32: Chapter 32 Covenant

Shen Wuchang stayed in the Deer Clan Tribe for three days, and his injuries were mostly healed. The recovery power of a Void-Piercing Realm expert far exceeds that of ordinary people; broken bones can be set in three days, and wounds can heal in five. Although the old woman's herbs were not as fast-acting as Human Race Medicinal Pills, they were gentle and would not damage one's Foundation.

"Kid, how long do you plan to stay here?" Shen Wuchang sat under an ancient tree, drinking Deer Bone Wine with his legs crossed.

"I'll stay for a while longer." Chen Yuanji sat opposite him. "My Dan Power has just formed and needs to be consolidated. Besides, Lu Yao's skills have only just reached the entry level; I can't quit halfway."

"You're quite kind-hearted." Shen Wuchang glanced at him. "But the Tiandao Sect won't give you that much time. Although I shook off Zhou Xuanji, he will find this place sooner or later."

"I know," Chen Yuanji said. "So before that happens, I must become stronger."

Shen Wuchang pulled a silk scroll from his robe and tossed it to Chen Yuanji. "This is something the old man found in the ruins of the Martial Dao Divine Court years ago; I could never understand it. The skills you Cultivate share the same source as the Martial Dao Divine Court, so perhaps it will be useful to you."

Chen Yuanji unfurled the silk scroll. On it was a diagram of the human body, marked with dense Acompounts and Meridian routes. It was not a map of yuan pulses from this world, but a Guoshu system identical to the one recorded in the martial gods remains. The title of the scroll was written in four seal characters—Essentials of Gang Jin. Chen Yuanji's pupils constricted slightly. Gang Energy was the fifth Realm of Internal Family Boxing, above Dan Power and below the God Realm. Those who achieve Major Achievement in Gang Energy are protected by a Protective Aura around their entire body, making them impervious to all techniques, equivalent to the Faxiang Realm or even the Void-Piercing Realm of this world.

"Where did you find this?"

"In a ruin deep within the Eastern Desolate Region, the old man broke into it when he was young," Shen Wuchang said. "I almost died in there back then and only managed to take this one silk scroll. There were more things inside, but the old man didn't have the ability to go deeper."

Deep in the Eastern Desolate Region. Chen Yuanji committed this location to memory.

"Elder Shen, once my injuries are healed, I want to go see that ruin."

"Fine. The old man will take you," Shen Wuchang nodded. "But don't expect to get much. That ruin is extremely treacherous. The old man was at the Early Stage of the Void-Piercing Realm back then and still barely made it out. You've only just achieved Dan Power; going in now would be suicide."

Lu Yao came over carrying a plate of fruit and set it on the stone table. "Brother Chen, Elder Shen, have some fruit. These were just picked from the mountain; they're very sweet."

Shen Wuchang grabbed a fruit and took a bite, juice splashing everywhere. "Little Deer, how old are you this year?"

"Sixteen."

"Sixteen, the perfect age for Cultivation." Shen Wuchang looked at her. "How is your training going, following this kid and his skills?"

"Brother Chen says my Stake Training has already reached the entry level, and I can start learning boxing."

"Stake Training? The one where you just stand still?" Shen Wuchang glanced at Chen Yuanji. "You're not bad, kid, picking up such a good prospect."

At dusk, Chen Yuanji went to the White Birch Forest alone. Bai Xue was lying under a white birch tree, eyes closed, seemingly asleep. Hearing footsteps, she opened her eyes, her golden gaze fixing on Chen Yuanji.

"Back again?"

"I'm here." Chen Yuanji sat down three zhang away from her. "I found Zhou Xuanji."

Bai Xue's eyes snapped wide, and she stood up.

"Where is he?"

"Heavenly Demon City," Chen Yuanji said. "An Elder of the Tiandao Sect, Middle Stage of the Void-Piercing Realm. Half a month ago, he was hunting me with three in the Faxiang Realm and two in the Shentong Realm."

Bai Xue's claws sank deep into the soil, her eyes filled with murderous intent. "Middle Stage of the Void-Piercing Realm..."

"You can't beat him right now," Chen Yuanji said. "Neither can I."

"Then why did you come to tell me?"

"To tell you he's still alive, and to tell you he's still hunting me." Chen Yuanji looked at her. "One day, I will kill him. Until then, I need your help."

Bai Xue stared at him for a long time. "What kind of help?"

"Teach me how to survive in the Mist Forest," Chen Yuanji said. "You know this place like the back of your hand—where the third-order Yao Beasts are, where the ancient ruins are, and where to find Heaven And Earth Treasures. I need these things to increase my strength."

Bai Xue was silent for a long while. "I can teach you, but I have a condition."

"What condition?"

"When you go to kill Zhou Xuanji, take me with you."

Chen Yuanji looked at her and nodded. "It's a deal."

Bai Xue lay back down and closed her eyes. "Starting tomorrow, come find me here every morning at dawn."

Chen Yuanji stood up and turned to leave, the moonlight in the White Birch Forest stretching his shadow long.

In the following days, Chen Yuanji went to the White Birch Forest to find Bai Xue every morning, returned to the tribe in the afternoon to teach Lu Yao her skills, and practiced the Essentials of Gang Jin at night. Bai Xue's knowledge of the Mist Forest far exceeded his imagination. She knew exactly where the water sources, Yao Beasts, dangers, and Heaven And Earth Treasures were.

"The Mist Forest is divided into three layers." Bai Xue used her claws to draw a diagram in the dirt. "The outer layer is where we are now, mainly home to second and third-order Yao Beasts. The middle layer has fourth-order Yao Beasts, equivalent to your Human Race's Faxiang Realm. The inner layer has fifth-order Yao Beasts, equivalent to the Void-Piercing Realm."

"And the deepest part?"

"The deepest part..." A flash of fear crossed Bai Xue's eyes. "The deepest part has sixth-order Yao Beasts, equivalent to your Human Race's Tribulation Transformation Realm. But no Yao Race member has ever gone there; those who did never returned."

Chen Yuanji nodded, noting this information.

"Where is the ancient ruin?"

"In the middle layer," Bai Xue said. "There is an ancient ruin in the middle layer of the Mist Forest that was a branch of the Martial Dao Divine Court. There are treasures inside, but also powerful Restrictions and guardian Yao Beasts."

"Have you been there?"

"I went once and almost died in there." Bai Xue looked at him. "With your current strength, going in is suicide. You must be at least at the Middle Stage of Dan Power to have a chance of coming out alive."

Chen Yuanji was currently only at the Early Stage of Dan Power, still some distance from the Middle Stage.

"I understand."

He stood up, preparing to leave.

"Chen Yuanji." Bai Xue called out to him. "In that ruin, there is an item that is a supreme treasure of the Martial Dao Divine Court. If you can get it, it might help you Breakthrough to Gang Energy."

"What is it?"

"The martial gods heart."

Chen Yuanji's heart jolted. He already had the martial gods remains, but what was the martial gods heart?

"Legend has it that the last Martial God of the Martial Dao Divine Court, when being besieged and killed by the Tiandao Sect, gouged out his own heart and hid it deep within the Mist Forest. That heart contains the Martial God's lifelong power. Whoever obtains it can inherit the Martial God's entire Legacy."

"Why are you telling me this?"

Bai Xue looked at him, her golden eyes full of seriousness. "Because I need an ally who is strong enough, and you are the person with the most potential I have ever seen."

Chen Yuanji was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"When I am ready, I will go."

He turned and left, disappearing into the White Birch Forest. Behind him, Bai Xue's voice drifted out.

"Don't make me wait too long." She received no answer, only the rustling of the night wind through the White Birch Forest.