Chapter 705 - 379: Permanent Body’s New Ability - Doppelganger

At the mention of this matter, Han Xingliu almost lost his composure. But in the end, he held back and forced himself to say, "The conference is already over. Naturally, I won’t dwell on it."

His third brother was much older than him and had accumulated years of connections and influence. Originally, if Han Xingliu had seized the position of Star Leader, he could have narrowed this gap. But now that he had failed to secure the position, those who had been watching from the sidelines lost interest in him.

At the same time, with the Hanhai Emperor missing, the person maintaining the balance was gone. The advantages Han Xiao had built up over the years were immediately revealed. Han Xingliu was now at a complete disadvantage, his situation dire.

"That’s good," Han Xiao said, looking as if he were relieved. He asked with genuine curiosity, "Is that Su Chen really as powerful and mysterious as the rumors say?"

Han Xingliu felt irritated, but he could only suppress his emotions. "You should have already seen the relevant documents and combat footage from the Peak Star Conference."

Han Xiao nodded. "I’ve seen them, but they’re only superficial records on paper. Being so young and so powerful... I am truly curious as to how he achieved it."

Han Xingliu felt a wave of suspicion and shock. Was his third brother planning to make a move against Su Chen?

But this matter couldn’t be that simple.

Hesitating slightly, Han Xingliu probed, "Su Chen is the lifeblood of the Bronze Sect."

Han Xiao said indifferently, "Qin Yun sacrificed and killed the other Morning Stars in the Flame Space. Several Morning Stars intend to use this momentum to strike at the Bronze Sect. The Rebellious God King, the Peng King, and the Profound Turtle King will all set out, bringing the foundation of the Royal Court with them."

Han Xingliu was stunned. He knew the Prison King had awakened, but he had no idea they were going to strike at the Bronze Sect. Moreover, with such a massive mobilization, how would they even clean up the aftermath?

Han Xiao said softly, "I will bring Su Chen back and vent your anger for you. Little brother, just focus on recovering from your injuries.

"Also, as for the ones who attacked you, just say it was the Bronze Sect."

Han Xingliu’s face uncontrollably darkened as he finally realized what Han Xiao was here to do.

His brother would bring back the opponent he couldn’t defeat.

His brother would claim the merit he couldn’t obtain.

Even when it came to who had attacked him, his brother would dictate the culprit.

Looking down at Han Xingliu on the hospital bed, Han Xiao suddenly grinned. His grin grew into loud laughter as he turned and walked away, his laughter echoing ceaselessly.

Han Xingliu’s expression was ugly, a faint sense of regret gnawing at him. Perhaps when he was at the Bronze Sect, he should have taken the risk and attacked Su Chen.

Meanwhile, inside Su Chen’s training room at Copper Heart.

Su Chen sat with his palms facing up and his fingers slightly curled. His chest heaved like a bellows, drawing in the surrounding fiery energy. Like countless rivers flowing into the sea, the heat seeped into his body through every inch of his skin.

His skin turned red, then an orange-red, and finally emitted a searing white glow like a branding iron. The veins beneath his skin were clearly visible, coursing with a golden-red stream of light—a roaring, surging mixture of lightning plasma and molten fire.

Formless Spiritual Power twisted around him, condensing into a phantom image behind his back. It looked like an execution platform covered in lightning patterns. Eternal flames burned at its four corners, and crisscrossing chains extended from it, piercing into various parts of Su Chen’s body.

After a long time, Su Chen’s body trembled slightly. All the phenomena dissipated and suddenly retracted into his body. He slowly exhaled as text appeared on his interface:

[Tribulation Sea Furnace Body Refining Technique upgraded to Master Level. Acquired ability: Casting Tribulation Body Refining. Slightly increases strength, defense, and maximum Physical Strength.]

[Heavenly Punishment Zhen Yu Meditation Technique upgraded to Master Level. Acquired ability: Heavenly Punishment Like Iron. Slightly increases Spiritual Resilience, strength, and total capacity.]

More than two months had passed since he contacted Black Tuo. Both his Body Refining Technique and Meditation Technique had reached the Master Level, and his Holy Profession progress had reached 31%.

Su Chen’s gaze swept over the interface. He didn’t immediately start cycling a new Body Refining Technique or Meditation Technique. Instead, he took out a molten-gold metallic box the size of a basketball. Its surface was carved with intricate patterns, making it look extraordinary at a glance.

Upon gently clicking it open, he revealed a small, silver-white cauldron resting inside. Pale golden liquid rippled within, giving off a dense vapor. This was the Nine Cauldrons Great Bell Potion, the exact item required by his Permanent Body.

It had been delivered earlier, but Su Chen had felt that his Body Refining and Meditation Techniques were just one step away from the Master Level, so he had simply decided to wait until he finished the breakthrough.

Now, unable to wait any longer, he opened his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. The potion slid down his throat but didn’t enter his stomach; instead, it vanished without a trace.

