Demon Slaying, Gaining 60 Years of Cultivation From the Start
Chapter 994 - 76: Rapid Advance in Strength_2

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He was well aware that, at this point, with the Upper World being so vast, once he failed to succeed in Qingzhou, catching Gu Chen would no longer be an easy task.

But Gu Yan couldn't reconcile himself to this fact, even contemplating taking action against the Frost Soul Sect, but his father, the emperor, had not agreed.

Creating a commotion would likely expose the strengths and weaknesses of the Heavenly Mysterious Imperial Dynasty to outsiders, and that could lead to significant trouble.

However, under the radar, certain measures were still at his disposal.

"Gu Chen, no matter where you hide, the next time you dare show up, I'll kill you!" Gu Yan roared, his demonic shadow growing more solid behind him, its features fiendishly twisted. The dark aura in his eyes intensified with the demon's roar, turning darker, and his facial features became increasingly distorted, like a fierce and malevolent ghost.

Such a sight was clearly observed by his subordinate, who trembled and didn't dare utter a sound, subduing his fear as he knelt on the spot.

...

Meanwhile, in the East Profound Region.

Since the day he had gathered detailed information about Qingyun Academy and confirmed his target, Gu Chen had found a secluded spot and chosen to enter seclusion.

After all, there were still three full months before Qingyun Academy was to start, and there was plenty of time.

Gu Chen had acquired a rich trove of treasures in the secret realm, which he had yet to fully digest; and considering the gains from his encounters with the Heavenly Mysterious Imperial Dynasty and the Jiuying Clan, he planned to enhance his strength once more before joining Qingyun Academy.

Whether it was the martial vessel or the Source Ice Breath, they were external forces. At any time, one's own strength was the most important.

Moreover, the stronger Gu Chen's own power, the more formidable the martial vessel could become.

So, he spent two months using most of the spiritual herbs gained from the secret realm, in combination with a few precious medicinal recipes he knew of, to create medicinal baths that aid his cultivation.

At the same time, he ingested the Nine Thousand-Year-Old Purple Jade Vine several times. But since its potency was too strong for someone of his realm to bear, he only consumed the essence – the spiritual liquid – to aid his cultivation.

"It's finally complete!"

On this day, a tremor ran through Gu Chen's meditating body. His skin cracked and shed the old layer, revealing new skin as white and flawless as mutton fat jade, glistening brightly.

Even the blood, bones, and marrow within his body underwent a rebirth.

One could say that with an array of spiritual herbs, Gu Chen's physical body had experienced another metamorphosis.

Moreover, after two months, he had unlocked additional divine repositories in his flesh, elevating him to a new level of transformation and sublimation!

With Gu Chen's power surge, all his abilities, like the unique holy domain, naturally soared as well.

At this moment, as Gu Chen looked inwardly at his body, the number of heavenly veins had also increased from two hundred thirty to three hundred – a significant rise of seventy veins.

"Panel."

As Gu Chen's eyes lowered and his thoughts focused, the panel that recorded his cultivations and divine powers immediately appeared before him.

Name: Gu Chen

Cultivation Techniques: Divine Sun World Illumination Sutra (Level 6), Immortal Sacred Body (Level 6), Emperor Extreme World-Shaking Secret (Level 5), Samsara Seal Law (Level 5), Soaring Over Void (Level 5), Primordial Spirit Diagram

Divine Powers: Nine Dragons Annihilation (Grade 7), Flying Immortal Beyond Heaven (Grade 7), Heaven's Eye (Grade 7), Ten Directions Annihilation (Grade 7), Nine Heavens Thunder Movement (Grade 7)

Cultivation Level: 3,100 years

Realm: Late Stage of the Cave Heaven Realm

Divine Power Value: 0

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Back in the Gray Domain, facing the pursuit of the Heavenly Mysterious Imperial Dynasty and the Jiuying Clan, although the former was extremely cautious and didn't dispatch any demons, Gu Chen gained a significant increase in divine power value from the Jiuying Clan.

