Night moon was glowing brightly cascading it's gentle rays on the tall Windy mountain. Zhan Chen was lying on the big rock bed and Zi Nuan lying on top of his chest with a serene expression on her face.
"Princess, what are you planning to do next? I will be happy if you follow me to the central land", Zhan Chen broke the silence aftera while.
"I don't know yet. Let me think about it", Zi Nuan spoke as a lost expression appeareared on her face. For so many years of her life, she lived her life on her own way. Except her childhood, she had never felt a moment of dependence on others. But right now, she didn't want to let go the person lying beneath her.
"Zhan Chen, what if I go with Mingxi? We can meet at the time of grand sect competition", Zi Nuan spoke.
"It is also a good idea. We can meet each other after few months of time", Zhan Chen spoke.
Zhan Chen's little brother was still unsatisfied but Zhan Chen didn't want to push Zi Nuan. Zi Nuan seemed to love cuddle as she lied atop Zhan Chen's chest.
Zhan Chen and Zi Nuan slept intimately for a while. Zhan Chen gave Zi Nuan a goodbye kiss and left the Windy mountain with her. After climbing down the mountain, both of them went their separate way.
Zhan Chen felt surprised when he returned to the Zhan family estate. Zhan Long was standing with the family guards near the gate.
Zhan Chen rode his horse and returned to the Zhan family estate. There were stiil some hours left before the arrival of next day morning. Zhan Chen decided to cultivate in the meantime to absorb the yin essence of Zi Nuan.
He entered inside his room and sat crosslegged. After cleaning his mind from other distractions, he operated Celestial Yin Yang sutra. The divine diagram which lied above his dantian glowed as it absorbed the yin essence of Zi Nuan from Zhan Chen's body.
A pure stream of True essence energy came out in return as Zhan Chen kept operating the Celestial Yin Yang sutra. Zi Nuan was a Core Condensation realm expert. Moreover, she was a maiden till date.
Her pure yin energy provided a great amount of True essence energy to Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen kept absorbing the True essence energy of Zi Nuan as the True essence energy inside his body thickened up in size. The small strings of True essence energy started to grow in width as they started to assimilate the True essence energy coming from the Yinyang divine diagram.
"Second stage of True essence realm
Third stage of True essence realm!", Zhan Chen felt delighted as he kept assimilating the True essence energy coming from the Yinyang divine diagram.
Finally, he broke through the third stage of True essence realm and reached the fourth stage before absorbing the last bit of True essence energy coming from the divine Yinyang diagram.
It took almost an hour for Zhan Chen to absorb the energy of Zi Nuan. His cultivation stabilized at the fourth stage of True essence ream when he completed his cultivation session.
"Princess Nuan, it is really a blessing to have you as my woman", Zhan Chen muttered to himself.
There were still some time left before the morning. Zhan Chen decided to take a look at his sword which he had picked up from the Zhan family weaponry.
Thr pitch black sword was lying in a corner of Zhan Chen's room. Zhan Chen picked it up and threw a look at the netherworld characters written on it.
"Devour! what a simple yet mighty name. Accompany me in my journey and I will make you the best sword of this world", Zhan Chen spoke while caressing the shiny black body of sword 'Devour'.
A shiny luster appeared on the body of sword Devour as Zhan Chen spoke it to accompany him in journey. Zhan Chen felt some resonance from sword Devour and a smile appeared on his face.
Zhan Chen felt a soul consciousness scanning past him and he knew who it was.
"It is time to see the senior. Then I can go and bade farewell to everyone", Zhan Chen thought to himself.
He placed the sword Devour on the ground and left his room. After leaving his living complex, he walked towards the Ancestral hall of Zhan family.
Zhan Lin was sitting crosslegged infront of the Ancestral hall. A smile appeared on his stoic face as he saw Zhan Chen coming towards him.
"Greetings senior", Zhan Chen bowed his head towards Zhan Lin.
