Chapter 397
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Chapter 397: Rescue
Duan Guangchen never expected Hualun would use secret techniques to escape during the most critical moment, exploiting the instant he clashed with Ye Yun. This fleeting opportunity was her only chance to flee—had Ye Yun defeated Duan Guangchen first, she might not have escaped.
A millennium ago, Hualun had already reached the Golden Core stage. Cunning and shrewd, she could have combined forces with Duan Guangchen to unleash their lifespan power in a joint strike—even Ye Yun might have struggled to withstand it.
But she dared not gamble. Having cheated death once, Hualun refused to face it again. At the pivotal moment, she chose flight over fight.
Duan Guangchen seethed with rage. For half a year, Hualun had taught him secret techniques and Golden Core condensation methods, earning his trust as both mentor and ally. Though ruler of Jin Kingdom, his mortal authority paled before Golden Core power. He’d planned to become regent after condensing his Golden Core, devoting himself wholly to cultivation.
Now all hopes crumbled. Hualun lay gravely injured, powerless against even a Qi refining stage disciple.
Ye Yun’s spirit perception swept across hundreds of zhang—no trace of the fox-cunning Hualun remained.
Approaching the bloodied king, Ye Yun demanded coldly: “Where’s Duan Chenfeng? Speak, and you might live.”
Duan Guangchen forced his eyes open. After a long stare, he rasped, “Very well. I’ll take you.”
Ye Yun hauled him up, channeling true qi to stabilize his wounds.
“Release me,” Duan Guangchen said evenly. “I’ll walk myself. A king keeps his dignity.”
With a smirk, Ye Yun complied. The monarch swallowed a fire-red pill, regaining faint vitality. He calmly shed his bloodied dragon robes, changed garments, and wiped his mouth.
“Proceed.” Though weakened, his voice retained regal command.
Ye Yun found this ironic—the desperate fighter now played monarch while death loomed.
They traversed the palace gardens. Trembling servants knelt along the path, foreseeing their kingdom’s downfall.
A narrow path through flower beds led to a shadowed stone chamber exuding chill.
“He’s inside. I’ll fetch him,” Duan Guangchen offered.
“We enter together,” Ye Yun countered, suspecting traps.
The unremarkable chamber grew colder as they approached. Duan Guangchen activated a hidden array, revealing a rumbling stone door.
Inside, luminous pearls bathed the room in white light. Spiritual energy hung thick enough to condense into droplets—a treasure-fueled cultivation den.
Under the glow sat a trembling youth. Spiritual energy streamed from his crown into the chamber’s reserves.
“Senior Brother!” Ye Yun roared. Not only had they drained Duan Chenfeng’s Golden Core power, but they’d also shackled him with restrictions to milk his remaining energy.
Ye Yun teleported to his comrade, enveloped him in protective energy, and flashed outside.
“You deserve death,” Ye Yun spat with murderous intent.
“Practitioners go against the heavens,” Duan Guangchen replied calmly. “I’ve lost. Kill me.”
The response gave Ye Yun pause. Cultivation demanded ruthlessness—practitioners died pursuing power or defending it.
“Did you drain his Golden Core completely?” Ye Yun demanded icily.
"If the Golden Core power had been so easy to extract, you’d have died long ago under the combined assault of me and that old thief Hualun. But now that Duan Chenfeng’s true qi has been completely drained, his Golden Core power automatically transforms into replenishing energy. Originally it would’ve taken two more days for all Golden Core power within him to convert into spiritual energy. For over half a month, Hualun and I had been absorbing this energy. With enough absorption, breaking through to Golden Core stage would’ve been effortless. Who knew you’d ruin everything – such is heaven’s will." Duan Guangchen shrugged, his tone laced with resignation.
Ye Yun snorted coldly, pressing his palm against Duan Chenfeng’s back as he steadily channeled true qi. Removed from the stone chamber, the leakage of true qi from Duan Chenfeng’s body stopped. The energy gradually circulated through his meridians, stabilizing.
"Peak of Qi refining stage level seven? How did his cultivation level plummet this low?" Ye Yun’s brow furrowed. He recalled that after receiving Duan Yan’s Golden Core empowerment, Duan Chenfeng had reached third or fourth level of Foundation Establishment. Given time, he should’ve smoothly reached peak of Seventh Level of Foundation Establishment, mere steps from Golden Core stage.
Yet now Duan Chenfeng’s realm had fallen from Foundation Establishment to Qi refining stage – clear evidence of how much power had been drained.
Suppressing his anger, Ye Yun continued feeding true qi into Duan Chenfeng to stabilize his cultivation.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, color returned to Duan Chenfeng’s pallid face. His trembling ceased, and his eyes fluttered open.
"Duan Guangchen!" Duan Chenfeng roared upon seeing the figure by the stone chamber.
Duan Guangchen merely smiled in response.
"Senior Brother Duan, how do feel?" Ye Yun’s voice came from behind.
Whirling around, Duan Chenfeng gaped at Ye Yun before crushing him in a bear hug. "You rascal! How’d you get here? What brings you to this cursed place?"
Ye Yun chuckled. "I came looking for you. When these fools tried to kill me instead of talking, I cut down some and wounded others. Duan Guangchen ended up leading me here."
Duan Chenfeng pushed back, staring incredulously. "You reached first level of Foundation Establishment? Impressive speed! Still far below my Fifth Level though – keep working! Wait – how’d a Foundation Establishment newbie defeat Duan Guangchen and that old beast Hualun? Where’s that tomb-dwelling millennium demon anyway?"
"Check your own cultivation," Ye Yun suggested mildly.
Duan Chenfeng froze, then exploded: "I’ve fallen to Qi refining stage level seven? From Fifth Level Foundation Establishment?! Damn you Duan Guangchen! Damn that Hualun! I’ll kill you both!"
Ye Yun patted his shoulder. "Those clumsy fools aren’t worth mentioning. Are you unharmed? Any poison or restrictions?"
"Just Golden Core extraction. Poisons wouldn’t work." Duan Chenfeng shook his head.
Nodding, Ye Yun turned to Duan Guangchen. "Since Senior Brother’s unharmed, I’ll let other matters slide. Now – how will you compensate him?"
"Follow me," Duan Guangchen smiled, heading towards the palace’s tallest hall.
Exchanging glances, the youths followed. Murderous intent radiated from Duan Chenfeng’s glare at the king’s retreating back.
Soon they entered the grand hall where rows of officials knelt, shouting "Long live the Emperor!" as they passed. Duan Guangchen led them into Jin Kingdom’s seat of power – Heavenly Dragon Hall.
Ascending to the dragon throne, Duan Guangchen settled himself before addressing the pair: "You wished to know my compensation? Behold."
As the youths watched coldly, Duan Guangchen surveyed his court and proclaimed: "Today I abdicate the throne to Duan Chenfeng!"
