CHAPTER 17: ACCOMPLISHED! A THOUSAND DEMONIC BEASTS!

Just as Lu Chen closed his eyes, a surge of immensely powerful spirit qi erupted from deep within him.

The qi was incredibly pure and vast, pouring endlessly into his Heavenly Pool, sea of qi, and meridians, quickly filling them to the brim.

In an instant, the barrier to his next realm was shattered by the surging spirit qi. He immediately achieved perfect mastery of the Qi Absorption Realm, and his injuries were fully healed, restoring his body to peak condition.

Inside the Twin-Fish Medallion, Feng Tiancheng was about to step in and save Lu Chen when he suddenly sensed that tremendous eruption of spirit qi deep within Lu Chen. The force was so strong that it filled Feng Tiancheng with fear. He quickly used his Emperor Art to divine its source, but the result was a cryptic and incomplete divinatory text:

Born of the same source as Heaven and Earth, fated to rise through tribulation.

Born of the same source as Heaven and Earth, fated to die from tribulation.

Feng Tiancheng grew more convinced that Lu Chen's identity was far from ordinary. "This hexagram... I've never seen or heard of anything like it. Just who exactly are you, Little Lu?"[1]

As soon as Lu Chen regained consciousness, the Purple-Eyed Heaven-Devouring Python grew frantic. It stopped entangling with the Divine Tree's vines and charged straight toward Lu Chen, clearly intent on killing him first.

Lu Chen glanced at the incoming python. He had to deal with it as soon as possible and didn't have time to figure out the reason behind his sudden recovery. If the effect was temporary and wore off, both he and Jun Laoye would die here.

"Green Sovereign Divine Tree, Spirit Qi Drain."

Lu Chen controlled the Divine Tree to continuously strike at the purple eye at the center of the python's head.

By now, the wound at the center of the python's head had grown deep. Blood flowed constantly and was sucked away by the tree's tentacles. At the same time, its aura rapidly weakened.

Lu Chen could clearly feel that the oppressive force from the python had greatly reduced, while his own spirit qi had thickened and his attacks grown more powerful.

With the balance of power shifting, Lu Chen felt it had become much easier to finish the python off.

"Heaven-Splitting Six Yang Palms, Blazing Sun Cleaves The Heaven. Star-Serpent Cloud Concealment."

Green Sovereign Divine Tree.

With a thought from Lu Chen, the vines of the Divine Tree intertwined to form a massive hand, which he infused with the fire-attribute spirit qi of the Yang Ocean Pearl and launched a fierce assault on the python.

"Hiss..."

The Heaven-Devouring Python kept flicking its tongue. At the same time, its aura grew increasingly weaker.

Just then, Lu Chen saw Jun Laoye leap to his feet. He still held a spear in each hand, and the lightning began to converge in front of him, forming a massive giant made of lightning.

"Little Jun, you're awake?"

Jun Laoye didn't respond. He kept his eyes shut and swung his twin spears rhythmically.

The lightning giant mirrored his movements. Black clouds gathered in the sky, with arcs of lightning in the shape of dragons roaming through them.

Sensing the increasing pressure from the sky, the Heaven-Devouring Python instinctively felt danger and turned to flee.

Lu Chen didn't understand why Jun Laoye ignored him, but he recognized the scene. It was the prelude to the Heavenly Dao Command. He had to hold the python back and buy Jun Laoye some time.

"Green Sovereign Divine Tree, Binding Strike!"

Lu Chen unleashed every vine of the Divine Tree, wrapping them tightly around the Heaven-Devouring Python and pinning it in place.

At that moment, the lightning giant let out a thunderous roar.

Boom!

Waves of violet lightning rained down from the black clouds above onto the python.

The python struggled violently as it tried to escape, but Lu Chen forcefully dragged it back, holding it in place once more.

The violet lightning struck the python over and over. At first, it still managed to squirm a bit, but gradually, its body turned black and charred from the repeated strikes.

The lightning giant, seemingly still wary, continued to release thunderbolts without pause.

Nantian Yijian stared at the area being bombarded by lightning. Knowing that Lu Chen and Jun Laoye had just run in that direction, he immediately rushed toward the scene.

