Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

The atmosphere in the front hall suddenly became extremely solemn.

The maidservant waiting on the side tactfully left the room to avoid overhearing matters that she should not hear.

Kou Shihai waved his hand and set up a mana barrier around them to prevent the conversation between him and Wang Chen from being overheard by others.

As the saying goes, "walls have ears," and one must guard against this even within the Seven-Star Pavilion.

Once the arrangements were in place, the great commander gazed at Wang Chen with a serious tone and asked, "Junior Brother Wang, have you been practicing the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method from the Heavenly Dragon Temple in the Western Region?"

Kou Shihai was, of course, one of the audience members that witnessed the entire "live broadcast" of the life-and-death battle between Wang Chen and Tu Qi.

He was one of the very few who could discern the issue at hand.

"Yes,"

Wang Chen calmly responded, "I began practicing this cultivation technique before I entered the sect."

Kou Shihai took a deep breath and continued to ask, "To what level have you cultivated it?"

Enquiring into the details of someone's cultivation technique is a big taboo, but he was not picking a fight with Wang Chen for no reason.

On the contrary, the great commander wanted to help Wang Chen.

Wang Chen: "The sixth level."

"Vajra Invulnerability!"

Kou Shihai's eyes revealed a look of shock, "You've actually cultivated it to such a high realm!"

There was a reason for Kou Shihai's astonishment.

As the commander of Town Sand Pass, he was undoubtedly on the front line against the Buddhist Sect of the Western Region.

The Sand Tribe was merely the foot soldiers of the Western Region's Buddhist Sect.

Therefore, Kou Shihai had a deep understanding of the Buddhist Sect and its cultivation techniques and had even battled with its disciples before.

So he knew very well how difficult it was to cultivate the Vajra Right Method of the Heavenly Dragon Temple to the sixth level!

Wang Chen, however, was a bona fide Taoist Sect disciple!

"A fortuitous encounter, I suppose."

Wang Chen explained, "Before I joined the sect, I had consumed a Vermilion Fruit of unknown origin, which then made the practice of this technique twice as effective, leading to my current cultivation realm."

In truth, Wang Chen had frequently used the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Palm in his life-and-death battle with the Sand Tribe wizard, ultimately slaying his opponent with a single palm strike, all with the intention of revealing his practice of this technique!

He had cultivated the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method to such a high level that, unless he abandoned the practice, it was inevitable that he would one day be exposed.

Rather than be discovered and unmasked by others, it was better to take control of the situation himself!

Keep in mind that Wang Chen was currently responsible for rotating duty at Town Sand Pass. If someone with a motive were to reveal that his Buddhist technique cultivation was profound and report it to the sect, the outcome would be easy to predict.

As a West Sea Sect disciple of Wang Chen's nature, in the strict sense, he belonged to those who had joined the sect bringing with them their own expertise, coming from a Loose Cultivator background, which no matter what, could not be compared with those truly orthodox disciples.

This kind of invisible discrimination exists in every sect!

Without a family background and not being of the direct lineage, it would be extremely difficult for Wang Chen to go further in the sect and become a Vein-entered Disciple, or even a Core Disciple.

Practicing the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method was a handle that could easily be used against him!

Now, revealing it voluntarily made a difference.

Keep in mind that Wang Chen had defeated a powerful wizard of the Sand Tribe. If he were to suffer oppression or even persecution from the upper echelons of the sect because of the cultivation technique he practiced, it would undoubtedly discourage the lower-ranking cultivators.

The West Sea Sect, being the number one Immortal Gate in the Mountain and Sea Realm, should naturally possess an inclusive magnanimity.

Thus, even if Kou Shihai had not asked, Wang Chen would have brought up the topic himself.

Now that the great commander had taken the initiative to inquire, it played right into Wang Chen's hands!

Of course, the secret of the Immortal Cultivation interface must not be revealed in the slightest; he had long thought of a very strong reason.

