Kapitel 13: 432-438
Chapter 432: Enlightenment Tower
Only two apertures remained to be opened, and Chen Fei's cultivation would reach the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, achieving an accomplishment that no one in the Primordial Sword Sect had been able to attain for many years.
However, it was precisely these final two apertures that were currently posing a challenge for Chen Fei.
This was because the cultivation method for the Primordial Sword Body, which was only available in the early stages of the Aperture Tempering realm, had long been lost. As a result, Chen Fei couldn't fully cultivate the Primordial Sword Body to perfection and then integrate it into the Primordial Sword Manual.
For martial practitioners in the Aperture Tempering realm who wished to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, they needed to reach the late stages of the Aperture Tempering realm to qualify for such a breakthrough.
However, just like how those at the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm could attempt to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the ones who truly had a better chance were those whose cultivation and foundation were more solid.
Comparing a regular late-stage Visceral Tempering realm practitioner with one at the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm, attempting to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm simultaneously, it was certain that the success rate for the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm was much higher.
Or one could say, significantly higher.
With only two apertures left to open, Chen Fei could reach the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm. Naturally, he couldn't rush to attempt to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm without first filling these two apertures. Doing so would be irresponsible to his own path of martial arts and would also harm his own foundation.
Attempting to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm from the Aperture Tempering realm, if unsuccessful, would cause severe damage to the apertures within the body. There wouldn't be a second opportunity for breakthrough in the short term, which typically spanned several decades.
If one's luck was a bit worse, a failed breakthrough could even result in the loss of one's life, making it an extremely dangerous endeavor.
Beneath the moonlit sky, Chen Fei stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the heavens. The night breeze rustled through his hair.
"Clang!"
A sword's resonance echoed as the Qianyuan Sword fell into Chen Fei's hands. Sensing the power emanating from Chen Fei's body, the Qianyuan Sword trembled as if it were rejoicing.
In the past six months, not only had Chen Fei's own cultivation advanced further, but the Qianyuan Sword had also finally transformed from a middle-grade spiritual sword into a high-grade spiritual sword.
Built on the foundation of the Tian Shijin from the beginning, worth several hundred thousand taels of silver, the Qianyuan Sword's achievement in becoming a high-grade spiritual sword was nothing short of a miracle.
Of course, this miracle had been achieved by forcefully using the spiritual essence of so many Aperture Tempering realm enemies. Moreover, the Tianhui Stone obtained in the Mysterious City had significantly accelerated the sword's transformation.
One hundred and six apertures, the fusion of six martial arts techniques in the Primordial Sword Manual, and a high-grade spiritual sword—these factors combined to make Chen Fei's current strength exceptionally formidable.
As for what exactly the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm was like in terms of strength, Chen Fei had only occasionally seen it, and since he hadn't truly fought against one, he couldn't make a definitive judgment.
However, based on what he had witnessed in the past, it was possible that Chen Fei, in his current state, was no weaker than those at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
Of course, this assessment applied to those at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm who didn't possess top-grade spiritual weapons. If a Visceral Tempering realm practitioner at the pinnacle wielded a top-grade spiritual weapon, their overall strength would greatly increase.
Top-grade spiritual weapons had the potential to transform into treasures if the right circumstances aligned.
Many Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts used treasures that were, in fact, their former top-grade spiritual weapons nurtured with their own essence, gradually elevating them to the level of treasures.
While these self-nurtured treasures might have a slightly weaker foundation, their long-term use allowed for a deep connection between the wielder and the weapon, compensating to some extent for any shortcomings in power.
Chen Fei lowered his head to look at the Qianyuan Sword in his hand, and the Primordial Sword Manual circulated. The Qianyuan Sword's blade began to radiate an astonishing and formidable power.
Not far from Chen Fei's courtyard, Zhang Fangqiong opened her eyes and gazed towards the location of Chen Fei's courtyard.
After breaking through to the Aperture Tempering realm, Zhang Fangqiong had intentionally chosen a courtyard not far from Chen Fei's, hinting at a deeper meaning in her actions.
Zhang Fangqiong flashed onto the eaves and looked ahead. Under the moonlight, in Chen Fei's courtyard, the sharp and awe-inspiring aura emanating from him became increasingly evident.
Zhang Fangqiong's gaze wavered, thinking that after breaking through to the Aperture Tempering realm, the gap between her and Chen Fei had narrowed. But now, it seemed to have grown even wider.
Involuntarily, Zhang Fangqiong recalled the first time they had met. At that time, Chen Fei's cultivation was only at the Bone Tempering Realm.
In the context of the Primordial Sword Sect at that time, the Bone Tempering Realm was considered a lower-level cultivation, and venturing into the treacherous Strange Wind Realm with such a cultivation was akin to a life-or-death gamble.
However, against all odds, within the Strange Wind Realm, Chen Fei not only survived but also managed to rescue them all from the perilous situation.
Looking back now, Zhang Fangqiong couldn't help but feel a sense of unreality.
Chen Fei had progressed rapidly from the Bone Tempering Realm in just a few short years, reaching his current Aperture Tempering realm.
A light sigh escaped from Zhang Fangqiong's lips.
In the courtyard, Chen Fei gently stroked the Qianyuan Sword's blade, and the pervasive power began to slowly recede.
With one hundred and six apertures and the damaged Primordial Sword Body, Chen Fei had several options ahead of him.
One was to ignore the condition of the Primordial Sword Body and forcefully open the remaining two apertures, increasing the total to one hundred and eight apertures. Then, he could use the power of the Primordial Sword Manual to connect all one hundred and eight apertures into a single entity, achieving the true pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
With Chen Fei's current martial knowledge and the assistance of the Primordial Sword Manual, forcefully opening the remaining two apertures was a task he had a reasonable chance of succeeding in, and it wouldn't take too long.
In less than a year, Chen Fei was confident that he could elevate his cultivation to the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
However, the absence of one of the six martial techniques, the Primordial Sword Body, in the Primordial Sword Manual would inevitably impact Chen Fei's strength when he reached the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
This was unavoidable because only with a complete set of martial techniques could one fully elevate their strength to its most optimal level.
Other Visceral Tempering realm experts at the pinnacle relied on complete martial techniques to reach that level. When compared to those Visceral Tempering realm experts, Chen Fei would naturally have a disadvantage.
Of course, this disadvantage wouldn't be too significant. It just meant that it would be more challenging for Chen Fei to sweep through opponents of the same level as he used to.
If those Visceral Tempering realm experts also possessed top-grade spiritual weapons, Chen Fei's chances of winning would be even slimmer.
Furthermore, with his current foundation, attempting to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm would also naturally come with a lower success rate. The decrease in success probability wouldn't be substantial, but breaking through from the Aperture Tempering realm to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm was inherently a risky endeavor.
Out of the numerous Visceral Tempering realm experts at the pinnacle, only a few of them ultimately succeeded in breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, and they were a rare minority.
A slight reduction in the chances of success could ultimately lead to a grim outcome because it might come down to a tiny margin, resulting in success or failure on the brink.
These were the possible consequences that Chen Fei might face if he forcefully opened the remaining two apertures. Everything would be just slightly lacking, not entirely unacceptable, but indeed, there would be a difference.
Of course, compared to other Visceral Tempering realm experts at the pinnacle, Chen Fei had one advantage that others didn't possess, and that was the Suppressing Dragon Elephant.
The Suppressing Dragon Elephant had a significant catalytic effect when it came to aiding in breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
In the past, the Dragon-Elephant True Immortal had relied on the Suppressing Dragon Elephant's cultivation method to ultimately break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. Besides having other exquisite martial techniques of his own, the Suppressing Dragon Elephant had played a crucial role in his success.
Even if Chen Fei forcefully opened the apertures, causing a slightly weaker foundation, the Suppressing Dragon Elephant could certainly make up for these differences.
Apart from the method of forcibly opening the apertures, there was another option: Chen Fei could directly repair the damaged Primordial Sword Body.
However, the time and energy required to repair a martial technique would be slightly less than creating an entirely new one. This timeframe could range from a few years to possibly more than a decade, depending on the circumstances. And it was only because of Chen Fei's current foundation that he could achieve this within such a short time.
It might take over a decade to have a chance at breaking through to the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, so Chen Fei might choose to forcibly open the apertures within a year and then attempt to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
However, the final decision on whether to forcibly open the apertures would depend on Chen Fei's visit to the Haiyan City, where he would have access to a treasure of the Thousand Feathers Alliance – the Enlightenment Tower!
A spiritual treasure was even more potent than a magic treasure and was generally only held by experts in the Mountain Sea Realm. The Enlightenment Tower in Haiyan City belonged to the leader of the Thousand Feathers Alliance.
Within the territory of the Thousand Feathers Alliance, there were six major cities that possessed a subsidiary form of the Enlightenment Tower.
