540 The Sage Returns (2/2)
Without taming this energy, the three girls would have been reduced to ashes in an instant.
Superior-grade Spirit Pills could only be used directly by cultivators who had reached the Ethereal Enlightenment level or above.
”BOM! Kaboom!”
They started to shake violently as the True Fire entered their bodies.
That was the test of their will and mental strength.
Fang Qiong held out the best, followed by An Ya and then Wang Xiaoyun. Unlike Wang Xiaoyun and An Ya, Fang Qiong was the reincarnation of the Zi Qiong Goddess. She was the second most powerful disciple of Cangqin in the Cang Min Realm right after Chen Fan.
”Hooo!”
Once they had finally brought the energy under control, their True Essence surged, giving Chen Fan some time to take a rest. Helping three disciples during their cultivation was a much more onerous task than even fighting Lin Shuming.
All three women were close to Chen Fan's heart, so he had to be extremely careful and not harm anyone of them. He wouldn't be as cautious if he was helping Hua Yunfeng.
”Shu!”
Chen Fan phased out of the room and reached the roof of the North Qiong Pavilion.
From there, he could have a bird's eye view of the City of Zhong Hai. The quietness in the valley contrasted the view of a bustling metropolis.
”Who goes there? Why don't you show yourself?”
Chen Fan waved a hand and conjured a wooden table with an arrangement of delicate teapots and cups on top of it. Chen Fan sprinkled a few loose leaves into a pot and filled it with Spirit Water. He then heated up the pot using True Fire until the fragrance of the tea permeated the valley.
”Wonderful Tea, and even better tea-making skills. I thought I knew everything about tea-making, but I was wrong.”
An elder wearing a Taoist robe with large flappy sleeves had emerged on the sky; then he descended from an invisible stair.
The elder reached Chen Fan and sat across the table. He picked up the teacup and smelled its content.
Chen Fan gave the elder a quick glance. The man said lightly, ”I am Li Changsheng of the Wu Dang Sect.”
”Each and every Immortal State Warrior in China is well known for different things: Yao Daoyi for his pride, Dharma-rāja Sakya for his reticence, Ye Qincang for his aloofness, Azure dragon for his candid demeanor, and you for your bravery.”
”Haha. Everyone is afraid of you, but I knew for a fact that you wouldn't harm anyone unless provoked. That's the code you lived by.”
Li Changsheng let out a peal of laughter.
”Well said. Let's drink to your discernment.”
Chen Fan downed the content of his cup and then said, ”Li Changsheng, what brings you here? You might be able to fool others, but not me. I know that you've already reached the Mortal Deity Level.”
Li Changsheng was taken aback at first, then he said with a wry smile, ”No wonder they call you the Curmudgeon. How did you find out?”
The seemingly light banters they threw at each other could be shocking revelations to the world.
Who would have thought that the quietest and most modest Immortal State warrior Li Changsheng had reached the Mortal Deity level? If that was true, he would be as powerful as Lin Shuming.
Li Changsheng shook his head and lamented, ”It's not just me. There are still a few more Mortal Deities out there. Ye Qincang reached the Mortal Deity level much earlier than me, but what use was that?
”Only after reaching this level did I realize that any form of power would be weak without becoming an Earth Level Deity. Even Mortal Deities had to be extremely cautious while using their power since it consumes their vitality. Therefore, realistically speaking, we are no different than Immortal State warriors.”
Chen Fan nodded slightly.
Spirit Qi was so scarce on Earth that it was simply impossible for them to prepare their physical conditions for the Earth Deity Level, unless they could find a solid Spirit Source.
On the other hand, although Chen Fan had yet to reach the Connate Spirit level, the Azure Thearch Longevity Body would allow him to live for the following five hundred years.
In other words, he wasn't an Earth Level Deity yet, but he was already more powerful than a warrior at such a level.
”Let's get down to business, then. I have to be honest with you. I'm not an Earth Level Deity, but my Arts are much more powerful than the ones on earth, allowing me to defeat an Earth Level Deity,” said Chen Fan in a candid manner.
By then, Chen Fan was only wary of a handful of individuals on earth, so there was no need to conceal his secrets. Even if he disclosed all of them, no one could do anything to him anyway.
Even if the other Immortal State Warriors joined forces with a couple of Mortal Deities, they still wouldn't be able to harm Chen Fan.
”I guessed that much. ”
Li Changsheng nodded. ”I entered the Wu Dang Sect a hundred and forty-two years ago. But I'm still far from my goal of reaching the Earth Deity level. I have come to terms with the fact that I may never be an Earth Level Deity. Unless…”
”Unless what?” Chen Fan asked
”Unless I leave this world!” said Li Changsheng with a firm tone.
He fixed his eyes on Chen Fan and asked with a solemn face,
”Chen Beixuan, have you heard of the Gate of Heaven?”