Chapter 615 - 615: Chaotic Times
The Primordial Sword Sect, originally based in Immortal Cloud City, was once a member of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect Alliance.
Officially, it was considered an alliance, but everyone knew that the Primordial Sword Sect was actually in a semi-dependent state. It was just that the Primordial Sword Sect had its own persistence and refused to truly merge into the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.
Following the normal development trajectory, someday in the future, the Primordial Sword Sect should become one of the peaks of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. After all, no matter how the Primordial Sword Sect viewed it, there was no possibility of a comeback.
The internal inheritance techniques were incomplete, and the strongest could only cultivate to the late stage of the Aperture Tempering realm, and they were the weakest among those in the late stage of the Aperture Tempering realm.
Even if there were any outstanding disciples, their first choice for joining a sect would definitely be the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, without any connection to the Primordial Sword Sect.
Except for Chen Fei, who coincidentally entered the Primordial Sword Sect, thus opening the prelude to the resurgence of the Primordial Sword Sect.
From being semi-dependent to Chen Fei’s breakthrough to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the Primordial Sword Sect formed an alliance with the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, and both sides stood on equal footing.
Then Chen Fei suppressed the various sects in the Sea Peak City, vaguely becoming the leader of the sects in the Sea Peak City. But now, it truly made all sects obedient to the Primordial Sword Sect from the bottom of their hearts.
In just a few years, the Primordial Sword Sect completed an extreme turnaround.
When Chen Fei and the others returned to the sect, there was jubilation among the members of the Primordial Sword Sect.
News of the situation on the front lines of the Sea Dominion City had already spread within the Thousand Feathers Alliance, and there were even rumors of several days of siege of the Monster King by those in the Mountain Sea Realm.
It was evident that someone had intentionally spread unfavorable news from the frontline within the Thousand Feathers Alliance, stirring up unrest among the people.
Those who remained in the Primordial Sword Sect were always worried about whether the numerous Aperture Tempering realm cultivators of the Primordial Sword Sect would suffer heavy losses in Sea Dominion City. After all, facing sea monsters of the third rank or higher, the Primordial Sword Sect seemed somewhat weak.
However, upon inspection today, many Aperture Tempering realm cultivators who went to Sea Dominion City had not only returned but had also further improved their cultivation, breaking through their previous boundaries.
Even those who didn’t breakthrough showed significant progress in their cultivation.
Take Qu Qingsheng, for example; he is now only two meridians away from reaching the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm.
In the ten years since Chen Fei’s breakthrough to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the resources enjoyed by the Aperture Tempering realm cultivators of the Primordial Sword Sect far exceeded those of fourth-tier forces.
Apart from occasional resource allocations by Chen Fei, another reason for this was the Primordial Sword Sect’s status in the Sea Peak City. And of course, there was also the fact that the number of Aperture Tempering realm cultivators in the Primordial Sword Sect was relatively low.
With the same resources, other fourth-tier forces had to distribute them among numerous Aperture Tempering realm cultivators. However, the Aperture Tempering realm cultivators of the Primordial Sword Sect never lacked pill resources as long as they could refine them.
Coupled with the tense atmosphere in Sea Dominion City, the pills Chen Fei brought back from the Black Divine Domain allowed Qu Qingsheng and others to make rapid progress in their cultivation.
“It’s good that you’re back, it’s really good!”
Zhou Zixuan’s face was full of smiles as he sincerely rejoiced at seeing all his disciples return safely. What Zhou Zixuan feared most was seeing his old friends forever stranded in Sea Dominion City.
“We owe it to Chen Fei!”
Qu Qingsheng thought of the sea monsters outside Sea Dominion City, which were as numerous as the sky. Without Chen Fei, it wouldn’t be surprising if everyone on the ship perished in that sea area.
With a bit of luck, some managed to escape, but it was impossible for there to be no casualties at all.
But against all odds, they had achieved it.
