Chapter 251 : Dare You Battle?
Chapter 251: Dare You Battle?
"Watch your words. This is merely a warning."
Chen Beiwu remained calm, sitting in his chair without lifting a finger.
Today was not like the past.
He was no longer the cautious and weak cultivator who dared not offend others lightly, striving to accumulate Fate to rise.
He was now a cultivation prodigy backed by the Yuqing Immortal Sect, with a master who was a Divine Transformation True Venerable.
It was no exaggeration to say that with his current cultivation, strength, and background, even if he couldn’t walk sideways in the Yuqing Immortal Sect, he could at least handle most problems with ease.
Since Ding Xu couldn’t understand human speech and had provoked him, Chen Beiwu naturally didn’t mind using this incident to teach a lesson—to make him understand why one should show respect to the strong.
‘Such terrifying strength!’
Ding Xu struggled to lift his head, his eyes full of shock.
He was no fresh-faced newcomer who had just joined the sect this year, but a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator who had been in the sect for four years and had forged a Superior-Grade Dao Foundation.
Even if President Shen acted personally, it wouldn’t be easy to defeat him with a single glance.
No—something wasn’t right!
Both he and President Shen were ranked among the top four on the Rising Stars List, so there shouldn’t be a massive gap in strength between Shen Yuanbao and Chen Beiwu.
This could only mean that in past sparring sessions, President Shen hadn’t just held back—he’d restrained himself like holding back an ocean.
Realizing this, Ding Xu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, clenched his teeth, cupped his hands toward Chen Beiwu, and lowered his head in apology.
"This time, it was I, Ding Xu, who was out of line."
With that said, Ding Xu circulated his mana, stood up, and left the private room unsteadily.
"Are you really alright, Beiwu?" Xu Ziqing’s eyes were filled with concern.
"Let’s eat. No need to worry about these trifles," Chen Beiwu replied calmly, retrieving the Golden Egg from his Spirit Beast Pouch.
A flash of golden light appeared. A golden fish-dragon with a long, slender body, stubby belly, and a horned crest on its head leisurely swam about, supported beneath by swirling clouds and mist.
Seeing this, Xu Ziqing’s eyes lit up.
The once chubby, silly Golden Scale with its belly puffed up like a basketball had now grown a golden horn, its scales shimmered with flood-dragon patterns, and it had taken on some signs of transforming into a true flood dragon.
No wonder Chen Beiwu was willing to give up the Scarlet-Patterned Scorchfire Serpent egg.
Noticing the intense gaze, the Golden Egg suddenly turned its head and looked at Xu Ziqing.
"Glurgh?"
Xu Ziqing couldn’t understand fish language and glanced at Chen Beiwu.
"Ignore it. It’s just itching for a fight," Chen Beiwu said with a chuckle.
Xu Ziqing also laughed.
Her contracted Scarlet Flame Fox had yet to advance to the Second Realm as a Lesser Beast. Sparring with the Golden Egg would be pure self-torment and might even dent the contracted spirit beast’s confidence.
…
At the same time, at Restcloud Abode.
Deep in the courtyard of the Three Peaks Cave Dwelling—
Thunder raged, and crackling arcs of electricity slithered like serpents across the jade floor, producing a crackle-pop sound.
At the center of the courtyard, a mighty Thunder Lotus slowly bloomed.
Its petals were thin as cicada wings, crystalline in form, and entirely composed of pure lightning power—within it was sealed enough thunderforce to injure a Golden Core True Person.
Yet at this moment, a giant beast was hidden within the Thunder Lotus, completely unaffected by the raging thunder.
Its eyes were vertical and golden, standing nine feet tall at the shoulder. Resembling a cheetah but even more agile, it had deep-blue fur, and purple crystals were embedded at each joint of its limbs.
The end of its tail—about three meters long—forked like lightning, and when it lashed about, it could tear through the air with a thunderous boom, automatically absorbing all stray lightning within a mile.
This was the Eleventh-ranked treasure beast on the Earthly Sha Rankings, the third-tier thunder-element Treasure Beast: Violet-Thunder Thunder Leopard.
Clap clap clap.
