Chapter 4: Back to the Front Line
Chapter 4: Back to the Front Line
Amidst the vastness of the heavens and earth, the Sage's cultivation method remained, yet the Sage's presence was nowhere to be found.
In the present world, only the Half-Sage realm marked the pinnacle of cultivation.
Su Chen's ambitions were not grand; he sought no such realm.
He only wished to have sufficient strength to protect his mother and younger sister, ensuring their peaceful lives, and that would be enough.
At this moment, Su Chen's body still ached intensely.
The Ninth Stage body tempering method within the Celestial Heart Cultivation Technique seemed intent on shattering his body.
As his thoughts fell into the Sea of Consciousness, the Indomitable Spirit of Divine Destiny was activated.
The excruciating pain in his body instantly dissipated to a large extent.
After a brief recovery, Su Chen continued to comprehend the Celestial Heart Cultivation Technique.
He could still feel the intense hammering sensation on his body.
However, as he continued to cultivate, Su Chen discovered that he could now resist it.
The Celestial Heart Cultivation Technique was indeed profound, and comprehension was challenging.
But once he grasped its essence, the benefits were unparalleled by any other cultivation technique.
Su Chen, already at the Ninth Stage, further refined his body using the Celestial Heart Cultivation Technique, and his progress was much faster than when he first learned it.
Within two days, his body gradually adapted to this hammering sensation.
This was the true Ninth Stage Body Tempering Realm.
The cultivation method he had obtained from Yunyang Sect in the past couldn't compare to this; even with several hours of cultivation, it would be hard to achieve the same progress he made in just two hours today.
Su Chen had been cooped up in the house for four days and decided it was time to get some fresh air.
As he reached for the door, he felt it was lighter than before.
In the courtyard, his mother was chopping firewood.
These thick tree stumps were difficult to split and ignite.
"Mother, let me handle this," Su Chen said, taking the axe from her.
As he held the axe today, Su Chen felt a difference from before.
The axe felt lighter in his hands.
When he chopped the firewood, it seemed brittle and easily split with no effort.
This was the power of the Ninth Stage Body Tempering Realm. What had he been cultivating before?
As Su Chen chopped the firewood, Zhang Xuefen, standing beside him, hesitated for a moment before speaking up.
"Did you encounter any trouble at Yunyang Sect?"
Hearing this, Su Chen continued to swing the axe without pause.
He had already anticipated his mother's question.
"Mother, what are you saying? I just came back to rest for a while. There's no trouble."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuefen stood up and walked into the house, bringing out a wooden box.
"If it's too tiring at Yunyang Sect, don't go. Our family can live well in Jiang'an City.
We have enough money to marry you off."
As she spoke, Zhang Xuefen opened the wooden box, revealing a stack of silver notes inside.
She had saved up all the money he had brought home over the years.
No wonder they lived frugally during normal times.
"Mother, I truly didn't encounter any trouble. Please don't worry."
Su Chen didn't want his family to have any additional concerns.
The firewood, which would usually take over an hour to chop, was finished in just two hours today.
With the Celestial Heart Cultivation Technique, continued cultivation would solve any trouble.
During his break, Su Chen helped with the heavy chores around the house.
He took on all the strenuous tasks himself.
Having a man in the house seemed to make things easier.
In the past, even with Zhang Xuefen and Weiwei working together, they often struggled to move heavy items.
Now, Su Chen handled everything effortlessly.
After completing the chores, Su Chen returned to his room to continue his cultivation.
In the martial training grounds of Yunyang Sect, Elder Sun Xue Rong stood before a group of disciples, ready to deliver her routine speech.
After a brief introduction, Sun Xue Rong began to address the main issue.
"You all must have heard about the disciple who deliberately claimed credit and neglected the sect's mission. Well, that person has been expelled from our midst."
At this point, Sun Xue Rong also offered an apology to the group.
"He stayed with us for so long, and the disciples whose merits he took credit for must have felt so wronged. From now on, we will be stricter in punishing such greedy and credit-stealing behaviors."
"To each according to their abilities, and to each according to their merits," she added.
"Credit-stealing not only harms oneself but also one's fellow sect members. Those who frequently interacted with that person, your merits will also be scrutinized."
"If the source is suspicious, the sect will deduct the merits."
"Do you all understand?"
"Yes, Elder!" the group of disciples replied in unison, and then set off towards the eastern front.
As Su Chen was removed from the matter, many disciples felt that it was a good thing.
"Without Su Chen taking credit, our merits should double this time, right?" one of them spoke up as they walked.
"Merits are secondary. But with Su Chen gone, I feel truly relieved."
"Every front-line mission is a nerve-wracking experience."
"There are dangers here and traps set up by those demon creatures over there."
"He acted so capable, even more so than Xing Wan Senior Sister. It's irritating just looking at him."
As the words fell, someone beside them immediately chimed in.
"You don't understand this. It's Su Chen's trick.
"He scared us so many times, and we still dared to go slay demons. If we didn't, wouldn't all the merits be his?"
"So, we should look at the essence of the problem."
Hearing these words, many Yunyang Sect disciples felt that Su Chen had indeed taken some of their merits.
"It's good that the Elders can see the truth. Otherwise, we ordinary disciples would not know where to seek justice."
"Let's not dwell on that. This time, at the front line, we should at least gain twice the merits compared to before, right~"
Upon hearing this, some disciples even showed a glimmer of anticipation in their eyes.
Previously, when Su Chen took on the most dangerous tasks, many sect members forgot about the risks.
They forgot that they had to deal with man-eating demons.
Yu Zhi, standing nearby, listened to their conversation and held back for a while, but it seemed she couldn't help but speak up.
"Hearing you, it seems like Su Chen has taken a lot of your merits."
"But when Su Chen went home to visit his family, and he wasn't around, did you all still gain merits?" Yu Zhi asked.
Hearing Yu Zhi's words, the disciples who had spoken earlier did not immediately refute.
Out of respect for Yu Zhi's status as a direct disciple, they responded more politely.
"Yu Sister, that's because every time Su Chen visits his family, he chooses to go when demon activity is low."
"He returns when demons are most active, so naturally, we would gain more merits. But does Su Chen want to?"
Yu Zhi glared at them and did not continue the argument.
In her heart, she sighed.
Su Chen had initially thought of the viciousness of the demons and wanted to protect everyone as much as he could.
But at this moment, even this was used as evidence of his credit-stealing.
Hearing this, another direct disciple chimed in:
"Yu Sister, you should stop making excuses for Su Chen. Take care of yourself first.
Are there any issues with your merits? How many were obtained with Su Chen's help? You should know, and the sect will investigate clearly."
(End of Chapter)
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