407–413

Chapter 407: Reverse Wound Thorn Armor

Chen Fei got up and walked to the cave entrance, gazing at the rising sun outside.

At first, the sun was obscured by the clouds and mist, appearing somewhat dim. However, in just a moment, the radiance of dawn pierced through the clouds, enveloping the entire world.

A gentle breeze brushed by, causing Chen Fei's hair to flutter behind him. A faint smile appeared on his face as he turned and walked back into the cave.

He began to categorize his belongings one by one, placing them neatly in the wooden cabinets within his spatial storage. As for the spiritual items he intended to sell, he wrapped them all in bundles.

As Chen Fei was tidying up and about to place the wooden cabinet into his spatial storage, his palm suddenly paused.

He looked at the wooden cabinet before him, and a possibility suddenly crossed his mind. It wasn't directly related to the cabinet itself but rather about his spatial storage.

It wasn't about opening a second spatial storage, even though Chen Fei really wanted to, but the panel had never given any indication, and he had no way to do so.

He even began to suspect whether he needed to accumulate five thousand yuan stones before the panel would provide a new prompt, just like when he first acquired five thousand taels.

Currently, Chen Fei didn't have five thousand yuan stones, and even if he did, he wouldn't use them to open a second spatial storage. Instead, he would use them to improve his cultivation.

Chen Fei suddenly stopped because he thought about the Strange Heart Realm.

Previously, inside the Strange Heart Realm, whenever Chen Fei refined the Strange Heart Origin, the hostility from the realm towards him would skyrocket. Chen Fei's plan was to cultivate the Thousand Threads Technique to the ninth level and see if the ninth level's characteristics could bring the Strange Heart Origin into reality.

Chen Fei had also considered using his spatial storage to stash the Strange Heart Origin inside.

However, within the Strange Heart Realm, Chen Fei couldn't summon the spatial storage. His instinctive reaction at that time was that the spatial storage might be linked to the physical body, which was why there was no response within the Strange Heart Realm.

But now, after resolving the matter with the Sword Return Tower and having no other pressing issues, when he saw the wooden cabinet again, Chen Fei suddenly wondered whether it was because the spatial storage had the wooden cabinet inside that it couldn't manifest.

In the Strange Heart Realm, only the mind could enter, and most things from the physical world couldn't penetrate into the Strange Heart Realm. Could it be that the presence of the wooden cabinet in the spatial storage prevented it from manifesting in the Strange Heart Realm?

Chen Fei wasn't sure if this was the reason, but since the idea had occurred to him, he naturally wanted to give it a try.

Reaching the ninth level of the Thousand Threads Technique would require a considerable amount of time, and even if he managed to do so, was it guaranteed that he could drag the Strange Heart Origin out?

Without trying, Chen Fei wouldn't know, so if there was another way available, he would naturally attempt it, with no real cost to trying.

Moreover, if the spatial storage could indeed work, it would undoubtedly be a safer method.

A clone emerged from Chen Fei's body, holding the Qianyuan Sword and the necessary Dragon Elephant Formation.

Having done all of this, Chen Fei formed hand seals, closed his eyes slowly, and when he opened them again, the world around him had turned grey.

Illogical murmurs echoed in Chen Fei's mind, growing even more pronounced as he refined the second Tier 2 Evil. The contamination from these murmurs had become more extreme.

When he was in the Body Tempering realm, Chen Fei used this contamination to purify his mental power. At that time, it was through this method that he had elevated his mental power far beyond his peers.

However, now that Chen Fei was in the Aperture Tempering realm, and the later stages of it at that, this level of contamination couldn't purify his mental power anymore. It only seemed to cause disturbance.

Suddenly, Chen Fei looked up to his left, where he sensed a terrifying presence – the kind of pressure that only Tier 3 or higher Evils could exert.

Fortunately, it was at a sufficient distance, and that Tier 3 Evil seemed to have sensed Chen Fei's presence, displaying signs of restlessness towards him.

Chen Fei furrowed his brows slightly. In the past, those Evils of Tier 3 or higher wouldn't react much even if they sensed Chen Fei's presence.

In the eyes of those Evils, Chen Fei was like an ant, not worth personally dealing with. It was tasteless to devour him, and even if they did, it provided them with minimal benefit.

However, now that there was enmity toward Chen Fei from the Strange Heart Realm, these powerful Evils seemed to irrationally dislike him.

When aversion surfaced, sometimes it wasn't a matter of worthiness but rather a question of desire.

Fortunately, after a brief fluctuation in the aura of that Evil, it quieted down. Apparently, it had no intention of traversing such a long distance to consume Chen Fei.

Chen Fei breathed a sigh of relief. If that Evil had truly moved, his first action would have been to leave the Strange Heart Realm and re-enter from a different location.

However, judging from the response of the Tier 3 Evil just now, if Chen Fei killed and refined another Tier 2 Evil, and the hostility in the Strange Heart Realm continued to increase several-fold, it would become extremely difficult for Chen Fei to move around in the Strange Heart Realm.

Tier 3 Evils could still be managed, as Chen Fei could simply return to the real world upon sensing their presence.

But if he encountered Tier 4 or higher Evils, and if he had the misfortune of being too close, the question of whether Chen Fei had a chance to leave immediately would become a real concern.

Chen Fei lightly tapped forward with his finger, creating a rift that only he could perceive in front of him.

Chen Fei's eyes brightened. The spatial storage could be opened. It was indeed because of the wooden cabinet that the spatial storage had been sealed in this place.

After all, compared to the immense rules of the Strange Heart Realm, the spatial storage had no rights whatsoever and naturally couldn't resist the rules of the Strange Heart Realm.

Chen Fei wore a smile on his face as he activated Star Gazing Art, scanning the surroundings and locking onto a Tier 2 Evil ahead. With a swift movement, he vanished from his original location.

The fact that he could open the spatial storage was a significant success. Now, it all depended on whether he could toss the Strange Heart Origin into the spatial storage.

After a moment, Chen Fei arrived before a patch of black mist. However, within this black mist, there was no sign of any figure.

Chen Fei took a step into the black mist, and a chilling sensation spread all around him. This coldness continued to erode his body, and even the murmurs in his ears began to diminish.

It wasn't that the contamination from the Strange Heart Realm had lessened; rather, this black mist had already contaminated Chen Fei. The contamination carried by the murmurs was actually decreasing in its effectiveness.

The ground became somewhat muddy, and black mud clung to Chen Fei's feet. Dark lines coiled around his soles, creeping upward. After a moment, his legs were completely black.

Upon closer inspection, it seemed as though something was trying to emerge from within his legs.

Chen Fei glanced at his legs but didn't pay much attention. This was a characteristic of this black mist. Even if he cleared away the contamination while inside it, the black lines would rapidly spread again.

To avoid this, he had to leave the black mist or possess the strength to shatter it with a single sword strike.

Within the mist, there was still no sign of the Evil. Chen Fei walked into the middle of the black mist and noticed a water puddle on the ground. The muddy ground around it seemed to be caused by this puddle.

Chen Fei took a step forward and looked into the puddle.

His reflection appeared in the water puddle, but due to the dim light, his face seemed somewhat pale in the reflection. There was a hint of lifelessness in his eyes, perhaps due to the gloomy weather.

Chen Fei glanced around, but the Evil still hadn't appeared.

However, in the moment Chen Fei raised his head, the reflection in the water puddle didn't mimic his action. Instead, it continued to stare fixedly at Chen Fei, and its mouth slowly stretched into a grin, eventually extending all the way to its ear.

"Find something funny?"

Chen Fei suddenly lowered his head, and his right hand swiftly plunged into the water puddle, grabbing the Evil's neck at the center of the reflection. However, as Chen Fei tightened his grip, he felt his own neck being constricted by something.

In the Strange Heart Realm, it was the mind, and the mind didn't need to breathe. However, at this moment, Chen Fei strangely felt a choking sensation.

As Chen Fei continued to tighten his right hand, the sensation of suffocation grew stronger.

Chen Fei's expression shifted slightly. It was the first time he had encountered this kind of Evil. In the next moment, a sword light flashed, cutting directly into the water puddle.

"Hiss!"

A sharp hiss sounded in Chen Fei's ears, and he felt as if a sword intent was trying to pierce his mind. However, it was immediately blocked by the Thousand Threads Technique and the Suppressing Dragon Elephant.

"It can actually rebound everything!"

Chen Fei was genuinely surprised this time, but immediately, dozens of Godslayer Sword surged into the water puddle.

For most cultivators, the strength of mind attacks should be roughly equal to their mind defense. If one cultivated a special mind technique, their mind attacks might even surpass their mind defense.

However, for Chen Fei, his mind defense far exceeded his mind attack strength.

The Mirror Image Godslayer Sword was a technique that created mind reflections of oneself. Without the existence of the Slaughter Spirit Technique, the Mirror Image Godslayer Sword's strength was actually quite weak. It was only with the Slaughter Spirit Technique that the Mirror Image Godslayer Sword became significantly more powerful.

However, this level of power couldn't break through Chen Fei's own defense. So when faced with this Evil that could rebound attacks, Chen Fei didn't hesitate.

His move was to unleash dozens of Godslayer Sword!

Let's harm each other!

"Hiss!"

