Chapter 41 – Done Pretending, Time to Show My Cards!

“…Xiao Lu, rest well. I’ve pretty much grasped your situation.”

“The Purple Haze Nourishing Art has been widespread throughout the Immortal Alliance for centuries, yet those who’ve achieved Major Achievement in this cultivation method are as rare as phoenix feathers. This fully demonstrates its difficulty.”

“That you’ve cultivated this art to such a Realm in such a short time sufficiently proves your Comprehension Ability and the remarkable compatibility between you and this method.”

“Not only has it improved your Aptitude, but it has also repaired the damage to your Foundation from years ago.”

“This is what enabled your Aptitude to improve so dramatically within a short period.”

“Coincidentally, you happened to get involved in the Black Lotus Sect incident, leading Bailing to mistakenly suspect you were a pawn planted by the Black Lotus Sect in Luocheng.”

“However, this misfortune turned into a blessing for you, as your cultivation managed a Breakthrough to the seventh layer of Qi Refining in a desperate situation.”

“This shows your diligence in daily cultivation, accumulating strength over time for a sudden leap.”

“Don’t worry about school. I’ve already contacted them on your behalf. Just focus on recuperating here at Uncle Tian’s place.”

“Enough said. I need to get back to work now. After all, I’m the only one running this noodle shop—it can’t manage without me.”

“Alright, Uncle Tian, take care.”

After Yu Tianqi left, Lu Chen turned his gaze to the Ink Dragon Sword placed by the bedside.

He had to admit, this sword was not only exquisitely crafted and entirely dark and mysterious, but its blade was also covered in patterns resembling Dragon Scales, extending all the way to the hilt.

Even lying quietly in the wooden box, it still conveyed an extraordinary aura to Lu Chen.

Almost as if guided by an unseen force, Lu Chen reached out and grasped the hilt.

The next moment, the previously calm Ink Dragon Sword began to vibrate.

Lu Chen then felt a sharp pain in his palm, and crimson blood flowed from it.

The blood spread from the hilt along the entire sword spine, causing the originally dull Ink Dragon Sword to emit a mysterious black ink glow.

When the glow faded, Lu Chen lifted the Ink Dragon Sword in his hand, his expression complex.

Because just moments ago, he had not only gained the sword’s recognition but also acquired considerable information about it, understanding the Ink Dragon Sword’s functions.

“Using blood as ink and the sword as a brush… As long as it devours enough blood-ink, this sword can grow indefinitely.”

“Moreover, it can imprison the souls of those it slays, transforming them into ink spirits for the wielder to command.”

“The only drawback is that the original ink spirit imprisoned within the sword has long since dissipated, so everything must start from scratch.”

“Even so, the value of this sword is beyond comparison to ordinary Spirit Swords.”

“What’s even more unbelievable is that the Shanhai Bureau possesses as many as twelve such Spirit Swords. Truly worthy of an organization that has stood for over a millennium.”

After this reflection, Lu Chen performed a sword seal, transforming the Ink Dragon Sword into a black ring that settled on the index finger of his right hand for convenient use.

With this done, Lu Chen directly took out his phone.

Although he had been unconscious for three days, True Immortal Cultivation was a game that could run on autopilot.

Without Lu Chen’s control, the in-game character would act according to the preset auto-cultivation settings.

Lu Chen had set his character to cultivate automatically.

Thus, during the three days he was unconscious, his character had been diligently cultivating in the game.

After all, one day in reality equated to ten days in the game.This was equivalent to the in-game character having cultivated for a full month.

“I hope this sudden increase in my cultivation won’t cause too much of a stir in the game…”

Due to the urgent situation at the time, Lu Chen had no choice but to dump all his experience points into his cultivation level.

This caused his cultivation to instantly rise to the seventh layer of the Qi Condensation Stage in a short period.

While he could explain it away in reality as accumulated effort finally paying off,

in the game, it wouldn’t be so easy to justify…

【Name: Lu Chen (Azure Cloud Sect Outer Sect Disciple)】

【Aptitude: Supreme Mixed Spirit Root (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth)】

【Cultivation: Qi Condensation Stage Seventh Layer (7100/30000)】

【Innate Divine Ability (32/100): Not Awakened】

【Cultivation Manual: Five Elements Harmony Art】

【Techniques: Dragon’s Roar Sky-Piercing Strike (Breakthrough 3/30000), Purple Haze Nourishing Art (Breakthrough), Flowing Cloud Step (Breakthrough), Basic Alchemy (Proficient 1/3000)…】

【Current Experience Points: 2165】

“My cultivation level and Spirit Root aptitude are becoming difficult to conceal. Fortunately, I had anticipated this situation and prepared adequate countermeasures.”

