Chapter 273

Chapter 273: Thunder Pool Body Refinement

Within the secret realm.

"Tower Spirit, can the Spirit Tower accommodate others?" Mu Chen suddenly thought of something and asked the Tower Spirit in his sea of consciousness.

"Of course, it can! However, housing someone inside will accelerate the consumption of elemental stones. If you wish to let someone in, it's best not to keep them there for too long..."

Mu Chen said to Ye Shi, "Enter my Spirit Tower and cultivate. Once we arrive at our destination, I'll summon you. Time flows slower inside the tower, which makes it ideal for your cultivation."

Ye Shi nodded, replying, "Really? That's great." He had always been curious about Mu Chen's Spirit Tower, and was delighted upon hearing he could enter.

Mu Chen then allowed Ye Shi to enter the Spirit Tower. He transformed into a beam of light and sped towards the location of the leyline marked on the map.

When Ye Shi entered, the Yin-Yang fish eyes of the Tower Spirit blinked warily.

Exploring with curiosity, Ye Shi said, "Pretty boy, don't wander off. When it's time, exit promptly."

Ye Shi playfully threatened the Tower Spirit, "Behave yourself or I'll have Mu Chen burn you alive."

Tower Spirit: "..." No wonder. Mu Chen and Ye Shi really are a pair; their methods of intimidation are identical.

"Little pretty face, you're quite fierce!" the Tower Spirit exclaimed.

Ye Shi glared at the Tower Spirit, "Don’t play dumb. It was you who caused Mu Chen and I to be separated for so long. If not for the fact that you're Mu Chen's Spirit, I would've taught you a lesson."

With an innocent look, the Tower Spirit replied, "It’s not my fault the elemental stones ran out!"

Ye Shi snorted, "Stop denying it. You devoured all those elemental stones!"

The Tower Spirit maintained his innocence, "How could I? I'm the most upright Spirit Tower. I'm utterly incorruptible."

Ye Shi gave the Tower Spirit a sharp glance, took some elixirs, and began cultivating inside a chamber in the Spirit Tower.

...

After a long journey, Mu Chen finally reached the location of the leyline on the map.

"Such rich elemental energy! This leyline definitely has premium elemental stones." The Tower Spirit said, lost in its allure.

Mu Chen casually asked, "How should we extract them?"

"There are protective barriers around the leyline. Break them, and I can handle the extraction," the Tower Spirit said, eyes shining with excitement.

Mu Chen frowned, "You can extract leylines?"

"Of course. Did you think I just mooched off you?" The Tower Spirit said with pride.

Mu Chen chuckled, "I'm glad you're aware of that."

Tower Spirit: "… Just break the formation. Can you handle it or should I summon your wife?"

Mu Chen shook his head, "It’s just a Level 7 formation. Nothing special, I can handle it." Ye Shi was engrossed in his cultivation inside the Spirit Tower. It wouldn't be good to interrupt him now.

The Tower Spirit, fluttering its wings, looked at Mu Chen skeptically, "Are you sure?"

Ignoring the Tower Spirit, Mu Chen released a chain explosion spell, shattering the formation.

Seeing the barriers broken, the Tower Spirit ecstatically extracted the entire elemental stone vein.

A jade slip landed in Mu Chen's hand. His eyes sparkled with joy upon realizing it contained a method to rapidly absorb elemental stones and enhance one's elemental power.

Mu Chen pondered, "This secret realm is intriguing. Every extraction comes with an additional gift."

In the secret realm, Wu Feng watched Mu Chen and chuckled. Seeing Mu Chen’s proficiency, he mused that Ye Shi must've taught him. Mu Chen's mastery of formations was impressive!

Outside the secret realm, several martial masters gaped as they witnessed Mu Chen extracting the leyline.

Wu Feng squinted, "Mu Chen's capability to extract leylines means he won't have to worry about lacking elemental stones for his son."

Bai Chenxing nodded in agreement, "It's good that he possesses this ability."

Wu Feng enviously watched Mu Chen, thinking how fortunate he was to have obtained an entire leyline.

Within the secret realm.

The Tower Spirit gazed at the entire vein of elemental stones inside the Spirit Tower, laughing in triumph.

"Feel free to use the low and mid-tier spirit stones; I have plans for the high-tier ones," Mu Chen said indifferently.

The Tower Spirit's laughter came to an abrupt halt. "Master Tower, it's not fair for you to feast while leaving me without even a drop of soup!"

Mu Chen responded with a cold smirk, "If I didn't give you even a drop of soup, then I shouldn't have given you the low and mid-tier spirit stones. I've been more than generous, appreciate it. Or would you prefer none at all? After all, the Sky-Devouring Worm is never one to complain about having too many spirit stones."

The Tower Spirit replied ingratiatingly, "Master Tower, I was merely jesting. You are indeed the most gentle, generous, and affable Tower Master."

Mu Chen snorted coldly, choosing to ignore the Tower Spirit further.

……

Mu Chen glanced at the map in his hand and swiftly made his way to the Windy Cave. Inside the Spirit Tower, he finally reached his destination.

Mu Chen released Ye Shi, who, during Mu Chen's journey inside the Spirit Tower, had consumed dozens of Star-Moon Pills, elevating his cultivation to the peak of Nine-Star Martial Emperor.

Examining Ye Shi, Mu Chen commented with a smile, "The Star-Moon Pills seem to have worked wonders."

Ye Shi hastily nodded, "The taste was splendid." He contemplated sharing that the efficacy of the Star-Moon Pills had diminished over time, but seeing Mu Chen's expression, he refrained.