During normal times, the Enlightenment Tower could help individuals create and comprehend martial techniques. In case of external threats, it could also be used for defense.
The fact that the leader of the Thousand Feathers Alliance was willing to place this spiritual treasure in other cities indicated great confidence in their ability. In other words, even if someone were to take the Enlightenment Tower, the leader was confident that they could personally retrieve it.
Moreover, whether placing the Enlightenment Tower in a bustling area like Haiyan City would aid in its growth was uncertain.
Chen Fei was not at that level yet and had never even seen a magic treasure, so he didn't fully understand the mystical uses of spiritual treasures.
However, Chen Fei knew that this Enlightenment Tower could help him repair the Primordial Sword Body. So, he intended to give it a try. If successful, the Primordial Sword Manual would truly become perfect.
If it proved unfeasible, Chen Fei would return and forcefully open the remaining apertures, elevating his cultivation directly to the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm. Afterward, he would seek a way to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
Early the next morning, Chen Fei informed Qu Qingsheng of his departure and then left the sect's mountain gate.
Chen Fei's figure flickered as he headed in the direction of Haiyan City.
Before leaping off the island, Chen Fei looked back. Compared to half a year ago, there were noticeably more people on the island now.
After all, with factions stationed here, it meant that the island would be guarded in the future.
Although it all fell under the territory of the Thousand Feathers Alliance, not every island was completely safe, as occasional sea monsters would emerge from the depths of the sea and devour humans.
Having factions stationed on these islands greatly reduced the occurrence of such incidents.
A smile played on Chen Fei's lips. This was just the beginning. In the future, more and more people would come here. If the strength of the Primordial Sword Sect could improve even further, there might even be people traveling from far and wide to seek apprenticeship here..
Chapter 433: Pressure
Chen Fei sped along the road like lightning, and the sea posed no hindrance to him. It was as if he was walking on flat ground, causing no impediment whatsoever. Chen Fei advanced towards Haiyan City in almost a straight line.
Only when passing by some islands with influential forces stationed there would Chen Fei slightly veer off course, to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.
After several hours of travel, crossing over a dozen islands with various powers, Chen Fei finally caught sight of the colossal city walls of Haiyin City from a distance.
Upon arriving here, the number of cultivators in the Aperture Tempering realm and the quantity of ships had noticeably increased, and the bustling atmosphere was overwhelming.
Cultivators in the Aperture Tempering realm didn't enjoy any significant privileges in Haiyin City. Chen Fei stood in the crowd and gradually made his way into the city.
Compared to his last visit, Haiyin City appeared to have undergone no changes; it remained just as bustling as before.
The cries of vendors filled the air, and martial practitioners in the Aperture Tempering realm were everywhere, with a predominance of those in the early and mid-level stages. Those in the late stage were somewhat rarer.
As for those at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, they could only be occasionally glimpsed.
As a seedling of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, those at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm were still a rare minority.
"Sir, is this your first visit to Haiyin City? Do you need a guide? It'll only cost you ten silver taels, and I can show you around the entire city," a petite girl approached Chen Fei cautiously. Her clothes were patched up, faded with age, but neatly kept.
Although her stature seemed small, her eyes shone brightly, leaving a lasting impression with just one glance.
"What's your name?" Chen Fei looked at the girl, a hint of a smile on his face.
Haiyin City was the largest city nearby, but living in such a city didn't mean everyone enjoyed a life of luxury. Disparities in wealth existed everywhere, and Haiyin City was no exception.
"I'm called Mi Xian," the girl replied, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile when Chen Fei asked for her name.
"Do you know about the Enlightenment Tower?" Chen Fei casually took out ten silver taels and tossed them to her.
"Sir, in Haiyin City, there's no one who doesn't know about the Enlightenment Tower," Mi Xian replied, catching the silver coins without thinking. Upon seeing the amount, she quickly added, "Sir, you don't have to pay it all now. You can give me the rest after today's tour."
"Keep it for now and lead me to the Enlightenment Tower," Chen Fei waved his hand.
"Of course, sir!" Mi Xian smiled, her eyes forming crescents as she enthusiastically began to lead the way.
"In Haiyin City, the most famous restaurant is the Drunken Moon Pavilion, but the best food can actually be found elsewhere."
Perhaps sensing that Chen Fei was easy to talk to, Mi Xian continuously provided him with various information about Haiyin City along the way, from the distribution of powers within the city to details about food, lodging, and transportation.
Mi Xian explained everything she knew to Chen Fei.
Chen Fei nodded from time to time, finding the information quite interesting.
Chen Fei hadn't expected that by spending ten silver taels, he would actually learn quite a bit of useful information.
"Your aptitude, while not outstanding, can still lead to significant progress if you persist in martial cultivation. There should be plenty of places in Haiyin City for martial training. Why haven't you gone?"
Turning down a street and arriving at the central square of Haiyin City, a massive pagoda stood tall – it was the Enlightenment Tower. After a brief glance at the tower, Chen Fei turned to look at Mi Xian.
"My younger brother is currently studying martial arts. He's in the largest martial academy in Haiyin City, the Flying Cloud Hall, and he's highly regarded by the hall's master," Mi Xian's face lit up with a happy smile. "Once my brother achieves something in his martial cultivation, our family's life will improve." "How long has your brother been studying martial arts? What's his current level?"
As Chen Fei walked toward the Enlightenment Tower, an atmosphere of tranquility began to permeate his heart as they drew closer. The square was quite large, with many people sitting cross-legged, diligently practicing their techniques. Some would suddenly have epiphanies, while others furrowed their brows in deep contemplation, yet found nothing.
Under the aura of the Enlightenment Tower, both cultivation and comprehension of martial techniques were enhanced, and there was no need to pay any spirit stones.
"My little brother has been studying martial arts for six years, and he's currently at the Flesh Tempering realm," Mi Xian replied with a smile.
"Six years in the Flesh Tempering realm?"
Chen Fei's steps involuntarily paused for a moment. He turned to look at Mi Xian seriously and said, "If you've been practicing for six years, by now, you should have reached the Bone Tempering Realm."
"Ah?" Mi Xian was a bit taken aback when she heard Chen Fei's words.
"You wait for me here. If I don't come out within a day, you can leave on your own," Chen Fei left these words behind as he started walking towards the Enlightenment Tower.
Mi Xian stared at Chen Fei's receding figure in bewilderment. She thought about what he had just said and her eyes brightened slightly. However, she quickly realized her own situation. She had no spare resources to bring another person into the martial academy. Even enrolling one more person in the Flying Cloud Hall was an extremely strenuous endeavor now.
Moreover, the teachings of the martial academy were not to be privately shared with others without permission. If it was discovered that she was teaching someone without authorization, both the instructor and the student would face severe punishment, including having their cultivation stripped away.
Mi Xian's gaze returned to a desolate look as she touched the ten silver taels in her pocket and lowered her head.
"Stop right there!" A disciple of the Enlightenment Tower blocked Chen Fei's path in front of the tower.
"I want to enter the Enlightenment Tower," Chen Fei said to the disciple.
"What's the level of your power?" The disciple asked in a low voice.
"Sixth level."
"Fifty low-grade spirit stones."
"Alright," Chen Fei nodded and handed over the package on his back.
Entering the Enlightenment Tower required spirit stones, as Chen Fei had learned beforehand. However, not everyone who entered the tower had to pay with spirit stones. If the level of their power was high enough, they could receive free entry quotas each year. The higher the level, the more quotas they would receive.
Factions like the Primordial Sword Sect, which has a maximum of late Aperture Tempering realm martial practitioners, are considered sixth-level forces. If they have a pinnacle Aperture Tempering realm practitioner, they can be upgraded to a fifth-level force.
If they have a strong practitioner at the initial Combined Aperture Tempering realm, like the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, they automatically become a fourth-level force.
This hierarchy continues upwards. Having a pinnacle Combined Aperture Tempering realm practitioner would make a faction a first-level force in the Thousand Feathers Alliance.
Starting from the fourth-level forces, there are various resources allocated to them by the Thousand Feathers Alliance, and the Enlightenment Tower is one of them. Another crucial obligation is that each faction must send people to the outskirts of the Thousand Feathers Alliance every year to participate in hunting and killing magical beasts.
This is a duty that every faction within the Thousand Feathers Alliance must fulfill. The higher the faction's level, the fewer people they have to send, but they receive more in return.
This might seem somewhat unreasonable, but that's the reality. The stronger you are, the fewer responsibilities you have. Conversely, the weaker you are, the more burdens you carry, and you receive the least.
You either strive to climb higher or wait for others to continue to exploit you.
The Primordial Sword Sect and the Sunken Water Pavilion are required to send people to the outskirts of the Thousand Feathers Alliance in half a year. For newly joined forces, the Thousand Feathers Alliance provides a one-year adaptation period.
After one year, all the responsibilities and obligations will fall squarely on their shoulders.
