C18 Cultivation

The next morning, Lu Chen awoke early, made quick preparations, and set off for the secluded back mountain of River City. After a while, he located a secluded spot just beyond the mountain's reach.

Within the dense forest, the towering trees stood tall, their dark and lush foliage casting the ground into shadow, blocking out the sunlight. The area was shrouded in darkness and dampness. A chilly breeze carried the scent of damp wood and mold to his nose.

Lu Chen took a deep breath, his satisfaction evident in his smile. This rarely visited place was the perfect spot for his training.

He tilted his head back slightly, eyes shut tight, as the knowledge of the Devil Elephant Fist surged through his mind.

"Hu!"

Time slipped by unnoticed until Lu Chen inhaled deeply, his eyes snapping open, a glint of determination shining within.

"Bam!"

He stepped forward with his right foot, sending a ripple of energy from his toes into the earth.

With that step, Lu Chen's presence transformed—becoming fierce, untamed, and commanding.

"Hah!"

He burst into action with a powerful shout, channeling his energy, stepping, and punching...

A formidable force built up in his fist and roared out, emitting a piercing whistle through the air.

Time flew by in the monotony of his rigorous practice.

In a single day, Lu Chen executed over a thousand punches. Drained of his Yuan Qi, he sat down cross-legged to quietly practice the Pure Yuan Art.

His relentless effort paid off, and by the end of the day, he had mastered the initial form of the Devil Elephant Fist, the Horizontal Demonic Elephant Fist. With each punch, the forceful wind howled, and the sheer power seemed almost capable of tearing through the air, leaving Lu Chen inwardly impressed by its might.

Day after day, he left at dawn and returned at dusk, and before he knew it, six days had passed.

On this particular day, within the dense forest, a resounding boom echoed as a massive tree, thick enough to be embraced by several people, burst apart from the middle, sending splinters flying. The upper branches crashed down, kicking up a cloud of dust.

As the tree fell, it revealed a young man with a stern demeanor. Clad in black silk, his tall, lean figure stood erect, his youthful face belied by the depth and intensity of his dark eyes, which held a sharpness and a sense of world-weariness that seemed beyond his years.

"Phew!"

Lu Chen wiped away the large beads of sweat cascading down his forehead. His body was pulsing with vitality, his well-defined muscles undeniably evident, exuding a palpable sense of power.

After taking a brief rest, he glanced up at the sky.

"Dawn is breaking. Time for me to head out!"

With a sharp glint in his eyes, Lu Chen turned and departed.

...

The dawn had just begun to light up the sky, which stretched clear for miles. Daylight was gradually banishing the night to the edges of the horizon.

Approaching the Tang Mansion from a distance was a young man clad in black.

"Hold on, this is the Tang Mansion. No unauthorized persons may enter." Lu Chen had just reached the entrance when he was halted by the guards, who eyed him warily.

Seeing the guard's guarded demeanor, Lu Chen chuckled to himself, thinking, 'The rumors must be true. Tang Ming has been seriously injured; otherwise, this guard wouldn't be so on edge.'

"Relax, I mean no harm," Lu Chen reassured in a calm voice.

The guard's expression softened slightly as he inquired, "Do you have an invitation?"

Lu Chen shook his head. "I'm here to see Tang Ming. Please inform him that Lu Chen has arrived. I'm sure he'll be eager to meet with me."

The two guards exchanged a doubtful look before one quickly turned and jogged into the mansion.

Before long, the guard returned, smiling at Lu Chen. "Young Master Lu Chen, the Patriarch invites you in."

Lu Chen nodded and followed the guard into the Tang Mansion.

Inside the hall of the Tang Mansion, Lu Chen saw Tang Ming, the family patriarch, seated at the head of the room.

Tang Ming's complexion was sickly pale, and his breath was weak, clearly indicating severe injuries. He was a shadow of the commanding and authoritative figure he had been just a month prior.

"Lu Chen, you dare to return? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Tang Ming said coldly, fixing his gaze on Lu Chen.

Lu Chen responded with a serene smile, choosing not to answer directly. Instead, he asked, "How is Uncle Mo? Is he well? I've come today to take him away from the Tang Mansion."

"You can take Uncle Mo with you, but first, you must hand over the Divine Weapon Fragment."

Lu Chen shook his head, declining: "Sorry, I won't give you the Divine Weapon Fragment."