Serendipitous encounter!

Kou Shihai was indeed at a loss for words.

Serendipity follows no logic.

Some cultivators struggle bitterly their entire lives, working extremely hard and diligently, yet they can't manage to Breakthrough the Mansion.

There are those, however, who gain a serendipitous opportunity and can swiftly ascend, with the Golden Core within reach.

Some fall off cliffs to an unmarked grave, while others tumble into the Cave Mansion of a predecessor and receive a rich inheritance.

As Wang Chen said, by accidentally consuming a Vermilion Fruit, he found the practice of the cultivation technique to progress like a broken bamboo, much easier and simpler than for others.

It's not anything outrageous.

Because there are too many precedents!

"No wonder…"

Kou Shihai finally understood why Wang Chen was so young and yet had such cultivation strength.

The fellow had come across a great opportunity!

"Then let me ask another question."

After some thought, Kou Shihai asked again, "Where did you acquire your cultivation technique from?"

"The first three layers were purchased from the Four Seas Commerce Association."

Wang Chen answered frankly. "The middle three layers were a gift from an old monk named Wuxiang."

He concealed what needed to be concealed, and told the truth when it wasn't necessary to hide anything.

Truth and deception form the way of reality and illusion.

"Monk Wuxiang of Lantuo Temple!"

Kou Shihai suddenly widened his eyes. "You actually know him!"

Wang Chen was taken aback. "Senior Brother, you know of him?"

When Wang Chen met Wuxiang at Chaotic Burial Mound, the old monk had left a deep impression on him.

But back then, Wang Chen's cultivation level wasn't high and he couldn't discern the other's actual cultivation realm.

He only found him to be inscrutably profound.

He hadn't expected that Kou Shihai would know the monk's Dharma name.

"Yes."

Kou Shihai nodded and said with a wry smile, "He truly is a high monk."

The Buddhist Sect in the Mountain and Sea Realm is considered a heterodox and not favored by the mainstream Immortal Gates, mainly confined to the Western Region.

Disciples of the Taoist Sect have always looked down on the Buddhist Sect's monks as part of the discrimination chain in immortal cultivation.

Yet within the Buddhist Sect, there are many figures worthy of admiration.

Monk Wuxiang is one of them.

Lantuo Temple doesn't operate the same way as the Buddhist Sect of the Western Region. Nobody knows where the temple is located, including those within the Buddhist Sect.

Every hundred years, a monk from Lantuo Temple would appear, traveling the world to subdue demons and extinguish evil.

Unconcerned with fame or fortune, detached from grudges and the secular world, they only seek pure and bright righteousness, and their actions always embody justice.

Such disciples of the Buddhist Sect truly deserve the title of "high monk."

Although Kou Shihai had never seen Monk Wuxiang, he had heard of his deeds and held a good deal of admiration for him.

"There should be no problem then."

Kou Shihai was completely reassured and said to Wang Chen, "Your cultivation technique comes from Monk Wuxiang, so there's absolutely no issue, and you need not worry about others' questioning."

Wang Chen's mind stirred. "The Sect will send someone over, right?"

"That's correct."

Kou Shihai explained, "Your status is now different, so the Sect will definitely want to investigate this matter thoroughly. But as long as you are upright, you need not fear any skewed shadows. You have conducted yourself with integrity, so naturally, you will face no disaster or tribulation."

"I will testify for you!"

Wang Chen bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

"You don't need to be so formal."

Kou Shihai said, "I'm also doing this just in case. You should know there are always people who are inadequate at doing good but excel at causing trouble. They can't stand to see others succeed and enjoy playing underhanded tricks behind the scenes."

"I believe in my junior brother's character!"

Wang Chen felt that being able to meet Kou Shihai was also his good fortune.

In the end, Kou Shihai said, "There's no time to delay, I must report to the Sect immediately."
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"Junior Brother, rest easy and await your reward!"

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The second chapter is here.