"If you can't bear it, don't force yourself. You can always descend to a lower level where the pressure will be much less," the disciple reminded Chen Fei with good intentions. "Inside, as time passes, the pressure will only increase, and trying to endure it might risk injuring your apertures."
"Thank you!" Chen Fei gave a polite nod and entered the Enlightenment Tower.
The Enlightenment Tower appeared quite large from the outside, but once Chen Fei stepped inside, he realized that the interior space was even more expansive than it appeared.
"Space?"
Chen Fei's thoughts stirred as he felt the pressure of the first level of the Enlightenment Tower, but it didn't bother him much. On the first level, many people were sitting in meditation, diligently cultivating their skills.
Chen Fei followed the stairs and ascended to the second level.
Compared to the first level, there were fewer people on the second level of the Enlightenment Tower, and the pressure on the second level was several times greater than on the first.
However, this level of pressure didn't have much effect on Chen Fei. He continued upward.
The third level, the fourth level, the fifth level!
Chen Fei ascended three more levels, and with each level, the pressure exerted by the Enlightenment Tower increased exponentially compared to the previous one. By the time he reached the fifth level, the pressure was nearly ten times that of the first level.
This pressure not only affected the physical body but also put significant strain on the mind. If one's mental strength was insufficient, they might find it hard to think clearly, let alone comprehend martial techniques.
Chen Fei stood quietly for a moment, feeling that he could handle the pressure, and continued his ascent to the upper levels of the Enlightenment Tower.
The sixth level!
On this level, there were only a few individuals left, and each of them was at the late Aperture Tempering realm. Chen Fei glanced at them, and it was evident from their highly condensed aura that they had opened a considerable number of apertures, at least around a hundred.
Chen Fei continued up the stairs.
Two of the people here opened their eyes and looked at Chen Fei. They couldn't help but be surprised when they saw that Chen Fei showed no signs of struggling. Although the pressure on the first day in the Enlightenment Tower was the lightest on each level, it would continue to increase over time. Being able to remain composed on the sixth level was already a sign of strength surpassing most late Aperture Tempering realm practitioners.
"Some new faces, and they're really something!" someone exclaimed.
"That might be premature. Perhaps he'll come down soon."
"Hahaha, you're right. The pressure on the seventh level is too much."
Chen Fei didn't hear the discussions below; he had reached the seventh level.
Here, both the physical and mental pressure had reached a level tens of times higher than the first level. It was a rather formidable figure. Currently, on the seventh level, there was only one person sitting cross-legged.
His aura was magnificent and highly condensed, but what was even more critical was the sense of unity in his elemental power. This lone figure was a pinnacle Aperture Tempering realm expert. Only when one had formed a complete entity with a hundred and eight apertures could they withstand this level of pressure.
Yan Zesong opened his eyes and glanced at Chen Fei. When he realized that Chen Fei was merely at the advanced Aperture Tempering realm, his expression showed some surprise.
However, Yan Zesong didn't say anything. He closed his eyes again and focused on comprehending the mysteries of his martial technique.
Chen Fei took some time to assess the pressure on the seventh level of the Enlightenment Tower and found it manageable. However, he needed to test whether he could effectively contemplate martial techniques in this environment.
He chose a spot and sat down cross-legged, beginning to contemplate the Primordial Sword Body.
After fifteen minutes, Chen Fei stood up and continued to ascend to the eighth level.
With each step, the sound of his shoes on the stairs echoed faintly. Yan Zesong opened his eyes and watched Chen Fei's figure as he walked away..
Chapter 434: Where Did You Come From?
Yan Zesong's lips curled slightly, daring to venture to the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower. It truly showed his fearlessness in the face of ignorance.
The pressure on the seventh floor of the Enlightenment Tower required even him to concentrate fully to maintain his best deductive abilities. Any slackness would lead to the tower's pressure encroaching on his apertures and mental state, greatly reducing efficiency.
As for the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower, Yan Zesong had been there, but he came down voluntarily after just a moment. The pressure there was not something a normal Aperture Tempering realm cultivator could withstand; it was specifically designed for the Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts.
Yan Zesong's eyes closed again. He knew that in a matter of moments, that person would willingly come down.
Chen Pel was unaware of Yan Zesong's thoughts. At this moment, Chen Fei had just stepped onto the eighth floor, feeling a sudden weight on his body as pressure surged from all directions.
Compared to the seventh floor of the Enlightenment Tower, the pressure on the eighth floor instantly increased several times over.
The pressure on the seventh floor of the Enlightenment Tower was already immense, and this additional pressure, if not handled with care, could even damage his apertures and mental state directly.
The elemental force under Chen Fei's skin trembled incessantly, and both the Suppressing Dragon Elephant and the Spirit Suppression were activated simultaneously, counteracting the pervasive pressure from the Enlightenment Tower one by one.
After just a moment, Chen Fei gradually adapted to the pressure around him, and his posture straightened.
Exhaling a breath, Chen Fei's expression relaxed slightly.
Looking around, the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower was deserted. Chen Fei took step by step towards the center of the eighth floor and sat down cross-legged.
Chen Fei's thoughts gradually focused as information about the Primordial Sword Body's cultivation method began to appear in his sea of consciousness, starting from the Dirty Refinement Realm all the way to the early stages of the Acupuncture Refinement Realm.
Every step and detail of the Primordial Sword Body's cultivation process flashed through Chen Fei's mind, and then he began to deduce the subsequent parts of the Primordial Sword Body.
Right from the start of this deduction, Chen Fei immediately felt the magic of the Enlightenment Tower. The all-pervading pressure seemed to be squeezing out Chen Fei's own potential, and various thoughts about the Primordial Sword Body emerged in his sea of consciousness.
Chen Fei had tried deducing the Primordial Sword Body in the past, and while he made progress, the efficiency was not particularly high.
However, inside the Enlightenment Tower at this moment, the eruption of these inspirations seemed to be accelerated. Correct and incorrect thoughts alike were whirling in Chen Fei's sea of consciousness.
These thoughts verified and contradicted each other, and then a correct line of thinking gradually emerged in this intense collision.
This feeling was quite extraordinary, much like the collision of insights, sharing a striking similarity. However, when it came down to the details, there were many differences.
The collision of insights allowed you to gradually unlock the previously incomprehensible aspects of a cultivation method and gain a deeper understanding of the creator's thoughts behind the technique, using an approach that closely connected you to the essence of the technique, enabling rapid comprehension.
At this moment, inside the Enlightenment Tower, it was as if something was being created from nothing. Building upon the foundation of the Primordial Sword Body's practice, Chen Fei continued to progress backward.
In the past, Chen Fei was feeling his way across like crossing a river with his eyes closed, not knowing if he was heading in the right direction. But today, it felt like he had a torch in his hand, illuminating the path ahead.
With each step forward, the darkness ahead was automatically lit up by the torch's light. There was no need to worry about running out of ideas; the ideas were flowing freely in his sea of consciousness, debating with each other.
A faint smile appeared on Chen Fei's face. This trip to the Enlightenment Tower was the right decision. At the current pace, completing the Primordial Sword Body was only a matter of time.
Looking at the progress, it wouldn't take too long.
In fact, half a year ago, when the Primordial Sword Sect and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect went their separate ways in the Boundless Sea, Qu Qingsheng had privately inquired with the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect about the Primordial Sword Body.
They had already reached the Boundless Sea, and the events in Immortal Cloud City had become a thing of the past.
Qu Qingsheng hoped that if the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect truly possessed the complete Primordial Sword Body, they could return it to the Primordial Sword Sect. In that case, all seven gates of the Primordial Sword Canon would be reclaimed.
However, the result of Qu Qingsheng's inquiry was far from satisfactory.
The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect did not admit to having the complete Primordial Sword Body. What was returned to the Primordial Sword Sect originally was all they had in their possession.
Qu Qjngsheng felt disappointed in his heart. Although he suspected that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was lying, he had no evidence. Or perhaps, even if there was evidence, Qu Qingsheng wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had been forced to leave Immortal Cloud City because of the overwhelming power of the Divine Flame Sect, not necessarily because the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had weakened to a certain extent.
Compared to the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, the Primordial Sword Sect was much weaker.
If you are a weaker party, you must have the awareness of being weak. When the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect claimed not to have the Primordial Sword Body, it was indeed true.
Whether it existed or not, it didn't matter.
The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was not like the Sword Return Tower. The Sword Return Tower had taken the Primordial Sword Sect's techniques, and the two sides were locked in a bitter feud. That was because the Primordial Sword Sect and the Sword Return Tower were evenly matched in strength, which allowed them to continue their relentless conflict.
If the Primordial Sword Sect were to engage in relentless conflict with the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect now, it would be the Primordial Sword Sect that suffered casualties, and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect would not incur any losses.
It was harsh, but it was also extremely real. Everything relied on one's own strength, while everything else was just falsehood.