Upon hearing Lu Chen's refusal, Tang Ming's expression turned icy as he barked, "You don't have a say in this."

No sooner had he spoken than there was a sharp crack, and the chair beneath him shattered. Tang Ming swiftly rose to his feet, striding forward to appear directly in front of Lu Chen, his hand balled into a fist, and he launched a punch.

Previously, Lu Chen had effortlessly defeated three opponents at Layer Eight of the Body Refining Stage and had smoothly escaped from the Tang Residence, clearly indicating his formidable strength. Thus, Tang Ming exerted his full power in this attack, determined to subdue Lu Chen immediately.

"Buzz!"

His fist generated a ferocious airstream that made the air buzz loudly. The momentum of the punch was mountainous. Although it far surpassed the peak of Layer Nine of the Body Tempering Realm, it was still a notch below the attacks of a typical cultivator at the Essence Gathering Stage. Clearly, Tang Ming's injuries had not yet fully healed.

As Tang Ming's punch approached, Lu Chen remained serene, his dark eyes deep and still, like a tranquil abyss.

It was as if he were facing not a master of the Essence Gathering Stage, but an ordinary person.

"With such meager strength, you're nowhere near strong enough to defeat me!"

Lu Chen's voice trailed off as he slowly raised his right hand, his fingers forming a claw, reaching out to intercept the oncoming fist.

Tang Ming, seeing Lu Chen's gesture, let out a scornful laugh, "Seeking death! The might of the Essence Gathering Stage is not something a puny ant like you can contend with..."

But before he could finish, his words were cut off by a sharp clap as fist met claw.

The punch, powerful enough to break mountains and split rocks, was caught in a slender hand, immobilized as if mired in a swamp, causing no disturbance whatsoever.

"How... how is this possible!" Tang Ming cried out in astonishment, trying to pull back his fist, only to find, to his horror, that Lu Chen's grip was unyielding, like a vice holding him fast.

"There's nothing impossible," Lu Chen said, his Origin Energy surging within him as he flung Tang Ming aside. He spoke with a detached tone, "I'll spare your life this time, consider it a repayment for the day you saved me."

Tang Ming stumbled back several steps upon landing, his face etched with disbelief as he stared at Lu Chen. "I never imagined you'd break through to the Essence Gathering Stage!"

Despite his words, Tang Ming found it hard to believe that Lu Chen, a mere sixteen-year-old, had already reached the Essence Gathering Stage. This level of talent wasn't unheard of, but it was a rarity in River City, seen perhaps once in a century.

Lu Chen, unfazed by Tang Ming's astonishment, demanded, "Where's Uncle Mo? Hand him over now!"

Tang Ming hesitated, his words coming out in a falter, "He's... not at the Tang Mansion."

A sense of foreboding gripped Lu Chen, and he pressed urgently, "Where is he?"

With a bitter smile, Tang Ming revealed, "The Lu family took him."

Instead of erupting in anger, Lu Chen calmly pulled out a chair and sat down. Those familiar with him knew all too well that a composed Lu Chen was far more formidable than an enraged one.

After a moment, Lu Chen inhaled deeply and prompted, "Go on, tell me everything."

Tang Ming understood what Lu Chen was asking and promptly recounted the events of the past month.

As it turned out, after Lu Chen had slipped away from the Tang Residence under the cover of night a month ago, Tang Ming had covertly allied with the Chen Family, offering a tempting promise that ultimately persuaded them to join forces.

When the one-month deadline passed without any sign of Lu Chen, Tang Ming concluded that he had likely been captured by the Lu family. Consequently, ten days prior, he and the Chen family had launched an assault on the Lu family.

Tang Ming had been confident that the combined might of their two families would easily overpower the Lu family. However, he was blindsided when, at the critical moment, Lu Hong, the head of the Lu family, made a breakthrough to Essence Gathering Layer Two. This unexpected turn of events led to Tang Ming's injury and the death of the Chen family patriarch.

Lu Hong's forceful breakthrough led to a fierce battle that left his cultivation unstable. Following the conflict, he secluded himself to stabilize his training. This is the primary reason the Tang Family has not yet faced retribution from the Lu Family.

Lu Chen touched his nose, reflecting on the situation.

He realized from Tang Ming's account that he was inadvertently tied to the current predicament.

He had parted from Tang Ming with a promise to return in a month. Unfortunately, his plans went awry, and he was delayed in the Deep Blue Mountain Range.