Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Under Liang Xun's watchful eyes, Wang Chen drained the cup of tea in one gulp.

However, after putting down the empty cup, he said, "Junior Brother Liang, I'm sorry."

Liang Xun was momentarily stunned.

He had considered the possibility that Wang Chen might refuse, but he had not expected such an outright and decisive rejection, without a hint of hesitation!

Liang Xun seriously doubted whether Wang Chen even understood the value of the opportunity.

Mysterious Origin was one of the Nine Veins of the West Sea Sect, and furthermore, it belonged to the Middle Three Veins. Even if a Vein-entered Disciple's cultivation level was the same as a newly entered disciple, their future prospects could not compare.

Their status and identity were equally unmatched!

For Wang Chen, an outer cultivator without any background, gaining access to the Nine Veins was undoubtedly a tall order, but if he could secure support and help from a Vein-entered Disciple, it would certainly be much easier.

If Wang Chen could gain the recognition of a Mysterious Origin Vein disciple, he would have a backing within the sect.

Liang Xun could not fathom why Wang Chen was indifferent to this.

He could only attribute it to Wang Chen's ignorance, feeling compelled to explain, "Junior Brother Wang, you should know..."

"Junior Brother Liang, I'm grateful for your kind intentions."

Wang Chen interrupted him, "But I have already promised Junior Brother Zuo, and there's no reason to go back on my word halfway. As they say, 'Without credibility, a man cannot stand; without justice, the Tao cannot flourish.'

Liang Xun was at a loss for words.

Wang Chen might as well have pointed at his nose and scolded, "Do you really want me to be a man without trust or justice?"

The Inner Sect Disciple watched with wide eyes as Wang Chen stood up and left the private room, his fair face flushing bright red.

A young cultivator nearby exclaimed angrily, "This barbarian cultivator from the outer states really doesn't know how to appreciate what's offered to him!"

The prejudice based on regional origin existed in the strictly hierarchical world of immortal cultivation.

People from the Central State looked down on those from the outer states, cultivators from the Central State looked down on those from the outer states, and the natives of Wanling City regarded an outsider cultivator like Wang Chen, who had no affiliation, as a barbarian cultivator.

In fact, this cultivator was only at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, and was an Outer Sect Disciple.

In terms of status, he was far inferior to Wang Chen.

Yet his words contained not a shred of respect for Wang Chen, instead showing disdain and contempt!

"Senior Brother, are you just going to let it go?"

Another cultivator said with a frown, "This man has really disrespected you!"

"Hmph!"

Liang Xun snorted, "Wait and see. There will come a day when he regrets it and comes begging to me, and then..."

What exactly would happen then, Liang Xun did not say, but anyone could sense the ruthlessness in his words!

Meanwhile, Wang Chen, who had returned to the downstairs hall, didn't take the matter to heart.

Cultivators like Liang Xun could be found anywhere, and getting entangled with them would only hinder one's own cultivation. It would be nothing but a waste of time with no additional gains.

The rules of the West Sea Sect were strict; the disciples were strictly forbidden from private fights. Liang Xun's face had been slapped by Wang Chen, and he dared not openly act against him.

Of course, it was easy to dodge the open spear but hard to guard against the hidden arrow, and Wang Chen would not be careless.

It was simply a matter of dealing with obstacles as they came. He had made it this far not through cowardly submission but through resilience and strength.

If others bullied him and he did not strike back fiercely, he would only be seen as weak and inept, and then the aggression would escalate!

After the promotion feast hosted by Qiu Zhong, Wang Chen returned to his regular days of cultivation.

Only now, he would spend several days in Wanling City from time to time.

Together with Xu Xinlan, he practiced the "Yin and Yang Reunion Secret Technique", purifying his own mana and also helping her to improve her cultivation strength.

Unlike the strong and independent Li Qingxi, Xu Xinlan was a woman whose innate mildness and virtuosity ran deep.

Having chosen to rely on Wang Chen, she entrusted her entire being to him.

The days Wang Chen lived with the Xu Family were truly filled with tenderness.

With clothes extended upon request and meals presented upon hunger, dressed and bathed by the hands of others—not to mention the tender sweetness shared in the privacy of the bedchamber.

It was solely through immense willpower that Wang Chen resisted the erosion of his will by these luxuries and did not indulge in them.

And with the help of the Essence of the Five Elements produced by the mine, his cultivation level increased rapidly.

The Innate Five Elements Skill could basically gain 1 point of experience value in just one day.

Breaking through to the third tier of the Purple Mansion was just a matter of time!

As winter turned to spring, time flew by, and before he knew it, it was March.

Enjoy more content from empire

That day, while Wang Chen was practicing at home, he suddenly received a Flying Sword message from Zuo Xiaomo.

The date for this year's postponed Outer Sect examination had been set. It would take place on the first day of April at the usual location, the Nine Dragons Land Palace.

Zuo Xiaomo informed Wang Chen in the letter that due to an anomaly that had occurred in the Nine Dragons Land Palace, causing the Sect to seal it off. Although it had been unsealed, it remained extremely dangerous.

Therefore, the Sect would modify the content and corresponding rules of the examination.

As for what the new rules were, they had not yet been announced, and Zuo Xiaomo did not know either.

But he asked Wang Chen to be prepared since the date of the examination was set.

After reading the letter, Wang Chen replied to Zuo Xiaomo, stating that he would attend on time as a Taoist Protector.

However, what Wang Chen didn't expect was that right after he sent off the Flying Sword, he received another summon from the Sect.

"Suppress bandits?"

When Wang Chen came to the Inner Sect Main Hall's Sect Affairs Department according to the summons, he was surprised to receive a task from the Executor to exterminate a group of horse bandits that were marauding across the border between Central State and Northern State!

Moreover, it was an urgent mission.

While the Sect disciples enjoyed the benefits of the Sect, they also had to bear corresponding responsibilities and obligations.

Since it was assigned by the Sect, he had no room to refuse.

Unless he left the Inner Sect.

Wang Chen didn't reject the mission, but what puzzled him was the requirement: "Am I supposed to eradicate them by myself?"

The Sect Affairs Executor smiled and said, "If you want assistance, you can negotiate with the local Guarding Envoy. The leader of the horse bandits has only reached the primary tier of the Purple Mansion. If the Sect were to send two or three Inner Sect disciples, that would be overestimating him."

Wang Chen remained silent.

His intuition told him that this sudden mission was definitely not as simple as it seemed on the surface.

In half a month, he was supposed to participate in the Outer Sect examination as a Taoist Protector, to ensure Zuo Xiaomo passed safely.

Receiving an assignment now was too coincidental, wasn't it?

Wang Chen suspected that there might be someone plotting behind the scenes.

Such as Liang Xun!n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

After he refused him last time, it seemed that Liang Xun's retribution had arrived, with the timing meticulously planned.

Wang Chen tentatively asked, "I need to participate in the Outer Sect examination as a Taoist Protector on the first day of April. Can this task be postponed until after the examination is over?"

"That's impossible!"

The Sect Affairs Executor flatly refused: "The horse bandits are a threat to the region and cannot be allowed to continue even for a day. Isn't there still half a month? If you resolve it quickly, you will definitely have enough time!"

Enough time?

Wang Chen sneered to himself.

The most difficult part about dealing with horse bandits was their erratic movements, making it hard to pin them down.

And the West Sea Sect heading to the border of Central State and Northern State—just the travel time was not insignificant.

This was a trap!

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Here's the second update.