Chen Fei had been prepared for this outcome when he heard about the situation with the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, and he had prepared several contingency plans.
Now, inside the Enlightenment Tower, the seventh floor to be precise, Yan Zesong suddenly furrowed his brows and opened his eyes.
The deductive power provided by the Enlightenment Tower was gradually diminishing, or to put it another way, the surrounding pressure was weakening.
Yan Zesong had been to the Enlightenment Tower many times, and this situation often occurred when Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts entered the tower. The primary power of the Enlightenment Tower would be used by those Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts.
The Enlightenment Tower was a spiritual treasure, but even spiritual treasures had their limits. This ability to grant deductive power to others consumed the Enlightenment Tower's own energy.
Of course, it didn't mean that with so many people, they would completely deplete the tower's power. It was a mechanism of the Enlightenment Tower to provide deductive abilities using its spare energy.
The total sum of the Enlightenment Tower's spare energy remained constant, so if some people used more, others naturally used less.
At this moment, Yan Zesong felt that he could borrow less of the Enlightenment Tower's power than he did initially. At first, the reduction was not very noticeable, but as time passed, the borrowed power continued to decrease.
Yan Zesong looked puzzled. He hadn't sensed any Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts passing through the seventh floor just now, and before he had arrived, there were no Combined Aperture Tempering realm experts in the tower.
He glanced up at the staircase leading to the eighth floor and suddenly remembered that the person he had seen earlier had not come down from the eighth floor.
Yan Zesong had been deeply immersed in his deductions and had completely forgotten about Chen Fei's presence until now.
Yan Zesong's brows furrowed slightly, and a strange conjecture crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
The person he had seen earlier had only cultivated to the advanced Aperture Tempering realm, and practitioners with such cultivation levels typically trained in the sixth floor of the Enlightenment Tower, where the pressure corresponded to that level.
If someone could stay on the seventh floor for a while, Yan Zesong would have held them in higher regard, but the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower seemed somewhat exaggerated.
"Was I too engrossed just now to not sense a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert passing by?"
Yan Zesong stood up, despite having denied his earlier thoughts. However, he couldn't help but be curious. Was that person really on the eighth floor?
He ascended the staircase, step by step, heading towards the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower.
The staircase was only a few steps away, and Yan Zesong quickly arrived at the location of the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower.
The surging pressure pressed down on Yan Zesong's apertures and mental state, even though he had mentally prepared himself. This pressure made him pause in his steps.
While resisting the pressure, Yan Zesong's gaze scanned the eighth floor.
Compared to the seventh floor of the Enlightenment Tower, the eighth floor had a smaller space, and as a result, when there was a person sitting cross-legged in the middle, it was quite conspicuous.
Yan Zesong's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Chen Fei in the center, and his mind was suddenly filled with various thoughts.
Although he had entertained this conjecture in his mind, Yan Zesong had quickly dismissed it. He hadn't expected the most unlikely scenario to be the most real one.
A advanced Aperture Tempering realm practitioner was actually staying on the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower to cultivate, and it seemed like he wasn't forcing himself at all. Because if it were forced, it would have weakened the deductive power borrowed by others from the Enlightenment Tower.
"Where did he come from?"
Yan Zesong's mouth moved, unsure of what to say. He cast a deep look at Chen Fei and then turned to walk back to the seventh floor.
Yan Zesong suspected that Chen Fei must have some special spirit weapon, possibly even a top-grade spirit weapon, that protected his apertures and mental state, allowing him to cultivate safely on the eighth floor.
However, spirit weapons, even top-grade ones, were ultimately external objects, and using them to resist the Enlightenment Tower, a spiritual treasure of this caliber, would not be sustainable for too long.
Otherwise, the spiritual weapon's spirit would unconsciously be damaged by the Enlightenment Tower, and that would be a true case of diminishing returns. Yan Zesong, if he had a top-grade spirit weapon, would never use it like this.
Yan Zesong returned to the seventh floor, resumed his cross-legged position, and sensed the diminishing deductive power in his sea of consciousness. He wasn't in a hurry, as he knew that in a little while, the power of the Enlightenment Tower would return to normal.
At this moment, not only Yan Zesong sensed that the deductive power he borrowed from the Enlightenment Tower was weakening, but also the warriors on other floors, especially the advanced Aperture Tempering realm practitioners on the sixth floor, also perceived this situation.
However, no one specifically ascended the tower to investigate the cause. In their eyes, this situation could be because Yan Zesong had gone to the eighth floor to cultivate.
As the only pinnacle Aperture Tempering realm practitioner inside the tower at the moment, only Yan Zesong had the capability to do so..
Chapter 435: Within Touch
Time flowed, and half a day passed in the blink of an eye. Some people had left the Enlightenment Tower, while others had arrived anew.
The Enlightenment Tower, though remarkable, was quite exhausting when the apertures and mental faculties were constantly in opposition. As time went on, the pressure within the Enlightenment Tower only intensified.
This increase in pressure didn't necessarily enhance one's ability to deduce; it was simply the Enlightenment Tower urging people to leave, to prevent any lasting injuries from overestimating their capabilities while inside.
On the sixth floor, two advanced Aperture Tempering realm practitioners had voluntarily descended to the fifth floor to continue their cultivation.
Meanwhile, within the Enlightenment Tower's seventh floor, Yan Zesong gazed at the staircase leading to the eighth floor, his expression becoming somewhat inexplicable. That person was still cultivating on the eighth floor.
Originally, Yan Zesong had speculated that Chen Fei possessed an extraordinary top-tier spiritual weapon, allowing him to cultivate on the eighth floor. However, half a day had passed, and this conjecture no longer held water.
Subjecting a top-tier spiritual weapon to combat with a spiritual treasure for half a day would likely have resulted in the former sustaining damage, potentially dropping its rank to a superior spiritual weapon, or even a medium-grade spiritual weapon.
Even the wealthiest martial artists would probably have refrained from such profligacy.
Hence, it was evident that the individual's ability to cultivate on the eighth floor was genuinely due to their own strength.
What kind of profound technique is this that can sustain apertures and mental faculties for such a long time, and it doesn't seem to show any signs of weakness?
Yan Zesong was curious, but asking someone about their martial technique was a grave taboo among martial artists. Others simply wouldn't divulge such information.
Yan Zesong felt a bit frustrated, no longer dwelling on Chen Fei's matters. Dealing with someone who played their cards so unpredictably left anyone at a loss.
Meanwhile, on the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower, Chen Fei had already immersed his entire mind in his deductions. He showed no reaction to anything happening in the outside world.
The deduction of the Primordial Sword Body was progressing very smoothly, even beyond Chen Fei's expectations.
The Enlightenment Tower's role was evident, but Chen Fei speculated that the primary reason was the level he had reached with the Primordial Sword Scripture.
Initially, the Primordial Sword Scripture was just a martial technique. However, the founder of the Primordial Sword Sect later split it into seven separate techniques due to the difficulty of cultivation.
Therefore, these seven techniques had deep connections, and the general outline of the Primordial Sword Scripture remained intact, deepening those connections even further.
Under the influence of the Enlightenment Tower, many details and previously overlooked aspects were now emerging in Chen Fei's mind.
As a result, in just half a day, Chen Fei had deduced the Primordial Sword Body to the advanced Aperture Tempering realm level, reaching eighty-five apertures.
The complete version of the Primordial Sword Body required cultivating only eighty-eight apertures. With just three more to go, Chen Fei could complete the deduction of the Primordial Sword Body.
As time slowly passed, Chen Fei began to sense that the pressure on the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower was gradually increasing. However, with the protection of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant, Chen Fei remained completely composed.
Eighty-six, eighty-seven!
Two more apertures' opening methods were deduced by Chen Fei, and a faint smile appeared on his face involuntarily. He was only one aperture away from completing the Primordial Sword Body.
However, the location of this last aperture was proving to be the most challenging.
Chen Fei didn't rush but continued to contemplate the various thoughts in his sea of consciousness. Simultaneously, he verified whether there were any errors or omissions in the Primordial Sword Body that he had deduced earlier.
The likelihood of errors or omissions should be low, as Chen Fei had relied on the validation of the other six martial techniques to support the Primordial Sword Body. This was quite different from those who truly created martial techniques from scratch based solely on their own ideas.
As time passed bit by bit, more and more thoughts formed in Chen Fei's sea of consciousness, creating a massive circle that spun wildly in his mind.
"Buzz!"
At a certain moment, Chen Fei's sea of consciousness suddenly trembled, and the circle formed by those thoughts instantly exploded. Chen Fei's eyes involuntarily opened, radiating a dazzling brilliance.
The 88th aperture was complete!
The complete method of cultivating the Primordial Sword Body, from the Visceral Tempering realm to the advanced Aperture Tempering realm, was now fully presented in Chen Fei's mind.
