Chapter Two: Reentering the Ruins

The seventh through ninth martial stages are, in truth, known as the Transcendent Realm.

The reason those who reached this level were called grandmasters was that the gap between them and sixth-stage warriors was simply too vast.

In the Martial Academy’s rankings for the Myriad Forms Illusory Realm, more than three hundred contestants had already reached the sixth stage. Yet even at thirty-second place, one still remained within the sixth-stage category.

It was clear, then, just how enormous the range of strength within the sixth stage was.

Ye Wuji continued, “The Ten Young Experts have all reached a level approaching or comparable to that of ordinary grandmasters. Each of them also possesses a wide variety of methods. So far, I haven’t heard of any genius disciple of that caliber from any commandery being assassinated. Still, you remain quite a distance behind them, so you must be careful.”

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes. He recalled how foolishly he had followed Bai Qiaoxin and the others out of the Martial Academy shortly after arriving there. It had truly been an unwise decision.

At the time, he had only just begun to make a name for himself. Even if his assassination rank had not been as high as it was now, he might already have attracted the attention of the Infinite Gate.

He was also grateful that he had not challenged the Myriad Forms Illusory Realm again over the past few months. Otherwise, the Infinite Gate might well have raised his assassination rank again, placing him above the Ten Young Experts and the others.

He raised his brows and narrowed his eyes. “Then… am I supposed to hide in the Martial Academy forever?”

In truth, after comprehending the Thunder Profound Meaning and breaking through several cultivation stages in succession, his strength had risen by an immeasurable amount. Although he had yet to reach the sixth stage, he estimated that the distance between himself and the Ten Young Experts was no longer very great. He might even rank above some of them.

But if he truly encountered a grandmaster blocking his path, it would still be extremely troublesome.

Ye Wuji shook his head with a smile. “It isn’t quite that serious. Although a third-grade assassination ranking is high, it is still rare for warriors above the seventh stage to act. I’m merely reminding you to stay alert whenever you venture into remote regions or the wilderness. Do not reveal your whereabouts carelessly.

“As for the cities, Qinghe Commandery is still territory under the rule of Great Qian, after all. The Martial Academy has grandmasters stationed in every major city. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can afford to lower your guard…”

As he spoke, he waved a hand. A golden talisman drifted leisurely from within his sleeve.

Ye Wuji reached out and caught it, smiling. “This is a talisman treasure. Sealed within it is an escape technique called Seven-Star Flowing Cloud. It contains the power of wind and can be activated three times. When its speed erupts, it is even faster than that of most ninth-stage warriors who are not skilled in speed.”

“A talisman treasure?” Chen Fan stared at it in surprise. “This is… for me?”

“Of course.” Ye Wuji smiled. “Whether you can become a grandmaster depends on whether you can carve out your own path. How can you succeed by always hiding in the Martial Academy? We elders can do only so much for you. All we can do is preserve your life as best we can and give you more means of survival.

“With this talisman treasure, together with the spiritual artifact Luminous Feather Robe, you should be able to escape even if you encounter an eighth-stage warrior. I refuse to believe that the Infinite Gate would send a ninth-stage warrior after a third-grade assassination target.”

There were only a handful of ninth-stage warriors in the entire Qinghe Commandery. For an underground organization like the Infinite Gate, infiltrating even a seventh-stage warrior was no easy matter. The higher a warrior’s cultivation, the less willing they would be to serve as a spy.

And if a ninth-stage warrior had truly infiltrated Great Qian, they would hardly be willing to act for the sake of a third-grade assassination target.

“Thank you, Dean Ye!” Upon hearing this, Chen Fan accepted the talisman treasure, warmth flowing through his heart.

“The greatest thanks you can give me is to grow up as quickly as possible.” Ye Wuji gave a helpless laugh.

“Right.” Ye Wuji waved his hand again. “From now on, whenever you want to accept a mission, don’t go to the Mission Center. Come directly to me.”

…

With the talisman treasure bestowed by Ye Wuji, Chen Fan naturally felt no fear.

Ye Wuji, meanwhile, could save Chen Fan the trouble of going through the mission-acceptance process, so there was no need to worry about drawing the attention of anyone with ulterior motives.

After accepting several suitable missions, Chen Fan quietly left the Martial Academy.