Although his Divine Power still remained at the seven ranks, it was already sufficient; after all, this was not a method someone of his realm should possess.

Thanks to the "help" of the Jiuying Clan, Gu Chen's entire set of cultivation techniques had also undergone tremendous improvements, especially the Divine Sun World Illumination Sutra and the Immortal Sacred Body, which both reached the sixth layer!

It was precisely because of various spiritual medicines and formulas, along with the sixth layer of the Immortal Sacred Body, that Gu Chen was able to partially reopen some of his divine physical reserves.

"If I were to completely open a divine physical reserve, perhaps some amazing changes would occur," Gu Chen murmured. After reopening some of his divine physical reserves for the second time, he had a premonition deep in his heart.

Unfortunately, opening the divine physical reserves wasn't something that could be done whenever desired; the further along, the more difficult it became.

Although his cultivation remained at 3,100 years and had not increased in quantity, due to the enhancement of his cultivation techniques, the quality had multiplied several times, becoming even more pure.

Moreover, having acquired several artifacts, the mysterious gauntlet deep within the flesh of Gu Chen's left palm had also undergone a tremendous upgrade, significantly increasing its power!

"Perhaps, even when facing spiritual treasures, the mysterious gauntlet might not be much inferior," Gu Chen sensed his left palm; it was one of his trump cards.

The mysterious gauntlet always played a crucial role when facing powerful weapons.

"Now, my strength has undergone a drastic and earth-shattering change compared to two months ago," Gu Chen's eyes sparkled, naturally feeling joy from the rapid progress of his own strength.

However, the three hundred sixty-five heavenly channels were indeed difficult; even after using almost all the spiritual medicine in the secret realm to improve, he still hadn't reached the great perfection of the Cave Heaven Realm, and there was still a considerable distance to go.

"Indeed, my foundation is too strong, which means the resources needed for a breakthrough are more than tenfold that of others," Gu Chen sighed lightly.

With so many resources, if given to others, even geniuses like Gu Yan and Jin Xu who were listed in the golden rankings of realms, would surely have reached the great perfection of the Cave Heaven Realm and established three hundred sixty-five heavenly channels within their bodies.

But Gu Chen still fell somewhat short.

However, this was also a good thing; the more he accumulated, the stronger the subsequent outburst would naturally be, so Gu Chen wasn't discouraged at all.

As long as he had Jiuge, he would succeed sooner or later.

"There's one more month until the opening day of Qingyun Academy," Gu Chen's eyes were deep, and to get the broken jade, he needed to join and test the waters.

After all, the importance of the broken jade goes without saying; it is something that even the Ice Emperor, the supreme being of the last grand era, wanted to obtain, and it was also hailed as the strongest legacy of all time.

With such a thing before him, it wouldn't make sense for Gu Chen not to claim it.

Meanwhile, as he continued to grow stronger, Gu Chen was looking forward to the day when he would unite with his other self, undergo transformation and reach the ultimate sublimation.

"The name Gu Jiuge is no longer suitable. The Heavenly Mysterious Imperial Dynasty's warrants have even reached this place; it seems Gu Yan has not given up," Gu Chen whispered to himself, his appearance transforming, even his height and aura had changed.

The combination of the divine seed and the Immortal Sacred Body made this seamless transition easy, and it was hard to see through such changes.

"One day, when both selves unite, I will walk the world in my true form, without the need for any disguise!" Gu Chen's expression was solemn, his eyes determined.

But this would still take some time.

At this moment, Gu Chen's appearance had undergone significant changes from before; his features were elegant and handsome, and all that remained the same were his sword-like eyebrows. His physique was strong, his vitality exuberant, his demeanor ethereal, his skin luminous white, his hair black as ink, appearing like a hermit who stood above the mundane world — unrivaled, as if he could ride the winds away at any second.

Although still dressed in dark robes, his face, height, and aura had significantly changed compared to before.

"From today on, my name is Gu Bai," he muttered to himself, forced to change his identity and name once again.

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