After returning to the True Martial Hall.

Mu Qingqing wanted to hand over the harvest from this outing directly to Ye Chen.

"No rush, let's wait until it's all gathered." Ye Chen didn't care at all and said, "Qingqing, I need to cultivate for a while. Don't let anyone disturb me."

Mu Qingqing nodded and said, "Brother Ye Chen, are you healing? Let me help you!"

Ye Chen shook his head and said, "No need, I'll handle it myself."

"Brother Ye Chen, how's your little bird? Haven't seen it for a long time..."

"Rest assured, I promise it won't be long before the little bird is full of energy again!"

Little Phoenix Zizi is now a bit sluggish due to congenital deficiency, but we have found something related to the world's fire seed; once we find the fire seed, all will be well.

After a few reminders, Ye Chen dove into the attached cultivation chamber, activated the formation restrictions, and entered the fourth level of the Sword Tomb.

Quickly, Luo Qingyi and Master Legs both appeared in front of Ye Chen.

Little Phoenix was being held by Luo Qingyi, who opened its eyes to peek at Ye Chen and then squinted back to sleep...

The aura was wilting!

If someone didn't know the situation, they'd surely think Luo Qingyi did something to Ye Chen's little bird!

"Elder Qingyi, Master Legs, this is the Red Fire Treasure Mirror, please take a look." Ye Chen hurriedly took out the Red Fire Treasure Mirror.

Luo Qingyi raised a hand and summoned it.

The Red Fire Treasure Mirror fell into her hand, and after a glance, a special force swirled in her palm, followed by a layer of patterns emerging on the surface of the Red Fire Treasure Mirror.

"These patterns should be the incomplete map to find the Red Flame Spirit Flame. Those Lv Brothers surely haven't discovered this secret layer; the restriction on the surface of the Red Fire Treasure Mirror cannot be detected without reaching the Saint Realm." Luo Qingyi said.

Ye Chen nodded, knowing that the Lv Family in Celestial Cyan City has ordinary strength and no Saint Realm powerhouses.

"If the map was left behind, it's likely someone has discovered the Red Flame Spirit Flame... But why would there be a map circulating? Wouldn't it be better kept secret?"

Master Legs replied, "The world's fire seed needs time to fully form. It's possible the person who left the map discovered the Red Flame Spirit Flame before it was fully formed.

The person who left the map might already be dead.

Or for some reasons, the map ended up circulating outside."

Ye Chen made an understanding sound and had to acknowledge that having Luo Qingyi and Master Legs around helped solve many perplexing issues.

With increased exposure, Ye Chen noticed some patterns!

Regarding cultivation matters, whether Master Legs or Luo Qingyi would remind him but never directly instruct what he should do!

Firstly, even if cultivating the same heritage, the method of cultivation can differ, varying from person to person.

Secondly, cultivation is such that only by exploring on one's own can one become stronger; walking a path told by others makes one merely a passerby, unable to experience its wonder.

"If it's just a map fragment, I still can't find the Red Flame Spirit Flame..." Ye Chen muttered with a hint of disappointment.

Luo Qingyi tossed the Red Fire Treasure Mirror back to Ye Chen without saying anything.

Ye Chen picked up the Red Fire Treasure Mirror, examined it, and suddenly showed joy: "Flame Desert... I've been there!"

Luo Qingyi acknowledged with a sound.

Master Legs said, "Thus, never rush into conclusions when encountering situations. Although it's just a fragment, it contains some important information."

"The map fragment shows a location within the Flame Desert. Although the desert is vast, I now have direction. At worst, I'll spend a year or two there!"

Ye Chen looked excited and continued, "Master Legs, Elder Qingyi, I'm going to Qingye Cave Heaven to merge my Lifebound Sword. I'll leave this Red Fire Treasure Mirror in the Sword Tomb; it might not be just a map fragment, and I fear it might be snatched away if kept on me..."

After saying this, with a thought, Ye Chen exited the Sword Tomb.

Inside the Sword Tomb, Master Legs said triumphantly, "Did you hear? He called Master Legs first!"

Luo Qingyi was so irritated she kicked Master Legs' legs flying!

Outside the Sword Tomb, Ye Chen took out the leaf given by Shi Fengchun and entered Qingye Cave Heaven directly.

Next.

The Celestial Mark Sword and Wuchen Sword were taken out simultaneously.

