Chapter 81: Setting Off for Baishi City, Reappearance of Acquaintances

Over the next few months, Zhou Chen did not step foot outside.

Within the Guiyi Secret Realm, ripples of golden light fluctuated through the space.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Zhou Chen's figure was blurred, appearing as if he were in hundreds of locations simultaneously.

With every step he took, a faint golden lotus seal emerged beneath his feet. The void trembled slightly, and his movement trajectory became even more profound and unpredictable.

He had remarkably reached the Minor Achievement stage of the Taiyi Golden Light Step!

A golden rainbow flashed, covering a hundred miles in an instant!

In times of crisis, he could transform into ten thousand phantom images. The aura of each phantom was identical, making it likely difficult for an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator to capture Zhou Chen's figure.

During intervals in his cultivation, Zhou Chen unhesitatingly took out a large quantity of Spirit Pills he had scavenged from the previous Secret Realm to consume. There were Earth Rank, Heaven Rank, and even several Heaven Rank Top Grade Spirit Pills!

He ate them as if they were candy. If Cultivators from other Sects knew, they would probably die of envy.

Even for those like Blood Wuhen, who were nurtured with the full power of their entire Sect, their Medicinal Pill resources were not as perverse as Zhou Chen's.

Under his persistent cultivation, Zhou Chen's cultivation level had now reached the eighth level of the Golden Core Stage. Upon the Golden Core within his Dantian, traces of mysterious and exquisite cloud patterns began to appear, looking quite beautiful.

The Wenxian Sect remained calm and peaceful, not changing much compared to a few months ago.

However, news coming from various places indicated that as the Southern Region Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition approached, conflicts between various Sects were intensifying, becoming fraught with tension.

From time to time, news of a certain Sect being destroyed arrived, though they were all small Sects. This showed that the situation was still controllable.

After all, without a major Sect pushing from behind, the possibility of a great war breaking out in the Southern Region was low.

During his months of cultivation, Zhou Chen did not enter a completely secluded meditation; he would occasionally check the opportunity panels of Ye Chen and Blood Wuhen.

The exaggerated speed boost brought by the Minor Achievement of the Taiyi Golden Light Step made Zhou Chen's long-distance travels much more convenient.

Whenever Blood Wuhen or Ye Chen's opportunity panels refreshed, he would turn into a streak of golden light and quietly vanish, only to return suddenly a short while later to continue his cultivation.

However, Ye Chen's cultivation had unknowingly reached the third level of Core Formation, while Blood Wuhen had reached the tenth level of Core Formation. This kind of talent would likely be considered that of a Prodigy even within the Yanhuo Holy Land.

Beside him, the Red Flame Crystal Tiger lay lazily, its aura rising and falling rhythmically, very much like a well-behaved kitten.

Taking advantage of its yawn, Zhou Chen flicked his finger, and several Core Formation stage Ancient Demon Cores flew into its mouth.

The tiger's eyes snapped open, and in an instant, a red glow surged!

"Roar!!!"

The Red Flame Crystal Tiger roared towards the sky, the flaming totem on its forehead burning brightly. Its roar carried a terrifying pressure unique to ancient Vicious Beasts.

Under Zhou Chen's relentless feeding over these past few months, the Red Flame Crystal Tiger's cultivation had also reached the sixth level of Core Formation.

The day of the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition had finally arrived!

It was the Hour of the Rabbit.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The copper bell on the main peak of the Wenxian Sect suddenly emitted a world-shaking sound, the tolling echoing throughout the entire Sect.

Spiritual light shot into the sky from the main peak's plaza of the Wenxian Sect, as a massive teleportation array slowly rotated.

The Third Elder stood majestically before the array, his voice spreading across the entire field.

"Disciples, assemble quickly and prepare to set off with me. Our destination is Baishi City!"

The Disciples quickly fell into line, but Ye Chen was nowhere to be seen, causing Grand Elder Li Hu to frown slightly.

Months ago, Ye Chen had left a message for Grand Elder Li Hu saying he was going out for experience. Li Hu had even urged him to return on time.

"Sigh, let him be."

Seeing that it was time to depart and Ye Chen was still missing, Grand Elder Li Hu could only worry inwardly. He simply closed his eyes to rest his mind and stopped thinking about it.

Zhou Chen was dressed in ordinary green robes, concealing all his aura, and stood in the line looking completely unremarkable.

