Chen Pingping was startled, and his composure suddenly faltered. No matter how thick-skinned he was, it was no use. He smiled sheepishly and explained, "Misunderstanding, there’s been some misunderstanding here! I got tired of fighting with the Moon God, so we called a truce. I saw a lake nearby and thought of doing a bit of fishing, but then the Moon God accidentally fell into the lake, and, uh... she only had one set of clothes. I had no choice but to give her mine. That’s pretty much how it went down..."
A group of people looked at him with smiles that weren’t quite smiles, their expressions clearly saying, Go on, keep making it up!
Who would believe such a ridiculous story? they thought.
The legendary Chen Pingping is truly formidable, they mused. He even managed to subdue the Moon God and... do *that* to her. The more they considered it, the more thrilled they became. What kind of storm would this news create across the Central Continent once it got out?
"Brother, please take me in!" Meng said excitedly. "Teach me!"
「In a secluded mountain valley.」
Suddenly, a loud BOOM echoed, emanating from within Chen Shixian. She was in the process of opening her Dantian—a difficult endeavor, and this was her fifth attempt.
Her previous attempts had resulted in terrible backlash, nearly claiming her life. Had it not been for her Ancient Divine Body’s robust foundation, immense Vitality Power, and the Tao Seed, she doubted she would have lasted this long.
This is the fifth time, she thought.
Chen Shixian’s gaze was resolute, her expression stern. Her Divine Sense Transformation manifested deep within her Dantian.
If he didn’t lie to me.
If everything he said was true.
If a single cultivation stage can indeed reach the Transforming Realm and unlock the Human Body Treasure, then... I cannot fail!
Her long dress and hair swirled around her.
She advanced step by step into the depths of her Dantian, her gaze blazing. A few glints of cold light shot out, followed by illusory figures that appeared only to dissipate.
It was as if life itself was cycling through Reincarnation.
Soon after, she manifested an extraordinary phenomenon: the Rising Moon Above the Sea.
The light of this phenomenon bathed her entire Dantian.
One inch, two inches... several feet, tens of feet, hundreds of feet...
Her Dantian expanded wildly. Vast Spirit Qi erupted like a volcano, surging and sweeping through. She sensed that power—incomparably immense.
Chen Pingping hadn’t lied to her.
Her Dantian has broken through the limits of the human body and is still growing! she realized. At that moment, she seemed to see a Light Door—no... there were a full nine of them, growing clearer and clearer!
I have a feeling, she thought, that if I can open these nine Light Doors deep within my Dantian, that will be the day I achieve Tao Verification and attain Emperorship.
Chen Shixian strode forward to one of the Light Doors, intending to push it open, though she knew it was destined to be an arduous process.
At that very moment, the Tao Seed rooted in her Dantian suddenly began to grow. It transformed from a mere blade of grass to a sapling, then a large tree, and it kept expanding. In just about ten minutes, the Tao Seed had become a colossal, sky-reaching tree.
Its lush branches spread out, covering most of her Dantian and emitting tremendous Vitality Power, which merged and interacted with the Spirit Qi in the lower part of her Dantian.
Chen Shixian froze, a little flustered.
When I saw the Tao Seed settle down, I finally breathed a sigh of relief, she thought. I was terrified it would rupture my Dantian; that would have probably crippled me. Fortunately, it’s alright!
Upon closer sensing, she realized this sky-reaching tree exuded the aura of the Great Tao, constantly influencing the operation of her Dantian.
I don’t know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, Chen Shixian murmured to herself.
She pondered for a long time but came to no conclusion. So, she resumed her attempt to open the Light Door as time ticked by.
After an unknown amount of time, Chen Shixian finally managed to pry open a sliver of the Light Door. Spirit Qi instantly flooded the area like a tsunami.
The world on the other side of that opened sliver of the Light Door was a void, pure white.
The only distinction was that the Spirit Qi bursting from it was far heavier, far denser than any she had ever encountered.
Chen Shixian’s expression turned joyful. "Is this the Human Body Treasure?"
It feels like it, but I’m not entirely sure, she thought.
Chen Pingping didn’t lie to me! This path is truly viable. My combat strength... it should have reached the Realm of the Divine King by now, right? I wonder... could I defeat Chen Pingping now?
Afterward, she began to stabilize her cultivation realm and calm the various energies within her body. As for the other eight Light Doors... I’ll just have to put them aside for now, she decided. I don’t think I can push them open yet. Even with this first Light Door, I’ve only managed to open a sliver. Truly opening it completely will still require more time.
The Great Tao is profound, and the path ahead is long.
Chen Shixian concluded her cultivation session. She opened her eyes and gazed at the mountain landscape, alive with the chirping of birds and the fragrance of flowers. Her spirits soared, and she grinned. "Damn you, Chen Pingping! This young lady is back!"
Unwittingly, it seemed she had added Chen Pingping to her list of lifelong archenemies.
「She walked out of the mountains and arrived at a quiet little town.」
Not too many people. Acceptable, she thought.
A few young men nearby were loudly discussing something, cursing and swearing. One moment they were slamming the table, the next they were threatening to draw their swords, clamoring about killing someone.
Chen Shixian hadn’t intended to pay them any mind, but... suddenly, she heard the name "Chen Pingping" from their conversation, and she froze.
"Damn it! That despicable bastard! He actually... he actually did *that* to the Moon God... AAAAH! My exalted goddess, how could you let him?!"
"I can’t stand it! We must kill him!"
"He’s provoked public outrage! He must die!"
"When the time comes, we’ll strike together!"
After listening for a few minutes, Chen Shixian’s mind reeled as if struck by a thunderbolt. Chen Pingping... did *that* to the Moon God? No way! That can’t be true, can it? That guy seems like such an oblivious, straightforward type! How could he do something like that?
In my eyes, Chen Pingping is just a completely clueless guy! Chen Shixian fumed internally. Besides infuriating me and provoking me, he’s always saying tactless things—like that phrase I hate hearing: ’Have you broken through to King Tao yet?’ His emotional intelligence is practically nonexistent! A guy like him will probably never find a Tao Companion in his entire life, unless some girl is completely blind! As for this business with the Moon God... I don’t believe it. He wouldn’t be capable of it. How could a clueless guy like him ever summon the courage to do something like that?
The more she thought about it, the more agitated Chen Shixian became. She strode forward, grabbed one of the men by the collar, and snapped, "Hey! Spreading false rumors can get you struck by lightning, you know!"
"I’m not spreading rumors!" the man stammered, startled. "Who are you?" He looked Chen Shixian up and down, and his eyes immediately lit up at her considerable beauty.
Just as he was about to try and get friendly, Chen Shixian slapped him hard across the face.
The man was dumbfounded.
As Chen Shixian stalked away, she muttered to herself, "Impossible. Absolutely impossible! I don’t believe it!"
It’s too outrageous! she thought. Someone like Chen Pingping, that dense, clueless guy, how could he possibly do something like that? I don’t believe it. I have to find out the truth!
「Several days later,」
Chen Shixian arrived at the Moon God’s residence. Ignoring the guardians, she went straight to the mountaintop, watching the peerless figure from afar.
She didn’t speak, but her eyes naturally exuded hostility—a very intense hostility.
It’s strange, she mused. I used to find Guang Xiaoyu irritating for no clear reason. Now, I’m irritated with the Moon God because... she’s just too perfect. Beauty like a celestial fairy, and immense strength. Every move she makes is imbued with immortal energy, ethereal and almost suffocatingly beautiful. Even just her silhouette is utterly captivating.
Chen Shixian took a deep breath, walked closer, and asked, "Is it true or not?"