Ye Chen activated the Sword Control Celestial Scripture and communicated with the sword spirit of the Celestial Mark Sword.

"Buzz!"

The Celestial Mark Sword emitted a glow, enveloping the Wuchen Sword, and began to devour and merge it!

Time passed bit by bit.

After four days, the Celestial Mark Sword completely consumed the Wuchen Sword.

Now, the Celestial Mark Sword, whether in hardness, sharpness, or power amplification, showed a significant enhancement.

The pattern on the sword's surface became more intricate. Under Ye Chen's Martial Arts Celestial Eye, subtly faint blue lights circulated within those patterns.

And these subtle blue lights originate from a blue mark like a tear streak near the sword's hilt!

What is this mark?

Four days ago, Ye Chen intended to ask Master Legs, but Luo Qingyi remained beside him, hence he didn't ask.

"My Lifebound Sword has now reached the level of a low-grade Dao Sword, and the blue mark starts nourishing my sword with energy... Does it mean the higher the grade of my Lifebound Sword, the more wonders of this blue mark can be unearthed?"

Ye Chen whispered to himself, and if true, it's indeed remarkable.

The Celestial Mark Sword is only barely able to invoke this power having become a low-grade Dao Sword...

After contemplating for a while, Ye Chen calmed his mind and began practicing the Nine Heavens Sword Manual!

The Nine Heavens Sword Manual is fundamentally centered on peerless sharpness; by refining the Lifebound Sword to the low-grade Dao Sword tier, the sword's sharpness feeds back into him, strengthening his sword essence and accelerating his body tempering and transformation progress.

Having just recently broken through, another opportunity to advance presented itself!

To take advantage of Qingye Cave Heaven's assisted cultivation environment, Ye Chen resolved to make a concentrated effort to advance from the Second Layer of Transcendence to the Third Layer and beyond!

......

On the seventh day of Ye Chen's cultivation within Qingye Cave Heaven.

The powerhouses from the True Martial Hall dispatched to resist the invasion of the three alien races at Soul-Splitting Gorge finally returned.

This battle lasted over a month and was exceedingly brutal.

True Martial Hall's powerhouses suffered heavy casualties.

However, fortunately, the three alien races have been repelled!

All the sacrifices were worthwhile!

Shi Fengchun observed the returning group; beneath his calm demeanor, a hint of sorrow was present and promptly reopened the Grotto Heaven for the injured True Martial Hall powerhouses to enter and recuperate.

Among them.

Tian Bugui and Su Yun from Bright Hall, despite not being lightly injured, showed no intention of entering the Grotto Heaven to cultivate but hurriedly sought out Ye Chen!

Tian Bugui suspected that something the invading three alien races wanted at Soul-Splitting Gorge was unintentionally given to Ye Chen last time.

Only Su Yun knew this news for now.

Both were extremely anxious about this matter!

Tasked with Ye Chen's instructions, Mu Qingqing attempted to stop Tian Bugui and Su Yun from barging into Ye Chen's place.

However... like an ant trying to stop a car...

Tian Bugui rushed into Ye Chen's room, opened the cultivation chamber's restriction, and was stunned.

Immediately following, Su Yun entered and was dumbfounded.

Lastly, Mu Qingqing, looking aggrieved, came in to find the cultivation chamber empty and she was taken aback.

Where's the person?!

Meanwhile.

Ye Chen in Qingye Cave Heaven noticed the activity as Qingye Cave Heaven was reopening.

Having now advanced to the Third Layer of Transcendence, Ye Chen began refining his meridians to generate the Power of Transcendence.

With Qingye Cave Heaven reopening, Ye Chen was not planning to linger any longer, and just as he was about to leave, a figure abruptly darted before him!

"Hall Master Xiao..."

Ye Chen gazed at the person in front with a look of surprise.

It was indeed Xiao Lang, the Hall Master of Seven Stars Hall.

Xiao Lang's return suggested that the battle at Soul-Splitting Gorge was likely concluded.

Yet Xiao Lang's aura was chaotic, and beneath his robe, blood seeped continually, indicative of an unimaginably fierce life-and-death struggle at Soul-Splitting Gorge.

"Originally, I intended to control my injuries first before seeking you out; since you're here, it's more convenient. I have something important to tell you!" Xiao Lang's expression was solemn, and his tone immensely serious!

(Suddenly feel like adding more chapters, you know... I'm merely seeking gifts, delivering fourteen thousand words today.)

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