Chapter 9

"Why can Daoist Cangmu enter the Ghost Realm at will without being discovered? Isn't he human?" Yichen was very puzzled.

Even if Cangmu was powerful enough to easily slay ghosts, it would be extremely difficult to remain undetected, unless... he definitely wasn't human.

"Master, Cangmu is human, without a doubt," Jia said confidently, "But he has a secret weapon, the Black Cicada Cloak!"

"Black Cicada Cloak, a secret weapon?" Yichen knew that curiosity could be fatal, but he couldn't help asking.

"Yes, the Black Cicada Cloak. Although very few people know about it, I am one of them," Jia, seeing Yichen's interest, felt secretly pleased and began to show off:

"The Black Cicada is a type of cicada that spends most of its life underground. They molt once a year, and their bodies grow a little each time. Ordinary Black Cicadas can live for about twenty years and grow to the size of a thumb."

"But the Black Cicada King is different. It is born under the roots of a ten-thousand-year-old spirit tree in the mystic soil, absorbing the essence of earth and wood. It can live for over a thousand years and continues to grow, with the largest even surpassing human size."

"The Black Cicada Cloak is made from the molt of a thousand-year-old Black Cicada, which is extremely rare. The cicada eats its own molt, so it can only be obtained by killing the cicada when it is weak and has not yet recovered after molting."

"Wearing the Black Cicada Cloak not only makes one invisible but also allows one to move through the earth without leaving a trace, and with minimal impact on vision."

"Even more remarkable, the Black Cicada Cloak can block a person's aura, allowing one to enter the Ghost Realm undetected, even by the Hell King, who has strong cultivation and sensing abilities."

Back then, Cangmu was also a powerful figure. It is said that he had to go to great lengths to kill the Black Cicada, even getting injured in the process.

After all, a thousand-year-old Black Cicada King, having long absorbed the essence of the spirit tree and mystic soil, would have been a dominant force if it were human. Unfortunately, it was in a weak state during its molting period, and thus fell to Cangmu's hands.

Later, due to the human-demon war affecting the spirit tree, the tree was destroyed, and the Black Cicada clan was almost completely wiped out, with no more Black Cicada Kings. Therefore, there is only one Black Cicada Cloak in the world, and there can be no second.

For two thousand years, a recluse has sealed the Ghost Realm, and the ghostly aura has invaded for two thousand years, weakening the barrier's power. Perhaps it won't be long before the Wuji Sword reappears.

That will surely bring another storm of blood and carnage, with countless lives lost. To obtain the Wuji Sword, one must pass through the Ghost Realm; to safely pass through the Ghost Realm, one must wear the Black Cicada Cloak.

But there is only one Black Cicada Cloak, and it belongs to Cangmu.

People have celebrated Cangmu's deeds, knowing that he bravely entered the Ghost Realm to obtain the Wuji Sword, but they do not know the magic of the Black Cicada Cloak, and some have never even heard of it.

"Recently, there has been a rumor that a ten-thousand-year-old royal tomb will open deep in the Tianluo Mountains, but no one knows who the tomb's occupant is. I guess it's Cangmu, because among the strong figures who lived in the Tianluo Mountains ten thousand years ago, only he was of the royal level. The tomb is surrounded by a barrier, and only those below the War King level can enter, so I hope the master can get this opportunity."

After such a long detour, he finally got to the point, as if telling a story to a child.

Jia sighed deeply. Although Yichen was his master, he was still young and didn't understand the gravity of many things, so he had to coax him a bit.

Yichen originally thought he was just listening to a story, and something so distant couldn't possibly be related to him.

But as he listened, he found himself drawn in, and this old guy was quite cunning.

However, it didn't seem to be harmful to him, and might even be beneficial, so...

"Is it such a simple matter that you need to make such a big fuss to get me involved? You could just go in yourself, get the Black Cicada Cloak, and bring it to me. Wouldn't that be easier?"

Let him manipulate me, and I'll give him a taste of his own medicine.

"I can't go in, Master," Jia replied.

"How can you not go in? If you can't, I certainly can't. What is your cultivation level, and what is mine? Your cultivation is clearly much higher than mine, yet you are lazy and unwilling to do it, forcing me, with such a low cultivation, to take the risk. What are your intentions? Who is the master here?"

Although Yichen knew that Jia would never harm him, being manipulated still made him uncomfortable, so he retorted a few times, feeling a bit more balanced.

"Master, of course you are the master," Jia almost choked. He clearly told you that only those below the War King level can enter, otherwise he would have brought it to you long ago. Why go through all this trouble to get you involved?

"But I really can't go in because my cultivation is slightly higher. The highest level that can enter is the War Commander level, so only you can go."

"Oh, I see. I wronged you," Yichen, still a child, was curious again: "What is your cultivation level? Higher than the War Commander level, War King level?"

In Yichen's eyes, Tian Tao was already very powerful, but not even at the General level.

Jia was much stronger than Tian Tao, at least at the General level, and perhaps even at the War Commander level, which was already impressive.

