Chapter 336: The Arena
Chapter 336: The Arena
Uncle Ding paused for a moment before asking, "Young Master wants to know if you have any questions about the Third Limit?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Yes."
Uncle Ding said, "The Young Master says that if you have any doubts, you might as well come to Ink Stain Mountain for a cup of tea."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Okay, I'll be right there."
Over an hour later, at the Cao family estate in Ink Stain Mountain.
These days, thunderstorms often occur, and when Chen Chuan arrived, it was just after a rain shower, the sky seemed to have been washed clean, clear and azure, with only a few tufts of clouds at the edges.
The sunlight shone on the flowers and plants in the courtyard, and a refreshing breeze blew by, causing the water droplets on the branches and leaves to fall onto the moist soil, while also bringing with it a floral aroma.
Chen Chuan sat at a sandalwood table, with a jade porcelain teacup in front of him, from which fine strands of steam rose, revealing the clear green tea leaves within.
Cao Guiqi sat opposite him, still dressed as a scholar from the old era, wearing a light bluish-green robe, with a jade white hairpin in his bun. He said, "It's been almost two months, and I believe that you, Chen Chuan, are about to break through the Third Limit. So, tell me, what problems are you facing now?"
Chen Chuan said, "Senior Cao, I can feel that I seem to have reached the threshold of the breakthrough, and as long as I make up my mind, I can cross it. But in my heart, I feel that there is something still not quite perfect."
Cao Guiqi said, "You are using the old era's methods to break through the Third Limit, which requires the integration of spirit and body, and the self-will must take the lead. Only when the self-will is perfect can you naturally cross this threshold.
If you have this feeling, it means that although your body is ready, your spirit is not yet at the stage of complete integration.
There must be something in your subconscious that you want to do but haven't been able to, leaving a trace of hindrance in your mind. Only by sweeping away your spirit can you achieve complete sublimation."
He looked at Chen Chuan, "This is a good thing because most people can't even perceive the disharmony within. Some rush or hastily cross the threshold in a state of unpreparedness, and then pat themselves on the back for how easily they did it.
But in reality, they will need more time to correct their mistakes, and this step, once taken wrong, may be irreversible."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and nodded slightly, then raised his head and said, "Thank you, Senior Cao, for your advice. I think I understand now."
Cao Guiqi hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Since you're here, have another cup of tea before you go. This aged tea may not be as refreshing as a new brew, but it's rich and mellow, allowing you to savor it longer and calm your mind."
Chen Chuan thanked him and reached for the cup, taking a sip. In that moment, a rich aroma filled his mouth, mingling with the surrounding floral scents, calming his restless thoughts, and the integration with the outside world seemed exceptionally clear.
He sat quietly, gazing at the branches and plants swaying in the gentle breeze outside, feeling the rhythm of nature.
After sitting for a while, several cups of tea later, the sunlight gradually dimmed as clouds drifted in from an unknown source. Uncle Ding approached and said, "Young Master, it's going to rain again, and this time it might be heavy."
Cao Guiqi said to Chen Chuan, "I won't keep you any longer, go back early."
Chen Chuan stood up and bowed slightly to Cao Guiqi, saying, "Senior, goodbye, and thank you for your guidance." With that, he followed Uncle Ding out.
Cao Guiqi took another sip of tea, his gaze fixed on the sky, his thoughts seemingly lost in the past or perhaps anticipating the future.
Chen Chuan sat there for a while, drinking several cups of tea. After confirming that these were not issues related to his breakthrough, he finally calmed his mind.
As for the things he felt he wanted to do but hadn't done, there were quite a few, but the most influential one recently was only one.
It was time to resolve it.
As he approached the Gard Vehicle, a few raindrops fell on his cheeks, leaving a cool and refreshing sensation.
He glanced up, and in just that short moment, the once sunny sky had turned cloudy.
Opening the car door, he got in and closed it, fastening his seatbelt. In just a few breaths, the rain intensified, and the wipers began to move, clearing the raindrops from the windshield.
He lifted his gaze, his keen senses piercing through the rain and fog that shrouded the area. Even at a distance of over a hundred meters, he could clearly see the license plate of the speeding vehicle that was rapidly driving away. Without hesitation, he reported the number to the city's security department.
Amidst the heavy downpour, he made his way back to Xuan Gong Tower, took the elevator to the forty-ninth floor, and pushed open the door to the dormitory. A soft chirp echoed from within.
