104: universe starry sky

Silently, the Grand Elder's figure suddenly appeared before Lu Chen. He merely placed a hand on Lu Chen's shoulder before returning to his original spot. "It's true indeed!"

Within Lu Chen's body, he had indeed cultivated magical power, undoubtedly reaching the Middle Stage of the Xuan Fa Realm.

The Third Elder chuckled as he watched the various expressions of the other five Elders change, feeling an unprecedented sense of satisfaction.

Old fellows, are you dumbfounded?!

But in reality, it wasn't just the five Elders who were dumbfounded, but also... Lu Chen.

While the Third Elder had played a trick on the Fourth Elder, the Fifth Elder, and the Sixth Elder, he had also kept Lu Chen in the dark.

The situation was this: Lu Chen, who had been diligently cultivating, had just stabilized his cultivation at the Middle Stage of the Xuan Fa Realm and was preparing to go out to the Wan Fa Pavilion to look for combined battle formations suitable for Dao Soldiers. Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened the door, the Grand Elder who oversaw Mingjing Peak, the Second Elder who oversaw Wudao Peak, the Fifth Elder who oversaw Feilai Peak, the Fourth Elder who oversaw Zhubing Peak, and Elder Liu who oversaw Danxia Peak, all popped out in unison.

Moreover, the way they looked at Lu Chen was particularly frightening, each of them wide-eyed. Especially the Grand Elder, a Master of the Yang Spirit Realm, who instantly flashed before him, leaving him no chance to react.

Wouldn't you say that's scary?

These were all true powerhouses who held real authority in the Dongming Sect; besides the Sect Leader, there were no Masters higher than them. Now they were all blocking Lu Chen's doorway. To be honest, even with Lu Chen's disposition, he felt a bit apprehensive at this moment.

Had he... broken a heavenly rule?

It didn't seem like it. Judging from the disjointed words the Elders were spouting, the problem likely lay with the Third Elder.

Thus, Lu Chen quickly adjusted his attitude and bowed to each of them. "Lu Chen greets all Elders."

He then looked at the Third Elder. "Master."

His gaze didn't change at all, but the Third Elder understood Lu Chen's look: What is this all about? Could you at least give me a heads-up!

The Third Elder transmitted his voice soundlessly: "Good fortune is coming, don't panic. Also, I'll add ten Dao Infant Realm Monster Corpses for you. Just stand there like a mute, don't say anything random, understand?"

'Add another ten Dao Infant Realm Monster Corpses?'

Had his Master, the Third Elder, gone out to pick up Merit Points?

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat, feeling the surprise came too suddenly, leaving him no time to react.

However, after a second thought, and glancing at the Elders before him again, Lu Chen inexplicably had a bad premonition.

Was his Master using him as bait to fish for the Elders?

Fellow disciples are one with you, but you're playing mind games with them?!

It's over, you immortals are fighting, don't drag me into it!

Lu Chen stood obediently to the side, as well-behaved as a child.

"Lu Chen!" After his expression changed repeatedly, the Fifth Elder's face finally turned into a benevolent smile, and he asked in the most amiable tone, "Tell this old man, what kind of fortune did you obtain to break through from the Late Stage of Spirit Transformation to the Middle Stage of Mysterious Method within two months?"

Before Lu Chen could speak, the Fifth Elder said slowly, "Don't rush to answer. This question is too presumptuous, but this old man is not a stingy person. If you answer well, I will give you ten thousand Merit Points."

The Fourth Elder hesitated for a moment, then spoke from the side, "What the Fifth Elder can give, this old man can give as well."

The Sixth Elder frowned, looked at the Third Elder, and seeing no intention of stopping him, said, "This old man can add another ten thousand for you, but you must tell the truth."

Lu Chen: "..."

Thirty thousand Merit Points!

But after meeting the Third Elder's 'caring' gaze, Lu Chen resolutely chose to remain silent.

Betraying his Master for glory? Bah, how could I, Lu Chen, be such a filthy person!

Thirty thousand Merit Points, who are they trying to buy? I'll just listen to Master and stay silent.

