Chapter 1772 (Raw 1784): Returning to the Grave Sea
After just pa.s.sing by in an instant, then giving chase for an entire night, the results turned out to be unexpected.
Xiao Chen could not help feeling somewhat disappointed as he stood outside the city walls.
However, aside from disappointment, there was also a trace of joy. Right now, his emotions were very complicated.
Whether that person was Liu Ruyue or not, this was actually a good thing for Xiao Chen.
Before coming to Soaring Dragon City, Xiao Chen did not have any news about Liu Ruyue at all.
After arriving, Xiao Chen came to know that Liu Ruyue was doing well and was now one of the strongest outstanding talents of the Dragon Race.
Her path had been far easier than his.
This was already sufficient for Xiao Chen.
More importantly, Xiao Chen knew that Liu Ruyue"s heart had not changed, not responding even to the Dragon G.o.d Crown Prince"s pursuit.
I am still not strong enough.
Someday, I will personally step onto the Dragon Race"s land and meet Liu Ruyue.
The temporary disappointment did not deal too huge a blow to Xiao Chen.
---
Three days later, Xiao Chen boarded a huge astral liner heading back to the Grave Sea.
After flying for one month, he returned to the Purple Flame Sect in the Grave Sea.
Xiao Chen still had many things to deal with in the Grave Sea.
He needed to meet with his little martial nephew, Ling Yu, make a formal departure from the Purple Flame Sect, and find his pirate s.h.i.+p to see if they made any headway with the treasure that the Scarlet Blood Pirate King left behind.
That treasure was one of the things that Xiao Chen was counting on to help him rise up. He had never forgotten about it.
If he could find the treasure trove of the legendary Scarlet Blood Pirate King, that astronomical opportunity would be greater than any before it.
At the foot of the Purple Flame Sect"s main peak, Xiao Chen handed over his ident.i.ty token.
When the disciple guarding the place took a look, he immediately revealed an excited expression and said, "Senior Brother Xiao Chen, you are finally back."
One year ago, Xiao Chen had fought huge battles all over the Fiendish Demon Battlefield.
He had led the Purple Flame Sect disciples in making a great harvest in the Fiendish Demon Battlefield, one that surpa.s.sed the haul of all the other Rank 4 sects.
Most importantly, Xiao Chen had firmly suppressed the Divine Firmament Sect, which was at odds with the Purple Flame Sect.
He had defeated the previously undefeatable Shangguan Lei, dealing a significant hit to the Divine Firmament Sect"s reputation, which the sect had yet to recover from.
Although this was just a short stay for Xiao Chen, he had already become a legendary character of the Purple Flame Sect.
Xiao Chen left a deep impression, one that would not be easily forgotten.
After Xiao Chen"s ident.i.ty was verified, several people came quickly when they heard the news.
Many people came to greet Xiao Chen. Even administrators, protectors, and Elder-level people made a personal appearance.
When these people noticed Xiao Chen"s aura, they all found it incredible.
In just slightly more than a year, his cultivation actually reached peak Major Primal Core Realm.
More importantly, Xiao Chen gave off a feeling like that of a dormant volcano.
Under the calm exterior was a very horrifying power.
Once Xiao Chen erupted, he would be able to defeat experts. This was what the instincts of the experts told them.
Xiao Chen smiled and reciprocated all of their greetings, not putting on airs as he made his way to Ling Yu"s courtyard.
He only managed to reach Ling Yu"s courtyard after a long time.
Ling Yu is not around?
Xiao Chen felt slightly surprised. If Ling Yu was not around, that was too unfortunate.
He had come back to the Purple Flame Sect to say his goodbyes, mostly to Ling Yu, his martial nephew.
After leaving the Purple Flame Sect, he would not return to the Purple Flame Sect for a very long time.
"Junior Brother Xiao."
Just at this moment, Xiao Chen heard a familiar voice. He turned his head and saw that it was the strongest true inheritor of the Purple Flame Sect, Hua Yunfeng.
"Senior Brother Hua, it has been a long time. Congratulations."
Hua Yunfeng had successfully broken through his bottleneck and advanced to the Starry Sky Stage Cloud Sea Realm during the period he and Xiao Chen had not met.
This was not too strange. When Xiao Chen first came to the Purple Flame Sect, the other party had been in the Major Primal Core Realm for some time already.
Furthermore, Hua Yunfeng was actually much older than Xiao Chen.
Hua Yunfeng said humbly, "Many thanks. I happened to be discussing something with the Sect Master. When I heard that you returned, I immediately rushed over."
"What were you discussing?" Xiao Chen asked casually.
Hua Yunfeng revealed a melancholic expression. After a moment"s silence, he said, "I want to leave the Purple Flame Sect and go to the Central Great Realm. I think I still can give it a try."
Xiao Chen expressed his understanding and asked, "What did the Sect Master say?"
