"What on earth happened?"
Xiao Muyu couldn't help but glance back, only to see a scene of screams and bloodshed behind her.
"It's something even Leng Wu Xue and Huang Shenyi couldn't defeat," Ling Chen said urgently. "We shouldn't stay here long; we need to leave as soon as possible."
Ling Chen didn't dare to linger. He had just witnessed the combat power of the Elixir Corpse—it was unkillable and extremely tricky. One was manageable, but if three attacked at once, even he would undoubtedly perish.
Following the corridor they had come from, Ling Chen and Xiao Muyu finally reached the outside of the Stone Palace.
It seems they won't catch up with us for a while.
The two only stopped once they were several miles away from the Stone Palace. They had now reached a safe zone; the Elixir Corpse, no matter how fast, couldn't catch up.
"We've gained quite a bit during this period," Ling Chen said. "We should find a place to consolidate our gains."
Since entering the Tienzong Ruins, Ling Chen had reaped substantial rewards, just recently obtaining more than fifty Solid Reality Pills. He now intended to use these Solid Reality Pills to break through to the Martial Artist Sixth Realm in one go.
"Good." Xiao Muyu nodded. "As we go deeper into these ruins, we'll encounter more and more experts of the Demon Way. If we can improve our strength before then, we'll have more confidence."
If Ling Chen grew stronger, they would be safer in the Tienzong Ruins.
Soon, they found a secluded mountain not far away. On it was a clear lake, teeming with life.
"This lake water is so clear and rich in Spiritual Qi," Xiao Muyu said, crouching by the lake. Her jade-like hand dipped into the water, and as she felt the peculiar Energy pervading it, a trace of joy flashed across her face. "We haven't bathed since entering the Tienzong Ruins. Ling Chen, why don't we cultivate here?"
"Alright then," Ling Chen replied, surveying the surroundings. The place was quite secluded; unless someone was specifically looking for it, no one should come here. "I'll find a place nearby to cultivate. If anything happens, just call me."
"Okay, but don't peek." Xiao Muyu looked up, a girlish shyness flashing in her clear eyes.
"Don't worry." Ling Chen was momentarily stunned, then, with a somewhat helpless laugh, he turned and walked away.
Only then did Xiao Muyu dive into the lake. Her graceful and agile figure, like an elegant white carp, swam towards the lake's depths. Then, her white dress floated to the surface.
「 」
Meanwhile, Ling Chen had found a cave by the lake. He entered and sat down cross-legged.
He naturally had no such vulgar thoughts of peeking. Taking out the gourd containing Solid Reality Pills from his Heavenly Mansion Ring, he retrieved one pill and swallowed it.
Instantly, the Solid Reality Pill transformed into pure Medicinal Power, flowing into his Dantian and spreading throughout his meridians.
Ling Chen circulated his True Qi, and in less than a quarter of an hour, he had completely refined the Medicinal Power of one Solid Reality Pill.
A single Solid Reality Pill, especially one that had lost half its Medicinal Power, was now merely a drop in the ocean for Ling Chen.
He took out two Solid Reality Pills from the gourd at once and swallowed them.
With the aid of the Solid Reality Pills, the True Qi in Ling Chen's Dantian rapidly accumulated.
「Two hours later.」
Ling Chen had refined a total of twenty Solid Reality Pills, and his Cultivation had reached the limit of the Martial Artist Fivefold Realm. He was just one step away from breaking through to the Sixth Layer Realm.
This final barrier could no longer be broken by Solid Reality Pills alone. No matter how many more he had, they wouldn't help him break through this thin film. This crucial final step required a profound connection between his heart and intent to have any chance of success.
It seems I'll have to refine the Heavenly Snow Lotus first to enhance my Mental Power.
Ling Chen gave up on taking more Solid Reality Pills. Instead, he took out the box containing the Heavenly Snow Lotus. Upon opening the box, a milky-white, crystal-clear lotus was revealed.
Extending his palm, Ling Chen plucked a lotus leaf from the Heavenly Snow Lotus, placed it in his mouth, and began to chew.
A sweet sensation spread from his mouth, and a clear, refreshing scent instantly filled his mind.
After swallowing the lotus leaf, Ling Chen immediately felt his hearing and vision improve. His sight became sharper, and he could hear sounds from a hundred meters away.
Hearing and sight are merely physical manifestations of Mental Power. An increase in Mental Power naturally manifests first in these senses.
Just a single lotus leaf has such a miraculous effect! A hint of surprise appeared in Ling Chen's eyes. He had only consumed one leaf, yet his Mental Power had significantly increased. If he consumed the entire flower, to what extent would his Mental Power increase?
Immediately, Ling Chen stuffed the entire Heavenly Snow Lotus into his mouth and swallowed it.
An incredibly refreshing sensation flowed down his throat, spreading to every piece of flesh and every pore in Ling Chen's body.
Although Mental Power was an ethereal thing, Ling Chen could clearly feel it increasing.
Traces of black blood began to seep from Ling Chen's eyes and ears.
This black blood wasn't from an injury. Instead, his eyes and ears couldn't withstand the Heavenly Snow Lotus's purification and were thus damaged. The blood also contained impurities that had affected his senses; their expulsion further enhanced Ling Chen's perception and reflexes.
When Mental Power increases to a certain level, the Mind's Eye will awaken. With the Mind's Eye, one can see through appearances to the essence of things.
Ling Chen was now clear-eared and sharp-eyed. He could see things within five hundred meters and hear movements within a five-hundred-meter radius.
SWISH! SWISH!
Ling Chen extended his hearing to its limit. Suddenly, he detected unusual sounds coming from about eight hundred meters away.
Someone there?
Ling Chen's hearing was now far beyond that of an ordinary person, who wouldn't be able to hear any movement at eight hundred meters, let alone distinguish between human voices and the rustling of wind in the grass.
Xiao Muyu is still bathing in the lake. If someone approaches, it'll be trouble.
At this thought, Ling Chen stood up, patted the dust off his clothes, and exited the cave, speeding towards the direction of the sounds.
Hidden in the bushes near the lake were two furtive figures: one skinny as a monkey, the other short and stout. They kept poking their heads out, their shifty eyes fixed on the lake surface.
"Big Bro, did you really see a stunning beauty bathing in this lake?" the short, stout disciple asked with a lewd grin.
"I didn't see clearly, but I saw her face and clothes. She's definitely a top-quality prize!" The skinny disciple's eyes lit up, his gaze repeatedly darting towards the lake.
"So, aren't we making a move yet?" The short, stout disciple was practically drooling. An undressed beauty, out here in the wilderness! Hehe, if we don't do something, we'd be letting such a rare, amorous encounter go to waste!
"You just watch me." The skinny disciple opened his sleeve and took out a box. When he opened it, a small black snake slithered out and into the lake.