Chapter 133: It Will Explode~

"No need to bow; you are the heroes of our Daixi Sect."

"From this day forth, you eight shall be considered inner-disciples of the Daixi Sect, enjoying the full authority of the sect."

"Each of you is awarded one million sect contribution points, a set of Heavenly Splendor Treasure Garments, and a cultivation cave dwelling on Heavenly Cloud Island. You may each choose one of the twelve Profound Immortal Elders to be your master."

"Come, let’s go outside and take a look; the entire sect is here to celebrate you."

The eight of them walked out of the teleportation point, looking utterly bewildered.

The square outside the Teleportation Hall was packed with tens of thousands of people, and the sky above was densely filled with tens of thousands more Daixi Sect disciples.

"Strengthen our sect! Hail to the Daixi Sect!"

"Hail to the Young Ancestor!" "Hail to Senior Brother Xu Chen!" "Hail to Senior Brother Zong Changshou!" "Hail to Li Cheng..."

Over a hundred thousand people cheered in unison, a sound that shook the very heavens.

Watching the massive crowd cheering for him, Xu Chen felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart.

"For the next hundred years, all sect missions will offer triple rewards, and all items in the sect treasury may be redeemed at a 20% discount on contribution points."

"All sect disciples may enter the cultivation secret realm once every year."

A grand voice announced over a dozen benefits for the disciples.

"Let us celebrate these nine heroes of the Daixi Sect for three full days!"

Immediately, all the disciples erupted in joyous cheers. The entire Daixi Sect held a victory banquet, and the eight of them were almost carried away by the adulation.

"Don't get cocky. You must absolutely not get cocky." Facing the flattery, Xu Chen tried his best to suppress the corners of his mouth.

When the banquet ended, Li Chengfu escorted Xu Chen back to the small courtyard he had been away from for so long. The familiar small square, the familiar gate.

"Junior Brother, the cave dwelling on Heavenly Cloud Island is already prepared. Would you like to move in now?" Li Chengfu asked.

"I’ll move in after a while."

"Very well. Just call me if you need anything, Junior Brother." Li Chengfu steered his spirit boat away.

Inside the courtyard, Xu Chen lay back on a reclining chair in the training area, gazing quietly at the sky. A crane appeared above the courtyard.

"Just drop the letters."

As Xu Chen spoke, more than twenty letters drifted down from the sky. A gentle force caught them and brought them into his hands. He opened them one by one in order. After reading them all, a smile appeared on his face.

"Father is doing better and better in Mountain Ridge City this past year." According to his father, the most difficult work was done; now, it was just about maintaining the city.

"The teleportation array to the capital where Mountain Ridge City is located has opened. Once I advance to the Treasure Body Realm, I’ll go see Mom and Dad."

"After seeing Senior Brother Niu and Hu Yue, I’ll go to the Human Emperor’s Avenue building in the Leizhou capital to find some top-tier Qi-Blood foundation techniques."

"I should also head to the treasury to exchange for some immortal pills or spiritual treasures to improve my aptitude. With better aptitude, cultivation will be much easier."

Just then, the voices of Niu Dali and Hu Yue sounded from outside. Xu Chen stood up and went to open the gate.

"Junior Brother—no, I should call you Senior Brother now," Niu Dali said, his voice earnest.

"Brother Xu." Hu Yue looked at Xu Chen with eyes full of admiration.

"I came back this time specifically to see you two." Xu Chen looked at Niu Dali. "Senior Brother Niu, your progress is good. Three Dragons and Two Tigers of power—you should be able to advance to the Treasure Body Realm soon, right?"

"Haha, almost there! Once I reach the Treasure Body Realm, I can apply to go to the front lines for training," Niu Dali said, scratching his head bashfully.

"I hope you reach your goal soon, Senior Brother Niu." Xu Chen then looked at Hu Yue and patted her head. "Hu Yue, you haven't been slacking in your cultivation. Not bad."

Hu Yue squinted her eyes in delight.

"I just came back to see you and make sure you’re doing well." Xu Chen held up his disciple token, and a lark landed. "I need to make a trip to the Leizhou capital, so I'm off."

He mounted the lark and waved to Niu Dali and Hu Yue. As the lark took off and flew over the Daixi Sect, it asked cautiously, "Are you... Lord Xu Chen?"

"What is it?"

"I want to thank you on behalf of all the flying spirit beasts in the sect. Ever since you helped the sect win second place in the assessment, the tips we receive from carrying passengers have increased significantly," the lark said joyfully.

"That's good."

At the Teleportation Hall, Xu Chen was greeted warmly by the manager the moment he arrived.

"Senior Brother Xu, where are you headed?" The manager was full of enthusiasm; after the victory banquet, Xu Chen’s basic information had spread throughout the entire sect.

"Sorry to trouble you, Manager. I need to go to the Leizhou capital." The manager immediately arranged a small teleportation array for him.

Upon arriving at the Human Emperor’s Avenue in the Leizhou capital, a ray of rosy light descended upon Xu Chen. The surrounding crowd immediately turned their eyes toward him. The manager of the Human Emperor’s Avenue building, seeing this light, was shocked—it was a sign that one's contribution to the human race had reached a certain level. He rushed to Xu Chen’s side like a gust of wind, ready to provide personal service.