The Tianluo Kingdom was so vast, and there were only a few War King-level experts. How could a beast like Jia possibly have War King-level cultivation?

"Master, it's hard to define my exact cultivation level, but if compared to human levels, it's at least at the high Royal level," Jia said calmly.

"What? Royal level! And high level!"

How could that be? Each level is divided into nine grades, with three grades forming one stage. The high stage is grades seven to nine. The War Commander level starts with low, middle, and high stages. Jia's cultivation reaching the high Royal level was astonishing.

Yichen had only heard that in the Tianluo Kingdom, a War King was the top existence, and he had never seen one.

Today, he actually met a super-strong Royal-level expert, and this super-strong expert called him master.

So, what level was the soul in his head originally? Royal level? Imperial level?

These high-level existences were just in Yichen's imagination, and he couldn't make a specific judgment of their strength.

But one thing was certain: he had two existences even stronger than legends by his side and in his head.

He felt a bit dizzy and pinched Jia's face, asking, "Does it hurt?"

"A little," Jia looked at Yichen with an innocent face.

He thought, why such a big reaction? I even understated it. Otherwise, my old face would be ruined. This kid really can't control himself.

"It's good that it hurts. I'm not dreaming." Yichen couldn't help but feel a bit smug. I am the master of a super-strong Royal-level expert. It's unbelievable.

"Master, the tomb will open in fifteen days. You should intensify your cultivation and try to break through to the War Supervisor level. We'll find a secluded place, and I'll protect you," Jia quickly returned to the main topic.

An hour later, they entered a small cave, found a flat spot, and took out the Earth Heart Mystic Soil cultivation platform.

Yichen jumped onto the Earth Heart Mystic Soil cultivation platform, focused his mind, cleared his thoughts, and fully immersed himself in cultivation...

On the fourth day at noon, the five elements' energy in Yichen's dantian had already gathered and circulated throughout his body. His tendons and meridians were filled with earth energy, and the energy flowed orderly through the meridians, surging into the muscle tissue and permeating every part of his body, even the skin.

At the same time, various waste and impurities in his body were gradually expelled through the gaps in the muscle tissue and the capillaries. His body gradually returned to a normal state, his muscle tissue became denser, and his skin became tighter.

Yichen felt that he had broken through again, but it wasn't over yet...

Outside the cave.

Jia was protecting Yichen. He liked Yichen's childlike nature, perhaps because he had been lonely for too long and always felt a sense of gloom.

Now, with this little master, he felt much younger and full of vitality.

Jia didn't mind Yichen's low cultivation level, after all, he was still young. The old master must have had a reason for choosing him. Just with Yichen's innate five-element body, he was a once-in-a-millennium talent.

After cultivating the "Great Five Elements Technique" for only a month, he had already broken through to the War Supervisor level, and his future progress would not be slow.

Once he reached the War Supervisor level, his meridians would be fully open, and the Moon Flask would automatically provide him with nutrients and heal his injuries based on his body's needs, keeping him full of energy...

Suddenly, a gust of wind carrying the five elements' energy formed a visible huge vortex and rushed into the cave, a sign of a breakthrough.

Another surge of energy flowed from Yichen's dantian, spreading through his limbs and bones, making him feel very comfortable.

It felt as if his whole body was floating, as if he were riding the clouds... He broke through from War Master level nine to War Supervisor level two, and finally stopped.

Yichen was amazed by this feeling, gathered his energy, and pushed out a palm into the air.

"Bang!"

The palm wind hit a rock five meters away, making a solid sound. There were even some cracks on the rock, and a lot of soil fell off.

From War Master level nine to War Supervisor level one, it seemed like a small step, but it was a huge leap in terms of realm, with a significant difference.

At War Master level nine, one could only practice some basic boxing, kicking, and sword techniques, which were powerful but lacked real strength, looking good but not practical.

At War Supervisor level one, one could start practicing combat techniques. Combat techniques are divided into four major levels: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow, and each level is further divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.

Even the lowest-level combat technique is very powerful. Ordinary families rarely have combat techniques, and even stronger famous families only have Yellow-level combat techniques. In major sects like the Xuantian Sect, they have Mystic-level combat techniques.

However, only those who have undergone the process of cleansing the body and opening all the meridians, allowing the combat energy to flow without obstruction, can learn and use combat techniques.

Although Yichen's cultivation of the five elements' energy far surpasses ordinary energy, he could challenge a War Supervisor level two at War Master level nine, but only if the opponent did not use combat techniques.

Strictly speaking, only those at the War Supervisor level can be considered skilled, but they are only at the basic level of being skilled.

"Congratulations, Master, on your breakthrough..." Jia heard the sound and rushed into the cave, but before he could finish speaking, he pinched his nose and rushed out again.

Yichen came to his senses, frowned, and wondered where the stench was coming from.

No wonder Jia ran away; it was the stench of the waste expelled from his body. He had been so absorbed in the wonderful feeling of transformation that he hadn't noticed.

He quickly rushed out to find water to wash and change his clothes...

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