"Old Three, let this old man see the secret technique you created." Seeing Lu Chen remain silent, the Fifth Elder turned to look at the Third Elder, his expression unfriendly.

The Third Elder was unperturbed: "Where are the Merit Points you promised this old man?"

The Fourth Elder, the Fifth Elder, and the Sixth Elder exchanged glances, each seeing the discomfort in the other's eyes as if they had swallowed a fly. Finally, they held their noses and handed over the Merit Points.

Only then did the Third Elder hand over an ordinary Jade Slip, personally placing it in the Fifth Elder's hand, and said with utmost solemnity, "This method values comprehension the most. How much you can comprehend depends entirely on individual talent, remember this well."

The Fifth Elder immediately put away the slight distrust in his heart and, with great care, received the Jade Slip.

At the same moment, the Fourth Elder, the Sixth Elder, and even the Grand Elder and the Second Elder all craned their necks, looking in unison at the Jade Slip in the Fifth Elder's hand.

The Fifth Elder took a deep breath, gave a reassuring look to the Fourth Elder, the Sixth Elder, and even the Grand Elder and the Second Elder respectively, before slowly bringing his consciousness close to the Jade Slip.

Lu Chen, who was watching in confusion, suddenly heard the Third Elder's voice transmission in his ear: "What are you standing there for?"

Before Lu Chen could react, his body was already floating up as if riding the clouds and mist. Mist surged before his eyes, and he didn't know where they had arrived. It felt like spatial layers were shifting, like a teleportation.

When his vision returned to normal, Lu Chen's subconscious breath could no longer detect any spiritual energy. There wasn't even air; he was already in a vacuum. Around him was the primordial darkness, and in the distance were faint specks of light, splendid and mysterious. An extreme coldness also assailed him.

This is...

Lu Chen's thoughts seemed to be frozen, and his reaction was half a beat slow.

Whether he could breathe or not was actually irrelevant for someone at his level in the Xuan Fa Realm. Breathing was a habit; without it, he could switch to embryonic breathing or even dispense with it entirely.

"How is it? Is this the first time you've seen the sight of the universe starry sky?" The Third Elder spoke leisurely from the side, quite relaxed.

Isn't the universe starry sky a vacuum environment? How could the Third Elder's voice still reach his ears?

Lu Chen suddenly cursed inwardly, also feeling light-headed. Who talks about science in the cultivation world anyway!

Wait, what kind of low-down trick did his Master, the Third Elder, pull to bring him all the way to this universe starry sky just to escape?

"Master, you... actually... it's not that bad..." Lu Chen was choosing his words.

But his words were cut short by the Third Elder: "Escaping is one thing, but another is to let you get familiar with the vastness and mystery of the universe starry sky. After all, you've also stepped into the ranks of high-level cultivators in the Xuan Fa Realm, no longer comparable to those little fellows who can only run around in a small corner."

............

On Doujian Peak, the Fifth Elder was fully focused, pouring all his will into that small Jade Slip.

The rest, including the Fourth Elder, the Sixth Elder, and even the Grand Elder and the Second Elder, were no exception.

They wanted to see just how extraordinary this secret technique was that could allow Lu Chen to break through from the Spirit Transformation Realm to the Xuan Fa Realm in just two months. Could it change the world, overturn ancient and modern times, or perhaps create a precedent unheard of since antiquity, capable of subverting the unchanging common sense of the cultivation world for ages?

The Fifth Elder, harboring a mix of excitement and apprehension, finally immersed his consciousness completely into the Jade Slip. What he ultimately saw were just four simple, concise characters.

[Those who wish will be hooked]

The Fifth Elder suddenly closed his eyes, then opened them again, seemingly in disbelief.

He looked again, and it was still the four characters: [Those who wish will be hooked].

Following that, the Fifth Elder's eyelids twitched violently, causing his face to contort. He eventually became red-faced, and his breathing grew rapid.

The Fourth Elder on the side watched anxiously: "Old Five, say something!"

The Fifth Elder held it in for a long time, finally gritting his teeth: "Old Three, you've gone too far in deceiving me!"