After exchanging a few words with everyone, Chen Fei disappeared into the main hall after handing over the remaining Thousand Words Elixir from his Qiankun Bag to Qu Qingsheng, instructing him to distribute them.
“Chen Fei has already reached the late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.” As the ordinary disciples dispersed, Qu Qingsheng gathered all the elders of the Aperture Tempering realm, including those who remained at the sect.
“Late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm?” Zhou Zixuan and the others stood up in astonishment, looking incredulously at Qu Qingsheng.
“Yes, late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm!”
Qu Qingsheng couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the amazed expressions of Zhou Zixuan and the others. Their faces were probably just like his and the others’ when they first heard the news.
Or perhaps anyone would react the same upon hearing this news.
Late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, it was simply unimaginable.
Some turned to look at Feng Xiupu. Despite their previous envy of Feng Xiupu for having such a disciple, Chen Fei’s displayed talent seemed almost too monstrous.
Guo Linshan and Zhang Fangqiong exchanged a glance. Because they had just entered the Aperture Tempering realm, they hadn’t gone to Sea Dominion City this time.
They had always known that their junior disciple back then had outstanding talent, which was why he reached the Combined Aperture Tempering realm at such a young age. But this level of talent… in all the years of the Thousand Feathers Alliance, they had never heard of anyone reaching such heights!
“Good, that’s really good!” Zhou Zixuan slowly sat back down, his initial shock gradually subsiding, replaced by a sense of pride.
Chen Fei was a disciple of the Primordial Sword Sect, and since he had never shown any intention of leaving the sect, the Primordial Sword Sect would only grow stronger and more prosperous under his leadership.
Initially, Zhou Zixuan believed that this would surely take some time. He might not be able to see it, but it didn’t affect his everyday aspirations.
Whenever Zhou Zixuan walked around the sect and saw the Primordial Sword Sect flourishing, he felt a great sense of satisfaction.
With the Primordial Sword Sect in its current state, Zhou Zixuan was already beyond satisfied, but who could refuse a future where things could get even better?
But today’s news, revealing that Chen Fei had already reached the late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, hinted that the Primordial Sword Sect might become a top force in the future, on par with those like the Tiandao Sect.
“Today, when we returned, Chen Fei had just killed a late-stage Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert and a mid-stage Combined Aperture Tempering realm formation master,” Qu Qingsheng continued.
The disciples who had stayed behind couldn’t help but widen their eyes upon hearing this.
Not only was he already a late-stage Combined Aperture Tempering realm expert, but he also directly killed someone of the same level. His talent was beyond words.
“I’m telling you this today not to make you proud or complacent, but to remind you to be even more discreet than before,” Qu Qingsheng said solemnly.
“This matter must not be spread, and I believe you all understand the reasons why!”
Everyone present nodded. In fact, if this news were to spread, no one would probably believe it, mainly because Chen Fei had practiced for too short a time, and his realm was hidden too well.
Even those with just a bit of common sense in cultivation wouldn’t believe that one could progress from the early stage to the late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm in just ten years.
In this situation, unless someone had already betrayed the sect, nobody would be foolish enough to spread such news.
Even if the spies noticed that Master Yuanmin had disappeared, they wouldn’t suspect Chen Fei because it was too bizarre and outlandish. Saying that Chen Fei was in the mid-stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm might have a tiny bit of credibility.
Late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm? Are you out of your mind?
Similar conversations were also happening within several sects of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. Such matters should be kept quiet; only then could everyone reap greater benefits in the future.
If word got out, not only would there be no benefits, but it could also completely offend the Primordial Sword Sect. If they were suddenly wiped out one day, it wouldn’t be surprising.
Chen Fei returned to his courtyard and began sorting through the Qiankun Bag he received from Master Yuanmin.
It mainly contained some pills for late-stage Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivation, as well as a few jade slips and miscellaneous items.
As Chen Fei looked at the items in his palm, a layer of light flowed within them. They appeared soft, but their texture was extremely tough.
