Chapter 236

Chapter 236

The refining tower in Lingtao Continent.

Mu Chen stared at the damaged teleportation array on the seventh floor of the refining tower, his face showing confusion and helplessness. Despite being in this world for a long time, this was his deepest moment of despair.

Even when faced with raging beast tides, Mu Chen remained composed and confident.

If all five spirit towers cannot teleport, what will he do?

Mu Chen leaned against the wall, his heart aching.

How is Ye Shi doing in the Central Continent? Is he... still alive?

With Ye Shi's naive nature, can he really survive in the cutthroat Central Continent?

If only he had known. He shouldn't have let Ye Shi go. It would have been better for them to stay together in Lingtao Continent.

It's his own fault for being too arrogant, thinking with his abilities, he could easily reach the seventh floor and teleport to the Central Continent.

Yes, his skills did reach the seventh floor, but the teleportation arrays in the other towers malfunctioned.

Mu Chen clenched his teeth, trembling, tears rolling down his face. This was his first time crying since arriving in this world, his first time feeling so powerless.

Does Ye Shi feel this heart-wrenching pain when thinking of him in the Central Continent?

"Actually, there's another way," said the tower spirit of the refining tower in a childlike tone.

Mu Chen glared fiercely at the tower spirit, "What way?"

With his profound understanding of the arts, Mu Chen found he could restrain the tower spirit.

After intensive study of the arts, Mu Chen's soul strength had multiplied several-fold within months. However, he was too preoccupied to notice.

After mastering array formations, alchemy, talisman inscription, and refining up to the seventh level, Mu Chen surprisingly discovered that these arts intersect and complement each other.

The tower spirit trembled under Mu Chen's fierce gaze.

Feeling somewhat wronged, the tower spirit thought: wanted to share some secrets out of pity for Mu Chen. But with him being so aggressive, there's no point.

"There's a legend that if someone comprehends the arts of all five towers on the seventh floor, they can activate a large-scale teleportation array linking the towers, which can teleport you to the Central Continent," the tower spirit stuttered due to Mu Chen's intimidating gaze.

Hope flashed in Mu Chen's eyes, "That's great! Why didn't you mention this before?"

If he revisits the five towers now, he'll have to pay again and waste time earning spirit stones.

The tower spirit mentally grumbled: You didn't ask! What good would telling you do?

Mu Chen ignored the tower spirit and delved back into his studies.

The tower spirit watched Mu Chen silently.

In ancient times, the arts of formations, alchemy, refining, inscription, and talismans weren't so distinctly separated. It's rumored that the creator of the spirit towers was adept in all five arts.

If Mu Chen truly mastered all five arts, not only could he teleport to the Central Continent, but he could also inherit the legacy of that legendary art master.

...

The array formation tower in Central Continent.

"I'm sorry, I already have someone I like," Ye Shi said, looking at the man in front of him with a frown of annoyance.

"That's alright. I can compete fairly with him," replied Bai Shaoqing nonchalantly. Several of his previous lovers had people they liked before, but they ended up with him anyway.

The man before Ye Shi had an elegant and distinguished presence, standing out among others. However, to Ye Shi, a man's handsomeness mattered little. After all, good looks can't fill an empty stomach.

"You won't be able to best him, save your efforts," Ye Shi remarked nonchalantly to Bai Shaoqing.

Bai Shaoqing furrowed his brow, questioning, "Do you believe he's superior to me?"

"In my heart, no one surpasses him," Ye Shi replied, his tone as calm as still water, but carrying undeniable conviction.

"Who is he? Where is he now?" Bai Shaoqing asked, maintaining his gentle smile.

"He's abroad for now, but he'll come for me," Ye Shi said with determination.

Hearing the mention of 'abroad,' Bai Shaoqing's eyes flashed with disdain, "Do you admire him that much?"

Ye Shi nodded, "Indeed, only him."

"I won't give up," Bai Shaoqing declared, looking at Ye Shi with a tender gaze.

"It'd be best if you did," a cold glint flashed in Ye Shi's eyes. He was too occupied to deal with such trivial pursuits.

...

"That's the fourth one, isn't it?" He Jingyue approached, noting Ye Shi's visible irritation.

Ye Shi simply nodded, "Yes."

Biting his lip, Ye Shi pondered. This was the fourth individual from the Bai family who had confessed to him. He never considered himself as charming as Zhuang Yu, universally adored. There had to be another reason.

"What's their game?" A puzzled Ye Shi looked at He Jingyue for answers.

He Jingyue smiled, "It's the Bai family tradition."

"Family tradition?" Ye Shi echoed, baffled.

"Many in the Bai family pride themselves on marrying proficient spellcasters to birth skilled children. After you broke formations even Bai Yi and Xia Ruoxue couldn't, they naturally took notice of you," He Jingyue explained with a grin.

