Chapter 407

Chapter 407: Protecting the Law

"Young man, I have made up my mind!"

After hearing Wang Chen’s words, Uncle Zhong not only showed no hesitation but immediately bowed deeply, saying, "Qiu Zhong is willing to take another shot; I hope you will support me!"

This elderly cultivator, who was over eighty, had long since let go of life and death. However, at this moment, he felt the hot blood flowing within his body.

He wanted to live for another hundred years!

"Good!"

Wang Chen clapped his hands and said, "Then I will give you this chance!"

He instructed Uncle Zhong to return to the Xu family first while he made some arrangements in the cavern.

The essence of the wood element produced here greatly benefited Wang Chen’s cultivation. To ensure safety, he opened up a new tunnel while sealing up the original one completely.

Uncle Zhong would come and go once a month; although the secret of the essence of the wood element was well hidden so far, there was no guarantee that any trace had not been leaked.

In case someone with ill intentions conducted secret investigations, exposure was a possibility.

In addition, Wang Chen used the Earth and Stone Technique to reinforce the cavern’s walls.

Since this place was originally connected to the Xu family’s mine and was quite close, it was also a precaution.

Using the Purple Palace’s second layer of cultivation level, Wang Chen executed the Perfected Level Earth and Stone Technique. Unless a cultivator below the Purple Palace possessed higher level magical tools, it was practically impossible for them to break through.

And which cultivator would do the work of miners anyway!

After these operations, the safety factor was greatly increased, and Wang Chen himself felt at ease.

After returning to the inner sect, he first reviewed some texts and then spent contribution points to consult with the Golden Core elders.

In the end, he spent nearly a thousand contribution points to exchange for a top-grade spirit pill for breaking through and a bottle of Vital Meridian Liquid from the Merit department.

Uncle Zhong’s age made breaking through to open a house much more difficult than for a young cultivator. Additionally, his meridians were relatively stiff, which did not help with breaking through the bottleneck.

The Vital Meridian Liquid’s function was to open up the meridians and enhance the flow of magical energy, making it most effective during the breakthrough.

Once everything was prepared, Wang Chen waited for three more days.

Only when Uncle Zhong had raised his condition to the best state did he rent a cultivating cave in Wailing City.

He personally acted as Uncle Zhong’s protector!

"You have done me a great favor, young man; Qiu Zhong will never forget it!"

Receiving the spirit pill and Vital Meridian Liquid from Wang Chen, the old cultivator’s eyes became moist.

Not only did Wang Chen find him valuable elixirs, but he also carefully imparted his own knowledge about breaking through.

The latter was even more precious, as it came from the insights of a Golden Core true master!

As a Purple Palace master and an inner sect disciple of the West Sea Sect, for him to do this much for a steward, Uncle Zhong felt a level of gratitude that was beyond words.

At this point, the old cultivator released all burdens from his heart.

If he did not succeed, he would make a noble sacrifice!

Uncle Zhong took a deep breath, sat cross-legged on the mat, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his energy.

Wang Chen stood nearby, guarding him.

Uncle Zhong had long reached the pinnacle of perfect mastery in Qi Training, but he had been stuck at a bottleneck, unable to progress further.

Yet, over the years, the purity of his magical energy had surpassed that of most young cultivators.

With his prior experience in breaking through to open a house, he swiftly entered the state of breakthrough.

The old cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, and the once-cloudy gaze now sparkled with a blade-like gleam, faintly tinged with a turquoise hue.

He reached out, grabbed the Vital Meridian Liquid, and drank it in one go, then swallowed the spirit pill.

Life, death, success, or failure—it all hinged on this single moment!

Within moments, Uncle Zhong’s entire body began to tremble, his face flushed red, and fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead.

A mist of energy swirled around his head, and the corners of his eyes twitched incessantly, a clear sign of the immense pain he was enduring.

This was to be expected; the more potent the Vital Meridian Liquid, the greater the agony it inflicted on the cultivator.

If he could endure it, there was hope; if not, there would be no future!

Wang Chen watched silently, offering his silent support.

The reason Wang Chen went to such lengths, spending precious contribution points to acquire the spirit pill and Vital Meridian Liquid to aid Uncle Zhong in his second breakthrough, was primarily because the essence of the wood element had been discovered by this old cultivator. Now that Wang Chen was using it for himself, it was only fair to compensate Uncle Zhong.

Moreover, Wang Chen had deeper considerations.

He couldn’t remain in the West Sea Sect indefinitely; perhaps in a few years, if he found the Path to Heaven, he would need to smuggle himself to the higher realms.

Wang Chen alone might have a chance, but taking Xu Xinlan, whose cultivation level was not high, was utterly impossible.

If Wang Chen succeeded, Xu Xinlan would lose his protection, and her future would be fraught with uncertainty.

However, if Uncle Zhong were to advance to the Purple Palace, the situation would change dramatically.

This old cultivator regarded Xu Xinlan as his own daughter, and with him looking after her, Wang Chen could rest assured.

A Purple Palace cultivator could live up to two hundred years, and even if Uncle Zhong didn’t reach that limit, he could still care for Xu Xinlan for several decades.

Those decades would be enough time for Wang Chen to build up a significant cultivation level in the higher realms and then guide her there.

This was Wang Chen’s plan for the future.

Having gained Xu Xinlan’s heart, body, and wealth, he had to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities!

Of course, all of this hinged on Uncle Zhong advancing to the Purple Palace.

Otherwise, Wang Chen would have to make other arrangements.

As he pondered, Uncle Zhong, in the midst of his breakthrough, reached the most critical moment.

The old cultivator was drenched in sweat, his face contorted in agony, and blood began to seep from the corners of his eyes.

His hands, resting on his knees, bulged with veins, and his body emitted a faint, shimmering spiritual light.

But this light was highly unstable, and a faint trace of black energy lingered within it.

This is bad!

Wang Chen noticed Uncle Zhong’s expression; he was clearly at his limit, grappling with an inner demon!

It was common for cultivators to encounter inner demons during breakthroughs.

Especially those with impure cultivation levels or unwholesome thoughts had a high likelihood of facing such trials.

Under normal circumstances, there were many ways to deal with inner demons, using mental techniques, elixirs, or magical tools to subdue them.

But the inner demons that arose during breaking through to open a house were no ordinary challenge!

The chance of failure when facing such inner demons was ninety-nine percent!

In the next moment, a layer of black energy enveloped Uncle Zhong’s face, twisting and shifting into a demonic visage.

Seeing this, Wang Chen felt a deep pang of sorrow and sighed heavily.

He suddenly raised his right hand, ready to help him find release!

Once the inner demon took hold of the soul, this old cultivator would likely fall into eternal darkness, becoming an Evil Spirit.

Yet, just as Wang Chen gathered his magical energy in his palm, the Ancient Stone Tablet within his Sea of Consciousness suddenly radiated thousands of beams of light, illuminating his spirit.

A flash of insight struck Wang Chen, and he slapped his palm against Uncle Zhong’s forehead.

"Subdue!"

He commanded in a deep voice, "Command!"

As soon as the words left his lips, the laws obeyed, and Wang Chen’s palm erupted with brilliant light, instantly dispelling the black energy that shrouded Uncle Zhong’s head and face.

A piercing, vengeful scream echoed through the air!