CHAPTER 532: 431 ZHANGG YEARS [SEEKING MONTHLY TICKETS!]_2

Chen Jichuan let out a long sigh and then relaxed, saying, "Fortunately, the ’Summoning Cottage’ currently occupies four crucial locations, including the lucrative ’Virtual Arena,’ so there’s no need to worry about the Holy Artifact for the time being. During the upcoming period, we can focus all our energy on cultivation. You are already a Fourth Realm Venerable, but I have just entered the Second Realm. In the future, you’ll have to offer me plenty of guidance."

Three thousand years since their reunion.

Three thousand years of recuperation.

Only in recent times had Chen Jichuan finally recovered completely from the injuries he sustained back then.

His cultivation showed no progress during this period.

Now, affairs in the Immortal Gate Realm were properly settled, and after earning a fortune, they had secured a stable source for Holy Artifacts moving forward.

From now on.

The couple would prioritize cultivation.

Not just Wang Yan’s cultivation, but Chen Jichuan’s efforts as well.

With a wife who was a Fourth Realm Venerable, he naturally had to cling tightly to her "golden thigh," seizing the time and opportunities to rapidly advance his cultivation.

"No problem at all," Wang Yan responded, bursting into laughter upon hearing this.

In the Qinling World and the Immortal Gate Realm, she was never as powerful as Chen Jichuan. Even in the Nine Heavens, despite her higher cultivation, Chen Jichuan had always helped her in daily cultivation with ’Enlightenment,’ teaching her one divine technique after another.

Now, for once, she had the chance to assist Chen Jichuan. Wang Yan was genuinely happy.

"My dear husband has rested for three thousand years; surely even your bones must feel sore."

"Let’s go!"

"We’ll head to the Three Immortal Courts and find some Immortal Monarchs to spar with you and shake off the weariness."

"I remember that in the Golden Light Immortal Court, there’s a place called ’Fire Hell Three Realms Mountain.’ It’s a Fire-element Holy Land, more formidable than the Fire-element Origin at Fierce Bird Mountain. After the sparring, we can explore ’Fire Hell Three Realms Mountain’ as well."

Wang Yan seemed a bit excited.

She grabbed Chen Jichuan, lifted her sword light, and left Fierce Bird Mountain.

...

In the ensuing years.

Wang Yan fully unleashed herself.

She dragged Chen Jichuan to challenge one Dharma Body Upper Immortal after another, forcing them into sparring to help Chen Jichuan refine his techniques and verify his divine skills. From time to time, she would seek out Fourth Realm Venerables for her own sparring practice, allowing Chen Jichuan to observe from the sidelines or join her in these battles. Both of them benefitted greatly.

Each battle yielded tremendous gains.

After the battles.

Wang Yan exploited her near-Immortal Venerate-level combat prowess to bring Chen Jichuan to one cultivation treasure after another, such as ’Fire Hell Three Realms Mountain,’ for practice and acclimatization.

An Immortal Venerate-level combatant sweeping through with her sword light was unstoppable.

Even the Golden Light Immortal Court had no interest in making trouble over such trivial matters with Wang Yan or Chen Jichuan.

Sparring and Dao discussions.

Cultivating in treasure lands.

Endless resources.

With Wang Yan, an Immortal Venerate, by his side to guide him personally, Chen Jichuan’s cultivation advanced rapidly.

Fourth-order Ascension divided into Four Realms.

The First Realm, Inner Realm, focused on constructing and adjusting internal cycles, building an inner world, and perfecting the self.

The Second Realm, External Realm.

After ascending to the External Realm, the ’Qi Origin Technique’ was initiated, causing Qi Yuan to pour forth continually, making mana perpetually surge in a rapid growth phase. Through these growing mana surges and Qi Yuan fragments, the body was continually tempered and nurtured, relying on ’Qi’ to nourish ’Essence.’

When the flesh became robust and powerful, the second gate on the Fourth-order path—the ’Essence Origin Method’—would manifest.

Unlocking the ’Essence Origin Method’ marked the Third Realm, the Dharma Body.

In the Third Realm, ’Qi Yuan’ nourished mana, and ’Essence Yuan’ empowered the physical body. Both mana and the body grew in strength, ultimately nurturing the Primordial Spirit in turn.

The Primordial Spirit also evolved.

With the Primordial Spirit as the core, mana and the physical body became increasingly intertwined, blending seamlessly and becoming mutually transformative. When unified, the body became indestructible like stone; when dispersed, it circulated endlessly like mana.

The transitions were under one’s control.

With each transition, the body and mana underwent repeated tempering.

The Fourth-order Third Realm was a process of nurturing the Primordial Spirit, as well as forging the Dharma Body.

By this point.

It became nearly impossible to kill a Fourth-order Upper Immortal, relying not just on layers of immortal lights but also on the arduously cultivated Dharma Body. Even if an overwhelming foe shattered their immortal light and reached their true form, the Dharma Body could disperse with a bang. As long as even a thread of mana escaped, the body could be rebuilt over time.

