Chapter 143

After weighing his options, Wang Chen decided not to let Yuanyuan’s heartfelt gift go to waste.

He took the Vermilion Fruit to a quiet room.

The size of these Vermilion Fruits was similar to cherries, their bodies perfectly round and the color of agate. They emanated a thrilling scarlet hue as if they were crystals of condensed flame.

Wang Chen picked up a Vermilion Fruit and scrutinized it, feeling an invigorating Qi of Clarity hit him, making his mouth water uncontrollably.

He couldn’t help but swallow.

In his mind, it was as if a little person was desperately shouting, “Eat it!”

Suppressing the urge to devour the fruit whole, Wang Chen brought the Vermilion Fruit to his lips and carefully bit through the skin.

Yuanyuan would certainly not harm him.

But in the absence of knowledge about the Vermilion Fruit, it was always right to be cautious.

Wang Chen thought to try just a little bit first, and if there were no issues, he would eat the entire fruit.

As a result, a stream of incredibly sweet juice instantly flowed into his mouth and down his throat into his stomach.

Wang Chen immediately felt a warm current surge in his stomach, quickly moistening his internal organs and reaching every limb and bone!

He felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring, experiencing the utmost comfort.

However, after just a moment, Wang Chen’s entire skeleton began emitting a fine buzzing sound. The medicinal power of the Vermilion Fruit actually penetrated through bones tougher than fine steel, seeping into the marrow!

Itchy, sour, and painful sensations, along with a variety of other strange feelings, emanated from all 207 bones.

It was as if his bones were being chopped and marrow washed!

Amidst the intense sourness, pain, and itching, there was also an indescribable sense of relief and exhilaration.

Wang Chen was amazed.

After all, his Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method had reached the pinnacle of the third tier, and his Physique of Copper Skin and Jade Bone was incredibly powerful.

That such a tiny Vermilion Fruit could cause such a commotion inside his body was truly unbelievable!

Yet, before he had time to fully enjoy it, the effects of the Vermilion Fruit began to fade, and the inner sensations quickly dissipated.

Without the slightest hesitation, Wang Chen immediately picked up the second Vermilion Fruit and threw it into his mouth. At the same time, he activated the Five Elements Skill to circulate his breath, allowing the medicinal power to be more fully realized.

He then consumed the third and fourth fruits.

Once the medicinal power of the fourth Vermilion Fruit had completely dissipated, Wang Chen’s body suddenly resonated with his tendons and bones, emitting a series of crisp cracking sounds, like a string of firecrackers going off!

[Root Bone +1]

The information that flashed before his eyes almost made Wang Chen leap up in surprise.

Root Bone!

He could never have imagined that the Vermilion Fruit given to Yuanyuan by the Mysterious Turtle would be such an incredible treasure capable of enhancing one’s Root Bone!

Such treasures could even excite a Nascent Soul True Immortal!

Physique, Root Bone, Comprehension, Divine Soul—these are the four basic attributes of a Cultivator, with Root Bone being the most vital.

If a person’s Root Bone is incomplete in the Five Elements, they wouldn’t even qualify to cultivate.

The quality of the Root Bone determines the upper limit of one’s Cultivation Level.

Wang Chen’s Root Bone was previously at 4 points and had been increased twice.

After advancing to the higher stages of Qi Cultivation.

During his regular cultivation practice, he once again felt the impact of the Root Bone.

Going from seven to eight should pose no problem, but pushing on to Complete Qi Cultivation from eight was not going to be so easy.

To achieve a Breakthrough Mansion, he probably had to rely on Heavenly Merit through sheer force!

Wang Chen did have that Heavenly Merit.

But what about after the Purple Mansion?

Ascending the nine tiers of Purple Mansion would require increasing amounts of Heavenly Merit with each tier.

How many people would he have to kill to satisfy the tenfold escalating demands of Heavenly Merit?

One, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand…

Even the massacre of an entire domain might not be enough!

In comparison, investing Heavenly Merit into Root Bone and Comprehension is the most correct and practical choice!

Yet, Wang Chen’s current Heavenly Merit points were far from enough for a third increase.

He could not become a murderous fiend just for Heavenly Merit, could he?

As such, this Root Bone increase was like a timely rain, sufficient to lay the foundation for Wang Chen’s Purple Mansion!

At this thought,

Wang Chen couldn’t help but feel a surge of elation and joy welling up within him.

It was a pity that Yuanyuan wasn’t here.

Otherwise, he would certainly have cradled the little fellow in his palm and smothered it with a big kiss.

Yuanyuan had struck a brilliant bargain, splendid and resonant!

It seems that the Mysterious Turtle truly had treasures within its grasp, casually offering up such rare heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Truly worthy of being a millennium-old auspicious beast capable of suppressing the fate of a sect!

But Wang Chen did not harbor any greed from this, yearning for more from the Old Turtle.

The thousand-year-old auspicious beast was already spiritually aware. If he approached with a heart full of greed, he probably wouldn’t even catch the creature’s eye.

