Chapter 241 - 164: Chen Xuan Breaks Through to the Inner Realm

Chapter 241: Chapter 164: Chen Xuan Breaks Through to the Inner Realm

The man spoke in a flat tone. "For the Martial Alliance to produce such a prodigy is not something we at Black Demon Mountain wish to see. Besides, he has already killed two of our successors in the black market. This is an irreconcilable blood feud. What if our two factions cooperate? After the ’Dark Foggy Night’ arrives, we kill Chen Xuan and put an end to this once and for all."

"How strange. You actually want to cooperate with us?"

Elder Feng’s voice was ice-cold.

"There’s nothing strange about it."

The man continued, "As long as our interests align, anything is possible. So, tell me. Do you agree or not?"

"..."

Elder Feng said in a low voice, "Chen Xuan has the proven strength to injure an Inner Realm expert. His Cultivation is unfathomable. What makes you think you’re a match for him?"

"Of course I’m not a match for him."

The black-robed man spoke in a flat tone. "But one doesn’t always have to do the dirty work oneself. When the ’Dark Foggy Night’ arrives, the Demons and Monsters will be our greatest allies. Besides, I also know a secret."

He stepped forward. His lips barely moved as he transmitted a message directly into Elder Feng’s ear.

Elder Feng’s eyes narrowed, and he gave the black-robed man a long, hard look.

"Fine. I agree."

"Excellent. Let me introduce myself. My name is Gu Sha."

The black-robed man smiled, baring a set of white teeth. "Gu Sha. As in, ’devoted to slaughter.’"

Elder Feng let out a cold smirk and said no more.

...

「On the island in Canglong Lake.」

Just after exchanging materials with Chai Yuan, Chen Xuan suddenly froze. A jolt, like an electric current, shot through his mind, and a tingling numbness instantly washed over his entire body.

His heart clenched, and his eyes flashed like lightning.

’Someone bears me ill will?’

’Who is it?’

’Who’s plotting against me now?’

’And this hostility... it’s intense. Utterly malevolent.’

He frowned, trying to pinpoint the source, but it was impossible. All he could feel was his Indestructible Fist Intent (Level 2) vibrating, sending out waves of warning like a seismograph. There was a source, an epicenter, but its location was impossibly vague.

He had to see a person with his own eyes before he could lock onto their spiritual fluctuations.

But if he’d never met them, all he could sense were these ’seismic waves.’ The deeper the malice, the stronger the ’tremors.’

It wasn’t the first time he’d felt such ’tremors,’ but they had always been faint, and he had grown used to them over time. After all, when you wander the martial world, it’s only natural to have a few enemies cursing your name.

The problem was, this tremor was far too strong.

If he had to describe it, this was a magnitude-10 earthquake.

"..."

Chen Xuan’s expression was grim.

"What’s wrong, Young Hero Chen?"

Chai Yuan looked at him with concern.

Last time, Chen Xuan had suddenly run off halfway through their meal.

’We’re halfway through this meal, too. Don’t tell me something’s happened again?’

"It’s nothing."

Chen Xuan suddenly shook his head, forcing a smile. "Let’s eat. Let’s continue."

’It wasn’t hard to guess who would bear him such malice, especially with timing this coincidental.’

’It had to be related to the Evil Cult.’

’After all, they were the ones who raised that ancient corpse.’

’The Purple Gold Lotus was what they needed for healing.’

’Now that I’ve snatched it all away, it’s no surprise they’d harbor this much malice.’

"Young Hero Chen, the Dark Foggy Night is almost here. I probably won’t be coming out for the next few days,"

Chai Yuan said with a sigh.

"The Dark Foggy Night? What exactly is that?"

Chen Xuan asked.

He’d heard the term more than once, but no one could ever clearly explain its origin.

"You’re not from a Grotto Heaven, so you wouldn’t know about our troubles."

Chai Yuan shook his head. "The truth is, every Grotto Heaven exists to suppress a great terror. That terror may seem contained, but it erupts once every ten years. It doesn’t just sweep through all the Grotto Heavens; it also seeps into the outside world through spatial rifts. Wherever it leaks out, it immediately forms a unique region that draws the attention of all the Demons and Monsters from the outside world. This is what we call the ’Dark Foggy Night.’ On that night, a black fog blankets everything, and it is terrifying beyond measure."

