Chapter 848

Chapter 848: Return

Countless memories surged over Wang Chen like a tidal wave.

Enveloped in boundless chaos, he felt as though he had returned to the womb, absorbing his mother’s nourishment and listening to the faint murmurs of the outside world until the moment of his birth.

Then, the memories of his past life unfolded before his eyes like the pages of a meticulously organized tome.

Many faces and events he had long forgotten were vividly etched within its pages.

They were so real, so alive!

As the pages turned, the memories of his crossing came into view, though parts were missing, and suddenly he found himself as a young Qi Training cultivator in the outer sect of the Yunyang Sect in the Mountain-Sea Realm.

Reflecting on his past and present lives, a flood of emotions overwhelmed him, leaving him momentarily lost in thought.

Familiar yet distant faces lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

Then, Wang Chen heard a voice dripping with malice and hatred. He glanced down and saw shadowy specters clawing desperately at him, their ghastly hands reaching out to drag him into an abyss of despair.

The faces of these specters were unmistakable—they were the very people Wang Chen had slain with his own hands!

A chill ran down his spine, and Wang Chen quickly looked up toward the heavens.

Through the gray, overcast sky, a radiant beam of light pierced the clouds, illuminating him.

It was the celestial ladder leading to the higher realm!

Yet, at that very moment, his feet were ensnared by countless vengeful spirits, their grip unyielding, leaving him unable to break free.

Do they seek to drag me down to hell with them?

A fierce light flashed in Wang Chen’s eyes—how dare these specters act so brazenly!

He feared no living soul, let alone these wretched dead!

“Enough!”

Wang Chen bellowed, his voice resonating with power as he assumed the fearsome form of a wrathful king. Behind him, the Great Might Heavenly Dragon true form materialized in an instant, its silent roar directed at the specters below.

The spirits clutching at Wang Chen froze in terror, their forms disintegrating into nothingness.

Wang Chen felt a sudden lightness, as if a ten-thousand-jin burden had been lifted, and he soared upward, following the path of the radiant beam.

In a flash, he broke through the thick clouds, the blinding light forcing his eyes shut.

Time seemed to stand still.

Wang Chen’s breath caught in his throat.

Then, with a deep exhale, he opened his eyes.

The sensation of solid ground beneath his feet grounded him, and he felt weightless, every pore of his body opening to greedily drink in the pure, invigorating air. It was a feeling of unparalleled comfort and serenity.

But Wang Chen did not linger in this bliss. He quickly regained control of his body.

To his astonishment, he found himself standing in a breathtaking little valley. Before him, a waterfall cascaded like a silken ribbon into a tranquil pool below, its mist carrying an abundance of spiritual energy that washed over him.

This strange yet familiar experience stirred something deep within him, and for a moment, he felt the urge to weep.

He was back!

He had returned to the Haotian Realm.

Wang Chen even sensed that a certain presence in the unseen realm was conveying a warm greeting to him.

Welcome home!

“Wang Chen.”

At that very moment, a gentle voice called out from behind him.

Wang Chen turned abruptly to find a palace-dressed woman smiling warmly at him: “Congratulations on your return to Haotian.”

It was the fox queen!

Wang Chen promptly bowed: “Junior Wang Chen pays his respects to you, senior!”

He couldn’t help but inquire, “Senior, where is Jiao Jiao?”

No sooner had Wang Chen mentioned her name than the queen’s expression visibly darkened: “How dare you ask about Jiao Jiao? If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t have become so rebellious and nearly lost herself in the lower realm!”

Wang Chen awkwardly rubbed his nose, refraining from any rebuttal.

The fox queen continued, “Originally, if you had retrieved the Mysterious Fox Order, I would have rewarded you handsomely. But since you’ve caused harm to Jiao Jiao, let’s consider it even.”

Wang Chen forced a bitter smile: “As long as Jiao Jiao is safe, junior dares not claim any merit.”

Noticing Wang Chen’s genuine concern for Hu Jiao Jiao, the queen’s gaze softened slightly: “To be honest, after I guided Jiao Jiao back to Haotian, the Mysterious Fox Order fused within her body and became inseparable.”

Wang Chen was startled: “How is she now?”

Wang Chen had long known from Hu Jiao Jiao that the Mysterious Fox Order was a treasure of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, possessing immense destructive power.

The rank of this treasure far surpassed Hu Jiao Jiao’s own cultivation level, so its fusion within her body was not necessarily a good thing.

If Hu Jiao Jiao failed to control it and became enslaved by the artifact, it would be a disastrous outcome!

“She has been in closed-door cultivation in my abode for three months…”

The queen replied, “If she can integrate the Mysterious Fox Order into her life treasure, it will be a tremendous opportunity.”

“But if she fails…”

She shook her head: “It will depend on her destiny!”

Wang Chen asked in a deep voice, “Is there anything I can do to help?”

The fox queen shot him a glance: “You need not do anything. Do not disturb Jiao Jiao!”

After a pause, she added lightly, “In truth, this matter cannot be entirely blamed on you; Jiao Jiao is too headstrong.”

“I cannot go back on my word, so here’s what I propose…”

“For now, you may stay in Qinglan Valley. I will grant you access to the Qingqiu Library to study Dao texts below the Golden Core level. When Jiao Jiao exits the hidden chamber, if she successfully integrates the Mysterious Fox Order, you may take the Chaos Bead.”

The fox queen did not mention what would happen if Hu Jiao Jiao failed, but Wang Chen understood the implications. He immediately bowed in gratitude: “Thank you, senior!”

“Do not say I am unkind…”

In the next moment, the queen vanished without a trace, her voice lingering in the air: “This place is yours for Golden Core condensation!”

Wang Chen straightened up, but the leader of the Qingqiu Fox Clan was no longer in sight.

Yet, his heart was filled with gratitude.

The fox queen had clearly discerned that Wang Chen had reached the peak of the Purple Palace and was on the verge of condensing his Golden Core. Offering him this blessed land was an immense act of generosity!

From the moment he returned from the Misty Mountains Realm, Wang Chen had realized that the time for his Golden Core condensation had arrived.

Under such circumstances, finding a suitable location for this process was no simple task.

Golden Core condensation was akin to a rebirth for a cultivator, a pivotal moment in their journey of cultivation and life itself.

Thus, the location for this process was of utmost importance!

First, it had to be absolutely safe; any disturbance during condensation could lead to complete failure.

Second, it had to be a blessed land abundant in spiritual energy; the higher the quality, the better, as it directly influenced the final grade of the Golden Core.

To form a nine-rank pill and aspire to an upper three-rank Golden Core, every condition had to be optimal!

Qinglan Valley, where Wang Chen now stood, was undoubtedly an exceptional blessed land.

He saw no other members of the Fox Clan around, suggesting it was a secluded spot within Qingqiu. The spiritual energy here was so rich it felt almost intoxicating, perfectly suited for Golden Core condensation.

Most importantly, with the protection of the fox queen, safety was assured.

Wang Chen had made his decision: he would condense his Golden Core in Qinglan Valley!