Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 258: Chapter 258 Breakthrough to the Great Martial Master Realm Level 8

Cai Yunji’s words piqued Ye Qingchen’s curiosity. Knowing more about Dragon Tiger Mountain could only help, not hinder, his efforts to rescue his father.

So, Ye Qingchen continued to ask, ”The rules of Dragon Tiger Mountain? What are they?”

Cai Yunji understood his eagerness, so she didn’t beat around the bush and explained directly, ”This rule actually applies only to merchants who come to purchase Spirit Stones.”

”To buy Spirit Stones on Dragon Tiger Mountain, you must not only offer goods of equivalent value but also provide free healing services to the mountain’s mining slaves. Since you happen to be a Fourth-grade Alchemist, you can enter Dragon Tiger Mountain with me and treat them.”

”This is also why I said that if you came with me, you might have a chance to see your father.”

Ye Qingchen nodded emphatically, his anticipation mounting. He wished he could fly to Dragon Tiger Mountain and reunite with his father this very instant.

After the convoy left the capital, the royal family had two carriages waiting outside the city. The original arrangement was for Cai Yunji to have one to herself, while Ye Qingchen and Qin Yue would share the other.

However, Cai Yunji and Qin Yue hit it off immediately, seeming to have an endless stream of things to talk about. As Ye Qingchen also wanted to use the travel time to cultivate and improve his strength, a new arrangement was made: Ye Qingchen took one carriage for himself, while Cai Yunji and Qin Yue shared the other.

The remaining guards and Alchemists rode on Nu Cloud Horses, flanking the carriages.

The royal family’s Nu Cloud Horses were incredibly swift, and the carriages, forged from high-quality Spirit Steel, remained remarkably stable even at a full gallop.

As soon as he entered his carriage, Ye Qingchen eagerly began to cultivate.

Back in the Xuan Ore Cave, not only had Ye Qingchen personally defeated a Guard Elder at the Second Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm, but he had also fought against two Elders at the Third Layer. Afterward, he had observed the battles of high-level Martial Spirit Realm experts like Li Qingfeng and Hei Ze, which had deepened his comprehension of cultivation Realms.

Moreover, with enough Low-grade Spirit Stones on hand to support his training, Ye Qingchen was very confident he could break through to the Eighth Layer of the Grand Martial Master Realm.

The group traveled through the Northern Desolate Country. Despite being disguised as a merchant caravan, they possessed a royal pass that granted them unobstructed passage. After more than twenty days of travel, they reached the nation’s border.

And just as Ye Qingchen had expected, after over twenty days of relentless, round-the-clock cultivation, his strength finally reached the Eighth Layer of the Grand Martial Master Realm. Of course, his supply of Cultivation Resources was now completely depleted.

At this moment, Cai Yunji ordered the convoy to slow down, and Qin Yue returned from Cai Yunji’s carriage to Ye Qingchen’s. Qin Yue’s initial purpose for the trip was to spend more time with him, but seeing him constantly cultivating, she hadn’t dared to disturb him.

Entering his carriage, she saw that he had finally stopped cultivating and that his aura had grown even more profound. ”Ye Qingchen, did you make another breakthrough?” she asked happily.

Ye Qingchen nodded. ”After using up quite a few Spirit Stones, I’ve finally reached the Eighth Layer of the Grand Martial Master Realm.”

Hearing of his success, Qin Yue was even happier than if she had broken through herself. She smiled and said, ”Breaking through a minor realm in just over twenty days... Ye Qingchen, I doubt anyone in the entire Northern Desolate Country can match your talent!”

Ye Qingchen shook his head with a smile. He was well aware of the principle that there was always a higher mountain and a stronger person. His rapid progress was due not only to his Divine-Level Cultivation Technique, the Divine Wood Art, but also to his relentless efforts to temper himself through combat.

Besides, compared to Xiao Xiao’s heaven-defying cultivation speed, my own is nothing special.

Ye Qingchen changed the subject. ”The carriage has suddenly slowed down. Did something happen?”

Qin Yue shook her head and explained, ”I came because the Grand Princess was worried you might overthink things and sent me to explain. We’ve reached the border of the Northern Desolate Country and will soon enter the territory of the Yanyang Kingdom.”

”Because of the chaos from the war, this border region is teeming with bandits and outlaws. Since we’re disguised as a merchant caravan, we must be careful.”

Ye Qingchen nodded at her explanation. It was a timeless truth that wherever war occurred, bandits were sure to follow. After all, for every patriotic hero, there’s a scoundrel who profits from the nation’s calamity!

The words had barely left her mouth when Ye Qingchen heard a commotion outside. Pulling back the curtain, he saw a dozen burly, fierce-looking men blocking their path.

”This mountain I opened, this tree I planted! If you want to pass through here, leave your toll money behind!” the leader of the men bellowed menacingly.

Ye Qingchen shook his head. The strongest among them is only at the First Layer of the Grand Martial Master Realm, and the rest are merely in the Martial Master Realm. With such paltry strength, they still dare to rob a royal convoy? They must have a death wish!

True to his thoughts, Cai Yunji didn’t even have to give an order. A Royal Bodyguard leaped from his horse and made short work of the bandits.

However, just as the guard was about to execute them all, Cai Yunji intervened. ”Cripple their Dantians, but spare their lives.”

The guard nodded in assent and proceeded to destroy each bandit’s Dantian.

Ye Qingchen sighed. He understood Cai Yunji’s reasoning. She spared them because they were citizens of the Northern Desolate Country, likely believing that once their cultivation was gone, they might have a chance to reform.

But Cai Yunji didn’t understand. For a Martial Artist, especially one who had reached the Grand Martial Master Realm, being stripped of their cultivation was a fate worse than death. Not only would it be impossible for them to reform, but even surviving would become an immense struggle.

Still, Ye Qingchen said nothing to stop it. These bandits had blood on their hands; whatever fate they met, they had brought it upon themselves.

The convoy traveled for another day, encountering four more groups of bandits just like the last. Although the Royal Bodyguards dealt with them all easily, the encounters highlighted just how chaotic the borders of the Northern Desolate Country had become.

Finally, they left the border behind and entered the territory of the Yanyang Kingdom. Dragon Tiger Mountain was situated at the junction of the two nations. Thanks to the mountain’s imposing presence, there were far fewer bandits on the Yanyang side.

Cai Yunji ordered the group to be doubly cautious. If their true identities were exposed here, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even so, after traveling just fifteen kilometers, their path was blocked by another group.

The leader’s strength was astonishingly at the Second Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm, and he was flanked by two or three masters at the First Layer.

This was the most formidable force they had encountered since their journey began. Everyone immediately went on high alert.