Chapter 336: The Arena
Chapter 336: The Arena
Uncle Ding paused for a moment and said, "The young master asked if you wanted to inquire about the Third Limit."
Chen Chuan replied, "Yes."
Uncle Ding continued, "The young master said that if you have any doubts, you might as well come to Mo Tie Mountain for a cup of tea."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Alright, I'll be right there."
Over an hour later, at the Cao family estate in Mo Tie Mountain.
It had been raining frequently these days, and when Chen Chuan arrived, the sky had just cleared up after a thunderstorm. The sky seemed to have been washed clean, a clear azure blue with only a few wisps of clouds at the edges.
The sunlight shone on the flowers and plants in the courtyard, and a refreshing breeze blew by, causing the droplets on the branches and leaves to fall onto the moist soil, bringing with it a scent of fresh grass and trees.
Chen Chuan sat at a sandalwood table, with a jade porcelain teacup in front of him. Wisps of steam rose from the cup, and the green tea leaves inside were clearly visible.
Cao Guixi sat across from him, still dressed in the attire of a scholar from the Old Era. He wore a light green robe, and a white jade hairpin adorned his bun. "It's been almost two months," he said. "I reckon you're about to break through the Third Limit, so tell me, what problems have you encountered so far?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Senior Cao, I can feel that I seem to have reached the threshold of breaking through. As long as I make up my mind, I can cross it. But in my heart, I feel like there's something that hasn't been fully accomplished yet."
Cao Guixi said, "You're using the methods of the Old Era to break through the Third Limit, which requires the integration of the spirit and the body. It's essential to be guided by one's own will, and only when the will is complete can one naturally surpass this threshold.
If you have this feeling, it indicates that your body is ready, but your spirit hasn't reached the point of complete integration.
There's probably something in your subconscious that you want to do but haven't achieved yet, leaving a trace of hindrance in your mind. Only by brushing away these obstacles and allowing your spirit to reach complete ascension can you achieve this."
He looked at Chen Chuan, "This is a good thing because most people can't even perceive the disharmony within. They rashly or hastily cross over in a state of inadequate preparation and pat themselves on the back for how easily they crossed that boundary.
Unbeknownst to them, they will need much more time in the future to correct those mistakes, and this step, once taken wrong, may never be retraced."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and nodded slightly. He raised his head and said, "Thank you, Senior Cao, for your advice. I think I understand now."
Cao Guixi made a sound of acknowledgment and said, "Since you're here, have a cup of tea before you leave. This aged tea may not be as refreshing as fresh tea, but it's thick and rich, allowing one to savor it for longer and settle their mind."
Chen Chuan thanked him and picked up the cup to take a sip. As he drank, a burst of rich fragrance filled his mouth, blending with the scent of the grass and trees outside, calming his restless thoughts and making the integration with the outside world seem incredibly clear at that moment.
He sat quietly, gazing at the branches and plants swaying in the gentle breeze. He felt the rhythm of nature.
After sitting for a while and drinking several cups of tea, the sunlight gradually faded as clouds drifted in from somewhere unknown. Uncle Ding approached and said, "Young master, it's about to rain again, and this time it might be heavy."
Cao Guixi said, "Chen Chuan, I won't keep you. Go back early."
Chen Chuan stood up and bowed slightly to Cao Guixi. "Senior, I bid you farewell. Thank you for your guidance." Then, he followed Uncle Ding out.
Cao Guixi picked up the teacup and slowly savored the tea, gazing at the sky with a faraway look in his eyes, as if tasting the past and anticipating the future.
Chen Chuan left the estate, and after confirming that these weren't issues related to his breakthrough, he finally settled his mind.
As for the things he wanted to do but hadn't, there were quite a few, but the most influential one recently was just one.
It was time to resolve it.
As he approached the Guder car, a drop of rain landed on his cheek, feeling cool and refreshing.
He glanced up and saw that in just a short while, the once sunny sky had become overcast with dark clouds.
He opened the car door, got in, and fastened his seatbelt. Just as he closed the door, a heavy downpour began, as if within a few breaths, the rain intensified.
The windshield wipers started, and as the car pulled out of the estate's courtyard, the headlights pierced through the heavy rain like two columns of light.
After leaving Mo Tie Mountain, he used his Boundary Token to access the bureau's records related to Wei Wusheng's crimes.
The location where the Pei brothers were killed was found a few days later, but Chen Chuan hadn't paid much attention to it due to his focus on cultivation. Seeing it now, he was surprised.
This place was the very street where the hotel haunting had occurred.
He couldn't help but wonder when Wei Wusheng had appeared there.
Was it before or after he resolved the haunting? Upon careful consideration, he felt it was likely before, as places with anomalies were rarely approached, and the haunting had disrupted many of the Boundary Token's information transmissions, making it an ideal hiding spot.
If so, perhaps when he had resolved the haunting, Wei Wusheng had been there, just a street away from him.
