146: The sect leader instructed

Just as Lu Chen's form was about to touch that obscure "pore" deep within the dao source stele—

A powerful yet extremely gentle invisible force descended without warning, lightly wrapping around his entire body.

Lu Chen felt his body sway slightly, and the light and shadow before his eyes shifted as if he were being rapidly lifted from deep water.

In the next instant, his feet hit solid ground, and the light and shadow settled.

He had already returned to the familiar open space of the Shenxiao Cave.

Ahead, the dao source stele still stood tall and majestic, enveloped in the vastness of Chaos, appearing as if it had remained unchanged since ancient times.

The dense Spiritual Qi and the quiet Dao charm flowed silently in the surroundings.

Lu Chen stood in place, steadying himself slightly as the daze in his mind quickly faded, replaced by an unprecedented sense of clarity and fulfillment.

Within his Dantian, the purple-gold thunder pool was as calm as an abyss, while surging liquid spiritual power slowly circulated through his Meridians; deep within his brow, the now-different Tribulation Pupil mark transmitted a warm yet obscure sense of power.

Everything told him with absolute reality that the bizarre experience and the final Breakthrough he just had were definitely not a dream.

Foundation Establishment was complete.

He subconsciously raised his hand, his fingertips lightly brushing his brow.

His skin was smooth; the Thunder Rune had completely vanished, leaving no trace.

But with just a slight thought, he could clearly perceive its existence and a vitality that was entirely different from before, as if it had been infused with a Soul.

A smile from the bottom of his heart quietly crept onto the corners of Lu Chen's mouth.

The secrets deep within the dao source stele were indeed not something he could pry into at his current level.

The invisible force that ultimately sent him out was gentle yet irresistible, more like a form of protection from the rules of this place.

One shouldn't bite off more than they can chew, and Opportunities cannot be forced; being able to reach Foundation Establishment in the cave and use the Origin of the Thunder Beast's remains to completely activate the Tribulation Pupil was already a massive stroke of luck.

Lu Chen felt little regret; instead, his mind was clear and open.

After standing still to adjust his breathing for about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a circle of gentle teleportation light suddenly lit up beneath him, completely enveloping his figure.

With a flash of light and shadow, Lu Chen disappeared from within the Shenxiao Cave.

Shenxiao Hall.

Within the empty hall, the atmosphere was quiet.

The other nine Disciples were still waiting in place.

Seated upon the main seat, True Man Shenxiao remained majestic in his purple robes, his gaze calm.

A faint ripple of spiritual light appeared in the hall, and Lu Chen's figure manifested out of thin air.

The moment his figure solidified, deep within the seemingly peaceful eyes of True Man Shenxiao, an almost imperceptible glint of extremely faint light flickered.

His gaze swept over Lu Chen, as if penetrating the surface to see something much deeper.

Then, that calm, waveless voice slowly echoed through the hall: "Not bad."

Just two words, yet they carried a heavy weight, clearly reaching the ears of everyone in the hall.

"To be able to achieve Foundation Establishment in one go within the Shenxiao Cave, by borrowing the Dao charm and Opportunity of the dao source stele..."

True Man Shenxiao's tone remained flat, as if he were stating a simple fact.

But the content caused the expressions of the nine people other than Lu Chen to change simultaneously, their faces all showing shock, horror, and even disbelief!

"Since the founding of our Shenxiao Sect ten thousand years ago, only a mere handful of people have been able to achieve this."

A mere handful! In ten thousand years!

These words exploded in everyone's hearts like a clap of thunder.

Achieving Foundation Establishment within the Shenxiao Cave?

What kind of concept was that?

It meant that while comprehending the Great Dao, he had completed a leap in his level of existence; his Foundation, his potential, and his compatibility with the Sect's core Legacy had likely reached an unimaginable degree!

The gazes directed at Lu Chen instantly became incredibly complex, a mixture of awe, jealousy, and inquiry...

Even Wusi, who had always looked hollow and cold, as if indifferent to everything...