The same sharp hiss resounded, but this time, the hiss abruptly stopped halfway. It wasn't that it didn't want to continue screaming; it was because the dozens of Godslayer Sword had completely killed this Tier 2 Evil.

A cloud of black mist appeared in front of Chen Fei, the origin of this Tier 2 Evil.

If it were anyone else facing such a Evil, they might have to admit defeat, especially since the first one to succumb to injuries would likely be themselves. Evils could slowly recover while shrouded in this black mist.

However, Chen Fei was not like anyone else.

He pointed his right hand forward, summoning the spatial storage. Chen Fei guided the Strange Heart Origin, and in the next moment, the Strange Heart Origin disappeared.

A smile couldn't help but appear on Chen Fei's face. The Strange Heart Realm didn't react in any other way to his actions.

With a slight movement of his mind, Chen Fei opened his eyes in the real world.

He summoned the spatial storage and saw the serene Strange Heart Origin inside. The Strange Heart Origin, capable of severely contaminating the mind, showed no signs of affecting the spatial storage.

The Strange Heart Stone floated, and Chen Fei formed hand seals with both hands. He slapped the ground, causing a formation to appear. The Fourfold Heart Refinement Formation emerged in the cave.

Chen Fei placed the Strange Heart Origin into the Heart Refinement Formation..

Chapter 408: Crash

In Chen Fei's spiritual perception, as the Heart Refinement Formation operated, wisps of black mist continuously overflowed from the mysterious source of the heart.

Whether it was the black mist or the source itself, they were invisible to the naked eye, only discernible by the spirit. The black mist twisted and drifted out of the Heart Refinement Formation, and after a moment, a pure source undulated within the array.

A faint smile appeared on Chen Fei's face, but it gradually faded as he observed the consumption of the Strange Heart Stone.

This was the real world, and even the most peak Heart Refinement Formation couldn't extract energy from the Strange Heart Realm. Naturally, to activate the Heart Refinement Formation, he could only use Strange Heart Stones.

Previously, Chen Fei had always thought that the Strange Heart Stone had little use for him. Now he realized that, in the future, aside from slaying Evils, the most crucial thing when entering the Strange Heart Realm would be to find Strange Heart Stones.

Without them, the Heart Refinement Formation couldn't be activated at all, and there would be no talk of purifying the heart's source.

Chen Fei extended his right hand into the Heart Refinement Formation, and the heart's source drifted over. However, Chen Fei didn't immediately absorb it. Instead, he brought forth a spirit herb, attempting to bring it close to the heart's source.

The heart's source could not be absorbed by anyone without special attributes. Chen Fei wanted to see if, in the real world, the spirit herb could react with it.

Even if it was just a slight reaction, it would indicate the possibility of refining the heart's source into elixirs. When others consumed such elixirs, it would naturally enhance their spiritual power.

If this could be mass-produced, Chen Fei wouldn't need to worry about future resources for cultivation anymore. The only thing left to consider would be his own safety.

The heart's source, like a phantom, passed straight through the spirit herb, and between them, there was not even the slightest contact.

Chen Fei furrowed his brow. Despite being mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

A bottle of elixir flew into Chen Fei's hand, and he tried to make it come into contact with the Strange Heart Origin. Just like before, there was no collision between the two.

Chen Fei didn't stop there. He took everything from the wooden cabinet and attempted to touch each item to the source one by one.

After a quarter of an hour, Chen Fei stopped and let out a sigh. The results were evident – there was no reaction at all. The Strange Heart Origin seemed as if it didn't exist in this world.

"Forget it."

Chen Fei shook his head and extended his hand into the Strange Heart Origin. The source disappeared into Chen Fei's palm like a river flowing into the sea.

Within Chen Fei's sea of consciousness, his spirit became extremely active in an instant. However, unlike the instantaneous boost he experienced in the Strange Heart Realm, his spirit was now limited by his physical body.

His spirit didn't skyrocket but started to grow gradually. A floating sensation enveloped Chen Fei's mind, and he couldn't help but close his eyes.

Although it wasn't an instantaneous enhancement, this gradual absorption and refinement wouldn't affect the final result. It even saved Chen Fei from the process of adapting his spirit to his body.

At this moment, with every passing moment of spiritual enhancement, Chen Fei's physical body continued to adapt. The sensation he had experienced when returning from the Strange Heart Realm, where he felt lightheaded and disoriented, no longer occurred.

With each passing moment, Chen Fei's spirit continued to rise, and this improvement was estimated to last for two to three days. By then, Chen Fei would be ready to enter the Strange Heart Realm again and hunt down another Evil.

Of course, at this moment, Chen Fei could continue to absorb and refine another Strange Heart Origin, but the absorption rate would remain the same, adding another two to three days on top of the initial duration.

Furthermore, because the unabsorbed source was stored in his sea of consciousness, it would still exert a certain burden on it over time.

Clearly, there was no need to burden his sea of consciousness unnecessarily when the refinement process was still going to take a long time. Besides, Chen Fei had no intention of entering the Strange Heart Realm at this moment.

Entering that place meant encountering the Tier 3 Evil again.

Last time, the Tier 3 Evil had shown no interest in Chen Fei, but with him repeatedly showing up, it was nothing less than provocation. The Tier 3 Evil might not stay passive next time and would likely come after Chen Fei.

Moreover, the unknown factor of whether refining Evils in the real world would increase the hostility of the Strange Heart Realm was a concern.

Chen Fei was determined to find a relatively safe place before entering the Strange Heart Realm again.

After tidying up everything, Chen Fei's figure flickered and disappeared into the cave.

The journey to the imperial city was thousands of miles away, and even with Chen Fei's speed, it would take several hours.

"Zzzt!"

An electromagnetic sound crackled around Chen Fei. Compared to the smooth sounds of his previous travel, his movements were now undoubtedly much louder.

Some caravans and travelers could hear this thunderous crackling sound from afar, and when they instinctively turned to look, Chen Fei had already disappeared.

At times like this, a hint of reverence would appear in the eyes of these people. Such a display of power could only come from a true expert.

In the current world, only those with sufficient strength could protect themselves. Those who roamed the outside world were also the most eager for this kind of power.

However, in this world, individuals with such power were exceedingly rare.

On the way, Chen Fei rested for a while and then continued his journey without stopping. Chen Fei didn't feel tired at all; in fact, exploring the mountains and rivers of this dynasty for the first time had broadened his perspective considerably.

As Chen Fei approached the location of the imperial city, the signs of human activity became more apparent. He even encountered several other cultivators in the Aperture Tempering realm on the road.

Chen Fei didn't approach them or greet them but chose to continue on his way. The Aperture Tempering realm cultivators sensed his advanced Aperture Tempering realm aura and didn't dare to approach carelessly. They remained vigilant.

A person's level of martial cultivation had no direct correlation with their morality. In fact, those who were ruthless and cunning often achieved greater success.

In the wilderness, acts of violence and theft were not uncommon, and many times, these actions had little to do with money; they were driven by personal emotions.

Before nightfall, Chen Fei finally saw a magnificent city ahead.

It stood tall and imposing, and in the setting sun, the city walls emitted a faint radiance. It was an array formation; even though it was still several miles away, Chen Fei could sense the tremendous power emanating from it.

The height of the city walls was similar to other cities, but the other cities lacked this indestructible aura.

This imperial city had stood for hundreds of years, and the royal family had continually strengthened it. The array formation was currently in a dormant state, but if activated, it would undoubtedly create a shocking spectacle.

Chen Fei stood still for a moment, contemplating. Then, his facial features began to change, and a scar extended from the left side of his eye to the corner of his mouth. A chilling sensation emanated from him.

His Slaughter Spirit Technique was activated, and it felt like a sharp blade sweeping through him. Chen Fei's outward cultivation level dropped from the late Aperture Tempering realm to the mid Aperture Tempering realm.

In terms of his aura, Chen Fei couldn't change it for now. However, given that he was nearly ten thousand miles away from Immortal Cloud City, the chances of encountering someone he knew here were extremely slim.

So, if something were to happen here, no one would suspect that it was someone from the Primordial Sword Sect thousands of miles away. After all, in this era, the primary means of identifying people was through images, given the inefficiency of communication methods.

The recognition of auras was more relevant to those above the Aperture Tempering realm, and in this region, Aperture Tempering realm cultivators were still a minority.

Selling high-quality spiritual weapons as an early Aperture Tempering realm cultivator would be quite conspicuous and might easily attract unnecessary trouble. The mid Aperture Tempering realm was a more suitable position for such activities.

Concealing one's true cultivation level was a means of self-preservation, preventing others from uncovering all your cards. If someone harbored ill intentions towards you, at least they would make a misjudgment about your strength.

That would be your chance to turn the tables.

Chen Fei simply activated his Soaring Heaven Technique and arrived at the city gates at the speed of a mid Aperture Tempering realm cultivator. When he reached this point, the oppressive feeling emanating from the entire imperial city became even clearer.

If Chen Fei were to engage with the people in the imperial city, it was questionable whether he could utilize even sixty percent of his full strength.

Even Aperture Tempering realm cultivators would be affected here.

This meant that unless there was a vacant position among the strong Aperture Tempering realm cultivators in the royal family, the city couldn't be taken. Even if someone as cunning as Master Xilian appeared, he wouldn't be able to break through this city.

