3: Chapter 3 But unfortunately, I am stronger than you all; please become my nourishment.

If Chu Chen's cultivation had been crippled and his spiritual roots destroyed before, he would have needed a heaven-defying opportunity to cultivate again; otherwise, he would have remained an ordinary person for the rest of his life. And how could such opportunities be so easily encountered?

Now that he possessed the Demon God Body, his talent was already at the pinnacle. This time, he would have no more attachments and would only live for himself.

Before being crippled, Chu Chen's cultivation had already reached the third level of Spirit Condensation, the second stage of cultivation.

Now, to drive the ten thousand soul banner, relying on his strength as a mere mortal would definitely not work. He had to break through to the Spirit Gathering Realm as soon as possible.

Chu Chen immediately began his cultivation. With his previous experience and the addition of the Demon God Body, he easily communicated with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Soon, a steady stream of spiritual energy surged into Chu Chen's body.

Two and a half hours later!!

Chu Chen broke through to the first level of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

Chu Chen lightly raised his finger, and a teacup on the wooden table slowly rose, suspended in the air, before drifting toward him.

This Demon God Body is truly powerful. Back then, it took me a full half-year to step from being a mortal into the Spirit Gathering Realm.

What Chu Chen didn't know was that the spiritual energy here was incredibly thin, almost negligible. If he were in a place with abundant spiritual energy, he could have stepped into the Spirit Gathering Realm in an instant.

He spent another two days practicing the Demon God Visualization Method. To his surprise, in just two days, he broke through again to the second level of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

This Demon God Visualization Method is truly terrifying. Even though I've stopped practicing, I can still feel spiritual energy entering my body. Although it's only a small amount, this is automatic cultivation.

Furthermore, this Demon God Visualization Method is divided into nine layers. With each layer increased, the amount of automatically absorbed spiritual energy grows. If I can cultivate the Demon God Visualization Method to the ninth layer...

It would be like having another self focused entirely on cultivation. Whether I'm eating, sleeping, or practicing other techniques, my cultivation would be increasing every moment, endlessly.

If this Demon God Visualization Method were to be leaked, let alone the Tianxuan Sect, perhaps the entire East Xuan Empire would be destroyed because of it.

Thinking of this, Chu Chen's gaze sharpened. Before he was strong enough to suppress everything, this Demon God Visualization Method must never be exposed to the world.

As for the Divine Firmament Demon Finger, Chu Chen had not yet begun to practice it.

This place was not suitable for long-term cultivation, and he still had system tasks to complete.

He was quite covetous of the functions of the ten thousand soul banner, as well as the system reward of the top-grade spirit gathering pill.

Soon, Chu Chen left the inn and purchased a map in the local black market.

Chu Chen scanned the crumpled map in his hand. This area was still under the jurisdiction of the Tianxuan Sect. Since he had decided to take action, he had to choose a remote mountain village, the further from other cultivators, the better, to minimize the risk.

Chu Chen quickly locked onto a place called Shi Village.

This Shi Village was located in a very secluded area, with the nearest city over a hundred miles away.

Chu Chen immediately took out the falling snow sword. As the sword light flashed, he had already ascended above the clouds.

Sword Kinesis was a basic technique of the Tianxuan Sect; any disciple of the Tianxuan Sect could practice this method.

Chu Chen flew quickly toward Shi Village as marked on the map, encountering other cultivators flying past on their swords along the way.

Fortunately, the journey was peaceful, and nothing happened.

Half a day passed quietly before Chu Chen finally located Shi Village.

Being only at the second level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, his body couldn't handle long periods of flight, and he needed some time to replenish his spiritual energy.

Chu Chen descended from the sky about a hundred meters away from Shi Village.

Putting away the falling snow sword, Chu Chen walked toward Shi Village.

Along the way, he saw children laughing and playing with mud by the roadside, while others wielded wooden swords, sparring with each other.

They were completely unaware that a stranger was slowly approaching them.

