Chapter 147 – Cultivation Without Matching Strength

Great Yan Imperial City, Main Gate of the Imperial Palace.

“Junior Brother Lu, it’s fortunate you were prepared and sent Junior Brother Wu Miao back to deliver the message in advance.”

“Otherwise, relying solely on the three of us to deal with so many practitioners of the Demonic Heresy wouldn’t be an easy task.”

Yi Hanqing gazed at the large number of Black Lotus Cultists gathered at the main gate of the Imperial Palace, his tone filled with helplessness.

These Black Lotus Cultists weren’t particularly troublesome, as most of them were originally ordinary palace maids and eunuchs.

Even after receiving the blessings of the Buddha Mother, the enhancements they gained were quite limited.

Thus, even if their numbers doubled, they would hardly pose a threat to a top-tier Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator like Yi Hanqing.

What truly pressured Yi Hanqing was the powerful aura emanating from deep within the Imperial Palace.

The owner of that aura was undoubtedly at the Golden Core Stage.

The appearance of a Golden Core Stage enemy here was not good news for Yi Hanqing.

Although he was confident he could hold his own against a Golden Core cultivator for a while, or even retreat unscathed, he couldn’t guarantee that Lu Chen and Shangguan Yunmeng beside him possessed the same capability.

Upon sensing the Golden Core aura, Yi Hanqing said, “Junior Brother Lu, Junior Sister Shangguan, the situation here is beyond what the three of us can handle.”

“I’ll find a way to stall that Golden Core cultivator. You two should seize the opportunity to leave. Once the others from our Sect arrive, we can eliminate these heretics in one fell swoop.”

From a rational standpoint, Yi Hanqing’s plan was undoubtedly the best—at least from his perspective, it was the most feasible solution.

Unfortunately, Yi Hanqing had overlooked one thing.

“Senior Brother Yi, we can’t leave. Haven’t you noticed the grand Formation covering the entire Imperial City?”

Hearing Lu Chen’s words, Yi Hanqing suddenly realized and saw the Black Lotus Sacrifice Array now enveloping the entire Imperial City.

The effects of this Array were quite simple.

First, isolation—it separated the world inside and outside the Formation, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

Second, absorption—it absorbed the essence and blood of all living beings who died within the Array, using them as offerings to the Buddha Mother.

These were the full functions of the Black Lotus Sacrifice Array.

Yet, with just these two effects, the Array could cause such a commotion, indicating how powerful its capabilities were.

Even Lu Chen, at his current level, wasn’t entirely confident he could break the Black Lotus Sacrifice Array without mastering specific countermeasures.

Thus, they were left with only two options.

One was to take the initiative, locate the Array’s core, and find a way to destroy it.

The other was to hold out until reinforcements from their School arrived.

Lu Chen intended to pursue both strategies.

Watching Imperial Preceptor Zhan Ziyin approaching with a large group of Ironclad Bloodguards, Lu Chen transmitted his voice, “Senior Brother Yi, Junior Sister Shangguan, can you stall this Golden Core cultivator and the ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage Puppets around him?”

Upon hearing Lu Chen’s words, Yi Hanqing paused, thought for a moment, and transmitted his reply, “If it’s just stalling, I have no problem, but I’m not sure about Junior Sister Shangguan.””I’m fine.”

Shangguan Yunmeng looked at Lu Chen, giving him a firm gaze.

Though in many situations, Shangguan Yunmeng often appeared somewhat absent-minded.

At critical moments, however, she proved remarkably reliable.

At least in the current situation, Shangguan Yunmeng neither seemed like a mere decoration nor showed any signs of becoming a burden.

Over a hundred Foundation Establishment Stage blood guards.

Even if these blood guards weren’t particularly strong individually.

Quantity could transform into quality – with so many iron guards attacking together, not to mention Shangguan Yunmeng being only at the first layer of Foundation Establishment.

Even some veteran Foundation Establishment cultivators might not withstand the assault of so many blood guards.

But all this was based on Yi Hanqing not knowing about Shangguan Yunmeng’s First-Grade Great Dao Immortal Foundation.

Had he known about Shangguan Yunmeng’s circumstances, he wouldn’t have thought this way.

Therefore, out of goodwill, Yi Hanqing transmitted his voice: “If it’s really too difficult, I can help Junior Sister Shangguan withstand some more puppet attacks.”