He disguised himself and altered his appearance. Wearing the Luminous Feather Robe, he did not even need to remove his clothes; the robe automatically changed their color.

The mount he chose also looked little different from an ordinary horse.

Riding his fine steed, he headed straight for the Yuanshang Ruins.

In less than two hours, he arrived.

The ruins still bore the traces of the bandits Chen Fan had once slain. The place where the bandits had once been active had fallen into even greater disrepair. Clearly, no one had occupied this special site since then.

There was no one around. With practiced ease, Chen Fan headed toward the peculiar door.

After space flickered, Chen Fan appeared once more—but not in the great hall where he had undergone the trial before. Instead, he had arrived at the Treasure Hall where the Star Spirit resided.

The first time one entered, one had to pass a trial. The second time, one could choose freely.

However, Chen Fan’s authority within these ruins was insufficient. At present, he could go only to these two places, making the freedom of choice virtually meaningless.

That illusory figure still stood silently in the middle of the great hall…

Seeing this scene, Chen Fan felt an intense sense of loneliness and desolation.

The Star Spirit had been left utterly alone in this secret realm for decades. Merely imagining such an existence was enough to drive anyone mad.

“Senior Star Spirit, we meet again.” Chen Fan cupped his fists and stepped forward.

The Star Spirit narrowed his eyes. Surprise flickered across his face when he saw Chen Fan appear. “You actually came again so soon?”

Although Chen Fan was disguised and even wore a human-skin mask, the Star Spirit recognized him at once.

Only a little over a year had passed since Chen Fan had participated in the fourth-stage assessment.

In that amount of time, merely breaking through to the fifth stage would already have been considered impressive. To dare come and take part in the assessment again showed remarkable determination.

The stronger Chen Fan became, the more awe he felt toward the Star Spirit.

For example, there was the Star Spirit’s gaze.

When the Star Spirit looked at him, Chen Fan once again felt as though he had been seen through completely. That gaze seemed to contain a strange power capable of penetrating directly into his body, leaving him no way to conceal himself.

Even his master, an eighth-stage martial artist, could not accomplish such a thing.

A few more traces of astonishment appeared on the Star Spirit’s face. “You’ve completed the third stage of the Starry Heavens Body Tempering Formula?”

Chen Fan felt his scalp grow numb. He was deeply wary of this being, yet he did not dare reveal the slightest hint of it. “I must thank you for bestowing the cultivation method upon me, Senior.”

The Star Spirit’s expression turned strange. He shook his head. “Your talent for cultivating the Starry Heavens Body Tempering Formula is even greater than I imagined.”

The Starry Heavens Body Tempering Formula was an external body-tempering art. It was not affected by one’s innate constitution, but rather by the strength of one’s physical body. Even so, the speed of Chen Fan’s progress continued to amaze the Star Spirit.

“Since you have broken through this stage, I shall impart the next stage to you.”

Chen Fan’s progress left the Star Spirit clicking his tongue in wonder. Once again, he gave Chen Fan the cultivation method for the fourth stage of the Starry Heavens Body Tempering Formula.

“After reaching the fifth stage, the Starry Heavens Body Tempering Formula undergoes a special transformation. It is no longer like before. Before you enter the Transcendent Realm, cultivating the fourth stage will be sufficient.”

The Starry Heavens Body Tempering Formula was one of the few arts Chen Fan had never once broken through.

According to the Star Spirit, this art could also gradually improve one’s innate constitution. Even with Chen Fan’s current strength and status, he had never heard of a second technique possessing such miraculous power.

After exchanging a few polite words with the Star Spirit, Chen Fan left through the only accessible passage and proceeded to the Trial Hall.

Whether by coincidence or not, the opponent Chen Fan encountered this time also wielded a sword.

“Does this trial ground produce only sword experts, or is it because I happen to carry a sword-type weapon?” Chen Fan wondered.

During the previous assessment, he had barely escaped death, and the danger had been extreme. This time, however, things were far simpler.

His strength had increased at an astonishing rate.

Thunderlight flashed.

In fewer than ten moves, he dispatched his trial opponent with ease.

“Easy.”

If Chen Fan, who had comprehended the Profound Meaning of Thunder and Lightning, could not even pass the fifth-stage assessment, then something truly would have been wrong.