Chapter 237 - 218: Half-Step Innate

Chapter 237: Chapter 218: Half-Step Innate

Chen Yue was stunned. "Master’s injured? Didn’t she go with Elder Mo and Elder Liu?"

Liu Wenying nodded, her voice a bit strained. "They did go together. Elder Mo and Elder Liu were injured too. They rushed back late last night."

Chen Yue’s brow furrowed tightly. ’Three Innate Realm experts joined forces, yet they all returned injured?’

’Just how strong was the thing in that Ghost Realm?’

He didn’t ask any more questions and said directly, "Where is Master now?"

Liu Wenying said in a low voice, "She’s at Elder Mo’s courtyard. I knew you would be back from the Wenda Corridor today, so I came here specifically to wait for you."

Chen Yue nodded. "Let’s go. To Elder Mo’s place!"

Liu Wenying nodded emphatically. "Okay!"

A moment later, Chen Yue and Liu Wenying arrived at True Inheritance Peak, in front of Mo Ciqiu’s courtyard.

A few clusters of slender bamboo grew by the courtyard wall, rustling in the morning breeze. Just as Chen Yue was about to knock, the half-closed courtyard gate opened on its own.

"Come in." Mo Ciqiu’s voice came from the courtyard. It was a few degrees lower than usual, carrying a trace of undisguised exhaustion.

One after the other, Chen Yue and Liu Wenying crossed the threshold and walked into the courtyard.

Mo Ciqiu and Meng Yu Jin were sitting on a stone bench in the center of the courtyard. Meng Yu Jin’s face was frighteningly pale, her lips devoid of any color. She looked extremely weak.

There were no obvious external injuries on her body, but the listless aura emanating from within was more worrying than any visible wound.

Mo Ciqiu’s condition was better than Meng Yu Jin’s, but only by a little.

Her right hand was wrapped in layer upon layer of bandages, with faint bloodstains seeping through. Her complexion was also much worse than usual, her eyes heavy with weariness.

Seeing Chen Yue and Liu Wenying walk in, Meng Yu Jin forced a faint smile and asked in a weak voice, "You’re here. Did your cultivation at the Gathering Essence Spirit Platform and Wenda Corridor go smoothly?"

Seeing that although Meng Yu Jin and Mo Ciqiu were injured, their spirits were still decent and they could still talk and joke, the heavy stone hanging in Chen Yue’s heart finally lightened a little.

He walked forward, stopped before the stone table, and bowed respectfully with his hands clasped. "Master, Elder Mo, my cultivation went smoothly. I’m sorry to have made you worry, Master."

Mo Ciqiu looked at Chen Yue and chuckled softly, her smile holding a hint of relief and approval:

"You’re quite thoughtful, rushing right over after hearing the news. It seems your master didn’t waste her breath worrying about you these past few days."

Chen Yue clasped his hands again. "Knowing that Master and Elder Mo were injured, of course I had to come and see if there was any way I could help."

Meng Yu Jin shook her head. She tried to sound relaxed, but the weakness in her voice was undeniable. "It’s nothing serious. I’ll recover after about half a year of rest and recuperation."

Mo Ciqiu lifted her white-bandaged right hand and glanced at Meng Yu Jin, her tone tinged with mock reproach. "Easy for you to say. If I hadn’t blocked that move for you, it’s anyone’s guess if you would’ve made it back at all."

Hearing this, an apologetic smile appeared on Meng Yu Jin’s face as she turned to Mo Ciqiu. "Yes, I owe you for this one. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid I really wouldn’t have come back."

Listening to their conversation, Chen Yue couldn’t help but frown deeply.

They spoke of it lightly now, but the information revealed between the lines was utterly horrifying.

’Three Innate Realm experts attacked together, and they almost didn’t make it back?’

Chen Yue couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, "Was the Ghostly Object in that Yin Department really that terrifying?"

Meng Yu Jin turned her head to look at Chen Yue and slowly shook it.

"The Ghostly Objects in that Ghost Realm were powerful, but not enough to leave the three of us in such a sorry state. We were injured because we were ambushed by someone else inside the Ghost Realm.

"Otherwise, with the combined strength of the three of us, even if we couldn’t win, we could have at least escaped unscathed."

