Chapter 4

The rain poured down heavily, shrouding the world in a vast, misty expanse. It was winter, and the bone-chilling cold spread with the rain.

Inside the cave, Jiang Chen was drenched in sweat.

Each time he took the Illusion Crystal Grass, it was a torment for him. This two-star low-grade herb was generally only bearable by the mental strength of a Flying Heaven Realm martial artist.

In the illusion, the enemy Jiang Chen faced was extremely powerful. His body was already riddled with wounds, blood streaming down. Although these wounds were from the illusion, the pain was no less intense, faithfully transmitted to his body. The only thing Jiang Chen could rely on was the Void Sword Body Technique, which prevented him from being killed. Otherwise, being killed in the illusion might lead to a mental breakdown.

One breath in reality might be a quarter of an hour in the illusion. Four hours in reality were roughly a week in the illusion. For this entire week, Jiang Chen fought non-stop, his body almost entirely covered in wounds, even exposing the bone fragments.

"Die!"

With his body as a sword, Jiang Chen struck down his opponent and broke free from the illusion.

Panting heavily, Jiang Chen gasped for breath, his expression weary. However, soon, a look of joy flashed across his face. He had been out of the illusion for over ten breaths, and he could still hear the rustling of the wind and the movement of insects in the grass, even discerning their positions.

"Have I finally broken through?"

Jiang Chen was uncertain but, without hesitation, he stood up, holding his sword and walked to the Eagle's Beak Cliff.

The rain had long stopped, and the air was incredibly fresh, carrying a hint of earthy smell.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Chen began practicing his sword techniques.

First, he performed the Starry Sky Variation.

Jiang Chen's wrist flicked, and the long sword thrust forward. The tip of the sword trembled, and a cluster of cold stars flickered densely.

"Seventeen cold stars."

Jiang Chen was surprised. Before, he could only produce nine cold stars when performing the Starry Sky Variation, with a total of eighty-one variations. Now, he could produce seventeen cold stars, with two hundred and eighty-nine variations. In terms of the profundity of the sword technique, the current Starry Sky Variation had reached the high Yellow Rank. Of course, profundity was still profundity, not power. The higher the rank of the sword technique, the more profound and powerful it was.

The sky was clear, the wind was gentle, and the rain had stopped. The three sword techniques—Clouds and Breezes, Stormy Clouds, and Overturning Rain—originally only at the initial stage, had all reached the advanced stage after the Void Sword Body Technique broke through to the first level. The refinement of the sword techniques was almost on par with the former Xie Xiaofeng.

Naturally, Jiang Chen comprehended the fourth sword technique, Commanding the Storm, which was a powerful offensive technique.

"Having reached the first level of the Void Sword Body Technique, I wonder what my overall strength is now."

Although he was somewhat unclear about his strength, Jiang Chen believed that there were few opponents at the Qi Sea Realm. This was not an exaggeration but a fact. Who knew what grade the Void Sword Body Technique was.

After breaking through to the first level of the Void Sword Body Technique and using up the Illusion Crystal Grass, Jiang Chen spent the following time comprehending the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

In the second week, Jiang Chen's four Flowing Cloud Sword Techniques reached the ultimate stage, surpassing Xie Xiaofeng in terms of technique. After all, the former Xie Xiaofeng did not have the Void Sword Body Technique.

In the third week, Jiang Chen comprehended the fifth sword technique, Sweeping the Residual Clouds.

In the fourth week, Jiang Chen comprehended the ultimate technique of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, Piercing the Clouds and Splitting the Rocks.

In the blink of an eye, a month had passed, and Jiang Chen packed his things and left the Withered Wood Cliff.

...

At the foot of the One Qi Sect's mountain, Wang Dong and Guo Zihao were in the courtyard.

"This Sun Jianyue is too despicable, not distinguishing right from wrong. He's even an elder of the outer sect."

Wang Dong was still indignant.

"Brother Dong, the strong have the advantage, and we must endure. When we become prominent, we can settle the score." Guo Zihao was much calmer than Wang Dong.

Jiang Chen nodded. "Rat is right. The strong have the advantage, and we must endure. The only thing we can do now is to continuously improve ourselves. Only with strength can we avoid being bullied. Dongzi, your temper is too hasty, which is a great taboo in martial arts."

"Jiang Chen, I know, but knowing is one thing, and controlling it is another." Wang Dong scratched his head. His cultivation was the strongest among the three, at the peak of the seventh level of the Qi Sea Realm. However, he had always respected Jiang Chen, believing him to be extraordinary.

"Rat, Dongzi, I have something to tell you. I'm going out to train tomorrow." After a moment of contemplation, Jiang Chen said to Guo Zihao and Wang Dong.

"Train?"

Guo Zihao and Wang Dong looked at Jiang Chen.

"Yes." Jiang Chen nodded. "I haven't gone out to train for a whole year. You know my situation. Staying in the sect offers no hope. I can only go out and try my luck, hoping to find a way to resolve the issue with my Qi Sea being broken."

"Brother Chen, be careful. We'll be waiting for you at the One Qi Sect."

"Jiang Chen, go train with peace of mind."

Guo Zihao and Wang Dong were somewhat heavy-hearted. Jiang Chen's sword techniques were so powerful that he could fight beyond his rank, but this was only temporary. The Qi Sea Realm was the first major realm in martial arts, and the Flying Heaven Realm was the second. A Flying Heaven Realm martial artist, no matter how poor their sword techniques, could easily sweep through Qi Sea Realm martial artists. If Jiang Chen remained at the sixth level of the Qi Sea Realm, he would eventually be surpassed by others. It was not too late to seek opportunities now.

...

