Chapter 40: Breakthrough, Early-stage Mysterious Platform Realm
Clear Spring Pavilion.
Located not far from the Golden Apricot Inn, it provided the perfect vantage point for keeping a watchful eye on Lin Feng, with a straight-line distance of just over 150 meters.
At this very moment.
Jiang Chen stood on the third floor of the Clear Spring Pavilion, poised by the window.
"Lin Feng, let me see what you're up to!"
Jiang Chen's lips curled into a smile as his mind focused. He urged the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade, 'Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade, activate!'
Instantaneously.
The black flame pattern upon his forehead emitted a faint glow.
A wave of divine sense, equivalent to the level of a half-step Mysterious Platform Realm, emerged and directly infiltrated the Golden Apricot Inn, commencing the search for Lin Feng!
In fact,
Once a cultivator attained the Soul Refining Realm, they could use divine sense to safeguard their physical body, creating a passive 'defense' that prevented others from invading their privacy.
Even if their divine sense was weak and susceptible to breaches.
However, at the moment their divine sense was compromised, they would be able to detect it and become aware that they were being observed.
The fundamental range of protection provided by a cultivator's divine sense at the Soul Refining Realm encompassed the surface of their skin.
The higher the cultivator's level of advancement, the more extensive the scope of their basic protection.
For instance, Jiang Chen, who was presently at the Late-stage Spiritual Awakening Realm, boasted a basic protection range of half a meter.
Within this radius, there was minimal need to expend divine sense.
Expanding the range of protection would increase consumption, making it difficult to maintain and decreasing its effectiveness.
As for cultivators at the Elemental Movement or Physical Body Realm who lacked divine sense, they could utilize some affordable minor artifacts to preserve their privacy.
However,
When Jiang Chen had previously admired Ning Xian bathing, Ning Xian did not possess such a small artifact...
Refocusing on the task at hand.
Jiang Chen's divine sense roamed within the Golden Apricot Inn, rendering ordinary shielding formations ineffective.
Shortly.
Lin Feng's figure materialized before Jiang Chen's eyes.
At that moment, the man was seated cross-legged on the bed, engaged in cultivation as the surrounding Spiritual Qi ceaselessly flowed into his body.
"The rate of absorbing Spiritual Qi seems rather fast."
"I wonder to what extent his aptitude has been altered."
"The Villain's Eye can't discern Lin Feng's aptitude, nor can it perceive his cultivation techniques or true combat capabilities..."
Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, lost in quiet contemplation.
Just then.
A system notification abruptly materialized.
[Ding! After obtaining a Heaven-defying Fate Changer 'Eye-type Method', you can merge it with the Villain's Eye, augmenting its prowess!]
"Oh!?"
"I never anticipated this possibility!"
Jiang Chen's eyebrows rose, his expression revealing a smile of newfound understanding.
Shortly thereafter.
Jiang Chen persisted in observing Lin Feng for some time.
However, the man had already become engrossed in his cultivation, and it appeared that he wouldn't be engaging in any other activities in the near future.
Thus.
"You all continue to surveil the Golden Apricot Inn."
"If any suspicious individuals enter or exit, or if Lin Feng leaves, notify me at once."
Jiang Chen relayed a message to his subordinates, instructing them to maintain their vigilance.
Immediately following.
He too settled down on the bed, adopting a cross-legged posture.
As Lin Feng grew stronger, Jiang Chen needed to keep pace and strengthen himself as well to preserve his cultivation advantage!
'Clearing Mind Awakening Spirit Pill!'
Jiang Chen mused to himself as ten Clearing Mind Awakening Spirit Pills materialized before him. He picked one up and tossed it directly into his mouth.
The pill dissolved effortlessly.
A surge of immense medicinal power erupted within his body, permeating his dantian, meridians, and every fiber of his being.
Deep within his dantian,
The Yuan Power vortex, previously in a semi-solid state, pulsated as if it were breathing, gradually growing more dense and compact.
As the medicinal power started to wane, Jiang Chen did not hesitate to consume another pill.
Time trickled by.
In what seemed like the blink of an eye, half a month had elapsed.
Over the half month,
Autumn Glory City was plunged into turmoil by the Zhou Clan's actions. Numerous searches were conducted outside the city, yet the perpetrator responsible for Zhou Yihe's death and others remained elusive.
Thus,
The search transitioned from overt to covert, in hopes that the killer might reveal themselves.
