My cultivation disguise has been exposed by Xiao Sizi.

The main hall of the Qingyun Sword Sect.

Li Chen stared wide-eyed at the Qingyun Sect Master, frantically processing the explosive information he had just heard.

A top-tier furnace-cauldron physique? A mortal woman?

Do I still need to absorb the Yin energy of Qian Yuan to break through to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm?

Isn't this the same Xing'er, the childhood sweetheart of Ning Xiu, the down-on-his-luck scholar who was thoroughly fooled by his "previous life online novel"?

"Fate is a really strange thing."

Li Chen inwardly cursed himself, thinking that he had casually told a huge lie and then walked away.

Unexpectedly, after all this time, I'm getting involved in this matter again.

"senior."

Li Chen composed himself and asked the most crucial question.

"The Blood Fiend Sect is making such a big show of things, even going so far as to gather three mid-stage Golden Core cultivators to forcibly break the formation."

"Aren't they afraid that word will leak out and they'll be attacked by other righteous sects? Or that after they break the seal, others will take advantage of their misfortune?"

In the world of cultivation, even a three-year-old understands the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime.

Hearing Li Chen's question.

A deep sense of helplessness and bitterness appeared on the face of the Qingyun Sect Master. He shook his head and let out a long sigh.

"Young friend Li, you are unaware of this."

"The Blood Fiend Sect dares to act so recklessly because they have absolute confidence."

"Confidence? Just based on those three elders at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm?" Li Chen raised an eyebrow.

"No."

The Qingyun Sect Master's voice trembled slightly.

"Those three elders are nothing more than tools to break the formation."

"What truly silences the entire cultivation world is the current sect leader of the Blood Fiend Sect! He is a genuine mid-Nascent Soul stage expert!"

"Not only that."

The Qingyun Sect Master lowered his voice, as if afraid of disturbing some unknown entity.

"There's a long-standing rumor in the cultivation world that in the forbidden Blood Pool behind the Blood Fiend Sect, there lives a supreme ancestor whose age is unknown and whose cultivation is unfathomable!"

"With these two mountains pressing down on us, let alone taking advantage of the chaos, even if the Blood Fiend Sect were to send out invitations to all sects in the world to witness the breaking of the formation, it would be impossible."

"Who would dare not go? Who would dare to act recklessly on their territory?"

Upon hearing these words, Li Chen's brows furrowed deeply.

Mid-stage Nascent Soul? And there's an old monster in seclusion whose true strength is unknown?

Given his current state of barely recovering to the early stage of the Golden Core realm, if he were to force his way into the Blood Fiend Sect for the sake of a scholar he had just met, he would absolutely face certain death.

"However, this is also our opportunity."

The Qingyun Sect Master abruptly changed the subject.

"Since the Blood Fiend Sect has sent out invitations to attend the ceremony, as the master of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, I will naturally lead a delegation there."

"If you wish to investigate the teleportation array, young friend, you may wish to conceal your presence and disguise yourself as an ordinary disciple of my Qingyun Sword Sect, and accompany me."

"As long as we don't act rashly, we can act according to circumstances."

Li Chen's eyes lit up, and he agreed without hesitation.

"Alright! Then I'll trouble you to give me a ride, senior!"

……

three days later.

A massive spirit boat, hundreds of feet long and covered with cyan sword patterns, slowly rose into the air.

They broke through the layers of clouds and sped towards the Blood Fiend Sect, a place shrouded in demonic energy.

On the spirit boat, besides the Qingyun Sect Master and several elders, there were dozens of elite disciples. Lu Fei and Lin Qing'er were naturally among them.

Li Chen, on the other hand, changed into the outer disciple's robes of the Qingyun Sword Sect and discreetly stayed in a secluded cabin at the stern of the ship.

This trip will take a full month.

Li Chen didn't waste a single second.

He sat cross-legged on the wooden couch in the cabin, piling all the spirit stones and rare treasures he had collected over the past two months while "acting chivalrously" around his body.

"call--"

Li Chen closed his eyes slightly and formed a hand seal.

The extremely rare "top-grade space and lightning element" dual spiritual roots within his body were like two super pumps running at full power, operating wildly.

"Crackling and popping!"

Fine, purple-gold lightning crackled and danced across his skin.

The surrounding spirit stones turned into dust at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The spiritual energy contained within was instantly purified and refined by the laws of thunder, and then, like rivers flowing into the sea, it continuously flowed into Li Chen's dantian.