Outside the secret realm, Wu Feng's expression was bemused. "This is the first time I've heard someone praise a seventh-grade elixir for its taste. Is flavor truly the main criteria?"

"The Windy Cave is right here," Mu Chen said, folding up the map.

Ye Shi's eyes sparkled, "I can sense the aura of a seventh-grade monster. Perfect for warming up."

Mu Chen nodded, "It's probably a Wind-Thunder Beast. Be careful; it's quite formidable among seventh-grade creatures."

Having recently ascended to the peak of Nine-Star Martial Emperor, Ye Shi was keen on finding a monster to practice and consolidate his newfound strength.

Ye Shi nodded in agreement, "Alright."

Standing at the entrance of the Windy Cave, Ye Shi unleashed his Martial Emperor's aura. Provoked by this challenge, the Wind-Thunder Beast roared angrily and charged out. Unfazed, Ye Shi engaged the beast.

Several Martial Sovereigns outside the secret realm watched as Mu Chen and Ye Shi conversed briefly before a seventh-grade monster erupted from the cave. Ye Shi bravely confronted it, while Mu Chen retreated to the sidelines.

Bai Chenxing wore a dark expression, "That rascal, always making Yanxing take the lead."

Wu Feng responded with a wry smile, "Your son willingly stepped forward. You can't blame Mu Chen for this."

"He didn't even assist," Bai Chenxing voiced his concerns.

Wu Feng remarked nonchalantly, "While he didn't intervene, he's still keeping a watchful eye, isn't he?"

"He's just standing there, treating it like a show," Bai Chenxing said through gritted teeth.

Wu Feng: "..."

With his strength now at the peak of Nine-Star Martial Emperor, Ye Shi held a clear advantage against the seventh-grade Wind-Thunder Beast.

Wu Feng frowned, "Yanxing's growth is rapid."

The Wind-Thunder Beast stood no chance against Ye Shi, who seemed to be adjusting to his newfound power.

Unbeknownst to Wu Feng, time moved slowly within the secret realm. Inside Mu Chen's Spirit Tower, the perceived short duration was in fact substantial.

After an intense battle, Ye Shi finally unleashed his finishing move, shattering the beast's head.

"Your spiritual power is concentrated. Perhaps you're ready to attempt breaking through to the Martial Sovereign realm," Mu Chen mused.

Ye Shi nodded, "I feel the same, but I'll take my time."

Mu Chen agreed, "That's wise."

Mu Chen followed Ye Shi into the Windy Cave, where the walls inscribed a Wind-Thunder Body Refining Technique. The cave also housed a Wind-Thunder Pool for body refining.

"Mu Chen, what do you think of this body refining technique?" Ye Shi inquired.

"It's commendable," Mu Chen replied with a smile.

The Wind-Thunder Body Refining Technique might be slightly inferior to the Hundred Tempering Body Formula, but the former required the rare Wind-Thunder Pool.

"We have the Wind-Thunder Pool right here. Why don't you give it a try? Maybe this technique is less agonizing than the Hundred Tempering Body Formula," Ye Shi suggested.

Mu Chen nodded, "That might be beneficial. My body hasn't been the best for cultivation. If the Wind-Thunder Body Refining Technique suits me, it would be a boon."

……

Bai Chenxing frowned, "That blockhead."

Wu Feng tilted his head, "Chenxing, who are you cursing?"

Bai Chenxing wore a stern face and said irritably, "Any insult will do. Why does Ye Shi always need to involve Mu Chen and Fenglei Chi? Wouldn't it be better if he kept everything to himself?"

“Chenxing, Mu Chen is taking a romantic bath with your son!” Wu Feng teased.

Bai Chenxing: "..."

Mu Chen and Ye Shi landed and began to wholeheartedly cultivate their bodies.

With eyes closed, Mu Chen was fully immersed in absorbing the powers of wind and thunder from the Fenglei Pool.

A day later, Bai Chenxing uncomfortably noticed that Mu Chen and Ye Shi had gotten even closer. Two days on, he was shocked to see them completely glued to each other.

Mu Chen pinned Ye Shi to the edge of the pool and passionately kissed him. Ye Shi's hair was disheveled, and his face flushed.

Bai Chenxing trembled with anger, while several nearby martial masters remained indifferent. Having lived for hundreds or even thousands of years, there wasn’t much they hadn't seen. To them, it was just a fleeting moment…

"Damn it," Bai Chenxing muttered, quivering with anger. His only consolation was that the pool's azure waters concealed the scene below.

Wu Feng blinked reassuringly and said, "Chenxing, rest assured, your son and Mu Chen are a good match. There's nothing disgraceful about it."

Wu Feng raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself: These two are overdoing it, getting all romantic in the perilous Fenglei Pool. If they must, they should've chosen a safer location!

Out of sheer frustration, Bai Chenxing blocked the view of Ye Shi and Mu Chen. The others saw and didn’t comment further.

“Do you usually keep a tight leash on Ye Shi?” Wu Feng inquired.

With a dark expression, Bai Chenxing glared at Wu Feng.

“One shouldn’t be too strict about these things,” Wu Feng thought to herself, convinced that Bai Chenxing had been overly strict with Ye Shi, hence the youngsters' current behavior.

Mu Chen held Ye Shi close, an invisible warmth circulating between them.

The power of wind and thunder in the Lei Pool was rapidly absorbed by both.

To Mu Chen's surprise, cultivating together actually enhanced the Wind-Thunder Body Tempering Technique.