Shen Yuanbao looked at the Violet-Thunder Thunder Leopard and applauded. "Congratulations on mastering the Purifying World Thunder Lotus."
The Purifying World Thunder Lotus was a secret technique passed down within the Shen Clan—a foundational legacy that enabled the Shen Clan to rise to the rank of a True Venerable Clan. It had a total of nine levels.
Although the Violet-Thunder Thunder Leopard had only comprehended the first transformation, Initial Calamity: Lotus Lock, and had yet to grasp the second and third—Mid Calamity: Lotus Explosion and Final Calamity: Lotus Birth—this alone was enough to render it invincible among Second-Realm beasts and even challenge Golden Core True Persons across realms.
Of course, Golden Core True Persons weren’t opponents that Second-Realm Lesser Beasts could typically provoke.
Even with the blessing of the Purifying World Thunder Lotus and being a treasure beast of the Earthly Sha, the Violet-Thunder Thunder Leopard could not defeat a Golden Core cultivator.
Unless he and the Thunder Leopard could cultivate the Thunder Lotus to its third stage, thereby awakening its Companion Beast bloodline and evolving it into a Celestial Mystic Beast: Rage-Thunder Mystic Leopard.
Just then, Shen Yuanbao sensed something, and the tightly closed courtyard doors opened, revealing the silhouettes of Ding Xu and his sister, Ding Xue.
"You’re injured? Who did this?" Shen Yuanbao frowned slightly.
Everyone in the Yuqing Immortal Sect knew that Ding Xu was one of his followers.
Hurting Ding Xu for no reason was no different from slapping Shen Yuanbao in the face.
"Chen Beiwu," Ding Xu gritted his teeth, his expression full of frustration.
He knew that Chen Beiwu had deliberately held back; otherwise, his injuries would have been far worse. So he didn’t harbor much resentment.
What he resented was his own weakness—that he wasn’t even qualified to make Chen Beiwu go all out.
What he resented was that four years in the sect couldn’t overcome the gap in talent.
"Brother Shen, please help—"
Ding Xue’s angry words were cut short as Ding Xu raised a hand to stop her.
"President Shen will decide for himself." Ding Xu did not exaggerate and truthfully recounted everything that happened in the private room.
"You were indeed in the wrong," Shen Yuanbao’s frown gradually relaxed.
"But…" Ding Xue grew anxious, about to speak in her brother’s defense, only to be stopped again.
Under their watchful gazes, Shen Yuanbao smiled calmly. "But so what if you acted improperly?"
With that, he gently stroked the blooming Thunder Lotus and said unhurriedly, his voice carrying an undeniable chill, "My people are not for Chen Beiwu to discipline."
"Since Chen Beiwu thinks you’re not worthy—then I shall go challenge him myself."
"This time, I’ll defeat Chen Beiwu first, then Gu Xiao—winning both battles in succession—and with that momentum, I’ll seek the Dao of Yu Zhaohua!" Shen Yuanbao declared boldly.
Upon hearing this, Ding Xu and Ding Xue exchanged glances, their eyes brimming with excitement.
Could it be—had President Shen mastered an invincible beast-taming secret art for the Foundation Establishment realm?
……
Because Xu Lingling was in a hurry to return to the Tianyan Immortal Sect to nourish the innate origin of the Scarlet-Patterned Scorchfire Serpent egg, she decisively left after inspecting Chen Beiwu’s cave dwelling.
In an instant, only Chen Beiwu and Xu Ziqing were left inside the cave dwelling.
“I plan to attempt breaking through the Qi Refining limit next year,” Xu Ziqing suddenly said.
The gap in talent between cultivators could sometimes be greater than that between humans and beast creatures.
One performance of the Cleansing Spirit Melody had allowed a prodigy like Chen Beiwu to awaken and break through the Qi Refining limit, saving years—perhaps even a decade—of arduous cultivation.
But no matter what melodies she listened to, she was never able to enter a state of enlightenment.
She could only take spiritual herbs and pills, expend all sorts of heaven-and-earth treasures, and rely on the feedback from the Companion Contract with the Scarlet Flame Fox to slowly grind her way forward.