“Though in that case, I’m not sure how long I can hold out against that Golden Core Stage cultivator.”

“Unnecessary.”

Before Lu Chen could respond, Shangguan Yunmeng beside them looked seriously at Yi Hanqing, stubbornly transmitting her reply.

Under normal circumstances, the mild-tempered Yi Hanqing wouldn’t argue much with Shangguan Yunmeng.

But at this ‘critical juncture’.

Yi Hanqing felt that as the senior brother of both, even if Shangguan Yunmeng wasn’t from his sect, he had the duty to ensure both left safely.

Thus, Yi Hanqing unusually used a stern tone, transmitting to Shangguan Yunmeng: “Junior Sister Yunmeng, reality isn’t theoretical discussion. Even with your outstanding Sword Intent, there are too many factors that can determine victory or defeat in actual combat. Don’t be stubborn.”

Unexpectedly, this time before Shangguan Yunmeng could respond, Lu Chen answered for her first.

“This time, Senior Brother, you’ve misunderstood. Junior Sister Yunmeng… can actually handle these blood guards, because like me, she’s a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a First-Grade Great Dao Immortal Foundation.”

“Moreover, I have this intuition – if it were truly a life-or-death battle between you and Junior Sister Yunmeng, the one who would die would definitely be you, Senior Brother.”

“What?!”

Hearing Lu Chen’s transmitted words, Yi Hanqing’s mind went blank for several seconds.

Though he had long speculated that the person who underwent Tribulation Transcendence within the sect back then was Lu Chen.

And had guessed he most likely possessed a First-Grade Great Dao Immortal Foundation.

But guessing was one thing – having Lu Chen personally confirm it was another matter entirely.

Now Lu Chen was telling him that in their small trio of three.

The other member, Shangguan Yunmeng, who had seemed harmless from the start, was also a First-Grade Great Dao Immortal Foundation holder.

How could Yi Hanqing not be shocked?

So after all this, he, the one with the highest current cultivation among the three, was actually the one with the lowest future potential?

Startled from his deathbed only to realize the useless one was himself?

When did I, Yi Hanqing, esteemed Hidden Sword Peak Leader, become the basic unit for measuring geniuses?

Not giving Yi Hanqing much time to ponder, Lu Chen immediately made arrangements.

“That Golden Core cultivator will be handled by you, Senior Brother. You don’t need to find a way to defeat him – just keep him occupied.”

“Similarly, Junior Sister Yunmeng, you don’t need to focus on eliminating those blood guards either. You just need to prevent them from affecting Senior Brother Yi’s battle, or keep them from excessively interfering with ordinary people.””After all, I have some understanding of the current grand formation. This formation is called the Black Lotus Sacrifice Array, and its function is to sacrifice all living beings who die within it.”

“Therefore, their target isn’t just us, but also the hundreds of thousands of commoners living in the city.”

“It’s just that they currently believe victory is assured, so they’ve decided to deal with us first before handling the hundreds of thousands of mortals trapped in this formation.”

“And this presents us with a perfect opportunity.”

“As long as you can hold off this Golden Core Stage cultivator and those blood guards, I, your Junior Brother, have my own method to break this formation.”

Upon hearing Lu Chen’s transmitted message, Yi Hanqing instantly understood what he intended to do.

Yet the moment he realized Lu Chen planned to find a way to dismantle the grand formation, Yi Hanqing knew without doubt this would be the most dangerous task among the three of them.

The thought of sending his Junior Brother to undertake the most perilous mission made Yi Hanqing feel utterly unworthy of being a Senior Brother!

But he had to admit that currently, he couldn’t devise any better plan than Lu Chen’s.

Thus, he could only follow Lu Chen’s arrangement.

“Junior Brother Lu, be careful in everything.”

“Rest assured, Senior Brother. I know my limits.”

After exchanging glances, Lu Chen rode his sword toward the Imperial Palace.

Seeing this, Zhan Ziyin guarding the palace entrance immediately raised his hand to attack without hesitation.

But before he could strike, a dense shower of peach blossoms assailed him.

Though these blossoms appeared beautiful, each concealed lethal intent.

Moreover, these peach blossoms were infused with special Spirit Wine.

Causing them to ignite mid-flight,

transforming into blazing Peach Blossom Sword Qi.

