Chapter 15

"你你是一个恶魔"

Chi Ming had his last breath. He saw Liu Yang's dead body and stared at Zi Chen in terror, his voice weak to the extreme, with more exhaling than inhaling.

Zi Chen approached slowly, walked to Chi Ming, squatted down, and used the other's blue robe to wipe the blood off his hands, saying indifferently, "If you want to kill, you must be prepared to be killed."

After that, Zi Chen used his other clean hand to search through Chi Ming's clothes. After a while, he found a True Qi Pill.

"Not bad, I didn't expect you to really have one. Thanks, brother." Holding the True Qi Pill, Zi Chen's eyes suddenly lit up as if he had discovered a rare treasure.

"Spit." Chi Ming couldn't bear Zi Chen's words, using all his strength to spit out his last mouthful of blood, then his head tilted, and he fell to the ground.

This time, he was truly silent.

Three people, dead.

Zi Chen stood up, walked to the dead Fu Jie, searched him, and found another True Qi Pill. Then, Zi Chen returned and tried to find something useful on Liu Yang's body.

Unfortunately, Liu Yang didn't have a True Qi Pill.

"This is fate."

Eyes shining, Zi Chen held the two True Qi Pills, put on his backpack, and left the dense forest. He didn't bother to look at the three dead bodies or think about burying them.

By a small stream a few miles away, Zi Chen washed his hands, ate some dry food, and found a relatively safe place.

He sat cross-legged, trying to calm himself down.

Eyes focused on the nose, nose focused on the heart.

Today's harvest was great, with two True Qi Pills. With his peak Fourth Layer True Qi strength, he could naturally break through.

At the Fifth Layer of True Qi, he would be eligible to participate in the Inner Gate Examination, and upon entering the Inner Gate, he could also participate in the ranking competition to win more rewards.

The True Qi Pill melted in his mouth, entering his stomach, and a warm sensation followed. Then, a pure spiritual energy surged into his limbs and bones.

The Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Technique was in operation, just like before. After running through half a cycle, this energy was absorbed by his heart.

After a few breaths, with the heart's sudden beat, a pure silver energy emerged from the heart. Most of the energy entered his bones, blood, and body, while only a small part gathered in the dantian.

In Zi Chen's dantian, a lot of silver energy had already gathered, and occasionally, tiny lightning bolts appeared within this silver energy.

With the injection of external energy, the silver energy in the dantian trembled, as if about to undergo a transformation, but this transformation seemed to lack the necessary power.

"Too much energy has been absorbed by the body, making it difficult to break through smoothly. I can't be stingy anymore." Zi Chen sighed softly and swallowed another True Qi Pill.

Then, with the heart's tremor, a continuous flow of energy was injected into the dantian, and the silver energy in the dantian began to transform.

The energy in the dantian became more substantial, and at the same time, every drop of blood, cell, bone, and even bone marrow in Zi Chen's body began to change, gradually becoming stronger under this energy.

In a daze, Zi Chen felt that his constitution had broken through again, comparable to a Sixth-Level Beast.

After a long time, the breakthrough was complete, and Zi Chen opened his eyes. For a moment, a flash of lightning seemed to pass through his eyes.

"True Qi Fifth Layer, finally broken through."

A hint of joy appeared on Zi Chen's face. Taking this step, successfully entering the Inner Gate, was like opening another door for himself. The world ahead would be exciting.

It didn't take long to refine the two True Qi Pills. With nearly a month left before the Inner Gate Examination, Zi Chen didn't want to cause any more trouble, so he stayed in the dense forest to focus on cultivation.

During the day, Zi Chen would practice combat techniques, integrating the Flowing Cloud Steps into the Fierce Tiger Fist, making his combat power even stronger.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"

The forest was always filled with such sounds, with large trees falling one by one, and the roar of a fierce tiger echoing, scaring away many small animals.

At night, Zi Chen would cultivate the Heavenly Thunder Body Tempering Technique. The surrounding energy would quickly gather towards him, be absorbed by his heart, and then be released again.

Time passed quickly, and it was already more than half a month. The forest was filled with the fragrance of flowers, and spring was halfway through.

"The Inner Gate Examination should start soon."

In the early morning, Zi Chen, who was sitting cross-legged, opened his eyes. Today, he would return to prepare for the Inner Gate Examination.

"In previous years, the first place winner would receive a second-rate combat technique and three True Qi Pills as a reward. I wonder what the reward will be this year." Zi Chen's eyes were full of anticipation.

The Lingwu Sect welcomed a busy time.

The Inner Gate Examination took place every two years, and missing the opportunity meant waiting another two years. In the bustling atmosphere, Zi Chen's return went unnoticed.

"Zi Chen, you're finally back. I was so worried about you during this time." Miaokong, who was in the room, said in surprise when he saw Zi Chen return.

"I'm fine, I just didn't want to cause any more trouble, so I stayed outside for a while." Zi Chen smiled.