[Permanent Body consumed the Nine Cauldrons Great Bell Potion. Successfully merged five Physical Strength-type professions.]

[Cauldron Body received partial enhancement: Gained a 2,500% Physical Strength boost.]

[Merged partial abilities of Cauldron Body and Heaven-Reaching Form. Acquired new ability: Doppelganger. Reserves Physical Strength equal to one’s own peak state. When entirely depleted, the user will completely restore to their peak condition.]

"The Physical Strength boost went from fifteen times to twenty-five times..." Su Chen’s eyebrows twitched in pleasant surprise. The professions he had the Permanent Body devour all increased his maximum Physical Strength limit. The effects were truly outstanding.

"And this new ability..." He pondered for a moment, figuring out the difference between this and the Heaven-Reaching Form’s original ability to forcefully prolong a peak state.

The original ability had a time limit. It was equivalent to squeezing out the last ounce of potential, which would also cause bodily harm.

But this new ability acted as a completely separate backup body. It had no time limit and wouldn’t damage his real body. All he needed to do was replenish the Doppelganger reserves afterward.

"Although the simple stacking of professions broke through the upper limit and made the Holy Profession even stronger, it didn’t give birth to any so-called Traits," Su Chen murmured.

He had expected this, so he wasn’t disappointed. He was quite satisfied with the enhanced Permanent Body.

He just wondered if swallowing Qin Yun’s Morning Star Residue would trigger a qualitative change.

"Stacking five more professions should probably speed up the development efficiency," Su Chen said, glancing at the interface. To forge a Top Level Holy Profession, the current amount of Deceitful God Essence was still not quite enough.

He didn’t immediately test out the post-stacking development efficiency. Instead, he stepped out of the training room and headed to the port.

It wasn’t long before a Flying Device arrived. Bu Siqi, looking travel-worn and weary, stepped out.

"Old Su..." Bu Siqi called out. Since Su Chen now held an extremely high status in the Bronze Sect, Bu Siqi felt it was inappropriate to keep calling him Junior Brother. Thus, he simply followed suit and called him Old Su.

Su Chen, however, continued to call Bu Siqi Senior Brother.

The two exchanged brief greetings without saying too much and walked into the Nether Tower.

With a slight shift of Su Chen’s gaze, flames flared to life, illuminating the Nether Tower as bright as day.

Only then did Su Chen ask via Spiritual Power fluctuations, "Did you get it?"

"I got it." Bu Siqi’s expression was solemn, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.

He thought to himself that it was no wonder the kid Ming Lin always went around with a bitter look on his face. Running errands for Su Chen brought about an extraordinary amount of pressure. To think he actually had to receive items from the hands of the Deceitful God’s Followers, and right after getting them, he had to immediately silence the contacts.

He carefully took out several items from his coat. They were all tightly sealed within identical, standardized metallic boxes, their surfaces engraved with numerous symbols.

These were custom-made by Su Chen, specifically designed to seal away the Deceitful God’s Power and evade basic detection.

Of course, the most important factor was Su Chen’s own prestige. Otherwise, no matter how tight the seal was, security would have thoroughly inspected them.

Seeing the boxes, Su Chen breathed a slight sigh of relief. With Ming Lin away, he could only send Bu Siqi to do this kind of job.

Although Old Bu used to run errands for Xia Hanshi on the Red Thunder Star and had handled many tasks, Su Chen had still felt somewhat anxious. Only now could he finally relax.

"You didn’t leave any loose ends, did you?" Su Chen asked as he reached out to take them.

Bu Siqi shook his head. "Don’t worry. That place wasn’t the core of their sect. When I made my move, everything within a ten-mile radius was flattened. Absolutely no traces were left behind."

As Bu Siqi spoke, his expression couldn’t help but turn slightly strange.

Ever since he arrived at the Bronze Sect, he had stayed in the core area. Because he was Su Chen’s subordinate, the people here treated him with courtesy and never gave him a hard time. However, due to his low Tier, he didn’t receive any special treatment either.

But upon going outside—arriving at that Iron Rhino Star—he truly experienced what it meant to have powerful backing.

Those Tier Seven, and even Tier Eight Professionals, were incredibly sycophantic toward him.

Su Chen nodded. "Thanks for the trouble, Senior Brother."

"Save the nonsense," Bu Siqi said, waving his hand.

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while before Su Chen saw him out. Then, Su Chen returned to the Nether Tower and carefully opened the boxes.

Inside rested dense clusters of pitch-black mist. Each cluster was about the size of a fist, and there were six portions in total.

"Could these be Faith Essences?" Su Chen wondered.

He pondered for a moment before switching into his Black Tuo High Priest state. Instantly, he confirmed it—these things were indeed Faith Essences.

"A single Little Deceitful God can only be squeezed for a little over ten portions, and this is already nearly half. Could it allow his descended vessel to briefly unleash power comparable to a Morning Star?" Su Chen thought.