Chapter 485 - 477: An Unexpected Visitor

Chapter 485: Chapter 477: An Unexpected Visitor

Tears streamed down her face. Of the only two people on the Fourth Level who would keep her company without getting annoyed, one was now gone. And the one to blame for it all... was him! A trace of hatred surfaced in her tear-filled eyes, and that very hatred set her destiny on an irreversible course...

The unconscious Mu Chen had no idea that he had just been scapegoated yet again, inexplicably earning Shan Ziyan’s enmity.

Stepping out of her room, Chu Aoqing glanced back one last time at the dormitory she had called home for years. A hint of nostalgia touched her, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of release. She found herself actually looking forward to what came next. Returning to the First Level felt like a fresh start.

...

"Ugh..."

A faint groan echoed from within Mu Chen’s dormitory. A peculiar energy flowed from his chest into his Sea of Souls, and it was this very energy that caused the collapsed young man to snap his eyes open, his gaze fixed blankly on the ceiling.

"Where... am I...?"

Suddenly, the memories of what happened before he lost consciousness came rushing back. He instinctively clutched his chest, bracing for a cry of pain, but was shocked to find that the searing agony had already faded. There were still occasional twinges, but compared to the initial injury, it was like the difference between heaven and hell. At the very least, he could now move freely.

Wary that it might be a trick of his senses, Mu Chen performed an Introspection to be sure. He discovered that his damaged internal organs were already at least seventy percent healed. This meant an injury that should have taken at least a month to heal would now only require a few days of rest for a full recovery. A true blessing in disguise!

’I can’t waste any more time.’

Sensing the passage of time, Mu Chen realized he had only been unconscious for a couple of hours. He knew something must have happened to him during that time. Otherwise, it would have been absolutely impossible for his injuries to heal so quickly.

COUGH! COUGH!

He walked slowly up to the second floor, removed his Red-Refined Blue Wings, and sat cross-legged on the large bed. Taking a deep breath, he cleared his mind and immediately entered a state of Cultivation. The Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique began to circulate rapidly within him, and immense amounts of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi gathered from all directions. This was the first time Mu Chen had ever circulated his Cultivation Technique to absorb Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi in the Inner Mountain.

The moment he began, Mu Chen was stunned. The concentration of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi here was more than ten times greater than in the Outer Realm. Not only that, but the circulation speed of his Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique was also over ten times faster.

’Heavens... Just what kind of place is this?’

At this moment, Mu Chen finally understood why Holy Tomb Mountain was the place all young Martial Artists dreamed of, and why so many people would fight tooth and nail to get in. He also finally understood why his Master had told him with such certainty that for him, reaching the Emperor Realm within a year was a tangible, achievable goal...

’This place... will be the starting point of my ascent!!’

With a flash in his eyes, Mu Chen pushed the Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique to circulate even more furiously. Although his Dantian was currently depleted and under a Seal, absorbing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was still possible. Besides, he wasn’t absorbing the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi for Cultivation, but to heal his injuries!

’Since I can’t draw Primordial Power from my Dantian, I’ll just refine the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi directly into Primordial Power! I can use it to aid my recovery without it passing through my Dantian. That way, I won’t trigger those strange side effects.’

As tangible wisps of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi seeped through his pores, he controlled the flow with his Extreme Spirit Chaos Technique, converting it all into Primordial Power before sending it toward his heart and lungs, letting the potent energy gently nourish his wounds.

His Cultivation of the Forest of Myriad Manifestations had made Mu Chen’s control over his Spiritual Power far more precise. Thus, even as he transferred his full consciousness into his Sea of Souls, he could still leave a sliver of Spiritual Power behind to monitor the progress of his injuries. To be capable of Dual Tasking to such a degree... among all the Martial Artists in the world at his level, he was likely the one and only.

His Sea of Souls was somewhat dim, a consequence of expending a massive amount of Spiritual Power to resist Brom’s Cold-blooded Impact and using what remained of his willpower to drag himself back to his dormitory. Fortunately, now that he was awake, it was no longer a major concern.

With a single thought, the High-tier Spiritual Secret Technique: Forest of Myriad Manifestations began to circulate along its familiar path. Despite his injuries, his concentration was completely unaffected.

Three hundred Spiritual Nets materialized once more, and the condensed Spiritual Body Profound Jade Fan stood ready. He just needed to control it and move it forward a single step to unlock the Beginner’s Chapter of the Forest of Myriad Manifestations. But just as he was about to move the Spiritual Body Profound Jade Fan, a gentle knock sounded from downstairs.

This was where the sliver of Spiritual Power Mu Chen had left in the outside world proved useful. Inside his Sea of Souls, Mu Chen frowned. Clearly, the person knocking couldn’t be Little Tiger, Mo Qing, or any of the others. Dilaka had explicitly said that none of them would awaken for at least three days.

