Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Breaking Through to the Sixth Layer of Martial Master

Li Susu offered a radiant smile, though inwardly she was fuming at Li Zongrui’s incompetence. Still, she spoke in a considerate tone, ”No matter the outcome, Su Su knows that everything Brother Zongrui has done was for me. I couldn’t be more grateful. Why would I ever blame you?”

Li Zongrui was deeply touched. But the thought of the sweet and endearing Li Susu having been defiled by that beast, Ye Qingchen, fanned the flames of his hatred even more fiercely!

Li Zongrui gritted his teeth and snarled, ”Ye Qingchen, I will make sure you die a terrible death!”

Li Susu knew that with Li Zongrui’s intellect, she would likely never get her revenge on Ye Qingchen in this lifetime. Thus, she said, ”Brother Zongrui, I actually have a good idea.”

”Let’s hear it.” Li Zongrui looked at Li Susu with curiosity, eager to hear what her so-called good idea was.

Li Susu took Li Zongrui’s hand and led him into the room before speaking. ”Brother Zongrui, the annual Heart Demon Tower is about to open. When the time comes, we can have Ye Qingchen climb it!”

Li Zongrui didn’t grasp her meaning and asked with even greater puzzlement, ”The Heart Demon Tower is a trial for the Sect’s Inner Sect Disciples. Climbing it not only improves their strength but also earns them rewards from the Sect. Letting scum like Ye Qingchen climb the Heart Demon Tower... isn’t that letting him off too easily?”

In Li Zongrui’s view, climbing the Heart Demon Tower was purely a reward from the Sect. How could it possibly be a good way to deal with Ye Qingchen?

Li Susu was once again left speechless by Li Zongrui’s intellect, but she patiently explained, ”Brother Zongrui, you and I have both climbed the Heart Demon Tower, so we should know how formidable it is! Ye Qingchen has done so many wicked things; his Heart Demon must be incredibly powerful. The moment he starts climbing, he will surely be weighed down by it. As long as he suffers a backlash from his Heart Demon and succumbs to demonic cultivation...”

At this, Li Zongrui finally understood and burst into hearty laughter. ”I see! Sister Su Su, you truly are brilliant. How did I not think of that? If Ye Qingchen falls into demonic cultivation, he’ll surely be driven mad and become a lunatic. At best, he’ll be expelled from the Sect; at worst, he’ll be executed on the spot! Marvelous, Sister Su Su, simply marvelous!”

A wave of contempt washed over Li Susu. If you could have come up with a plan like this, Ye Qingchen wouldn’t have been running free for so long! The grand Young Sect Master of the Qingyun Sect can’t even handle a single disciple. What a waste. Moreover, Li Susu understood that Ye Qingchen was not a man laden with sin. On the contrary, he possessed an incredibly resolute mind! The reason she suggested he climb the Heart Demon Tower, knowing full well how resolute he was, was precisely because she had climbed it herself and knew its horrors. The Heart Demon Tower has multiple levels. Ye Qingchen is a highly competitive and conceited person, so he would definitely challenge the tower’s upper levels. The Heart Demons there were so intense, the mere thought made her tremble with fear. As long as Ye Qingchen ascends to the upper levels of the Heart Demon Tower, his fate would be exactly as Li Zongrui described. He would be doomed either way!

Afterward, Li Zongrui offered Li Susu a few more words of comfort, then went to make the arrangements for Ye Qingchen to participate in the Heart Demon Tower trial. Li Susu also took her leave.

「...」

The next morning, Ye Qingchen was jolted awake by the piercing sunlight. He had been so exhausted recently that he had slept for an unusually long time. Remembering that today was the day Xiao Xiao was leaving, he sprang from his bed and dashed out of the house.

”Hei Ze? Where’s Xiao Xiao?” As soon as he opened the door, Ye Qingchen saw Hei Ze busying himself at the stove, but his clumsy efforts had filled the yard with smoke and soot.

Hearing Ye Qingchen’s voice, Hei Ze paused his work to reply, ”Little Girl Xiaoxiao has already left. You didn’t show up, so I figured you didn’t want to go through a painful farewell and didn’t call you.” After speaking, Hei Ze resumed his task.

Ye Qingchen sighed softly. He felt a deep sense of loss, having missed the chance to see Xiao Xiao one last time and send her off.

However, Hei Ze was right. I really can’t stand goodbyes. Parting like this is for the best. As long as I cultivate diligently, we’ll surely meet again one day!

Watching the busy Hei Ze, Ye Qingchen knew this must have been something Xiao Xiao had asked him to do, and a wave of warmth spread through his heart. But seeing Hei Ze’s awkward movements, he figured it would be a while before breakfast was ready.

”Hei Ze, you carry on. I’m going to the secret chamber for a period of closed-door cultivation.” With that, Ye Qingchen hurried toward the secret chamber.

Hearing of Ye Qingchen’s dedication to cultivation, Hei Ze silently nodded in approval. But then it occurred to him, if you’re going into seclusion, who’s going to eat all this food I’m making?

Ye Qingchen reached the secret chamber and let out a soft sigh of relief. The sight of the blackened food Hei Ze was cooking had honestly terrified him. But after all of Hei Ze’s hard work, it would be rude not to eat. Using closed-door cultivation as an excuse was the perfect way to dodge Hei Ze’s disastrous cooking.

Of course, his decision to enter closed-door cultivation wasn’t entirely to escape Hei Ze’s culinary skills. Back in the Heavenly Pond Sea of Fire, Ye Qingchen had reached the Fifth Layer of the Martial Master Realm. He could have continued to advance, but upon seeing Xiao Xiao in trouble, he decisively gave up the opportunity to rescue her.

Nevertheless, Ye Qingchen was already very close to the Sixth Layer of the Martial Master Realm. He still had a few Low-grade Spirit Stones left, so now was the perfect time to seek a breakthrough in seclusion.

Ye Qingchen centered his mind and sat down cross-legged. He took the Low-grade Spirit Stones from his storage ring and began to absorb them using the Divine Wood Cultivation Technique.

As a Divine Level art, the Divine Wood Cultivation Technique’s speed of absorbing Spiritual Energy was already astonishing, even though it was not yet fully perfected. The Low-grade Spirit Stones visibly shrank at a rapid pace. A terrifying amount of Spiritual Energy flooded Ye Qingchen’s Dantian. The dormant Fen Tian Earth Fire within sensed its arrival and spontaneously began to refine it. It then supplied Ye Qingchen with an even purer Spiritual Energy to enhance his strength.

It was precisely this refinement by the Fen Tian Earth Fire that allowed Ye Qingchen to absorb Spiritual Energy so recklessly to advance his strength. He had no need to worry about creating unstable foundations from progressing too quickly. In fact, the Spiritual Energy refined by the Fen Tian Earth Fire made his foundations unprecedentedly solid.

Ye Qingchen was already on the verge of the Sixth Layer of the Martial Master Realm. Now, with the help of Low-grade Spirit Stones, everything fell into place naturally. It took him only an hour to break through to the Sixth Layer of the Martial Master Realm!

This speed was terrifying. Just a few days ago, Ye Qingchen had only been at the Second Layer of the Martial Master Realm. In such a short time, he had jumped four entire layers!

However, what made Ye Qingchen wince was that just breaking through one layer had left him with only three Low-grade Spirit Stones remaining!