At this moment, he also slightly raised his eyelids, his dead eyes turning toward Lu Chen for an extremely brief moment, a very obscure and unreadable ripple passing through them before returning to their usual stillness.

True Man Shenxiao did not say more, as if he had only given a casual comment, and turned his gaze to the slender woman in the blue dress in the hall: "Lan Ni, it's your turn."

"Yes, Sect Master True Person."

Lan Ni quickly suppressed her shock, gave a respectful salute, and took a deep breath to calm the waves in her heart.

She stepped toward the illusory light door that had quietly reappeared and soon vanished into it.

Lu Chen had also steadied himself and was about to retreat back to the queue to wait like the other Disciples, but True Man Shenxiao's Sound Transmission rang out clearly and privately in his ear, calm and beyond doubt: "Lu Chen, wait outside the hall."

Lu Chen's heart jolted, but he showed nothing on his face, only giving a nearly imperceptible nod toward the main seat before silently turning and walking steadily out of the heavy doors of the Shenxiao Hall.

Outside the hall, the daylight was perfect, and a sea of clouds churned beneath his feet.

Away from the solemnity and the many gazes inside the hall, the breeze brushed against his face, bringing a refreshing coolness.

Just as he stood still on the wide platform paved with white jade in front of the hall, the air not far from him rippled slightly like water.

A blurred figure, seemingly condensed from pale purple spiritual light, whose face could not be clearly seen but whose general human shape could be discerned, appeared there silently.

The figure remained condensed without dispersing, faintly harmonizing with the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi; though it lacked an oppressive pressure, it naturally exuded a profound and unfathomable aura.

An Incarnation!

Lu Chen's pupils constricted, and he immediately recognized this technique.

A Divine Ability that can only be cultivated once one's cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul Stage and one achieves an extremely high level of control over the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and one's own Divine Soul—the External Incarnation!

Although it was not as powerful as the original body, it could still represent the original body's will and possessed unfathomable power.

This was naturally True Man Shenxiao's Incarnation.

Lu Chen did not dare to be negligent; he stepped forward a few paces and bowed in greeting.

Before he could speak, the Incarnation's sleeve flicked lightly, and a layer of transparent halo, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, quietly expanded, completely isolating the two of them from the outside world.

"Disciple Lu Chen pays his respects to the Sect Head," Lu Chen said, maintaining his bowing posture.

The Incarnation nodded slightly, and a peaceful yet direct voice rang out in Lu Chen's mind: "Rise. I have called you out because there is something you need to know, and something you need to do."

Lu Chen straightened up and stood waiting quietly, the unusual premonition in his heart becoming clearer.

For the Sect Head's Incarnation to personally give instructions and require such secrecy, it was definitely no ordinary Sect matter.

"What you obtained in the Shenxiao Cave is your Opportunity; the Sect will not inquire about it."

The Incarnation's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

"I originally intended to make arrangements after you returned to your peak to stabilize your Foundation Establishment, but since you have already succeeded, the time has come."

As he spoke, the Incarnation raised his hand, and a dark purple Jade Slip appeared out of thin air, floating in front of Lu Chen.

"This records a certain matter that you need to go and handle. The specific details are explained within the Jade Slip. This matter..."

The Incarnation paused slightly, "You may speak of it with your Senior Brother, but no one else needs to know. Go now."

After saying this, without waiting for Lu Chen's response, the Incarnation, along with the transparent halo isolating them, vanished silently into the air like a bubble, as if it had never appeared.

Lu Chen reached out and caught the purple Jade Slip, which still carried a hint of warmth; it felt heavy in his hand, with faint ripples of spiritual power.

He did not investigate it immediately, but simply gripped it tightly in his hand, bowed slightly again toward the direction where the Sect Head's Incarnation had vanished, then turned and walked steadily toward the path down the mountain.

The mountain wind was cold, whipping his robes.

He felt the cool touch of the Jade Slip in his palm.