Chapter 81: One Year, A Great Opportunity

In a mist-filled jungle, Xu Chen appeared by the riverbank.

He glanced around, sending a surge of unique strength from his feet into the earth, sensing every movement within dozens of yards. Following the river upstream, every disciple he encountered was eliminated with a single palm strike.

“There’s no challenge left among those at the same Energy and Blood stage as me,” he muttered.

With a casual wave of his hand, a surge of force shattered the air a dozen yards away, instantly killing another disciple who had been preparing an ambush.

At this moment, Xu Chen’s score had reached fifty. Yet, despite the rapid rise in points, he found no joy in this one-sided slaughter. His mind was consumed with thoughts of how to conquer the Avatar of the Seven Celestial Forms, absorb its insights, and then destroy the avatar of the Vajra Ninefold Transformation. Once he had assimilated both sets of understanding, he’d check on that neurotic, depressive avatar—who muttered endlessly, never even glancing at him, and whom he had slapped squarely across the face, more severely than the one who played with fire.

A picturesque pavilion stood by the riverbank. Xu Chen decided not to go any further and instead rested within the shelter.

“Senior Zong, you’ve been following me for quite some time. Aren’t you tired?” he called out languidly from his seat on the stone bench. “Come out and have a chat.”

Twenty yards away, behind a massive tree that would take three people to embrace, the bark shimmered as if distorted, and a figure stepped out.

“Junior Xu, how did you discover me this time?” Zong Changshou’s expression was full of disbelief.

“Your breath and heartbeat are perfectly controlled, senior. But the vibrations you caused on the ground as you moved gave you away,” Xu Chen replied calmly.

“It seems that, at the Energy and Blood stage, I can’t hide from you,” Zong Changshou sighed and joined him in the pavilion.

“I’m an exception. I’d wager ninety-nine percent of people at this stage wouldn’t sense you,” Xu Chen reassured him.

“Let’s hope so…” Zong Changshou smiled faintly. “By the way, Junior Xu, how are your insights from the Ten-Thousand-Mile Path? Any gains?”

He couldn’t help but care—a successful mastery of the Seven Celestial Forms to the level of unity in form and intent, even with ordinary talent, could change one's fate.

“I’ve grasped the basics. The rest is just diligent practice,” Xu Chen replied unhurriedly.

“Junior Xu, this concerns your future. Should you ever need anything, just mention my name at the Ten-Thousand-Mile Path,” Zong Changshou said sincerely.

“Thank you, Senior Zong.”

No sooner had he spoken than Xu Chen’s hand shot out. A black iron arrow, fired from the depths of the mist, was caught mid-flight by a mysterious force and suspended in the air, aimed to pierce them both. Xu Chen plucked it from the air and, with a swift motion, flung it back.

Hundreds of yards away, a stunning young woman of the Spiritflower Clan’s eyes widened in alarm. She began to rise, but before she could move, the arrow pierced her skull. She collapsed, disbelief frozen on her face.

“Junior Xu, such marvelous strength,” Zong Changshou said in shock. To stop that black iron arrow midair with pure force alone—without the power of at least four dragons’ worth of energy and blood—it was impossible.

“Practice makes perfect,” Xu Chen laughed. His recent torment at the hands of the Seven Celestial Forms avatar had been painful, but not without benefit.

“Junior Xu, within a year, can you raise your strength above three dragons?” Zong Changshou suddenly asked.

“In any way possible,” he added.

“Is something the matter?” Xu Chen’s heart stirred.

“I cannot say more. In a year, if your energy and blood exceed three dragons and your strength is as formidable as now, a tremendous opportunity awaits you—though the risk is equally great,” Zong Changshou said with gravity.

Xu Chen calculated silently. “I think it’s possible.”

“Good. Improve your strength well, and we’ll join forces for a great endeavor!” With that, Zong Changshou took his leave.

Watching him depart, Xu Chen pondered various possibilities.

Within the world of illusions, three days passed in a flash. Xu Chen ultimately earned 230 points. When he awoke from the illusion, Niu Dali was still by his side.

“How many points did you get, Brother Niu?” Xu Chen asked with a smile.

“Eighty-nine. I almost got eliminated at the end—thank goodness time ran out,” Niu Dali replied with relief.

Together, they returned to the small training square, where a three-tailed fox maiden was pinning Fox Yue to the ground.

“With poor talent, you should work even harder!” the girl declared. Her movements were swift and unpredictable; she darted behind Fox Yue and struck him with her palm, sending him flying.

“Hiding here, shirking family responsibility, is not the answer!” she continued, leaping into the air and bringing her palm down with full force toward Fox Yue.

Had this blow landed, Fox Yue would have been bedridden for at least a month.

At the critical moment, a figure appeared, seizing the back of the girl’s collar. An unusual energy instantly neutralized all the energy and blood within the three-tailed fox maiden.

“Who are you?” the girl demanded, her gaze sharp as ice, fixed on Xu Chen.

“And who is she?” Xu Chen asked, looking at the fallen little Fox Yue.

The three-tailed fox maiden was about the same age as Fox Yue.

“That’s my sister, Fox Yang. Don’t misunderstand, Brother Xu. We were just sparring,” Fox Yue replied, his voice tinged with dejection.

Hearing the name, Xu Chen’s expression turned a little strange. He released Fox Yang with one hand.

“You used your full strength in that last move. Had it struck your brother, he’d be gravely injured, if not crippled. There’s no need to be so ruthless in practice,” Xu Chen said as he glanced at the three tails behind the girl: one white, one gold, one blue.

Fox Yang’s cold eyes lingered on Xu Chen, before finally resting on Fox Yue.

“I hope brother understands—excuses are the currency of the weak,” Fox Yang said, then strode toward a distant spirit vessel and flew away.

“Your sister is quite something. She’s only been in the sect a short while, but already possesses the strength of at least five tigers,” Xu Chen said, helping Fox Yue up.

“Making a spectacle of myself in front of you and Brother Niu…” Fox Yue hung his head and sighed.

“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. When I was your age, I barely had the strength of a single tiger,” Xu Chen said. “Let’s have a meal together and you can share your story.”

In Xu Chen’s small courtyard, one man, one fox, and one bull sat around a round table laden with thirty-six dishes.

“In the Three-Colored Fox Clan, the males are generally more gifted than the females. No matter the branch, only a male fox can be clan leader. As soon as a male is born, he’s raised as the heir.

“From the day I was born, due to my poor talent, the clan tried everything—seeking out elixirs to boost my gifts—but nothing worked.

“My twin sister was different. From the moment she was born, she was the clan’s most prodigious talent, her gifts outstanding. Yet, because of the clan’s traditions, she received less than half the resources I did.

“I am the only male fox in the main bloodline. If I can’t reach a certain level of strength in the future, I’ll be replaced by a powerful male from the side branches. When that happens, our main bloodline will fall, and the new main line will hunt us to extinction.”