Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

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Wang Chen hid underground in the desert for three whole days.

It wasn't until a third of the stored energy in the True Form Chart of the Mystical Mirage Dragon had been exhausted that he quietly resurfaced to return to Dayi City under the cover of darkness.

Throughout this process, Wang Chen used the True Form Chart of the Mystical Mirage Dragon to protect his body, making him seem like a faint mist silently flitting across the desert.

The return journey went smoothly, without encountering any further complications.

Although he was transported to an unfamiliar territory, as long as it was within ten thousand miles, with the aid of the Heavenly Master's Token, he could accurately locate the Shangxun Heavenly Master Pavilion, eliminating the possibility of getting lost.

By the time Wang Chen reached the approach to Town Sand Pass, the previously overwhelming locusts of the Sand Tribe had long since disappeared without a trace.

Only a thick layer of insect cadavers and debris on the ground was left to bear witness to the fierce battle that had taken place here.

"Junior Brother Wang!"

When Kou Shihai saw Wang Chen safe and sound returning, the grand commander was quite overcome with emotion, "It's so good to see you're alright!"

The past three days had been incredibly trying for Kou Shihai.

Despite successfully repelling the locust army with minimal losses and creating a small miracle,

the disappearance of Wang Chen left Kou Shihai devoid of any joy from their victory.

It was he who had requested Wang Chen to deal with the locusts.

If something had happened to Wang Chen, even his death, Kou Shihai would have felt responsible and could not have been at ease.

Now that Wang Chen was unharmed, one could only imagine his joy!

"It was by sheer luck."

Wang Chen smiled, "I almost didn't make it back."

He wasn't exaggerating.

The power of the Golden Core Zen Master was simply not something that Wang Chen could contend with at the moment.

The fact that he had managed to escape owed firstly to withstanding the shock to his Divine Soul from the forced teleportation, avoiding being knocked unconscious on the spot, which would have made him easy prey.

Secondly, his quick reaction in immediately activating the Five Elements God Escape Talisman to flee was crucial.

The True Form Chart of the Mystical Mirage Dragon then played an important role.

But looking back, Wang Chen felt there was another reason: the Golden Core Zen Master had underestimated him.

If any one of these conditions had been missing, he would not have been able to return!

Kou Shihai's expression darkened, "A trap?"

Being who he was, he had already speculated about certain possibilities, and now his suspicions were even stronger.

"Yes."

Wang Chen nodded, "The one who plotted against me was a Golden Core Zen Master."

"How dare they!"

Kou Shihai erupted in anger, "Do those bald donkeys think the West Sea Sect is defenseless?"

Dayi City, as the frontier gateway of West State in the West Sea Spirit Domain, holds the most crucial passageway from the Western Region to the east.

For thousands of years, the West Sea Sect and the Buddhist Sect of the Western Region have been engaged in an unending, overt and covert struggle, with deep-seated enmity between them that cannot be resolved.

However, to prevent the outbreak of a cataclysmic war that could lead to an uncontrollable situation, the Daoist-Buddhist conflicts occurring within the Dayi City area have always been restricted to levels below the Golden Core.

After all, the power of the Golden Core and the Nascent Soul is so terrifying that full-scale warfare would come at a cost neither side is willing to bear.

The Buddhist Sect of the Western Region has always used the Sand Tribe as pawns, to consume the strength of the West Sea Sect and tie down their resources and manpower.

The Sand Tribe, of course, also has its own Golden Core and Nascent Soul Cultivators.

But they have never joined the battle.

Should they ever enter the fray, annihilation of their tribe would be the outcome – something even the Buddhist Sect of the Western Region could not prevent.

Because that would cross the red line of the West Sea Sect!

Wang Chen, as a Guarding Heavenly Master stationed by the West Sea Sect in Dayi City, had actually been ambushed by a Golden Core Zen Master. If the West Sea Sect were to remain indifferent to this, they would no longer be deserving of the title of the foremost Immortal Gates in the Mountain and Sea Realm!

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Thinking of the grave consequences of this matter, Kou Shihai said solemnly, "Junior Brother Wang, this is no trivial matter. Do you have evidence?"

He wasn't questioning Wang Chen; instead, he was pondering how to report to the sect.

If it were just baseless claims, the Buddhist Sect in the Western Region could completely deny it, and it would be difficult for the West Sea Sect to justify waging a large-scale conflict.

After all, Wang Chen was unharmed, not even a single hair lost.

Without evidence, a calmed Kou Shihai also felt it was a thorny issue.

"I do."

Wang Chen immediately produced a Memory Stone.

Before coming to Dayi City, he had exchanged some of his not-so-plentiful Merit Points for a few Memory Stones.

Though these items had no offensive power, they could play an irreplaceable role in many situations.

Wang Chen, influenced by concepts from a past life, had exchanged for a few to carry on his person, just in case.

Earlier, when he locked onto the "locust's" location, preparing to capture and kill it, he activated one on his person.

The main purpose was to have evidence, to avoid being wrongfully accused or even framed!

And indeed, he had obtained the evidence.

"That's great!"

Kou Shihai was immediately overjoyed, "I will report to the sect right away. Junior brother, you rest well in the Seven-Star Pavilion and wait for my news!"

Wang Chen nodded, "Then I'll trouble Senior Brother."

"No need for such courtesy between you and me."

Kou Shihai waved his hand and sneered, "This time, we must teach those baldies a harsh lesson!"

The excited Grand Commander left, and Wang Chen rested in the Seven-Star Pavilion for just one day before he received an edict from the sect.

After receiving the order, he immediately rushed to the Chief Town Heavenly Master's Mansion in Dayi City.

Although Wang Chen belonged to the Guarding Heavenly Masters under the Chief Town Heavenly Master's jurisdiction, his visits to the Chief Mansion were scarce, having barely seen Chief Town Heavenly Master Luo Han a few times.

Their relationship could only be described with the word 'indifferent.'
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In the great hall of the Chief Town Heavenly Master's Mansion, he met the special envoy from the sect.

He immediately performed the grand salute, "Disciple Wang Chen pays respects to Free Cloud True Person, Long River True Person, and True Person Ziyang!"

These three Golden Core True Persons were seated majestically upon the Yunluan, each possessing an imposing manner. Though they did not show the slightest hint of their aura, their intangible prestige captivated the spirit, instilling one with a sense of insurmountable reverence.

The edict he had received earlier had clarified the identities of the three true persons, hence Wang Chen knew their names.

Truth be told, he never expected the sect to take this matter so seriously, sending such a formidable delegation.

After all, the Cloud Sun Sect of those days had only three Golden Cores!

"There is no need for such formalities."

The central Long River True Person waved his horsetail whisk and asked with a calm demeanor, "The sect received an urgent report from Dayi yesterday, claiming you were the victim of an assassination plot by a Buddhist Zen Master from the Western Region. Is this true?"

"Facing the True Person himself, this disciple wouldn't dare speak a half-truth!"

Wang Chen immediately recounted how he had requested Kou Shihai's help, using the Prayer Heavenly Mechanism Talisman to search for the whereabouts of the Sand Tribe locust; and how, during its elimination, he was inadvertently transported out of the city and then ambushed by the Buddhist Zen Master, telling the story exactly as it happened.

Except for his own external assistance, which he could not reveal in the slightest, including the True Form Chart of the Mystical Mirage Dragon, he did not conceal anything.

Of course, Wang Chen simply substituted it with the term "treasure."

Facing three powerful true persons, lying was the most foolish act; skillfully concealing the key points was the wiser choice.

After speaking, Wang Chen presented the Memory Stone.

This item was sufficient to prove his words!

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The first update is delivered.