As he was thinking, a car suddenly sped past him, splashing a large amount of water and momentarily blurring his vision. The windshield wipers quickly cleared the water from the windshield.
He looked up and, despite the rain and mist obscuring his view, his keen senses allowed him to clearly see the license plate of the speeding car. He immediately reported the number to the city's security department.
In the midst of a torrential downpour, he made his way back to the Mystic Palace Tower, taking the elevator up to the forty-ninth floor. As he pushed open the door to the dormitory, a chirping sound echoed from within.
He looked over, and inside the cozy nest made of briars and silk fabrics, the little creature poked its head out, chirping at him and flapping its wings as if greeting him.
The little creature had grown remarkably fast. In just over ten days, it had become noticeably larger and more colorful, with richer plumage. Of course, its appetite had also increased significantly.
Every morning, as the sun began to rise, the creature would emit a pleasant whistling sound towards the sun. Because of this, he had given it a name, "Morning Call."
Zou Handan had called it a failed creation, useless, perhaps only valuable for its aesthetic appeal. However, he had discovered that "Morning Call" had a surprisingly high intelligence, even if its other abilities were questionable.
The most evident sign of its intelligence was its response to its name. After being named, it clearly understood that it was being addressed and would respond when called. During his daily training, it would stay quietly by his side, not making a sound, and it would even open its food packages to eat on its own.
Only when he relaxed would it make some noise, chirping to assert its presence whenever he entered or exited the room.
He walked over and playfully patted Morning Call, then changed the water in its nest.
As he worked, his mind wandered to the possible locations where Wei Wusheng might appear next. If he actively sought him out, it might not be effective. It would be better to give Wei Wusheng the opportunity to find him instead.
He believed that Wei Wusheng would definitely come, continuing their previous unfinished battle.
After changing the water and placing nutrient solution in the feeder, he stroked Morning Call's smooth feathers and turned towards the window. From a distance, he could see a bright pillar of light rising into the sky.
That was the location of the arena venue, where a column of light continuously displayed various advertisements and live broadcasts of the arena tournament. Even from inside the building, he could almost hear the bustling sounds of the arena.
He thought for a moment, then sent a message to Tan Zhi using his Boundary Token.
"Tan, are you still watching the arena tournament?"
Tan Zhi promptly contacted him.
"Yes, I've been going every day this month. You won't believe it, but the matches are incredibly exciting! The competing fighters are no ordinary contenders. Although we're only in the middle stage, and the latter half hasn't started yet, the main contenders for promotion have already emerged. These past few days have been the most intense elimination battles. Chen, you suddenly asked about this. 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 some time to go and watch."
Tan Zhi, upon hearing this, quickly said, "There's no need to rush, it might just be self-adjustment. It's a good opportunity to relax and unwind. Why don't we go together tomorrow? We can take the school's prepared vehicle; it'll be safer that way."
Chen Chuan asked, "Are you worried about Wei Wusheng?"
Tan Zhi sighed and said, "Yes, I originally thought the Pei Brothers were very capable, but they were defeated by Wei Wusheng. They were all talk and no substance, and now I don't have high hopes for other bounty hunters either."
Chen Chuan thought that it wasn't necessarily that the Pei Brothers were incapable. They might have been able to handle normal Third Limit Fighters, but against someone like Wei Wusheng, it might indeed be beyond their capabilities.
Tan Zhi said, "Now, aside from the academy, the arena venue is the safest place. It has the strongest security in Central City, not just against Wei Wusheng, but even large company security forces can't breach it. I've heard that some of the original cruise passengers have chosen to live nearby."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Okay, then I'll go with you tomorrow." After exchanging a few more words and agreeing on a time, he ended the call.
The next day, Chen Chuan woke up early, got ready, and left the Mystic Palace Tower when the time was right. He headed towards the school's waiting vehicle parked in front of the tower.
He waved back at Tan Zhi in the vehicle and simultaneously contacted Wu Bei, "Little Brother Wu, these past few days, don't conceal my whereabouts. If someone is looking for me, pay attention and let me know, but don't alert them."
Wu Bei immediately replied, "Understood." He suddenly became excited because, after working with Chen Chuan multiple times, he sensed that something significant was about to happen.
After Chen Chuan boarded the vehicle and sat down next to Tan Zhi, the students going to watch the match soon arrived. The door closed, and the vehicle slowly made its way towards the arena venue.
Due to heavy traffic, the bus moved at a slower pace, and it took about twenty minutes to reach the vicinity of the arena. This massive circular structure could accommodate ninety thousand people inside. With the Boundary Token, even those at a distance could clearly see all the details of the arena.
Additionally, there were numerous spectators outside the arena, as the live match could only be viewed within a certain range. As a result, a large crowd gathered around the arena.
The rooftops of surrounding apartments, hotels, shops, parks, and even business buildings were packed with people. The roads were filled with vehicles from the city patrol team and security forces. When they saw the Wu Yi Academy's bus, several two-wheeled vehicles immediately escorted it towards the arena's parking lot.
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(End of Chapter)
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