’Who could it be at a time like this? Don’t tell me Brom tracked me down for revenge?’ The thought had barely formed before Mu Chen dismissed it. After all, this was the Inner Mountain, and its rules were strict. If Brom actually showed up at his dorm to cause trouble, there would be too many witnesses. Besides, even if no witnesses were willing to help, he would summon Dilaka without a second thought.

’I’ll go take a look.’

Straightening the wrinkles on his clothes, Mu Chen got out of bed and went downstairs again. It was worth mentioning that aside from the large bed in his own bedroom, all the other rooms in his new residence were completely bare; they didn’t even have Elemental Crystal Lamps installed. The place felt somewhat stark and cold, but that was only because Mu Chen had just arrived and hadn’t had time to furnish it.

When he reached the front door, Mu Chen deliberately released a thin tendril of Spiritual Power through the door’s seam to see who the visitor was. But as the tendril of Spiritual Power snaked outside, an exquisitely beautiful face appeared in his mind. Who else could it be but Chu Aoqing?

’Why is it her?’

Surprised, Mu Chen felt a flicker of confusion. He remembered how this woman had effortlessly blocked Brom’s full-force attack earlier. From that alone, it was clear her strength far surpassed Brom’s, meaning she didn’t belong on the First Level. So why was she here looking for him now? Mu Chen couldn’t fathom a reason.

"Have you had your fill of looking? Open the door."

A voice so enchanting it seemed to seep into one’s very bones came from outside the door. Mu Chen froze, then opened the door with a wry smile. He thought he had been so clever, assuming she couldn’t detect his Spiritual Power. To his surprise, she had not only sensed it but also knew he was standing right on the other side.

"Uh... what are you doing here?"

Mu Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose. After all, this was his room. If anyone saw a peerless beauty suddenly showing up, they’d get the wrong idea.

But Chu Aoqing paid him no mind. Without any discernible Step Technique, she glided right past Mu Chen and into the hallway, the black Wide Blade Heavy Sword covered in ancient Runes still strapped to her back.

!!

Mu Chen’s eyes widened, but before he could speak, Chu Aoqing had already folded her arms, frowning as she surveyed the empty, dark hall. "Looks about right for a boy’s place," she said, shaking her head. With that, she headed for the second floor as if she owned the place. Judging by the first floor’s layout, it was clearly meant for storage and as a main hall, not for living. This was another difference between the dorms on the First and Fourth Levels. At least the dorms on the Fourth Level had three floors—upper, middle, and lower—that one could decorate and inhabit as they pleased.

Staring dumbfounded as her figure disappeared up the stairs, Mu Chen finally cried out, "Hey! Hey! Wait a minute!!"

But she paid him no mind, leaving Mu Chen utterly mortified. Ignoring the pain in his chest, he scrambled up the stairs after her.

When he reached the second floor, Mu Chen found Chu Aoqing in his bedroom. She had already unstrapped the Wide Blade Heavy Sword from her back and was now only carrying the Lady’s Sword in its golden Sword Scabbard. Her hands rested on the windowsill as she gazed outside.

"The view is much wider than from up there. It seems the lower levels have their advantages."

Again, she spoke as if to herself, completely ignoring Mu Chen’s expressions and words. Mu Chen felt utterly helpless. He had a temper, but it was impossible to unleash it on that perfectly unconcerned face. He wanted to say something, but it felt pointless. So, he gave up and simply stared at her, his eyes full of questions he didn’t voice.

Chu Aoqing turned around and pressed her palm against Mu Chen’s large bed. A hint of surprise crossed her face, followed by a smile. "Finally, something satisfactory."

As soon as she spoke, right in front of the stupefied Mu Chen, she unstrapped the Golden Lady’s Sword, pulled back the covers, and slipped into bed. A breathtakingly satisfied smile graced her lips as she peacefully drifted off to sleep...

"Uh... Er... What the..."

A soft, even breath escaped her lips.

Listening to her steady breathing, Mu Chen reached up and patted his own stiff cheeks, his mind a complete and utter mess.

’Can someone please tell me what the hell just happened? A peerless beauty showing up out of nowhere? Fine, I’ll let that slide. Her waltzing into my room like she owns the place? I guess I can let that slide, too. Her suddenly hopping into my bed with that satisfied look on her face? Whatever! But the crucial point is, I don’t even know her name!! What is even happening right now?!’

After his silent, frantic rant, Mu Chen finally lowered his head in defeat. He turned, closed the door to his own room, and stepped out into the hallway. The moment he did so, he froze. He muttered blankly to himself, "Wait, did I just walk into the wrong room? No, that’s not right... I’m the owner of this room, aren’t I?!"

Hearing his muttering from outside, the supposedly sleeping Chu Aoqing cracked open one eye and smiled faintly. ’I might have gone a little overboard,’ she thought. ’But... oh well. Since I’m already tucked in, I might as well get some sleep.’