64: Chapter 23 Maitreya's Birth, Facing Imminent Death

“Junior Brother, thank you!”

Liu Lili was a Disciple of an influential clan, and more importantly, a core Disciple of her Sect with an impeccable pedigree. She could not neglect her manners.

Chen Xuan waved his hand. “There is no need to be polite, Senior Sister.”

“Junior Brother saved my life, and I, Liu Lili, will surely repay you in the future,” Liu Lili said candidly, suppressing her embarrassment.

She was a noble daughter of the Liu Clan. Generally speaking, an uninitiated Disciple like Chen Xuan would not have been qualified to speak with her, let alone become friends.

This was a natural class divide.

Chen Xuan nodded, not expecting anything in return.

In this life, his goals were Heavenly Dao Foundation Establishment and then Heavenly Dao Golden Core!

But those were still too far off. Right now, the threat of Old Ancestor Maitreya was truly terrifying.

For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, killing a Qi Refining Cultivator was practically effortless.

Even if that Qi Refining Cultivator were Wang Teng, as long as he wasn't at the Late-stage Qi Refining, it would be the same.

Coming here would just be sending himself to his death.

“Where is this Old Ancestor Maitreya a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from?” Chen Xuan asked.

“He is a rogue Cultivator who operates near the Water Marsh Kingdom, claiming to be the reincarnation of Maitreya, the descent of the Wisdom King.”

“To save suffering mortals and bring them into the light.”

“Quite a few Loose Cultivators nearby share this belief,”

the shopkeeper said.

Chen Xuan furrowed his brows instinctively.

Damn it, how is Maitreya involved in this too?

In this world, he had never heard of Buddhism existing in the Southern Region.

That pitch-black Ten Thousand Soul Banner didn't look merciful in the slightest.

Thinking of this, Chen Xuan sighed inwardly.

An evil cult actually has a Foundation Establishment Cultivator backing them.

This is going to be tricky!

Hiding in this Water Marsh Kingdom, who could guarantee that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn't just charge in and kill him in this lawless zone?

The shopkeeper looked at Chen Xuan. One was an obscure nobody, while the other was a direct descendant of the Central Province Liu Clan; he naturally knew who was more important.

For his own safety,

he even wanted to kick Chen Xuan, this harbinger of misfortune, out.

After all, since he hadn't officially joined the Sect yet, kicking him out was perfectly reasonable.

However, judging by Liu Lili's attitude, this man was her savior. Kicking him out would damage her Dao heart, so he naturally dropped the idea.

“This Old Ancestor Maitreya is incredibly cunning! Several ambushes by our Sect's Foundation Establishment masters were evaded by him. He probably won't show up this time either.”

How could such a cautious and shrewd person put himself in danger?

Chen Xuan shook his head calmly. “You are wrong.”

Because at this moment, three heavenly secret jade slips floated before his eyes, glowing with streaks of blood-red!

Just like the warning he received when facing the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle:

[Today's Fortune: Moderate Misfortune.]

[Today's Heavenly Secret: Covetous Wolf.]

[Today's Destiny: Sword Cultivator.]

[Moderate Misfortune: Maitreya descends to mete out heaven's punishment. This is a moment of life and death. Seek external assistance before dusk, and there may be a slim chance of survival.]

[Moderate Misfortune: Maitreya descends to mete out heaven's punishment. This is a moment of life and death. Seek external assistance before dusk, and there may be a slim chance of survival.]

[Moderate Misfortune: Maitreya descends to mete out heaven's punishment. This is a moment of life and death. Seek external assistance before dusk, and there may be a slim chance of survival.]

How persistent, this descent of Maitreya.

Chen Xuan knew well that this life had reached a critical juncture.

Whether he could leap into the vast sky and sea depended on today.

The external assistance was nothing more than the shopkeeper beside him, the protective formation, and Liu Lili.

Chen Xuan raised his wrist, where the tracking mark was shockingly red. “That Maitreya will definitely come.”

Chen Xuan cupped his hands to Liu Lili and said, “Senior Sister, please speak with me in private.”

The shopkeeper remained noncommittal.

Liu Lili, however, nodded.

Once the two reached the inner hall, Chen Xuan's eyes shone brightly as he said, “Senior Sister, could you first teach me a minor sword Dao Divine Ability, or a powerful sword Daoist Magic? Preferably of the water attribute.”

Liu Lili frowned.

Any sword Daoist Magic or Divine Ability required years of cultivation and could not be mastered overnight.

