Chapter Seventy-Nine: Sacred Heart of the Spirit Spring

“We’re worlds apart. Even my vital energy is suppressed by Senior Brother Xu,” Niu Dali nearly lost his composure.

“Brother Niu, the stronger Brother Xu is, the more he can teach you,” Little Fox Yue offered comfort at his side.

Niu Dali paused, realizing her words made sense, and immediately turned to Xu Chen for guidance.

Seeing the sincerity in Niu Dali’s eyes, Xu Chen truly took the time to instruct him patiently.

On the small square, the fox and the bull soon returned to their respective cultivation.

Xu Chen took a jade slip from his storage pouch.

Sacred Heart of the Spirit Spring—this was the new vital energy foundation technique he had chosen that morning. It could strengthen both soul and spirit.

Most crucially, once intent and form were unified, his mental power would flow endlessly, like water from a wellspring.

The main reason Xu Chen chose this vital energy foundation method was because battling the Seven Forms of Heavenly Evolution required mental acuity, and thinking consumed spiritual strength.

As the saying goes, you supplement what you lack, so Xu Chen picked the method best suited to his current needs.

Following the technique’s instructions, Xu Chen sat cross-legged on the square, visualizing the first image of the Sacred Heart of the Spirit Spring.

There were eight images in total; after visualizing the first two, one could attain entry-level proficiency.

For visualization-based vital energy methods, Xu Chen estimated it would take about a month to reach that stage.

Time passed unnoticed as he sat in meditation; before he knew it, a day had gone by.

When Xu Chen opened his eyes, dusk had already fallen. He looked around and saw Fox Yue and Niu Dali still cultivating.

“Now that we’re all together for once, let me treat you to a meal,” Xu Chen said, taking out his disciple token and contacting a restaurant in the marketplace to have food delivered.

“Great!” the fox and the bull replied cheerfully.

Not long after, a shadow swooped down before Xu Chen.

“Your Thunderhawk clan is doing food delivery now?” Xu Chen asked, eyeing the imposing bird, who looked far more formidable than a crane.

“There are too many hawks in our clan. Slow fliers like me can’t get the fast courier jobs, so I have to make a living where I can,” the Thunderhawk replied, voice full of woe. “It’s tough—cranes bully us hawks, and even the local birds push us around.”

After dropping off the spatial food box, the mighty Thunderhawk began to air his grievances, looking truly woeful.

“You’re bullied here because there aren’t many Thunderhawks. Bring more of your kin, and no one will dare bother you,” Xu Chen advised as he began setting out the dishes.

“That’s right! When my older sisters were few, the flower spirits bullied them, but once more of them arrived, we weren’t afraid anymore,” Little Fox Yue chimed in.

“You’re right! Why didn’t I think of that?” The Thunderhawk brightened, thanking Xu Chen before launching himself skyward, wings spread wide as he soared beyond the sect.

Xu Chen had ordered three different set meals: one for the human clan, one for the Golden-armored Thunderbulls, and one for the Tricolor Foxes.

Seventy-two dishes in all filled the table.

“Brother Xu, when my aunt took me on a mission recently, she told me a secret,” Little Fox Yue said, gripping a fragrant chicken leg, her tone mysterious.

“What secret?” Xu Chen asked, savoring a piece of braised fish.

Niu Dali set aside his grass cake.

Little Fox Yue glanced around conspiratorially before lowering her voice. “Our little grandmaster only cultivates vital energy foundation techniques that allow for immense power even at the vital energy stage.”

“And in recent years, the most gifted disciples in our sect have all chosen such techniques.”

“My aunt says it’s not just our sect—other major sects are the same.”

“She suspects a great opportunity is coming, one that could change the fate of an entire race,” Fox Yue said, growing excited.

“Really? Then this could be my chance to make a name for myself!” Niu Dali’s eyes shone with anticipation.

“But Brother Niu, compared to human prodigies at the vital energy stage, we’re still too weak.”

“If such an opportunity comes, it won’t be our turn,” the little fox muttered, taking a big bite of her chicken leg.

“I don’t mind being cannon fodder. If I really make a name for myself, my father, my mother, my eldest, second, and third brothers, my fifth brother, my eldest, second, and third sisters, and my fourth younger sister—they’ll all be proud of me,” Niu Dali declared, his eyes sparkling.

“Brother Niu, why didn’t you mention your fourth brother?” Little Fox Yue mumbled, and Niu Dali was taken aback, scratching his head as he pondered the question.

“Pfft!” Xu Chen, who had just sipped some spirit tea, couldn’t help but spit it out.

Night fell over the Sacred White Space.

Inside the wooden door of the pharmacy, Xu Chen was concocting a medicine to heal internal injuries.

He wanted to master the art of potion-making as well.

When the last dose was complete, the number seventy-nine appeared above it.

“So close.”

A bolt of thunder crashed down.

That familiar tingling sensation of being blasted into oblivion returned.

After three successive bolts, Xu Chen’s consciousness reformed, ready for another round of torment that day.

He pushed open the bronze door of the Seven Forms of Heavenly Evolution and found his double practicing Tai Chi.

“Can you use Tai Chi moves in combat?” Xu Chen watched for a while before asking.

“Rules prohibit it,” the double replied.

“If you could, the difficulty would increase severalfold,” the double said after finishing a set.

“Let’s begin—let’s see what progress you make today.”

“Alright,” Xu Chen replied, charging at his doppelganger.

This time, he didn’t go all out at the start; instead, he carefully observed his opponent’s movements, trying to protect himself.

Even so, after fifty moves, Xu Chen was covered in wounds.

“Your force is too direct and penetrating. It’s good for most fights, but not all,” the double commented.

He pressed a palm along Xu Chen’s inner arm, then abruptly redirected it to Xu Chen’s chest.

Xu Chen staggered back a dozen steps, spitting blood.

“How should I use that force?” Xu Chen asked through the pain.

“I don’t like teaching rigid methods. Go and comprehend it yourself,” the double replied.

He advanced again, palm striking toward Xu Chen.

Xu Chen met him head-on.

Bang!

A complicated, indescribable force passed through Xu Chen’s protective energy, following his meridians to explode at his heart.

Xu Chen collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth, looking as if his end had come.

“If a hundred readings bring no understanding, then read a thousand times, or ten thousand.”

“As long as your mind still works, the day will come when you understand,” the double said, walking slowly over as Xu Chen breathed his last.

Less than ten breaths later, Xu Chen entered again.

“Let’s continue!”

After sixteen more tries, Xu Chen finally collapsed into bed and fell into a deep sleep.

At dawn, after breakfast, Xu Chen stepped out to train.

An icy, elegant woman appeared before him.

“Sister Bai?”