Chapter 95: The Joint Trial of the Three Halls

At this moment, Lan You, having washed, changed, and eaten a few mouthfuls of dry biscuits and cold water, happened to walk outside the courtyard gate accompanied by Qu Mei. Hearing Zhao Xuan's words, her footsteps faltered abruptly. A trace of sorrow appeared on her pale, gaunt face. She stood blankly at the courtyard entrance for a moment, then turned and left.

Her chaotic soul was now slowly recovering.

Zhao Xuan's words also made her realize that the grudge between her and the Taiyuan Sect was likely impossible to resolve.

It would have been fine if she had died, but unfortunately, not only did she survive, but her cultivation realm had also gained a tremendous boost.

Just now, while washing and changing clothes, she had carefully observed her own body. Her soul had strengthened at least threefold, almost reaching the state of the True Essence Late Stage, and her dantian had expanded nearly fivefold. This was something unheard of, because once one reaches Foundation Establishment, the size of the dantian is fixed and will never grow again.

The opening of meridians and the dantian are both completed in the Kaiyuan Realm, and subsequent cultivation is related to the scale of the dantian. The larger the dantian is opened, the more Yuan Qi it can store, and the stronger one's strength will be after Foundation Establishment, allowing one to go further in later cultivation.

Opening the dantian is related to one's Spirit Root, meaning the dantian can only be expanded by relying on one's own essence; it cannot be aided by external objects at all, including any Spirit Pills or Spirit Medicine. At the very least, within Yuqing Hall, there is no information regarding pills that enhance Spirit Root aptitude, or rather, even if there were, it would exceed the capabilities of the sects in the Song Kingdom Immortal World and be impossible to obtain.

Therefore, the stronger the Spirit Root and the better the aptitude, the larger the scale of the dantian a cultivator can open.

This is the consensus of the Immortal World.

But the changes that occurred in her body completely shattered this understanding that had existed for thousands of years.

Aside from the significant strengthening of her soul and dantian, she discovered that the changes to her physical body were even more astonishing. Under internal inspection, her internal organs were as crystalline and transparent as jade, and her muscles and bones were incomparably tough. According to her own feeling, even without Yuan Qi to protect her body, it was estimated that even a first-grade Magic Treasure would find it difficult to damage her; this was a physique almost only possessed by experts of the Golden Core realm.

In other words, her cultivation aptitude and physique had improved several times over for no reason. Following the current situation to continue cultivating, in the future, as long as there was no shortage of breakthrough pills, reaching the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms would be a matter of course.

All of this was the earth-shaking change brought about by Xu Chen carrying her through that terrifying battle.

Over a month of being together, from the initial anger and shame to the chaotic feelings that arose from their intimate proximity, Lan You's thoughts regarding Xu Chen were very complex. She almost regarded him as her will to live and her backbone, even wanting to stay by his side forever, embracing him day and night as before.

But the reality before her told her that she was merely an enemy of the Taiyuan Sect, and a redundant one at that.

Xu Chen was busy eating, drinking, and laughing with a group of senior and junior sisters to make up for the rough feelings between them, unaware that Lan You was sad. As for Seventh Senior Sister Qu Mei, her attitude toward Lan You was exactly the same as Zhao Xuan's, if not even more so, remaining extremely cold from beginning to end. If it weren't for today being the Spirit Transformation Ceremony, she might have secretly finished this woman off with a sword.

Just now, when the two returned, the group of senior brothers and sisters had seen with their own eyes that this shameless woman was actually lying on the little junior brother's back.

After gorging himself for a full quarter of an hour, Xu Chen finally could not eat any more.

After his stomach could no longer hold any food or water, Xu Chen rubbed his belly and burped, then went to Taiyuan Hall surrounded by a group of senior brothers and sisters.

At this time, the five True Monarchs and over a dozen Sect Leaders and Elders of the Golden Core realm were already seated and waiting, all while still whispering and chatting about this matter.

