Chapter 523: Chapter 0518: Mid-Stage Advancement

“Brother Chen, what do you need? I can give you a ten percent discount, which I am still in charge of.”

The handsome man, Jiang Boxiong, led Chen Yu to his stall, speaking with pride.

The trading hall was divided into temporary stalls and long-term rented ones.

Jiang Boxiong’s stall was a long-term rental, which came at a high cost.

But this stall was not his alone; it was a partnership among several people, and one of the strongest partners was a Golden Emblem Holy Guard.

“Only ten percent off? Brother Jiang, we’ve just met, and you’re only offering me a ten percent discount for patronizing your store?”

Chen Yu questioned.

In truth, he did not really care; any amount of discount was good enough for him.

“This… Brother Chen, a ten percent discount is already a good deal.”

Jiang Boxiong felt that Chen Yu was too greedy but did not want to say it outright.

“Brother Jiang wouldn’t be unable to make the decision, would he? Surely Brother Jiang’s say isn’t that insignificant?”

Chen Yu challenged again.

Jiang Boxiong’s eyelid twitched; he was in partnership with several Holy Guards, and indeed, his share wasn’t very significant.

He could possibly finesse the other partners or cover some of the discount himself for a ten percent discount.

But at twenty percent off, if he had to cover it, it would be a loss for him.

Yet everyone cared about face, and he had just claimed the stall as his. To now say he couldn’t make the decision would be inconsistent and make Chen Yu think he was too stingy.

“Fine, twenty percent off, but no lower.”

Jiang Boxiong agreed through gritted teeth.

“Refreshing.”

Chen Yu laughed heartily and then said, “Give me five ‘Pure Essence Pills.'”

“Five pills?”

Jiang Boxiong was taken aback.

He knew Chen Yu would take advantage of him but didn’t expect him to go this far.

A relatively good Quality Pure Essence Pill cost sixty or seventy thousand lower-grade Primordial Stones.

Five pills would be more than three hundred thousand, and at twenty percent off, he would lose almost sixty or seventy thousand.

“That’s right.”

Chen Yu nodded. He had inferior aptitude, so naturally, the more Pure Essence Pills, the better; after all, he could still use them after his breakthrough.

“Also, I will take some Clearing God Incense, Calming Pills, and Heart Ease Fruits.”

Chen Yu was asking for a lot.

In the end, Jiang Boxiong calculated that Chen Yu’s total expenditure was four hundred fifty thousand Primordial Stones; at twenty percent off, it was three hundred sixty thousand, and he himself would need to cover ninety thousand.

Advancing to the later stages of the Middle Late Guiyuan Realm consumed tremendously large amounts of resources. To get ahead of others, to gain higher positions, and to acquire better resources, the cultivators had to rapidly improve their cultivation strength. Hence, most Holy Guards found their hands tight with resources, with most of their Primordial Stones being utilized.

Ninety thousand lower-grade Primordial Stones was a sum Jiang Boxiong regretted parting with, yet he had no choice but to cover it himself.

“Hopefully, this young man will rise to power in the future, making my loss today worthwhile,” Jiang Boxiong sighed internally.

Upon leaving the trading hall, Chen Yu returned to his residence.

He had just gotten back when he heard that Situ Lin Yu had advanced to the Middle Stage of the Guiyuan Realm.

Back when Situ Lin Yu was at the peak of the early stage, he had defeated a powerful cultivator of the Chi Xiao Kingdom at the Middle Stage of the Guiyuan Realm, the Dugu Blade. Now that he had made a breakthrough, his strength was undoubtedly even stronger, and he was essentially secured a position in the cave dwellings without disturbance.

“No emerging from seclusion until I reach the middle stage.”

Chen Yu resolved, fortunately having acquired sufficient cultivation resources this time.

Before secluded cultivation, Chen Yu took out the Moon Spirit Ore Mother.

During the first level of the Tongyun Tower, the psychic attack from that ordinary man had caused him injuries.

Splat!

Grasping the piece of Moon Spirit Ore Mother, Chen Yu immediately felt a cool, mysterious aura like spring water permeate his body, seeping into his soul and healing the wounded spirit.

