Chapter 279 - 163: Refining Gang! Refining Gang
"Sect Leader Bai, do you know why Golden Spring Temple is raising this Poisonous Flood Dragon?"
Chen Sheng’s fingertips lightly stroked the cold steel of the Dragon Roar Blade, his inquisitive gaze landing on Bai Qing’s face.
"As for that, I am not certain either. But allow me to advise you, Captain Chen: do not covet that Poisonous Flood Dragon."
Here, Bai Qing paused before adding, "After all, that bunch of bald donkeys are not to be trifled with."
Chen Sheng was well aware of this.
Although there was talk of six great powers within Ning’an Prefecture, in reality, the ones with the strongest foundations and deepest backgrounds were none other than the Buddhist Sect’s Golden Spring Temple and the Daoist Sect’s Qingfeng Temple.
In comparison, however, Qingfeng Temple was more low-key and detached, while Golden Spring Temple was far more ostentatious—one might even say tyrannical in their conduct.
"Thank you for the gift of the blade, Sect Leader Bai."
Chen Sheng slowly placed the Dragon Roar Blade to one side, quite satisfied with it.
This blade’s quality far surpassed that of the Cold-Intimidating Blade; it would serve him well for a long time.
As for the Poisonous Flood Dragon, he had no intention of giving up on it if an opportunity arose. Since he was already on bad terms with Golden Spring Temple, he wasn’t afraid of offending them further.
Besides, that Poisonous Flood Dragon was entrenched in the Poisonous Flood Dragon Pool, bringing disaster to the region. As a Captain of the Jingwu Bureau, it was his duty to enforce justice on behalf of heaven by slaying demons and exorcising evil.
"Captain Chen, I actually have a favor to ask of you."
Seeing Chen Sheng accept the Dragon Roar Blade, Bai Qing immediately changed her tone.
Chen Sheng raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling upon the graceful and voluptuous Bai Qing.
"Please speak freely, Sect Leader Bai."
From the moment she offered him the blade, Chen Sheng had guessed Bai Qing’s motive, so he felt no surprise now.
"The battle of Wushan Mountain is about to begin, and the Danxia Sect is lacking in strength. I ask that Captain Chen might lend us some assistance when the time comes. I do not expect the Danxia Sect to claim a large portion of the spoils; I will be content if we can simply maintain the same share as last time.
The Dragon Roar Blade is merely an introductory gift. Once this matter is concluded successfully, I have an even greater reward to offer."
Bai Qing said, her expression sincere.
At the same time, she felt a trace of helplessness.
’Circumstances have forced my hand. Chen Sheng has already proven his strength. Barring any accidents, with his current power, he is certain to be able to sway the outcome of the battle at Wushan Mountain.’
’If not for this, why would I, a mighty Profound Mastery expert, have to adopt such an attitude to request help from an Innate Martial Master?’
"Since I have received the favor of this blade, I will naturally not refuse. When the time comes, I will certainly do my utmost to help."
Chen Sheng replied solemnly.
’Getting on good terms with a top-tier power really has no downside for me.’
’After all, of the six great powers in Ning’an Prefecture, I’ve already offended half of them. Unless absolutely necessary, I’m not about to make enemies of them all. If they all started targeting me, things would get ugly.’
"Thank you."
Bai Qing breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, and a bright smile blossomed on her face.
She immediately invited Chen Sheng to stay at the Danxia Sect for a few days, but Chen Sheng politely declined.
’Now that I have the Dust-Reducing Spirit Pill, the most important thing is to break through to the Profound Gang Realm and increase my strength.’
’After defeating Lu Xuanzhou and now being targeted by the White Tiger Hall, my situation is precarious.’
’And then there’s the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance.’
’Once news of Zhou Chengzong’s capture reaches them, the Cyan Flood Dragon Alliance will definitely not let it go. And while I have a decent background myself, it’s ultimately unreliable, like rootless duckweed. Only personal strength is the true foundation.’
Seeing Chen Sheng’s resolute attitude, Bai Qing didn’t try to persuade him further and personally saw him out of the Danxia Sect.
...
「Jingwu Bureau, in a secret chamber on the sixteenth sublevel.」
After returning from the Danxia Sect, Chen Sheng wasted no time. Having informed Sun Yuzhi and Nie Xuanfeng of the situation, he immediately came to the secret chamber to attempt his breakthrough.
Seated on a meditation cushion, Chen Sheng slowly exhaled a turbid breath. The aura around his body circulated in ceaseless harmony. After adjusting his state to its absolute peak, he glanced at the Celestial Book Panel, a grave look flashing in his eyes.
[Six Extremes Golden Bell Technique: Great Success (999/1000)]
At this moment, his Cultivation had already reached the peak of the Earth Fiend stage.
He was just a hair’s breadth away from breaking through.
The aura around Chen Sheng grew increasingly steady. He took the Profound Sun Treasure Pearl and the Dust-Reducing Spirit Pill from his sleeve, slowly placing the latter into his mouth. In an instant, the medicinal energy began to spread.
A trace of medicinal power, a convergence of Yin and Yang, continuously seeped into his Dantian Qi Sea.
Then, holding the Profound Sun Treasure Pearl in one hand, Chen Sheng’s gaze hardened as he immediately began to absorb the Profound Sun Qi from within it.
The moment the Profound Sun Qi appeared, the temperature in the secret chamber rose abruptly, the very air seeming to shimmer and distort.
Chen Sheng dared not hesitate. He swiftly opened several key acupoints, guiding this wisp of Profound Sun Qi along specific meridians—cautiously yet firmly, like a trickling stream—and converging it into his Dantian Qi Sea.
BOOM—!
It was as if cold water had been dropped into boiling oil, as if extreme cold had met extreme heat.
The Nine Nether Yin Fiend, which had been docilely circling in his Dantian, deep as an abyss, suddenly went berserk the moment it sensed the invasion of the completely opposite and conflicting Profound Sun Qi.
The vast and frigid fiendish qi, like an enraged black dragon, churned violently. Possessed of an overbearing, glacial intent, it surged toward that seemingly weak but exceptionally resilient stream of golden energy, threatening to completely annihilate and assimilate it.
But the Profound Sun Qi showed no weakness. Though small in quantity, it was pure in quality—fiercely yang and unyielding. It darted about within the sea of Yin Fiend qi, constantly burning away and dissolving the encroaching power of the Yin Fiend.
The two powers—of extreme attributes yet equally domineering—clashed brazenly within Chen Sheng’s Dantian, engaging in a fierce confrontation.
In an instant, the aura around Chen Sheng fluctuated violently. His face turned deathly pale one moment and blood-red the next. Across his skin, faint glows of dark and golden-red light flickered alternately, appearing and disappearing erratically.