Cultivation: Start From Simplifying Martial Arts Techniques

Chapter 389: Irreversible Calamity

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“At this hour, seeking an audience with the Sect Master?” Chu Yushuang was taken aback upon hearing Chen Fei’s words.

However, considering Chen Fei’s act of intruding into the Sunken Water Pavilion at night, she knew no one would joke about such a matter.

Chu Yushuang nodded and, with a flicker of her figure, headed towards the main peak. Chen Fei’s steps followed closely by her side.

As Chu Yushuang saw Chen Fei easily keeping pace with her, she recalled Chen Fei’s reputation as a genius and felt a hint of competitiveness rise within her. She unconsciously increased her speed.

Chu Yushuang hadn’t broken through to the mid-stage of the Aperture tempering realm for long, just a few years earlier than Chen Fei. However, with her exceptional talent and background, she attempted the breakthrough and succeeded at the age of twenty-five.

Therefore, in terms of age, there wasn’t much difference between Chen Fei and Chu Yushuang.

Over the years, Chen Fei had shown even greater talent, overshadowing Chu Yushuang. Gradually, people had stopped mentioning Chu Yushuang’s name.

Chu Yushuang didn’t harbor jealousy; after all, the turnover of generations was a common occurrence, and people always focused on what was new and fresh. It was a perfectly normal phenomenon.

Chu Yushuang’s sudden increase in speed was more of an instinctive comparison. There was a saying, “In the world of scholars, there is no number one; in the world of martial artists, there is no second.” This situation applied perfectly here, and among peers, it was even more pronounced.

Chu Yushuang’s sudden acceleration didn’t bother Chen Fei, as it brought them closer to meeting Ji Ruiqing faster. Whether he could keep up or not, his clone might have lower power, but when it came to speed, excluding the Shuttle of Flying Clouds, they were evenly matched. After all, the clone was an extension of the Soaring Heaven Technique, and their agility was identical.

In Chen Fei’s eyes, Chu Yushuang’s unexpected burst of speed was nothing remarkable. In fact, if it weren’t for the breach of etiquette, he would have liked to grab Chu Yushuang’s hand and dash directly to the main peak of the Sunken Water Pavilion. However, in matters of men and women, one had to maintain boundaries. Grabbing Chu Yushuang’s hand would lead to serious consequences.

The two figures flickered, and in just a short while, they arrived at the main peak.

Chu Yushuang secretly glanced at Chen Fei and felt a hint of dissatisfaction. No matter how she accelerated or even gave her all along the way, she couldn’t create even half a body’s distance between them.

Throughout the journey, Chen Fei appeared relaxed and composed, showing that this speed wasn’t challenging for him. This expression somewhat irritated Chu Yushuang. Despite breaking through several years earlier than Chen Fei and excelling in her cultivation, she found herself trailing behind.

It was frustrating for Chu Yushuang to accept that. She excelled in her cultivation, and her primary expertise was in agility. Among the early-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivators in the Sunken Water Pavilion, she was even among the top three.

Achieving such status within a few years demonstrated Chu Yushuang’s unquestionable talent. However, it seemed that she was now losing to Chen Fei, which was hard for her to accept.

If the initial competition was just a subconscious comparison, now it had truly ignited the competitive spirit within Chu Yushuang.

“Yushuang seeks an audience with the Sect Master!”

“Chen Fei of the Primordial Sword Sect seeks an audience with Sect Master Ji!” Chu Yushuang and Chen Fei proclaimed separately.

Given Ji Ruiqing’s late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivation, she should have sensed their arrival by now. However, there was no response from the main peak.

“Yushuang seeks an audience with the Sect Master!”

After waiting for a moment without a response, Chu Yushuang’s brow furrowed, and she raised her voice again. However, Ji Ruiqing remained silent.

“Is Elder Su within the sect?”

Chen Fei’s expression slightly changed, and he was tempted to rush in directly. But there was a protective formation on the main peak that even his clone’s strength couldn’t break. Trying to force his way in would likely result in the formation retaliating and killing him.

As for Elder Chen, whom Chu Yushuang had mentioned earlier, Chen Fei had asked Chu Yushuang about his whereabouts on the way, and she had said he hadn’t returned yet. However, the current situation didn’t seem to align with Elder Chen’s absence. Ji Ruiqing wouldn’t have issues like this if everything was normal.

‘Elder Su went on a mission a few days ago and hasn’t returned to the sect.” Chu Yushuang also sensed that the situation had changed. Unfortunately, the second late-stage Aperture tempering realm cultivator within the Sunken Water Pavilion wasn’t present at the moment.

“Where can we sound the alarm?” Chen Fei asked in a low voice.

They couldn’t afford to search for everyone individually anymore; it would take too much time. Chen Fei preferred to make a mistake by gathering everyone rather than risk leaving someone behind.

“There!”

Chu Yushuang pointed to another peak and quickly rushed towards it. While on the way, Chen Fei briefly explained the severity of the situation, and Chu Yushuang immediately grasped the gravity of it.

In the past few days, she hadn’t seen Elder Chen return, which had given her some peace of mind. However, the current circumstances didn’t look promising.

“Whoosh!”

A figure flickered past Chu Yushuang in an instant. She watched as Chen Fei’s rapidly retreating figure and couldn’t help but widen her eyes. What kind of speed was this?

Was this the agility one should possess at the early Aperture tempering realm?

Chu Yushuang’s mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened. The competitive spirit she had harbored moments ago had been shattered by Chen Fei’s astounding speed.

“Boom!”

Before Chu Yushuang could fully comprehend what had happened, there was a deafening sound from a distant peak. Simultaneously, the aura of another Elder from the Sunken Water Pavilion, Qu Yuexiu, appeared in Chu Yushuang’s senses.