Soon enough, Chen Yu’s spiritual injury was healed.

Lighting a stick of Clearing God Incense, Chen Yu took a deep breath and instantly felt light and comfortable all over.

Sitting cross-legged, he commenced circulating the True Essence Heart Method from the “Heavenly Demon Secret Pattern Record” and began his secluded cultivation.

…

Time passed.

Chen Yu had been in seclusion for half a year.

However, since he had obtained the Copper Emblem Holy Guard Token, he went undisturbed by challenges.

During this half-year, more people successively became Copper Badge Holy Guards, including Situ Lin Yu, Yunhai Zhen, Jiang Chen, and the burly man Tuoba Yan, among others.

At the same time, Fu Sanguang challenged Li Xiaoyun.

Both were cultivators of Ancient top ten Cultivation Techniques, and the battle drew much attention, but ultimately, Fu Sanguang was defeated by Li Xiaoyun.

A few days later, Li Xiaoyun challenged that short, plump man, defeated him, and took possession of the eighth cave dwelling.

However, wins and losses were but temporary; this place was a Holy Land with the best cultivation conditions.

After his defeat, Fu Sanguang entered seclusion, determined to beat Li Xiaoyun next time.

Meanwhile, those behind were also catching up, striving to climb higher.

But.

Becoming a Copper Badge Holy Guard came with its responsibilities.

The Kunyun Sacred Land ruled the entire Kunyun Realm, and it wasn’t entirely free from trouble–there were always some nuisances.

Moreover, as a sacred place of cultivation in the Kunyun Realm that recruited and cultivated members at such a high cost, where did its resources come from?

Offerings! Explorations! Subjugation!

Offerings referred to those provided by the three ancient kingdoms; given the enormity of such ancient kingdoms, the offerings they extended were naturally substantial.

Explorations involved members of the holy grounds venturing into dangerous forbidden lands, extreme environments, and ruins, etc., to excavate treasures.

As for subjugation missions, they were exceedingly rare.

Subjugation meant conquering some of the lower realms and enslaving them.

On this day, an elder arrived, choosing eight Copper Badge Holy Guards to participate in a forbidden land exploration mission.

Half a year later, only six Copper Badge Holy Guards returned. It must be noted that among the team leaders was a Golden Emblem Holy Guard, and yet, two Copper Badge Holy Guards still fell.

In Beiyuan, the fall of a cultivator at the peak of the Middle Stage of Guiyuan Realm would be enough to shake the Nine Divisions and the Three Kingdoms.

Within the residence of the Silver Emblem Holy Guards.

Qian Guang, Jiang Boxiong, and one Copper Badge and one Silver Emblem Holy Guards were gathered in a cave abode.

“Brother Qian, what is the occasion for calling me here?”

Jiang Boxiong asked.

“Of course, it’s a good opportunity, otherwise I wouldn’t have called just you few,” Qian Guang said in a low voice. “But before that, I need you to take a heart and soul blood oath, swearing not to divulge this matter.”

“Agreed.”

The Copper Badge Holy Guard was the first to consent.

Being merely a Copper Badge Holy Guard himself, Qian Guang had little to gain from harming him.

Then, Jiang Boxiong and the other Silver Emblem Holy Guard also took the heart and soul blood oath.

“This is the situation: while carrying out an exploration mission in the forbidden lands, I learned from the newly promoted batch of Copper Badge Holy Guards that one of them possesses an Innate Spiritual Flame–‘Blood Crystal Flame.'”

Seeing that everyone had taken the blood oath, Qian Guang spoke with conviction.

“‘Blood Crystal Flame’? That’s ranked within the top hundred on the True Fire Spirit Flame List and is an Innate Spiritual Flame of the Blood Path!” The Copper Badge Holy Guard exclaimed in surprise.

The other two Silver Emblem Holy Guards were equally astonished, but more composed than the Copper Badge Holy Guard.

After all, they were neither practitioners of the Blood Dao nor the Fire Dao.

Probably this was the real reason Qian Guang had sought out these few individuals.

“You all know that my strength has reached the level of a Golden Emblem Holy Guard, but passing the third challenge is still difficult. Yet, once I acquire the ‘Blood Crystal Flame,’ that third challenge is guaranteed to be overcome,” Qian Guang stated with some excitement.

