Chapter 207 - 150: Great Gains! Another Boost in Strength

Chapter 207: Chapter 150: Great Gains! Another Boost in Strength

Chen Xuan’s expression changed, and he immediately turned around.

Another figure emerged from the crowd behind him. This man had a hearty smile and wore a cyan-black martial uniform. His eyebrows were long and shapely, his nose high-bridged, and he looked to be about thirty-five or thirty-six. Although he was quite handsome, he gave off a strange, almost thuggish, impression that didn’t quite match his features.

Hearing the commotion, Elder Wuu, who was off to the side, turned to look. His eyes lit up, and he said with a laugh, "Brother Chai, you’re here! It’s been quite a while since your last visit."

"Brother Chai?"

Mr. Zhuo frowned slightly. "Could he be from Celestial Treasure Mountain?" he asked.

Seeing Chen Xuan’s confusion, he immediately explained in a low voice, "Celestial Treasure Mountain is also a Grotto Heaven power. It ranks quite high among them and has always been wealthy. They’ve done a great deal of business with our Martial Alliance in the past."

"Oh?"

Chen Xuan sized the man up.

’How strange.’

’Heirs of the Grotto Heavens are entering the world one after another.’

’How many is that today?’

’Different circles really do bring you into contact with different people.’

’Back when I was in Canglan Province, I never would have imagined that things like ’Grotto Heavens’ even existed.’

"Young Hero Chen, I am Chai Yuan."

The newcomer seemed naturally friendly, looking directly at Chen Xuan with a smile. "I heard you have a Fire Python Inner Core for sale, is that right? How about you trade it to me?"

"Of course," Chen Xuan said calmly. "But I’ll only trade for rare resources I can use for my cultivation."

"Rest assured, while such things might be rare for others, my Chai family of Celestial Treasure Mountain has no shortage of them."

With a smile, Chai Yuan pulled a bundle from behind his back. "How about three stalks of Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng?"

He generously handed the bundle directly to Chen Xuan.

Chen Xuan took it, unwrapped the bundle, and inspected the contents.

Inside lay three stalks of a ginseng-like Spirit Medicine. They were purplish-gold in color and each had nine small holes.

He pressed one lightly with his finger, and its juices seeped out, releasing a dense wave of Spiritual Power.

"Good stuff!"

Chen Xuan nodded immediately.

They were no less potent than the rare resources he had obtained from the Martial Alliance.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Xuan readily agreed. "The Fire Python Inner Core is yours."

He casually tossed the crimson Inner Core to him.

Chai Yuan caught it, overjoyed. "A Fire Python isn’t a particularly high-level demon beast," he said, "but raising one is exceptionally difficult. It requires the slaughter of thousands of living creatures for feeding, and there’s always the risk of being discovered and having someone else snatch the prize... This is the kind of thing you can only stumble upon by chance, not seek out."

Who would dare to slaughter thousands of living beings just to raise a Fire Python?

That was something only an Evil Cult would do.

The people of the ’Grotto Heavens’ might seem high and mighty.

But if you asked them to do something like that, they wouldn’t dare.

Once it was done, a few masters from the Heavenly Ranking would surely come to annihilate you. No other ’Grotto Heaven’ would have an excuse to protect you, even if they wanted to.

That’s why this item was essentially contraband.

"By the way, Young Hero Chen, if you come across any other similar treasures in the future, feel free to trade with me. You can choose from all sorts of rare cultivation resources. That’s one thing my Chai family of Celestial Treasure Mountain has in abundance."

Chai Yuan smiled faintly.

"Sounds good," Chen Xuan replied.

’The guy is pretty straightforward. I like his style.’

"Well then, let’s consider ourselves friends," Chai Yuan said with a smile.

He suddenly lowered his voice. "But be careful of Black Demon Mountain and Crossroads Slope. You already know Black Demon Mountain has a deep-seated grudge with your Martial Alliance, but you should be especially wary of Crossroads Slope. They like to use corpse poison, and it’s nearly impossible to guard against."

"Thank you," Chen Xuan nodded.

"Well, I’ll be taking my leave then."

With a smile, Chai Yuan immediately left, heading off in another direction.

"Let’s go. We’re heading back, too," Chen Xuan said calmly to Mr. Zhuo.

’The trade is done. No reason to stay here any longer.’

Back at his residence, Chen Xuan immediately opened his status panel to check it.

Name: Chen Xuan

Heart Methods: Nine Yang Red Fire Skill (Fifth Layer), Molten Fire Gold Forging Skill (Perfection · Molten Rock Armor), Mixed Element Qi Skill (Perfection)

Martial Arts: Thunderfire Vajra Skill [(Perfection) Three Thousand Thunder Claps, Inner Blazing Sun, Mountain-Splitting Earth-Shaking, Soul-Severing Palm], Iron Wall Dragon-Elephant Skill (Perfection), Heavy Mountain Palm (Perfection), Shattering Star Finger (Seventh Layer), Flame Heaven-Burning Palm (Seventh Layer)

Cultivation: True Essence Realm Fifth Layer

Talents: Innate Divine Strength, Bronze Skin Iron Bones, Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 1), Lightning Dharma King (Level 1), Innate Tyrant Body, Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 2) (Fame: World-Renowned. Unlock one talent per fame level.)

Retribution Points: 178,400 (Can be used to advance Martial Arts)

...

"Excellent. With these three stalks of Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng, I can definitely break through to the next level. This trip wasn’t a waste."

A glint appeared in Chen Xuan’s eyes.

’Grotto Heaven experts?’

’I’m looking forward to this even more.’

Without hesitation, Chen Xuan picked up the three stalks of Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng, stuffed them into his mouth, bit down hard, chewed, and swallowed.

A torrent of pure essence soon surged from within him, powerful and immense. It was so unbelievably dense that a vibrant glow began to seep from his nostrils and mouth.

’Retribution points, advance the Nine Yang Red Fire Skill!’ Chen Xuan commanded internally.

...

...

「The Grotto Heaven World」

In the Sword Cleansing Pool, mountain ranges rose and fell in a vast, majestic landscape, suffused with an extremely dense Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.

Towering pavilions were constructed upon the crucial junctures of the mountain ranges and ley lines.

In the very center of the area, a colossal sword carved from a single massive boulder rose from the ground.

It was thousands of zhang tall, its presence majestic and its Sword Intent overwhelming.

The Sword Cleansing Pool already possessed a formidable reputation within the Grotto Heaven world.

This was especially true in recent years, with the emergence of Ling Shuangzi. At nearly thirty-five years of age, he was at the True Essence Third Layer and had once displayed his divine might throughout the Grotto Heaven world, earning praise from all corners.