160: Chapter 119 Turbulent Times

Nanming Port.

Although the miasma had mostly dissipated, the clouds remained thick, and the sunlight would not penetrate through the gaps until the hour of Chen.

Chen Xuan stood on the pier, looking at the cluster of volcanoes in the distance.

The morning light leaked through the gaps in the clouds, falling on the scorched ridges like golden swords.

Xiao Muting stood beside him, his aura completely concealed; he looked like an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

No one knew he was already at the Golden Core stage.

This was Chen Xuan's idea.

Never show your trump cards to others.

"Brother Yun, do you really intend for me to keep pretending?" Xiao Muting asked, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Chen Xuan turned his head to look at him.

"Pretend until the day of the competition."

"That's still more than a year away."

"It's only a year. You spent five years deep in the volcano; is this one more year really that difficult?"

Xiao Muting was silent for a moment, then smiled.

"You're right. A year or so is nothing."

He looked toward the distant volcanoes, his gaze deep.

"Brother Yun, do you think Immortal Master Kumu knows I've already reached the Golden Core stage?"

Chen Xuan shook his head.

"He doesn't know. But with his cultivation, he should be able to sense the changes deep in the volcano. The aura of the Fire Phoenix's true spirit has changed; it's impossible for him to be completely unaware."

Xiao Muting frowned.

"Then will he send someone to investigate?"

"He will," Chen Xuan said in a calm tone. "But he won't come himself. He doesn't dare to leave the main altar of the White Lotus Sect."

"Why?"

"Because the remains of Maitreya are beneath the main altar. That is the most important thing for the Buddhist Sect in the Southern Territory, more important than Immortal Master Kumu's own life. If he leaves the main altar and someone launches a surprise attack, causing something to go wrong with Maitreya's remains, he cannot bear that responsibility."

Xiao Muting nodded.

"So you let me stay at the crater to Cultivate not because the Spiritual Qi is concentrated, but to have me keep an eye on the main altar."

Chen Xuan did not deny it.

"As long as you are at the crater, Immortal Master Kumu won't dare to act rashly. He doesn't know who you are, nor does he know your cultivation level, but he knows you are there. An unknown threat is more terrifying than a known one."

Xiao Muting looked at him for a long time.

"Brother Yun, you are becoming more and more like President Wang."

Chen Xuan's hand paused for a moment.

Then he smiled.

"Is that so?"

Xiao Muting nodded.

"President Wang was the same back then, thinking three steps ahead for every one he took, calculating every possibility."

Chen Xuan did not speak.

He looked at the distant volcanoes and remained silent for a moment.

"Let's go, let's head back."

The two turned and walked back to the pier.

The pier at Nanming Port was bustling with people.

More and more Cultivators were arriving from the north—Loose Cultivators, members of Family clans, spies from merchant guilds, and scouts sent by The Three Sects.

They heard that the miasma in the Southern Border had dissipated, heard that there were treasures in the volcanoes, and heard that there were Opportunities here.

So they came.

The pier was packed with flying boats, over a hundred of various sizes, filling the port to capacity.

The business of the Yun Medicinal Pill Shop was getting better and better.

Liu Lili was busy from morning till night, greeting customers, keeping accounts, and restocking.

She never complained of being tired.

Senior Sister Wen Yao occasionally helped her look after the shop, but spent more time cultivating.

Her cultivation had stabilized at the fourth level of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from the fifth level.

Xiao Ye was also cultivating.

He did not want to be a burden.

Chen Xuan saw all of this and kept it in his heart.

Every morning, he went to the pier to practice his sword, spent the morning comprehending the Meteor, the afternoon cultivating the Haohai Sword Art, and the evening practicing second-tier Formations.

Occasionally, he would go to the pier to walk around and listen to the latest news in Nanming Port.

Sometimes he would go to the outskirts of the volcanoes to hunt a few Foundation Establishment Yao Beasts and collect fire-attribute spiritual materials.

Days passed peacefully, without a ripple.

But he knew that the peace was only temporary.

The storm was coming.

There was still more than a year until the competition.

The time was sufficient, but not abundant.

Chen Xuan sat cross-legged in the stone house, closing his eyes and looking inward.

The five-colored light in his Dantian's Purple Mansion flowed.

The four images of City Wall Earth rotated slowly, and that miniature ancient city wall was already over a zhang high.

The four images of Heavenly Fire flickered with light, like four miniature suns.

His cultivation at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment was already stable.

He moved toward the ninth level of Foundation Establishment.