Yet even so, she still sensed the boundary of a bottleneck at the Tenth Level of Qi Refining (Qi Refining Limit).
Although this bottleneck could be forcefully broken with a Second-Tier spiritual pill, it would leave behind pill toxins and hidden risks, causing the Dao Foundation formed in her Foundation Establishment to be impure and defeating the purpose of going beyond the limit.
Of course, some rare and extraordinary treasure pills capable of defying fate were exceptions.
Such rare pills would not only leave no pill toxins or hidden dangers but could even deepen the cultivator’s foundation for breaking through Foundation Establishment beyond the limit, influencing the eventual quality of their Golden Core.
Unfortunately, Xu Ziqing had no qualification to obtain such treasure pills.
“Do you have confidence?” Chen Beiwu asked with concern.
“Not bad. I’ve got about a thirty-percent chance.” Xu Ziqing smiled.
Chen Beiwu raised his brow at her words, somewhat surprised.
Xu Ziqing was a concubine-born daughter of a Nascent Soul True Clan and studied at one of the Seven-Nine Upper Sects. Yet her chance of Foundation Establishment beyond the limit was only thirty percent?
“The Seven-Nine Upper Sects can’t compare to the Thirteen Immortal Sects. A thirty percent chance is already decent.”
Seeing his expression, Xu Ziqing softly explained.
In the Thirteen Immortal Sects, Qi Refining beyond the limit cultivators were everywhere, making the realm seem almost commonplace.
But in the Seven-Nine Upper Sects, many cultivators broke through to Foundation Establishment at the Qi Refining Limit.
The reason was simple. Qi Refining Limit could already increase the Foundation Establishment success rate by twenty percent. Combined with spiritual root aptitude and the use of the Five Foundation-Establishment Spirits, cultivators at the limit could reach an eighty percent success rate in Foundation Establishment.
Under these conditions, many cultivators who lacked talent but prioritized immediate strength would decisively break through.
Only those with decent talent—but not enough to be considered a prodigy by the Immortal Alliance—would fall into a difficult dilemma.
And Xu Ziqing was a typical representative of such cultivators.
Choosing to break through at the Qi Refining Limit would waste her potential, reduce her chances of advancing to Golden Core in the future, and possibly leave her stuck at the peak of Foundation Establishment, regretting not having consolidated her foundation.
Choosing to slowly grind and rely on comprehension to break through the limit, however, might waste valuable cultivation time, causing her to fall behind her peers, losing opportunities for support and cultivation within the sect.
If she succeeded in the end, all would be well. But if she failed, it would be wasted time and a major loss.
So Xu Ziqing’s goal was very clear:
If she could succeed in breaking the limit next year, she would continue to dig deeper into her potential, remaining in the Qi Refining realm until there was no further room for progress.
If she failed, she would decisively establish her Foundation, and later compensate for the deficiencies in her Dao Foundation when preparing for Golden Core, aiming for a mid-third-grade core.
At worst, she must forge a sixth-grade Golden Core, only then would she still have hope of becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch, instead of stopping at Golden Core with no further path forward.
“Fire-element is violent and difficult to control. If you don’t mind,”
Chen Beiwu paused, then spoke gently, “I can help you deduce your cultivation method and offer some advice on breaking through.”
He was someone who valued old friendships.
If not for Xu Ziqing and Xu Lingling’s protection, his high school cultivation life might have turned out like his junior high—entangled in countless romantic calamities, without even time to quietly cultivate.
“If it’s you, of course I don’t mind.”
Xu Ziqing’s eyes lit up slightly as she boldly replied.
Who was Chen Beiwu?
One of the three flawless Dao Foundation prodigies of the current generation in the Yuqing Immortal Sect!
Even though he cultivated a Water-and-Wood dual-attribute method, opposite to her True Heart Sutra of One Yang Limitless Illumination, his understanding of the Qi Refining realm was so profound that even a casual remark could benefit her greatly, even revealing a glimpse of the path to Foundation Establishment beyond the limit.
Not to mention… Chen Beiwu was also the person she admired.
