The first stop was at Dragon Tiger Mountain's Heavenly Master Mansion. Inside the mansion, Phineas was startled by Chase's sudden appearance. It was not until he recognized Chase's face that he breathed a sigh of relief."I didn't expect you to actually win this battle, Master Collins. We've all benefited greatly from it," Phineas said, and he was not exaggerating.Originally, the Heavenly Master Mansion had dwindling numbers, but because of Chase's victory, many rogue cultivators now wanted to join them.Fortunately, the mansion would not accept just anyone. After a selection process, they only retained a few people.Most of these people were here because of Chase. His display of the Five-Thunder Technique was still vivid in their minds, and many sought to join the Heavenly Master Mansion to be associated with him.Chase understood this clearly but did not mind, especially since the Evil Slaying Sword had contributed greatly to the battle."Master James, here's your sword back,"
With Blake, a martial lord at the peak of his power, accompanying him, Chase not only returned to South River City within a day but also managed to appear in front of Julia before dinner.Chase had not informed Julia about the recent battle, not wanting to worry her with such matters.Chase briefly updated Julia on his sisters' situation and even met with Sam to settle everything before leaving for the Esoteric Medical Sect with Blake.The three traveled until they reached a mountain range devoid of any signs of human habitation. Just as Chase was about to express his curiosity about the location of the Esoteric Medical Sect, he saw Blake throw a token into the air.As the token inscribed with the word "Evans" flew into the sky, it caused ripples in the air. A portal's shadow slowly materialized, accompanied by an imposing aura."This is the entrance to our Esoteric Medical Sect. Without the token, even the strongest being won't be able to find our sect," Blake said proudly. He th
"What exactly is Elder Evans' role within the Esoteric Medical Sect?" Chase realized that he might have misunderstood. He thought that Blake was the sect master. Now, it seemed that it was not the case."Well, my master is essentially the sect's external envoy. The elders here don't handle affairs, and everything is managed by my master. However, he isn't the sect master because the Esoteric Medical Sect doesn't have one," Linus explained after some hesitation.Hearing this, Chase had some thoughts. Blake seemed like the chief steward of the sect. Chase wondered if the promises made to him would be honored.Nonetheless, since he was already there, he decided to take it one step at a time.As they continued their tour in silence, Chase refrained from asking questions since he did not know much. Linus was also preoccupied with his own thoughts. He was seemingly reflecting on his master's awkward position within the sect and grew more silent as they walked.They followed the stone pa
In the hall of the Esoteric Medical Sect, several elders were engaged in a heated debate.Leading them was a white-haired, youthful-looking elder who was staring intently at Blake."Elder Evans, I know you've been tirelessly working outside on behalf of the sect. Bringing in a Pill Refining Master from outside is one way to approach it, but outsiders will never be as reliable as our own. "Do you know that my disciple has already successfully refined a grade-seven pill? Just give him a bit more time and he'll surely become a true Pill Refining Master," the elder said."Hmph, just a single grade-seven pill? Is that even worth mentioning? Grade-seven pills are no big deal here. Everyone here can make them. Yet, who among us dares to call themselves a Pill Refining Master? "Elder Erwell, surely you know that to claim the title of Pill Refining Master, one must be able to refine pills of grade six or higher," Blake retorted, mocking Lundly Erwell for defending his disciple."Indeed,
"What’s this, Elder Erwell? You're unable to win the argument, so you're resorting to suppressing me with your cultivation?" Even Blake found it difficult to withstand the pressure.As the two stood off, a child's figure entered the hall. With the child's arrival, the oppressive force vanished. The elders' expressions changed as they hurriedly stood up and saluted."Greetings, Supreme Elder Phoenix!""Supreme Elder Phoenix, why have you come out?"The child before them was none other than the highest-ranking elder of the Esoteric Medical Sect."There's no need for formalities, everyone. If I hadn’t come out, you two might have torn down the Esoteric Medical Sect’s hall. Elder Evans, Elder Erwell, you’re both too old to be arguing so heatedly over such matters. "After all these years of friendship, is this necessary?" The voice emanating from the child's body was unexpectedly aged."Supreme Elder Phoenix, you must stand up for Floyd. You watched him grow up, and you know his tal
As the figure turned around, Livingston saw a soot-covered face. It was then that Livingston noticed several exploded pill furnaces scattered around Floyd. Clearly, Floyd had failed in refining pills again.Seeing Livingston notice the broken pill furnaces, Floyd felt embarrassed and awkwardly said, "Livingston, why aren’t you cultivating in your pavilion? What brings you here?"Livingston quickly averted his gaze and replied, "Floyd, I came specifically to tell you some news.""Go ahead.""Elder Evans brought back a Pill Refining Master from the mortal world.""What? Is this true?""It's true. I even saw the person myself. He's currently staying with that useless disciple of Elder Evans."Upon hearing the confirmation, Floyd's expression remained unchanged, though he kept a smile. "Alright, I understand. Thank you for letting me know, Livingston.""Well, I won't disturb you any further."Only after Livingston had exited the cave and walked far away did Floyd's expression dark