His magic power surged through his Meridians, and the images in the Purple Mansion trembled slightly.

The speed was not fast, but it was steady.

Like a stream flowing over stones, neither hurried nor slow.

Three months after entering closed-door cultivation.

Chen Xuan opened his eyes in the stone house.

His cultivation at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment had reached Perfection.

He was only a thin film away from the ninth level.

For three months, he had been trying to pierce through this film.

Every time his magic power struck the barrier, it would be bounced back.

It was like a wall, indestructible.

But he was not in a hurry.

He needed an Opportunity.

This Opportunity came in the fourth month of his closed-door cultivation.

It was not an external Opportunity, but an internal one.

His Dao Heart, through the accumulation of time in Nanming Port, had finally reached Perfection.

Those attachments were no longer a burden, but a source of strength.

For the people he cared about, he had to become stronger.

He had to win.

He had to survive.

Chen Xuan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Then, he guided his magic power and struck again.

This time, it was not a brute force collision, but going with the flow.

His magic power surged toward the barrier like a tide, overflowing the wall.

Under the immersion of his magic power, the barrier dissolved bit by bit.

Like ice meeting hot water, like fog meeting morning light.

Silently and tracelessly.

The Bottleneck of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment was broken.

Chen Xuan's aura surged violently.

Foundation Establishment, ninth level.

His magic power flowed through his Meridians, and the images in the Purple Mansion trembled slightly.

The four images of City Wall Earth shone brightly, and the miniature ancient city wall grew another section taller.

The four images of Heavenly Fire flickered with light, like four burning suns.

His cultivation at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment was twice as strong as the eighth level.

He was only one step away from Perfection.

Chen Xuan let out a long breath and walked out of the stone house.

Liu Lili was sorting goods on the pier, and when she saw him come out, she looked up.

"Junior Brother, did you have a Breakthrough?"

"Ninth level."

Liu Lili smiled.

"Congratulations."

She walked over and looked him up and down.

"You've lost weight."

Chen Xuan shook his head.

"I haven't. I've become sturdier."

Liu Lili reached out and pinched his arm.

"You certainly have become sturdier."

She withdrew her hand and looked at the distant sea.

"Junior Brother, when will the people from the Buddhist Sect arrive?"

Chen Xuan calculated the time.

"In three months."

Liu Lili nodded.

"Then you still have three months to prepare."

"That's enough."

Chen Xuan looked toward the distant volcanoes.

Xiao Muting was still cultivating at the crater.

His cultivation at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core was already stable, and he was moving toward the Late Stage.

With him there, Chen Xuan felt confident.

Three months later.

Nanming Port.

A massive flying boat flew in from the horizon and landed slowly on the pier.

The flying boat was entirely gold, carved with lotus patterns, and a Buddha statue stood at the bow.

The Buddha statue consisted only of the upper body, with a compassionate expression and a smile on its lips.

Maitreya.

Six people stepped off the flying boat.

Leading them was a young monk with a delicate face, calm eyes, wearing a gray monk robe, and barefoot.

His aura was completely concealed, and his cultivation could not be discerned.

But Chen Xuan knew he was at the Early Stage of the Golden Core.

Immortal Master Kumu's eldest Disciple, Budong.

Behind him followed five young Cultivators, three men and two women, all at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

Their robes were embroidered with cloud patterns, and they wore 'Heaven' tokens at their waists.

They were the geniuses of the young generation of the Buddhist Sect.

Budong stood on the pier and scanned the surroundings.

His gaze lingered on Chen Xuan for a moment, then moved away.

"Nanming Port," he said, his voice very light and slow. "It's more desolate than I imagined."

A male Cultivator behind him laughed.

"Senior Brother, the Southern Border was already a barbaric land. After the volcano erupted, it became even more desolate."

Budong did not reply.

He stepped forward and walked toward the depths of the pier.

The five people behind him followed in his footsteps.

Chen Xuan stood at the entrance of the stone house, watching those six people walk by.

When Budong passed by him, he stopped his footsteps.

"You are Yun Qi?"

Chen Xuan looked at him.

"Yes."

Budong nodded.

"Revered Master has mentioned you. He said you are a worthy opponent."

Chen Xuan did not speak.

Budong continued.

"The competition is in three months. We will meet then at Wanyao Immortal City."

He stepped forward and continued walking ahead.

Chen Xuan watched his back, his hand pressing on the hilt of his sword.

Early Stage of the Golden Core.

Weaker than Xiao Muting, but stronger than any Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the Southern Territory.

If Budong participated in the competition, no one on the Southern Territory side could withstand a single move from him.

