Chapter 540: Chapter 216: Second Layer of Xuanlong Technique, Double the Combat Power!

Splosh!

Not long after Luo Cheng left with Jin Yuxi.

A figure suddenly burst through the water’s surface, surging out from Luoyan River.

It was none other than Mu Qinglian, a disciple of Jile Sect, with a devilishly alluring figure, a slender waist, and graceful movements.

However, at this moment, Mu Qinglian’s nose and mouth were bleeding, her clothes in tatters, revealing a considerable expanse of her exquisite figure. Her fair, jade-like arms bore several bloody cuts, making her snowy-white skin appear even more fragile and radiant!

She appeared disheveled yet exuded a peculiar allure.

“It was actually a school of ancient giant-toothed flying fish! I almost couldn’t make it out!”

Staring at the murky cluster of giant-toothed flying fish below on the river’s surface, Mu Qinglian felt lingering fear in her heart.

If it weren’t for her Four-star Treasure Armor, which allowed her to break through with its formidable defense, she might have suffered a humiliating defeat today!

“That little one seemed to have detected the school of giant-toothed flying fish in advance. Truly unimaginable…”

Mu Qinglian stared at Luoyan River, her expression tinged with doubt.

Luoyan River was exceedingly peculiar; its waters could block soul power perception.

In the two-thousand-meter-deep river, Mu Qinglian’s maximum sensing range was less than a hundred meters.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been ambushed by Luo Cheng and driven into the swarm of giant-toothed flying fish.

But how could a Sixth Level of Awakening Vein Realm cultivator have detected the school of giant-toothed flying fish in advance?

“Perhaps it was just a coincidence. What a pity, though. I wanted to see if that brat had any secrets—how could a Wasted Martial Soul cultivate to this level?”

“And even achieve the exceedingly rare Golden Body Realm with life essence like a furnace! If I brought him back as an offering to the Sect Master, I might’ve received a monumental reward. What a pity… such a shame…”

Feeling all sorts of regrets, Mu Qinglian debated searching further but ultimately dismissed it as unnecessary.

At the time, Luo Cheng was already at his limit, wounded and unable to escape the pursuit of the giant-toothed flying fish. He had likely already perished with Jin Yuxi, their bodies devoured without a trace.

Just as Mu Qinglian was pondering whether to continue tracing Luo Cheng and Jin Yuxi along Luoyan River…

A surge of Essence Energy rippled through the air.

Several miles away, a few graceful figures soared rapidly toward her.

“Disciples of Luoxia Sect from the Great Yue Dynasty!”

Mu Qinglian recognized their robes immediately, her heart sinking in alarm.

She sensed that among them, someone’s aura far surpassed her own—a Great Power-level expert!!

Right now, with her severe injuries, her combat strength was less than seventy percent of her peak…

Fortunately, the Luoxia Sect disciples only gave her a glance before retracting their gazes, speeding past as if searching for someone.

Watching them move away, Mu Qinglian finally exhaled heavily with relief.

“Wasted an entire night. Better find somewhere to heal…”

Taking out a fiery-red Elixir Pill, Mu Qinglian swallowed it before darting off into the distance. Within a few flashes, she disappeared without a trace.

Above the clouds.

Several female disciples of Luoxia Sect were flying along Luoyan River, scanning meticulously.

“Senior Sister Yin Li, that woman earlier seemed to have just been through a fierce battle. Could it be related to Junior Sister Jin Yuxi?”

A round-faced female disciple from Luoxia Sect looked toward the woman leading the group.

The leading woman appeared no older than twenty, stunningly beautiful, exuding a serene grace. Her black hair danced in the wind, her long eyelashes fluttering, her eyes misty like dewdrops, her delicate neck swan-like, and her lips glistening with a crystalline brilliance.

While carefully sensing her surroundings, she replied:

“Junior Sister Jin Yuxi’s Identity Token isn’t in this area. Finding her is what matters now; do not get sidetracked.”

“Understood!”

The Luoxia Sect disciples nodded.

Since receiving Jin Yuxi’s distress signal last night, Luoxia Sect members within a thousand-mile radius had all been searching for Jin Yuxi’s whereabouts.

However, Jin Yuxi had kept changing locations and eventually ended up near Luoyan River, where her trail vanished completely!

“Could Junior Sister Jin Yuxi have already…” A female disciple murmured.

“Don’t jinx it! Junior Sister Jin Yuxi has her own blessings; nothing will happen to her.” The round-faced disciple quickly shook her head.

Yin Li’s gaze remained cold. Jin Yuxi, as the Ninth Princess of the Great Yue Dynasty, wasn’t merely an Inner Sect Disciple. Her safety was no trivial matter.

“Enough, search carefully, and don’t miss a single clue.” Yin Li ordered.

“Yes!”