However, despite possessing such a formidable city, this dynasty was on the verge of decline, facing internal and external troubles that seemed to emerge endlessly.

The streets were bustling with activity, and people flowed in all directions. Shopfronts were brightly lit, and the sounds of conversation and vendors' calls filled the air.

Just as he entered the city, Chen Fei's eyes lit up. Immortal Cloud City was already considered a bustling place, but compared to the imperial city, it couldn't help but pale in comparison.

In other smaller towns, seeing a Visceral Tempering realm cultivator was a rare occurrence, but here, they were not only everywhere but also quite common. As for Aperture Tempering realm cultivators, Chen Fei sensed at least a dozen of them just by intuition.

This didn't even include those concealed by formations, making it impossible to detect their Aperture Tempering realm.

"Guest, are you here for a short stay or lodging?" Chen Fei found an inn, and as soon as he entered, a waiter approached him with enthusiasm.

The waiter had a neat appearance, rosy complexion, and most importantly, had martial cultivation. It wasn't high, just barely reaching the Body Tempering realm.

'Til be staying, and bring me some food and wine," Chen Fei replied as he walked to a window-side table on the second floor, gazing down below.

Inside the imperial city, Chen Fei couldn't sense any anxiety or worry in the people around him. Whether it was the rebels or the practitioners in Shangwu City, the people here seemed entirely unconcerned.

The inn served the food quickly, and in no time, the table was filled with fragrant dishes. After not having had a proper meal in a while, even Chen Fei, who had a strong will, couldn't help but feel his appetite stir.

Listening to the lively discussions of those around him, half an hour later, Chen Fei was full and satisfied. He then beckoned the waiter to come over.

"Guest, what can I do for you?" The waiter wore a wide smile as he approached.

"I want to inquire about something."

Chen Fei spoke and placed twenty taels of silver on the table. The waiter's eyes brightened, and his smile grew even broader.

"Tell me about the Elemental Tide and the Heavenly Sun True Immortal.

What's the story?" Chen Fei asked.

These two terms had been the most frequently discussed topics he had heard over the past half-hour. Although he had gained a general understanding of the situation, Chen Fei wanted a more systematic understanding of the matter..

Chapter 409: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

"Sir, you've come to the right person." The shopkeeper, seeing Chen Fei ask this question, felt relieved as the opportunity presented by these twenty taels of silver was significant.

"Please, have a seat," Chen Fei gestured to a nearby chair.

"I dare not," the shopkeeper waved his hand and smiled. "Let me start with the Elemental Tide. This is a unique event that occurs here. It happens every five to eight years in the Imperial City and lasts for a whole day. During that time, both martial artists and ordinary people benefit greatly."

"Please, go on," Chen Fei nodded.

"To be honest, I don't know all the details, but I do know that on that day, martial artists experience a significant improvement in their comprehension of martial arts and their cultivation speed increases greatly. Therefore, whenever the Elemental Tide is about to happen, the Imperial City becomes crowded with people."

"The entire Imperial City can enjoy the effects of this Elemental Tide?" Chen Fei furrowed his brow. This power seemed quite extraordinary.

"Yes, the entire Imperial City can benefit from it. However, the closer you are to the inner city, the stronger the effect. But even the inns over there were fully booked more than a month ago. Even in our inn, there are very few rooms left." "How long until the Elemental Tide arrives?" Chen Fei turned to look at the street. He had already noticed that many outsiders like him were in the city, presumably drawn by the Elemental Tide.

"The estimate is around twenty days before the Elemental Tide appears," the shopkeeper replied with a smile.

Chen Fei nodded slightly. Twenty days were manageable. Since he had come all this way, experiencing this once-in-a-few-years event like the Elemental

Tide would be worthwhile.

"Now, about the Heavenly Sun True Immortal," Chen Fei continued to inquire.

"He's accepting closed-door disciples!"

As the shopkeeper mentioned the Heavenly Sun True Immortal, reverence filled his eyes. Anyone worthy of the title "Heavenly Sun True Immortal" was undoubtedly a powerful expert in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. In this region, they represented the pinnacle of strength.

As long as someone was a martial artist, they would inevitably yearn for such a level of power. Chen Fei was no exception, and neither were the others in the city.

"Three months ago, Heavenly Sun True Immortal emerged from seclusion and announced that he would be accepting a closed-door disciple. There are no restrictions on cultivation level or affiliations; as long as one has the talent, they can become his disciple," the shopkeeper spoke with a hint of yearning.

Chen Fei's eyebrows raised slightly, signaling the shopkeeper to continue. A Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert accepting a closed-door disciple was indeed a significant event.

Being accepted into Heavenly Sun True Immortal's sect was akin to reaching for the heavens in one step. It meant a complete transformation in status and, more importantly, starting cultivation from the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. The upper limit would depend on an individual's innate talent and aptitude.

No restrictions on cultivation and affiliations meant that the scope was broadened. Even those from small sects and schools, as long as they had confidence in themselves, could apply. In most cases, the small sects wouldn't obstruct it either, as becoming a closed-door disciple of Heavenly Sun True Immortal would change the future prospects of the sect due to the connection established.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

"With so many people in the city now, aside from the Elemental Tide, there are also many who are trying their luck with Heavenly Sun True Immortal," the shopkeeper glanced at the twenty taels of silver on the table, knowing that he had shared all he knew. Deeper details were beyond his knowledge.

"Thank you," Chen Fei smiled faintly, and the twenty taels of silver lifted into the air, landing in the shopkeeper's hand.

"Thank you for your generosity, sir!" The shopkeeper beamed with gratitude and, seeing no further instructions from Chen Fei, respectfully stepped aside.

Chen Fei raised his head to gaze at the bright moon in the sky. With the moonlight shining and the gentle evening breeze, he pondered his next steps. Heavenly Sun True Immortal accepting disciples had no relevance to Chen Fei. If such an opportunity had presented itself before he joined the Primordial Sword Sect, Chen Fei would have unquestionably seized it. However, his current cultivation had already reached the late Combined Aperture Tempering realm, and no matter how unrestricted Heavenly Sun True Immortal's criteria were, it was impossible for him to be accepted.

Chen Fei sat by the window for a while, contemplating this, before rising and returning to his guest room.

The cost of the guest room was not insignificant, slightly more expensive than those within Immortal Cloud City, possibly due to the Elemental Tide.

However, this amount of money posed no burden to Chen Fei now.

Two hours later, the bustling noise on the street finally subsided as the official curfew within the Imperial City began.

Chen Fei held the Qianyuan Sword in his hand, gracefully moving and practicing the Starry Night Sword technique. Insights regarding the Water-Jade Sword continuously emerged in his sea of consciousness.

As the cultivation of the Primordial Sword Technique continued to advance, it wouldn't be long before the fifth layer was perfected. At that point, Chen Fei could proceed to integrate another legacy into the Primordial Sword Technique.

Compared to the Blade-Slaying Sword, the progress of the Water-Jade Sword would be somewhat faster. Chen Fei decided to temporarily set aside the Blade-Slaying Sword and elevate the Water-Jade Sword to Great Completion.

Chen Fei was quite curious about this unique inheritance within the Primordial Sword Sect, which emphasized defense. He wondered how it would evolve once he reached its peak.

As he practiced the Starry Night Sword, Chen Fei simultaneously used his mental power to create a visualization of the Sword-Returning Eye technique, forming two hundred threads of consciousness to create the mental image.

The Starry Night Sword had already reached the state of perfection in Chen Fei's practice long ago, back when he was in the Body Tempering Realm. Both the sword techniques and footwork had become instinctual for him.

Therefore, Chen Fei didn't need to expend much mental effort on the Starry Night Sword. The visualization of the two hundred threads of consciousness didn't hinder the execution of the sword techniques in the slightest.

At this moment, not only were insights into the Water-Jade Sword continuously emerging, but there were also two hundred insights into the Sword-Returning Eye technique colliding within his sea of consciousness.

If it weren't for the conflict between the footwork of the Initial Yuan Sword and the Starry Night Sword, preventing simultaneous practice, Chen Fei's sea of consciousness might have been filled with insights into the Blade-Slaying Sword as well.

Chen Fei was like a glutton, greedily absorbing insights from the techniques. Meanwhile, his mysterious heart's origin continued to nourish his mental power, keeping it in a constantly active state, making it easier for him to absorb various insights.

As the days passed with the rise and fall of the sun and moon, time flew by during his cultivation.

In the inn, Chen Fei tried the specialty breakfast of the Imperial City and then leisurely stepped out of the inn.

In the early morning, when the city gates opened, the streets of the Imperial City returned to their bustling scene. Chen Fei wandered around for a few laps and eventually stopped in front of a shop.

Jade Pavilion was one of the few well-known shops within the Imperial City. It had the backing of several influential forces and had been in operation for over a century within the city.

Entering the shop, the shopkeeper's eyes brightened when he saw Chen Fei. He quickly approached, gesturing for a servant girl who had been about to come forward to step back.

As the shopkeeper of Jade Pavilion, it was crucial to accurately assess the cultivation level of customers; otherwise, it could easily lead to trouble. Fortunately, the shopkeeper had a low-grade spiritual tool that enhanced his perception.

With just a glance, the shopkeeper detected the mid Aperture Tempering realm aura from Chen Fei and hurriedly went to personally attend to him.