"Do you really have no idea who you're facing?" Floyd asked angrily, unleashing his aura as a marquis of martial arts toward Chase.Chase sensed it lightly. Floyd was merely a third-stage marquis.Ignoring the aura pressing toward him, Chase’s eyes turned cold as he repeated, "I do. You said your name is Floyd. Do you have any other business? If not, then leave. I need to cultivate."Hearing Chase's words, Floyd was momentarily infuriated but could not find a rebuttal. He was fuming with anger. However, Floyd did not lose his reason. Seeing that Chase was unaffected by his aura meant only one thing—Chase’s cultivation was likely higher than his own.Floyd suddenly felt a surge of regret. Had he not devoted so much time to pill refining, his cultivation would not be as it was now.Knowing that staying longer would only embarrass him, Floyd left with a dark expression."I warned you, and you didn't listen. Don't blame me for what happens next. You won't live to participate in the P
When did another space get unlocked?Chase felt like a failure as the owner of the Dragon Vein Secret Realm. How could he have not noticed such changes?With that thought, he appeared in the newly revealed space.It was the same mirror-like water surface, shrouded in mist. Chase called out loudly, "I know you’re here, sir. Show yourself. My name is Chase Collins, and I'm the current master of the Dragon Vein Secret Realm!"Perhaps Chase’s introduction worked as a light melded together in front of him, gradually forming into an old man with a slight hunch. He had a flask at his waist."Boy, with just your level of cultivation, how dare you appear before me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you with a flick of my hand?" the old man’s gaze lingered on Chase as he said."Sir, if you really wanted to kill me, you wouldn’t have shown yourself," Chase replied with a smile."Hmph, if you’re wise, let me go now, or I’ll truly kill you," the old man retorted, his eyes never leaving Chase as he
"Unfortunately, we chose to stay behind back then. There's no other way. If we aren't able to stop the balance from being destroyed, the martial realm will meet with catastrophe."All three elders looked at each other and sighed.That was when a skinny middle-aged man suddenly pushed the door open and entered. He gave them a fist and palm salute. "Masters, I have something urgent to report."An emerald slip appeared in the man's hand."Oh? Is there news of the influential families of the martial realm?""I can't believe there's news so soon."All three elders were surprised.It had only been 15 minutes since it happened, and there was already news. That was not easy to obtain.All three elders were top powerhouses with strong capabilities. However, they were hopeful that the news was true and reliable. They took the emerald slip and used the divine sense technique to check the news in it."What?!" "The martial realm's Secret Sect has been destroyed?!"All three of them rais
"I understand it now. This is a spiritual stone tablet with a record of a mysterious Soul Refining Technique!"Chase looked delighted.The Soul Refining Technique was used to refine a person's soul and purify the Origin of the Soul."That's really powerful!"Chase opened his eyes and took a sharp breath. "The things left behind by powerhouses of the nether realm are really incredible. Such treasure is highly valuable. Even a small piece of this would be enough for powerhouses to fight over it!"A notion crossed his mind, and a massive soul energy surged. The spiritual tablet was instantly crushed by the soul energy.The spiritual tablet was crushed to dust and recondensed into an emerald slip that floated in the air. It gradually flew toward Chase."Huh? That isn't right."There was a cold look in Chase's eyes. He discovered a thread of a soul energy's fragment inside the emerald slip.A contorted savage phantom shadow shot out of the emerald slip. It came clawing at Chase wit
"My gosh! How is this happening?!" The skeletal old man panicked. His soul energy sensed that heaven and earth's vitality seemed to be attracted by something when it was around Chase, and it flowed directly into Chase.Meanwhile, the brilliant glow of the sun appeared in the air behind Chase. It burned brightly and blinded those who saw it.A massive Divine Red Phoenix appeared and opened up its wings as it flew in the air. It was ferocious and had an air of danger about it."The Divine Red Phoenix?!"The sight of it put fear in the skeletal old man as his eyes widened. "Who exactly are you?!"Chase ignored him. He had formed into a golden-red phoenix and was emanating a terrifying aura in the air."Burning Sky Technique!"The temperature in the cave suddenly hiked up several hundred degrees due to the burning golden sun. Even the cave walls and ground were melted into lava that started to flow like a river.The skeletal old man screamed in pain as his body turned red instantly