The ‘Blood Crystal Flame’ would not only allow him to become a Golden Emblem Holy Guard but would also let him progress further in the Blood Path.

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Boxiong said, “Brother Qian, this news will likely spread fast. Soon more eyes will covet the ‘Blood Crystal Flame,’ making it difficult for you to acquire it.”

“At least for now, not many know of this information, and I’ve already instructed those Copper Badge Holy Guards not to casually spread this matter,” Qian Guang continued.

Seeing the others still unmoved, he added, “If we manage to get it in the end, I only want the ‘Blood Crystal Flame’; all other treasures on him will be yours. I heard he possesses a powerful mid-grade Spiritual Artifact with explosive attributes. Moreover, this person has a distinguished background and is rich in treasures.”

Upon these words, everyone in attendance began to show interest.

After all, with Qian Guang obtaining the ‘Blood Crystal Flame’ to become a Golden Emblem Holy Guard, the others could only bask in his light without reaping any tangible benefits.

“A mid-grade Spiritual Artifact with explosive properties is quite valuable indeed.”

“Since he possesses the ‘Blood Crystal Flame,’ as well as such a mid-grade Spiritual Artifact, other treasures can hardly be lacking. Brother Qian, just tell us–what do we need to do?”

The Copper Badge Holy Guard was prepared to risk it all.

Jiang Boxiong and the other Silver Emblem Holy Guard nodded, signaling their agreement.

Eliminating a Copper Badge Holy Guard might allow Qian Guang to become a Golden Emblem Holy Guard–later, if they sought Qian Guang’s help, he would hardly be able to refuse.

Beyond that, they could also take advantage of other benefits, which seemed quite profitable.

Moreover, with Qian Guang taking the lead, he certainly had a strategy in mind to secretly eliminate this Copper Badge Holy Guard.

“Here’s the plan: only elders are entitled to assign missions, and I just happen to know one. But getting his help won’t be easy…” Qian Guang spoke eloquently.

Everyone understood upon hearing this: to reap the rewards, one must pay the price. They needed this elder’s help to assign Chen Yu a dangerous mission.

The death rate for some of the sacred land’s dangerous missions was very high. If a Copper Badge Holy Guard didn’t return from one, the holy ground would at most conduct a brief investigation; if nothing suspicion arose, they would let it be.

In fact, such occurrences weren’t uncommon in the sacred land.

…

One day, Chen Yu, who was meditating in seclusion, suddenly felt his True Yuan boil up within. The True Essence Lake inside him began to spin and slowly expand.

The energy within the cave abode surged into Chen Yu’s body like a tide, entering the Qi Sea.

After a while, the vortex of energy dissipated.

Now compared to before, the True Essence Lake within Chen Yu’s body had expanded further, appearing even more profound.

“I’ve broken through,” Chen Yu exhaled turbid breath and opened his eyes.

After advancing to the Middle Stage, there weren’t any significant changes in other aspects, but the Demon Pattern True Essence became even more refined–a bit stronger than an average cultivator at the Peak of Middle Stage Guiyuan Realm.

Furthermore, during this year and a half of seclusion, Chen Yu also used the Heavenly Heart Refining to condense his mental strength, with the help of Moon Spirit Ore Mother, elevate his spiritual power to the peak of the Middle Stage of Guiyuan Realm.

“I used four Pure Essence Pills,” Chen Yu said, placing the remaining pill inside the “Smoke-spitting Pearl.”

After the breakthrough, Chen Yu left his cave dwelling and looked around.

In the year and a half of his seclusion, of the fifty-eight people who had initially entered the holy ground, eighteen had become Copper Badge Holy Guards, including Chen Yu’s senior brother, Yuan Chen.

There had also been significant changes to the arrangement of cavern abodes; Li Xiaoyun had even defeated the veteran Copper Badge Holy Guards in succession, taking over the fifth cave abode.

The day after Chen Yu’s breakthrough.

An elder with a long beard arrived, floating in, and cleared his throat to announce: “All Copper Badge and Silver Emblem Holy Guards come forth, the holy ground has a new mission.”