Back at the main camp of the Heavenly Mandate Hall, Jun Wudi saw the violet divine lightning pouring down from the rear mountain and cried out, "Damn! That's Heavenly Lightning Protection! Little Jun is in danger!"

The people near the secret realm also noticed the lightning at the rear mountain and saw Jun Wudi rushing toward it. Suspecting that something major had happened, they all ran after him.

Nantian Yijian and Jun Wudi were the first to arrive at the scene where Lu Chen and Jun Laoye were located.

Jun Wudi quickly stepped in to restrain Jun Laoye, dispersing the black clouds and canceling the lightning giant technique.

Nantian Yijian ran over to support Lu Chen.

"Little Lu, be careful."

Lu Chen reassured him, "I'm fine. It's just a few scrapes."

As he retracted the Divine Tree's vines, Lu Chen noticed a trace of lightning energy following them back into his Heavenly Pool.

When the others reached the rear mountain and saw Lu Chen and Jun Laoye, they all gasped in shock.

They could hardly believe the two already wielded such powerful techniques. Back when they were around the same age, most were still stuck training in the basics of the Qi Absorption Realm. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Is this really the power of someone still in the Qi Absorption Realm?"

"Is this the strength of a sect disciple? They're already using advanced techniques before even stepping into the next realm!"

"..."

Lu Chen rushed over to Jun Laoye. The wound from the piercing blow had already been scorched shut by the lightning.

After a moment, Jun Laoye slowly regained consciousness. When he saw the scene around him, he smiled at Lu Chen. "Little Lu, didn't I tell you we could do it? Still... we didn't manage to settle the score this time either."

Lu Chen looked at the weakened Jun Laoye and quickly stopped him. "Yes, we won. We managed to take on a Qi Regulation Realm beast while still in the Qi Absorption Realm. You should rest first. We'll talk more once your injuries have healed."

With the battle over and no valuable treasures in sight, the surrounding crowd let out sighs of disappointment and gradually dispersed.

After tidying up the battlefield, Lu Chen and the others followed Jun Wudi back to the main camp.

Once Lu Chen was back in his room, he took out the demon core and fed it to the Green Sovereign Divine Tree. With so many people around earlier, he hadn't let the tree absorb it directly to avoid drawing attention.

Just as the Divine Tree consumed the demon core, lightning suddenly erupted, wrapping around the tree trunk and covering it completely.

At that moment, Feng Tiancheng flew out from the Twin-Fish Medallion and looked straight at Lu Chen.

"Grandpa Feng, where did you go just now? I ran into a Qi Regulation Realm demonic beast. Oh, and I also completed my thousand-beasts challenge."

Feng Tiancheng replied, "I know. I've been watching you the whole time. This is the second lesson I've arranged for your cultivation. The path of cultivation must be walked with caution. Otherwise, situations like today's will keep happening, and next time, it may not be so easy to get out of it."

"Alright, Grandpa Feng. I'll definitely reflect on it and be more mindful in the future," Lu Chen said, scratching his head.

Then, he remembered the lightning and quickly asked, "Grandpa Feng, since I fed it the demon core just now, the Divine Tree has been wrapped in lightning. Do you know what's going on?"

Lu Chen released the Green Sovereign Divine Tree.

At that moment, thick bands of purple lightning coiled around the tree's trunk. Sparks of lightning crackled along the branches, and even the spirit qi flowing through the tree now carried lightning attributes.

Feng Tiancheng looked at the lightning on the Green Sovereign Divine Tree and explained, "In the Five Elements, lightning belongs to wood. Since the Divine Tree is also of the wood element, the two together form Jia Wood, which symbolizes vitality and endless growth. This may be a lightning attribute awakened through the tempering of heavenly thunder just now."[2]

By now, Feng Tiancheng was no longer surprised by the mutations occurring in Lu Chen. With how frequently Lu Chen experienced major and minor breakthroughs, Feng Tiancheng was already used to it. At this point, even if Lu Chen said he had jumped several major realms in one go, Feng Tiancheng would find it completely believable.

