In the dense forest.
Mu Chen and Four Eyes returned to Renjia Town.
With a Ghost Slave leading the way and a ‘Guest’ following behind, it was a comfortable journey.
“Daoist Brother, shouldn’t we hurry? I’m afraid we won’t…”
Four Eyes was anxious. After all, the one heading to Renjia Town was a Red-Clad Qing Ghost that had been nourished by a strange birth. Though Mu Chen was a Hauran Earth Master, he was still only there in spirit form. Who knows if he could handle it?
But halfway through his words, Four Eyes stopped abruptly.
He cast an incredulous look at Mu Chen.
Under his gaze, Mu Chen closed his eyes, his aura surging like boiling water, rising higher and higher.
“Breaking through while walking? How is that even possible?”
“Are you kidding me???”
Four Eyes gaped, his eyes wide, looking like a fish out of water.
Everyone knows that when breaking through a cultivation realm, one must burn incense, bathe, meditate in a secluded chamber, be extremely careful, and proceed with utmost caution, lest the breakthrough fail!
But Mu Chen?
He was walking on a rugged mountain path, and his cultivation soared to the heavens!
Traveling didn't hinder his breakthrough, and his breakthrough didn't hinder his travel. It was all about not letting anything interfere with each other!
This... wasn’t how cultivation was supposed to be!
Four Eyes rubbed his eyes, making sure he wasn’t mistaken. He felt his years of worldviews being ruthlessly shattered by Mu Chen.
Just now, a system notification rang in Mu Chen's mind.
【You have successfully subdued the evil spirit, transforming the Red-Clad Double Heaven into a Ghost Slave, preventing the demon from rampaging and killing. You have received the following rewards: 70 years of cultivation, Yin-Yang Ethereal Fire Furnace!】
Though the cultivation rewarded by the system could only be compared to the hard work of normal cultivators, in the history of Shenzhou, which spanned only five thousand years, 70 years accounted for one-seventieth of it. Even with normal aptitude, it was terrifying to cultivate for 70 years!
Under the infusion of this vast spiritual power, Mu Chen's cultivation, which had stabilized and was already on the verge of advancing to the Double Heaven Realm of the Earth Master, broke through the Double Heaven barrier without a hitch!
Wang Wangwang, by sacrificing his sister, a Nurturing Dan True Person of the Eighth Heaven, to heaven, was only able to achieve this breakthrough. Mu Chen had simply broken through as effortlessly as breathing!
As for the Yin-Yang Ethereal Fire Furnace, it was a divine artifact, and its status among divine artifacts was quite extraordinary.
With this furnace, the herbs Mu Chen had been accumulating along the way would finally come in handy.
He could now refine pills!
Mu Chen slowly opened his eyes and noticed Four Eyes’ complex gaze: “Four Eyes Daoist, why are you staring at me like that?”
Four Eyes sighed, and with genuine sincerity, he said in a muffled voice: “Daoist Brother, being in the same era as you is truly the misfortune of all cultivators in the world…”
Though his talent couldn't compare to Nine Uncle's, being a direct disciple of a major sect like Maoshan meant his talent was exceptional, a one-in-a-million genius.
Even if his talent wasn't in the T0 echelon of the cultivation world, he definitely ranked among the top in the T1 tier!
He was also a 'prodigy of other families' who grew up under the praises of his elders.
But even so, seeing Mu Chen's effortless breakthrough shattered his Dao heart!
If even he felt this way, what about the countless others in the cultivation world below the T1 tier?
The impenetrable nature of Longhu Mountain over the years wasn’t to protect Mu Chen, but to protect them!
The two exchanged a few words when a golden light flickered in the sky, drawing closer and closer.
It was the spiritual form of Mu Chen and Dong Xiaoyu returning.
The spirit form returned to Mu Chen's body, and he immediately knew what had happened in Renjia Town.
Then, Dong Xiaoyu handed the Ghost Emperor Seal to Mu Chen, transforming herself into a wisp of Yin energy and entering the seal.
Four Eyes remained silent, but another blow struck his heart, tears welling up in his eyes!
He almost forgot, even his Daoist Brother's female ghost slave was stronger than him, leagues ahead!
…
Longhu Mountain.
Zhang Jingqing looked up at the sky with worry.
“Longhu anomalies, rolling thunder… What happened? Why is it triggering the destiny of my Longhu Mountain?”
“Could it be… Xiaocheng?”
At this point, Zhang Jingqing chuckled wryly: “I’m truly missing my junior brother too much. He just broke through to the Nurturing Dan True Person, how could he possibly cause such an anomaly…”
After some thought, he summoned his three disciples.
“Zhiwei, Jinzhong, Huayi, you three go to burn some incense for the ancestors and ask what’s going on.”
“Yes, Master.”
Tian Jinzhong nodded.
Zhang Zhiwei and Zhang Huayi couldn't help but feel uneasy, remembering the incident from last time.
“Master, we finally re-ensouled the ancestors’ spirit tablets. Don’t let them… ”
Zhang Jingqing waved his hand, displaying the high-spirited demeanor of a Daoist, and said calmly, “Impossible, absolutely impossible. Those who can leave their spirit tablets in the mountain gate are all legendary ancestors who once shook the Xuanmen. Last time was merely a slip-up from the ancestors, an accident. Don’t worry.”
“Alright.”
The three youngsters bowed and slowly retreated.
A while later, hurried footsteps approached.
An ominous feeling crept into Zhang Jingqing’s heart.
He muttered to himself, “Impossible, I must be scaring myself… Yes! That must be it!”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the door was slammed open.
Tian Jinzhong rushed in and said anxiously, “Master, it's not good, the ancestors…”
Before he could finish, Zhang Huayi covered his mouth, his face filled with tears of despair, “Shihu, you’re lying. We just burned incense, and the ancestors exploded again! It’s really loud!”
Zhang Zhiwei said expressionlessly, “Yes, it sounded like thunder, even louder than you using Yang Five Thunders!”
Zhang Jingqing: …
After his disciples left, he felt an epiphany and looked up at the sky.
This anomaly… was it because of thunder magic?
…
Renjia Town.
Mu Chen had already returned to Ren Mansion and washed up.
Ren Tingting on the bed was sleeping soundly, as always.
Mu Chen changed into his pajamas and lay down. Not long after, he felt a soft body burrow into his arms.
Opening his eyes, he saw the girl’s face flushed with a rosy hue, her bright eyes sparkling, filled with a playful glimmer.
Looking into Mu Chen’s eyes, Ren Tingting softly said, “If I don’t say anything, you wouldn’t take me, would you?”
The moonlight shone through the thin gauze of the window, casting a soft glow on her. The moonlight was gentle, the girl even more gentle; the moonlight was white, the girl even more white…