Chapter 620 - 359: Seizure

The moment the nourishing sensation sank into his body, it spread to every part. Chen Chuan felt his mind and body become completely transparent, and a sense of ethereal lightness washed over him, clearing his thoughts.

It felt as if he had always been burdened by something incredibly heavy and stagnant, but after consuming this substance, that weight had lessened slightly.

The sensation was mystical, as if his body and spirit had both been cleansed, leaving him feeling blissful and refreshed.

More than that, it even affected his perception of the other world. If looking into it before was like peering through a hazy mist that obscured his vision, now it was as if a small part of that mist had been wiped away, making things slightly clearer.

However, the sensation began to fade after just a moment. Although he had changed because of it, the transformation was, for now, only minor.

Chen Bitong had once told him that the stronger a Fighter was, the more Pure Essence they would require.

Therefore, this small amount of Pure Essence was not enough. He needed more.

So he continued to focus his full attention on the world opposite him.

From his recent experience, he knew that Pure Essence vanished almost instantly upon appearing. Capturing it depended entirely on one’s spirit.

The stronger his spirit, the greater his chance of success.

Just now, he had only seen a single wisp, which had been manageable. If several wisps appeared at once, he would have to choose just one.

But as long as that rift remained, more Pure Essence was bound to follow. There was no need to feel burdened; that would only weigh down his spirit.

After waiting with focused concentration for a long time, two more streams of essence suddenly materialized. This time, one seemed strong and the other weak. He instantly understood. ’So Pure Essence isn’t all uniform like the last one; it comes in different grades.’

The weaker wisp was so minuscule compared to the first one that it barely registered, so he ignored it completely. He wrapped his spirit around the richer stream, tilted his head back, and swallowed it whole.

This time, whether due to the cumulative effect or because this wisp was more potent than the last, the sensation was slightly stronger than before.

If he were a deep, dark pool, then this Pure Essence was like a beam of light shining into it, dyeing parts of the water with a luminous glow. But only a sliver had entered so far, not nearly enough to illuminate the whole pool. He needed to draw in and consume much more to let this brilliant radiance permeate his entire being, inside and out.

At the same time, on Qingding Mountain, Chu’an was also desperately searching for Pure Essence, but after a long and taxing effort, he had found nothing.

Just as a sliver of doubt began to form in his mind, he suddenly felt something drift by. He immediately used the technique his teacher had taught him to capture it.

But this stream of light was as ethereal as smoke, formless and unsubstantial. It nearly slipped through his spirit, which had not yet fully solidified.

Fortunately, the Spiritual Techniques he had learned provided a counter. By applying them, he just barely managed to bind it. He then took a sharp breath, and for a moment, it felt like he had inhaled a cool wisp of air that sent a shiver through his body.

He opened his eyes and said with a hint of excitement, "Teacher, I think I’ve captured some Pure Essence."

"You caught some?"

The old man nodded. "In the old days, Pure Essence was known as ’Yuqing Nectar,’ or sometimes ’Flowing Soul Pill.’ It harmonizes your inner and outer self, purifying both your spirit and your physical body.

The spiritual benefits are self-evident. With long-term accumulation, it can also enhance your physical potential, laying the foundation for you to break through to the next limit. Its wonders cannot be fully described in words; you’ll have to experience them for yourself."

Chu’an’s expression shifted. Despite his teacher’s detailed explanation, he felt something was... off. There were benefits, yes, but it didn’t feel as miraculous as described.

He thought that perhaps he just hadn’t mastered the technique yet. Besides, the amount of Pure Essence he’d managed to get seemed small. ’I probably need more to truly feel the effects.’

So he composed himself, straightened his posture, cleared his mind, and resumed his search.

But in the time that followed, his initial luck seemed to have run out. A long while passed with no further success.

Seeing him remain still for so long, the old man was a bit surprised. "What is it? You haven’t sensed any more?"

Chu’an nodded.

"That shouldn’t be right."

Chu’an hesitated. "It’s also possible some slipped past me. I might have failed to capture it in time."

The old man nodded slowly. That was highly possible.

It was very likely that his disciple’s Spiritual Cultivation was too shallow, causing much of the Pure Essence to slip by unnoticed.

The only reason his disciple could sense it at all was thanks to the Fumu’s fission, which had forced open the Celestial Gate. When it came to true foundational strength, however, he was still lacking.

If his Spiritual Cultivation had reached the stage of Perfection, particularly the level of Spiritual Sense, he wouldn’t need any special techniques. He could easily capture Pure Essence with just a little focus.

In fact, using Pure Essence at that stage is far more effective and provides a much greater boost. If one’s spirit is insufficient, the essence within the Pure Essence can’t be fully absorbed.

But a substance like Pure Essence was exceedingly rare. Aside from official allocations from higher-ups or through certain channels in the Merging Land, there was almost no other way to obtain it.