Outside the hall gate, a large number of low- and mid-level cultivators were crowded at the entrance, preparing to listen to these two lucky survivors who had been missing under Black Wind Ridge for nearly a month recount their bizarre experiences.

Lan You knelt beside Yulong Zhenren, her head lowered, her expression neither sad nor happy, devoid of any emotion. She seemed to have returned to her usual cold appearance, but when Xu Chen entered the hall, her whole body trembled slightly, and she lowered her head even further.

Yulong Zhenren beside her sensed his disciple's emotional fluctuation, reached out to gently stroke the top of her head, and said via Divine Sense Transmission: "You'er, don't be afraid. You are safe now. With the three Supreme Elders here, no one dares to bully you!"

Lan You's face turned even paler, and she lowered her head and gave a soft "Mn."

Because the matter was special, the two Elders of the Taiyuan Sect and a group of juniors were also arranged seats this time, all sitting clustered behind Danchenzi.

Xu Chen was full of trepidation and nervousness, preparing to squeeze in among the group of senior brothers and sisters, but Xuanchen Zhenjun beckoned and said: "Chen'er, sit beside this Daoist, so the several True Monarchs can ask questions."

"Disciple obeys!" Xu Chen could only steel himself to bow, then honestly sat down on an empty cushion next to Danchenzi.

"Although you have just escaped back and are physically and mentally exhausted, the changes in Black Wind Ridge and Spirit Fox Valley are no small matter. Therefore, this Daoist, along with the four True Monarchs and many fellow Daoists of the Immortal World, is also very concerned about the origin of these changes, which might bring disaster to the common people of our Great Song territory. Therefore, you and Junior Niece Lan You still need to recount this experience in detail, so that we may distinguish and deliberate, and discuss countermeasures!" Xuanchen Zhenjun said with a serious expression.

"That is correct, Junior Nephew Xu, feel free to speak. The incident that happened in the capital last time has already passed; the Taiyuan Sect and our Yuqing Hall have already turned hostility into friendship. From now on, no one will trouble you again. This gambling match was indeed caused by our Yuqing Hall, which led to Junior Nephew almost meeting with disaster. Here, I apologize to you on behalf of my disciple Yulong and my disciples Xu Wen and Lan You. If Junior Nephew still has any dissatisfaction, I can also bear it all and make some compensation." Yuyang Zhenjun nodded with a pleasant expression.

"This junior would not dare!"

While washing and eating just now, Xu Chen had already roughly heard from the group of senior brothers and sisters what had happened outside after they entered Black Wind Ridge, so apart from a bitter smile, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The messy things between him and Lan You might be trivial, but what he was most worried about was whether Yuqing Hall would use the Spirit Transformation Ceremony to stir up trouble and humiliate the Taiyuan Sect.

But looking at it now, the several True Monarchs were all broad-minded people who had already completely smoothed over this matter.

Taiwuzi even took out rare Spirit Pills and Spirit Medicine to compensate his Master, Xuanhe Zhenren.

Therefore, this conflict that had worried him for a long time had finally settled.

The matter at hand was how to deal with this inquiry, which was like a joint trial by three courts.

At this moment, those seated in the hall were almost all the top-tier powers of the entire Great Song Immortal World. Except for Longmen Mountain, which only sent Taiwu Zhenjun as a lone representative, all cultivators of the Golden Core realm and above from all large and small Immortal Sects were present.

In other words, his every move and every word at this moment would have a huge impact on the entire Great Song Immortal World.

Of course, the things he and Lan You had experienced and the changes under Black Wind Ridge would indeed bring unparalleled impact and change to the entire Great Song Immortal World and even the mortal world.

