In that moment, the Divine Body’s dignity and elegance vanished, replaced by pure rage, spit flying everywhere.
She cursed for a long time before finally stopping.
She stopped because she realized she also had a major problem: her own weakness. If I had the combat power of a Divine King, would those people have been able to capture me?
The Tao Seed is still here, she thought. I must enter seclusion immediately.
Chen Shixian took a deep breath and turned, stepping into the vast mountains.
Breaking Sun, Condensed Soul, Destiny, Supreme Mystery...
After long consideration of these first four cultivation realms, she decided to cultivate Breaking Sun.
Among these individual realms, Breaking Sun offered the highest malleability. It was also the most likely path to reach the utmost limit and unlock the so-called Human Body Treasure.
"I can definitely do it! Come on!" Her gaze was resolute as she began her cultivation.
Achieving One Force Breaks Ten Thousand Skill isn’t impossible, she thought with determination.
「Several days later.」
When Hong You returned to this place and saw the unharmed little town, and Chen Pingping still alive, she was astounded. "How are you still alive?" she blurted out.
She had already traveled a considerable distance. However, a sense of unease compelled her to return, intending to collect Chen Pingping’s corpse. She never expected to find him alive.
"Something happened that day," Chen Pingping said in a quiet, mysterious tone.
"A passing senior intervened and killed a Chong Tower expert," Chen Pingping stated. "He was very strong!"
A passing senior? Killed a Chong Tower expert? No one would believe such nonsense,
However, the fact that Chen Pingping was still alive did indeed surprise her. She immediately said, "Pack your things. We must leave Central Continent at once!"
Chen Pingping was taken aback. "Why? The Sleeping Ones of Chong Tower have been slain. What else could threaten us?"
"There’s plenty," she said. "You’re carrying the Demon Flower, making you a prime target throughout Central Continent. Plus, with your previous conflict with the holy lands, there’s no guarantee they won’t make a move in secret. In short, it’s safer to leave Central Continent sooner rather than later."
Worry was written all over her face.
Chen Pingping said with a dark expression, "There’s no need."
Really, there’s no need. If they had dared to act, they would have done so that night, not waited until now. Moreover, the more time passed, the better they would be able to integrate their Tao Seeds, which is hugely disadvantageous for all those covetous watchers. By then, everything would be settled, and any action would be meaningless.
As for the holy lands. Humph! I, Chen Pingping, haven’t settled accounts with them yet. If they dare to act, they’re simply courting death!
Hong You continued to analyze the numerous dangers, but Chen Pingping couldn’t stand to listen. Hong You lacked self-confidence, which was one thing, but her inability to trust others was another matter entirely.
"Hey! Are you even listening to me?" Hong You exclaimed, annoyed, only to realize the man had fallen asleep.
Damn him! she fumed silently.
Discussions about the Demon Flower gradually dwindled.
Although the Tao Seed was important, it wasn’t essential. Besides, Chen Pingping was so strong that most dared not act rashly against him.
Perhaps only some major powers, along with exceptional geniuses, were still restless, scheming how to obtain a Tao Seed.
「One day, Zi Ji emerged from seclusion.」
The Tao Seed had perfectly merged with her, greatly enhancing her combat power. Her understanding of Qi Refinement had also deepened, bringing a sensation of profound enlightenment.
However, she felt something was amiss, so she sought out Chen Pingping.
But Chen Pingping had no experience with Qi Refinement himself, so how would he know what the problem was?
"Senior Brother, how do Qi Refiners differentiate between realms?"
"What level am I at right now?"
"What about my Qi Refining Skills?"
"The Divine Weapon of King Tao doesn’t seem very useful. Should I get a different one?"
"The refined Qi within me is growing, but... it’s too active. How do I control it?"
"Huh? Senior Brother, why aren’t you saying anything?"
Of her five questions, Chen Pingping knew the answer to only one. With an expressionless face, he said, "If the Divine Weapon of King Tao is useless, just discard it. You have the Yuan World, after all."
"My realm..." Zi Ji began.
"Show me," Chen Pingping said.
"At full power?" Zi Ji asked.
"Of course!" He smiled, thinking to himself, How powerful could a little girl who’s only been practicing for two or three years be? Even at full strength, she probably can’t even shake me, her senior brother!
When she unleashed her Qi Refining Forming Skill, it shifted in an instant—one moment a fearsome beast, the next a massive sword beam—engulfing Chen Pingping.
He had no time to dodge or defend.
The Qi from Qi Refinement was not Spirit Qi.
The precise attack struck Chen Pingping, sending him flying.
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother! Are you okay?" Zi Ji exclaimed in shock.
"I’m fine! Don’t come over!" Chen Pingping said, crawling out of the mud pit. He dusted off his clothes and internally assessed his injuries before returning.
His face remained expressionless, but inwardly he was shocked. Only two or three years of practice! My heavens, her Qi Refining Skills actually injured me! Is she at the Divine King Realm?
Seeing he was alright, Zi Ji said, "I’ll do it again!"
His face darkened, and he quickly spoke up, "No need! Senior Brother has already assessed your realm. It’s equivalent to the King Tao standard. Not bad, not bad at all. Keep practicing hard, and given time, you will certainly surpass your Senior Brother."
He deliberately understated her level by an entire major realm to prevent Zi Ji from becoming complacent, encouraging her to continue practicing diligently.
As for surpassing me? Heh. That’s just a dream.
Chen Pingping returned to the courtyard and lay down again.
Zi Ji felt a bit dejected. She wanted to find someone to practice with, but since there was no one, she could only amuse herself.
She repeatedly practiced her Qi Refining Skills.
Although there were no formal martial techniques or specific skills in Qi Refinement, it was all about "Qi"—specifically, Innate Qi. The second crucial aspect was "transformation."
Although Zi Ji had only been cultivating for two or three years, the refined Qi within her had reached an astonishingly profound level. Moreover, her Qi Refining Skills were incredibly versatile.
Even Chen Pingping had been caught off guard earlier.
If she were to unleash it again, who knows what might happen?
Sigh. Chen Pingping felt chagrined. Thankfully, no one saw that. How embarrassing it would have been! To think that I, her senior brother, was injured by my junior sister’s Qi Refining Skills...
She practiced over and over.
Chen Pingping watched from the side, growing more alarmed the longer he observed. He felt that in a few more years, this girl would become invincible.
Is it because of the Yuan World?
Then he looked at Guang Xiaoyu. Sigh... The gap between those two is hardly insignificant.
However, one couldn’t jump to conclusions. The adage ’great talents mature late’ certainly held true. Besides, Guang Xiaoyu was a Demon cultivator. In all their battles, past and present, she had never truly unleashed her full potential. No one knew her true combat strength. Come to think of it, she must be very strong.
Chen Pingping rested his chin on his hand, mulling over these thoughts.
"Senior Brother, look...!" Zi Ji’s startled cry snapped Chen Pingping out of his reverie.
Her small figure stood outside the gate, her delicate hands cradling the Yuan World. It pulsed with a brilliant, captivating light, and an aura of the Great Tao flowed from within it.
Moreover, the Yuan World in her hands was actively evolving a world of its own.
Chen Pingping was dumbfounded. What in the world is happening?
Zi Ji, her face alight with excitement, exclaimed, "I put the Tao Seed into the Yuan World, and then it became !"
Chen Pingping was speechless.
"Wow! I can feel the Yuan World getting stronger! The power fluctuations are intensifying!" Her eyes blazed with fervor. "Does this count as reviving the Yuan World?"