster, and the Heavenly Sword Sect would pursue him wherever he went.

"You're a real piece of work, you little punk."

The big yellow dog bared his fangs at Jiang Chen.

At that moment, four figures suddenly appeared ahead. They came from the other side of the mountain range and immediately saw Jiang Chen and the others. When their eyes fell on the big yellow dog, their expressions changed.

"Damn it, what a narrow path to meet an old enemy."

The big yellow dog almost spat out a mouthful of blood, and Jiang Chen rubbed his forehead, knowing that his miserable life in Qi Prefecture was about to begin.

The four figures were dressed in white, with short swords embroidered on their chests, the symbol of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Even without the short swords, their identities could be known from the murderous looks they gave the big yellow dog.

"Damn dog, look, it's that cursed dog."

"The hell, that dog is still alive. Where are Disciples Chen Shuang and the others?"

"No need for idle talk, kill him."

The Heavenly Sword Sect disciples looked at the big yellow dog as if they had seen their greatest enemies, instantly becoming enraged. Their energy fluctuated, and two of them drew their weapons, clearly determined to chop the big yellow dog to pieces.

Jiang Chen felt like crying. What a deep grudge. But thinking about what the big yellow dog had done, he would probably stew it too.

The four figures included two early-stage Human Pill Realm, one mid-stage Human Pill Realm, and a young man in his early twenties who was already at the late-stage Human Pill Realm. Such cultivation levels made him a standout even among the outer sect disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

"Are you people from the Heavenly Sword Sect going to keep this up? Do you think I won't bite you to death?"

The big yellow dog threatened, his nostrils flaring.

"Hmph! You wicked dog, you are beyond redemption. Before you die, tell us where Disciple Chen Shuang is."

The late-stage Human Pill Realm youth coldly said.

Jiang Chen instantly understood. These four had entered the Origin Mountain Range not only to hunt the big yellow dog but also to find Chen Shuang and the others.

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen's gaze turned cold, and a faint killing intent seeped out of his body. He absolutely could not allow these four to cross the Origin Mountain Range and enter the Chicheng area, or else everything that happened in Chicheng would be exposed.

"Those three cowards also wanted to kill me, but I ate them."

The big yellow dog said arrogantly.

"What? Disciples Chen Shuang and the others indeed met with misfortune. Senior Brother Liang Dong, kill this dog and avenge Disciple Chen Shuang."

One of them immediately became furious.

The late-stage Human Pill Realm youth was named Liang Dong. Hearing the big yellow dog's words, his killing intent surged, but he then shifted his gaze to Jiang Chen and Yan Chenyu, or rather, his final gaze fell on Yan Chenyu.

Seeing Yan Chenyu, Liang Dong's eyes lit up, feeling as if he was seeing an incredibly beautiful landscape. For a moment, he was entranced by such a rare beauty.

"If you look at her one more time, I guarantee you won't see anything again."

Jiang Chen frowned and said coldly. No one could defile Yan Chenyu, not even with a glance.