「Ten days passed.」
Like always, Ling Chen went out to practice his sword skills at the back mountain.
"Ling Chen, Young Sect Master Ling."
Just as he stepped out the main gate, Ling Chen heard a voice dripping with sarcasm.
Looking towards the sound, he saw several figures. At their head was a young man in white, a Long Sword at his waist, with quite handsome features.
Ling Chen stopped and looked up at the white-clad youth, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He recognized this person. The young man in white was named Meng Yuan, a rather outstanding disciple of the Divine Intent Sect.
Unfortunately, Meng Yuan usually associated with Yun Tianhe and was one of his followers.
In the past, Meng Yuan wouldn't have dared to trouble Ling Chen, but now… everything was different.
Besides, what could be more satisfying than the chance to trample on the head of the Martial World's former number one genius, once so lofty?
"Is there something you need?"
Knowing they came with ill intent, Ling Chen arched an eyebrow. This Meng Yuan is likely a Fifth Level warrior. Among the younger disciples, he'd be considered an expert.
"Ling Chen, this Wuchen Courtyard is for True Disciples. You, a mere Outer Sect Disciple, are no longer qualified to live here. By order of Senior Brother Yun Tianhe, I command you to move out within one hour. Otherwise, don't blame me for being merciless."
A cold sneer touched Meng Yuan's lips.
Ling Chen merely glanced at Meng Yuan, not intending to engage, and prepared to walk around them.
"Insolent cur! You dare ignore me?"
Meng Yuan's face darkened. He roared angrily, then his figure moved, striking out with a palm towards Ling Chen's back.
Sensing the strong gust of wind from behind, Ling Chen's gaze turned cold. He spun around abruptly, his right hand, already clenched into a fist, suddenly unleashed its power. Thick True Qi surged forth in an instant.
"Scram!"
Ling Chen bellowed, his voice erupting with the force from his arm, meeting Meng Yuan's palm strike head-on.
BANG!
Ling Chen took one step back, while Meng Yuan was unexpectedly forced to retreat two steps.
"What?"
Not only Meng Yuan but everyone else was astonished, staring at the scene in disbelief.
"How is this possible? This piece of trash?"
Meng Yuan couldn't believe his eyes. Had he actually been pushed back? Hadn't this guy become useless? How could he confront me head-on now?
"Such power… how is it possible?"
All the disciples were profoundly shocked.
That Ling Chen had become useless was a well-known fact within the Divine Intent Sect. However, his current display was witnessed by everyone. They suspected his cultivation had reached at least the Third Level!
"Could it be that Ling Chen wasn't crippled? Is his strength gradually recovering?!" a disciple exclaimed in terror.
"Bullshit!"
Meng Yuan sent the fear-mongering disciple flying with a palm strike, his eyes growing cold. "I was just careless! If I were serious, he wouldn't last a single exchange against me!"
Being pushed back by Ling Chen in front of so many people, Meng Yuan naturally couldn't let it go. If word of this got out, what would happen to his reputation? He wanted to kick a man when he was down, but instead, the supposedly downed man fought back? Wouldn't that make him a laughingstock?
"You think you can act so presumptuously just because you've recovered a bit of strength? Your paltry Third Level cultivation is still nothing before me!" Meng Yuan stared at Ling Chen, his face dark. This damned waste! I'll show him what I'm capable of right now!
Frantically channeling his True Qi, Meng Yuan charged at Ling Chen.
"Great Wilderness Manual, Goldstone Fist!"
This time, Meng Yuan dared not be careless again and unleashed his signature martial art. The punch was thrown with exceptionally fierce power, strong enough to pierce gold and shatter stone.
Ling Chen recognized the origin of this Goldstone Fist. His pupils contracted slightly. He widened his stance, drew in his abdomen to gather energy, and his right palm traced a semicircle in the air before striking out.
BANG!
A dull explosion resounded, mixed with the harsh sound of True Qi erupting. All eyes focused on the point of impact between fist and palm. In an instant, both figures retreated backward, only stopping after more than ten steps.
"The power of the Goldstone Fist was neutralized!" a disciple cried out in astonishment.
Goldstone Fist was the Divine Intent Sect's top-tier Human-rank Boxing. When executed with Meng Yuan's Fifth Level cultivation, it should have been unstoppable.
Yet, even so, Ling Chen had broken through it!
"He actually broke my Goldstone Fist?" Meng Yuan's expression turned ugly.
If the previous exchange could be explained away as carelessness, then this scene was a true slap in his face.
However, Ling Chen, standing more than ten steps away opposite him, remained composed, as if everything was expected and completely under his control.
Indeed, in the realm of martial arts, regardless of their level, all possess certain weaknesses. Even the most formidable martial art has its Achilles' heel. This vulnerability can be exploited for unexpected success by identifying these weaknesses and striking at them.
The martial art he had just used, Destructive Peak Palm, was merely an ordinary Human-rank martial art from the Dayan Sect. However, it was the perfect counter to this Goldstone Fist.
"Damn it."
Meng Yuan's eyes smoldered as if about to spew fire. He then frantically channeled his True Qi, veins bulging on his forehead. From his stance, it was clear he was preparing to fight to the death.
Ling Chen's expression didn't change. He hadn't even drawn his sword yet and was completely unafraid of his opponent's desperate struggle.
