Chapter 554: Chapter 71: Reentering the Dragon Spirit Sect Ruins (2)
In the past, the martial path within the Cultivation Realm was generally weak, even at its pinnacle it was merely equivalent to the late period of Qi Refining cultivators.
However, with the widespread adoption of the Martial Arts Breathing Technique, the upper limit of martial paths in Qing State increased dramatically. Body Refinement was no longer an exclusive privilege for cultivators with distinguished backgrounds. Nowadays, every household could afford the Martial Arts Breathing Technique, even teenagers in their teens and twenties could master it. Some young individuals with good martial talent had even become Martial Artists or Martial Masters.
Nowadays, even in mortal cities, some low-tier cultivators dare not tyrannize like they used to. Previously, Qi Refining cultivators were seen as Immortal Masters in the eyes of mortals. Acts like city plundering and women stealing by some ill-natured loose cultivators were not uncommon. However, in recent years, these cultivators dared not act recklessly anymore.
Because even cultivators with Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment cultivation might be subdued by some Martial Masters among the mortals. Losing face was a minor matter; losing one’s life was simply not worth it.
Lin Chen had been traveling for over a month, visiting most of the cities in Qing State’s Central Domain. At this moment, he suddenly realized that he was not far from the secret realm where he had previously encountered Elder Taoyao.
Back then, the Dragon Spirit Sect’s relic contained many Peach Demon Trees that had cultivated for years, as well as Elder Taoyao, a Great Demon in the Divinity Transformation Realm.
However, what left the deepest impression on Lin Chen was the Cloud Dragon Valley. At that time, Lin Chen had just stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage and entered this relic for exploration together with Jiang Lianqian. In Cloud Dragon Valley, Lin Chen saw many Treasures of Heaven and Earth, but his cultivation was too low back then to explore deeply. Later, he was chased by Divinity Transformation cultivators, fleeing overseas. When he returned, he had already reached the Void Reversal Stage. In addition, after cultivating for thirty-nine years in Celestial Ruins, Lin Chen achieved the mid-phase of Unity Stage. Over the years, he gradually forgot about the matters of that valley.
After all, the Treasures of Heaven and Earth in that valley were extremely beneficial for Lin Chen in the Nascent Soul Stage, but probably wouldn’t be of much use to him now. However, Lin Chen never liked coming all this way for nothing. Since he was already outside the secret realm, it made sense to go in for a look.
After all, the valley contained plenty of Dragon Blood Clay and some rare Treasures of Heaven and Earth. Bringing them back to the Profound Celestial Small World or Blue Star would certainly be beneficial.
"It won’t take too much time, might as well take a look," Lin Chen thought to himself, driven by an inexplicable urge, he arrived at the secret realm’s entrance.
Over the years, the Dragon Spirit Sect’s relic had not been explored by cultivators, mostly because the relic had completely vanished, making common methods useless for entering.
However, Lin Chen had the token given to him by Elder Taoyao back then. With this token, Lin Chen could pinpoint the exact location of the Dragon Spirit Sect’s relic and break through the restriction outside the relic to enter.
Lin Chen took out the token, carefully sensing it for a moment, his heart stirred slightly, and he activated the Space Law. In the next instant, he appeared within the relic.
Seeing the somewhat familiar surroundings, Lin Chen felt a slight emotion, as his Divine Sense rapidly enveloped the entire Dragon Spirit Sect relic like a tidal wave. Elder Taoyao was no longer here; having broken through to the Divinity Transformation Stage, he could no longer stay in the Human Realm, and was likely in the Spirit Realm at this moment.
Therefore, the relic only contained some small demons in the Golden Core Stage, occasionally a few monsters in the Nascent Soul Stage, but Lin Chen did not pay them any mind.
He made his way to Peach Blossom Valley. Over a hundred years had passed, and the valley had produced many more peach trees. Seeing those luscious Spiritual Peaches on the trees, Lin Chen couldn’t help but lick his lips. He still remembered the delicious taste of those peaches. However, he didn’t need to go through much trouble to eat them nowadays.
Standing still, he slightly extended his hand, and his Spatial Domain instantly enveloped the entire Peach Blossom Valley. In the next moment, countless Spiritual Peaches flew from the trees automatically, and Lin Chen collected thousands of them into his Storage Ring, leaving only one Spiritual Peach on each peach tree.
After all, each peach tree only bore nine Spiritual Peaches, and picking them all would cause the tree to wither. But leaving one behind allowed the tree to continue proliferating.
Once, Lin Chen had a chance encounter with Elder Taoyao; now meeting his descendants, he decided not to be ruthless.
Lin Chen turned to leave the Peach Blossom Valley but suddenly stopped.