Hua Yunfeng sighed softly and replied, "Sect Master thinks very highly of me and hopes that I will not leave. Within a hundred years, he will definitely hand over the position of Sect Master to me."
Xiao Chen nodded and said, "The Sect Master has kind intentions. Right now, the Purple Flame Sect has just regained some of its momentum and needs to rise up stably. You are experienced and knowledgeable without losing your sharpness. You are indeed a good candidate to be the next Sect Master."
Hua Yunfeng smiled bitterly as he looked at Xiao Chen. "Many years ago, I never had any thoughts of going to the Central Great Realm. Would you believe it if I said that it is all because of you?"
Finding this strange, Xiao Chen asked, "Because of me?"
"That"s right. I see a kind of perseverance in you. I think back to when you just arrived at the Purple Flame Sect. At that time, your cultivation was so much lower than mine. However, I never saw you give up and abandon yourself to despair. This was especially so at Thunder Controlling Peak. The courage you displayed when you faced Shangguan Lei made me feel ashamed of myself."
Hua Yunfeng seemed to have bottled these words up in his heart for a long time. Now that he had said them, he felt more at ease.
When Xiao Chen heard this, he said seriously, "You are overthinking. I am not as simple as you think I am. I have experienced many more things than you can imagine. My accomplishments today are not the result of just a few years of effort. You have no idea of my previous acc.u.mulations."
Xiao Chen could rise so quickly in the Great Thousand Realms because of his experiences in an abandoned land.
He had weathered life-and-death situations in the Sky Dome Realm and the Kunlun Realm many times, so many that they were uncountable.
The grand events that he had experienced were even more numerous. He had stubbornly survived the many waves of deadly calamities.
Others only saw Xiao Chen"s rapid rise in the Purple Flame Sect and his current glory.
However, no one knew about the hards.h.i.+ps that he had gone through in the Kunlun Realm, which brought about his current mental state and perseverance.
Hence, Xiao Chen did not approve of Hua Yunfeng leaving the Purple Flame Sect to go to the Central Great Realm to try his luck.
Xiao Chen looked at Hua Yunfeng and said, "Don"t change yourself because of others. Just think about it carefully. Do not be rash in making this decision."
Hua Yunfeng remained silent for a long time. Unexpectedly, Xiao Chen gave him such a piece of advice. He originally thought that Xiao Chen would definitely support his decision.
"Thank you for your advice. I will think about it carefully. Oh, yes, you are looking for Ling Yu, right? He is bitterly cultivating in our sect"s Purgatory Peak. This fellow is like a completely different person since returning from Soaring Dragon City."
Hua Yunfeng smiled carefreely, taking this rather easily. After chatting with Xiao Chen for a while, he took his leave.
Purgatory Peak?
Xiao Chen recalled that this was a manmade, treacherous area in the Purple Flame Sect. Cultivating there would be several times faster than outside.
However, the pain, torture, and danger one would have to endure would increase, as well.
Since this peak was established, few disciples chose to enter it.
The process was much too painful. Many experts in the sect could not last for long there.
The pain and torture were hard to endure.
Only people with great determination could persevere there.
Geniuses like Ling Yu actually did not need to enter that place to cultivate. Their cultivation speed would not be much slower.
---
As the sun set, Xiao Chen sat in the yard and enjoyed tea.
The remaining light of the setting sun descended as a person covered in injuries walked in from outside, clearly fatigued.
This person"s clothes were dyed in blood. That youthful face had a few new and scary wounds on it.
Xiao Chen looked up and found it hard to recognize this person, who was actually Ling Yu.
"Martial Uncle!"
When Ling Yu saw Xiao Chen in the yard, he was in disbelief. After a moment, he rejoiced and rushed over.
However, this aggravated Ling Yu"s injuries. He cried out in pain, making others unable to restrain a smile.
Xiao Chen smiled bitterly. "Why don"t you recover from your injuries first? Come in and rest. I have some Medicinal Pills here; use them."
Ling Yu refused, "I can"t. According to the sect"s Supreme Elder, if I heal my injuries, my bitter cultivation will be in vain. I need to properly comprehend all the pain I suffered and comprehend the essence of Purgatory Peak."
Xiao Chen felt stunned on hearing this. "Are you really choosing the path of bitter cultivation?"
Ling Yu nodded seriously. "I do not come from a good family. I also lack Martial Uncle"s mental state and comprehension ability. Aside from bitter cultivation, I have no other option."
"Why the need? Even if you do not choose bitter cultivation, you will still shake up the Grave Sea in the future, becoming an overlord-level character within the nearby dozens of astral cl.u.s.ters."
Ling Yu shook his head and said, "That"s not enough. Martial Uncle, you do not know. The headliner Ling Long promised to give me five years. She will wait for me for five years. Five years later, I am to go to the Yanwu Dynasty"s capital to find her."
Seeing Ling Yu"s determined expression, Xiao Chen sighed. He saw a lot of himself in Ling Yu.
Since Ling Yu could do this, why not Xiao Chen?