Zhang Chen still overestimated his points, finding there was still a gap of eight million one hundred nineteen thousand and two hundred points to hit the maximum level. Even if he burned the midnight oil and worked tirelessly, it would still take four days to achieve.
"Continuously farming experience for five days, I’m starting to feel I can’t keep up. Even an iron man can’t endure this," Zhang Chen muttered wearily.
He spent day and night farming points to avoid getting beaten by the Princess in his sleep. He was all in since staying awake was better than getting hit.
But finally, today, Zhang Chen could take no more. His eyelids closed, and he fell into a deep sleep on the recliner.
Just as his eyes shut, a wisp of black hair pulled his consciousness into a dream. In the next moment, he was bombarded with fists and kicks. This time, her attacks were particularly vicious as if to warn him: ’Dare to play tricks again? Let’s see if you dare to delay entering the dream next time. I’ll make up for all the times I missed beating you.’
Zhang Chen ran around with his head covered, but soon got ensnared by the hair, and no matter how many tricks he knew, he could only accept the beating from the Princess.
"Damn you! Why hit me? Your physical body isn’t with me. You think I don’t want to bring your physical body out? The problem is, I don’t have the strength. If you’re so capable, go beat Zhang Xiaohua next door! His father took your body, he even stole your Creation, why don’t you go beat him?" Zhang Chen, hit into a rage, couldn’t help but let out a string of curses.
Upon hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the Princess paused, stared at him blankly as if in thought, before suddenly kicking him hard in the chest, sending him out of the dream realm.
Inside the small room, Zhang Chen suddenly sat up, looking at the bright moon outside, thinking, "It seems it’s already past midnight. Did that rebellious niece of mine really understand what I said? How astonishing she kicked me out with one hit?"
He got up, slowly circulated his Qi Blood to heal his body before lighting a lamp at the window and staring vacantly at the moon in the sky.
"It’s really difficult to obtain higher-level secrets of the Qi Cultivation Technique. My path upward is blocked. How can I possibly obtain higher-level secrets?" Zhang Chen thought of Wu Changming, who was a Yang God Great Zhenren of Yellow Heaven Dao. Could he find a chance to obtain higher-level secrets from him?
"That guy deliberately approached me the other day, asking me to defeat Zhang Xiaohua, but why hasn’t he made any moves recently, watching Zhang Xiaohua take my achievements?" As Zhang Chen pondered by the window, he considered Wu Changming as a possible option.
"The second route would be the Inspection and Supervision Department, taking the path of Xie Lingyun. But the Secret Techniques for cultivating immortality aren’t just about cultivation. They also involve methods of Divine Soul training, which is the most significant secret of the Inspection and Supervision Department. Even if I ask, Xie Lingyun might not be able to obtain them. Also, the relationship between Xie Lingyun and me is a pure mutual admiration, a true friendship. How can I ask Xie Lingyun for benefits? Once the Inspection and Supervision Department discovers the secrets have been tampered with, even Xie Lingyun would be punished and implicated by me." Zhang Chen thought it over and decided to give up this route, feeling that relying on a woman isn’t the aspiration of a man.
"Alternatively, I could excavate the Ancient Great Tomb, and those Ancient Divine Demon Tombs must have some inheritance of the Qi Cultivation Technique. But whether and when they can be unearthed depends on luck. Let’s not even mention the difficulty of finding the Divine Demon Tombs, and not every tomb will necessarily contain the inheritance of the Qi Cultivation Technique," Zhang Chen scratched his head, finding it a tough path.
Then Zhang Chen looked into the void, seemingly seeing the endlessly mysterious Creation of the Thirty-Three Heavens in the Spiritual World.
Even a Secret Technique like the Six-Word Mantra is available, so finding the Qi Cultivation Immortal secrets shouldn’t be too difficult.
"I guess these are the routes. I’ll try in the real world first. If there truly are no solutions in the real world, I’ll have to check the Spiritual World." Zhang Chen muttered, his voice filled with sighs.
