Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Zhou Peng Descends
...
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had gone by.
During this half month, the environment inside Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate had been completely improved.
Boundless and endless Spiritual Qi permeated this paradise.
The cultivation of all disciples improved rapidly.
In just a mere half month’s time, nearly half of them achieved a breakthrough.
During this period, Ji Chen, of course, did not slack in his training either.
However, after reaching the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, he needed to spend more time to absorb more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to make a breakthrough.
Especially because he possessed Nine Spirit Veins, every breakthrough he made was more than ten times more difficult than for the average person.
According to Ji Chen’s own estimation, if he wanted to advance his cultivation genuinely into the Returning Ruins Realm, even with Lingyun Sect’s greatly improved cultivation environment, he would have to spend at least one or two months.
This is the issue that comes with an increase in power.
The higher the cultivation, the stronger the power, which also means that future breakthroughs will become increasingly difficult.
Moreover, when breaking through to the Returning Ruins Realm, one would encounter a Celestial Tribulation, an unavoidable challenge for all cultivators.
The might of a Celestial Tribulation should not be underestimated by anyone.
Ji Chen understood this better than anyone, having endured the baptism of celestial tribulations several times in his past life.
Therefore, during this time, besides training, Ji Chen spent more time consolidating his cultivation.
He hoped that when he truly broke through to the Returning Ruins Realm and attracted a Celestial Tribulation, he could face it in the best possible state!
"Where is Ji Chen?!"
On this day, within Lingyun Sect, the disciples were practicing as usual.
Suddenly, from the high sky outside the mountain gate came a cold shout.
Looking out, an old man in gray clothes descended there, standing mid-air with his hands behind his back, his cold gaze sweeping through the entire Lingyun Sect.
"A Returning Ruins Realm expert!"
"That is... Venerable Zhou from the Sword King Sect!"
All the disciples were alarmed and gathered on the mountain, discussing among themselves.
They recognized this old man as Zhou Peng.
After all, during the battle with Celestial Profound Sect, Zhou Peng had manifested his Dao body but was slain by Ji Chen with a single sword, leaving a deep impression on everyone.
Now, Zhou Peng truly came, alighting in front of the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate.
This is no Dao body but his true self in person.
He is a Returning Ruins Realm level expert!
Inside Lingyun Sect, many disciples turned pale with shock, their hearts filled with unease.
In their understanding, in a small place like Chu Kingdom, a person of Spirit Transformation Realm level was already considered a top expert.
Not to mention the appearance of a Returning Ruins Realm powerhouse, whose presence could sweep through the entire Chu Kingdom with ease.
"Do not panic, our Lingyun Sect now has a Mountain Protection Array in place. The Young Sect Leader once said that an ordinary Returning Ruins Realm expert couldn’t possibly break it." Someone spoke like this.
Although they said so, in reality, many still harbored doubts.
After all, in their view, how could a Mountain Protection Array capable of withstanding a Returning Ruins Realm expert be casually arranged?
It was likely that Ji Chen had exaggerated the defensive effect of this Grand Array.
Now, with a Returning Ruins Realm expert seeking revenge, whether the Mountain Protection Array truly had such powerful defensive capabilities was finally about to be verified.
"Daring to slay my Dao body and kill a Sword King Sect steward, Ji Chen, you truly have great audacity!"
In the mid-air outside the mountain gate, Zhou Peng stood with his hands behind his back, his low voice spread clearly across the entire Lingyun Sect, causing all disciples to be astonished. When did the sect steward of Sword King Sect get killed by the Young Sect Leader?
"Do you think that just because you have a Returning Ruins Realm expert backing you, you can truly rival my Sword King Sect?"
Zhou Peng snorted coldly. At the Ancient Ruins of Emperor Ye, Nangong Ao had struck and killed Jiang Steward with one finger, and this matter was naturally known to him, aware that Ji Chen had the backing of a Returning Ruins Realm expert.
But so what?
It’s just a Returning Ruins Realm expert, what’s that amount to when facing a giant like the Sword King Sect?
Recently, Zhou Peng finally broke through the barrier, advancing from the First Layer to the Second Realm of the Returning Ruins Realm.
The first thing he did was rush to Chu Kingdom and arrive here to settle all the past grudges with Ji Chen.
"Ji Chen, if you do not come out, do not blame this old man for forcefully entering and making your Lingyun Sect suffer a calamity!"
Seeing no response from inside Lingyun Sect, Zhou Peng’s face turned somewhat grim, feeling a sense of insult.
"Buzz..."
As his words fell, a terrifying aura suddenly burst out from him.
An overwhelming presence enveloped the scene, pressing down on the entire Lingyun Sect like a great mountain, causing many disciples inside the mountain gate to breathe with difficulty.
"Boom!"
Without further ado, under the watchful eyes, Zhou Peng stretched out his large hand, fingers together, pressing down with a palm.
Instantly, a massive earthen-yellow Void Hand appeared, swirling with boundless Spiritual Qi, its might overwhelming, shrouding the heavens and earth, crashing down onto the Lingyun Sect’s mountain gate like a giant mountain.
Faced with such a scene, many disciples started to panic.
They could feel the horror of Zhou Peng’s palm, and if it landed, more than half of Lingyun Sect’s disciples would suffer heavy casualties!
"Bang!"
However, at this critical moment, a faint light curtain appeared, covering the entire Lingyun Sect within it.
"Boom!"
A loud explosion erupted, earth-shattering, the earthen-yellow Void Hand couldn’t completely descend but was blocked outside the mountain gate by the already activated Mountain Protection Array.
After the violent collision, the Void Hand instantly shattered, dissipating into a turbulent heat wave that swept across the sky.
Meanwhile, inside Lingyun Sect, everything remained the same, with no mishaps occurring due to that collision.
"It actually blocked it?"
After a brief silence, the scene erupted into a commotion.
Many disciples within Lingyun Sect showed expressions of great joy, feeling like they had survived a disaster.
Evidently, the solidity of the Mountain Protection Array far exceeded their expectations.
Unexpectedly, it truly blocked an attack from a Returning Ruins Realm expert.
"Hmm?"
Meanwhile, in mid-air outside the mountain gate, Zhou Peng clearly also sensed the presence of the Mountain Protection Array, his face turning even more somber, snorting coldly, "No wonder you dare to be so arrogant, I didn’t expect your Lingyun Sect to actually have such a Mountain Protection Array."
"But if you think that alone can withstand this old man, then you are gravely mistaken."