Liu Qingtian's gaze swept over the queue, finally settling on Zhou Chen. He nodded imperceptibly, everything understood without words; he had a premonition that Zhou Chen would shine brilliantly in this Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition.

The Disciples participating in this Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition were boarding the vessel in an orderly fashion, the atmosphere tense yet exciting.

Lin Feng was also among them. After being rescued by Zhou Chen last time, Lin Feng's cultivation and state of mind had both improved significantly; he was now at the seventh level of Core Formation.

As soon as he stepped onto the deck of the flying vessel, he saw Zhou Chen and Liu Qianru standing together in conversation.

Liu Qianru was dressed in a simple and elegant dress. With bright eyes and white teeth, she was as cold and clear as the moon, but when facing Zhou Chen, her eyes carried a rare trace of softness as she spoke to him in a low voice.

Zhou Chen nodded slightly, his expression calm.

This scene happened to fall into the eyes of another person nearby.

He was a Core Disciple of the Wenxian Sect, the Eldest Senior Brother Wei Yan, and the prized pupil of the Sect's Grand Elder. His cultivation had already reached the ninth level of Core Formation.

Wei Yan had admired Liu Qianru for a long time and had expressed his feelings many times, only to be met with a cold reception.

Seeing Liu Qianru so close to Zhou Chen now, a surge of sinister anger flared up in his heart.

Wei Yan stepped forward, deliberately interposing himself between Zhou Chen and Liu Qianru. Wearing what he thought was a dashing smile, he said to Liu Qianru.

"Junior Sister, this journey is long and may be exhausting. This is the Profound Rank Heart-Clearing Jade Dew and a Low Grade Earth Rank Spirit-Warming Jade I specially prepared. They can calm the mind and quiet the spirit; please take them."

He held out a jade bottle and a jade pendant emitting a warm glow, his eyes fervent.

Liu Qianru's brow furrowed imperceptibly, and her tone suddenly turned cold.

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Wei, but I have already made preparations. I wouldn't dare trouble you."

She didn't even look at the items in Wei Yan's hand, her gaze still fixed on Zhou Chen.

"Junior Brother Zhou, regarding the comprehension of that Sword Intent we were just discussing, one still needs to maintain a clear state of mind…"

The smile on Wei Yan's face instantly froze, and his extended hand stopped awkwardly in mid-air.

He felt a secret hatred and suddenly turned to glare at Zhou Chen, his eyes filled with undisguised jealousy and disdain.

"Hmph! Junior Brother Zhou? I heard your cultivation rose quite quickly during your last trip out; I wonder what kind of dumb luck you stumbled upon. It's just that the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition is no joke; the powerful are as numerous as clouds. I hope you won't drag down the Sect and everyone else, and let… Junior Sister down!"

He deliberately emphasized the word 'disappointed,' directing his attack straight at Zhou Chen.

The atmosphere cooled down for a moment.

Seeing this, Lin Feng immediately walked over.

In his heart, he felt great gratitude for Zhou Chen's life-saving grace. Seeing Wei Yan targeting him like this, he wanted to help Zhou Chen out of the situation.

Lin Feng deliberately stood by Zhou Chen's side and cupped his fists toward Wei Yan.

"Eldest Senior Brother, those words are incorrect. Junior Brother Zhou's talent is extraordinary, as I have seen with my own eyes. If not for Junior Brother Zhou's intervention last time, I, Lin Feng, would have already perished at the hands of the Blood Demon Sect. His strength is definitely not to be underestimated. I believe Junior Brother Zhou will surely shine in the Ten Thousand Sects Grand Competition and bring glory to our Wenxian Sect!"

Lin Feng's tone was sincere and his gaze firm, his words directly supporting Zhou Chen.

"You!"

Wei Yan was left speechless by Lin Feng's words, his face turning ashen. He couldn't easily refute the matter of Zhou Chen saving Lin Feng's life, as news of this had already spread throughout the Wenxian Sect.

At this moment, Liu Qianru's face turned completely cold, her tone even icier.

"Senior Brother Wei, fellow Disciples should value harmony. Do not make groundless comments about others' cultivation! Just mind yourself. It is time to board the vessel; do not delay here."

After speaking, she didn't even look at Wei Yan's livid face. She nodded slightly to Zhou Chen and Lin Feng and walked straight toward the depths of the vessel's cabin.

From beginning to end, there was no emotional fluctuation on Zhou Chen's face.