Chapter 1773 (Raw 1785):
Ling Yu had steeled himself to take the path of bitter cultivation because of love.
Xiao Chen himself had come here because of love. Why could he not take a similar path?
As long as there was hope, Xiao Chen could not give up.
Ling Yu looked at the somewhat melancholic Xiao Chen and asked, "Martial Uncle, what happened in the Soaring Dragon Great Realm? I feel you changed somewhat."
"What changed?"
"I can't pinpoint what changed. However, Martial Uncle definitely changed. Previously, Martial Uncle's face was always calm and unchanging. Although it is still so now, I can just barely make out a trace of disappointment on your face that doesn't disappear.
"Most importantly, Martial Uncle let this disappointment remain on purpose. Given Martial Uncle's mental state, you should be able to get rid of it any time.
"However, Martial Uncle did not do so. That proves that whoever is related to this disappointment is exceptionally important to Martial Uncle. Even if it affects your mental state, you are not willing to cut it off but let it linger in your heart, never to disappear."
Xiao Chen was stunned on hearing that. To think that after a year's separation, Ling Yu's observation skills had become so detailed.
Or perhaps, it was as Ling Yu said: Xiao Chen had changed.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and did not deny anything Ling Yu said.
Ling Yu smiled and said, "It looks like I am right."
"So what if you're right, and so what if you're wrong? Just take care of yourself. Although you can quickly raise your strength through bitter cultivating, if you go too far and injure yourself, it will be a huge loss," Xiao Chen warned.
Few chose the path of bitter cultivation. Firstly, it was too painful and unbearable. Secondly, the risk was too high, and one could easily injure oneself.
With Ling Yu being so persistent, it was hard for Xiao Chen not to worry about him. When Xiao Chen met Ye Zifeng in the future, Xiao Chen would not know how to account for this to him.
Ling Yu smiled and said, "Martial Uncle, don't worry about me. I won't die."
"I hope so," Xiao Chen sighed softly. This was Ling Yu's choice; he could not interfere too much.
As the two had not seen each other for more than a year, they chatted happily.
Ling Yu asked Xiao Chen about the difficulties he faced on the path of Martial Cultivation without any reserve, and Xiao Chen patiently answered his questions.
At some point, the last rays of the setting sun disappeared.
Then, a violent shout broke this rare peace.
"White Robed Xiao Chen, get out here! I know that you have returned!"
Ling Yu's expression changed slightly. He looked at Xiao Chen and said, "It's Shangguan Lei. The voice is coming from the Greeting of Swords' Edges."
The Greeting of Swords' Edges was where the sects proudly displayed their face.
Xiao Chen had been there once before and knew what it was. Every sect had one.
Ever since Xiao Chen defeated Shangguan Lei in the Fiendish Demon Battlefield, the people of the Divine Firmament Sect rarely dared to show up at the Purple Flame Sect's Greeting of Swords' Edges.
This time, Shangguan Lei came here to regain his face after learning that Xiao Chen was back.
After thinking for a while, Xiao Chen understood the reasons.
"Martial Uncle, according to rumor, Shangguan Lei put in a lot of effort to obtain a Dao Tool for the sake of defeating you and cultivated like crazy while waiting for you to return. He came prepared," Ling Yu cautioned.
After all, Xiao Chen had not broken through to the Starry Sky Stage yet.
Ling Yu did not know what Xiao Chen's current true strength was and could not help worrying.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Just as the two decided to go and take a look, Shangguan Lei's figure suddenly appeared on the courtyard's wall.
"Shangguan Lei, if there are any grudges between sect disciples, it all has to be settled in Greeting of Swords' Edges. Are you trying to start a war between the Divine Firmament Sect and the Purple Flame Sect?"
Below, Hua Yunfeng and the other true inheritors rushed over, some rage on their faces.
Several Elders also appeared in the darkness, firmly locking down on Shangguan Lei.
Forcefully barging in, as Shangguan Lei did, was a violation of the rules set between sects.
If not for Shangguan Lei's status and strength, someone would have forcibly taken him down already.
Shangguan Lei said seriously, "Hua Yunfeng, stop being so wishy-washy like a woman. As long as Xiao Chen is willing to fight me, I will personally come to apologize and make compensation. Can't you tell whether I am trying to start a war between sects or not?"
Indeed…everyone could tell that Shangguan Lei was here only for Xiao Chen.
If not for this reason, the sect Elders would have worked together to chase Shangguan Lei out already.
Xiao Chen, if you are not willing to fight him, we can run him off right now.
The voices of the sect Elders appeared in Xiao Chen's mind.