Inside the Imperial City, there were numerous individuals in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, but a high number didn't diminish the status of those in the Aperture Tempering realm. Regardless of the location, Aperture Tempering realm cultivators were considered special, especially those in the mid Aperture Tempering realm.

"Sir, may I assist you with anything?" the shopkeeper asked with a smile.

"Do you accept spiritual weapons here?"

Chen Fei approached a wall where dozens of bows and arrows were displayed, his eyes showing a hint of interest. Especially the central bow, it shone like a star among the others.

"Certainly," the shopkeeper nodded.

Chen Fei withdrew his gaze from the wall and placed his package on a nearby table. Three low-grade spiritual swords and one middle-grade spiritual sword were taken out. Just like when he was in Black City District, Chen Fei decided to sell them to various shops, so as not to draw too much attention.

There were hidden experts in the Imperial City, and Chen Fei had no intention of causing trouble, so keeping a low profile was the wisest choice.

Seeing the middle-grade spiritual sword, the shopkeeper's eyes gleamed with excitement; this was a significant sale. If handled correctly, this single sale could yield a substantial amount of spirit stones.

After a while, Chen Fei left Jade Pavilion satisfied. The shopkeeper couldn't haggle on the price due to Chen Fei's revealed mid Aperture Tempering realm cultivation, so the transaction was fairly straightforward and mutually beneficial.

As for the bow Chen Fei had seen on the wall, he chose not to purchase it. It was only a low-grade spiritual bow and offered no benefit to him, as he preferred to use his iron bow, which he didn't mind wearing down.

Meanwhile, outside the Imperial City, in a forested area, a figure was desperately rushing forward. Their clothes were torn in multiple places, and bloodstains adorned their body. Clearly, they had just been through a battle, or perhaps the battle had yet to conclude.

Yan Zigui glanced back from time to time, his eyes filled with fear. He had started his journey with five companions, but now he was the sole survivor. To protect him and allow his escape, his master and several fellow disciples had all perished.

Thinking of the gruesome fate of his master and fellow disciples, Yan Zigui unconsciously clenched his fists, and his fingernails dug into his flesh without him even noticing.

"You knew you couldn't escape, yet you still tried to run?"

A mocking voice echoed in Yan Zigui's ears, causing his eyes to widen involuntarily. His longsword, held in his hand, was abruptly stopped halfway as the stranger easily pinched it between two fingers. Yan Zigui, with his cultivation in the Visceral Tempering realm, appeared utterly insignificant before the person in front of him.

"You came looking for Heavenly Sun True Immortal, didn't you? Now I'll personally take you there, and yet you're unwilling. Why bother?" The voice sneered coldly, sending shivers down Yan Zigui's spine.

"No, I don't want to go! I don't want to go!" Yan Zigui shouted loudly, trying to pull his sword back, but it was immobilized. Frustrated, he eventually abandoned the sword and fled desperately into the distance.

"Whether you go or not is not for you to decide but for me to decide, hahaha!" Laughter rang out from under the straw hat.

Meanwhile, within the Imperial City,

Chen Fei exited the second shop. Both low-grade and middle-grade spiritual swords had been sold. Now, Chen Fei needed to find a third shop to market his Primordial Sealing Mirror.

This was the real deal, and most of Chen Fei's future cultivation resources would depend on this Primordial Sealing Mirror..

Chapter 410: Fighting Ten

"Qingyu Pavilion?"

Chen Fei walked through several streets and stopped in front of a building. There was a constant stream of people at the entrance. Compared to other shops, Qingyu Pavilion was filled with hearty laughter and occasional flirtatious voices.

"Sir, would you like to come inside and take a rest?" The girl at the door saw Chen Fei stop and quickly invited him warmly.

As soft as the misty rain in Jiangnan, the girl's gaze seemed to be looking at her own lover, making it hard for anyone to resist getting lost in it.

"I have some other matters to attend to. I'll come another time." Chen Fei smiled faintly, waved his hand, and walked away.

It had been many days since he last practiced with Chi Shuqing. When it came to matters like this, if you didn't experience them often, your thoughts might be somewhat restrained.

Of course, just a bit restrained. After all, it was one of human instincts, and sometimes it was hard to control by will alone.

And if you experienced it frequently, it would be like savoring the flavor, and when the break was a bit longer, you would unconsciously miss it. After all, the gentle village is the hero's grave.

But about Qingyu Pavilion, Chen Fei would only take a brief look. He wouldn't actually go inside. It wasn't because of any cleanliness issues; it was purely because he was worried that those girls wouldn't be able to handle it.

Even Chi Shuqing, as a master of the Aperture Tempering realm, couldn't endure long periods of joint practice. These girls were mostly at the Flesh Tempering realm, so how could they withstand it?

Certainly, he couldn't just bring a dozen of them all at once, could he?

Well, maybe that wasn't entirely impossible…

Chen Fei couldn't help but smile and shook his head. He didn't actually return to Qingyu Pavilion but continued walking forward until he stopped in front of another shop.

Thousand Treasures Pavilion, on par with the two shops Chen Fei had visited earlier. It wasn't that Chen Fei had specifically chosen Thousand Treasures Pavilion as the seller of the Primordial Sealing Mirror; it was simply the farthest from the inn.

"Sir, what can we assist you with?" The shopkeeper, upon seeing Chen Fei, approached with the same warmth as the previous two shops.

"I'd like to sell a top-grade spiritual weapon," Chen Fei said softly.

"A top-grade spiritual weapon?"

The shopkeeper's heart trembled. Just now, he had noticed that Chen Fei was at the mid-stage of the Aperture Tempering realm, and he thought there might be a substantial deal coming. However, the shopkeeper had not expected it to be this significant.

Thousand Treasures Pavilion had been operating in the Imperial City for many years, and they had certainly bought and sold top-grade spiritual weapons, but to put it into perspective, they might not see one in a whole year.

"Please, sir, come inside."

The shopkeeper quickly led Chen Fei to the inner room, and servants promptly served tea. The fragrance of tea filled the room. Chen Fei picked up the teacup, took a sip, and immediately praised, "Excellent tea!"

"If you like it, sir, I'll have a couple of pounds prepared for you later as a token of our appreciation," the shopkeeper said with a smile.

The tea was indeed exceptional, grown in a land rich in elemental energy, and even the water used for irrigation was infused with elemental stones. Furthermore, both the tea leaves and the tea-making personnel were carefully selected young women.

Each step was carried out with extreme precision. Therefore, even the high-ranking officials and nobility in the Imperial City rarely had the privilege of tasting such tea, let alone buying a couple of pounds at once.

However, compared to the upcoming transaction for the top-grade spiritual weapon, these tea leaves, considered invaluable to ordinary people, seemed quite ordinary.

"No need," Chen Fei said, waving his hand. He took out the Primordial Sealing Mirror and placed it on the table. "Please, appraise this item, and let me know how many elemental stones it can be sold for."

The shopkeeper put on gloves and glanced at Chen Fei. Seeing that Chen Fei didn't object, he carefully examined the Primordial Sealing Mirror.

Chen Fei sat quietly, occasionally sipping his tea, patiently waiting for the shopkeeper's evaluation of the Primordial Sealing Mirror.

After about fifteen minutes, the shopkeeper set the Primordial Sealing Mirror down with a smile on his face.

In reality, many spiritual weapons didn't require appraisal. The spiritual essence within them was often self-evident. However, top-grade spiritual weapons were highly valuable, and even slight differences could mean hundreds of elemental stones, making the shopkeeper extra cautious.

"This mirror exudes a brilliant aura and possesses formidable power, making it effective both defensively and offensively," Chen Fei explained.

"It's indeed a valuable item," the shopkeeper nodded, not disputing Chen Fei's assessment.

The shopkeeper contemplated for a moment and continued, "For top-grade spiritual weapons, our store offers two options. One is for us to purchase it directly, and the other is to consign it with our store. If you choose the consignment option, we will take a small commission after it's sold."

Chen Fei's expression subtly changed upon hearing that there was an option to consign the top-grade spiritual weapon. He hadn't expected this method for selling such items. It seemed that many people preferred not to sell directly to the shops, perhaps feeling that it was less profitable, which had led to the emergence of this second option.

Additionally, fierce competition existed among the shops capable of purchasing top-grade spiritual weapons within the Imperial City. There were several of them, so they needed to ensure that the sellers were satisfied.

"If you choose to sell this mirror directly to our store, I can offer 1,900 elemental stones. If you opt for consignment, you will receive half of the final selling price, and we'll take the other half," the shopkeeper explained.

1,900 elemental stones was a decent price, not too low but not exceptionally high either – a fairly standard offer.

If Chen Fei obtained these 1,900 elemental stones, combined with what he had gained from his previous transactions, he would be close to gathering the resources needed for his cultivation to reach the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.

Of course, for other advanced Aperture Tempering realm practitioners, these elemental stones alone wouldn't be sufficient to reach the pinnacle of their cultivation.

The cultivation technique played a significant role, and almost only dominant-level factions had techniques that could take them to the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm. Therefore, for the average Aperture Tempering realm practitioner, there was virtually no chance of reaching this level.

Having the cultivation technique was one thing; being able to fully comprehend it was another. Of course, the most crucial factor was whether their mental power could keep up.

