Chapter 46: Consecutive Breakthroughs, Mid-Stage Innate
“How are you?” Jiang Che asked A Long, turning to look at him.
“I’m not too badly hurt…” A Long replied, shaking his head. Despite being struck by Ye Chen, he wasn’t seriously injured.
“Brother Xiao Che, let’s go back,” Shen Qingqiu suggested, her smile returning as she approached Jiang Che.
“Alright, let’s head home.” Jiang Che glanced at the unconscious Ye Chen, then took Shen Qingqiu’s hand and headed to his Maybach.
His immediate goal was to return home and elevate his cultivation to the Innate level. Only by reaching the Innate realm could he have the strength to confront Ye Chen directly.
At Crouching Dragon Villa, in the backyard, Jiang Che sat cross-legged under an ancient tree and swallowed the Great Restoration Pill.
Immediately, he felt a surge of immense medicinal power coursing through his body, rejuvenating his limbs and bones. He quickly circulated his internal energy to assimilate the medicinal power, which turned into pure energy flowing in his Dantian.
An hour later, Jiang Che opened his eyes, which now glinted with a golden light. “Finally, the early stage of the Innate realm…”
The most noticeable change upon reaching the Innate realm was a newfound understanding of the world. With a casual wave of his hand, a sword energy burst from his fingers, shattering a rock several meters away.
“System, how many villain points do I have left?”
“Ding, the host currently has 6000 villain points remaining.”
“Continue the upgrade…”
“Ding, deducting 5000 villain points, upgrading ‘Limitless Pure Yang”
Two more hours passed, and Jiang Che opened his eyes again, having reached the mid-stage of the Innate realm. He stood up, dusting off his clothes, and returned to the front yard.
In the living room, Ah Qing was cleaning. Seeing Jiang Che’s return, her face lit up with joy, and she hurried over, throwing herself into his arms. “Young Master~”
Jiang Che chuckled and gently patted Ah Qing’s head, noting how clingy she had become since their relationship progressed. “Young Master, you seem even more handsome~” Ah Qing looked up at him adoringly from his arms.
“Do I?” Jiang Che touched his face, feeling unchanged but guessed that his breakthrough in cultivation might have enhanced his aura, leading to Ah Qing’s impression.
“Have you been practicing diligently recently?” Sitting on the sofa, Jiang Che pulled the maid into his embrace, beginning to treat her cold ailment.
“I have… I’ve been practicing well recently.”
“Young Master, it tickles~” Ah Qing squirmed under his touch, her cheeks flushing and her voice becoming hesitant. Every time Jiang Che treated her cold ailment, she felt a strange sensation she feared he would notice.
“Ah Qing… What’s this…” Jiang Che noticed the change in her body, looking at her with a puzzled gaze.
“Young Master…” Ah Qing blushed, too embarrassed to look up, not expecting Jiang Che to discover her secret.
In the forest outskirts of Linjiang, the night had fallen, enveloping the area in darkness, with scarce moonlight and stars.
Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, gazing blankly into the black sky, his mind a whirlpool of confusion and despair. As memories of the day’s events flooded back, his expression twisted into one of rage.
“Jiang Che!” Ye Chen’s low roar echoed through the forest, his eyes bloodshot with fury.
He tried to move his body slightly, only to be met with searing pain that made him gasp sharply. Remembering that his injuries were inflicted by Shen Qingqiu, despair filled his eyes.
The realization that his years of pursuit had been for naught, watching the woman he loved being intimate with another man – the same man responsible for his imprisonment – plunged him into an abyss of hopelessness. His life seemed colorless and bleak.
Just then, his phone rang, breaking his reverie. With great effort, Ye Chen pulled out his battered Yali brand phone from his pocket and answered the call.
“Ye Chen, what the hell are you doing? Weren’t you supposed to wait for me at the hotel?” Lin Xiyan’s voice, tinged with anger, came through the phone. She felt stood up by Ye Chen, having called him numerous times throughout the afternoon with no response.
“Got into a small accident…” Ye Chen replied with a bitter smile, his voice weak and resigned.
“What happened to you?” Lin Xiyan could sense something was seriously wrong from his tone.
“Let’s talk about it when we meet… Are you free to pick me up?” Ye Chen asked, desperation seeping into his voice.
“I’m in a forest in the outskirts. I’ll send you the location.”
After the call, Ye Chen sent Lin Xiyan his location and then tossed his phone aside, overwhelmed by exhaustion. The events of the day had taken a significant toll on him, both physically and emotionally.