Clearly, these sect Elders were very respectful of Xiao Chen and were polite in their speech.
There is no need to run him off, Xiao Chen replied.
Then, Xiao Chen looked at Shangguan Lei and said, "Think carefully before you make your move. You have only one chance."
Shangguan Lei could not help laughing loudly on hearing that. "What arrogance! One year ago, you could defeat me when holding a Dao Tool. One year later, I already advanced to the Starry Sky Stage and now hold a Dao Tool. Even if I let you have three moves, you still cannot defeat me."
Xiao Chen said slowly, "Many things…can change in one year."
"Cut the crap. Stop being all pretentious. I will defeat you in one move!"
Right after Shangguan Lei spoke, he gave a war cry and attacked in anger.
As the saber descended, thunder roared nine times. The Dao Tool in Shangguan Lei's hand shook nine times at a speed that was hard to see.
Each shake created a layer of Thunder Might. When there were nine layers, Shangguan Lei's aura became terrifyingly strong.
Dark clouds covered the sky. Lightning flashed, encasing the surrounding five kilometers.
As Shangguan Lei jumped down, he was like a raging thunder god ruling the sky. Then, a terrifying figure appeared behind him.
The saber light in Shangguan Lei's hand reached three hundred kilometers.
When the saber light landed, a shock wave surged into the surroundings. Caught off guard, many Purple Flame Sect disciples went flying.
"Divine Firmament Nine Changes! He managed to layer it nine times. He really succeeded in practicing this."
"From what I recall, many Elders of the Divine Firmament Sect can achieve only eight layers. To think that he can do nine!"
The moment the move appeared, many of the countless Elders felt regret.
They regretted letting Xiao Chen receive the move. They should have forced Shangguan Lei away.
If Xiao Chen lost, then the momentum that the Purple Flame Sect built up would vanish like smoke, gone and forgotten.
On the other hand, Shangguan Lei would rise to another level.
This would result in the Divine Firmament Sect completely suppressing the Purple Flame Sect in prestige.
However, just when everyone worried for Xiao Chen, they saw the space in the courtyard freeze all of a sudden.
Even the dust stopped moving. Then, Xiao Chen stretched out two fingers, and in the time it took for a spark to fly, he clamped down on Shangguan Lei's saber.
They were just two ordinary fingers, but Xiao Chen managed to clamp down firmly on the saber.
"How is this possible?" everyone exclaimed at the same time, their eyes brimming with incredulity.
Hua Yunfeng was somewhat dumbfounded and stunned. He was not really worried about Xiao Chen. He believed that Xiao Chen would definitely not lose to Shangguan Lei.
However, he had not expected Xiao Chen to catch Shangguan Lei's saber with two fingers, preventing the saber from moving entirely, neither forward nor backward.
"This…"
Shangguan Lei was utterly shocked and stunned. Even after using all his strength, he could not push his saber forward in the slightest, not to mention pulling it out.
"Dang!"
Xiao Chen waved his two fingers, and the saber in Shangguan Lei's hand trembled as a strong force rebounded.
The saber immediately twisted like a water snake. When the force reached Shangguan Lei's arm, his bones started breaking.
The force kept spreading through half of Shangguan Lei's body before he forcibly blocked it.
However, by then, he had already been knocked into the air and crashed into the courtyard's wall, vomiting a large mouthful of blood.
Shangguan Lei found it difficult even to stand up.
"You!"
Shangguan Lei stretched out his hand and pointed at Xiao Chen. However, he could not say anything, feeling very stifled and frustrated.
Shock, panic, and many other emotions roiled together.
Shangguan Lei's breath was trapped in his chest, unable to advance or retreat. His Qi and blood surged as he opened his eyes wide, his face turning increasingly red. He looked like a swelling balloon that was about to explode.
Xiao Chen pondered a moment, then flicked his finger, sending a strand of saber Qi to strike an acupoint on Shangguan Lei's chest.
"Pu ci!"
Shangguan Lei opened his mouth and vomited another mouthful of blood. His surging Qi and blood immediately subsided.
Xiao Chen could tell that Shangguan Lei's cultivation had taken a wrong path. He sought ferocity and tyranny, filling his body with hidden injuries. Any setback could trigger a state of Berserking Qi Deviation, destroying him.
This was why brittleness went hand in hand with extreme hardness.
Back then, Ye Zifeng had said that the pair of master and disciple both comprehended the way of the hegemon wrong.
"The Divine Firmament Sect's Shangguan Lei is unskilled. Men, send the guest off!"
An Elder of the Purple Flame Sect stepped out. He showed no expression on his face nor any pity for Shangguan Lei.
The word "unskilled" was replete with mockery.