After a moment of thought, Feng Tiancheng turned to Lu Chen and said, "Unless there's a special need, don't try to control the lightning within the Green Sovereign Divine Tree. Let it evolve on its own. You already have both the Yang Ocean Pearl inside you, as well as the substitute Yin Ocean Pearl. Now that you've also gained Jia Wood, I'm worried that your body won't be able to handle too many elemental forces at once."

Lu Chen listened to his explanation and asked, "Maybe I'm just different from others. Grandpa Feng, do you think I might end up with all five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth?"

Feng Tiancheng gave him a solid smack on the back of the head. "What nonsense! If all five elements end up inside you, forget cultivation, you'll be done for. Your body will become chaotic and collapse entirely... unless you can cultivate to the point you manage to create a small world of your own."

"I was just wondering, that's all," Lu Chen said with a sheepish smile, rubbing his head.

Now that he knew the lightning wouldn't negatively affect him, Lu Chen stored the Green Sovereign Divine Tree back into his Heavenly Pool and discussed his plans with Feng Tiancheng.

"Grandpa Feng, I've already reached the peak of the Qi Absorption Realm. Once I return from this secret realm, I plan to head to the Heavenly Mandate Hall to study the current cultivation system. I also need a proper identity to travel across the continent. What about you? Do you have any plans?"

Feng Tiancheng replied, "Once you enter the secret realm, I'll likely go into deep sleep to restore my cultivation. I have a feeling something major is about to happen, and I must recover my strength to prepare for that. You've proven yourself a capable cultivator through this battle. There's not much more I can teach you for now.

"From here on, you'll have to find your own way. Besides, with me by your side all the time, you'd start relying on me too much. That wouldn't be helpful for your future cultivation. Regardless of whether it's right or wrong, only the path you choose on your own will lead you to a deeper understanding of cultivation."

Hearing Feng Tiancheng's affirmation, Lu Chen beamed. "I understand, Grandpa Feng. I'll work hard."

"I'll leave the method for locating the remaining pieces of the Yuanyang Twin-Fish Disk in your mind. While I'm asleep, you can try to find them, but don't neglect your cultivation. You still need to save your grandfather."

Feng Tiancheng pressed a finger to Lu Chen's forehead, transferring his memories and insights on cultivation into Lu Chen's mind for future reference. He also left behind training puppets in the Twin-Fish Medallion, designed for Lu Chen to spar with once his cultivation advanced further.

After that, Feng Tiancheng said, "I've stored some cultivation techniques inside the medallion. Besides those, there are also my notes on refining tools, pills, and formations, along with some of my treasured items. They're sealed in different areas according to your cultivation level.

"Once you find more pieces of the Yuanyang Twin-Fish Disk and your cultivation is high enough, you'll be able to unlock those sections and retrieve the items. You might even discover some very unique things. Make sure you keep collecting the pieces. There are many things in the world within the medallion that you can't even imagine. Don't underestimate it. Go search for them..."

With those words, Feng Tiancheng returned to the medallion. No matter how much Lu Chen called out to him, there was no response.

Seeing that Feng Tiancheng had fallen into deep sleep, Lu Chen began cultivating inside the medallion.

Time flowed differently in there. Ten days in the medallion equaled one day outside. With such an abundant spirit qi, Lu Chen had no intention of wasting a single moment. There were still too many things waiting for him to accomplish them.

1. A hexagram is a figure composed of six stacked lines, each either broken or unbroken, used in I Ching (an ancient Chinese text for divination). Each hexagram has a meaning and is interpreted to reveal patterns of fate, potential outcomes, or guidance. When Feng Tiancheng sees a "cryptic and incomplete divinatory text," it’s like reading a hexagram that doesn’t match any known pattern, hence his confusion. ☜

2. In short, wood channels and amplifies lightning. "Jia Wood" or "First Wood" is one of the ten Heavenly Stems (天干) used in traditional Chinese metaphysics, astrology, and the Five Elements.(五行) In Daoist tradition, Jia Wood symbolizes the purest form of Yang Wood—the surging, upright life force that breaks through stillness, much like a tree sprouting through solid ground. When lightning, a natural expression of rising yang energy, strikes and merges with another strong wood-element force like the Divine Tree, it creates the conditions for Jia Wood to form. This fusion channels the essence of spring thunder awakening life, embodying vitality, rebirth, and unstoppable growth. ☜