Compared to opening acupoints, mental power cultivation was the most challenging. After all, acupoints had resources, and with the right cultivation technique comprehension, opening them was relatively straightforward.

But mental power had to be honed over time. Alternatively, one could rely on a sufficient supply of mental-enhancing elixirs, which were much more expensive than elemental power-enhancing elixirs.

However, with the support of the Strange Heart Realm as his backup, Chen Fei only needed to focus on improving his acupoint cultivation.

"How long would it take if I choose to consign it?" Chen Fei inquired. If it took too long, he wouldn't opt for it since he planned to leave the Imperial City once the Elemental Tide ended.

"It can be as short as three days or as long as ten days, but there will definitely be a result. If there's no result within that time frame, our store will purchase this spiritual weapon for 2,000 elemental stones," the shopkeeper confidently replied.

With Thousand Treasures Pavilion's connections and the ongoing Elemental Tide, it was unlikely to take more than three days to find a buyer. Top-grade spiritual weapons were rare, and many sects were eager to acquire them for guarding their mountain gates.

"Alright, let's go with consignment," Chen Fei nodded. As for any potential troubles that might arise from consigning the item, he was curious to see if anyone would be so kind as to seek trouble with him and fill the gap in his remaining resources!

"Where are you staying, sir? We'll send word to you as soon as we have news," the shopkeeper said with a smile.

"I'm staying at the Prosperity Inn. You can find me there."

"Prosperity Inn? Sir, considering that the Elemental Tide is approaching in the Imperial City, our store has a few premium rooms available at the Mountain Origin Inn nearby. You're welcome to stay there."

Chen Fei couldn't help but glance at the shopkeeper. They certainly had excellent customer service. He was aware of the Mountain Origin Inn, which was very close to the Elemental Tide's location, and it had been fully booked months ago.

"No need, just notify me when you have news," Chen Fei waved his hand, got up, and walked toward the exit. As he reached the shop's entrance, his footsteps hesitated for a moment as he looked at the bustling street outside.

Two figures flashed through the air and landed in an open space not far away. Calling it an open space was not entirely accurate; it was, in fact, a specially designed martial arena within the Imperial City.

As these two figures entered, the martial arena's formation activated, providing complete protection around the area.

Within moments, the area surrounding the martial arena was filled with spectators. With the protective formation in place, these onlookers had no fear of getting harmed.

Chen Fei stood at a distance, sensing the strength of the formation.

This formation was known as the Heavenly Phenomenon Formation, with exceptionally strong defensive capabilities. It couldn't be broken unless one reached the late stage of the Aperture Tempering realm. However, the two participants within the formation were only in the early stages of the Aperture Tempering realm, so there was no need to worry about their safety.

"Recently, Heavenly Sun True Immortal has taken on disciples, and with the Elemental Tide approaching, these kinds of competitions happen almost daily," the shopkeeper explained while standing beside Chen Fei.

Chen Fei nodded slightly. The current atmosphere in the Imperial City was probably the liveliest it had been in years. Participating in these events during such a time could indeed help spread one's reputation.

In the world of martial arts, some sought profit, some sought fame, and some aimed for both.

The two participants in the martial arena appeared to be quite young, and having reached the Aperture Tempering realm at such an age could earn them the title of prodigies no matter where they were.

Soon, cheers and applause rang out around the martial arena. Chen Fei glanced at the scene but quickly lost interest. He turned and headed in the direction of the Prosperity Inn.

The shopkeeper of Thousand Treasures Pavilion watched as Chen Fei departed and then returned to the store, relaying the information about the top-grade spiritual weapon to the main branch.

Dealing with top-grade spiritual weapons was no small matter, and if the main branch had a need for it, they could acquire it themselves or use it to build some goodwill by selling it to someone in desperate need of such an item.

As for the idea of resorting to violence and theft for profit, the shopkeeper did briefly entertain such thoughts for a moment. After all, a successful attempt could yield nearly 2,000 elemental stones in profit.

Even for a sizable organization like Thousand Treasures Pavilion, earning 2,000 elemental stones would still require an extended period of time. For any faction, this amount was a significant temptation.

However, the shopkeeper ultimately dismissed such thoughts. He couldn't imagine that the main branch behind him would engage in such actions.

The fact that the person had come alone to sell a top-grade spiritual weapon, despite having only mid-stage Aperture Tempering realm cultivation, raised questions about whether he had other companions.

Thousand Treasures Pavilion had been in business for many years and had dealt with various unscrupulous activities, but when it came to the Aperture Tempering realm, they exercised extreme caution. They had never engaged in any illicit activities involving top-grade spiritual weapons.

Part of it was related to their reputation, but more importantly, it was about being cautious..

Chapter 411: Uninvited Invitation

Heavenly Sun Mansion.

The residence of Heavenly Sun True Immortal is situated not far from the Imperial City, just a few miles away.

It is rumored that Heavenly Sun True Immortal and the venerable figure of the royal family share an unbreakable bond. In his youth, he had no intentions of establishing a sect or even taking on disciples.

Upon arriving in the Imperial City, he decided to acquire a mansion and settle down.

Of course, when we say "mansion," the actual size is quite extravagant, to the extent that it resembles a small town.

This seemingly unreasonable and unconventional appearance, however, appears entirely justified for someone of Heavenly Sun True Immortal's Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivation.

Within the dungeons of Heavenly Sun Mansion at this moment, the air was filled with curses and pleas for mercy.

Ning Pusheng walked among them, his footsteps making a slight sound as they touched the ground.

At first, the sound seemed inconspicuous, but as these footsteps linked together, they became like a sinister melody, causing splitting headaches. People instinctively covered their ears, some even rolling on the ground in agony.

As Ning Pusheng passed by, both the curses and pleas ceased involuntarily, and it was only when his figure disappeared from the dungeons that the prisoners slowly rose, still trembling with fear.

At the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, just one step away from the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.

Ordinary martial practitioners in front of Ning Pusheng are as fragile as clay chickens and thatched dogs, unable to withstand a blow. Even those in the Aperture Tempering realm, as long as they are not also at the pinnacle, have little resistance when facing Ning Pusheng.

One hundred and eight acupoints, connected as one, can be considered a miniature version of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. Although it is still far from being a true Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the gap is evident, especially in terms of the foundation of acupoints when compared to other Aperture Tempering realm cultivators.

Not to mention in terms of martial techniques, mental power, and spiritual weapons, Ning Pusheng's overwhelming superiority is apparent from all angles when facing other Aperture Tempering realm practitioners.

"Ning Senior Brother!" Tan Taiting stood outside the dungeon, seeing Ning Pusheng emerge, she couldn't help but approach and bow slightly.

"Taiting Junior Sister." Ning Pusheng, who was not one to smile or speak frivolously, couldn't help but reveal a slight smile upon seeing Tan Taiting.

"Ning Senior Brother, did you capture more people again?" Tan Taiting glanced in the direction of the dungeon, her eyes filled with a hint of sympathy.

"I encountered a cultivator with good talent in the Aperture Tempering realm and decent footwork. The other junior disciples weren't confident in subduing him, so I had to make a trip." Ning Pusheng nodded.

"But why does Senior Master need so many people for this?" Tan Taiting was puzzled. This practice of capturing people had been going on for months since Heavenly Sun True Immortal emerged from seclusion.

Due to the strange events in Shangwu City, especially the fact that the North Forest Sect's You Shounan had devoured the entire North Forest Sect, Tan Taiting couldn't help but worry about Heavenly Sun True Immortal's actions. "What are you thinking?"

Ning Pusheng's eyebrows slightly furrowed as he uttered a low command. Although his voice wasn't loud, it was like a sharp sword, cutting through Tan Taiting's consciousness and waking her up.

"Whether it's Master Xilian or You Shounan, how can they be compared to our Master?"

Seeing Tan Taiting's confused expression, Ning Pusheng explained patiently, "Master is only doing this to cultivate a specific technique that requires individuals with good talent and comprehension, and who are also relatively young. Once Master succeeds, the problems in Shangwu City will be of no concern!"

Tan Taiting lowered her head and asked, "Will these people die?"

"No, they will become ordinary people. Afterwards, we will arrange things properly to ensure they live worry-free lives."

Ning Pusheng shook his head, his face displaying a touch of fervor as he continued, "With the talents and comprehension of these individuals, their future achievements would have been limited at best. But in the end, they will contribute to Master's cultivation of the technique, which is their honor. When we eventually eradicate Shangwu City, it will also be considered their merit."

A smile appeared on Tan Taiting's face upon hearing that the prisoners in the dungeon wouldn't die.

Indeed, if these people knew that they could sacrifice a bit to help eliminate the threat of Shangwu City, perhaps their resistance would diminish.

Moreover, knowing that they wouldn't die meant they could live their lives without worry and eventually die peacefully, which was a kind of blessing.

Ning Pusheng saw that Tan Taiting had understood, and a sense of satisfaction appeared on his face. However, he didn't mention everything—the fact that these individuals would have their talents extracted, a torment even worse than physical torture.

Few could endure such suffering, and those who did would not become ordinary people but rather foolish and disabled individuals.

Ning Pusheng exchanged a few more words with Tan Taiting before walking towards another area. There weren't enough people in the dungeon, and they needed more individuals with such talent to ensure the success of their Master's cultivation.