Time flew by during the tedious training.

Inside the dantian, the golden core that was originally covered in cracks is being continuously nourished and repaired by the abundant spiritual energy.

The cracks are becoming fewer and fewer.

The golden elixir's radiance grew increasingly dazzling.

Until the night before the spirit boat was about to arrive at the Blood Fiend Sect.

"Buzz—!"

Suddenly, an incredibly powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from the cabin where Li Chen was.

He suddenly opened his eyes, and two beams of purple-gold lightning, almost tangible, shot out from the depths of his eyes, even creating a piercing sonic boom in the air.

"It's finally recovered!"

Li Chen let out a long breath, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.

Not only were his injuries completely healed, but his cultivation level also returned to its peak.

Even under this frenzied cultivation of breaking down and rebuilding, he faintly touched the threshold of the late Golden Core stage!

"With this strength, even if I can't defeat that Nascent Soul Sect Master, I'll at least have some confidence to escape."

……

The next morning.

The spirit boat slowly descended.

What came into Li Chen's view was a massive mountain range shrouded in a thick, blood-red miasma.

A continuous stretch of black palaces, built against the mountainside. A chilling, demonic aura permeates the air, making one's blood boil.

This is the number one sect in the demonic path, the Blood Fiend Sect!

At this time, the Blood Fiend Sect was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations everywhere.

Red silk ribbons hung all over the mountain gate, but against the backdrop of that cold, demonic aura, the festive red color instead exuded an indescribable eeriness and horror.

Sects from all directions, with various complex thoughts, gradually gathered at the Blood Fiend Sect's vast, boundless White Bone Square.

Li Chen lowered his head and followed behind the Qingyun Sect Master, blending into the crowd.

Right in the center of the square.

A tall wedding platform was erected.

On the high platform sat several high-ranking members of the Blood Fiend Sect, exuding a terrifying aura.

The gaunt old man sitting in the very center, wearing a dark red robe and with a sinister face, was none other than Xue Li, the Golden Core stage elder who was getting married today.

And next to Xue Li.

Standing there was a young woman dressed in a bright red wedding gown, phoenix coronet, and embroidered robe.

The woman had a beautiful and gentle appearance, but at this moment, her stunning face was completely devoid of color.

Her eyes were empty and lifeless, like a puppet without a soul. The tear stains at the corners of her eyes spoke of the endless despair and deathly stillness in her heart.

It was Xing'er, Ning Xiu's childhood sweetheart.

Looking at Xing'er on the stage.

Li Chen stood in the corner of the crowd, his brows furrowed tightly into a deep frown.

"Is this the girl that bookworm has been dreaming about?"

Li Chen sighed inwardly.

"How pitiful, being used as a furnace for someone to break through to a higher realm. After tonight, I'm afraid I won't even be able to leave behind a complete corpse."

Li Chen stroked his chin, his mind in turmoil.

Should we intervene to save her?

"But... even if my strength is restored now, there are several experts at the Golden Core stage in this square."

"Not to mention, sitting on the high platform is the Blood Fiend Sect Master, who is at the mid-Nascent Soul stage."

"What if that legendary, reclusive old monster also comes out..."

Li Chen shook his head.

Although he wasn't a cold-blooded or ruthless person, he wasn't the kind of saint who would throw his life away for a complete stranger.

The disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves is too great.

If we rush in now, it would be like lambs to the slaughter.

Even if he could forcibly save the person using the laws of space, the chances of him escaping unscathed with a mortal under the blockade of a Nascent Soul stage expert would be extremely slim.

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

It was accompanied by a shrill announcement that trailed off.

On the platform of celebration.

Elder Xue Li stood up, looking at Xing'er beside him with a lewd expression.

He stretched out his withered, claw-like hand, about to lift Xing'er's red veil.

Xing'er trembled violently and closed her eyes in despair.

At this critical moment.

"Wait a minute."

A voice suddenly rang out in the vast White Bone Square.

The sound wasn't loud.

It contained no powerful, deafening true energy, nor did it possess any imposing, aloof pressure.

It is very gentle and very calm.

It's like a teacher opening a book in a classroom and uttering the first gentle words of instruction.

But it was such a calm voice.

Yet it was like a gentle breeze that could penetrate the soul, reaching the ears of everyone present with crystal clarity.

It even drowned out the noisy ceremonial music in the square!