"It’s a pity I can’t directly add points to my Qi Cultivation Technique and instantly become an immortal ancestor. Otherwise, depending on skimming the wool of Yellow Heaven Dao, I might immediately soar. I even imagined my legendary life - ’Stealing Incense from Yellow Heaven Dao for Ten Years, Unbeatable upon Emerging,’ or ’Sweeping the Grounds in Yellow Heaven Dao for Ten Years, Achieving Immediate Ascension.’" Zhang Chen lamented inwardly, a perfect invincible story for a male protagonist turned into an arduous struggle in another world due to his inability to find the latter part of the secret.
Just as Zhang Chen’s thoughts were wandering, the morning class bell rang, resounding throughout the Daoist Temple. As he heard it, he was about to call Chengyu when he saw Chengyu already coming downstairs, yawning and groggily saying, "Zhang Chen, you’ve been getting up early these days."
Recently, Zhang Chen was busy with stealing incense points without sleep, coming and going early, no wonder Xiaodouding remarked on Zhang Chen waking up early.
Just as Zhang Chen was about to respond, a shrill scream came from the backyard of the Daoist Temple. Alarmed, Zhang Chen thought, "What’s happening? Could it be that there’s another incident in the Daoist Temple?"
"Quick, freshen up. I fear something major is happening today." Zhang Chen urged Xiaodouding.
Xiaodouding was immediately alert, hurriedly finished freshening up, and walked with Zhang Chen towards the main hall.
Along the way, they met several fellow disciples. Upon seeing Zhang Chen and Xiaodouding, they all greeted them, appearing very friendly.
Winning the first prize in the sect competition, Zhang Chen had gained fame in Huangli Temple, becoming at least face-recognizable to everyone.
A large crowd made their way to the main hall, where many disciples had already gathered, talking in whispers, unaware of what was being said.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen pulled Xiaodouding along to eavesdrop, only to hear someone whisper, "I heard last night something major happened to that guy Zhang Xiaohua, got beaten by someone, with three ribs broken and even his head was hit askew."
"Wow, are you sure? Zhang Xiaohua is a scholar from Prince Pingbian’s Mansion. Who dares to hit Zhang Xiaohua?" someone whispered back, full of disbelief.
"This is absolutely true, I witnessed it myself," the disciple assured, pounding his chest in guarantee.
"We’re doomed, Zhang Xiaohua got seriously injured within the Daoist Temple, I fear our entire Daoist Temple will incur the wrath of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion," someone exclaimed in alarm, their voice filled with fear.
Upon hearing this, a deadly silence fell over the main hall, everyone remembering the thunderous tactics of Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, causing a shiver as Prince Pingbian is not known for going easy, and with Zhang Xiaohua suffering such a fate, no one in attendance could expect to escape unscathed.
Listening to this, Zhang Chen also felt a chill run down his spine. Who had the audacity and means to beat Zhang Xiaohua to such a state within Huangli Temple?
After all, Huangli Temple was on high alert right now; who could perform such vicious moves under watchful eyes?
Everyone else clearly contemplated this too, exchanging looks filled with horror and keeping their heads down, not daring to say more.
While everyone was discussing, the Law Enforcement Elder emerged from the backyard, casting a stern gaze at the crowd: "Today’s morning class will proceed as usual, the Observatory Master has pressing matters, from now on I’ll lead the morning class."
Not daring to speak up, all disciples lowered their heads and focused on their morning class, dispersing after it was concluded.
Three days passed this way, and after the morning class ended, Zhang Chen intended to blend into the crowd to leave. However, he was stopped by the Law Enforcement Elder: "Zhang Chen, hold on, I have something to tell you."
Surprised, Zhang Chen’s eyebrows furrowed, wondering why the Law Enforcement Elder wanted to talk to him. Could it be more trouble coming his way?