Faced with this flaming Peach Blossom Sword Qi, even Zhan Ziyin at the Second Revolution of Golden Core Stage had to retreat from its sharpness.

For the Spirit Wine flames seemed capable of burning through even his Protective Qi, making them exceptionally troublesome.

“Yi Hanqing, the Peach Blossom Cultivator of Azure Cloud Sect. I never expected one of the three arrivals to be you.”

That Zhan Ziyin could directly state his Daoist Title didn’t surprise Yi Hanqing.

Since Zhan Ziyin could become the National Teacher of Great Yan Dynasty, it proved he was originally a formal disciple of Jade Void Mountain.

For a Jade Void Mountain disciple to have heard of his Daoist Title was perfectly normal.

“I likewise never expected a Jade Void Mountain disciple to join the Demonic Path. You truly bring shame upon your sect.”

Zhan Ziyin appeared unconcerned about Lu Chen entering the Imperial Palace to disrupt their plans, simply allowing him to pass.

He looked at Yi Hanqing and said with a smile: “What does it matter if it’s Demonic Path or Righteous Path? Any Dao that serves my purpose is good Dao.”

“Moreover, if someday everyone under heaven walks my Dao, then even if it wasn’t originally righteous, it would become the Righteous Path.”

Hearing this, Yi Hanqing laughed.

But this laughter differed completely from the warm demeanor he showed toward fellow disciples like Lu Chen.

His current smile overflowed with mockery.

As if ridiculing Zhan Ziyin’s overestimation of his capabilities.

“Leaving aside whether you possess such capability, even if you did, it would only prove one thing.”

“That every last disciple of our Azure Cloud Sect has perished.”

“Because as long as we still draw breath, we would never allow demons like you to brazenly walk in the sunlight.”As the words fell, Yi Hanqing charged towards Zhan Ziyin.

Soon after, violent explosions echoed outside the Imperial Palace.

Almost simultaneously with Yi Hanqing and Zhan Ziyin’s clash,

Shangguan Yunmeng confronted the hundreds of Ironclad Bloodguards…

Beneath the Imperial Palace, at the Black Lotus Altar.

Ji Yuan sat upright on the bone throne above the blood pool, resting with his eyes closed.

But after a moment, he slowly opened his eyes and gazed in a certain direction ahead.

There stood a cultivator wearing the disciple robes of the Azure Cloud Sect, who had already appeared in this hidden underground altar.

Surrounding the cultivator lay the corpses of Black Lotus Cultists.

These cultists had originally remained at the altar as servants accompanying Ji Yuan.

Hearing commotion outside the altar, they had attempted to drive away the intruders.

Yet instead of succeeding, they had ended up forever remaining here.

Observing Lu Chen, who made no effort to conceal his presence, Ji Yuan revealed an intrigued expression.

“The Azure Cloud Sect—the number one Immortal Sect in Central Province that I’ve heard so much about since childhood.”

“Legend says the Azure Cloud Sect comprises five immortal peaks, any one of which could independently establish a first-rate School in the outside world.”

“I don’t know how much of this rumor is true, but it never hindered my yearning for the Azure Cloud Sect back then.”

“Unfortunately, my Great Yan Dynasty lies within the Jade Void Mountain’s sphere of influence, restricting our imperial family—even those with cultivation Aptitude—to only Jade Void Mountain for training.”

“Thus, I’ve never had the chance to witness firsthand the grandeur of this legendary top Immortal Sect in Central Province.”

“Tell me, with my current cultivation and Aptitude, am I qualified to set foot in your Azure Cloud Sect?”

Hearing Ji Yuan’s exceedingly self-important words, Lu Chen let out a rare laugh.

Yet his laughter mirrored exactly how Yi Hanqing had treated State Preceptor Zhan Ziyin outside.

It was a genuine, heartfelt mockery.

“You dare laugh at me?”

Seeing the scorn on Lu Chen’s face, Ji Yuan’s expression instantly turned icy.

The next moment, a terrifying Golden Core Stage pressure began crushing down toward Lu Chen.

He seemed intent on making Lu Chen pay for his insolence through this method.

But to Ji Yuan’s astonishment, his Golden Core Stage pressure fell upon Lu Chen like a stone sinking into the ocean.

It didn’t affect Lu Chen in the slightest.