In less than a day's time, Chen Fei had astonishingly succeeded in repairing the damaged advanced Aperture Tempering realm inheritance!
This level of efficiency was beyond even Chen Fei's most optimistic expectations. Yet, reality often brought you the most pleasant surprises.
[Technique: Primordial Sword Body (Introductory)]
On the interface, the inheritance of the Primordial Sword Body was displayed clearly, without any mention of missing or incomplete parts. It was evident that the Primordial Sword Body deduced by Chen Fei was indeed complete and practicable.
Furthermore, Chen Fei had a feeling that his progress in cultivating this Primordial Sword Body might be exceptionally rapid.
While deducing the Primordial Sword Body, the other six techniques from the Primordial Sword Scripture had provided Chen Fei with many insights. However, there was another technique subtly driving the deduction of the Primordial Sword Body.
That was the ever-present Suppressing Dragon Elephant, which had been safeguarding Chen Fei.
The Primordial Sword Body was a body-refining technique, emphasizing the cultivation of sword-like physique. When it came to body-refining, the Suppressing Dragon Elephant was undoubtedly the most potent body-refining technique Chen Fei had encountered.
Chen Fei had already mastered the body-sealing part of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant a long time ago. Starting from this point and combining it with the cultivation of the Primordial Sword Body, there might be an even greater surprise awaiting Chen Fei.
Thinking about this, Chen Fei stood up and prepared to find a suitable place to diligently cultivate the Primordial Sword Body.
While the Enlightenment Tower was primarily a place for comprehending and deducing martial techniques, and though the Vital Energy here was abundant, it wasn't a place where most people would choose to practice their techniques.
This was the treasure of the Thousand Feather Alliance, although it's just a sub-soul, it's still something belonging to a Mountain Sea realm powerhouse. Being in the Enlightenment Tower and utilizing its power to deduce techniques is understandable.
But if you intend to take advantage of the Enlightenment Tower's energy here, you need to be careful and consider whether your small stature can withstand a blow from a Mountain Sea realm powerhouse.
Descending from the eighth floor, Chen Fei arrived at the seventh floor of the Enlightenment Tower, where he happened to see Yan Zesong looking up.
Chen Fei nodded slightly in acknowledgment and then continued descending.
Yan Zesong was somewhat surprised by Chen Fei's departure. After all, he had spent less than a day here, and he was leaving just like that?
What kind of technique was he deducing with such speed, and did he gain anything from it, or did he simply choose to leave?
A few people on the sixth floor of the Enlightenment Tower saw Chen Fei and assumed that he was going to sit on the sixth floor to continue deducing techniques. To their surprise, Chen Fei turned and walked toward the exit of the tower.
These people were a bit puzzled by Chen Fei's actions but soon stopped paying attention. It was someone else's business, and they didn't need to be overly concerned.
Chen Fei made his way to the ground floor of the Enlightenment Tower and then walked out of the tower's entrance.
The omnipresent pressure instantly disappeared, replaced by a genuine sense of relief coursing through Chen Fei's body.
What he had just felt within the Enlightenment Tower wasn't too deep, but now Chen Fei realized a slight fatigue. Training on the eighth floor of the Enlightenment Tower did indeed entail tremendous pressure.
If it weren't for the Suppressing Dragon Elephant, Chen Fei wouldn't have been able to stay there for half a day.
A disciple servant looked at Chen Fei in surprise. Chen Fei had just entered half a day ago, so the disciple servant naturally remembered.
"Any gains?" the disciple servant asked curiously.
"A lot of benefits!" Chen Fei replied with a smile, gesturing with his hand, and then headed towards the outskirts.
The disciple servant could sense Chen Fei's genuine smile and could tell that he had indeed gained something. To have gains in just half a day was a first in the several years the disciple servant had been on duty.
On the outskirts of the square, Mi Xian was sitting on the ground, looking down. Suddenly, she saw a figure stop in front of her, and she instinctively looked up.
"You're out, my lord?"
Mi Xian quickly stood up, her eyes filled with some confusion. While she didn't understand the Enlightenment Tower, she had heard that many people would stay inside for several days.
Mi Xian hadn't left because she had received ten silver taels from Chen Fei and had agreed to stay for a day, so she would stay long enough before leaving.
"Let's go to the best place you mentioned in Haiyan City." Chen Fei looked at Mi Xian and said with a soft smile.
Chen Fei hadn't expected that this little girl would still be waiting here, which was somewhat surprising to him.
"Alright, my lord, this way!"
Hearing Chen Fei's words, Mi Xian couldn't help but lick her lips, and her stomach rumbled. For the past half day, Mi Xian had only eaten some dry rations and drank water, and she hadn't had anything else to eat.
A quarter of an hour later, Mi Xian led Chen Fei to a restaurant.
Compared to other restaurants, this one was somewhat remote in terms of location, but there was a constant stream of people coming here to eat. From a distance, Chen Fei could already smell the delightful aroma wafting from inside the restaurant.
"My lord, I'll wait for you outside," Mi Xian stood at the entrance, looking up at Chen Fei with a smile.
"Let's go together, it's more lively with more people," Chen Fei smiled slightly and walked towards the restaurant's entrance.
Mi Xian was momentarily taken aback but then followed happily behind Chen Fei. She had only ever smelled the delicious food but had never actually tasted it. One of Mi Xian's dreams was to come here and have a meal, and she couldn't believe it was about to come true so quickly.
Chen Fei habitually found a window seat and ordered a few signature dishes from the waiter. Mi Xian sat nervously in her chair, not daring to look around, her hands fidgeting under the table.
Only her little nose was busy sniffing the delightful aromas in the air, and her mouth couldn't stop salivating.
Watching Mi Xian's behavior, a smile appeared on Chen Fei's face. Mi Xian's demeanor reminded him of some of his past experiences. In Pingyin County, Chen Fei's previous self wasn't much stronger than Mi Xian.
But now, Chen Fei had changed a lot, thanks to martial arts!
The Primordial Sword Scripture was about to reach perfection, the advanced Aperture Tempering realm realm was within reach!
Chapter 436: Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking
The restaurant served dishes quickly, and in no time, several delicious dishes were placed on the table.
Chen Fei picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a piece of fish, and put it in his mouth. After a few bites, Chen Fei's expression slightly changed. The taste was indeed impressive. Among all the restaurants Chen Fei had eaten at, this one could rank at the top.
The only thing was that the taste leaned slightly toward sweetness, likely catering to the local preferences in Haiyan City. However, this slight sweetness didn't detract from the overall dining experience; it still had an excellent flavor.
"Eat up, no need to be reserved," Chen Fei said after a few bites, noticing that Mi Xian hadn't touched her chopsticks.
"Okay," Mi Xian replied. Hearing Chen Fei's words, she carefully picked up her chopsticks and picked a bit of greens into her bowl.
Looking at the slight sheen of oil on the vegetables, a smile naturally appeared on Mi Xian's face. She then took a small bite.
With just one bite, Mi Xian's eyes squinted in delight. It was so delicious. Even though it was just a piece of green vegetable, Mi Xian felt it was much tastier than the occasional pork she had.
After a couple more bites of greens, Mi Xian quickly scooped up some rice and started chewing together. When something was delicious, it had to be paired with rice to avoid wasting any.
After finishing the rice, Mi Xian reached for the greens on the table. Despite the presence of many meat dishes on the side, Mi Xian didn't dare to grab any. She felt happy just eating the greens here.
"Don't you like meat?" Chen Fei looked at Mi Xian and asked with a smile.
"Huh?"
Hearing Chen Fei's question, Mi Xian raised her head in confusion, only to see the meat on the table flying into her bowl on its own. In the blink of an eye, her rice was piled high with fish and pork.
"Sir, thank you!" Mi Xian's eyes were slightly red as she buried her head and quickly began to eat.
Meat was undoubtedly tastier than vegetables, especially for someone like Mi Xian, a child who rarely saw meat. Even though Mi Xian had earned ten taels of silver today, when you calculated it for a month, it might only amount to three hundred taels of silver. In a year, it would be over three thousand taels.
Mathematics could work that way, but real-life wasn't as simple as arithmetic. Haiyan City had a constant influx of people, so there were many guides like Mi Xian in the city, making the competition fierce. Mi Xian usually went for a month without getting a chance to work as a guide, and even when she did, not all of the ten taels of silver would end up in her pocket.
There were different paths for different creatures, and in a place like Haiyan
City, the power dynamics were intricate.
To officially join the Thousand Feather Alliance, one had to reach the advanced Aperture Tempering realm. Those without that level of cultivation formed their roots within various cities.
A significant portion of the ten taels of silver Mi Xian received from Chen Fei would have to be handed over to the Drainage Gang. Mi Xian could choose not to, but she couldn't bear the consequences of that decision.
Mi Xian's family was the epitome of the lower-class residents in Haiyan City.