Fortunately, as the time for the Elemental Tide approached, more and more people were arriving in the Imperial City and Heavenly Sun Mansion. By then, they would undoubtedly be able to gather a sufficient number of candidates.

Inside the Imperial City.

Chen Fei visited several shops, purchasing a considerable amount of elixirs to aid in his cultivation. He then passed by the Qingyu Pavilion once again.

Fate, indeed!

Chen Fei gazed at the delicate and charming women within the Qingyu Pavilion and let out a sigh. It wasn't that he didn't want to give you a chance to earn money, but you're just too weak.

Indeed, when a person's cultivation is insufficient, even opportunities to make money become scarce.

Chen Fei returned to the Prosperity Inn, deciding not to continue exploring other parts of the Imperial City.

Although the Imperial City was bustling and vibrant compared to other places, after seeing it for a while, it was just more of the same. Most of the items sold in the shops didn't have much effect on him at his current level.

As for martial techniques, it was true that the Imperial City had better ones compared to other places, but the quality was limited. Among them, there were also many mediocre martial techniques, and some were even fabricated nonsense.

Chen Fei inquired at a few shops but eventually gave up the search.

The best way to acquire and cultivate good martial techniques was still to join various sects. Relying solely on one's own efforts to find excellent techniques was too challenging.

In his guest room, Chen Fei sat cross-legged and began refining the elixirs he had purchased.

With two tasks remaining in the Imperial City – experiencing the Elemental Tide and selling the Primordial Sealing Mirror – Chen Fei would soon depart from the city.

Chen Fei no longer ventured outside and spent several consecutive days staying in the inn.

However, during these few short days, Chen Fei's strength continued to advance rapidly.

After reaching the late Aperture Tempering realm, each step should have been extremely difficult, but in Chen Fei's case, these difficulties simply didn't exist.

The Fifth Level of the Primordial Sword Scripture was perfected. Following the Great Thunder Sword, Chen Fei could continue to integrate another inheritance into the Primordial Sword Scripture. However, there were currently no fully perfected inheritances available for integration.

The Water-Jade Sword had finally reached perfection a few days ago, but there was still a considerable gap to reach the level of great perfection. While integrating the perfected Water-Jade Sword into the Primordial Sword Scripture would yield some results, the effects were not particularly pronounced.

Apart from the Primordial Sword Scripture and the Water-Jade Sword, Chen Fei had recently acquired the Sword Return Eye and quickly reached the level of Great Completion. With two hundred portions of insight in one go, this speed would bring him to the level of Great Completion regardless.

This was the change in his martial techniques. As for his cultivation, without restrictions on resources, Chen Fei opened himself to refining elemental energy. In just a few days, he opened three more acupoints, bringing his total to eighty-five.

With this progress, not only did Chen Fei surpass his sect leader, Qu Qingsheng, in combat power, but he also exceeded him in the number of acupoints. He had truly become the number one figure in the Primordial Sword Sect.

If it weren't for a messenger from the Thousand Treasures Pavilion notifying Chen Fei, he could have continued this intensive practice routine without leaving his room for an extended period.

Chen Fei didn't feel any fatigue or weariness during this intense training. Instead, he was filled with motivation and a sense of accomplishment. After all, every bit of effort he put in was rewarded, which was a truly fortunate thing.

The process of continuously strengthening his power perception was a powerful way to dispel boredom.

Inside the Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

"Sir, please come this way." The shopkeeper, upon seeing Chen Fei, wore a warm smile and led him to a private chamber.

"This is a hexagonal room, and the buyers will be in separate rooms later. Due to the concealment formation, both parties won't be aware of each other, so you don't need to worry about security issues."

The shopkeeper explained, then sneakily glanced at Chen Fei, who seemed nonchalant about this protective measure.

The shopkeeper's interest was piqued, and his smile grew even broader as he explained the usefulness of the room's formation.

Half an hour later, the shopkeeper left the room, and two buyers also arrived at the Thousand Treasures Pavilion. Chen Fei casually placed the Primordial Sealing Mirror into the formation plate, and in the other two rooms, the presence of the Primordial Sealing Mirror became apparent.

During the process, Chen Fei demonstrated the power of the Primordial Sealing Mirror, and the room's formation accurately reflected its capabilities.

"A fine treasure, 2,000 elemental stones, how about it?" A coarse voice rang out with a hint of desire in its tone. Clearly, the power of the Primordial Sealing Mirror had piqued his interest.

"Wu old rascal, it's you, isn't it? 2,000 elemental stones for this mirror, a bit too little, how about 2,100 elemental stones?" Another voice spoke up.

"It's me indeed, and you know I've saved up quite a sum of elemental stones.

You won't be taking this mirror from me."

"You're going too far, Zhao!"

Chen Fei listened with interest in his room as the two individuals exchanged words, realizing that the Thousand Treasures Pavilion had deliberately brought together two people with some grudges.

With just a few participants, the price for the Primordial Sealing Mirror was quickly driven up. These two individuals probably had some goodwill towards the Thousand Treasures Pavilion. After all, when you have a top-quality spiritual weapon and they inform you, you can't ask for too much.

As for having only one buyer, the seller probably wouldn't be pleased with that arrangement.

The final price for the Primordial Sealing Mirror was locked in at 2,330 elemental stones, with half the commission going to the Thousand Treasures Pavilion, and the rest falling into Chen Fei's hands.

Even Chen Fei left through a hidden passage in the Thousand Treasures Pavilion, so he never knew the buyer's appearance or aura throughout the transaction.

Chen Fei walked through a few alleys and returned to the Prosperity Inn. However, as soon as he went upstairs, a young waiter approached him, saying that someone wanted to meet with Chen Fei.

Chen Fei's expression twitched slightly. Since arriving in the Imperial City, he had rarely interacted with people and didn't know many of them.

Following the waiter's guidance, Chen Fei reached the second floor of the inn and encountered a person. This individual had the cultivation level of the early Aperture Tempering realm, and their aura was sharp. When the person saw Chen Fei, they nodded slightly.

Chen Fei furrowed his brows.. He didn't recognize this person, but the sharp aura indicated that they were a sword cultivator from Heavenly Sun Mansion!

Chapter 412: Lively

Chen Fei had encountered people from the Heavenly Sun Mansion several times while walking in the Imperial City.

Heavenly Sun Mansion was located right on the outskirts of the Imperial City, so it wasn't surprising to come across them. In fact, it would have been abnormal not to encounter them. Heavenly Sun Mansion was known for its powerful and aggressive martial arts, so as soon as Chen Fei saw this person, he understood their identity.

However, he couldn't help but wonder why someone from Heavenly Sun Mansion would come to find him.

The Primordial Sealing Mirror?

The Primordial Sealing Mirror had been sold for over two thousand elemental stones. For most people, this amount of elemental stones would be tempting. Even smaller sects might never be able to accumulate that many elemental stones because they were constantly being used up.

But it shouldn't have attracted the attention of Heavenly Sun Mansion. After all, they were a force with strong individuals in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, and their resources were probably even more extravagant than what the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect possessed.

This was the Imperial City, the heart of the dynasty, a place where talent and resources from all over the world converged. The resources available here were beyond imagination.

When the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect initially entered the secret realm, they could provide a cultivator in the Initial Combined Aperture Tempering realm with a top-grade spiritual sword, and the same went for the Divine Flame Sect.

This indicated the level of resources that dominant powers possessed.

"May I ask who you are?" Chen Fei stepped forward and greeted the visitor with a courteous nod.

"I'm Shen Zhengsu from Heavenly Sun Mansion. I've come here unannounced, and I hope you won't mind," Shen Zhengsu replied with a warm smile.

"I'm Chen Mu. I'm not sure why Brother Shen has come to see me. What can I do for you?" Chen Fei's face displayed a hint of surprise when he heard the name Heavenly Sun Mansion.

Encountering a dominant power like Heavenly Sun Mansion would naturally inspire awe in ordinary people. Chen Fei was currently portraying himself as a wandering cultivator, so it was only natural that he should show respect.

Seeing Chen Fei's expression, Shen Zhengsu's eyes revealed a hint of pride. He continued with a smile, "Our sect leader is currently recruiting closed-door disciples. Have you heard about it, Brother Chen?"

"Of course," Chen Fei nodded, still not understanding why Shen Zhengsu had sought him out.

"With the current instability in the world and the audacious acts of certain individuals, our sect leader cannot bear to see the state of affairs as they are. Therefore, he has decided to teach some martial arts after the Elemental Tide. At that time, not only cultivators like Brother Chen but also martial practitioners in the Body Tempering realm will be welcome to attend."

Shen Zhengsu explained and then took out a jade slip from his pocket, handing it to Chen Fei, saying, "Brother Chen, with this jade slip, you will be able to enter our mansion for the teachings when the time comes."

"Heavenly Sun True Immortal is truly benevolent, and we are all looking forward to it," Chen Fei replied without hesitation, accepting the jade slip from Shen Zhengsu and placing it carefully in his robe.

"We will be eagerly awaiting Brother Chen's arrival at that time," Shen Zhengsu said with an even brighter smile.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Shen Zhengsu left the Prosperity Inn, and Chen Fei did not linger on the second floor of the inn either, returning directly to his own room.

"Reluctant to accept the state of the world, opening the altar for teachings…"

Chen Fei sat cross-legged on the bed, his fingers gently tracing the jade slip in his hand, lost in thought.

