Chapter Sixty-Six: Heroes in This World Are as Countless as Fish Crossing the River

As Sun Banshan wreaked havoc on the screen, a figure appeared, sword flashing from the west. The speed of his movement and his blade was unmatched; before Sun Banshan even realized what was happening, a thin trickle of blood slid from his neck, and he felt the world spin as his head fell to the ground.

“What speed!” Xu Chen was startled.

“That’s Fang Wuji. His family is renowned for their mastery of sword arts.”

Several other battles unfolded, drawing Xu Chen’s attention. As he watched, a phrase suddenly echoed in his heart: Heroes in this world are as numerous as carp crossing a river, truly countless in their valor.

Gazing at the battles on the light screen, Xu Chen’s eyes began to blaze with excitement.

The fighting soon shifted, becoming a campaign by Chiyang Peak to hunt down the remaining disciples of Daxi Sect. Around the Illusory Valley, all the observing disciples sighed in disappointment.

There was no twist to the outcome. When the last disciple of Daxi Sect was eliminated, Chiyang Peak still had 104 disciples with fighting strength remaining.

With the conclusion set, the spectators dispersed.

A luxurious spirit vessel descended gently outside Xu Chen’s door.

“Brother Xu, let’s keep in touch in the future.”

“Of course,” Xu Chen replied, waving farewell to Li Chengfu.

At dawn, Xu Chen, enduring intense pain, absorbed the morning sunlight atop the mountain.

Before noon, he descended to practice two blood and qi foundation methods.

Since that last battle, Xu Chen’s attitude—that he would someday be invincible thanks to his hidden abilities—began to fade.

Half a month later, both the Vajra Five Forms and the Three Gods of Eye Traversal were mastered.

In the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen absorbed the insights of these two qi and blood foundation techniques with little effort.

Unexpectedly, while comprehending the Three Gods of Eye Traversal, he not only absorbed the insights but also learned the archery skills of the youth whose body he possessed.

With the power of the Seven Tigers Bow, he could shoot without missing within five hundred feet.

“I didn’t expect such a benefit in this realm of insight.”

Compared to the surprise of the Three Gods of Eye Traversal, the Vajra Five Forms seemed mundane, merely enhancing his defenses with a layer of strength throughout his body.

In his training ground at home, Xu Chen spent a whole night integrating these insights into his own strength.

“Unfortunately, my blood and qi haven’t increased at all.”

“But with the Vajra Five Forms’ special protective strength, I should be able to withstand the power of the Twelve Wave Split Body.”

Just then, a courier immortal crane flew over Xu Chen’s small courtyard.

“Drop it down,” he called.

A letter drifted slowly from the sky, landing in Xu Chen’s hand.

“My parents’ letter has finally arrived,” he said expectantly, opening it.

The letter began with reproach, calling him a wastrel for venturing into such dangerous places. With all those spirit coins, he should have bought some pills to improve his aptitude instead. Then came words of concern.

Xu Chen carefully stored the letter in his pouch.

“I wonder when I’ll see my parents again?”

The sun had just risen. He quickly ascended to his usual mountaintop.

Xu Chen sat cross-legged, cultivating the Saint Sun Treasure Physique.

After this period of training, absorbing sunlight was no longer as painful as before.

At noon, Xu Chen adopted an extremely unusual posture in his home training ground.

He was practicing a foundation method for restoring qi, blood, and injuries, called the Three Transformations of Zen. There were nine forms and 108 postures, none related to combat.

By holding all 108 postures for a quarter of an hour, one could master the technique.

“At this rate, I’ll master it in three days.”

“By then, I’ll have speed, defense, recovery of qi and blood, healing of injuries, enhanced hearing and vision—everything.”

“Then, I’ll aim to defeat the Twelve Wave Split Body in one go.”

Xu Chen was full of fighting spirit, switching postures every quarter hour.

When he reached the eightieth posture, he found his current body couldn’t perform it.

“I refuse to believe this,” he muttered.

Forcing himself into the eightieth posture, his qi and blood surged, bones and muscles twisted—he lasted only a few breaths before giving up.

“Is it really this hard?”

Helpless, he returned to the seventy-ninth posture.

Night fell, and he entered the Sacred White Space.

Xu Chen gazed at the wooden door of the Twelve Wave Foundation Method and suddenly thought of something.

Inside the Sacred White Space, he forced himself into the eightieth posture of the Three Transformations of Zen.

Qi and blood surged, bones and muscles twisted—if it were his real body, he would never dare. But here, at worst, he would die and restart.

He stubbornly endured the pain for a quarter of an hour and moved on to the eighty-first posture.

The further he progressed, the harder it became. Beyond the hundredth posture, each one nearly shattered his conscious avatar several times.

With indomitable will, Xu Chen completed all the postures.

A battered bronze door rose silently from the Sacred White Space.

“This time, it’s not a wooden door?”

Xu Chen curiously examined the rusty, broken bronze door before him.

“It looks more advanced. I wonder if the avatar inside will be formidable.”

Pushing open the bronze door, Xu Chen seemed to step into another world.

Warm sunlight and white clouds, green mountains and clear waters.

A gentle breeze carried the sounds of insects and birds.

Distant mountains and rivers, nearby a sea of flowers.

In the center stood an avatar admiring the blossoms.

Xu Chen closed the bronze door, and the avatar turned to face him.

“With ordinary aptitude, it’s difficult to thrive in a world where strength reigns, among the humans of the Immortal Court, isn’t it?” The avatar’s voice was refined and gentle, like a flowing spring.

“It’s not too bad. My parents spoiled me since childhood, my youth lacked nothing, and I have a kindred brother. Plus, with this hidden talent, my future looks promising,” Xu Chen replied calmly.

“That’s good, not a hellish beginning,” the avatar nodded.

“Can you tell me what’s going on here? Why is the Three Transformations of Zen represented by a bronze door?”

Xu Chen plucked a flower from the sea and inhaled its fresh fragrance.

“In simple terms, the Three Transformations of Zen is incomplete. You must find the rest yourself.” The avatar waved his hand, and the breeze swept over the sea of blossoms like waves.

“If I defeat you, what do I gain?” Xu Chen asked politely. Of all the avatars he had met, this one had the most presence and courtesy.

“No need to defeat me. The insights will be given directly.”

The avatar pointed, sending a ray of spiritual light into Xu Chen’s brow.

A vast surge of insight flooded Xu Chen’s mind.

“The Saint Ape Six Forms has a sequel. Why aren’t you like that?”

“That’s a complete qi and blood cultivation method.”

“But the Three Transformations of Zen is not,” the avatar replied softly.

“I understand.”

A bronze door appeared not far from Xu Chen, slowly opening to reveal the Sacred White Space outside.

“The bronze door won’t disappear. You can come chat whenever you like,” the avatar said with a gentle smile.

“Alright.”

Xu Chen nodded, glancing at the avatar.

In his home training ground, the power of qi and blood flowed and the crisp sound of bones echoed from within him.