So this wasn’t a question of suitability, but a question of availability. When an opportunity like this presented itself, you had to seize it by any means necessary.

He thought for a moment. ’What’s missed is missed. Fortunately, there shouldn’t be anyone competing with us. Whatever we find is ours. Besides, the rift might have just opened, so there probably isn’t much Pure Essence coming through yet anyway.’

He lifted his wrist to check his watch. It was 6:17. Given the current situation, the Celestial Gate would likely remain open until tomorrow. They had plenty of time.

At the same moment, on the East Shore of Central City, several airships wove through the city’s towering skyscrapers, flying toward the Ferris Wheel Company headquarters in Yinglu District.

In the sky, vast swarms of insects were scattered, a dense mass writhing in the air. Their buzzing was completely drowned out by the thrum of propeller blades.

Simultaneously, over a hundred ground response units, led by armored vanguard vehicles, advanced along the streets. From the sky, they could be seen forming a cordon around the entire protruding peninsula.

This was the bulk of the mobile forces that the Processing Bureau, the Defense Department, and the Administrative Affairs Hall could currently muster, including several Fighters who were approaching the peak of the Third Limit.

Xu Chan led his command team to the top floor of a tall, temporarily requisitioned building. He walked a few steps to the edge of the roof and looked out at the scene opposite them.

The first thing to catch his eye was the giant Ferris Wheel, and then the Ferris Wheel Company tower that stood before it. The top of the building featured flying eaves in the style of the old-era Outer Ocean, its body was entirely white, and its surface was adorned with gilded mythical beasts.

Because the building stood directly in front of the Ferris Wheel, it created the illusion of supporting the massive structure.

Although it was nighttime, the open Celestial Gate bathed the area in an otherworldly light that made it seem like day. A crimson glow stretched across the surface of the sea, mingling with clouds and mist. Gusts of sea wind blew in, whipping at the hair and clothes of everyone present.

Xu Chan observed for a moment. He could see numerous sturdy fortifications surrounding the Ferris Wheel Company complex. If a portion of their internal security force hadn’t already been annihilated, leaving them without enough personnel for a full defense, this would have been a very tough fight.

Within the Ferris Wheel Company, they had also detected the activity on their perimeter.

Guan Shangjing watched as the large military force closed in. He knew exactly what was happening. He immediately activated the internal emergency alert, dispatching all remaining company security personnel to their defensive posts.

At the same time, he relayed the situation and his personal assessment to the board of directors, requesting further instructions.

Meanwhile, inside the Ferris Wheel Company’s conference room, the few directors who had remained on-site were holding an emergency meeting.

The mood was incredibly grim, because the long-awaited news from their naval forces had finally arrived.

But what they received was news they could scarcely believe: the company’s fleet had been defeated, nearly wiped out to the last ship.

One director clenched his fist, staring at his subordinate, whose face was pale with cold sweat and despair. The director’s voice was practically squeezed from between his teeth. "Is this information confirmed?"

The subordinate snapped to attention and replied loudly, "Reporting, sir! The information is confirmed. An airship that escaped brought back the news. Furthermore, there were witnesses who saw one of our damaged Distant Mountain Level Battleships being pursued by Canglong Company airships. It must be true."

A dead silence fell over the conference room.

A decade of painstaking work, all gone in an instant.

Another director exclaimed, "We haven’t lost yet! We’ve already dispatched our security forces. As long as we capture the fissioned offspring, we can still win the Federation’s recognition!"

A third director added through gritted teeth, "This news cannot get out. It absolutely must not leak before we capture the fissioned offspring!"

The fleet’s defeat meant they could no longer secure the sea lanes. Perhaps even the Lynx Federation would now abandon them.

"Gentlemen, there’s no need to be so pessimistic."

The director seated at the head of the table appeared relatively calm. "Without us," he said, "the Lynx Federation will have no remaining interests in the Outer Ocean. Therefore, even if we’ve suffered a defeat, they won’t abandon us..."

He glanced at the other directors. "They have no other choice. Unless they’re willing to see their flank left completely exposed to the Dashun Government, they have to stick with us. So, as long as we can secure..."

His words were cut off by a series of piercing alarms blaring throughout the building. The color drained from everyone’s faces.

Director Eagle Tail immediately contacted Guan Shangjing, his expression grim. "Manager Guan Shang, what’s happening?"

After a moment, under the intense gaze of all the directors, he looked up. He tapped his Lower Realm Token, and a screen of light descended over the conference table, displaying the scene outside.

The directors’ eyes widened, a mixture of bewilderment, anger, and terror filling their gazes.

Seeing the airships swarming in the sky and the countless armed personnel closing in on the ground, how could they not understand what was happening?

Director Eagle Tail said grimly, "The security force we dispatched must have been wiped out."

"Gentlemen, it’s time to make a decision."

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