As Meng Yu Jin spoke, her brows tightened.

Among the three, her strength was the weakest. After all, she had broken through to the Innate Realm most recently, and her foundation was far less profound than Mo Ciqiu’s or Liu Zhengyi’s.

If Mo Ciqiu hadn’t blocked that fatal blow for her at the critical moment, she feared she would have truly perished in that Ghost Realm.

Chen Yue’s brow furrowed even tighter. "Who ambushed you?"

Hearing this, Mo Ciqiu turned to look at Chen Yue and suddenly laughed, her smile tinged with a hint of teasing:

"What’s this, little Chen Yue? Are you thinking of getting revenge for us? All three of us Innate Realm experts were injured by that person."

Chen Yue shook his head, his expression serious, with no intention of posturing:

"I just want to confirm who it was, so I can run the moment I see them next time. Don’t want to get casually killed by them."

Mo Ciqiu was taken aback, clearly not expecting Chen Yue to give such an answer.

She had expected some grand, heroic declaration, something along the lines of "a gentleman’s revenge is a dish best served cold," but she never thought Chen Yue would so frankly talk about running away.

She stared blankly for a moment, then pointed at Chen Yue and burst out laughing. The laughter pulled at the wound on her right hand, causing her to suck in a sharp breath of cold air, but she couldn’t stop laughing.

A smile appeared on Meng Yu Jin’s face as well. She said slowly, "This is a matter between Innate Realm experts. You can start thinking about it after you break through to the Innate Realm."

When Mo Ciqiu had laughed her fill, she composed herself and said seriously:

"No. Even though this brat is deliberately acting cowardly, I think we should tell him in advance. If he really runs into that person in the future, it would be best to avoid them."

Hearing this, Meng Yu Jin frowned slightly, fell silent for a moment, and then slowly nodded.

Whether it was the current Chen Yue in the Refining Organ Realm, or the future Chen Yue who breaks through to the Innate Realm, he would not be that person’s match anytime soon.

Knowing in advance and being prepared was always better than blindly running into them.

Mo Ciqiu’s smile faded, her expression turning serious.

She looked at Chen Yue and began to speak slowly, her voice laced with gravity. "The man is Zou Guanyu of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace. His cultivation is probably on the verge of breaking through to the Mid-stage of the Innate Realm, far higher than your Elder Liu’s."

Chen Yue was slightly taken aback by this.

He had originally thought that the ones who ambushed Meng Yu Jin, Mo Ciqiu, and Liu Zhengyi would be from the Liuyun Sword Sect.

After all, he had single-handedly defeated everyone on their Sword Heart Ranking, causing the entire Liuyun Sword Sect to lose face. It would be impossible for them not to harbor some resentment.

In a chaotic and lawless place like a Ghost Realm, where death leaves no evidence, taking the opportunity for revenge was a very reasonable assumption.

But he had never imagined that the culprits would be from the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace.

Mo Ciqiu saw Chen Yue’s slightly stunned expression and seemed to guess his thoughts. She gave a small laugh, but it was tinged with coldness:

"You thought it would be the Liuyun Sword Sect, didn’t you? We also thought that the ones we needed to be most wary of in the Ghost Realm were from the Liuyun Sword Sect.

"But in reality, the people from the Liuyun Sword Sect didn’t make a move against us. Instead, it was that Zou Guanyu from the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace who launched a surprise attack while we were in the heat of battle with the Ghostly Objects."

Chen Yue nodded slowly, committing the name to memory. "I am indeed a bit surprised. I will remember this Zou Guanyu of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace."

Meng Yu Jin looked at Chen Yue, her tone becoming stern with warning:

"Don’t be reckless. Although he ambushed us, the three of us were still no match for him in the end, and he retreated with ease.

"You just need to understand how powerful Zou Guanyu is. Even after you break through to the Innate Realm, if you encounter this person, you must avoid him if you can. Do not try to be a hero."

Chen Yue nodded gravely. "I understand."

A short while later, Chen Yue left Mo Ciqiu’s courtyard, but Liu Wenying stayed behind.

A disciple should serve their master. As Meng Yu Jin’s disciple, it was appropriate for her to stay and take care of her injured master.