“Big brother, why do you look so unfamiliar? You aren't from our Shi Village, are you?”

A child who looked to be seven or eight years old suddenly blocked Chu Chen's path, looking at him with wary eyes.

Before Chu Chen could say anything, a woman walked out and doted on the child, lightly stroking his head.

“Xiao Yu, you mustn't be rude to guests!”

The woman then looked at Chu Chen. “It is getting late. Young man, please come with me.”

Chu Chen looked at the woman with deep, inscrutable eyes.

Seeing that Chu Chen didn't move, the woman spoke again. “Young man, don't be afraid. I believe you've noticed after walking for so long that ours is the only settlement around.”

“Within a hundred miles, there is only our village. Since you've arrived so late, I figured you were here to seek lodging.”

“And because we are the only village for a hundred miles, one or two people occasionally come here to stay the night.”

After saying this, the woman walked straight into Shi Village without looking back at Chu Chen.

Hearing this explanation, Chu Chen followed her.

Chu Chen soon entered Shi Village. The woman did not speak again along the way.

She only quickened her pace slightly, and Chu Chen noticed a look of nervousness on her face.

When they reached a wooden house, the woman stopped.

“Young man, there is flatbread and water prepared for you inside. You can stay here and have a good rest tonight. I will bring you breakfast tomorrow morning.”

Chu Chen nodded. “Thank you!”

Seeing this, the woman hurriedly left with the child as if she had some urgent matter to attend to.

Chu Chen pushed open the door of the wooden house and walked in.

Inside, he saw a simple bed and a wooden table with one broken leg.

On the wooden table sat a piece of flatbread and a bowl of clear water.

A wicked smile curved on Chu Chen's face. After all, this was his first time being a demonic cultivator, and he had almost been moved by their simple and honest nature.

He reached out, picked up the bread, stuffed it into his mouth in large bites, chewed, and swallowed it before drinking the bowl of water clean.

Having done all this, Chu Chen lay directly on the simple bed. Before long, the sound of snoring echoed within the room.

Two and a half hours later, the sound of rustling footsteps rang out outside the door.

“BAM!”

The wooden door was kicked open.

“Big brother, this guy must be sleeping like a log right now. Looking at his fair and clean appearance, he's clearly a young master from a wealthy family in the city. He must have plenty of silver coins on him.”

A man as thin as a withered stick with a wretched look in his eyes slowly walked in.

He said in a raspy voice, “Alright, be quick about it. As per the old rules, throw him to the back mountain to feed the jackals afterward.”

“You got it, big brother. The jackals on the back mountain are fierce; they'll definitely eat this kid until not even a bone is left.”

As he spoke, the man walked over to Chu Chen and reached out to search his body.

Just as his hand was about to touch Chu Chen, the man let out a muffled groan and his entire body was sent flying backward.

“It seems you've done this sort of thing quite often?”

Chu Chen sat up on the bed, looking at the group of people with unfriendly eyes.

The thin man kicked aside the man lying in front of him.

“Useless trash, can't even handle a pretty boy.”

He then looked at Chu Chen.

“Pretty boy, I really underestimated you. You actually ate that flatbread and are fine.”

“However, in front of me, you're just a mantis trying to stop a carriage. I am already at the Astral Qi Realm, having joined the ranks of first-class experts in the martial world, and I rarely meet my match.”

“If you want to blame someone, blame your own misfortune for running into me,” the thin man said to Chu Chen with arrogant pride.

Chu Chen said with a dark expression, “No... I don't blame you. On the contrary, you've done very well. The strong are respected; if you were stronger than me, I would accept my fate.”

Hearing this, the thin man looked surprised. “Kid, I didn't expect you to be so open-minded.”

In the next moment, Chu Chen's tone shifted as his face darkened, a wicked smile appearing. “But unfortunately, I am stronger than you, so please transform into my nourishment and help this Chu take another step forward on his path of cultivation!!”