All their hopes rested on her younger brother, who possessed a talent for martial arts.
In this world, if you wanted to climb up, only martial arts could assist you.
Empowering yourself directly controlled your destiny.
However, for the majority, even with a bit of talent for martial arts, they only ended up barely scraping by in the end.
In the normal course of events, when Mi Xian's younger brother achieved success in martial arts, there would indeed be some changes in Mi Xian's family's life. However, these changes would be relatively minor since Mi Xian s brother's cultivation wouldn't reach high levels. The next generation of their family would need to continue working hard to bring about gradual improvements.
This is the reality for ordinary people in this world—often frustrating but undeniably true. The determination to keep striving for upward progress is a genuine and unwavering force.
After enjoying some dishes, Chen Fei set down his chopsticks, poured a glass of wine, and let the subtle fragrance of the liquor fill the air within the cup.
Given Chen Fei's current level of cultivation, regular food and meat alone were far from sufficient for his daily needs. Most of his energy came from the Vital Energy of heaven and earth, which he had incorporated into his cultivation.
Now, when Chen Fei ate, it was more about satisfying his appetite. Eating, at times, was simply a mood in itself.
These worldly pleasures were what Chen Fei liked the most and where he found the greatest relaxation.
Mi Xian, with her small frame, had a surprisingly large appetite. In no time, she had devoured all the meat and vegetables that had filled her bowl moments ago.
After finishing her meal, Mi Xian still felt a bit unsatisfied. After all, she had never had such a delicious meal in her life. She glanced somewhat sheepishly at Chen Fei, but seeing no signs of displeasure from him, she started enjoying the other dishes on the table.
However, Mi Xian was still just an ordinary child, and after a few more bites, she finally couldn't eat any more.
She rubbed her belly, wanting to continue eating but realizing that her stomach was truly too full. It pained her to see so much delicious food still on the table that she couldn't eat.
Chen Fei lightly tapped the table, and the waiter quickly approached. "Pack up the remaining food on the table," Chen Fei instructed the waiter. "Of course, sir. Please wait a moment," the waiter said, promptly fetching some lotus leaves and packing the food. Then, he placed the packages on the side of the table.
"Take it back and continue to enjoy it later," Chen Fei said to Mi Xian, pointing to the lotus leaf packages.
"Thank you, sir. You're really too kind," Mi Xian hadn't expected that these dishes would be specially packed for her by Chen Fei.
Just a moment ago, she had been thinking that she had finally eaten at this restaurant, but her parents and younger brother had never tasted such food. And waiting for her parents and younger brother to have the opportunity to eat this might take a long time.
"Is there a place in the city where one can rent a closed-off space for cultivation?" Chen Fei decided to practice the Primordial Sword Body directly within Haiyan City. During the cultivation process, if he encountered any issues, he could also continue to the Enlightenment Tower.
"Yes," Mi Xian replied while holding the lotus leaf packages, her eyes squinting into a smile.
"Let's go then. Show me the way, and you can head back afterward," Chen Fei said, looking at Mi Xian's expression and smiling softly.
"Alright, sir, this way," Mi Xian carried the food and bounced ahead, thinking that when her parents ate the food wrapped in lotus leaves later, she would feel delighted.
"Buzz!"
As Chen Fei followed behind Mi Xian, a strange ripple suddenly swept across the entire Haiyan City. The Enlightenment Tower in the central square instantly emitted a column of light that shot into the sky.
At the same time, outside Haiyan City, another beam of light appeared, responding to the light column of the Enlightenment Tower.
"Another spiritual treasure?" Chen Fei looked in surprise in the direction outside the city. Only a spiritual treasure of the same level could trigger such a response from the Enlightenment Tower.
"The Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking has arrived in Haiyan City!" Suddenly, someone shouted, and Chen Fei saw a group of people running towards the outskirts of the city. Soon, the crowd turned into a wave, and everyone rushed out, trying to get there as quickly as possible.
Chen Fei grabbed Mi Xian's shoulder, and with a flicker of his figure, he arrived on a rooftop to avoid being trampled by the crowd.
At this moment, the rooftops within the city were also filled with figures, all heading towards the city's outskirts. It was as if they feared the cost of arriving too late would be too great.
"The Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking?"
At this moment, Haiyan City was in a frenzy. It was already night, but the atmosphere was even more lively than during the day. The repeated shouts of "Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking" made Chen Fei's expression change slightly.
Chen Fei had heard of this term before. When he first joined the Thousand Feather Alliance, he naturally wanted to learn about various things within the alliance. The Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking was something he had heard about earlier.
Just like the Enlightenment Tower, the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking was also a spiritual treasure that roamed through various corners of the Thousand Feather Alliance, and it would even venture outside the alliance into other parts of the Boundless Sea.
This spiritual treasure also belonged to a powerful individual in the Mountain Sea Realm, but unlike the two prominent figures within the Thousand Feather Alliance, it belonged to someone else.
The Enlightenment Tower was available for use as long as one had elemental stones, and there was no limit to its use. Similarly, the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking worked in the same way, requiring elemental stones for its services.
It was hard not to speculate whether there was an inherent connection between spiritual treasures of the Mountain Sea Realm and their behavior like this.
Of course, this was just Chen Fei's personal conjecture. With his current cultivation at the Aperture Tempering realm, he hadn't even reached the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. Given his current level, trying to fathom the Mountain Sea Realm was like trying to guess how much fine wine the wealthy elite would consume today.
It wasn't that the beggar's thoughts were laughable, but rather that one's insight could only go so far.
"Sir, aren't you going to take a look at the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking?" Mi Xian seemed excited, as if she were witnessing a historic moment.
Although Mi Xian hadn't practiced martial arts, she was deeply fascinated by it. The Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking was an aspiration for most martial artists, and naturally, she was eager to see it.
"I remember this ranking stays in one place for ten days, right?" Chen Fei asked in a low voice.
"Yes, that's right. Ten days from now, the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking will leave for the next place. I heard that the last time it came to Haiyan City was many years ago," Mi Xian nodded.
Mi Xian had never seen the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking before, given her age; she was still too young.
"Since we have ten days, there's no rush," Chen Fei shook his head.
Currently, Chen Fei was more eager to cultivate the Primordial Sword Body and raise his cultivation to the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm. As for other matters, he could temporarily set them aside.
Moreover, the ranking would remain in Haiyan City for a full ten days. Chen Fei thought it best to go see it in the last two days; there was no need to join the crowd now.
"Alright, sir," Mi Xian obediently nodded and began to guide Chen Fei to the place for secluded cultivation.
After a while, Chen Fei and Mi Xian arrived at a formation.
The formation had a magnificent presence and was connected to the entire Haiyan City's formation. This meant that if one were to attack this formation, it would trigger a response from the entire city's formation.
Without the ability to break the formation of Haiyan City in one go, there would be no problems with its defense..
Chapter 437: The Pinnacle Aperture Tempering Realm
"Sir, thank you," Mi Xian turned to look at Chen Fei and bowed earnestly to express her gratitude.
Mi Xian had been a guide many times before, dealing with both good and extremely difficult individuals. Some people even took pleasure in mocking and insulting Mi Xian.
She could endure all of that, but some individuals would find excuses not to pay Mi Xian at all.
Even though they had agreed on the terms initially, Mi Xian took her guiding responsibilities seriously. However, in the end, she wouldn't receive a single penny. If she dared to speak up, she would face insults at best and physical violence at worst, which was quite common.
No one would stand up for Mi Xian; the fee collectors were only interested in taking a cut from the guides, and they wouldn't intervene in other matters.
That's why meeting Chen Fei today brought such joy to Mi Xian's heart.
Chen Fei looked at Mi Xian's bow and revealed a slight smile on his face. He believed in working hard and that dedication would lead to rewards. While the real world might not be so simple, one couldn't say that such a mindset was wrong. After all, it was the only thing they could control.
As for the rest, it was entirely beyond their control.
"Interested in martial arts?" Chen Fei asked softly.
Mi Xian's body stiffened, and she looked at Chen Fei in disbelief. Her body started to tremble slightly, as if an exceptional opportunity lay before her.
Missing this chance might mean no second opportunity like this in the future.
"Sir, I want to learn martial arts!" Mi Xian nodded vigorously, afraid that if she hesitated, this opportunity would slip away.
"This is a breathing technique. If you make progress in your learning, we will have a chance to meet again," Chen Fei said with a faint smile. He pointed forward, and the practice method of a breathing technique appeared in Mi Xian's mind.
It wasn't the same as the Extreme Mountain Breathing Technique that Chen Fei had originally learned, which was quite ordinary and had very low efficiency in tempering the physique. Even if an ordinary person mastered it to the highest level, the effects would be extremely limited.
Therefore, Chen Fei created a new breathing technique and implanted it directly into Mi Xian's mind. With Chen Fei's current cultivation, he could almost create such a technique in the blink of an eye.
