Chapter 153

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Recently, Wang Chen discovered a great place.

Following a stream upstream and passing through dense forests, a hidden valley appeared before his eyes.

Sunset Peak was located to the southwest of the Inner Mountain Gate, and Wang Chen’s estate was on the western side of the mountain peak, so it was already quite on the periphery, with the nearest neighbor being several miles away to the east.

Therefore, this even more remote Nameless Valley became the best place for him to practice spells and swordsmanship on a regular basis.

After returning from completing a sect mission, Wang Chen invested more of his time into the endless endeavor of cultivation.

The day before yesterday had seen a heavy snowfall, and the entrance to the valley remained a vision in silver and white.

Wang Chen took a deep breath of the cold air, and the mana inside him surged like a torrential river, unceasingly converging towards his hands.

His fingers were tightly interlocked, with both thumbs erect, and his arms extended straight forward.

The next moment, his clasped palms instantly ignited with flames, releasing a scorching jet of fire.

A gigantic Fire Crow materialized!

After Wang Chen’s Fire Crow Technique reached the Grandmaster level, he was able to concurrently summon six Fire Crows to attack different targets.

This Fire Crow was two to three times the size of the original ones, with a stature comparable to a hawk or a falcon, and an immensely imposing presence.

Not only that, it had a pair of Heavy Wings, stirring up thousands of sparks with each flap, resembling meteor showers!

“Go!”

Under the drive of Wang Chen’s mana, the Heavy Winged Fire Crow spread its wings and soared high, breathing in between, it rushed into the sky, then swiftly dove down at high speed, striking a large rock a hundred paces away.

Boom!

Accompanied by a tremendous explosion, innumerable flames splattered in all directions.

This rock, weighing thousands of pounds, actually shattered into pieces, brutally obliterated by the Heavy Winged Fire Crow!

The fragmented rocks were covered with scorched traces, and the flames that had scattered on the ground were still burning, melting all the nearby snow completely clean and revealing the withered yellow ground beneath.

The force of a single strike was nothing short of terrifying!

This was precisely the formidable power that Wang Chen gained after spending 100 points of Human Virtue to elevate his Fire Crow Technique to the Great Perfection level.

The Heavy Winged Fire Crow not only had an astonishing destructive power but also had a significantly extended range of attack.

It utterly surpassed mid-tier Qi Cultivation spells and was even more powerful than many high-tier spells!

However, the consumption of mana was also terrifying, with a single strike draining nearly a third of Wang Chen’s mana.

But this move could definitely serve as a trump card against targets with high defense!

What was most important was that the Fire Crow Technique could be applied to a Flying Sword, enhancing the sword’s damage.

The more powerful this spell, the greater the enhancement to the power of the Fire Crow Sword!

Sword out!

With a clang, the Flying Sword suddenly unsheathed, circled around Wang Chen, and quickly skimmed toward the valley.

Under Wang Chen’s control, it soared back and forth, rushing through the air with a piercing whistling sound, creating captivating streaks of light!

Although Wang Chen had already mastered the foundation of nine forms of the Sword Control Technique to a high degree.

Yet, after the battle on the hillside, he had new insights and understandings of these nine sword forms, and now as he practiced again, the true essence of swordsmanship immediately became apparent.

Guided by his Divine Soul, the Fire Crow Sword flying through the air suddenly gained an added liveliness!

“The swordsmanship is not bad.”

Just as Wang Chen was getting into the groove, a deep voice unexpectedly reached his ears!

Who?!

Wang Chen couldn’t help being greatly startled and immediately looked in the direction where the voice had come from.

Even though he had been so engrossed in the Sword Control Technique that he was oblivious to his surroundings, the fact that someone could approach him silently and unnoticed clearly meant they were no ordinary person.

If such a person harbored ill intentions, it would undoubtedly be a very bad development!

There, standing on a rock twenty to thirty paces away, was a middle-aged cultivator draped in a purple robe, wearing a tall crown on his head.

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He looked down at Wang Chen from on high, his expression indifferent as he asked, “Are you a disciple of Sunset Peak?”

Elder Chang of Chang Chun!

Wang Chen recognized at a glance that the person in front of him was none other than Elder Chang Chun, one of the Three Purple Mansions of Sunset Peak.

He had listened to the Elder’s lectures many times and was considered one of his disciples.

With his thoughts running like lightning, Wang Chen immediately summoned back his flying sword into its sheath, then respectfully bowed to Chang Chun, “Disciple Wang Chen, pays respect to the Elder!”

“Wang Chen?”

Chang Chun thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, “I’ve never heard of you, which noble clan’s child are you?”

As he spoke, he stepped down from the rocks, his feet seemingly treading on invisible stairs, descending one step at a time to the ground.

Wang Chen replied, “Disciple is from a humble background, from the Outer Sect.”

Facing a Superior of the Purple Mansion, even one with the nickname “Tofu Superior” like Chang Chun, to say his heart wasn’t a bit nervous would certainly be a lie!

But this Superior did not show any malice, so of course, Wang Chen adhered to the proper conduct of disciples, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

Yet, his inner vigilance had escalated to the highest level.

As the saying goes, one must never be without a heart of caution.

The sudden appearance of Chang Chun was far too strange, and Wang Chen’s recent swordsmanship practice had fallen into the Elder’s eyes.

It was difficult to predict what thoughts might arise in the mind of this Superior of the Purple Mansion!

“From a humble background?”

Chang Chun seemed quite surprised, “At such a young age, you’re at the eighth tier of Qi Cultivation, and your Sword Control Technique has reached such a level—nearly on par with Xie Yaoxiu, yet you are not a child of a noble clan!”

“That’s right.”

He came to a realization, “If you were a child of a noble clan, you would have already been listed as a true disciple, and ascended to Taihao Peak long ago!”

Wang Chen felt that this Superior had nearly seen through all of his secrets!

There was no choice, he couldn’t possibly practice his swordsmanship here while also maintaining the Stealth Breath Technique; Chang Chun’s Divine Sense could easily penetrate his cultivation level and realm, leaving nowhere to hide.

“Born from humble beginnings, yet possessing such strength, you must have encountered some opportunity,” said Chang Chun.

A faint smile flickered in his eyes as he continued, “Rare indeed that you know how to hide your brilliance and nurture your wisdom; truly a sculptable material. Would you like to be my disciple?”

Wang Chen was momentarily stunned, completely unexpected that this Superior of the Purple Mansion would actually want to take him as a disciple!

“Five thousand Low Spirits.”

Before Wang Chen could respond, Chang Chun raised his right palm, spread his fingers, and waved them, “Just five thousand Low Spirits, and from then on, you’ll be my true disciple!”

Five thousand Low Spirits!

Wang Chen felt as if there was a huge “What the hell” stuck in his chest, unable to be uttered out loud.

He barely squeezed out a smile, “Disciple doesn’t have that many Spirit Stones.”

Chang Chun frowned slightly, “Then I’ll give you a discount, four thousand five hundred it is, can’t go lower.”

Wang Chen flat out admitted defeat, “Disciple really doesn’t have them.”

“What a pity.”

Chang Chun looked visibly disappointed, then turned and left with a flick of his sleeve, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

“Your swordsmanship is not bad, don’t practice it anymore.”

“It’s too noisy.”

Even as the figure faded into the distance, Wang Chen clearly heard the parting words of the Superior.

Regaining composure, he found his back drenched in sweat!

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The first chapter is sent, two more tonight.