Even if she taught Chen Xuan now, could he use it immediately to fight enemies? That was obviously impossible.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Lili made up her mind, refusing to avoid the issue. “Reasonably speaking, the Sect's Divine Abilities and Daoist Magic must never be leaked to outsiders.”

“But since you hold a dragon-seeking token, you are already a Disciple of our Sect. You only need to give me contribution points, and I will teach you a top-tier water-attribute sword Daoist Magic—Laughing at the Vast Sea.”

“How many contribution points do you have?”

Liu Lili knew well that the crisis of Maitreya was unavoidable. Even if Chen Xuan hadn't come, having slain the evil Cultivator, she would still have been targeted.

The first day was safe.

This was already extremely fortunate.

And there was almost no doubt that Maitreya would appear before the Cultivators of the Liuyang Sword Sect arrived.

“Five hundred.” Chen Xuan looked at her. The leaves of late autumn had withered, and light snowflakes were drifting down.

It seemed winter had already arrived.

The two of them were calm. “Five hundred it is, then,”

Liu Lili said indifferently.

Immediately, her token flashed, accepting Chen Xuan's contribution points, and a technique was transmitted to Chen Xuan through Divine Sense.

A sword Daoist Magic!

In his past life, the Fusheng Sect had not opened these to Chen Xuan; after all, he was only a Disciple in name.

He had never received the true teachings.

And his Aptitude was not worthy of those good things.

Most of what he collected later were sword insights, handbooks, and the like, with no actual Daoist Magic or Divine Abilities.

Therefore, Chen Xuan had no water-attribute sword Daoist Magic at all.

As the technique was perceived by Chen Xuan,

insights into various Moves converged, and Chen Xuan instantly fell into a state of enlightenment.

Just as expected of the Innate Sword Bone!

[Innate Sword Bone: Your comprehension of the sword Dao is easier, your sword Dao cultivation speed is doubled, your sword Dao damage is doubled when using your right hand or after Sword Light Differentiation, and the power of water-attribute killer Moves is increased by fifty percent!]

At this moment, Chen Xuan felt as if he had transformed into a sword immortal standing above the vast sea, drinking and laughing heartily, wild and unrestrained.

As the sword Moves rose and fell, the vast sea roared, and finally, a single strike parted the sea, revealing the seabed thousands of feet below.

In the outside world, Chen Xuan had also entered a flow state. The Liangyi Rule unsheathed itself, and he began to dance with the sword unconsciously.

Spiritual Qi gathered as he practiced in enlightenment. Chen Xuan broke through to a new Realm!

Qi Refining Realm, Fifth Layer!

Liu Lili's pupils dilated in shock, once again astounded by his talent.

Sword Light Differentiation!

Instant enlightenment!

A breakthrough in cultivation!

Just what kind of Aptitude was this?!

It was terrifyingly formidable.

Even Zhang Fan of the Southern Sky Zhang Clan, a Golden Core seed within the Sect, probably did not possess such frightening Comprehension Ability.

If he could survive, his future on the Great Dao would be boundless.

After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Chen Xuan slowly woke up.

Laughing at the Vast Sea was now fully mastered.

Enlightenment meant seeing through the essence of the technique and mastering its fundamental variations.

Chen Xuan suddenly felt that he was also very close to the second Realm of the sword Dao, Sword Qi Condensing into Silk.

If his Divine Sense were just a bit stronger, he might truly be able to achieve it.

“Thank you, Senior Sister!”

Chen Xuan cupped his hands. His entire aura was like the vast sea, perfectly natural and incredibly profound.

“Junior Brother, such talent must never be known by outsiders. I will keep it a secret for you today,” Liu Lili said, taking a deep look at Chen Xuan. She no longer dared to view him as an ordinary person.

Chen Xuan nodded, filled with boundless confidence.

He walked upon the path of the sword, and he had the ability to achieve the very pinnacle!

In this life, he was born for the sword.

Having mastered [Laughing at the Vast Sea], even against Foundation Establishment, Chen Xuan was confident that under the state of Sword Light Differentiation and with the empowerment of his Innate Sword Bone, he could go head-to-head with them.

Meanwhile, the shopkeeper opened his eyes from afar, silently watching the two.

‘Zhang Fan, your destined wife might be stolen from you.’

The shopkeeper was secretly enjoying the drama, but the next moment—Boom!

A sudden change occurred!

A loud rumble!

The shopkeeper was reduced to minced meat!

A glittering golden figure appeared in the Puyang Shop.

Old Ancestor Maitreya, with a smiling face, had appeared!

Yet that smile made one's blood run cold.

“Amitabha!”

The Buddhist chant resounded, making one wish only to immediately kneel and become a Buddha on the spot!