Thinking of this, Xu Ziqing straightened her back, stood up from her seat with a fragrant breeze, her fiery, curvaceous figure nearly brushing against Chen Beiwu.
Seeing the fair, full curves slightly exposed just by lowering his gaze, Chen Beiwu’s Guarding-the-One Mirror flashed with light as he maintained a calm expression.
Seeing this, Xu Ziqing felt a bit disappointed.
With such close distance, Chen Beiwu showed no sign of being moved.
Could it be that her feelings were one-sided? Or was she not beautiful enough?
“Steady your breath, focus your mind, and circulate your cultivation method.”
As he spoke, Chen Beiwu extended a finger and lightly tapped her brow. A vast surge of mana flowed along her meridians, gradually merging into her dantian and qi sea.
Xu Ziqing’s eyelashes trembled. She felt a cool and nourishing breath flowing from her spiritual platform through her entire body, like a cold, large hand gently caressing her from head to toe.
The violent fire-element mana within her dantian qi sea also calmed in that moment, seemingly in awe of the refined, pure True Qi entering her body.
“Mm…”
Xu Ziqing let out an unconscious soft moan, a blush rising to her delicate earlobes.
She couldn’t help it—Chen Beiwu’s mana was too vast and pure. Wherever it passed, her meridians felt as if soaked in an icy spring, tingling and indescribably itchy.
Chen Beiwu remained indifferent, his fingertip gliding downward to gently tap the Shanzhong acupoint—located in the valley between her two white jade peaks.
Xu Ziqing’s heartbeat quickened suddenly, even her True Heart Sutra of One Yang Limitless Illumination momentarily lagged.
“Steady your breath and mind. Don’t be distracted. Follow the path my mana is guiding.”
Chen Beiwu’s voice remained calm.
He had known Xu Ziqing for six or seven years and wouldn’t take advantage over a little beauty.
His choice to tap that spot was purely to trace and guide the flow of her cultivation method.
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing quickly suppressed her stray thoughts and began circulating the True Heart Sutra of One Yang Limitless Illumination according to the True Qi in her dantian.
“Buzz!”
Two hours later, Xu Ziqing opened her eyes, her face showing undisguisable joy.
“How do you feel?” Chen Beiwu smiled and picked up the Golden Egg watching the scene unfold.
Beside them, the Scarlet Flame Fox looked at its contract master with surprise.
Even though Xu Ziqing’s cultivation realm hadn’t changed, it could sense that her aura had become thicker, no longer as hollow as before.
“How did you do that?” Xu Ziqing asked in amazement.
True Heart Sutra of One Yang Limitless Illumination was created by a Divine Transformation True Venerable of the Tianyan Immortal Sect. It was a Legendary-Grade cultivation method and ranked among the top fire-element Qi Refining foundational methods on the Immortal Alliance’s official site.
Yet Chen Beiwu had actually modified the Qi flow route of this Legendary-Grade method—something even many Golden Core True Persons couldn’t do.
“Cultivation methods are, after all, created by people. They fit the creator, but may not suit your physique. I’ve merely walked a bit further along the Qi Refining path.”
Chen Beiwu smiled faintly, “If you follow the Qi flow path I’ve outlined, you should find it easier to grasp the true meaning of the method.
Whether you can break through the Qi Refining limit—depends on your own comprehension.”
Xu Ziqing was quite fortunate. The True Heart Sutra of One Yang Limitless Illumination she practiced was similar in intent to the Seven Revolutions of Great Cycle Qi Refining of the Southern Wastes, just differing in elemental focus.
Otherwise, Chen Beiwu wouldn’t have been able to modify it so thoroughly in such a short time.
Hearing this, Xu Ziqing looked at Chen Beiwu with increasing admiration.
She bit her lip, suddenly stepped forward and embraced him, her curvaceous body melting against his like water.
“This little girl has no way to repay you… how about offering myself instead?” Xu Ziqing whispered warmly into Chen Beiwu’s ear, testing the waters.
“Boom!”
The next second, a thunderous roar came from outside the cave dwelling.
“Today, I, Shen Yuanbao, officially initiate the Cave Dwelling Challenge!”
“Chen Beiwu! Do you dare come out and fight me?!”