“Why would Elder Qu be there?”

Chu Yushuang pushed aside her concerns about Chen Fei’s agility, and an overwhelming sense of unease settled in her heart.

“Clang!”

A thunderous voice, reminiscent of a tolling bell, instantly reverberated throughout the entire Sunken Water Pavilion, startling everyone awake.

On the Bell Mountain Peak, Qu Yuexiu wore a grim expression as she glared at Chen Fei. Occasionally, a dark glint flickered in her eyes. Chen Fei furrowed his brow and observed Qu Yuexiu closely. With the help of Star Gazing Art, he detected the same unusual presence mixed in Qu Yuexiu’s aura, just like what he had sensed from Wu Guangyin earlier.

Clearly, Qu Yuexiu had been contaminated at some point. He had probably stood guard in front of the bronze bell to prevent anyone from ringing it.

However, Chen Fei’s current body, while of average strength, possessed agility far beyond the norm for an early Aperture tempering realm cultivator. With just a few maneuvers, he managed to deceive Qu Yuexiu and promptly rang the bronze bell.

“Intruder! You shall be killed!” Qu Yuexiu stared at Chen Fei with a chilling gaze.

“Senior Qu, it’s a misunderstanding,” Chu Yushuang shouted from a distance as she arrived on the scene.

“Yushuang, this person harbors ill intentions. Join me in slaying him!” Qu Yuexiu glanced at Chu Yushuang and said in a low voice.

Before her words could fully sink in, Qu Yuexiu had already appeared in front of Chen Fei. Her sword pointed toward Chen Fei’s head, and simultaneously, a chaotic and frenzied sword intent assaulted Chen Fei’s mental state.

Mental techniques were rarely used among cultivators of the same level, as they could lead to backlash unless there was a significant power disparity, like when a mid-Aperture tempering realm cultivator was suppressing an early Aperture tempering realm cultivator.

Qu Yuexiu, being in the early Aperture tempering realm, didn’t consider the consequences of using mental techniques like someone twisted and deranged. She only cared about achieving results.

Chen Fei remained expressionless, completely ignoring Qu Yuexiu’s mental technique. With his right hand formed into a sword finger, he pointed it directly at Qu Yuexiu’s forehead.

A sinister smile crept across Qu Yuexiu’s face as she released another surge of sword intent toward Chen Fei’s mental state. However, before this second wave of sword intent could reach Chen Fei, it collided with the first wave, which had struck Chen Fei’s mental state moments ago.

Qu Yuexiu let out a muffled grunt as her mental sea violently roiled, feeling as if her mental state was on the verge of shattering.

The initial collision between the first wave of sword intent, which was as strong as hitting solid iron or diamond, and Qu Yuexiu’s own sword intent, which was more like tofu, left no doubt about the outcome. Qu Yuexiu’s sword intent shattered in the face of Chen Fei’s, just like fragile glass.

Qu Yuexiu thought that as long as she disregarded everything and did whatever it took, she would be able to win. After all, reckless madmen were the most terrifying because their actions were unpredictable.

However, she failed to realize that such a reckless approach only hastened her downfall.

Chen Fei’s clone may have been weaker in terms of other aspects, but his mental state was identical in quality to the original. The difference lay mainly in quantity, but he still had the protection of the Spirit Suppression of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant Technique and the Thousand Thread Technique.

Even if it were a mental technique from a late Aperture tempering realm cultivator, it would not harm Chen Fei. In fact, it would likely be even more challenging for the opponent.

With a resounding impact, Chen Fei’s finger touched Qu Yuexiu’s forehead. Under the influence of the Star Gazing Art and the Thousand Thread Technique’s subtle control, Chen Fei’s Godslayer Sword drove straight into Qu Yuexiu’s mental sea. While Qu Yuexiu’s mental sea was in turmoil, Chen Fei tore apart the black mist shrouding Qu Yuexiu’s mental state.

A howl erupted from the dark shadow, as Chen Fei forcibly expelled it from Qu Yuexiu’s mental sea. The shadow attempted to resist, but Chen Fei’s Godslayer Sword stifled it once more.

This dark entity seemed to recognize Chen Fei’s prowess. It glanced at Chu Yushuang, who was approaching from afar, and with a swift flicker, it charged toward her. It needed to reattach itself to another cultivator’s consciousness because, in its current state, it was at its most vulnerable.

Once a ghastly puppet attached itself to a cultivator’s mental sea, it was challenging to expel. Many conditions needed to be met, but Chen Fei met them all. Whether it was the formidable Godslayer Sword, the subtle control of the Thousand Thread Technique and Star Gazing Art, or the fearlessness in close-quarters combat thanks to the Suppressing Dragon Elephant Technique and Thousand Thread Technique, all these factors allowed Chen Fei to easily expel the ghastly puppet.

A virtual sword flash streaked by as the dark entity made its move, severing one-third of its form. The dark entity let out a painful, deafening roar.

Chen Fei pointed a finger to his own forehead, and three Godslayer Swords flashed out, encircling the ghastly puppet and immobilizing it. Whenever it tried to move, the Godslayer Swords would slice through its shadowy form as if it were being tortured.

The ghastly puppet, in response to the three sword lights, let out a wild howl but refrained from making any further moves.

“What is this?” Chu Yushuang arrived late on the scene, observing the fallen Qu Yuexiu and glancing at the ghastly puppet. A chaotic and maddening aura emanated from it, making people instinctively want to avoid it.

“It’s a ghastly puppet! When the others arrive, we must first find out the whereabouts of Elder Chen and Sect Master Ji,” Chen Fei whispered.

The entire Sunken Water Pavilion felt increasingly peculiar to Chen Fei.. The two missing individuals must be involved in something, and whatever it was, it had the potential to bring about utter catastrophe for the Sunken Water Pavilion!