Chapter 61: I’ve Made a Fool of Myself, Senior Brother

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: I’ve Made a Fool of Myself, Senior Brother

The bamboo forest remained silent. The fluctuations from reaching Body Tempering Perfection caused no disturbances.

Liu Chen returned to his senses and immediately saw the four people outside the bamboo house. His two junior sisters were contemplating something with their eyes closed, while his master and mistress stood by quietly.

"Thank you, Master and Mistress, for watching over me."

Liu Chen gave himself a quick check. Finding nothing amiss, he stepped outside the bamboo house and bowed.

"There’s no need to be so formal. Your Talent is even greater than I imagined."

Mo Xuan was very pleased. ’The greater Liu Chen’s Talent, the more it proves my good judgment. I have to return to the Mo Family eventually. After being away for so many years, I’m bound to run into some problems. Although no one can challenge the Patriarch’s position, the members of the other branches won’t necessarily be compliant.’

’At that time, I certainly won’t be able to intervene directly. Competition among the younger generation is a tradition in the Cultivation Realm, and with Liu Chen’s Talent, he’s more than capable of making those so-called prodigies—who think being born into the Mo Family gives them the right to look down on Cultivators from elsewhere—understand what a true prodigy looks like.’

"It is all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance."

Liu Chen was being sincere. ’If Master hadn’t taught me a Magic Skill, I’d still be in the mortal world, fighting street thugs who call themselves gangs. I would’ve had no choice but to flee at the sight of anyone from the Government Office.’

"Ahem."

Mo Xuan was about to nod, but Bai Qiulan’s gaze shifted toward him. He had to swallow the words on the tip of his tongue. Bai Qiulan undoubtedly knew his movements best. When it came to teaching Liu Chen, he really hadn’t taught him anything of substance.

’It wasn’t that I was unwilling, but I simply never had the chance. When it comes to Magic, Liu Chen only needs to see it once or twice before he can use it. A few days later, he reaches the Beginner stage, and after that, his progress skyrockets.’

For most Basic Magic Techniques, reaching the Beginner stage is sufficient. A Cultivator who reaches Minor Success while still in the Body Tempering Realm is already considered exceptional. However, most Cultivators still prefer Attack Techniques.

After reaching the Meridian Passage Realm, most Cultivators abandon their practice of Basic Magic Techniques to focus on studying Attacking Skills.

Cultivators who achieved Great Success in Basic Magic Techniques were rare in the Cultivation Realm. Most of them were individuals with no hope of advancing their Realm and no ability to pursue powerful Killing Skills.

"Consolidate your Cultivation. The Inner Sect Disciple trial in the ninth month won’t just have disciples from the Three Immortal Sects, but also from the major Noble Families. On top of that, there will be many Loose Cultivators and Evil Cultivators."

Acknowledging to himself that he hadn’t played a crucial role in Liu Chen’s current advancement, Mo Xuan left him with those words and turned to leave.

"The Nangong Family will be participating as well," Bai Qiulan said calmly to Liu Chen. "There is nothing we can do for Linglong for the time being, but you can."

Mo Xuan, who was already walking away, faltered for a brief moment but quickly regained his composure.

"I understand. Please rest assured, Mistress."

Liu Chen’s eyes narrowed. ’I don’t know who from the Nangong Family will be participating, but I have a target now.’

"This is the Cultivation Technique for the Soul Crossing Technique. It might help you deal with Evil Cultivators."

Bai Qiulan nodded, retrieving a sheet of paper from her bracelet and handing it to Liu Chen. After he took it, his mistress also turned and departed.

’A technique to purify Ghost Souls?’

Liu Chen examined the paper in his hand. ’This is exactly the kind of Magic I’ve been wanting to get. Only by purifying an enemy’s soul after death—even their Ghost Soul—can you completely eliminate any future troubles. Otherwise, hidden dangers are bound to emerge.’

A short while later, his two junior sisters slowly awoke. After a brief glance around, both of their gazes fell upon Liu Chen, their eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions.

Witnessing his breakthrough had deepened their understanding of the Body Tempering Technique. The time it would now take for them to reach Body Tempering Minor Success was sure to be greatly reduced.

"It’s getting late. You two should head back and get some rest."

Liu Chen didn’t dwell on it. ’Body Tempering Perfection isn’t the final limit of Body Tempering. Ultimately, this is just the Perfection of this specific Body Tempering Skill, not my own personal Perfection within the Body Tempering Realm itself.’

’Only after I evolve this standard Cultivation Technique into my own unique one can I be considered to have truly reached Perfection in the Body Tempering Realm. That’s the only way I can guarantee my safety during the Inner Sect Disciple trial in the ninth month and collect some interest on my junior sister’s behalf.’

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Ye Linglong nodded, thanked him while pulling Ji Suyao along, and the two of them quickly vanished from sight.

After they were gone, Liu Chen went into a nearby bamboo hut that served as a bathroom, cleaned himself with the Purification Technique, and then fell asleep.

「The next day.」

When Liu Chen awoke, he realized it was still the middle of the night.

’After reaching Body Tempering Perfection, I need less sleep. This means I have more time to cultivate each day.’

Liu Chen checked the time and found he had woken up an hour earlier than usual, giving him an extra hour for cultivation.

After a moment of thought, Liu Chen made his decision. ’I’ll use this extra hour to practice my Swordsmanship. Of all the Magic I’ve mastered, it’s the only one with any offensive capability.’

’Normally, I’d focus on defense, but since Mistress deliberately brought up the Nangong Family, I have to take action. A passive defense won’t meet her expectations. I have to go on the offensive.’

In that case, his Swordsmanship was of the utmost importance.

He usually practiced Swordsmanship in the afternoon, so he just had to move his afternoon Body Tempering session to now.

[Purple Bamboo Scripture Body Tempering Mastery +20]

’Ten Body Tempering sessions a day... In fifty days, it’ll be just in time for the Inner Sect Disciple trial.’

After completing one Body Tempering session, Liu Chen narrowed his eyes. ’The Proficiency gain has dropped. That was expected. If I hadn’t been deliberately trying to form a thirteenth segment on the phantom bamboo leaf, I probably wouldn’t have gained any Proficiency at all.’

’But since this path is correct, all I need to do now is keep at it.’

At breakfast, when Liu Chen saw Senior Brother Yang again, he confirmed that the man’s Cultivation was genuinely at the Body Tempering Great Success stage, still about halfway from Perfection.

’With the help of Spiritual Cuisine, he could probably reach Body Tempering Perfection by the end of the month. After that, once he passes the Inner Sect assessment, he’ll have half a month to rest before the trial.’

’It would be nice if all my opponents were like Senior Brother Yang. I’m seventy percent confident I could kill him right now.’

"Junior Brother, is there some problem with these Spirit Stones?"

Yang Haichen couldn’t help but ask. He had inspected all these Spirit Stones himself. ’Could there really be a mistake?’

"Please excuse me, Senior Brother. I didn’t realize until I started counting, but with this latest payment, I’ve already earned tens of thousands of Spirit Stones as a Spirit Chef. To think that back then, I didn’t even know what Spirit Stones were."

Liu Chen shook his head. ’It’s better not to mention the real reason out of politeness,’ he thought. ’Senior Brother Yang is a crucial link for my plan to succeed. Without the Grand Elder as his master, no Outer Sect Disciple could ever make a True Disciple hesitate to use other tactics.’

"You’ve earned all of this through your own skill, Junior Brother. Those True Disciples would be thrilled if you sold even more portions each day. I have no idea where they get so many Spirit Stones."