In the early morning, Jiang Chen left the One Qi Sect and headed towards the Silent Ridge.

The Silent Ridge was a famous one-star forbidden area near the One Qi Sect, more dangerous than the Illusion Forest.

In Jiang Chen's plan, the Silent Ridge was his first training ground. He intended to cross the entire Silent Ridge to hone his sword techniques and combat skills. Of course, the main goal was to earn some low-grade spirit stones.

"Brother Hu, we've been following him for hundreds of miles. Let's make our move now!"

Behind Jiang Chen, about a hundred meters away, four figures gathered behind a hill.

Each of the four was a ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artist, with sharp and penetrating eyes.

Brother Hu, the leader of the four, glanced at Jiang Chen's back and said fiercely, "The young master ordered us to kill him. Remember, don't be careless. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. Once the task is completed, the young master promised to reward each of us with twenty low-grade spirit stones."

"Understood."

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of rushing wind rose as the four approached Jiang Chen from four different angles, not caring if they were discovered.

"Finally, they're making their move."

A cold smile appeared on Jiang Chen's lips. He had sensed someone following him since he set out.

Gathering his true qi, Jiang Chen moved swiftly, his speed not slowing down.

Four hundred meters.

Two hundred meters.

Fifty meters.

Twenty meters.

Ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artists were, after all, ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artists. When their true qi erupted, their speed was several times faster than Jiang Chen's. In a moment, the distance between them was less than twenty meters.

"Boy, prepare to die."

One of them threw out seven or eight dark weapons.

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

The dark weapons pierced the ground but missed Jiang Chen. In that instant, Jiang Chen's speed increased by nearly thirty percent, causing the dark weapons to miss.

High Yellow Rank movement technique—Wind Following Steps.

Unconsciously, the five of them arrived at the edge of a dense forest. As Jiang Chen was about to enter the forest, Brother Hu shouted, "Stop him."

Once Jiang Chen entered the forest, it would be more difficult to kill him.

Hearing this, the fastest among them leaped into the air, spreading his fingers and releasing five streams of true qi.

Seventh-level Qi Sea Realm martial artists and above could already release true qi to injure from a distance.

"Wind Dance!"

Jiang Chen's figure transformed, overlapping and dodging the true qi. In the next moment, he flashed into the forest.

"Damn."

Brother Hu cursed. He had a feeling that killing Jiang Chen would not be easy.

The forest was dark, with no sunlight. As soon as they entered, the four men's vision darkened. After a breath, their vision returned to normal.

After a short while, the four lost track of Jiang Chen.

Brother Hu said unwillingly, "If we can't kill him, we can't go back and report. Let's split up. If anyone finds him, call out immediately."

"Brother Hu, don't worry. We are all ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artists with extremely sharp senses. If it weren't for his speed, any one of us could have killed him."

"Don't be careless. This boy was once called one of the two great talents of the One Qi Sect's outer sect alongside the young master. His sword techniques are formidable."

"That was in the past. The young master is about to become an inner sect disciple. How can this boy compare? Of course, we can't be careless. It's best to kill him in one move."

"Of course."

...

On a large, leafy tree, Jiang Chen stood motionless, like a dead branch, devoid of any vitality.

Concealment Technique, a high Yellow Rank auxiliary technique.

"Where did this little brat hide? If I catch him, I'll flay him alive."

One of the men passed below Jiang Chen, moving at a moderate speed, the sound of the wind barely noticeable.

Rustle!

The nearby tree shook, and the man looked up, his eyes widening in shock.

Pfft!

A sharp sword light pierced through his brow.

"Even with sharp senses, he couldn't escape this sword."

With one successful strike, Jiang Chen landed lightly on the ground.

After a quick search, Jiang Chen found a used low-grade spirit stone on the man's body.

His breath once again concealed, Jiang Chen silently disappeared into the depths of the forest, seeking his next target.

Within a short hour, Jiang Chen had killed three ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artists.

These ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artists were strong in direct combat, but they met their end at Jiang Chen's hands without even getting a chance to fight.

Now, only Brother Hu, the ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artist, remained.

In the underbrush, Jiang Chen was deeply hidden.

Brother Hu, on high alert, cautiously passed by, holding a long, curved hook.

Ding!

Suddenly, a spark burst, and a faint yellow light shield enveloped Brother Hu, sending him flying backward.

"What?"

Jiang Chen was surprised. He thought his strike was infallible, but the man had a protective true qi shield, which was only possible for Flying Heaven Realm martial artists.

"No, this isn't a protective true qi shield. It's a protective aura generated by a treasure."

Jiang Chen realized that a yellow-glowing jade pendant on Brother Hu's waist was the source of the protective aura.

"Little brat, you're dead."

Brother Hu was still shaken. Without the Spirit Essence Jade Pendant, he might have already been killed. This made him both shocked and angry, eager to kill Jiang Chen.

"Is that so? You can try."

Jiang Chen was not panicked by the failed strike.

"Still so arrogant at the brink of death. It's unacceptable."

Brother Hu roared, his curved hook creating numerous illusions, enveloping Jiang Chen.

A ninth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artist had an exceptionally thick true qi, which a typical eighth-level Qi Sea Realm martial artist could not match.

"You are the first to witness my true strength."

Jiang Chen's expression was serious, and a faint, ethereal sword aura emanated from his body.

Before Brother Hu could react, Jiang Chen flashed like a sword light, piercing through the illusions and appearing in front of him.

"Impossible?"

Brother Hu was terrified, his curved hook quickly blocking Jiang Chen's attack.

After a few exchanges.

"Die!"

A sword swung, like a swift wind cutting through grass, and a head flew off, belonging to Brother Hu.

The first technique of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique—Clouds and Breezes.