But the Buddhist Sect had stated that the competition was for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Budong would not enter the arena.

Those who would enter were the five people behind him.

Three men, two women, all at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

Chen Xuan's Divine Sense swept over the five, recording their auras one by one.

One male Cultivator, burly figure, rugged face, trained in body techniques, with a powerful Physical Body.

One male Cultivator, thin figure, sinister eyes, wearing a short blade at his waist, trained in assassination techniques.

One male Cultivator, ordinary face, calm aura, depth unreadable, but Chen Xuan noticed calluses on his fingers, traces left by years of Alchemy.

One female Cultivator, beautiful face, cold eyes, wearing a long sword at her waist, trained in sword techniques.

One female Cultivator, sweet face, lively eyes, toying with a jade bead in her hand, trained in techniques.

Each of the five had their own strengths and weaknesses.

Chen Xuan recorded their characteristics one by one.

Returning to the stone house, he sat down on the meditation cushion and took a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch.

It was the information on the Buddhist Sect he had collected over these years.

Budong, Early Stage of the Golden Core, eldest Disciple of Immortal Master Kumu, cultivated for one hundred and twenty years, skilled in the Buddhist Sect's secret technique 'Diamond Indestructible,' with a powerful Physical Body and invincible defense.

His weakness is speed.

'Diamond Indestructible' requires a large amount of magic power to maintain; once the magic power is exhausted, the defense will collapse.

If he could be stalled and his magic power exhausted, there would be a chance to win.

But Chen Xuan did not need to face Budong.

What he needed to face were those five at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment.

After the people from the Buddhist Sect settled in Nanming Port, they were in no hurry to leave.

They rented a large mansion on the north side of the pier, and all six moved in.

Budong did not go out, chanting sutras and meditating in the mansion every day.

The five Disciples went to the pier every day to wander around and ask people for information.

Chen Xuan knew what they were asking about.

They were asking about him.

Intelligence about Yun Qi—cultivation, Cultivation Technique, Divine Ability, battle record.

The people from the Buddhist Sect were collecting these.

Chen Xuan did not care.

He knew his information had long been thoroughly investigated by Immortal Master Kumu.

Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment, killed Golden Core Yao Beasts, successor of the Conquest Hall lineage.

These were not secrets.

The real trump card, they did not know.

Xiao Muting.

This was Chen Xuan's biggest trump card.

A Sword Cultivator at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core, hiding in the shadows, waiting to deliver a fatal blow to the Buddhist Sect.

The next morning.

When Chen Xuan was practicing his sword at the pier, the five Disciples of the Buddhist Sect also arrived.

They stood on the other side of the pier, watching Chen Xuan practice his sword.

The female Cultivator who practiced sword techniques watched for a while, then spoke.

"Your sword technique is not bad."

Chen Xuan put away his sword and looked at her.

"Thank you."

The female Cultivator walked over and stood in front of him.

"My name is Nian Zhen. What is your name?"

"Yun Qi."

Nian Zhen nodded.

"I know of you. Revered Master mentioned you, saying you are the strongest Sword Cultivator of the younger generation in the Southern Territory."

She paused.

"But I think you are not as good as me."

Chen Xuan looked at her.

"Is that so?"

Nian Zhen drew her sword.

The sword light was like snow, exceptionally dazzling in the morning light.

Her sword was fast, so fast that Chen Xuan only had time to tilt his head.

The tip of the sword grazed his ear, cutting off a few strands of hair.

Nian Zhen sheathed her sword and returned to her original position.

"You couldn't even dodge my sword, how can you fight me?"

Chen Xuan touched the broken hair by his ear, his expression calm.

"A competition is not a spar. A competition is a matter of life and death."

Nian Zhen's smile froze for a moment.

Then she laughed.

"You're right. A competition is a matter of life and death."

She turned and walked back to the north side of the pier.

The four fellow Disciples behind her followed her.

Chen Xuan watched her back, his hand pressing on the hilt of his sword.

Nian Zhen's sword was fast.

Fast enough that his eyes couldn't keep up.

But his Divine Sense could keep up.

His Divine Sense was far stronger than Cultivators of the same rank; the vast Divine Sense brought by his Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment was comparable to that of a Golden Core Cultivator.

No matter how fast Nian Zhen's sword was, it was not faster than his Divine Sense.

As long as his Divine Sense could capture the trajectory of the sword, he could dodge.

He could even counterattack.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and continued practicing his sword.

The sword light wove through the morning light like a silver snake.

His sword was not fast, but every strike was very steady.