Clearly, Yin Li commanded great respect. The others immediately fell silent.

After leaving Luoyan River, Luo Cheng carried Jin Yuxi and flew swiftly for four to five hundred miles before finally finding a hidden cave and stopping, his body pushed to its limit.

The cave was located halfway up a mountain, its entrance concealed by thick vines, making it hard to spot.

Once inside, Luo Cheng gently laid Jin Yuxi down before leaning against the rocky wall to sit.

“This is the first time I’ve felt this exhausted…”

As he relaxed, a profound fatigue engulfed Luo Cheng. Even moving a finger felt incredibly difficult.

The night’s events had been life-threatening at every turn.

First, ambushed by a Great Power-level enemy, then facing Mu Qinglian, followed by the encirclement of the saw-toothed monster fish!

He hadn’t even had a chance to catch his breath.

Luo Cheng felt utterly drained, his entire body weak. It wasn’t just the depletion of Essence Energy—his life force and spirit were overtaxed as well!

Thankfully, his physique was tough enough. Anyone else would’ve sustained lasting injuries, making recovery nearly impossible.

“Mu Qinglian’s strength as a Domain List-level genius… It seems I still have a long way to go before I can make it onto the Domain List.”

Sitting cross-legged on the floor, countless thoughts surged through Luo Cheng’s mind.

He had gone all out but struggled even to withstand a casual strike from Mu Qinglian. If not for his Mysterious Wind Explosion Technique and the immense Essence Energy housed within his nine Essence Energy Mansions, he wouldn’t have survived until now.

“My cultivation realm is still too low.”

Luo Cheng sighed.

If he could break through to the late stage of the Awakening Vein Realm, or even just reach the Seventh Level, he wouldn’t have been so helpless against Mu Qinglian.

Still, Mu Qinglian being surrounded by the giant-toothed flying fish wouldn’t have fared much better than him!

Thinking of Mu Qinglian, Luo Cheng’s eyes turned cold. Ever since entering the Awakening Vein Realm, he had never suffered such humiliation!

This grudge must be avenged—one day, that demoness would pay the price for today’s events!

“First, I need to heal! Once I recover, I will head to Luoxia Sect and strive to break through to the late stage of the Awakening Vein Realm as soon as possible!”

As he regained a bit of strength, Luo Cheng brushed his fingers over a Purple Sandalwood Box.

Opening the box filled the cave with a blood-gold aura, thick with spiritual energy. Just inhaling the aroma instantly revitalized him.

Inside the box was a blood-red lingzhi, shimmering with a dreamlike luster.

This was the two-thousand-year-old Blood Ganoderma that Luo Cheng had obtained during the eradication of the Sun Family.

Last time, he had consumed only a tiny sliver. Now was the perfect moment to take it for healing.

Walking over to Jin Yuxi, Luo Cheng supported her upright.

Grasping her soft and delicate hand, Luo Cheng’s brows furrowed.

Her condition was worse than he had imagined, no wonder she hadn’t regained consciousness.

Not only were her internal injuries severe, but her life essence was severely depleted. Her body bore several bloody wounds, seemingly inflicted while resisting the giant-toothed flying fish. To avoid distracting him, she hadn’t let out a sound.

Slash!

Like a blade, Essence Energy sliced off a piece of the Blood Ganoderma, which Luo Cheng fed to Jin Yuxi.

The Blood Ganoderma dissolved upon entering her mouth, visible to the naked eye as a red warmth flowed from her lips into her belly.

Jin Yuxi’s pale face gradually regained a healthy rosiness, and her breathing steadied.

Luo Cheng exhaled a sigh of relief.

After all, this was a conflict between him and the Eighth Prince Jin Min. Jin Yuxi had been implicated because of him. If anything happened to her, he wouldn’t be able to answer to Jin Tiandu, let alone face himself.

Once more, he fed Jin Yuxi a slice of the Blood Ganoderma. Confirming her condition had stabilized, Luo Cheng sat beside her cross-legged and took a slice himself.

As the Blood Ganoderma entered his stomach, Luo Cheng felt a surge of vitality flow through his depleted body like parched earth soaking in sweet rain, devouring the ganoderma’s medicinal energy. His whole being felt fiery!

“A two-thousand-year-old Blood Ganoderma truly lives up to its name!”

Luo Cheng took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and prepared to meditate and regulate his breathing.

“Hmm?”

Just as he began circulating Essence Energy, Luo Cheng’s eyes snapped open in astonishment.

This time, the speed at which he manipulated Essence Energy had noticeably increased!

Calming himself and focusing inward, Luo Cheng soon discovered the cause.

It was the Xuanlong Technique!

The second Essence Energy Mansion within him was beginning to take on a dragon shape, signaling that the Xuanlong Technique was on the verge of advancing to the Second Layer, capable of doubling his combat strength!

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