Chapter 010 I’ve Broken Through

Yang Zhen knew that he had to give an explanation to Shangyuan Sect, yet he didn’t expect Lu Chenghui to ask in front of so many people, making it almost the same as not having to explain at all.

A casual question was met with a casual answer. Whether others believed it or not was their own business.

Yang Zhen looked around at the crowd full of curiosity and answered seriously, “Respected Sect Leader, that senior truly exists. However, he hasn’t died, but has gone away. He said he is going into seclusion for cultivation, planning to battle with that long-haired, scaled, four-legged creature for another three hundred years!”

The surrounding crowd looked at Yang Zhen with disbelief. Lu Chenghui sighed and reprimanded, “You are talking nonsense but since you’ve happened to understand the Heaven-level Ghost Shadow Sword, focus on cultivation. You should skip the Nether State Conference in ten days. Wan Quan, the Sect Leader of Sword Servant Sect, is narrow-minded. He’ll surely try to get the cultivation method of the Ghost Shadow Sword from you, it is too dangerous.”

Lu Chenghui looked at the unconcerned Yang Zhen with a little surprise, then he continued, “Spend this time in the sect concentrating on cultivation, strive to break through the Nascent Stage. After establishing the Foundation, you should have some self-defense power!”

Yang Zhen nodded, responding seriously, “Thank you Sect leader. But the disciple has learned the Three-Element Ghost Shadow Sword, not just any Ghost Shadow Sword.”

A muscle in Lu Chenghui’s cheek twitched and he left with a swish of his sleeve.

Yang Zhen knew very well that Wan Quan was waiting for him at the Nether State Conference. That old coot was anything but kind. They would gain no benefits from him in Shangyuan Sect. Thus as long as Yang Zhen stays in Shangyuan Sect, he was safe.

The Nether State Conference was extremely important to disciples of minor sects. They could not only obtain various scarce resources through trials but also see genius practitioners from all over the Nether State Mainland, providing a glimpse of the outside world.

Moreover, some geniuses might even be valued by the major sects. If they were taken as disciples, their original small sect would also receive the favor of that major sect. From then on, they’d have a backer and could speak with confidence.

Yang Zhen didn’t fancy the Nether State Conference. He was doing well now. He could upgrade and continue to cultivate many of the cultivation methods and martial skills he had practiced before. It even seemed that under current circumstances, Lu Chenghui would let him comprehend all the other cultivation methods and martial skills of Shangyuan Sect.

In such a case, not to mention during the Nether State Conference, even after one or two years, Yang Zhen could hold out in Shangyuan Sect without going out.

Was it hard to be a homebody?

Facing those fellow sect members who looked at him pityingly, Yang Zhen just wanted to dismiss them with a laugh.

In the following ten days, Yang Zhen learned everything he could in the Shangyuan Sect, completing his upgrade.

All of his Spirit Marrow Cleansing was used up, Yang Zhen’s cultivation speed surged dramatically. In ten days, he forcibly reached the ninth level of the Nascent Stage, even a day earlier than Senior Sister Liu Ruoning.

After all, the ninth level of the Nascent Stage was almost a chasm. A person who could cultivate to the ninth level of the Nascent Stage was almost destined to succeed in establishing the Foundation. It was only a matter of time.

“Junior Brother, Junior Brother, I’ve broken through!”

Liu Ruoning joyfully burst into Yang Zhen’s room. It was clear that she was really excited.

Yang Zhen just got out of the shower, wearing only a loose robe. He was admiring his robust physique in the mirror when Liu Ruoning burst in, startling him.

“You … Why don’t you close the door!” Liu Ruoning glared at Yang Zhen and turned her back to him.

Yang Zhen smiled secretly, his tone full of pretended indignation, “Senior Sister, you just entered without even knocking. You said just now… you’ve broken through?”

Liu Ruoning turned around, her face a little bashful and her excitement barely concealed, “I’ve broken through. I just need an opportunity to succeed in Foundation Establishment!”

“Congratulations!”

“Junior Brother, your qualifications are actually no worse than mine, maybe even better. You will surely … you’ve broken through too?”

