Chapter 28

Besides this, it could also be used to expand the meridians through flames, temper the bones, and so on—its uses were many.

After continuously absorbing the pure spiritual energy tempered by the flames.

Suddenly, a clear sound rang out from within his body.

Jiang Chen was stunned to discover that he had actually broken through!

He was now at the second layer of the Postnatal realm!

When did breaking through become this easy?

A strange look crossed Jiang Chen's face, then a surge of joy rose in his heart.

At this moment, the words of his clan chief seemed to echo in his ears once more. "Break before standing anew…"

"As expected, the clan chief was right! As long as one perseveres and does not give up, miracles will come!"

Jiang Chen clenched his fists tightly, his heart surging with emotion.

Now, his admiration for his own clan chief had grown by several degrees.

It was no longer merely a matter of strength, but of a guide on life's path—a beacon lighting the way when one had lost direction!

And at this moment, he had only one thought.

Not to hurry back to cultivating, but to go find the clan chief and share the good news!

"The clan chief has treated me so well—I must be the first to tell him this good news!"

"From now on, I will no longer be a bystander; I too can take part and help the clan grow stronger!"

Jiang Chen suppressed the joy in his heart, then his gaze fell toward a distant direction as he murmured. "Qianshan Sect, Luofeng Sect, you have made me suffer so miserably—one day, I, Jiang Chen, will make you pay the price!"

Recalling the bitter ordeals of these past days, nearly losing his life, fury welled up within Jiang Chen.

But he knew that with his current strength alone, he absolutely could not contend against these two colossal powers.

Jiang Chen set these thoughts aside for now, immediately set out, pushed open the door, and headed toward the clan chief's residence.

Inside the room.

Jiang Daoxuan slowly opened his eyes; within his pupils, countless sword qi seemed to surge forth, cold and overbearing, sharp and unstoppable, impossible to look at directly!

This sword talisman's potential was likely even greater than he had imagined.

Jiang Daoxuan looked at the sword talisman once more, and his feelings toward it had already changed.

Through this seclusion, thanks to the enhancement effect of the entire clan's combined strength, along with the effect of the cultivation acceleration card, he had now leapt from the third layer of the Purple Mansion realm straight to the fifth layer.

With the aid of the Great Sun Body Tempering Art and the Vajra Pill, his physical body had reached an entirely new level—his flesh alone could take a Mystic-grade magic treasure head-on!

His sword Dao cultivation base, through his comprehension of the sword talisman, had also advanced from the perfection of Sword Essence to the Sword Intent realm!

The realm of Sword Intent was the first threshold that trapped countless sword cultivators on the road to the ultimate of the sword.

The difficulty of comprehending it was so high that no ordinary person could grasp it—even looking at all Purple Mansion realm cultivators, not even one in a hundred could!

On average, only one sword cultivator who comprehended Sword Intent would emerge from every hundred Purple Mansion realm cultivators.

Under normal circumstances, only cultivators of the Sea of Yuan realm could comprehend Intent.

And yet now, Jiang Daoxuan had been able to reach the pinnacle of the Sword Intent realm less than a day after breaking through—such was the terrifying extent of his talent!

Once Sword Intent was unleashed, it could overwhelm others' hearts and minds, making them cower before the battle even began; it also carried various miraculous effects, clinging to the sword body and multiplying its killing power!

Feeling the powerful force coursing through his body, a trace of joy flickered in Jiang Daoxuan's eyes.

But just then, through the power of his spiritual sense, he suddenly sensed something unusual outside.

He saw Jiang Chen striding quickly over, arriving before the door.

What surprised him somewhat was that, upon probing with his spiritual sense, he found that Jiang Chen's previously weak aura was gone, and his cultivation base had reached the second layer of the Postnatal realm!

Oh? It seems the transformation has already ended.

A look of understanding appeared in Jiang Daoxuan's eyes.

Before Jiang Chen could speak, Jiang Daoxuan shifted his thoughts, and the door opened on its own.

The instant he saw Jiang Chen, he checked the information once more.

【Name: Jiang Chen】

【Cultivation Base: Second Layer of the Postnatal Realm】

【Bone Structure: Unparalleled (Original: Superior)】

【Comprehension: Heavenly Prodigy (Original: Genius)】

【Fortune: Golden (Rising Sun in the East)】

【Talent: Mortal Body】

【Fortuitous Encounter: Reincarnation of an ancient Great Emperor, with immortal fire coiling at the dantian】

【Aptitude Grade: Dull—Inferior—Average—Superior—Genius—Heavenly Prodigy—Unparalleled—Peerless—Immortal】

Jiang Daoxuan's eyes lit up.

Compared to yesterday, Jiang Chen's current aptitude could be called extremely outstanding.

At this moment, seeing the clan chief appear, Jiang Chen forcibly pressed down his excited heart and was about to speak.

But Jiang Daoxuan spoke first, smiling as he said. "Second layer of the Postnatal realm? It seems the rumors of breaking before standing anew were not false after all…"

As his words fell, Jiang Chen was first startled, but then thought—his own clan chief was already a Purple Mansion cultivator, while his own cultivation was merely Postnatal; how could he possibly hide it from the clan chief's eyes?

Thinking of this, he lowered his head slightly, reached up to scratch the back of his head, and gave an embarrassed smile. "The clan chief is indeed the clan chief—it's just Jiang Chen showing off his slight skill before an expert."

Jiang Daoxuan waved his hand, about to continue speaking.

But just then, a system notification suddenly appeared.

【Ding~ Current target: investment can trigger a Golden-grade return】

【Invest one Mystic-grade treasured sword, and you may obtain a Heavenly-grade supreme magic treasure: Chengying Sword】

【Invest a supreme Earth-grade《Pure Yang Art》, and you may obtain a Heavenly-grade supreme sword art《Ten Thousand Swords Paying Homage》】

【Invest in the Great Sun Body Refinement Scripture, and obtain a wisp of Jin Wu energy】

Gazing at the generous reward before him, Jiang Daoxuan was startled.

Looking up at Jiang Chen, the boy was more likable than he'd ever been.

Feeling the intense gaze of his clan leader, Jiang Chen was more uncomfortable than he'd ever been.

Jiang Daoxuan, seeing Jiang Chen's awkward expression, realized the issue, cleared his throat a few times, and said at once: "Since you've fully recovered, there's no need to go to Qianshan Sect to study."

"Qianshan Sect has bullied us too much—I have no desire to return. From now on, I'll fight only for my clan and go nowhere else!"

Jiang Chen's expression turned solemn, and he bowed deeply, clasping his fists.

Even though Qianshan Sect boasts a Qi Sea Realm cultivator as its pillar and possesses many Profound-grade cultivation techniques,

he had not the slightest interest.

This experience of being expelled from the sect had shown him the coldness of human relations.

In contrast between the sect and the clan,

even if the clan were worse, he'd rather stay with it than beg to remain in that scheming, treacherous sect!

"Good! No wonder you're a fine son of the Jiang family! You don't need those Qianshan Sect techniques—we Jiangs look down on such crude methods. As our clan's genius, I, your clan leader, will never let you suffer injustice."

"Take this Pure Yang Scripture and the Great Sun Body Refinement Scripture and cultivate them. Never bring shame to the Jiang family!"

Jiang Daoxuan pulled out duplicate copies of the Great Sun Body Refinement Scripture and the Pure Yang Scripture from his system space and handed them to Jiang Chen.