Seeing Xu Chen's nervous and apprehensive appearance, Chixia Zhenjun, who had the highest cultivation, gently flicked his horsetail whisk and said:

"Alright, everyone, do not frighten the two children. Previously, this old man has already briefly questioned my grand-disciple Xu Wen, and he has also detailed the changes after entering the depths of the Black Wind Ridge fissure. The situation is indeed complex, the terrain is bizarre, the Divine Sense pressure is heavy, the Soul Beasts are ferocious, and being trapped deep within is very chaotic; one moment of carelessness would lead to death and soul dissipation. Grand-disciple Lan You also just said that ever since entering the depths, she was attacked by powerful Soul Beasts one after another, and after her body and soul both suffered heavy injuries, she fell into a coma. It was Xu Chen who saved her and finally brought her out. Now that the two have returned safely, it is truly a great blessing, and it also allows us old fellows to have witnesses to understand what exactly happened under Black Wind Ridge."

Xuanchen Zhenjun then nodded and said: "That is correct. Chen'er, you state the facts. No matter what happens, this old man will stand up for you!"

Xu Chen could only steel himself to stand up, bow to the five True Monarchs and the group of Sect Leaders and Elders of the Golden Core realm, and then carefully recounted what happened after he entered the Black Wind Ridge fissure.

Of course, after entering, he had separated from Xu Wen and Lan You, so he recounted it from his own perspective.

And when the four True Monarchs and the group of Sect Leaders and Elders heard that Xu Chen still had a Divine Sense range of twenty zhang in the depths of the fissure, they all looked shocked, especially Baiyun Zhenjun and Yuyang Zhenjun, who had been inside; their Divine Senses almost simultaneously landed on him.

Xu Chen instantly felt his body and soul being seen through completely, and his scalp went numb and he broke out in a cold sweat.

Soon, the two True Monarchs withdrew their Divine Senses, looked at each other, and nodded slightly. Baiyunzi twisted his beard and said: "Junior Nephew Xu Chen's soul aura is indeed not weak, not lower than a cultivator of the True Essence Late Stage. This Daoist believes this statement without doubt."

"Whoosh~"

The entire hall was in an uproar.

Especially the group of Sect Leaders and Elders of the Golden Core realm, who could not even sit still.

A piece-of-trash little cultivator with a cultivation of only the Kaiyuan Realm Mid Stage actually had the soul strength of the True Essence Late Stage; what kind of heaven-defying aptitude must this be.

Moreover, such a thing had never been heard of in the Immortal World.

Therefore, several equally powerful Divine Senses attempted to observe Xu Chen, but were immediately repelled by two other even more powerful Divine Senses.

One was Xuanchen Zhenjun, and the other was actually Chixia Zhenjun.

Now, no one dared to continue probing Xu Chen's situation.

"Fellow Daoists, please do not disturb Junior Nephew Xu Chen. In cultivating the Dao, each relies on their own opportunities. Although this matter is rare, it is not unprecedented. Junior Nephew Xu, continue to recount your subsequent experiences!" Chixia Zhenjun said lightly with his eyes slightly lowered, his clear voice ringing directly in everyone's mind.

Xu Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and continued to recount how he rescued Lan You, then carried her on his back and was forced into a giant spider's nest. However, because another huge Two-Headed Demon Bat broke in, the two powerful Soul Beasts fought fiercely in the giant spider's nest. In the end, the Two-Headed Demon Bat was killed by the spider. At the final critical moment, the two had no choice but to use two Third-tier Spirit Talismans, which ultimately caused the giant spider's nest to collapse, and they fell into a red light vortex.

As for what happened after entering the red light vortex, Xu Chen simply used his coma as an excuse to gloss over it, only saying that when he woke up, he saw an Immortal fighting a terrifying giant beast in the Void that was round like a ball and covered in red and black scales and tentacles. In the end, the giant beast was no match for the Immortal and fled. The two were also sent out of the Void by this Immortal who called himself Wuyazi, an Immortal under the command of the Eastern Emperor of the Yuxu Palace. After the two escaped the cavern, they discovered they were already in the Spirit Fox Valley near the Taiyuan Sect.

(End of chapter)