Chapter 554

Chapter 554: Return

Upon returning to the sect’s law hall, Wang Chen immersed himself in a rigorous study mode.

Unlike most of his fellow disciples, Wang Chen’s journey of cultivation was fraught with challenges, and the time he spent exploring and researching far exceeded the standard training period.

Although his cultivation level advanced rapidly and his strength was formidable, he lagged behind many disciples of the West Sea Sect in fundamental skills, particularly those from influential families.

These disciples often began their cultivation journey at a tender age, nurtured by their environment, and thus, their foundations were exceptionally solid.

Wang Chen truly could not match them.

Therefore, he deeply cherished the opportunity that Master Bai Jun had granted him.

For five consecutive days, Wang Chen, forgetting to eat and sleep, sought guidance from this higher-level Golden Core true master, resolving numerous lingering doubts in his mind and significantly broadening his horizons, allowing him to glimpse the profound mysteries of higher cultivation realms.

Master Bai Jun, with great patience, provided him with meticulous guidance.

Master Bai Jun, a cultivator on the brink of achieving Yuan Ying, possessed an accumulation of cultivation experience that Wang Chen could scarcely imagine.

Although this Golden Core master specialized in a different technique than Wang Chen, he was still able to offer invaluable insights.

He helped Wang Chen avoid unnecessary detours!

Thus, although they were not formally master and disciple, by the end, Wang Chen respectfully addressed him as "Master Bai" to express his deep respect.

Regrettably, despite Wang Chen’s desire to continue, the teleportation formation in the law hall was repaired on the seventh day and reopened.

That night, beams of mysterious light surged from the hall, illuminating the entire Wei Fa City.

The following day, a group of sect cultivators arrived in the Underworld Realm, including two Golden Core true masters!

Due to disturbances caused by the world consciousness in the Underworld Realm, the connection between the two realms had been completely severed, which greatly alarmed the West Sea Sect. They had been making every effort to restart the teleportation formation.

In short, if the situation had not been resolved smoothly, the sect had planned to unite several Yuan Ying true immortals and spare no expense to open a new passage to the Underworld Realm.

Although the Underworld Realm is a small world, the resources it produces are of immense importance to the West Sea Sect.

No one was willing to relinquish that.

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario was averted. After Master Bai Jun communicated with the sect’s representatives, travel between the two realms quickly returned to normal.

It was also time for Wang Chen to depart.

He had already settled all matters related to the Underworld Realm, and since his stay had not been long, he had no lingering attachments.

Wang Chen was among the first batch of cultivators to return to the West Sea Sect after the teleportation formation reopened.

Upon his return to the Mountain-Sea Realm, he felt enveloped by the surrounding spiritual energy, as if he had transitioned from a scorching desert to a verdant forest, bringing him such comfort that he felt as though he could float away.

It is indeed easier to move from frugality to luxury!

Compared to the harsh environment of the Underworld Realm, the West Sea Spiritual Realm was truly a paradise for cultivators.

Wang Chen submitted his report and Jade Slip as per the procedures, then made his way to Wailing City.

"Young Master!"

When Xu Xinlan saw Wang Chen again, this beautiful woman could hardly believe her eyes. She gasped and immediately threw herself into his arms, her eyes already brimming with tears!

Xu Xinlan had thought she would have to wait several years to reunite with Wang Chen, never expecting him to return so soon.

Her heart was filled with joy and surprise. The joy needed no explanation, but she was worried if Wang Chen had made any mistakes; otherwise, why would he have returned to the sect early?

However, she hesitated to ask too many questions, fearing it might affect Wang Chen’s mood.

Wang Chen easily saw through Xu Xinlan’s worries and smiled, saying, “I have completed my training, and in a few days, I will become a Meridian Disciple.”

“Really?” Xu Xinlan exclaimed with delight. “That’s wonderful!”

She understood perfectly what entering the veins meant and knew that Wang Chen had taken risks in the Underworld Realm to achieve this goal.

So she genuinely felt joyful for him.

“Send a message for the chef from the Moonlit Pavilion to prepare a feast. I want to welcome my dear husband!”

Xu Xinlan then called over her maids, Xiaodai and Xiaoyu, saying, “Quickly prepare some fragrant soup for a bath with my dear husband.”

The lovely twin maids exchanged shy glances with Wang Chen before heading to the inner courtyard to get ready.

Once she had sent everyone away, Xu Xinlan eagerly wrapped her arms around Wang Chen’s neck and planted a sweet kiss on him.

“Balance is key; it’s part of the way of cultivation!”

The next morning, Wang Chen enjoyed a rare chance to sleep in, but before he could fully rest, an unexpected guest interrupted his beautiful dream.

If it had been someone unimportant, Wang Chen wouldn’t have cared to respond and would have continued sleeping.

But the visitor was Zuo Xiaomo.

Wang Chen had very few friends in the West Sea Sect, and Zuo Xiaomo was undoubtedly one of them. Given his relationship with Xu Xinlan, there was no way Wang Chen could turn him away.

“Congratulations, Senior Brother!” Zuo Xiaomo beamed as he bowed to Wang Chen, saying, “You’ve entered the veins, and great things await!”

Wang Chen was surprised. “How did you know?”

He had just returned the day before and only shared the news of his qualification to become a Meridian Disciple with Xu Xinlan and a few others.

Xu Xinlan was not the type to keep secrets, and she certainly wouldn’t have spread Wang Chen’s news around.

Moreover, her associates knew their place and wouldn’t speak out of turn.

“It’s already spreading within the sect!” Zuo Xiaomo smiled. “It’s said that all the disciples returning from the Underworld Realm received Meridian qualifications, and someone saw you among them. That’s how I found out.”

Wang Chen nodded. “I see.”

Zuo Xiaomo sat down and raised a teacup, drinking the tea in one go.

He exhaled deeply. “Brother Wang, I heard something happened in the Underworld Realm?”

A significant change had suddenly occurred there, completely cutting off communication. Under normal circumstances, such major issues would be tightly concealed to avoid causing instability within the sect.

However, since the Underworld Realm was crucial, and many influential youths were among the cultivators venturing down, it was a matter that couldn’t be kept secret.

Zuo Xiaomo’s status was low, so he had only recently heard some whispers.

He had refrained from mentioning it to Xu Xinlan until he saw Wang Chen today, finally able to put his worries to rest.

Wang Chen smiled. “No harm done.”

Xu Xinlan, however, changed her expression and bit her lip, not saying anything.

Wang Chen spoke lightly, but she sensed the danger and difficulty behind it.

“Let’s not talk about that.” Wang Chen waved his hand. “You arrived just in time; I have something to discuss with you.”