As a male disciple, however, Chen Yue’s presence would be inconvenient for certain things, so staying behind wouldn’t be much help.

Chen Yue walked back to his own courtyard along the mountain path, bathed in sunlight.

He closed the courtyard gate, sat down cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.

But a name couldn’t help but surface in his mind: Zou Guanyu, Ten Thousand Ghosts Palace.

「Three more days passed in the blink of an eye.」

During these three days, the atmosphere throughout the entire Panshi Sect remained in a state of subtle tension.

On one hand, the constant news of the ghost calamity from the outside world hung over everyone’s heart like a dark cloud.

New missions were posted every day. Every day, disciples went out to hunt Ghostly Objects. Some returned injured, and some never returned at all.

On the other hand, there was the anticipation and restlessness brought about by the upcoming Celestial State Prefecture Grand Tournament.

This was a grand event held once every few years, where the elite disciples of the major sects would gather to compete for rich rewards and honor.

These two completely different emotions intertwined, making the atmosphere in the sect rather complex.

Chen Yue wasn’t much affected by the outside world. He maintained his own rhythm, cultivating, performing Alchemy, and studying the Qi Yuan Pill Formula daily. His life was disciplined and fulfilling.

His Furious Wave Saber Intent was only a tiny bit of experience away from complete Perfection.

At his normal rate of cultivation, he would naturally complete the final transformation tonight.

Night fell, and all was silent.

In Chen Yue’s courtyard, there was only the rustling of leaves in the evening wind and the occasional cry of a night bird from the distance.

Chen Yue sat cross-legged in his Quiet Chamber, his breathing long and steady.

Within his body, the Pan Yuan Infinite Skill circulated on its own, nourishing his meridians and organs. In his Sea of Consciousness, he repeatedly analyzed the final few hurdles of the Furious Wave Saber Intent.

At midnight, the familiar ripples once again appeared before his eyes.

[Daily Settlement]

[Diligently cultivated Furious Wave Saber Intent, Experience +96]

[Furious Wave Saber Intent (Perfection 91258/91258)]

The moment the line "91258/91258" appeared in Chen Yue’s vision, it was as if something deep within his Sea of Consciousness had shattered with a BOOM!

Immediately after, an incomparably sharp Sword Intent erupted from his body and shot toward the heavens!

That Sword Intent pierced through the roof of the Quiet Chamber, through the courtyard walls, and soared straight into the clouds!

In the night sky, it was as if an invisible celestial saber had been brazenly unsheathed, cleaving an unseen rift in the dark canopy above!

The old tree in the courtyard had its branches and leaves shaking wildly as if swept by a gale.

The fallen leaves on the ground were swept up by the formless Sword Intent, spinning madly around Chen Yue’s Quiet Chamber.

Chen Yue slowly opened his eyes.

Deep within his pupils, it was as if two formless blades flashed and vanished.

With a flicker, Chen Yue’s figure appeared in the center of the courtyard.

He raised his head and looked at the deep, starry sky above. The skyward-rushing Sword Intent began to slowly retract under the control of his will.

And as the Sword Intent receded, an unprecedented sensation appeared in Chen Yue’s perception.

Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi!

There was no need to circulate the Celestial Demon Burning Technique, no need to deliberately burn his Heart Spirit.

Relying solely on his newly transformed Furious Wave Saber Intent, he could clearly sense the existence of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

That energy, which had once been formless and intangible, something he could barely touch even with a Secret Technique, now appeared in his perception as clearly as dust motes in the air.

Moreover, it was no longer confined to the narrow range around the surface of his body.

Within a radius of ten zhang, every wisp of flowing Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, every trace of energy fluctuation, was completely within his sight.

Chen Yue slowly raised his right hand, spread his fingers, and then gently clenched his fist.

He could feel the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi tremble slightly in accordance with his will.

Although he was still far from being able to control it, this was already a qualitative leap. It meant he had truly taken a crucial step toward the Innate Realm.

Chen Yue stood in the courtyard, closing his eyes to feel the subtle connection that had been established between himself and the world.

The night wind brushed past the corner of his robes and stirred the tips of his hair. After a long moment, he opened his eyes, and the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi began to slowly spiral back toward him.