Steady as a rock.

This was his greatest gain from practicing his sword in Nanming Port.

Don't seek speed, seek steadiness.

Speed leads to mistakes; steadiness does not.

When experts clash, they compete to see who makes a mistake first.

Whoever makes a mistake dies.

Nian Zhen stood on the north side of the pier, watching Chen Xuan practice his sword.

The male Cultivator who practiced body techniques walked to her side.

"Senior Sister, is he very strong?"

Nian Zhen nodded.

"Very strong. His sword is not fast, but every strike is very steady. Steady to the point of having no flaws."

The male Cultivator who practiced assassination techniques sneered.

"No flaws? I don't believe it."

Nian Zhen looked at him.

"You can go and try."

The male Cultivator did not speak.

He looked at Chen Xuan, his eyes sinister.

But he dared not move.

Because he was not sure.

Chen Xuan's sword was too fast.

Fast enough that he dared not gamble.

The people from the Buddhist Sect stayed in Nanming Port for half a month, then left.

They boarded that golden flying boat and flew toward the north.

The destination was Wanyao Immortal City.

There was less than three months until the competition, and they had to go early to get familiar with the venue and the opponents.

Chen Xuan stood on the pier, watching the flying boat disappear into the horizon.

Liu Lili walked to his side.

"Junior Brother, they have left."

"Yes."

"Are you nervous?"

Chen Xuan turned his head to look at her.

"Not nervous."

"Why?"

"Because being nervous is useless."

Liu Lili laughed.

"You're right. Being nervous is useless."

She paused.

"Junior Brother, when are you going back to Wanyao Immortal City?"

Chen Xuan calculated the time.

"Wait another month. First, perfect the Meteor, then go back."

Liu Lili nodded.

"Then I'll go back first to help you tidy up the Immortal Cave."

"Okay."

Liu Lili turned and walked back to the shop to start packing things up.

Senior Sister Wen Yao walked out of the stone house, her double swords hanging at her waist, her long hair tied in a ponytail.

"Junior Brother, I'll go back with you."

Chen Xuan looked at her.

"Senior Sister, aren't you staying in Nanming Port to Cultivate?"

Senior Sister Wen Yao shook her head.

"The competition is a major event for the Southern Territory. Revered Master asked me to go back to help prepare. As for cultivation, we'll talk about it after the competition ends."

Chen Xuan nodded.

Xiao Ye also walked out of the stone house, carrying a pack.

"Brother Yun, I'm going back too."

Chen Xuan looked at him.

"Brother Xiao, aren't you waiting for Mu Ting?"

Xiao Ye shook his head.

"Mu Ting is now at the Golden Core stage and doesn't need me to take care of him. I'm going back to Cultivate and strive to reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible. I can't hold you all back."

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Good."

The three of them went back to their rooms to pack their bags.

Chen Xuan walked into the stone house and sat down on the meditation cushion.

He took a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch and probed it with his Divine Sense.

Inside the Jade Slip was a message from Xiao Muting.

"Brother Yun, I am staying in Nanming Port. As long as Immortal Master Kumu doesn't move, I won't move. On the day of the competition, I will go to Wanyao Immortal City. When you need me to act, call me."

Chen Xuan put away the Jade Slip and stood up.

He walked out of the stone house and stood on the pier, looking at the distant volcanoes.

In the direction of the crater, golden light was flickering.

That was Xiao Muting cultivating.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and turned to walk toward the flying boat.

Liu Lili, Senior Sister Wen Yao, and Xiao Ye were already waiting on the flying boat.

He jumped onto the flying boat and stood by the railing.

The flying boat rose, changed direction, and flew toward the north.

Nanming Port grew smaller and smaller in his field of vision, gradually disappearing into the horizon.

On the pier, the female Cultivator with the burn scar on her face held her child, watching the direction where the flying boat disappeared.

She waved her hand.

Chen Xuan saw it.

He also waved his hand.

Then he turned and walked into the cabin.

Liu Lili was organizing the Storage Pouch in the cabin, Senior Sister Wen Yao was wiping her sword, and Xiao Ye was closing his eyes to rest in the corner.

Chen Xuan sat down on the meditation cushion, took a Medicinal Pill from his Storage Pouch, and swallowed it.

The medicinal power dissolved in his abdomen and flowed to his limbs and bones.

He closed his eyes and sank into cultivation.

There was less than three months until the competition.

He had to push his cultivation at the ninth level of Foundation Establishment to Perfection before the competition.

The time was sufficient.

He was not in a hurry.