Liu Ruoning looked at Yang Zhen in disbelief, her lively eyes filled with surprise.

The aura radiating from Yang Zhen’s body was surprisingly at the ninth level of the Nascent Stage, identical to hers. This was something she found hard to believe.

Enlightenment was not something one could force. Yang Zhen could have a sudden breakthrough once, but it was impossible to have such breakthroughs constantly.

The speed of cultivation and the understanding of the Cultivation Method were not exactly related, otherwise, Yang Zhen wouldn’t have stayed at the first level of the Nascent Stage for so many years.

However, within just ten days, Yang Zhen had cultivated to the ninth level of the Nascent Stage and it seemed that he was close to completing his Foundation Establishment. This was something utterly impossible.

Except for the disciples of the major sects, Liu Ruoning had never seen such terrifying cultivation speed. Even those disciples from the major sects largely accumulated their cultivation through the use of elixirs.

Yang Zhen enjoyed the marvelous expression on Liu Ruoning’s face. It was a feast for his eyes, and he felt extremely pleased in his heart. It was no wonder so many men enjoyed the feeling of surprising others with their hidden strengths.

“How… How have you been cultivating?”

Yang Zhen glanced at his body in the bronze mirror with longing and said regretfully, “Maybe it’s fate. A man like me is meant to make a name for himself in the Nether State.”

Liu Ruoning chuckled, and gave Yang Zhen a glare of both annoyance and shyness. “Our sect master knew that you couldn’t hold back in the Shangyuan Sect. He wanted me to remind you that Duan Langcai has openly declared that he will take your life during the Nether State trial. The Nether State trial is filled with dangers, and Duan Langcai is overly confident. You need to calm down and focus on your cultivation in the Shangyuan Sect. They… They’re so audacious only because they’re sure you can’t resist participating in the Nether State trial.”

Yang Zhen scoffed, “Even if I suffocate from holding back, I’d jump off the main peak of the Shangyuan Sect rather than participate in the boring Nether State trial.”

A day later, Yang Zhen stood on a small hill ten miles away from the Shangyuan Sect, inhaled deeply, and said with a grin, “How fresh!”

Liu Ruoning, not far away, was extremely worried. Upon hearing his words, she glared at Yang Zhen and bit her lip, “Senior Brother, you… you even tricked me, sneaking into the carriage when we weren’t looking. If the sect master finds out, he’s going to blame me.”

Yang Zhen smiled slyly, “Senior Sister, I’ve mastered all the Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills of the Shangyuan Sect, and it’s quite boring to stick around. It’s better to go out and see the world. Didn’t I say that I was ‘in seclusion’? Don’t worry, I’m just looking around. Who would know that I went out when I come back from my ‘seclusion’?”

“You…” Liu Ruoning said annoyedly, “The Nether State trial is very dangerous!”

Yang Zhen put a hand on his heart, “I’ll protect you!”

“That’s not what I meant!” Liu Ruoning glared at Yang Zhen and angrily stopped talking.

“Ah, how comfortable! It’s so much better being outside!”

Yang Zhen took a deep breath and stretched his body, accompanied by a series of crackling sounds from his bones.

Stay in the sect without stepping out?

How was that possible!

An interested expression appeared on Yang Zhen’s face. Duan Lang had even dared to threaten to take his life during the Nether State trial. He must have obtained something extraordinary. Was it a Heaven-level Cultivation Method or Martial Skill, or perhaps a powerful divine weapon or treasure?

Although Lu Chenghui and Changyue Real Man had been nice to Yang Zhen, the Shangyuan Sect was seriously lacking in resources. This time coming out, Yang Zhen needed to find something good for himself. If he didn’t even have the means to establish his foundation, then why bother?

“Eh?” Yang Zhen suddenly startled, “Someone’s coming over there?”

“Where?” Liu Ruoning hastily followed Yang Zhen’s gaze, only to see his face that seemed more like grinning than smiling, which irritated Liu Ruoning and she hit Yang Zhen.

“Someone is really coming.”