The reputation of the Heavenly Sun True Immortal was indeed impressive, at least from what Chen Fei had heard. However, such hearsay should be taken with a grain of salt.

In the world of Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts within this dynasty, except for those sects with a more sinister reputation, most of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts had a good reputation, thanks to their numerous followers.

Other martial practitioners, who had nothing better to do, might speak ill of Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts, but the average martial practitioner wouldn't dare. After all, words could bring disaster, and a casual comment might be enough to get one in serious trouble.

Within the jade slip, there was the aura of Heavenly Sun Mansion, and Chen Fei estimated that it would be used to verify his identity when the time came.

The only concern on Chen Fei's mind right now was that if the Heavenly Sun True Immortal really announced the teaching event, there would likely be a flood of people heading to Heavenly Sun Mansion.

Even on the day of the event, it would probably be overcrowded. After all, having a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert teach martial arts was a rare opportunity for most people.

If luck was on your side and a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert deemed you talented, your future could skyrocket.

That's why it seemed somewhat deliberate for Shen Zhengsu to personally deliver the jade slip. However, Chen Fei couldn't quite figure out why they were doing this.

"The teaching event is after the Elemental Tide, so it won't affect my plans."

Chen Fei casually set the jade slip aside. He had always adhered to his principle of not getting involved in anything strange, especially when it involved the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.

Moreover, even if there were no ulterior motives, the teachings of the Heavenly Sun True Immortal would be of very limited help to Chen Fei.

What Chen Fei lacked were martial arts techniques, resources, and, most importantly, time. He wasn't like other martial practitioners who struggled to understand a particular martial art or martial philosophy.

In essence, if it came down to innate talent, Chen Fei, with his character sheet, could even outshine Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts. The higher the level of martial arts, the more pronounced Chen Fei's advantage became.

Therefore, Heavenly Sun Mansion held no meaning for Chen Fei.

Outside the Imperial City, as Shen Zhengsu walked halfway, a figure silently appeared beside him.

"Senior Tao!" Seeing the newcomer, Shen Zhengsu quickly bowed and paid his respects.

"How did things go?" Tao Shiyie asked in a deep voice.

"The jade slip has been delivered, and Chen Mu accepted it willingly," Shen Zhengsu replied with a soft smile. For martial practitioners, especially independent cultivators, there was no reason to refuse the teachings of a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert.

"How's the reaction of the spirit device?"

"It matches the reports from below. Chen Mu is indeed quite young, and it's rare for someone his age to have reached this level of cultivation."

From his pocket, Shen Zhengsu took out a piece of jade, which was now emitting a lush green color.

This was a lower-grade spiritual device, not for combat or assisting in cultivation but specifically designed to measure a person's age. It was somewhat similar to the methods used by most sects to assess a person's aptitude, except this spiritual device was more portable.

Few people would deliberately craft such a spiritual device since its utility was limited. However, for Heavenly Sun Mansion, this device could help them locate individuals more quickly.

Within the Imperial City, many shops had people from Heavenly Sun Mansion, and thus, they had specifically crafted many of these lower-grade spiritual devices.

For a dominant power like Heavenly Sun Mansion, lower-grade spiritual devices hardly cost much. These devices, which served almost no other purpose, would not harm them even if they crafted dozens of them.

And the color shimmering on the jade stone at this moment indicated that the person being assessed was indeed quite young, even remarkably so.

"This person's talent and aptitude make him an excellent choice," Tao Shiyie commented while looking at the jade stone, appearing somewhat surprised.

"Before going, I had someone investigate Chen Mu. There are no companions within the Imperial City, and this person is extremely diligent. Besides occasional outings, he spends most of his time in the inn," Shen Zhengsu whispered.

"Very well, have some people keep an eye on him. If there's any unusual activity, notify me immediately," Tao Shiyie said with a serious tone.

Such talent and potential fully met the requirements of their sect, and the results were even better than those of some Body Tempering realm martial practitioners. After all, in the Body Tempering realm, you could sometimes forcefully boost your cultivation with pills.

On the other hand, in the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, if your innate aptitude was lacking, you probably wouldn't even qualify to enter the realm, unless you had a strong background and used more than ten times the resources to forcefully elevate yourself.

Furthermore, being in the mid Combined Aperture Tempering realm at such a young age was an extremely rare talent among independent cultivators.

"Understood!"

Shen Zhengsu nodded. It would be best if Chen Mu obediently made his way to Heavenly Sun Mansion on his own. Otherwise, if Tao Shiyie, who was in the later Combined Aperture Tempering realm, took action, there would be no escaping the excruciating pain of bone-crushing and flesh-tearing torture.

Inside the inn.

Chen Fei quickly put the matter of Heavenly Sun Mansion out of his mind and continued his daily cultivation at his own pace.

With over two thousand elemental stones in hand, Chen Fei immersed himself completely in his practice. Whenever he felt the medicinal power inside him diminish, he replenished it with a spirit pill.

For more than a dozen consecutive days, except for occasional trips to purchase batches of spirit pills with most of the elemental stones, Chen Fei hardly left the Prosperity Inn.

During these days, as the time for the Elemental Tide approached, the entire Imperial City became increasingly bustling. Especially the martial arena within the Imperial City, there were almost daily competitions among Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators.

As for the clashes among Body Tempering realm practitioners, there were more than a dozen matches every day.

Many people made a name for themselves here, gaining fame and fortune, but there were also those who suffered serious injuries or even lost their lives in these competitions.

This was the harsh reality; when you chase after fame and fortune, you must be prepared for them to turn against you. Even if you were mentally prepared, when the moment of truth arrived, it could still catch you off guard.

As the crowds increased, the Prosperity Inn became crowded. Because the Imperial City enforced a curfew, if you hadn't found a place to stay, you had to leave the city at night. However, the Elemental Spirit Pool required staying for a full day and night, so leaving midway meant losing most of your time.

Inside the inn, people began sharing rooms. Many strangers ended up sharing rooms together.

Some people approached Chen Fei to share a room, but he politely declined.

Time passed quietly, and the ten-plus days felt incredibly short. However, even though the time was short, Chen Fei's cultivation showed no signs of stagnation.

During this time, Chen Fei tried to enter the Strange Heart Realm once again. Fortunately, the hostility towards him from the Strange Heart Realm did not increase, and as time passed, it even slightly decreased.

Facing this situation, Chen Fei decisively lulled a few Tier 2 Evils to liven things up, raising his mental power from eighty-eight to ninety-three beads.

This rapid improvement, even faster than consuming Mind Power Pills, left Chen Fei with a sense of exhilaration.

The increase in mental power did not hinder the advancement of his apertures. With his unrestrained consumption of spirit pills, any other person might have suffered damage to their meridians, but Chen Fei remained unscathed. His opened apertures progressed from eighty-five to ninety, and his elemental energy grew even more robust.

At the same time, his cultivation of the Thousand Threads Technique finally completed the eighth layer and moved on to the ninth layer..

Chapter 413: Take Me Down

The advanced Thousand Threads Technique had made Chen Fei's already formidable mental defense even more exaggerated. At the same time, the number of mental divisions had also significantly increased.

Even the rate of self-growth of his mind had been greatly enhanced. However, for Chen Fei, the part of his enhancement that allowed him to freely slaughter the Evils of the Strange Heart Realm was actually the least effective.

After more than a dozen days of cultivation, Chen Fei's cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, and the awaited Elemental Tide was finally approaching.

No need for anyone to remind him; Chen Fei could clearly feel that there had been some change in the world's elemental energy, and the source of this change was within the inner city of the imperial capital.

At this moment, the entire imperial capital seemed to be quiet, and everyone was silently waiting for the Elemental Tide to arrive.

From the highest realm of the Aperture Tempering realm to the newly initiated Skin Tempering realm, everyone hoped to gain something from this Elemental Tide. No matter how much improvement they could achieve, any advancement is always a good thing.

On the side of the inner city of the imperial capital, there was a mansion where Aperture Tempering realm cultivators gathered, and these were the experts of the Heavenly Sun Mansion.

When the Elemental Tide occurs, the spirit fluctuations will be directly locked in the formation of the imperial capital to maximize the effect of the Elemental Tide.

Therefore, the people of the Heavenly Sun Mansion have come to the inner city early.

Even for the people of the Heavenly Sun Mansion, each occurrence of the Elemental Tide is an unmissable golden opportunity. Seizing this chance can greatly enhance their cultivation and essentially save them years of hard work.

"Are the Spirit-Refreshing Pills ready?" Ning Pusheng looked at his fellow disciples around him and said solemnly.

"Ning Senior Brother, we are all prepared," said Tan Tailing as she shook the bottle of pills in her hand and smiled.

Ning Pusheng nodded without saying more. As members of the Heavenly Sun Mansion, this common knowledge was well known to them. His earlier remark was just a gentle reminder.

Tan Tailing looked at the Spirit-Refreshing Pill in her hand with some curiosity. This was her first time taking the Spirit-Refreshing Pill. In the past, even during Elemental Tides, there were no such pills distributed.

Tan Tailing had heard from other senior brothers and sisters that the

Spirit-Refreshing Pill, when taken during the Elemental Tide, could directly allow the collision of one's mind with the spiritual mechanisms within the Elemental Tide, borrowing the power of heaven and earth to forcefully comprehend martial techniques.

