Chapter 633: Chapter 414: Seventh Layer

However, the task description detailed the habits of these two Exotic Beasts. Fire Bears generally only appeared in areas with volcanoes or Earth Vein Spiritual Fire, while Dragon-Horned Deer lived in places rich in moisture. As for whether he could actually encounter them in those locations, it would completely depend on luck.

Xu Yang didn’t absolutely have to find these two creatures to complete his tasks. He had already finished one of the three, so whether he could complete the remaining two wasn’t important. His main goal was to stay in Jade Dragon Mountain long enough to pave the way for revealing his Spirit Bone in the future.

Celestial Strategy Academy.

"I, Huo Xiaochen, have broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer!"

A long, resounding howl officially announced Huo Xiaochen’s Cultivation breakthrough to the Celestial Essence Third Layer. Instantly, countless gazes turned toward the courtyard where he lived. Envy, jealousy, and a myriad of other emotions filled their eyes.

Huo Xiaochen was brimming with high spirits. After more than a month of continuous Closed-door Cultivation, he had finally pushed his Cultivation to the Celestial Essence Third Realm.

"Congratulations, Husband."

Xiao Hui’s face was full of joy. Leading two maids, she stepped forward to serve him, changing him out of the clothes he had worn for days and freshening him up.

"How could a mere Celestial Essence Third Layer stop my, Huo Xiaochen’s, footsteps?" Huo Xiaochen looked conceited as he immediately followed up, "Did anyone else break through while I was in Closed-door Cultivation?"

To go all out for his breakthrough, he hadn’t kept up with outside affairs during his Closed-door Cultivation, afraid it might affect his state of mind.

"Tu Gang’s Azure Dragon Dominating Body broke through to the Third Layer. Other than him, Gu Qingfeng, Li Yunfei, Wu Xiuyuan, and Sun Tao are still in Closed-door Cultivation. No news of breakthroughs has come from them," Xiao Hui said.

"His Body Refining Talent is truly terrifying."

Hearing that Tu Gang’s Body Refining had broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer, Huo Xiaochen was a bit surprised. Even though he had consumed Dragon Blood—an item capable of defying the heavens and changing one’s fate—his talent in Body Refining was still inferior to Tu Gang’s.

"But I’ll be there soon too."

Soon, Lu Ren, Du Ziming, and others who were entirely focused on currying favor with Huo Xiaochen rushed over to congratulate him. In no time, Huo Xiaochen’s courtyard was packed with people.

"Congratulations, Brother Huo!"

"Brother Huo is exceptionally gifted. Once again, you have walked ahead of everyone else."

"It goes without saying that we must have Brother Huo treat us to drinks today. Breaking through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer is a major event. From now on, even in a place like Yunzhou City, you can be called a minor expert."

"Drinks are a small matter," Huo Xiaochen said with a smile.

"Now that Brother Huo has broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer, I’m afraid Xu Yang must be in a state of panic," Lu Ren suddenly spoke up.

Having thoroughly studied the art of networking, he knew that simply saying "congratulations" at a time like this was far too ordinary. He had to say something unique to catch Huo Xiaochen’s attention. To be unique meant naturally stepping on someone Huo Xiaochen hated. And if one were to ask who Huo Xiaochen hated the most, it was undoubtedly Xu Yang, who had once made him look utterly pathetic.

Sure enough, as soon as these words were spoken, Huo Xiaochen’s reaction instantly shifted. He looked quite pleased, and the gaze he directed at Lu Ren grew much warmer than before.

Du Ziming also caught on and hurriedly added, "He went to Jade Dragon Mountain for over a month and hasn’t returned. I’m afraid he doesn’t even know the news of Brother Huo’s breakthrough yet. He got off easy for now."

He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, realizing he was still inferior to Lu Ren. When it came to the art of flattering and bootlicking, Lu Ren was simply on another level.

"He is nothing to fear. I can crush him to death at any time," Huo Xiaochen said, his face full of smiles.

Lu Ren nodded. "He can’t withstand a single blow from Brother Huo. I’m afraid he only went to Jade Dragon Mountain because he felt the pressure after you pushed into the eleventh level of the Battle Tower."

He understood Xu Yang all too well. Back in the Purple Sun Sect, Xu Yang had never left the sect to take risks; he was exceedingly cautious. Yet now, he had gone to a much more dangerous place like Jade Dragon Mountain. One didn’t even need to think to know it was due to the pressure from Huo Xiaochen. If it were him who had offended someone like Huo Xiaochen, he would be constantly on edge too.

"So what if he went to Jade Dragon Mountain? Even if you gave him another half a year, it would be impossible for him to break through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer. He could never catch up to Brother Huo in his entire lifetime," Du Ziming chuckled.

"He might not be able to catch up to Brother Huo, but at least having a faint sliver of hope makes him feel a bit better inside," Lu Ren said in a mocking tone.

Huo Xiaochen felt pleased hearing this. He asked casually, "It’s been over a month. Has he not returned yet?"

Du Ziming shook his head. "He hasn’t come back. He might have already died in Jade Dragon Mountain."

"I actually hope he doesn’t die in Jade Dragon Mountain, so I can have the chance to kill him with my own hands." Huo Xiaochen made no effort to conceal his murderous intent toward Xu Yang. He didn’t just want to kill Xu Yang; he wanted to kill him openly and brazenly to reclaim the face he had once lost.

"Brother Huo is truly domineering!" Du Ziming and Lu Ren cupped their hands in salute together.

Only someone like Huo Xiaochen would dare to publicly state their intention to kill a fellow student.

Huo Xiaochen was about to speak when he suddenly noticed that Fang Xu, who was beside him, didn’t look too well. A thought stirred in his mind, and he sent a sound transmission, "Did you send people to Jade Dragon Mountain to kill Xu Yang?"

Before his Closed-door Cultivation, he had known that Xu Yang went to Jade Dragon Mountain. However, he had been too busy trying to break through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer to care. But he knew that Fang Xu wanted to kill Xu Yang, and he figured Fang Xu wouldn’t have let such a good opportunity slip by. If Xu Yang really ended up killed by the Fang Family’s people, his desire to personally kill him would never be fulfilled.

"The family sent two experts over," Fang Xu replied via sound transmission. "They might have failed. Over a month has passed, and there is still no news."

This was the reason for his poor expression. Upon learning the news of Xu Yang entering Jade Dragon Mountain, the Fang Family had dispatched two experts to execute him. Yet, well over a month had gone by, and those two had not returned. He didn’t know if those two had been counter-killed by Xu Yang or if they had encountered some other accident. It was highly likely the latter.

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