Chapter 153: Chapter 135: The Wood Attribute of Wind and Thunder, a Potential Golden Core Opportunity

"Alright, go on now."

Xiao Chen was baffled, but he still bowed respectfully and took his leave. "Thank you for your guidance, Daoist. I will be sure to remember it."

He traveled in silence.

As the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from across Li State gradually returned to their respective regions,

news of what had happened at the Immortal Ascension Ceremony swept through the entire state like a hurricane.

Alongside Master Ming Yue’s ascension to the Golden Core realm, Xiao Chen’s name also began to circulate through every street and alley, discussed by countless cultivators.

Upon hearing the astronomical price of 108,000 Spirit Stones, the Loose Cultivators couldn’t help but gasp in envy.

"Are Li Huo Sect disciples really that rich?"

"Holy shit, I couldn’t earn that many Spirit Stones in ten lifetimes."

"Did you hear? That Xiao Chen is supposedly very young—not even thirty. He might just be the next Golden Core True Man."

...

But as people kept talking, the story began to change, giving rise to all sorts of rumors and speculation.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator that young? He must be the scion of some great family."

"I mean, how could he possibly have so many Spirit Stones? You don’t think he’s the illegitimate son of some Golden Core True Man, do you?"

"Look, since we’re all close here, I’ll let you in on a top-secret scoop. Five years ago, Xiao Chen went into the mountains to gather herbs, stumbled into some Ancient Ruins, and found hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones."

"Hmph, that’s all nonsense. My seventh aunt’s friend’s son’s uncle is in the Li Huo Sect. He told me personally that Xiao Chen is just a Blinding Technique for a great family; that Magical Artifact has long since left his hands."

...

The more these rumors and so-called top-secret reports spread, the more outrageous they became.

And yet, the more outrageous they were, the more believable people found them.

Rather than believing Xiao Chen had obtained so many Spirit Stones through normal means,

many Loose Cultivators preferred to believe that there were some intricate connections or unknown secrets involved.

Of course, none of this had anything to do with Xiao Chen for the time being, and he couldn’t hear any of it.

After returning to the Li Huo Sect, he went straight back to Cuiwei Valley.

The first thing he did was take out the Wind and Thunder Dual Swords, laying them across his lap to examine them.

Ever since using his Magical Power for the Refinement of the Dual Swords, he had discovered that the pair possessed a hidden characteristic.

When a stream of Magical Power from his body flowed into the Wind Sword and then into the Thunder Sword, a faint, almost imperceptible transformation occurred.

The same was true in reverse.

Although this sensation was extremely subtle and very difficult to perceive, as the master of the Magical Artifact and the Magical Power, Xiao Chen confirmed after repeated experiments that it was not just his imagination.

’Wind and Thunder converting into each other? How can something like that even exist?’

’No, wait. Could it be because of the Donghua Yin Yang Wood? Is it actually Yin and Yang converting into each other?’

Xiao Chen was pleasantly surprised. Whatever the reason, this meant an additional opportunity.

He was, for the moment, completely unfamiliar with both the Path of Wind and Thunder and the Path of Yin and Yang.

As a result, for the time being, all he could do was sense that these Dual Swords were special without being able to explain why.

’But that’s fine,’ he thought. ’Now that I have the swords, I’ll have all the time in the world to get to know them.’

’Given enough time, I’m bound to uncover their secrets.’

’Besides, even as things stand now, with these Dual Swords, I finally have a true Attacking Means.’

’Before, if I’d run into an enemy with a Top Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact, it would have been a huge headache.’

’But now, with a Top Grade magical artifact paired with the Seven-Star Sword Technique, plus two instant-cast Li Huo Thunders, I have what it takes to break through strong defenses.’

’I wouldn’t dare call myself invincible among those in the Foundation Establishment realm, but at the very least, I’ll be hard-pressed to find a worthy opponent.’

’The Demon Dao is rampant right now, and the situation in Hezhou is likely grim. It’s always good to have more ways to deal with one’s enemies.’

Xiao Chen put away the Dual Swords and replayed the events of the Immortal Ascension Ceremony in his mind.

Most of what had happened was easy enough to understand.

The only thing he couldn’t quite figure out was Master Yaohua’s visit to Li State; it might be a dangerous signal.

Fortunately, he had also managed to snag two portions of top-tier Spiritual Liquid this time.

His cultivation resources for the next six months or so were now taken care of.

’These are turbulent times. I just hope Hezhou can hold out for a few more years and buy me more time to develop.’