The Elemental Tide can not only enhance one's cultivation but also accelerate the comprehension of martial techniques. For most practitioners in the Body Tempering Realm, they would choose the former.

However, for those in the Aperture Tempering realm, especially those from the Heavenly Sun Mansion, thorough comprehension of martial techniques takes precedence. As long as their understanding of martial techniques keeps up, the Heavenly Sun Mansion has abundant resources to boost their cultivation.

The production of Spirit-Refreshing Pills is extremely challenging, and even the Heavenly Sun Mansion doesn't possess many of them. Fortunately, the Elemental Tide only occurs every few years, so there is enough time to produce another batch.

Ning Pusheng's eyes suddenly twitched, and he turned to look at the inner city. In his perception, a powerful surge of spiritual fluctuations was emanating from somewhere, causing an instantaneous change in the elemental energy of Imperial City.

The people around Ning Pusheng also noticed and quickly sat cross-legged, swallowing the Spirit-Refreshing Pills into their stomachs.

In the next moment, a formation diagram flashed on the ground, connecting the auras of several Heavenly Sun Mansion members. This formation diagram allowed them to better receive the collision of spiritual mechanisms, facilitating the comprehension of martial techniques.

Why are dominant forces at the hegemonic level so strong? Besides having Combined Aperture Tempering realm powerhouses to suppress their luck, the crucial point is that they are always a step ahead in their cultivation in every detail.

The path of martial arts has always been one of taking one step faster, and every step is faster. If you fall behind slightly and think you can catch up head-on, you'll find that the people ahead of you have already disappeared when you look up.

"The Elemental Tide is here!" Someone in the Prosperity Inn shouted with excitement in their tone.

In his guest room, Chen Fei felt the changes in the elemental energy of the world and slowly closed his eyes.

Within his sea of consciousness, Chen Fei noticed that his mind was gradually becoming more active, giving him a sensation similar to when he broke through to the advanced Aperture Tempering realm, with flashes of insight.

However, at this moment, the spiritual mechanisms within the Elemental Tide were somewhat meager, far from what they used to be. Trying to capture these spiritual mechanisms with the mind was challenging, and it might even deplete one's mental energy.

It could be said that these spiritual mechanisms were better than nothing, and they still contributed somewhat to the comprehension of martial techniques.

"What exactly is in the inner city that could cause such a surge of spiritual mechanisms?"

Chen Fei opened his eyes and looked towards the direction of the inner city, filled with curiosity. Of course, it was just curiosity; Chen Fei didn't have the strength to rush into the inner city now, especially with Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts present.

Chen Fei stood up, his Qianyuan Sword in hand. The amount of spiritual mechanisms here was too small for others, but for Chen Fei, it wasn't as significant as the enhancements provided by his interface panel.

Perhaps in a location closer to the inner city, there would be more spiritual mechanisms, but overall, whether it could surpass the efficiency of the interface panel remained questionable.

Having experienced the Elemental Tide, Chen Fei decided to leave in a day or two. The matters he came to Imperial City for had already been settled, and there was no need to stay any longer.

As he was about to practice the Starry Night Sword in his room, Chen Fei's hand suddenly paused.

The spiritual mechanisms around him were gathering towards him, even though Chen Fei hadn't done anything. These spiritual mechanisms were automatically converging towards him.

Chen Fei hadn't noticed this earlier because the convergence of spiritual mechanisms was not obvious, but with time passing, this gathering seemed to be accelerating, and Chen Fei suddenly became aware of it.

Checking his sea of consciousness, Chen Fei found that it was the unabsorbed Strange Heart Origin that was continuously gathering these spiritual mechanisms. Chen Fei felt his mind becoming more agile, and he even had a feeling reminiscent of his initial enlightenment.

"The Strange Heart Origin can actually have this effect."

Chen Fei was pleasantly surprised. Currently, the number of spiritual mechanisms was still relatively low, but with time, it was likely to reach a much higher level. By then, the speed of comprehension would surpass what the interface panel could offer.

Chen Fei thought for a moment and decided to start practicing the Starry Night Sword. There was no rush, and he would wait until there were enough spiritual mechanisms before proceeding.

Inside Imperial City, while the majority of people were meditating cross-legged, Chen Fei was practicing his sword techniques. This practice session lasted for three hours.

In Chen Fei's sea of consciousness, the spiritual mechanisms continued to collide, while the Strange Heart Origin was gradually being consumed. Chen Fei didn't mind the consumption of the Strange Heart Origin; at most, he would go back to the Strange Heart Realm and capture another one next time. Given the current rate of consumption, he could continue for another day without much trouble.

Chen Fei put away his Qianyuan Sword and sat cross-legged to contemplate the Water-Jade Sword technique.

The Water-Jade Sword had already been perfected by Chen Fei some time ago. Typically, as martial practitioners advanced in a martial technique, the difficulty of comprehension increased. With the help of the interface panel, Chen Fei's comprehension efficiency didn't decrease, but it did take more time. However, with the collision of spiritual mechanisms in his sea of consciousness, Chen Fei's insights regarding the Water-Jade Sword began to gradually increase.

A faint smile appeared on Chen Fei's face as he realized that his comprehension speed had indeed surpassed that of the interface panel. The feeling of enlightenment he experienced was becoming more evident, although it wasn't as intense as the previous time. Nevertheless, with the remaining time, Chen Fei was confident that he could elevate the Water-Jade Sword to an exceptionally high level.

In the realm of cultivation, time seemed to lose its meaning, and Chen Fei immersed himself wholeheartedly in his contemplation.

If a powerful cultivator were to hover in the sky at this moment, they might notice something slightly unusual in the spiritual mechanisms around the Prosperity Inn area. However, it wasn't conspicuous, just a little bit out of the ordinary.

After all, spiritual mechanisms followed the fluctuations of the natural elemental energy, and elemental energy was inherently unpredictable. Even Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts dared not claim to have perfect control over the changes in natural elemental energy.

Moreover, at this moment, there were no cultivators hovering in the sky; they were all immersed in the comprehension of martial techniques.

As the days passed, in the guest room, the aura around Chen Fei's body began to tremble slightly. A continuous and boundless artistic conception emanated from him. From a distance, Chen Fei seemed to be immersed in the vast ocean.

This artistic conception came and went, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that Chen Fei had remained in the same position without moving.

As the sun rose and set, the sunlight bathed the area. The spiritual mechanisms within Imperial City gradually weakened, and even the concentration of elemental energy in the air decreased significantly.

Some martial practitioners in the Body Tempering Realm had already opened their eyes. They could no longer feel the enhancement brought by the Elemental Tide, and the whole imperial city began to return to its usual bustling state.

In the guest room, the energy that had been surrounding Chen Fei began to dissipate and transformed into a more sharp and pronounced aura, like an unparalleled treasure sword revealing a trace of its sharpness.

One hour later, Chen Fei slowly opened his eyes, a hint of lingering satisfaction in his gaze.

The Water-Jade Sword had achieved Great Completion, and the Blade-Slaying Sword was also perfected.

In the span of a day, both martial techniques had made significant progress, especially the Water-Jade Sword, which had directly reached Great Completion from the early stages.

Chen Fei's right hand formed a sword gesture, and his elemental energy flowed freely at his fingertips. Supremely gentle yet supremely strong and flexible, this was the true essence of the Water-Jade Sword.

With the Water-Jade Sword breaking through to Great Completion and being integrated into the Primordial Sword Scripture, Chen Fei had opened a total of 103 acupoints, inching closer to the 108 acupoints.

Chen Fei dispersed the elemental energy at his fingertips, closed his eyes again, and focused on consolidating his newfound insights, transforming them into his own strength.

Two days later.

Chen Fei quietly left the Prosperity Inn, leaving behind the jade slip from the Heavenly Sun Mansion in his guest room. He decided to leave Imperial City directly.

Dressed as an ordinary Body Tempering Realm practitioner, Chen Fei blended into the crowd. After leaving the city gates a considerable distance behind, he gradually increased his speed.

However, when he was several tens of miles away from Imperial City, Chen Fei's brows furrowed slightly as he sensed a commotion ahead, a sign of conflict.

Chen Fei had no intention of getting involved. He changed direction and continued running. However, halfway there, he stopped abruptly.

"Murder by the Heavenly Sun Mansion! Murder by the Heavenly Sun Mansion! Sir, please save me! You've stumbled upon their deeds, and they won't spare you either!" Sheng Renyuan shouted loudly as he rushed toward Chen Fei.

Chen Fei narrowed his eyes and looked behind Sheng Renyuan, where Tao Shiye was pursuing him with a high-quality spirit sword in hand, gradually closing the gap.

Chen Fei remained silent, and with a swift movement, he ran in another direction.

Seeing Chen Fei run away, Sheng Renyuan's hands formed seals, and his elemental energy surged. His already fast speed increased even more, and instead of changing direction, he headed straight for Chen Fei.

With no one to back him up, Sheng Renyuan was undoubtedly doomed. He was determined to drag someone else down with him.

"Is that Chen Mu? He's escaped to this place, and we haven't received any news from the Mansion yet!"

Tao Shiye, observing Chen Fei's receding figure and the accelerating Sheng Renyuan, sneered and activated his sword essence. He pursued closely behind..