"Stop!"
Just then, a clear, feminine voice came from outside the courtyard.
Everyone looked towards the sound. A slender figure in yellow entered their sight. The woman appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, with a small red mole between her eyebrows, and was stunningly beautiful.
"Greetings, Senior Sister Xiao Muyu."
Meng Yuan and the others hastily cupped their fists, their expressions reverent.
Among the Four Great Genius Disciples, apart from Ling Chen, they dared not provoke any of the others. As the saying went, "Ling Chen of the East, Muyu of the West." Xiao Muyu was a formidable individual, as renowned as Yun Tianhe—someone they dared not offend.
"Meng Yuan, this is the residence of True Disciples. How dare you cause a disturbance here?" Xiao Muyu's expression was icy.
Meng Yuan's scalp tingled. He hastily cupped his fists. "Sister Xiao, we were merely following Senior Brother Yun Tianhe's orders to ask Ling Chen to move out of Wuchen Courtyard. We had no other intentions."
"What right does Yun Tianhe have to order someone to move out? Even he himself is just a disciple. Only the Elderly meeting has the authority to make such decisions."
"But..."
"Scram!"
Xiao Muyu frowned.
"Yes, yes, we'll leave immediately."
Of course, Meng Yuan dared not defy Xiao Muyu. He quickly nodded in agreement. However, as he was leaving, he shot Ling Chen a look, a cold sneer on his face. "Ling Chen, I'll let you off the hook this time. But your good days won't last long. In two and a half months, it will be the day of your life-and-death duel with Senior Brother Yun Tianhe. You'd better pray Senior Brother Yun is merciful enough to spare your worthless life!"
As his words faded, the other Divine Intent Sect disciples looked at Ling Chen with pity. Undoubtedly, against Yun Tianhe, a Nine Heavy Realm cultivator, Ling Chen had virtually no chance of victory.
Moreover, this was a life-and-death duel; Ling Chen was surely doomed.
"Ling Chen, are you really going to fight Yun Tianhe to the death? You should know that even ten of you combined would be no match for him now."
After Meng Yuan and his group left, Xiao Muyu glanced at Ling Chen and spoke.
There were still two and a half months. Undeniably, a huge gap remained between Ling Chen and Yun Tianhe.
"Yes, of course. This battle is unavoidable."
Ling Chen shook his head, without the slightest hesitation in his heart.
"Alright. I don't know what your plan is, but you're not a reckless person, so I won't press further. However, Yun Tianhe has long been a Nine Heavy Realm warrior. If you wish to catch up to him in a short period, you'll need vast resources." Xiao Muyu didn't try to persuade him further. She knew Ling Chen's temperament; if he had truly resolved himself, more words would be futile.
With that, she took out a Jade Bottle from her robes. Opening the stopper, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately wafted out.
"This is for you."
Xiao Muyu handed the Jade Bottle to Ling Chen.
"This is... Qi Gathering Powder?"
After a brief pause, Ling Chen recognized what was inside the Jade Bottle.
Qi Gathering Powder was a tonic made from seven rare medicinal herbs, known for its remarkable effects in raising a warrior's cultivation level.
If Ling Chen lacked anything at this moment, it was undoubtedly resources. With sufficient resources, he was confident he could recover his cultivation. Without them, it would be impossible.
"Why are you helping me?"
Ling Chen didn't hesitate and promptly accepted the Qi Gathering Powder. This was a matter of life and death, no time for false modesty. Any external help that could be utilized had to be.
But what puzzled him was why Xiao Muyu would help him. Currently, almost every disciple in the Divine Intent Sect wanted to trample him. Helping him now was tantamount to openly opposing most of the disciples. Although he knew Xiao Muyu, their relationship wasn't close enough to warrant this.
Facing Ling Chen's question, Xiao Muyu didn't answer directly but instead asked, "What are your thoughts on the recent attack on the Sect?"
Seeing Xiao Muyu's very serious expression, Ling Chen frowned slightly before looking up. "It seems simple on the surface, but it actually conceals turbulent undercurrents."
"Isn't your mother, Liu Xiling, the main culprit?" Xiao Muyu asked, her pretty face calm.
"It couldn't have been her. Although I don't know who the mastermind behind the scenes is, it's definitely related to Yun Tianhe." Ling Chen shook his head.
Hearing this, Xiao Muyu stepped closer and whispered in Ling Chen's ear, "I ask these things on behalf of my master. He advised me to tell you: Don't act rashly when things happen. Hide your strength and bide your time. Conceal your sharp edges. Remember, self-preservation comes first."
After speaking, Xiao Muyu cupped her fists towards Ling Chen. "That is all I have to say. Farewell." Then, she turned and left.
Her master?
Watching Xiao Muyu leave, a thoughtful expression crossed Ling Chen's face. Isn't Xiao Muyu's master Zi Yun True Immortal? This Zi Yun True Immortal is my father Ling Tianyu's junior martial brother, but they've never been on good terms. I didn't expect him to offer help at such a critical time.
Forget it. Zi Yun True Immortal advised me to hide my strength and bide my time, but he doesn't know that if I truly did so, I'd probably die even faster. If I appear too composed and cautious, I'm afraid it would invite a fatal disaster. Only by making others see me as a hot-headed, thoughtless youth can I survive longer.