"I heard that after you left, Fu Jie and Chi Ming also left. Did you encounter them?" Miaokong asked.

"They're dead, and the True Qi Pills are mine." Zi Chen explained what happened that day.

"In just a few months, your growth is truly terrifying. It seems you have a good chance of becoming the top in the examination this time." Miaokong smiled.

"Just a chance, but no guarantee."

"True Qi Fourth Layer could kill True Qi Fifth Layer, and now you've broken through. Who can be your opponent?"

Just as Zi Chen returned, Wang Meng, who had refined three True Qi Pills, was also at the brink of breaking through. The surrounding energy surged towards him, and the True Qi in his dantian began to transform.

"True Qi Sixth Layer, ha-ha, the first place in this examination is mine." A moment later, the energy returned to normal, and Wang Meng opened his eyes, a look of wild joy on his face.

"Brother Meng, Brother Meng."

Just after breaking through, Wang Meng was in a good mood, but at that moment, an anxious voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a blue-robed disciple rushed in, saying anxiously, "Brother Meng, something bad has happened. Zi Chen is back, but Fu Jie and Chi Ming haven't returned, and neither has Liu Yang."

A cold light flashed in Wang Meng's eyes. "When did this happen?"

"Just now, Zi Chen just returned."

Before entering seclusion, Wang Meng had asked Lin Mi to keep watch, waiting for Fu Jie and the others to return. However, after so many days, Fu Jie and the others hadn't returned, but Lin Mi had seen Zi Chen.

"Zi Chen, I didn't expect you to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. You really deserve to die." Wang Meng was furious. Previously, Zhao Can and the others' fates were unknown, and now Fu Jie and the others hadn't returned. If it were a coincidence, Wang Meng wouldn't believe it even if he were beaten to death.

"Brother Meng, do you mean Fu Jie and Chi Ming were killed?" Lin Mi found it hard to believe. He was the one who had poured feces on Zi Chen's door that day.

"It's hard to say, but it's not impossible. If Zi Chen broke through to True Qi Fifth Layer, he must have used True Qi Pills. Fu Jie and Chi Ming are in great danger." A cold light flashed in Wang Meng's eyes. "But what does it matter if he breaks through? In the second round of the competition, I hope I don't meet him. Otherwise, I'll tear him apart."

The Inner Gate Examination had two rounds.

The first round mainly tested strength, while the second round tested combat power.

As the examination date approached, the disciples who had been out on missions returned one by one. Some were happy, while others were worried. Those who had broken through to True Qi Fifth Layer were naturally happy, while those who hadn't would have to wait another two years.

Zi Chen returned in the morning, but by noon, someone had come to see him.

It was Lin Xue.

She had a slender figure, wearing the Lingwu Sect's uniform blue robe. Standing outside Miaokong's room, her beautiful and youthful face was like a blooming lotus.

Many outer gate disciples had returned, and naturally, some had seen Lin Xue standing outside Miaokong's room.

Lin Xue's beauty might not rival the goddess Su Mengyao, but she had a different kind of charm and gentleness. If not for Su Mengyao's protection, she would have suffered many attacks. When Zi Chen found the severely injured Lin Xue, it was because of her beauty that she had attracted others' covetous eyes, nearly falling victim.

Standing outside Miaokong's room today naturally sparked endless speculation.

"Isn't that Miaokong's room? Why is Lin Xue standing outside? Is she waiting for Miaokong?"

"Nonsense, she's waiting for Zi Chen. I don't know what kind of luck this guy has. Just carrying the injured Lin Xue back, he not only got a benefit but also made Lin Xue fall for him."

"This world is too scary. Even a goddess is attracted to a poor guy."

"What? Lin Xue is waiting for Zi Chen? Does that mean Zi Chen is back? He offended Wang Meng and Wang Xiong, and he's still alive?"

The crowd discussed from a distance, various complex emotions spreading, and the air was filled with a sour smell.

"Lin Xue?" Zi Chen walked out of the room, looking at Lin Xue in surprise.

"Where have you been these past few days? I've been looking for you for a long time." Lin Xue ignored the crowd's discussion, her eyes focused only on Zi Chen.

"I went on a trial." Zi Chen scratched his head and said.

"This is for you." Lin Xue smiled and held out a porcelain bottle.

"What is it?" Zi Chen was taken aback.

"Hehe, just open it and you'll see." Lin Xue smiled. "I'm about to enter the Inner Gate, and you can't fall behind. Otherwise, the gap between us will grow larger, and when I come to find you, you'll feel even more inferior."

"These are True Qi Pills." Zi Chen's face changed, and he quickly shook his head. "No, I can't accept them. I haven't repaid your life-saving grace yet. How can I accept such a valuable gift?"

Like a blooming lotus, Lin Xue smiled again. "I knew you wouldn't accept them. Don't worry, I'm not giving them to you for free. I'm lending them to you. You can pay me back when you enter the Inner Gate. There are two True Qi Pills here. If you have a conscience, you can pay me back with three."