A bad feeling suddenly rose in Xiao Yan's heart.
[Qian Renxue]: He plundered resources to strengthen himself—robbing major sects and noble families, stealing precious medicines. He even robbed me. I treated him with courtesy, yet he turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing.]
Qian Renxue finally understood why Tang San's strength had risen so rapidly when he attacked the Heaven Dou Palace.
So he had also been part of this chat group.
Everything made sense now.
[Xiao Yan]: Ahem… you're right. What he did was truly shameless.]
[Lin Dong]: Absolutely shameless.]
[Han Li]: …]
Seeing that Qian Renxue was getting along well with the others, Zhu Chen left the chat group with peace of mind.
He pushed open the long-unopened wooden door and headed straight toward Liu Shen.
He himself could not yet cultivate the complete Original True Explanation—
But Liu Shen could.
If Liu Shen comprehended this method, she might break through the King-level bottleneck and step into the Quasi-Immortal Emperor Realm ahead of schedule.
Zhu Chen naturally wouldn't be stingy toward his future wife.
Moreover, the stronger Liu Shen became, the greater the benefits for him.
After all—
Copying the cultivation of an Immortal King versus copying that of a Quasi-Emperor?
He would choose the latter without hesitation.
"Willow God!"
As soon as he arrived before the wooden stake, Zhu Chen looked up and respectfully called out.
The wooden stake—Liu Shen's true body—had clearly regained vitality. It was no longer pitch-black as before; faint traces of green had already begun to emerge.
It was obvious that Liu Shen's rebirth had been proceeding extremely smoothly.
"Young friend…"
At that moment, Shi Yunfeng, who had been guiding the Stone Monkey and the others in cultivation, hurried over while leaning on his cane.
"Young friend, the Ancestral Sacrificial Spirit has been in a critical stage of recovery these past two months. She hasn't made a sound for a long time. Please don't disturb her—"
Before he could finish speaking, a clear and gentle voice slowly emerged from the wooden stake.
"Zhu Chen… why have you come?"
As her voice echoed, countless motes of green light floated out from the wooden stake.
The lights were vibrant with life, like fireflies drifting through the air. They gathered together, condensing in front of Zhu Chen and finally forming the figure of a woman clad in a green dress, surrounded by layers of divine radiance.
It was Liu Shen.
Compared to before, her Dharma body was now far more solid, and her aura had become even more unfathomable.
"Y-You are… Liu Shen?"
Shi Yunfeng stood frozen in place.
This was the first time he had ever seen Liu Shen's manifested form.
Although she was shrouded in divine light that obscured her true appearance, he could clearly sense that this was Stone Village's ancestral spirit—Liu Shen herself.
"Mmm."
Liu Shen nodded lightly. Her gaze then shifted back to Zhu Chen as she said calmly, "In just two months, you've opened another Cave Heaven."
Zhu Chen scratched his head in embarrassment.
Liu Shen, please don't tease me. Opening one Cave Heaven in two and a half months isn't really something to brag about, is it?"
Breaking through from the Fourth to the Fifth Cave Heaven in such a short time would indeed be considered astonishing for ordinary cultivators.
But compared to pure-blood ferocious beasts and first-generation prodigies, it was only average.
Nothing worth boasting about.
"Your composure and steadiness of Dao heart are rare for someone your age," Liu Shen said approvingly.
"However, cultivation alone is not enough. A true blade must be tempered in fire. Strength gained without battle is unstable and lacks foundation."
Zhu Chen fully understood her warning and nodded in agreement.
True strength carries an invincible aura—one that can suppress mountains and rivers.
Such an aura cannot be forged through cultivation alone.
Only by emerging victorious from countless battles, sweeping aside enemies of the same realm again and again, can one gradually form that peerless momentum.
Like a sword embryo—
Without enduring endless trials and tempering, how could it shed impurities and become a supreme treasure?
"By the way, Willow Goddess," Zhu Chen said, getting straight to the point, "I've repaired the Original True Explanation. Please see whether this method will be of help to your cultivation."