Chapter 52: The Monster Xiao Niantian

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Chu Tianchen stared at the one million lower-grade Yuan Stones and couldn’t help but grin. Originally, only nine hundred thousand were needed, but unexpectedly, Xiao Fan had given a full million. That guy really wasn’t normal. This was equivalent to ten thousand high-grade Yuan Stones; with a little more, he could practically open up another meridian wheel.

After Xiao Fan left, Mu Ran pulled Chu Tianchen along toward the upper levels of the Pill Hall.

At that moment, upstairs in the Pill Hall, a young figure was watching everything that had just happened. This person was one of Mu Ran’s disciples, Li Zifeng.

Li Zifeng couldn’t understand why Mu Ran suddenly showed such attentiveness toward Chu Tianchen, even daring to offend Sixth Prince Xiao Fan for his sake.

Everyone knew it was nearly impossible for Mu Ran to continue as the next Pill Hall leader unless he was willing to cooperate with the Li family or join Yunmengze Valley.

At present, only these two powerful factions could support him to remain as the Pill Hall leader.

Yet he neither accepted the support of these two forces nor distanced himself from Chu Tianchen—in fact, he was growing closer to him.

Even Li Wenqing, his third uncle, had been acting strangely lately. Despite taking a beating at Chu Tianchen’s hands, he didn’t dare say a word and had even privately warned Li Zifeng to protect Chu Tianchen secretly.

No one knew what kind of spell Chu Tianchen had cast over them.

“Looks like I need to find a chance to meet this Chu Tianchen,” Li Zifeng thought to himself.

Everyone now harbored their own designs. Even those close by couldn’t be fully trusted. He sensed that his third uncle, Li Wenqing, was hiding something from his father.

The Pill Hall was something the Li family was determined to seize.

Originally, his father had sent him to the Pill Hall to become Mu Ran’s disciple to win Mu Ran’s favor. Now, seeing Mu Ran gradually drift away, Li Zifeng was growing anxious.

He needed to find out what was really going on.

After entering the Pill Hall with Mu Ran, Chu Tianchen headed straight to Mu Ran’s alchemy chamber.

Outside the Pill Hall’s main gate, the crowd gradually dispersed.

“Isn’t Chu Tianchen from the Chu family supposed to be an idiot and a waste? But he doesn’t look anything like an idiot—he immediately saw through Xiao Fan’s intentions and exposed his shameless conduct.”

“Even if he’s not an idiot, so what? Xiao Fan is the Sixth Prince of the current dynasty. Today he got away safely, but he has a thousand ways to retaliate later. Not to mention the royal backing behind him, just the Xiao clan of Yunhai Academy alone could make that Chu kid and Mu Ran pay a hundred times over.”

“I think Chu Tianchen did this as a counterattack against the Xiao royal family for raiding the Chu clan. It’s just a pity he can’t see the bigger picture. He’s so weak; how could he possibly compete with the Xiao family?”

“Heh, you all think Chu Tianchen is useless? At his age, his cultivation may seem weak, but don’t forget—he was a fool for five years and only recently recovered. And a waste? He has already comprehended sword intent. Among the young generation at Yunhai Academy, how many can understand the power of intent before twenty?”

“Also, that strike from the Sixth Prince—he had no sword in hand but still unleashed sword intent. That means his sword intent has reached at least the Great Achievement level.”

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Those nearby listened to the analysis from a Tongyuan Realm youth, eyes wide with surprise.

“Great Achievement? Don’t exaggerate and drag Chu Tianchen into this,” one scoffed.

“In the entire Yunhai Academy, those who have comprehended Great Achievement sword intent are few—and many are elder disciples of the inner academy.”

They exchanged disdainful looks.

The so-called power of intent refers to a warrior’s comprehension of a certain realm of power during cultivation, such as sword intent, blade intent, fire intent, fist intent, palm intent, and so forth.

Power of intent differs from ordinary Yuan Qi; it is intangible and shapeless, channeling the momentum of heaven and earth to release a subtle force of intent.

This power divides into four levels: entry, small achievement, great achievement, and perfection.

The so-called perfection, such as perfected sword intent, is the state of unity between person and sword.

Releasing a single sword strike at will is devastatingly powerful—far beyond ordinary Yuan Qi.

Ancient texts record that a sword cultivator at the Tongshen Realm with perfected sword intent can kill a Heavenly King Realm opponent with one strike, illustrating the terrifying might of such power.

However, Chu Tianchen was not as exaggerated as the Tongyuan youth claimed. In truth, his sword intent had only reached the entry level.

This was something he comprehended while cultivating the Ice Soul Sword Manual.

He could unleash it because he inherited the Eternal Dragon Emperor’s legacy, granting him an understanding of martial arts beyond ordinary people.

Moreover, although Xiao Fan was a Heavenly Martial Realm warrior at the fourth layer, his cultivation was artificially enhanced by pills, making his Yuan Qi unstable—and he was injured.

Hence, Chu Tianchen, with the power of a Tongmai Realm fourth layer, managed to withstand Xiao Fan’s strike.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible.

Chu Tianchen knew his Tongmai Realm fourth layer was no ordinary feat.

The Yuan Qi power in his meridian wheels was fully unleashed; even faced with a Tongmai Realm eighth layer, he would not be at a disadvantage.

And this was just with four meridian wheels opened. When he developed the full nine meridian wheels, the Yuan Qi contained within would be unimaginable.

Therefore, his primary task now was to acquire resources and open meridian wheels.

Only by reaching the Tongyuan Realm and entering the inner academy could he progress faster and learn more about Yunhai Academy.

Upon arriving at the alchemy chamber, Mu Ran’s expression turned grave.

“Young Master Tianchen, from now on, whether in Yunhai Academy or Yunhai City, you must be extremely careful.”

“If necessary, I will assign two Heavenly Martial Realm warriors to protect you,” Mu Ran said.

“So, who exactly is the person behind Xiao Fan? Someone even more terrifying than Yunmengze Valley and the royal family?” Chu Tianchen asked calmly.

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Mu Ran replied, “I met him once, three years ago. Xiao Fan asked me to rescue someone then. That person was gravely injured and about the same age as Xiao Fan.”

“But three years ago, he was already a Celestial Gang Realm warrior.”

“Probably because of him, the Xiao clan has maintained its position as the top clan.”

“He looks exactly like Xiao Fan. He is also a son of the Emperor—the twin brother of Xiao Fan, Xiao Niantian!”

“Xiao Fan is not terrifying, but Xiao Niantian is said to be in seclusion, striving to become a Martial Arts Grandmaster.”

Mu Ran explained.

Chu Tianchen pondered for a moment.

He did have some impression of the name Xiao Niantian—his grandfather had mentioned him once.

“So, is he currently at Yunhai Academy as well?” Chu Tianchen asked further.

“That’s right. The cultivation tower at Yunhai Academy has nineteen floors above ground.”

“In the past century, only two people have had the ability to enter the nineteenth-floor cultivation chamber. One is Xiao Niantian,” Mu Ran said, taking a deep breath.

“And the other?”

Chu Tianchen inquired.

“The other I’m not very familiar with. It’s said she recently entered the inner academy, a woman from the Great World.”

“Her name seems to be Ye Nichang.”

Mu Ran answered.

Immediately, Chu Tianchen’s heart stirred, and a faint smile curved his lips.

Indeed, a woman drawn to him was truly formidable.

As for Xiao Niantian, at twenty-two years old, already in seclusion striving for Martial Arts Grandmaster—it matched his name perfectly, truly defying heaven.

It seemed he needed to open his meridian wheels quickly and enter the Tongyuan Realm to join the inner academy as soon as possible!