In other regions, Ye Shi might be considered plain, but in Zhongzhou, he was exactly many people's type.

Heroes might love beauties, but beauties also adore heroes. Many direct descendants of the Bai family were undeniably attractive. Female spellcasters with potential, like Shuang Er, had been easily persuaded by them.

The recently arrived Bai Shaoqing was handsome and had a way with women. He had several consorts already, but winning Ye Shi over would be a challenge.

He Jingyue teased, "With so many suitors, haven't any caught your eye?"

Ye Shi frowned, disdainfully replying, "They're too weak."

"Too weak?" He Jingyue repeated, puzzled.

Ye Shi affirmed, "Yes. Most of them are past their prime, not even achieving the level of Martial Emperor. I could easily take down several at once. That recent guy couldn't even defeat a mere insect of mine. He dares to try and woo me while being weaker than my pet insect!"

He Jingyue held back a laugh, thinking, It's not that they're too weak, it's that you're too strong.

"Between you and Mu Chen, who's stronger?" she asked with interest.

"Mu Chen, undoubtedly," Ye Shi answered without hesitation.

"So sure? Have you sparred with him?" He Jingyue inquired.

Shaking his head, Ye Shi said, "No, if Mu Chen genuinely tried to harm me, I wouldn't retaliate."

He Jingyue sighed internally, thinking Ye Shi's admiration for Mu Chen bordered on obsession.

Observing Ye Shi, she initially worried that someone from the Bai family might sway him. However, it seemed unlikely now.

Before, several ladies from the spellcasting tower, seemingly ethereal and noble, were easily coaxed into becoming consorts for the Bai family.

...

Bai family in Zhongzhou.

After Ye Shi broke through formations that even Bai Yi and Xia Ruoxue couldn't handle, his reputation soared.

Rumors spread about Bai Yi being inferior to Ye Shi of the spellcasting tower.

Bai Yi clenched his fists. He knew the same formation-breaking techniques as Ye Shi, but when watching Ye Shi's execution, it seemed Ye Shi had a deeper mastery. Some techniques Ye Shi knew were available to Bai Yi, yet he hadn't mastered them.

The younger Ye Shi knew things Bai Yi didn't. The realization gnawed at Bai Yi.

"Several from our family have approached Ye Shi, haven't they?" Bai Yi inquired.

Bai Jinle nodded, saying, "Indeed."

Bai Yi clenched his fists, "These guys, they lost control so quickly. Just because Ye Shi cracked an ancient formation? Do they really need to pounce on him like hungry tigers?"

"The Chain Explosion Technique? How does Ye Shi know it?" Bai Jinle inquired, genuinely puzzled.

Bai Yi shook his head, saying, "I'm not sure. That technique isn’t exclusive to the Bai family. Perhaps he inherited it from a master of formations."

Bai Jinle lowered her gaze, the Chain Explosion Technique was reserved for the direct descendants of the Bai family. Despite being recognized as Bai Chenxing's adopted daughter and being treated just as well as other direct descendants, she was still forbidden from learning that technique.

A technique she had no access to, and yet Ye Shi, a rustic stranger from the borderlands, had already mastered it. Resentment bubbled up within Bai Jinle.

Bai Yi squinted, according to Xia Ruoxue, when Ye Shi's Spirit Pattern Eyes were activated, they emitted a purple glow, possibly superior to his own. How could someone this exceptional just emerge from the borderlands? Keeping Ye Shi around poses too much of a threat.

Bai Lifen seemed ready to make a move against Ye Shi. However, it appeared Ye Shi sensed something, staying within the Formation Tower and not venturing out or accepting any assignments. Thus, Bai Lifen found no opportunity.

"I've heard Ye Shi's power is advancing rapidly," Bai Yi remarked.

Bai Jinle nodded, saying, "Yes, I've heard he's possibly reached the Four-Star Martial Emperor rank."

Bai Yi's face contorted. His formation techniques were unparalleled among the Bai family's younger generation, as was his training speed.

But Ye Shi, younger than him, was already a Four-Star Martial Emperor. Bai Yi had confidently assured his younger uncle that Ye Shi's strength was artificially boosted by elixirs. Yet, in such a short time, Ye Shi ascended two ranks, shattering Bai Yi's claims.

Bai Yi, with fists clenched, approached Zhuang Yu, "Yu, are you certain Ye Shi's parents were ordinary folks?"

Zhuang Yu nodded, saying, "Yes, his father was just a martial instructor, and his mother, unloved and weak in cultivation, passed away early."

"Is that so?" Bai Yi felt something amiss about Ye Shi's background but couldn't put his finger on it.