However, the Zhou Clan's expectations of apprehending the murderer were not high, as the culprit had likely already escaped to another city.
Simultaneously,
During this half-month period,
Jiang Chen had successfully advanced his cultivation to the pinnacle of the Spiritual Awakening Realm, standing just a single step away from breaking through the bottleneck.
At this moment,
Clear Spring Pavilion, third floor.
"The timing is absolutely perfect!"
"It's time to break through to the Mysterious Platform Realm!"
Jiang Chen closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The Yuan Power within his body started to circulate slowly, converging entirely in his dantian.
Within his dantian,
The Yuan Power vortex accelerated, spinning faster and faster!
After a dozen or so breaths,
The speed of the Yuan Power vortex reached its peak!
Jiang Chen even felt as though his body was on the verge of being twisted into a pretzel.
A whirlwind materialized around him, causing the furnishings in the room to be thrown into disarray.
Just at that moment,
"Break through!"
Following the instructions from the Star Abyss Heavenly Scripture, Jiang Chen abruptly reversed the Yuan Power vortex!
The rapidly spinning Yuan Power vortex came to an immediate halt, solidifying under the combined pressures of inertia and opposing force.
Nevertheless, the entire vortex seemed on the brink of shattering.
Suddenly,
A golden light emerged and melded into the Yuan Power vortex, fully stabilizing it.
This was the power of the Ten-Turn Harmonious Spirit Pill!
Having taken this medicinal pill, Jiang Chen faced no more bottlenecks under the Heavenly Origin, which was why he was able to successfully break through this time.
At this moment,
After the Yuan Power vortex condensed, it took on the appearance of a white, round platform floating within Jiang Chen's dantian.
A mysterious aura emanated from it.
"Mysterious Platform Realm, breakthrough achieved!"
Jiang Chen opened his eyes, a brilliant sparkle shining within them!
Immediately,
He procured several medicinal pills to replenish his Yuan Power, and activated his cultivation technique to absorb Spiritual Qi, filling his empty meridians and dantian.
An abundance of spiritual energy surged into his body, congregated in his dantian, and ultimately fused with the Mysterious Platform.
In an instant,
It transformed into high-quality Yuan Power, brimming with immense energy, and flowed out from the Mysterious Platform, refilling his dantian and meridians.
As the Mysterious Platform Yuan Power coursed through Jiang Chen's meridians, it began to invigorate every cell within his body!
In no time.
Jiang Chen's physical prowess surged dramatically!
That wasn't all.
His divine sense strength experienced a substantial enhancement as well!
"This energy."
"It far surpasses the Yuan Power of the Spiritual Awakening realm!"
"Moreover, my Yuan Power reserve has seen a remarkable expansion, nearly tenfold from before!"
Sensing the prodigious force of the Mysterious Platform realm, Jiang Chen's eyes gleamed with a hint of exhilaration.
Instantly.
He accessed his personal panel.
[Host: Jiang Chen
Aptitude: Upper Grade
Innate Talent: Eternal Boundless Body
Realm: Early-stage Mysterious Platform
True Battle Power: Early-stage Mysterious Platform+
Cultivation Methods: Starry Abyss Heavenly Scripture, Cold Sky Frost Brilliance Secrets, Void Rainbow Sword Technique, Clear Sky Flash, Violent Tiger Power...
Villain Value: 1400 points
Black Heavenly Fate: 0
Heaven-Defying Fate Changer: Villain's Eye
System Mall: Level 1]
"Excellent!"
"My true battle power surpasses that of an ordinary Early-stage Mysterious Platform!"
Jiang Chen examined his panel and nodded with gratification.
Throughout the past half month.
He didn't solely rely on pill consumption for cultivation.
He consumed ten Clearing Mind Awakening Spirit Pills in ten days and dedicated the remaining five days to solidifying his cultivation.
Capitalizing on these five days, he successfully mastered the entry-level of the Cold Sky Frost Brilliance Secrets.
Initially, the Heavenly Origin Realm cultivation method proved incredibly challenging to practice.
Nevertheless, the method Jiang Chen selected possessed the attribute of swift learning, rendering it comparatively manageable to practice.
Hence, he managed to attain the entry-level of the secret art in a brief span of time.
"Next."
"Let's check on Lin Feng's progress..."
Jiang Chen's thoughts stirred, and he promptly activated his divine sense!