Heart of the Earth Jade Marrow, a third-grade top-grade spiritual material, was rarely seen. There had been no reports of it appearing in any market. Even if someone luckily obtained it, they would usually exchange it for goods rather than for spirit stones.
With such rarity, the Heart of the Earth Jade Marrow naturally possessed extraordinary effects. It could directly aid late-stage Combined Aperture Tempering realm warriors in condensing the Three Flowers. Whether one aimed for the seventh, eighth, or even ninth transformation, it would have some effect.
Chen Fei suspected that the Heart of the Earth Jade Marrow in Master Yuanmin’s Qiankun Bag might have been a gift from the sea monsters. For someone of Master Yuanmin’s realm, the only things that were attractive were such heavenly treasures.
Chen Fei flipped his right hand and stored away the Heart of the Earth Jade Marrow.
At present, Chen Fei didn’t have a use for this spiritual material. At the very least, he needed to increase the total amount of his yuan power within his body. Only when he broke through to the seventh transformation and condensed one flower would he need this treasure.
Chen Fei sorted out the contents of Master Yuanmin’s Qiankun Bag, closed his eyes, and began practicing his techniques.
Half an hour later, Chen Fei was jumping around in the courtyard. The insights into the Profound Heavenly Sword, Soul Breaking Technique, and Teleportation all appeared in Chen Fei’s mind, and he worked hard to absorb them.
For others reaching a new realm, there was usually a consolidation phase, a period of stagnation that could last from a few months to several years, during which their strength would not change significantly.
But for Chen Fei, such a thing did not exist. As long as he had time, Chen Fei could continue to increase his strength.
If it was like this for the late-stage Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the same would be true for the future peak of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm.
A day later, as the escaped warriors returned to their respective sects, information about the situation in the sea area where Sea Dominion City was located continued to spread.
As expected, facing the siege of sea monsters, the losses on the Thousand Feathers Alliance side were severe.
While no one in the Mountain Sea Realm had fallen, there were five deaths among the peak Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators, one of whom was Min Yanlu’s direct disciple.
In the late stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, there were over a dozen deaths, and when including those in the mid-stage and early stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, the number reached over a hundred. As for the Aperture Tempering realm cultivators, it went without saying.
The sea monsters also suffered losses, but they outnumbered the warriors. Even with losses, they could afford it.
The entire Thousand Feathers Alliance was shrouded in gloom. Those sects that lost Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivators were even more so.
The three neighboring sea areas of Sea Dominion City saw panic-driven migrations of both warriors and ordinary people to other sea areas. No one believed that the sea monsters would stop after occupying one sea area.
Sure enough, after a brief calm of three days, the sea monsters began tentatively entering the three sea areas. Although there were only a few sea monsters, with no substantial resistance, the sea monsters in these three sea areas gradually became more audacious.
The people in these three sea areas became increasingly fearful. Those who had the ability and means had already boarded ships and headed for other places, leaving behind only those truly without background, staring blankly at their hollowed-out cities.
Rampaging and looting erupted almost instantly in the cities within the three sea areas.
The response from the Thousand Feathers Alliance was somewhat sluggish, but eventually, a few days later, they dispatched people to assist with the migration in the three sea areas.
The population in the three sea areas around Sea Dominion City decreased rapidly. People in other nearby sea areas also scrambled to migrate to more interior regions.
Ten days later, a new fourth-tier force appeared in the Sea Peak City.
Two weeks later, five more new fourth-tier forces emerged in the Sea Peak City.
A month later, a third-tier force appeared in the Sea Peak City, and conflicts began to emerge. These newly arrived forces all cast their gaze, whether intentionally or unintentionally, towards the third-grade lower-tier secret realm in the Sea Peak City.
This third-grade lower-tier secret realm belonged to the Primordial Sword Sect’s five families, but that was in the past!
Given the current situation of the Thousand Feathers Alliance, there should be some flexibility.
If the Primordial Sword Sect was unwilling, then let them be willing!