"Young friend, have you come to the Human Emperor’s Avenue building to select a top-tier Qi-Blood foundation technique?" The manager, who was in the Spirit Nourishing Realm, saw through Xu Chen’s approximate strength at a glance.

"You guessed correctly, Senior." Xu Chen had a rough idea why that light had descended.

"Then please, follow me." While speaking, the manager sent a trace of his divine sense into his communication artifact to contact well-informed friends; he guessed that someone from the Desolate Ancient Battlefield had returned.

On the top floor of the building, the manager said, "Young friend, I assume you aren't interested in ordinary Qi-Blood foundation techniques. I have brought out the eight most supreme ones in our Leizhou capital. Take a look."

Xu Chen sat in a sofa-like chair as eight light screens appeared before him.

*Nine Transformations of the Candle Dragon, Golden Crow Patrols the Realm, Human Emperor’s Sacred Fist, Light, Dragon-Elephant Treading Heaven, Dao Origin Heart Observation, Profound Gold Three Transformations, Great Five Elements Dharma Body.*

Looking at these techniques, each with a name more intimidating than the last, Xu Chen’s first thought was to cultivate them all.

"Once these are cultivated to the realm of Form and Will in Harmony, the Qi-Blood power is at least Nine Dragons and Three Tigers," the manager explained, having learned of Xu Chen's identity. "The strongest is the *Nine Transformations of the Candle Dragon*; at Form and Will in Harmony, one possesses the power of Nine Dragons and Nine Tigers. Upon advancing to the Treasure Body Realm, the physical body condenses to the extreme—no gods can disturb it, and no techniques can penetrate it. It is the best choice for those walking the path of body refinement, and at the pinnacle, one has the chance to ignite the Lamp of Bone and Flesh."

"No rush, let me look at the others."

Xu Chen browsed through the rest. Compared to the *Candle Dragon*, the others had more mysterious variations. *Golden Crow* allowed one to comprehend the way of space early; *Human Emperor’s Sacred Fist* benefited from human destiny; *Light* was the most mysterious and allowed one to learn a supreme divine ability; *Dragon-Elephant* provided immense spiritual energy in the dantian; *Dao Origin* offered myriad profound methods; *Profound Gold* was the best for protection; and the *Great Five Elements* was an enhanced version of the Five Elements Body.

"Can I choose them all?" Xu Chen couldn't help but ask.

"At most two. The Human Emperor decreed that for techniques involving more than Nine Dragons, one can cultivate a maximum of two." The manager explained specifically, knowing who Xu Chen was.

"Why is that?"

"You'll explode," the manager said, making an explosive gesture. "Once you reach the limit of the human Qi-Blood realm, if the forces don't harmonize, you will..."

"Uh..."

Xu Chen patiently reconsidered and finally chose the *Nine Transformations of the Candle Dragon* and the *Great Five Elements Dharma Body*. He wanted to be a man who cultivated both body and dharma.

"One hundred human contribution points each, for a total of two hundred." Although the manager smiled, he felt a bit of pity; it was a waste of contribution points, as he didn't believe Xu Chen could master both.

Hearing the price, Xu Chen was shocked. "So expensive? Converted to spirit coins, that’s almost two billion."

"That is the price. However, if you have Immortal or Saint-grade aptitude, you can pay in installments, but only for one technique."

"Can it be any cheaper?" Xu Chen still felt the sting.

"Only the Human Emperor and the Great Venerables of a Province have the authority to grant exemptions."

"Alright then." Xu Chen clicked confirm with a pained heart. A sound in his mind told him his balance was now 2,103 contribution points. Two special colorful jade slips appeared in his hands.

"Young friend, if you have time, you might want to visit the Leizhou Treasury. Once human contribution reaches a certain amount, there are free items to claim," the manager said, glancing at Xu Chen’s storage bag. He didn't know the exact amount, but the light that had shone on Xu Chen proved he had at least a thousand points, which was enough to claim many things.

"Thank you for the guidance, Senior."

After thanking him, Xu Chen left the building and hailed a beast-drawn carriage on the wide road.

"Please, get in," the young driver asked. "Where to, honored guest?"

"The Leizhou Treasury."

"Sit tight, honored guest. It should take half an hour. If you're in a hurry, I can cut it down to fifteen minutes."

"Take your time."

As the carriage started slowly, Xu Chen felt the driver’s aura. "Are you cultivating the Seven Styles of Heaven's Evolution?" Xu Chen asked suddenly, remembering what the manager had told him on the road to the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"You have a keen eye, honored guest," the young driver replied, his voice exceptionally cheerful.

"I cultivate it as well, so I can naturally sense it." Xu Chen could feel that the young man was only one step away from the realm of Form and Will in Harmony.

"You are truly insightful. I was arrogant in my youth and poured everything into the Seven Styles of Heaven's Evolution. It has been twelve years now. The youth I was is now thirty, making a living by driving a carriage." The young man’s voice was devoid of sorrow or joy.

"Do you regret it?" Xu Chen asked softly.