He looked over, and in a comfortable nest made of wicker and silk, a small creature poked its head out, chirping at him and flapping its wings as if greeting him.
The creature was growing rapidly. In just over ten days, it had noticeably increased in size and now appeared more beautiful than before, its feathers displaying a rich array of colors. Naturally, its appetite had grown as well.
Every morning, as the sun began to rise, the little creature would let out a pleasant cry towards the sun. He had named it "Morning Cry," as it would always cry out at the break of dawn.
Zou Handan had called it a failed creation, useless, perhaps only good for display. But he discovered that Morning Cry had a surprisingly high intelligence, even if its other abilities were questionable.
The most obvious sign of its intelligence was that after naming it, it clearly understood that the name referred to itself. It would respond when called, and during his daily training, it would sit quietly, not making a sound, even eating the food he prepared for it on its own.
Only when he relaxed would it make some noise, and whenever he entered or exited, it would cry out to announce its presence.
He approached the nest, playfully teased Morning Cry, and replaced the water in its nest.
As he worked, his mind wandered to the possible locations where Wei Wusheng might appear. He believed that actively seeking him out might not be effective, and it would be better to give Wei Wusheng the opportunity to find him instead.
He was certain that Wei Wusheng would come to continue their unfinished battle from last time.
After changing the water and filling the feeder with nutrient solution, he stroked Morning Cry's smooth feathers and turned towards the window. From a distance, he could see a bright pillar of light rising into the sky—the location of the arena stadium.
Endless advertisements and live broadcasts of the arena matches scrolled up the pillar, and even from inside the building, he could almost hear the bustling noise from the arena.
He tapped his domain token and sent a message to Tan Zhi.
"Tan, are you still watching the arena matches?"
Tan Zhi promptly responded.
"Yeah, we've been going every day this month. You won't believe it, but the matches are incredibly exciting! The current contenders are no joke, and we're only in the middle of the tournament. The main contenders have already emerged, and these past few days have been the most intense elimination rounds. Chen, you're asking about this now? Do you want to go too?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Yes, my cultivation progress has slowed down these past few days, so I plan to take a break and watch the matches."
Tan Zhi, hearing this, quickly said, "There's no need to rush. It might be a period of self-adjustment, so it's a good time to relax and unwind. Why don't we go together tomorrow? We can take the school's shuttle bus; it'll be safer that way."
Chen Chuan asked, "Are we worried about Wei Wusheng?"
Tan Zhi sighed, "Yes, I thought Pei was really strong, but he was counter-killed by Wei Wusheng. It seems his reputation is greater than his actual strength, and now I don't have much hope for other bounty hunters either."
Chen Chuan thought that Pei might not be ineffective against normal Tier Three combatants, but dealing with someone like Wei Wusheng might be beyond their capabilities.
Tan Zhi said, "The arena stadium is probably the safest place right now. It has the strongest security in Central City, and even large corporate security forces can't break through. I've heard that some passengers from the cruise ship have chosen to stay nearby."
Chen Chuan nodded, "Alright, I'll go with you tomorrow." After a brief chat and setting a time, he ended the call.
The next day, Chen Chuan woke up early, got ready, and left Xuan Gong Tower to catch the shuttle bus waiting outside the building.
He waved back at Tan Zhi in the bus and contacted Wu Bei, "Wu, for the next few days, don't hide my whereabouts. If anyone is looking for me, keep an eye on them, but don't alert them."
Wu Bei immediately replied, "Understood." He felt excited, sensing that something was about to happen, just like the previous times they had worked together.
Chen Chuan boarded the bus and sat next to Tan Zhi. After a brief greeting, the other students going to watch the match soon arrived, and the bus doors closed. They slowly made their way towards the arena stadium.
Due to heavy traffic, the bus moved slowly, and it took over twenty minutes to reach the vicinity of the stadium. It was a massive circular building, capable of accommodating ninety thousand people. With the domain tokens, even those at a distance could clearly see every detail inside the arena.
Additionally, there were numerous spectators outside the arena, as the matches could only be seen within a certain range.
The surrounding apartments, hotels, shops, parks, and even office buildings were packed with people watching from above. The roads were filled with vehicles from the city patrol team and security forces. When the Wu Yi Academy bus arrived, several motorcycles guided it towards the arena's parking lot.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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