"Sit down", Zhan Lin pointed towards a place Infront of him. Zhan Chen nodded his head and sat on the ground facing Zhan Lin.
"Are you leaving?", Zhan Lin looked towards Zhan Chen.
"Yes senior, I have to leave this morning", Zhan Chen replied.
Zhan Lin nodded his head and stayed silent for a moment. Zhan Chen waited patiently as he waited for the elderly man to open his mouth.
"You know our history, right?", Zhan Lin looked towards Zhan Chen. Zhan Chen nodded his head in reply.
"Then, maintain a little bit of vigilance untill you become powerful. The central land will not be easy where experts roam everywhere", Zhan Lin spoke.
"Senior, I will remember your words", Zhan Chen spoke.
"We used to have many friends as well as numerous enemies. Many clans should have grudge against us untill now. So, be careful", Zhan Lin spoke.
Zhan Chen listened to the words of Zhan Lin and left after paying respect to the ancestors of the Zhan family.
His next destination was his parents' ace but he felt surprised to see his father waiting for him on his way.
"Greetings father", Zhan Chen smiled towards Zhan Long.
"You cheeky little brat. Where have you run to in the middle of the night", Zhan Long looked towards Zhan Chen.
Zhan Chen felt speechless after listening the question of his father. The same question he also wanted to ask his father as he had not noticed the presence of his father before leaving to Windy mountain.
"Father, I.....", Zhan Chen decided to reply but before he could say anything he felt speechless again after Zhan Long gestrued him to stop.
"No need to explain to me. I am just curious about your whereabout. Now come with me to our place. You mother has not slept in the night as she kept thinking about your departure", Zhan Long spoke and dragged Zhan Chen towards their place.
Zhan Chen felt helpless as he was still treated like a kid by his father. He went along with Zhan Long and headed towards the place of his parents.
"Chen-er", Li Qingzhao called out after seeing Zhan Chen along with Zhan Long. A smile appeared on her beautiful face as she tried to wipe her swollen eyes.
Zhan Chen felt a little pain in his heart after seeing his mother like this but he was bound to leave home sooner or later. So, he couldn't do anything to reduce the sorrow of his mother.
"Mother, please don't cry. I will visit you whenever I can", Zhan Chen spoke to his mother.
"Chen-er, there no need to think about me. You should go and join a good sect to cultivate first", Li Qingzhao replied.
"Brother Long, what are you waiting for? Bring out the thing you have prepared for Chen-er", Li Qingzhao looked towards Zi Long.
Zi Long smiled after seeing the impatience of his wife. He went to another room and came back with a good looking armour with him.
Zhan Chen felt curious and threw a look at the armour that his father was helding. "A profound grade armour!", Zhan Chen felt surprised for a moment.
"Little brat, take it. I really have to give some effort to acquire it", Zhan Long spoke.
"Chen-er, it is a profound grade armour. Your father has prepared it for you. Hurry up and wear it. I want to see how you look with this armour", Li Qingzhao looked towards Zhan Chen.
Zhan Chen felt complicated for a moment as he knew what was the value of a profund grade armour to his parents. But he didn't want to disappoint them. So, he took over the armour and wear it above his dress.
The armour felt light and fit well with his body. "A good armour", Zhan Chen nodded his head after wearing the white coloured armour that his father had given to him.
Both Zhan Long and Li Qingzhao smiled as they saw the armour on his son's body. Zhan Chen spent his remaining time with his parents and bade farewell to his uncle and aunts after the sun had risen from the east.
He threw a last look towards the Zhan family estate and threw a look at the crying little Tao and his mother. Even Zhan Lin was also observing him with his soul consciousness.
"Goodbye everyone. Please take care while I am away", Zhan Chen spoke and left the gate of Zhan family estate.
A new journey was waiting for him as he rode the carraige that the Firecloud treasure pavilion had sent for him.
(To be continued.....)