Moreover, Wang Chen now felt…

The skepticism from the Mysterious Turtle towards Wang Chen might indeed have been a test of his nature!

He had no desires and nothing to be ashamed of in his heart, which in turn brought about this opportunity!

…

In the following days, Wang Chen focused on experiencing the impact of increased Root Bone on his cultivation.

He found that practicing the Cultivation Technique became smoother, and some invisible barriers that had previously existed disappeared without a trace; the rate of accruing experience points for the Five Elements Skill also increased noticeably.

Based on his current pace of cultivation,

Wang Chen estimated that by early December, he should be able to attempt advancing to the eighth tier of Qi Cultivation!

Of course, while diligently practicing, he didn’t forget to take care of the nearly mature Spiritual Rice.

Both Yellow Millet Rice and Black Sesame Rice were vital provisions for cultivation.

Every time he tended the Spirit Fields, Wang Chen would see Zhao Huaian, his new neighbor, plowing the land.

Zhao Huaian was clearly not a Spiritual Plant Farmer.

Or rather, he had probably never done farm work before and knew nothing about the knack for planting Spiritual Rice.

Unlike Wang Chen who used the Fire Crow Technique and the Withered Glory Technique to clear weeds, he relied solely on brute force and a hoe, desperately turning the soil and weeding.

Moreover, Zhao Huaian hadn’t mastered the proper way to use a hoe.

The low efficiency of his plowing was simply painful to watch.

Wang Chen noticed and couldn’t help wanting to offer him some advice.

But Wang Chen did not truly take action.

In fact, after being snubbed that day, Wang Chen went home and thought it over; he could understand the other’s attitude.

The manhunt incident instigated by Zhao Huaian not only tarnished the reputation of the Cloud Sun Sect but also resulted in seven Purple Mansion disciples being stripped of all their possessions for their crimes, to be imprisoned in the Demon-Suppression Cavern for a hundred years!

Another twelve Purple Mansion disciples were punished by being sent to the Reclamation Camp for three years to redeem themselves through labor.

As for the family disciples and affiliated cultivators who were directly involved in the case, some were executed, others sent to mine.

Countless people fell into misfortune.

One can imagine that many hold deep hatred toward Zhao Huaian!

As a Loose Cultivator from the Outer Domain, the fact that he was still alive was all thanks to the Sect Leader speaking on his behalf.

Zhao Huaian, having no connections within the Cloud Sun Sect, even though he entered the Inner Sect and received the treatment due a True Disciple,

how could he avoid the covert suppression and exclusion from others?

He must have suffered countless hardships before being forced to farm here.

So his wariness and vigilance towards Wang Chen were quite normal.

But understanding is one thing; Wang Chen didn’t want his good intentions to be misconstrued as meddlesome, making himself unwelcome on all sides.

So he decided to let it be.

As Senior Brother Cao said, if it doesn’t concern you, hang it high and let it be!

Let him be.

The two of them were like water in their wells, not infringing on each other’s rivers, each living peacefully.

However, as the saying goes, the tree desires calm, yet the wind keeps blowing.

Wang Chen’s peaceful life lasted only a few days before it was disrupted by an unexpected visitor at his door!

“Is Junior Brother Wang Chen at home? Du Yuankui from Sunset Peak has come to visit!”

When Wang Chen heard the voice and came out of the meditation room, he opened the door, welcomed the guest into the front hall to sit down, and hadn’t even exchanged a few pleasantries,

this fellow sect member straightforwardly said to him, “Junior Brother Wang, I am here by the order of Big Senior Brother Lu, to instruct you to keep watch over Zhao Huaian next door. You must report his every move to me regularly!”

Dammit!

Wang Chen almost cursed out loud.

Leaving aside the condescending and commanding attitude of the other, just the task of surveilling Zhao Huaian next door,

was I to be the Old Sun?

He saw Du Yuankui take out from his Storage Bag a pair of copper mirrors that Wang Chen was very familiar with, along with a stack of Messenger Cranes.

“To facilitate surveillance, this pair of Ten-hour Mandarin Duck Mirrors is for your use. If you handle this task well, Big Senior Brother Lu has additional rewards for you. But if you mess up…”

He hummed ominously twice: “Anyway, you figure it out.”

Damn it!

Wang Chen took the mirrors and Messenger Cranes impassively: “I understand.”

Mandarin Duck Mirrors, and ten-hour ones at that, Big Senior Brother Lu is quite generous!

The Big Senior Brother Lu referred to by Du Yuankui was undoubtedly Lu Hong, the chief True Disciple of Sunset Peak.

With Complete Qi Cultivation abilities and rumors that he might break through to Breakthrough Mansion before the end of the year.

Moreover, a large group of Inner Sect Disciples crowded around Lu Hong.

How could Wang Chen dare to offend such a figure?

Du Yuankui wasn’t surprised by Wang Chen’s reaction, and after a few more admonitions, he got up and left.

After the other man had left, Wang Chen looked at the Mandarin Duck Mirror in his hand.

Then he left his house.

Heading to Zhao Huaian’s home, a mile away!

———–

The first update is here.