Several people in the forest recognized Xiao Chen. They surrounded him and delivered the news. Without a moment’s thought, Xiao Chen said directly, “I refuse to fight a decisive battle with that shameless alliance.” He hurried away from that wooded region, shook off a few tailers, and ran westward all the way back to his hidden retreat.
Keke was curled up into a snow-white ball of fluff, sleeping soundly among the flowers and grass. The divine sacred sapling took root in the flower bed beside it, wreathed in seven-colored rainbow radiance that made the furry little Keke look utterly languid. The three skeletons were quietly cultivating inside the stone cave, the lotus imprints on their foreheads glowing brilliantly.
Xiao Chen did not disturb them. Alone in the open space of the valley, he drew and scratched markings on the ground, outlining the terrain of Dragon Island’s periphery. The Tyrant Dragon territory, the Evil Dragon Beach, the Snake-Elephant Dragon Valley—these regions all had ferocious dragons that must not be provoked. Then he added the Death Swamp, where an Undying King dwelled, also far beyond his ability to challenge. After that, he added the Treant Valley; the ancient treant in the depths of that valley had transformed into a human, a powerhouse comparable to the savage dragons, and likewise not to be trifled with.
These were the forbidden zones on the periphery of the island. Scores of alliances were scattered among these zones, none of them daring to venture deep into the island.
Xiao Chen sat lost in thought for a long time. Dragon Island was fraught with danger and challenge, but also teemed with opportunities. Perhaps he should push deeper into the island—he might even find a dragon egg. Perhaps he should form an alliance of his own and recruit a group of experts. Perhaps…
He retrieved the Life-Energizing Crystal he had hidden in the valley. Its brilliant life-light pulsed in his palm, the crystal translucent and sparkling, condensed from endless life essence. He had originally kept it as a life-saving measure—if he suffered grave injuries, it would surely revive him. But now he felt he should absorb it as quickly as possible to strengthen his own power. On this perilous island, strength was everything.
The Life-Energizing Crystal, translucent and glittering, rested in his palm. When he activated his mystic art, it dissolved into a layer of dazzling radiance that enveloped him. Strands of resplendent life-light surged into his body. This was the purest life energy, utterly without impurity, merging with his flesh and blood like milk and water blending together.
From a distance, a brilliant divine glow submerged his figure. The dazzling light caused strong surges of spiritual energy to ripple through the valley. Keke woke up, curiously trotted over, and circled Xiao Chen. The three skeletons emerged from the stone cave and also came close to observe the figure shrouded in radiance.
From sunset to the time when the stars filled the heavens, and then on to midnight, Xiao Chen’s body remained enveloped in bright light. Keke yawned repeatedly, wiggled its chubby body, curled up among the flowers and grass, and soon fell into yet another sweet dream. The three skeletons sat nearby, quietly cultivating, acting as guards for Xiao Chen.
Only in the small hours did the divine light outside Xiao Chen’s body fully withdraw. Starlight was brilliant; moonlight was misty as water. A vast amount of life energy had once again been diverted, most of it converging into the Left Shoulder Well Acupoint. At first he had tried to guide it slowly, sensing the life essence indeed merging into his flesh, blood, and organs. Only then did he begin to fully activate his mystic art, absorbing the essence of the Life-Energizing Crystal.
But then the mystic art’s circulation accelerated beyond his control. The Left Shoulder Well Acupoint became like a bottomless pit, autonomously devouring the immense life essence. From that point on, most of the life energy gathered into the acupoint, condensing into a single brilliant point of light—the Left Shoulder Well Acupoint had been divinely transformed.
One could only say that the Qi-Refining method from the ancient divine stele was too mysterious and overbearing. Still, a portion of the vast life essence did surge into Xiao Chen’s flesh and blood. He clearly felt his cultivation rise. His skin shimmered with a precious luster; his entire body seemed to have been tempered. Every inch of flesh brimmed with powerful energy, and his body seemed much lighter and more agile.
Xiao Chen waved his hand casually, and a dazzling beam of light shot into the sky as if trying to connect with the starlight above. The brilliant sword-light was exceptionally vivid in the night sky. He knew he had broken through to the fifth heaven of the Mortal-Shedding realm—taking a major step forward on the path of cultivation.
Xiao Chen slowly calmed down. It had been a fruitful night. Besides his cultivation advancing to the fifth heaven, four acupoints had been divinely transformed: the Shangqiu Acupoint on the left foot, the Shangqiu Acupoint on the right foot, the Zhongting Acupoint in the chest, and the Left Shoulder Well Acupoint. He looked forward to more acupoints being divinely transformed.
With his cultivation reaching the fifth heaven of Mortal-Shedding and his life essence brimming, Xiao Chen felt a surge of powerful confidence. On this treacherous Dragon Island, only genuine strength could allow one to fear nothing.
The morning sunlight was gentle. Keke, well rested, woke up early and rolled around among the flowers and grass. Its snow-white fur shimmered faintly, and its bright, large eyes sparkled with spirit. But when the aroma of grilled meat began to drift through the valley, Keke put on a pitiful expression. It patted its round little belly with its tiny paws and stared longingly at Xiao Chen, who was enjoying breakfast nearby, practically drooling.
In agony, it covered its bright eyes with both small paws, then buried its face in the flowers and grass, forcing itself not to look at the golden, glistening delicacy that made it so greedy.
“Keke, come here. Just a little,” Xiao Chen said amusedly, teasing it.
“Ya-ya-ya!” Keke waved its little snow-white paws in a ferocious protest.
Xiao Chen chuckled. This little one was truly delightful. The three skeletons were cultivating in the stone cave nearby. Recently, after they had made breakthroughs, it seemed they had begun to grasp the true meaning of cultivation. The lotus imprints on their foreheads shone brightly, able to draw the essence of heaven and earth toward them.
After breakfast, Xiao Chen left the valley and set out alone again.
Passing through layered primeval forests, he once more came to the Damo Alliance. On the scenic mountain peak, wooden huts, the morning sun, fresh flowers, morning dew—everything was harmonious. But when he saw two young monks devouring a roast leg of lamb, that feeling instantly vanished.
Seeing Xiao Chen’s startled look, the monks Yizhen and Yichi burst out laughing. Yizhen said, “The World of Immortality is different from the mortal realm. By now you should have sensed it: although we are monks, we behave just like ordinary people. In this world, emphasis is placed on cultivation, not doctrine.”
Xiao Chen nodded and smiled wordlessly. The two young monks washed the grease from their hands in a bubbling spring, immediately regaining their transcendent, otherworldly air. Their actions were not the least bit contrived—everything seemed to come from the heart. They ate meat without scruple and spoke carelessly about doctrine being empty. Perhaps this itself represented a kind of Zen realm.
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