This was what they meant by "building a high house upon a firm foundation."
Mi Xian closed her eyes, eagerly absorbing the information that came into her mind. When she had fully absorbed the content of the breathing technique and opened her eyes again, Chen Fei had already disappeared.
Mi Xian faced the spot where Chen Fei had been standing, bowed deeply once more. When she straightened up, her eyes were already red, and tears welled up and fell from her eyes.
It was not just excitement; it was joy. In this moment, Mi Xian felt that her destiny might be on the verge of a significant change.
She tightly clenched her fists and then turned to run toward her own house. There were not only the food in the lotus leaf bundle but also other things she needed to tell her parents.
Mi Xian wanted to share the joy in her heart with her family.
Inside the secret chamber, Chen Fei sat cross-legged, surrounded by a dense aura.
Such a secret chamber cost a whole inferior-grade elemental stone per day, which was quite expensive. However, just like the formation Chen Fei had seen earlier, there was no issue of safety here. Moreover, the elemental energy in the secret chamber was indeed denser than the outside, providing some beneficial effects on cultivation.
As the practice method for the Primordial Sword Body flashed through his mind, the elemental energy inside Chen Fei's body began to tremble slightly. Following a specific route, his elemental power started circulating, and Chen Fei slowly closed his eyes.
There were 88 apertures in the cultivation method of the Primordial Sword Body, and Chen Fei had already successfully opened 86 of them. He was only two apertures away from merging them into the Primordial Sword Scripture, completing the entire technique.
Because of this, Chen Fei didn't encounter any obstacles at the beginning of his cultivation. The flow of elemental power through his apertures was incredibly smooth. Perhaps it was because he had personally deduced the Primordial Sword Body that Chen Fei had an intimate understanding of its workings and the cultivation process. Thus, his cultivation progressed very smoothly.
It was as if Chen Fei had already comprehended the Primordial Sword Body to a state of perfection.
Chen Fei's skin began to tremble slightly due to the circulation of his elemental power, and a sharp aura surrounded his body.
This sharpness was similar to the Blade-Slaying Sword, but the details were entirely different. The Primordial Sword Body seemed like a container, designed to encompass all the power within Chen Fei's body.
As per the general outline of the Primordial Sword Scripture, the Primordial Sword Body was indeed the most foundational part of the entire technique. It served as the cornerstone and container.
Previously, Chen Fei had fused the six heritage techniques, primarily using the Zhongyuan Sword and the Water-Jade Sword as the foundation to combine all six techniques seamlessly.
This method of integration wasn't problematic per se, but it seemed somewhat moderate. Balancing the conflicts between the various techniques and harmonizing them required effort and compromises on Chen Fei's part.
However, with the current cultivation of the Primordial Sword Body, it felt like the other six techniques within Chen Fei's body had found a true foundation to rely upon.
The balancing issues that used to require Chen Fei's effort seemed to have found an automatic and optimal solution with the cultivation of the Primordial Sword Body.
Everything flowed naturally, as if it were destined to be.
One day, two days, three days passed, and Chen Fei's aura continued to rise. In tandem, another aperture in his body opened, reaching a total of 107 apertures.
The seventh layer of the Primordial Sword Scripture had already been perfected by Chen Fei long ago; all that remained was the Primordial Sword Body. Now, as he cultivated it without any hindrances and with a sufficient supply of elixirs, his apertures broke through effortlessly.
The mighty power continued to surge within Chen Fei's body, and the serene state of the Primordial Sword Body became increasingly apparent.
The Primordial Sword Body was a body-refining technique, and theoretically, cultivating it should have enhanced Chen Fei's physical strength. However, in reality, despite the refinement of the Primordial Sword Body, there was no discernible increase in his physical strength.
The Suppressing Dragon Elephant had already elevated Chen Fei's physique to a high level, and while the Primordial Sword Body was exceptional, it still paled in comparison to the Suppressing Dragon Elephant.
Although his physical strength hadn't improved, the Primordial Sword Body imbued Chen Fei's physique with many characteristics of a sword cultivator – sharpness, agility, and incredible speed. The power of sword energy naturally increased.
On the fourth day, the fifth day, and the sixth day, with abundant resources, Chen Fei consumed elixirs as if they were candy.
It had to be said that the ability to freely use pills to promote cultivation was indeed a fortunate situation. Without these ample elixirs, opening an aperture wouldn't be as straightforward as it was now.
As the sixth day arrived, the last aperture was violently trembling.
Compared to any aperture before, this final aperture seemed particularly resilient. Even with Chen Fei continuously circulating his core soul energy and mental focus around it, it appeared challenging to open.
Applying even a little more force gave the sensation that this last aperture might be squeezed and shattered.
It exhibited both resilience and fragility simultaneously, creating a contradictory sensation.
Chen Fei remained completely calm, continuously using his elemental power and mental focus to cleanse the aperture, squeezing it little by little without causing any damage.
The level of precision required for this process was at its peak. Under Chen Fei's already perfected mental focus, he executed it with ease.
With his technique perfected and his mental focus at its peak, the opening of this final aperture, which might be a challenging obstacle for others, was simply a matter of course for Chen Fei.
At most, it meant spending a little more time, and Chen Fei had the time to spare.
On the evening of the seventh day, the aperture that had been in a contradictory state finally showed a small crack. Chen Fei's elemental power and mental focus immediately rushed into the aperture like a needle threading through a hole.
The 108th aperture was finally opened.
Chen Fei's entire elemental power was drawn in and suddenly surged. There was a sensation of synergy among the 108 apertures in his body. This feeling was familiar to Chen Fei; it had appeared when he had 36 and then 72 apertures.
Now, with 108 apertures, this feeling resurfaced.
As long as Chen Fei could fully connect these 108 apertures, he would truly reach the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm. This would be the most powerful state under the Aperture Tempering realm, serving as a preliminary preparation for breaking through to the next stage.
Only by allowing the apertures to get used to the connected state could he later unify all the apertures to achieve the true mysteries of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
Without pause and without rest, Chen Fei's eyes suddenly opened, and he formed hand seals.
"Activate!"
The technique for linking all 108 apertures recorded in the Primordial Sword Scripture surged within his body, causing a slight vibration in all the apertures.
In the later stage of the Aperture Tempering realm, the first 72 apertures had already been connected. Now, the task was to integrate the remaining 36 apertures into the whole.
A stream of elemental power circulated through the first 72 apertures and then burst forth with a powerful force, rushing towards the 73rd aperture. Like breaking through bamboo, the elemental power in the 73rd aperture hardly paused and surged towards the 74th.
One after another, in the blink of an eye, 90 apertures had their elemental power linked. At this point, the speed of aperture connection usually slowed down, testing an individual's foundation.
How deep was Chen Fei's foundation? Or perhaps the question should be, what kind of foundation did the cultivation of the 108 apertures in the Primordial Sword Scripture provide?
The difficulty of cultivating the Primordial Sword Scripture was much greater than other techniques of the same level. However, the rewards were equally substantial once you successfully completed the cultivation.
Ninety-one, ninety-two, ninety-three!
While others might face obstacles, in Chen Fei's case, there was no room for obstacles when it came to the Primordial Sword Scripture. Especially considering that his mental focus had already reached perfection, and both his apertures and mental focus were perfected, achieving the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm was inevitable.
"Hum!"
The connection of elemental power among all 108 apertures was completed in an instant, and a completely new whole emerged within Chen Fei's body. It was seamless and, in a sense, heightened his perception of the world, making it incredibly clear and vivid.
The pinnacle Aperture Tempering realm, achieved!
After contemplating the changes within his body for a moment, Chen Fei was about to conclude his cultivation when suddenly, the tranquil Suppressing Dragon Elephant trembled.
Both the Suppressing Dragon Elephant's body-sealing and mind-sealing techniques were activated simultaneously. Chen Fei's blood boiled within his body as if stimulated by the perfection of his apertures. The proficiency of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant's techniques soared rapidly.
He was already not far from the Perfection Realm, and now, he had unexpectedly surged past it.
"Crack!"
As if a tremor in the soul, within his body and yet in the void, a discreet aperture slowly manifested itself within Chen Fei's body..
Chapter 438: Breaking the Limit
Chen Fei looked in astonishment at the aperture that existed somewhere between the void and reality. However, he soon realized that this couldn't be considered a typical aperture; it only bore some resemblance to one.
Apertures were places where one harnessed and refined elemental energy. But this newfound anomaly didn't seem to absorb elemental energy or exhibit the characteristics of elemental refinement.
Chen Fei continued to observe this new anomaly, with various martial arts techniques and scriptures flashing through his mind. However, none of them provided any information about this newly appeared anomaly.
Even the most fanciful tales from the world of fiction had never mentioned such an anomaly.