Chase moved extremely fast. He appeared in front of the skeletal old man, who was about ten yards away, in an instant.They were fighting in close combat. Their hands and legs hit and kicked each other as protective energy flew about.Several muffled explosions were heard. It was difficult to determine the victor in this fight."You're at the end of your tethers, little bastard! You're about to die! I'm going to refine you and feed your soul to the Phantom Coffin. You'll be vanquished completely and turned into a part of my body."The skeletal old man held back his head and laughed wildly. His wounds were healing at an incredible speed.Chase's performance in this fight had angered him. He no longer cared about hiding his identity."You want to refine me? You're nothing but a ghost. Are you dreaming?" Chase sneered and suddenly lunged forward."Die!" Chase was quick as lightning as he instantly got close to the skeletal old man. He pressed his palm down on the old man's shoulder
A strange air of authority could be felt coming from him."How did this happen?"The skeletal old man's eyes widened, and his heart beat violently. He was trembling.Chase looked just like a demon king.He took a step forward. The earth and sky tremored as cracks appeared on the ground.Chase's physique suddenly expanded exponentially. His skin was bright red, and his bones seemed to be clanging. A strong dark blood energy flooded out from him.Chase waved his arms about crazily. Explosions went off in the air. Every punch he swung was followed by the terrifying sound of an explosion.The surface of the graveyard collapsed from Chase's savage strength.Chase crushed half the skeletal old man's face with one punch, and the old man's body flew off several yards away.Meanwhile, Chase was suffering from backlash because the true energy reserves within his body had erupted. Bloody arrows began shooting out of him."Only a little of my true energy is left!" Chase said sadly.Even
"You're pretty formidable for a young man. You were actually able to stop the spiritual resentments from going any further. You're a Collins, indeed!"The skeletal old man chuckled. "But that doesn't mean anything. You still won't be able to escape death today!"He crashed the Phantom Coffin viciously toward Chase.Chase grunted coldly and took a step forward. He evaded the Phantom Coffin.He leaped and flew into the air. Chase moved in the formation of an eight trigram and kept shimmering because of his high speed.Chase punched the Phantom Coffin continuously, and it flew off to crash heavily by the feet of the skeletal old man. He jumped at it and evaded the crash in a fluster."My coffin!"He was almost crying.The Phantom Coffin was his most valuable possession. It was built using more than a dozen rare and precious medicinal herbs. He had put a lot of effort into it, but Chase was treating it like a punching bag, denting it all over with his attacks."You're dead!" The s
"Swallow it!"Chase growled. His Sea of True Energy core began to surge and boil. It overwhelmed him like huge waves from the sea, and wisps of silver-white mist steamed from him. The mist gathered to his palm and wrapped the spiritual resentment within it.The silver spiritual spring was the liquid form of the Sky Spirit Energy's essence. It could purify the physique and enhance one's potential. It could strengthen the energy and blood within the body and increase one's cultivation talent."Swallow it!"The silver mist was like a huge vortex which slowly consumed the spiritual resentment.The minuscule purple crystal sword shuddered and tore itself away from Chase's control as it shot into the air above."How is that possible?" Chase's eyes widened. He was stunned.He could sense that the spiritual resentment he had worked hard for days to train had escaped his grip because of the Phantom Sword. It was even rushing toward the outer realm.Chase quickly used his mystical techni
As the runes on the Phantom Coffin began to glow brilliantly, a deafening explosion echoed through the air. A streak of ghostly green fire erupted from the coffin, surging toward Chase."What a dense ghostly aura," Chase muttered.Marais let out a crazed laugh. "That's the Phantom Flame! It burns the soul itself. You're doomed, boy! Your soul will be reduced to ashes!"The Phantom Flame was birthed from the condensed resentment of countless trapped souls and was a force of terrifying destruction.Once it latched onto its target, extinguishing it was impossible. Marais had spent centuries cultivating just a fragment of this flame. Now, using it against Chase was both his ultimate weapon and revenge."Have you finished rambling, you old fart?" Chase's cold voice cut through the air."What?" Marais froze, confused by Chase's tone."I asked if you were done," Chase repeated as his icy eyes locked onto Marais.Golden light radiated from Chase's body like a blazing sun. His hand lash
Chase paused, his expression shifting with curiosity."What's this?" he muttered to himself."Ha! Foolish boy, this is the Phantom Coffin, a weapon I painstakingly refined over decades!" Marais sneered. "This coffin isolates everything, even your spiritual senses. You won't be able to detect my presence!""Phantom Coffin, seal the souls!" Marais intoned while his hands formed seals.A massive black coffin materialized and descended like a storm cloud, enveloping Chase. In an instant, Chase felt his head grow heavy. His vision turned blurry, and his spiritual senses waver."Childish tricks," Chase scoffed as he activated his spiritual force.Yet to his surprise, his senses detected an eerie sight within the coffin—countless trapped souls writhing and roaring in an endless struggle, as if yearning to escape their imprisonment.'Impressive. It seems Secret Sect's elders are even stronger than I anticipated,' Chase thought grimly.He could tell that these souls, even if diminished,