As if nothing had happened at all.

And so, Lu Chen walked step by step toward him, bathed in Ji Yuan’s Golden Core pressure.

“Just a pitiful worm clinging to external forces and begging for scraps—how could someone like you ever set foot in our Azure Cloud Sect? Ridiculous.”

Enraged by these words, Ji Yuan completely lost his temper.

He had initially thought that, given his rebirth today and his rather pleasant mood, he might grant Lu Chen an intact corpse.

But now he changed his mind.

He would make this arrogant fool understand the inviolable dignity of a Golden Core cultivator!

How dare a mere Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator speak to a Golden Core Stage cultivator like this!

“Roar!”

Ji Yuan slammed the Dragon Throne beneath him.

Instantly, the Dragon Throne transformed into a massive ancient white Dragon, soaring above Ji Yuan’s head.Ji Yuan leaned against the massive Bone Dragon, his gaze icy as he looked at Lu Chen and spoke: “So what if I rely on external forces? How could a fortunate one like you, born with the ability to cultivate, ever understand the suffering of a Mortal like me?”

“Everything you obtained effortlessly, I had to painstakingly search for through countless hardships. What right do you have to judge me?”

“Looking down on my Evil Path methods, are you? Then let me see how a mere Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator like you dares to look down upon this Golden Core Stage practitioner of the Evil Path!”

As his words fell, the Bone Dragon behind Ji Yuan roared as it charged toward Lu Chen.

But just as the Bone Dragon was about to reach Lu Chen, a black light emerged from behind him, quickly transforming into a gigantic Black Flood Dragon that crashed headlong into the white Bone Dragon.

Witnessing this scene, Ji Yuan in the distance was somewhat stunned.

Because he could sense just how real the Black Flood Dragon summoned by Lu Chen appeared—almost reaching a level where it could be mistaken for the real thing.

He knew that his Bone Dragon was a special Magic Treasure condensed only after refining a small segment of the Dynasty’s Dragon Vein.

But what about Lu Chen’s Black Flood Dragon?

Could it be that he had also refined a Dynasty’s Dragon Vein?

However, Ji Yuan’s surprise didn’t last long.

Because he realized that although Lu Chen’s Black Flood Dragon appeared much more realistic than the Bone Dragon transformed from his Magic Treasure Dragon Throne, due to Lu Chen’s cultivation level and the inherent grade of his Magic Treasure, the Black Flood Dragon ultimately couldn’t match the white Bone Dragon and began to retreat step by step.

Seeing this, Ji Yuan’s eyes filled with mockery as he looked at Lu Chen.

He had thought this Disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect was something special, but it turned out he only had this much capability?

He couldn’t even defeat a newcomer like himself who had just stepped into the Cultivation World.

It seemed the reputation of the Azure Cloud Sect as the number one Sect in the Immortal Cultivation World wasn’t as intimidating as he had imagined.

What Ji Yuan failed to notice was that Lu Chen was equally surprised by Ji Yuan’s strength.

Not surprised that he was too strong, but surprised that his strength… was much weaker than expected.

If judging purely by panel data, Ji Yuan’s stats were the highest among all the enemies Lu Chen had encountered so far.

Although he was only at the first revolution of the Golden Core Stage, he possessed a second-grade Heavenly Path Golden Core.

Combined, this strength far surpassed that of Rong Gongming from before.

But in reality, Lu Chen felt that Ji Yuan didn’t even have half of Rong Gongming’s combat effectiveness.

Because his control over his cultivation… was too crude.

If Rong Gongming could achieve two or three points of effect with one point of Spiritual Power, then Ji Yuan could only achieve 0.5 points of effect with one point of Spiritual Power.

Simply put, Ji Yuan was like a child who had just obtained an adult’s weapon.

He only had a basic understanding of how to use the weapon, but was still far from mastering it.

Thinking this, Lu Chen immediately decided not to give his opponent any chance to familiarize himself with his power.

Sword Domain… Expand!

Under Ji Yuan’s astonished gaze, a massive lotus-shaped Sword Domain expanded with Lu Chen at its center, quickly enveloping both him and Ji Yuan.

A Sword Domain—how could Ji Yuan, who had never cultivated before, possibly know about the Harmony Realm’s Sword Domain? This was a power that completely surpassed his understanding.

(End of Chapter)