An hour passed, and the frequency of the Suppressing Dragon Elephant's operation began to decrease, the boiling blood gradually calming. At the same time, this new anomaly remained stable.
The human body's mysteries lay in the constant exploration and utilization of its inherent wonders in martial cultivation.
There were always said to be 108 apertures within the human body, a fact confirmed since ancient times. There had never been any mention of a martial art that could enable one to cultivate additional apertures.
108, in harmony with the profound principles of heaven and earth. The reason humans could practice martial arts was because certain characteristics within the human body resonated with the unique traits of this world. When these two aspects converged, humans could harness the great power of heaven and earth within themselves.
If there truly were undiscovered apertures, and Chen Fei had chanced upon one, he would have to carefully consider whether he should cultivate it or not.
The path of martial cultivation involves connecting the 108 apertures, achieving the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, and then forcibly fusing the 108 apertures to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
These are the established stages of growth, and the realms beyond, such as the Mountain Sea Realm or even more formidable realms, follow this same trajectory.
In this martial world, various methods of cultivation have emerged over the years, too numerous to count. However, in the end, the path of martial arts has endured and spread widely.
Apart from its competitiveness in terms of combat power compared to other cultivation methods, what's crucial is that martial arts practice is suitable for the vast majority of people, and the path is clear.
Other cultivation methods often have special requirements for one's physique, the environment, or even a specific type of spiritual material to continue practicing. Some may find themselves at a dead end midway, like the Resisting Evil lineage.
Attempting to control the evil powers for combat, but these powers are sealed within one's own body. Each time one harnesses these powers, irreversible harm may be done to the body.
This is especially true in the early stages, and if one continues to seal even more potent powers within the body, the first thing that may collapse is the body itself.
So, while 108 apertures can lead to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, whether 109 apertures can ultimately achieve this realm remains uncertain.
Fortunately, this new anomaly that has appeared is not an aperture.
During this one-hour observation of the emergence of this anomaly, Chen Fei gradually discovered some of its mysteries.
The most obvious change was that, with the appearance of this anomaly, the strength of Chen Fei's physique had improved significantly. At this moment, Chen Fei resembled a humanoid beast, possessing unimaginable power.
Besides the tremendous advancement in strength, this anomaly was currently exerting a pull on the other 108 apertures within Chen Fei's body.
This discovery was the most surprising to Chen Fei. This pulling sensation indicated a possibility: this anomaly might assist in the final fusion of these 108 apertures into a single whole, achieving the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
For those in the Aperture Tempering realm, breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm required first pushing their mental limits and then forcibly fusing all their apertures together. At this point, the specific details of how they achieved this fusion would vary depending on their individual cultivation methods.
For instance, in the case of the Primordial Sword Scripture, although it was difficult to cultivate, once mastered, not only was achieving the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm effortless, but the subsequent path to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm would also be less convoluted.
One of the most significant advantages lay in how, after reaching the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm with the Primordial Sword Scripture, the daily practice of the technique would gradually draw the 108 apertures closer together, preparing a solid foundation for the eventual forcible fusion.
This newfound anomaly seemed to be providing a unique path to achieving the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, one that differed from the traditional methods of martial cultivation.
At this moment, the anomaly within the Suppressing Dragon Elephant's body was pulling on Chen Fei's various apertures constantly, even bypassing his usual daily practice.
Although the force applied was not great, this continuous pulling had no interruptions. Day and night, it tirelessly exerted its influence.
If Chen Fei combined this with his daily practice of the Primordial Sword Scripture, his chances of successfully breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm in the future would be significantly higher compared to other practitioners at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
The Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the dream of countless martial artists, and at this moment, Chen Fei had taken a step ahead of others at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm.
While there were many practitioners at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, the number of those who had reached the Combined Aperture Tempering realm was much smaller. For example, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had practitioners at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, but they had not yet broken through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
This illustrated how challenging it was to reach the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
Chen Fei stood up, sensing the faint but persistent anomaly within his body, the immense power it provided, and the surging elemental energy formed by the 108 apertures. A smile appeared on Chen Fei's face.
As long as it didn't take too long for the apertures to be drawn together, and as long as he could obtain the rare elixirs or spiritual materials that could help his mental limits break through, Chen Fei would be able to achieve the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
The only challenge lay in the fact that such elixirs or materials were extremely expensive and rare. Trying to obtain them through conventional means was virtually impossible.
To some extent, the elixirs or spiritual materials that could help break through mental limits were even more precious than ordinary top-grade spiritual weapons.
Top-grade spiritual weapons were relatively rare even in bustling places like the Boundless Sea. The elixirs or materials that could facilitate mental limit breakthroughs were even rarer.
Once they appeared, they would inevitably lead to a frenzied rush to acquire them, and the required amount of elemental stones would be an extremely exorbitant figure.
Chen Fei's current stash of elemental stones had already dwindled significantly, with most of them used to purchase elixirs to achieve his current level of cultivation.
He did possess a high-quality spiritual sword, obtained from the slaying of the Heavenly Sun Mansion's Tao Shiyue. However, even if he were to sell this high-quality spiritual sword, not to mention the question of whether there was a market for it, the amount of elemental stones it would fetch wouldn't make a significant difference.
Of course, Chen Fei had another avenue: entering the Strange Heart Realm and slaying Tier-3 Evils.
Tier-2 Evil origins were no longer of any use to Chen Fei at his current level. It was like a bottle that was already filled with water; the Tier-2 Evil source couldn't make the bottle any larger and therefore couldn't contain more water.
However, the Tier-3 Evil origin, due to its different nature, would have a much more significant effect if Chen Fei could kill a Tier-3 Evil and refine its origin. It might be even more potent than regular mental limit breakthrough elixirs.
But Tier-3 Evils represented the existence of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. Chen Fei's Godslayer Sword could slay Tier-2 Evils, but when it came to Tier-3 Evils, his attacks might be no more than ordinary damage.
This kind of damage, which was far from being able to slay a Tier-3 Evil, seemed like an unattainable goal, and it would only enrage the Tier-3 Evil, leading to relentless pursuit and attack on Chen Fei.
The prospect of being pursued relentlessly by an Evil equivalent to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm was too intense for Chen Fei to contemplate. Therefore, seeking out mental limit breakthrough elixirs or spiritual materials seemed more suitable for him.
Fortunately, Chen Fei had plenty of time right now. He had just broken through to the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, and the 108 apertures hadn't fully come together yet. This gave him time to search for the elixirs he needed to break through his mental limits.
Compared to other practitioners at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, Chen Fei had a significant advantage, so he maintained a stable mindset.
A quarter of an hour later, Chen Fei arrived outside the Haiyan City, with the goal of the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking.
The night had already fallen, and in the past, there would be few people outside the Haiyan City at this hour. But with the appearance of the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking, even under the cover of night, this place was still bustling with activity, even more so than inside the city.
Chen Fei looked ahead. The so-called Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking was actually a small hill, currently carried by a monstrous beast, with a person standing on the beast's back.
A Tier-3 beast, equivalent to a Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert among humans, and due to its massive size, the aura it emitted was incredibly imposing.
Although the beast was currently lying quietly on the ground, and it hadn't even opened its eyes, there weren't many people who could approach within a hundred steps of it.
Without the cultivation level of the Aperture Tempering realm, one might feel trembling just by looking at the beast, and it had nothing to do with bravery. It was purely because of insufficient cultivation, being overwhelmed by the beast's aura, rendering them powerless to resist.
Compared to the strong aura of the monstrous beast, the mountain-shaped spiritual treasure on top of it didn't exude much compelling presence at the moment, resembling an ordinary small hill.
However, when one observed it closely, they would notice the extraordinary nature of this mountain, compelling one to keep their attention fixed on it.
The higher one's cultivation level, the more pronounced this feeling became. In contrast, those martial artists in the Body Tempering Realm didn't sense anything unusual.
"Spiritual treasure!"
Chen Fei's gaze flickered, and then he moved swiftly, arriving in front of the monstrous beast.
The beast seemed to sense Chen Fei's aura at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm, opened its eyes slightly, glanced at Chen Fei, and then closed its eyes again.
Chen Fei's hair moved without wind, and ripples appeared in his sea of consciousness. Even though the Tier-3 beast didn't react aggressively toward Chen Fei, his mind and body instinctively went on guard.
It was a subconscious response when facing creatures much more powerful than oneself, and Chen Fei was no exception.
Shao Yongmin stood on the back of the monstrous beast, looking down at Chen Fei. Upon seeing Chen Fei's pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm cultivation, a hint of interest appeared on his face.
Shao Yongmin was the one responsible for maintaining the Hidden Dragon and Young Phoenix Ranking, similar to the duties of the disciples at the Enlightenment Tower. He was in charge of the daily operations of the ranking.
Many practitioners at the pinnacle of the Aperture Tempering realm had come to challenge within the Haiyan City, but so far, none had managed to make it onto the ranking..
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein