Chapter 21

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

At that time, Elder Ling Xin’s interest had been piqued by the shy-looking disciple. “You seem to be quite capable. How did you manage to keep the fire going for six hours?”

“Elder, my cultivation is still weak and I lack the stamina. It’s really beyond my ability to sustain it for three days and nights straight. Instead, I checked it out and discovered that the Flame Gathering Formation of this cauldron has a little defect. Hence, I took the liberty to fix the defect. Elder, please forgive me,” Chu Chen replied respectfully.

“Oh? I didn’t expect you to be an expert in formations as well.” Elder Ling Xin had been surprised. She walked up to the cauldron and looked on carefully. As expected, she found the side of the cauldron that was etched with formations had a few crooked scratches. It looked as though a kid had been making random carvings on a piece of wood. It seemed to have no connections or whatsoever to the Flame Gathering Formation.

However, those crooked and childish scratches did cause the spiritual energy of the cauldron to have smoothened out thoroughly. That seemingly fixed the defect of the formation with a pinpoint accuracy, which then cleared up the blocked path.

“From whom did you learn this skill?” Elder Ling Xin asked curiously as she thought more highly of this disciple.

“It’s a formation knowledge that was passed down in my family. I only know a little bit about it. I’m just embarrassing myself in front of Elder,” Chu Chen laughed it off. In truth, he had only activated his spiritual consciousness and sensed the few spots where the spiritual energy was throttled on the cauldron’s formation. He then made a few deep scratches to have cleared up the blocked path, and achieved a surprising effect. 

One should know that Chu Chen’s spiritual consciousness had already been beyond the level of a grandmaster.

“Mm, you can try working here for this month then. This cleansing broth is quite nicely done. Here, this is your reward.” Having said that, the pretty elder handed a small bottle to Chu Chen.

Having opened it, a rich aroma of elixir had filled the air. It had been a level-1 regular grade spirit gathering elixir!

“Thank you Elder!” Chu Chen was overjoyed. A level-1 regular grade elixir had been much better than the level-1 low grade elixirs he had been using. He had only spent three days making an elixir and was rewarded with a bottle of elixir. It had not been expected for a grandmaster of medicine to be so generous!

“Alright, you should be tired after these few days. Go home and rest up. Come again tomorrow around this hour to help out…Just like before, as long as you complete your chores well, you’ll be rewarded well!” The pretty elder waved coldly, indicating for Chu Chen to leave.

Chu Chen was not sure if it was because he had been refining elixirs for three days straight, but even after he had gone home, he had still been fanning the flames for the cauldron in his dream. The best part about it was that he had actually been doing it happily.

“Is Chu Chen here?”

The groggy Chu Chen had then opened the door to his tiny hut and noticed a girl dressed in yellow standing outside. The girl had given off an arrogant flair.

“Follow me. The eldest senior brother wants to see you.”

The girl was Yao Jinghai’s personal maid. Having used Yao Jinghai’s influence, she had never taken any of the external disciples seriously. She always had that haughty look with her. Even having entered Chu Chen’s courtyard felt like her status had been lowered and the reluctance had been obvious on her face.

Chu Chen did not expect Yao Jinghai to come to him so quickly. Him killing Yao Long should not have been exposed so soon.

Chu Chen feigned calmness and followed the girl to the Purple Sea halfway up the mountain. There had been an endless sea of purple bamboo.

The purple mist that was released by the purple bamboo had been extremely beneficial to cultivators. Each stick of purple bamboo fetched quite a high price. The vast stretch of purple bamboo had been worth a sizable fortune.

The Crystal Spring Sect intentionally let Yao Jinghai stay in the Purple Sea, having shown how much they favored him.

Just as he entered the Purple Sea, Chu Chen saw a healthy-looking young man with a jade crown over his head, having held onto a chess manual as his other hand slowly placed the piece on the board.

He had kind features, having made him look like a gentle scholar. However, whenever he placed a piece, the space around him would be pulled.

Bang, bang, bang!

He suddenly placed three pieces on the chess board heavily. The entire Purple Sea shook. The purple bamboo forest waved as though it had been washed along by a strong wave.

Chu Chen felt the Qi in his body roiling, having felt an indescribable sense of discomfort. He quickly went on guard and activated his spiritual senses to have protected his soul.

After a moment, Yao Jinghai finally looked up slowly and saw what Chu Chen had been doing in surprise. He had placed three pieces in a row, having hoped to have used that as a form of hazing Chu Chen and to have used the force from the spatial tremors to have brought him to his knees.

He never expected Chu Chen to have remained standing with only some discomfort and a slightly shaken body.

With Yao Jinghai’s cultivation stage and status, he had not been allowed to bully a lower disciple at the Spiritual Mist Stage publicly. He then slowly lowered the book in his hand.

“I heard that you’ve managed to fill this month’s herb quota.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Chu Chen replied calmly.

“I heard that you have lost the sect’s sword?” Yao Jinghai said with a gentle smile on his face, as if that had nothing to do with him.

“Thank you for your concern. When I was sick, it was taken away by some wild dog.”

The moment Chu Chen said that, a flash of anger had appeared in Yao Jinghai’s eyes even though he had maintained the smile on his face. ‘He knew that I sent my men to throw his sect’s sword away, yet he dares badmouth me?’

“Chu Chen, I think it’s better for you to leave the Crystal Spring Sect as soon as possible. If you continue to stay here, you might lose something more valuable than your sword…”

Right then, Yao Jinghai had suddenly let out a terrifying killing intent. Countless bamboo leaves had fluttered in the air and turned into dust immediately, having started a purple colored windstorm in the Purple Sea.

Chu Chen had also felt a mountain of pressure pressed down on his shoulders. He gritted his teeth and stood still. “I know you want me to leave the sect. It’s not impossible, but I have a condition.”

“What’s the condition?” Yao Jinghai was elated. ‘This kid is finally relenting.’

“I’d like to have a duel with you at the annual external competition in three months.”

“You want to fight for the spot of the external eldest senior brother?”

Yao Jinghai looked at the weak teenager that stood proud in the windstorm once more. ‘Did he hit his head and turned stupid like the rumors have it?’ he thought to himself.

“The title of eldest senior brother is just a bonus. My main gamble is for the winner to stay while the loser leaves the sect!” Chu Chen enunciated each word clearly.

“You should know that fighting for the title of the eldest senior brother is no ordinary competition. It will not be considered breaking the sect’s law even if you’re killed or maimed,” Yao Jinghai stated while looking at Chu Chen like a predator.

“I understand. So, do you accept my challenge?” Chu Chen asked proudly.

“I accept.”

Yao Jinghai stood up, then walked up to Chu Chen quickly.

That was a challenge he could not have refused. After he would have disposed of Chu Chen legally, Tong Meng would naturally have no escape.

Clap!

A vow for duel! Both of them struck their palms to have sealed the deal. Nobody would have expected the strongest external eldest senior brother to have promised a duel with a trash that had forever been stuck at the Spiritual Mist Stage.

That was exactly the result Chu Chen hoped for. Judging from the way things went for him, Yao Jinghai would have eventually acted against him. Yao Long’s death could have been exposed anytime. When he suggested a duel at the annual competition, it bought him three months worth of time.

In three months, would he have been able to stand up against the unfathomable external eldest senior brother?

He could only have pinned his hope on the mysterious cultivation method from the Black Fog Valley and the Black Fog Valley only.

He then suddenly remembered that it had almost been time for the appointment he had promised Elder Ling Xin. Chu Chen then threw away his worries and rushed straight towards Elder Ling Xin’s location.