Feeling blessed, he took out a vial of Spirit Realm Jade Dew.
As he activated his True Essence, a body of water appeared before Lin Chen. Then, he merged the lake water with the Spirit Realm Jade Dew, performing the Rainfall Technique. Shortly afterwards, sweet rain descended, covering the entire Peach Blossom Valley. The peach trees from which Lin Chen had picked Spiritual Peaches received great benediction, saving them a century of arduous cultivation.
In years to come, that Peach Blossom Valley might produce several peach trees capable of transforming or reaching the Nascent Soul Stage.
"Elder Taoyao once blessed me; now I cannot find him. So be it, I’ll give you a fortuitous encounter to fulfill this karma..." Lin Chen muttered.
After he completed this, he suddenly sensed something unusual. An indescribable aura surged within Lin Chen’s heart! Though he didn’t understand why, he felt enlightened.
"So this is it, under the Celestial Dao, every peck and every sip has its predestination. The Dao of Cause and Effect, cyclical and recurring..." Lin Chen felt a deep understanding, faintly sensing the inspiration related to the Law of Cause and Effect.
A mere few thousand drops of Spirit Realm Jade Dew had led Lin Chen to perceive the Law of Cause and Effect.
This was a fortuitous encounter for the peach trees in Peach Blossom Valley, and why wouldn’t it also be a fortuitous encounter for Lin Chen himself? Apparently, this was a karmic chance.
"This journey wasn’t in vain," Lin Chen silently remarked, then proceeded towards Fallen Dragon Valley.
Standing outside the valley, Lin Chen felt a slight anomaly in his heart. While releasing his divine sense earlier, he sensed something unusual about this valley. Most situations within the valley could be grasped with a thought, but one area seemed to be the core of the valley, and even with his Unity Stage Divine Sense, he could not see through it.
"This valley is indeed peculiar," Lin Chen thought, his heart stirring.
The valley was named Cloud Dragon Valley, with rumors suggesting a True Dragon had perished here.
However, even Lin Chen had only seen Flood Dragons and never truly encountered members of the Dragon Race. According to Lin Chen’s knowledge, even in the Spirit Realm, the Dragon Race appeared infrequently. Some adult True Dragons often possessed cultivation above the Void Reversal and Unity stages.
Thinking of this, Lin Chen’s heart stirred, and he walked deeper into the valley.
In the past, the pressure born in the valley prevented Nascent Soul stage Lin Chen from flying.
But now that Lin Chen was in the Unity Stage, he naturally didn’t need to worry about such matters. He flew towards the valley’s interior, his Divine Sense covering a hundred mile radius, effortlessly collecting various rare Spiritual Medicines and Treasures of Heaven and Earth into the Profound Celestial Small World. Simultaneously, he did not neglect the Condensed Soil tainted with Dragon Blood, collecting them all inside.
After visiting a few places, Lin Chen had already gained much. While these items might be useless to him, they were rare resources for the Great Xia Cultivation Realm.
Finishing his exploration of the periphery, and ensuring nothing had been overlooked, Lin Chen proceeded towards the valley’s more core area. Just then, Lin Chen suddenly sensed something amiss. A black shadow attacked Lin Chen from behind.
"Hmph." Lin Chen snorted coldly, without even turning his head, releasing True Essence to obliterate the black shadow behind him.
It turned out to be an Earth Dragon in the Nascent Soul Perfection stage.
"Indeed, there are quite a few dangers inside this valley. Fortunately, I didn’t venture further back then, or I might have faced peril," Lin Chen reflected in his mind.
Shortly after he continued walking, he encountered several Nascent Soul stage Demon Beasts with dragon bloodline. The deeper he went, the higher the cultivation of these Demon Beasts became. Upon reaching the core area, he was confronted by Demon Beasts at Nascent Soul Perfection.
At this moment, Lin Chen suddenly sensed something.
He gazed towards a particular spot ahead.
The next moment, Lin Chen’s face showed an expression of surprise.
"There’s a Flood Dragon at the Divinity Transformation Stage here?" Lin Chen was astonished.
After all, breaking through to Divinity Transformation requires crossing the tribulation. And the commotion generated by a beast crossing the Transformation Thunder Tribulation can be even greater than a Transformation Cultivator, certainly attracting external attention.
Yet, over the years, Lin Chen had not received any news in this regard. Observing this Flood Dragon, it seemed to have just broken through to the Divinity Transformation Stage not more than a few decades ago.
What’s even more peculiar is that this Flood Dragon seemed to lack intelligence, or rather its wisdom was minimal, unlike a normal Transformed Great Demon.
"Fallen Dragon Valley, how intriguing..." Lin Chen thought, feeling stirred in his heart.
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