Once the Dharma Body was fully forged, and the Primordial Spirit grew strong, the ’Divine Origin Skill’ would manifest. Unlocking this technique would cause Divine Essence to flow forth, stabilizing the Three Treasures—Essence, Qi, and Spirit—opening the path to Fourth Realm Venerable status.

...

The progression through the Four Upper Immortal Realms proved increasingly grueling at every step.

Take External Realm cultivation, for instance.

Simply relying on Qi Yuan to boost mana and nurture the body was entirely feasible, but it took a tremendous amount of time, delaying progress. There were also constraints on Daoist insight; lacking sufficient mastery of Daoist principles or an understanding of the cosmos, it became difficult to control surging mana or a burgeoning body, leading to numerous hidden risks. In some cases, while mana and the body strengthened, the next tier of immortal light would stubbornly refuse to condense—indicative of a Daoist deficiency.

Mana.

Physical body.

Daoist insight.

These were the hurdles of External Realm cultivation, each requiring considerable effort to overcome.

Cultivators trapped in the External Realm often struggled with slow mana growth, delayed body development, or stagnant Daoist insight.

Most endured challenges in all three aspects.

Chen Jichuan, however, faced none of these difficulties.

Early-stage of External Realm.

Middle-stage of External Realm.

Late-stage of External Realm.

He advanced with unstoppable momentum.

Whereas his initial journey from First Promotion Upper Immortal to Inner Realm Peak had taken twenty thousand years, this time, his cultivation in the Second Realm—from its outset to peak—only took two thousand four hundred and eighty years.

The key factors.

Resources.

Experience.

Guidance.

Daoist partnerships.

Treasured lands.

Rapidly advancing ’mana,’ ’physical body,’ and ’Daoist insight’ remained dependent on the classic formula of ’wealth, companions, skills, and lands.’

Fortunately.

Chen Jichuan possessed all of these.

With the help of a wife whose strength rivaled that of an Immortal Venerate, Chen Jichuan lacked for nothing. All the conditions—whether tangible or intangible—were unmatched throughout the Chongming Realm, with few able to surpass him.

Driven and diligent.

Abundant resources.

Chen Jichuan naturally advanced boldly.

In just two thousand four hundred eighty years, he reached the peak of External Realm.

The ’Essence Origin Method’ began to manifest.

But Chen Jichuan was in no rush to attempt a breakthrough.

Through ’Enlightenment,’ he exhausted his cultivation while revisiting the Inner Realm and External Realm stages in three cycles.

Inner Realm!

External Realm!

Inner Realm!

External Realm!

Inner Realm!

External Realm!

He spent a thousand years.

Consumed resources worth thousands of Spirit Crystals.

He advanced the techniques ’Wind Thunder All Heavens Great Escape’ and ’Pure Heart Mantra,’ transforming them into divine skills. He also merged ’Guiyuan Hiding Method’ and ’Nine Doubts Skill’ into a new divine skill—

[Divine Skill: Guiyuan Cangtian Technique]

[Level: Ordinary]

[Description: This method allows one to hide their origin within the void, concealing their aura and deceiving cosmic fate. Existing outside the Three Realms and Five Elements, causality and providence are masked, leaving others unable to discern one’s presence.]

...

The new ’Guiyuan Cangtian Technique’ not only concealed one’s aura but also shielded destiny, preventing others from tracking or calculating their movements.

An unparalleled survival divine skill.

With three divine skills in hand, Chen Jichuan was finally satisfied. Without hesitation, he achieved Essence Qi Unity, unlocking the ’Essence Origin Method’ in one fell swoop and successfully breaking through to the Fourth-order Third Realm Dharma Body Stage, becoming a Seven-Pattern Immortal.

Within any Immortal Court, he was now equivalent to an Immortal Monarch.

That year.

Chen Jichuan was 27,729 years old, while Wang Yan was 55,455 years old.

...

Reuniting with Wang Yan, cultivating together with his wife, and traveling across the boundless mountains and rivers of the Chongming Realm and Immortal Gate Realm, they left their traces in countless places.

Joy.

Warmth.

Contentment.

In such an atmosphere, time seemed to gather momentum, surging forward fiercely.

Three thousand years.

Four thousand years.

Five thousand years.

While cultivating, Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan also cherished every day they spent together.

They battled together, explored scenic locations, and occasionally indulged in the mundane, living as a mortal couple, running a shop, experiencing a lifetime among mortals, and befriending their neighbors and many others.

Sometimes, they searched for gourmet food, savoring one dish after another in human world taverns and restaurants.

Truly, they were a pair of divine lovers.

They could discuss Daoist scriptures or talk about love, navigate the trivialities of daily life or indulge in romantic adventures.

Their relationship began naturally, rich and intense. In this reunion, the extended years of companionship made them feel both comforted and fulfilled.

Occasionally, they bickered—sometimes Wang Yan coaxed him, and sometimes Chen Jichuan teased her.

Both joy and frustration became fond memories.

Time slipped through their fingers.

Unintentionally, their reunion had already lasted forty millennia.

...