"Oh?"

Chen Xuan’s mind raced.

He had heard some faint clues about this from Chu Shanhe as well.

"Is the thing suppressed by the Grotto Heavens really that terrifying? Are they demons?"

Chen Xuan asked.

Mr. Zhuo and Elder Wuu both looked over, their curiosity piqued.

"To be precise, it’s a bizarre, black world, perpetually shrouded in endless night. It holds both countless opportunities and boundless terror. That black world is constantly expanding, constantly encroaching, and it contains... well, everything imaginable."

Chai Yuan replied.

"A black world."

Chen Xuan was taken aback.

"Yes."

Chai Yuan nodded. "But I’ve never entered it myself. In fact, very few in the entire Chai family have ever had real contact with it. At most, only the Patriarch and the elders know the full details. I’ve only heard the gist of it from them."

Chen Xuan took a sharp breath, his mind reeling.

Mr. Zhuo and Elder Wuu exchanged glances. From the sound of it, the Martial Alliance not having reclaimed its lost Grotto Heaven was actually a blessing in disguise.

At least for the ordinary members, it was.

They wouldn’t have to face that decennial terror.

"When exactly will the Dark Foggy Night arrive?"

Chen Xuan asked.

"If nothing unexpected happens, it’ll be in the next day or two."

Chai Yuan replied.

"I see."

Chen Xuan nodded.

"But enough about that. Let’s keep eating."

Chai Yuan said with a smile, urging them to continue.

They all started eating again.

The afternoon passed quickly amidst conversation and laughter.

Chai Yuan eventually got up and left.

Afterward, the entire island sprang into a flurry of activity.

Martial Alliance disciples reinforced their patrols, moving in groups of three to five as they scoured the island.

Even the usual stall owners had heard the rumors and began to pack up and leave.

The atmosphere around the black market grew tense. Boats hurried to and fro, creating the distinct feeling of the calm before a storm.

「At dusk.」

Chen Xuan looked at the five heavenly treasures before him and sighed inwardly.

’The people from the Grotto Heavens are so damn rich.’

’They handed over five stalks of Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng without even blinking.’

’With these five stalks of Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng, plus my 340,000 retribution points, I should be able to break through to the Inner Realm.’

A glint appeared in Chen Xuan’s eyes.

’Two stalks of Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng should already produce a twofold effect.’

’So five stalks should be at least fivefold.’

’There’s no way this won’t work!’

Exceptionally decisive, Chen Xuan grabbed the Nine-Orifice Spirit Ginseng and began stuffing it into his mouth.

An intense fragrance exploded in his mouth, bursting with rich Spiritual Power. He devoured it as if it were a common radish, and his entire abdomen began to burn.

’Retribution points, upgrade the Nine Yang Red Fire Skill!’

Chen Xuan commanded inwardly.

’The Nine Yang Red Fire Skill can open up to the Third Layer of the Inner Realm, so I don’t need to worry about the Cultivation Technique being insufficient.’

’Once I’ve broken through, I can just find a higher-level Cultivation Technique.’

[Ding! You have consumed 100,000 retribution points and have begun to further deduce the Nine Yang Red Fire Skill. Detecting the incomparably vast and terrifying medicinal properties within your body, you have successfully obtained a fivefold bonus, achieving 600 times your normal Cultivation Speed...]

As Chen Xuan sat cross-legged in his room, immersed in the process...

「Outside.」

The last sliver of the setting sun vanished below the horizon.

An invisible, sinister wind suddenly began to blow across the island, WHINING eerily.

The temperature on the vast island plummeted as sand and stones were whipped into the air.

An immense, cold darkness began to slowly swallow the entire island...

It was as if the gates of hell had suddenly swung open.

Or as if the netherworld itself had descended upon the mortal realm...

In the courtyard, Zhao Qianyue, Mr. Zhuo, and Elder Wuu’s expressions all changed. They shot to their feet and snapped their heads up to look at the sky.

"The Dark Foggy Night... it’s arrived early!"

Zhao Qianyue’s face was a mask of shock.

...

Three Chapters!

Thirteen thousand words!

Chen Xuan has reached the Inner Realm! The slaughter begins tomorrow!