That’s right, even before entering Danyang Peak, Lu Chen had already planned how to handle the exposure of his suddenly improved Spirit Root aptitude.

His approach was quite simple: he would tell the same story in the Azure Cloud Sect about his “early Spirit Root damage” and “cultivation of the Purple Haze Nourishing Art” that he used in reality.

As for whether his lies might be exposed, Lu Chen wasn’t worried at all.

Because in a certain sense, everything he said was true.

Even if the powerful experts of the Azure Cloud Sect had remarkable abilities, they would never be able to debunk this “half-truth” special lie of his.

Regarding how to explain the origin of the Purple Haze Nourishing Art, Lu Chen had also long since prepared his story.

He would claim he bought it from the Treasure Pavilion at the foot of the mountain.

After all, his game character had indeed visited the Treasure Pavilion below the mountain in his early years, so even if the Azure Cloud Sect investigated him, he had nothing to fear.

Was this statement a lie? Yes and no.

It’s just that the Treasure Pavilion he referred to was slightly different from what others understood it to be.

And this was the highest realm of lying—weaving falsehoods with truth.

Everything I said was true, so how can you accuse me of deception?

Thinking this, Lu Chen simply controlled his phone character to leave the cave residence.

Since it couldn’t be hidden anyway, he might as well use this opportunity to enhance his standing in the eyes of the Elders at Danyang Peak.

A genius with outstanding alchemy talent and extremely high cultivation aptitude—

If he merely wanted to exchange for a Millennial Spirit Lotus to aid his cultivation, it probably wouldn’t be too difficult, right?

Azure Cloud Sect, Danyang Peak.

“Junior Brother Lu, you were looking for me?”

“Wait a moment, Junior Brother Lu, your cultivation…”

Ji Chang stared in astonishment at Lu Chen, whose cultivation had increased by three full layers in just two months.

That’s right, Ji Chang first met Lu Chen during the simulation exam.

And Lu Chen had brought Mu Xiaoye to eat at Uncle Tian’s place just three days after the simulation exam ended.

Including the three days he was later unconscious,

his last meeting with Ji Chang in the game was sixty days ago—exactly two months.

And at that time, his cultivation was only at the fourth layer of the Qi Condensation Stage.Advancing from the fourth layer to the seventh layer of the Qi Condensation Stage in just two months—such cultivation speed wasn’t actually considered prodigious within the Azure Cloud Sect.

Many Inner Disciples or Direct Lineage Disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect could achieve this.

But for an Outer Sect Disciple like Lu Chen, this cultivation pace truly made him stand out like a crane among chickens!

No wonder Ji Chang was so astonished.

Wait, Junior Brother Lu, with such innate talent for cultivation, how did you end up assigned as a menial disciple?

Were the Sect’s assessment officials blind?

“Senior Brother Ji, has our master Spirit Fire Daoist returned from his travels? There’s something I’d like to discuss with him.”

Spirit Fire Daoist—this was the nominal master who had casually taken Lu Chen as a recorded disciple in the past.

But the past was the past, and the present was the present.

Ji Chang had a feeling that Lu Chen’s upcoming visit might resemble a carp leaping over the dragon gate, achieving instant ascension.

It wouldn’t be surprising if after today, he’d have to address Lu Chen as True Disciple Lu.

Thinking this, Ji Chang glanced at Lu Chen with complicated emotions before nodding: “The master returned from Jade Void Mountain some time ago and is currently at Danyang Peak. Let me take you there.”

As if suddenly remembering something, Ji Chang couldn’t help turning back to say: “Junior Brother Lu, when you see the master later, remember to put in a good word for me.”

“Certainly.”

Receiving Lu Chen’s assurance, Ji Chang cheerfully summoned his Celestial Ark.

“Come aboard, Junior Brother Lu. I’ll take you to see the master.”

“Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brother.”

“Don’t mention it! Just remember to put in a good word for me!”

“Rest assured, Senior Brother. This junior brother won’t forget.”

(End of Chapter)