Outside, heavy snow was falling, painting the entire world white as the frigid air spread wantonly.
Chen Shixian smiled and said, "Name your price." Very direct.
Chen Pingping suddenly realized. He had thought Chen Shixian was here to discuss romance; after all... he was so captivatingly handsome, there was no reason for her not to fall for him. It never occurred to him that it was all for that Earth Chicken.
Chen Pingping chuckled. "I've raised it for a long time; this chicken understands human nature. If Miss Chen can persuade it, feel free to take it away."
This statement sent Chen Shixian into deep thought. At Salt Mountain, he had said something similar, seemingly certain she wouldn't be able to take it away. No, it was a kind of confidence. A confidence that could make a Spiritual Beast follow him loyally to the end. Chen Shixian couldn't see through him. The records showed he was idle and inactive, spending his days with cattle and dogs, never cultivating. Yet the Chen Pingping she saw was someone who remained calm and composed even in the depths of Salt Mountain. Was he a mere mortal?
After a long while...
Fierce Sword Intent suddenly burst forth from within Chen Shixian—three strands. One of Breaking Sun, a second of Condensed Soul, and a third of Destiny.
Completely different Sword Intents slashed down at Chen Pingping. He exclaimed, "Miss Chen, what are you doing?"
Chen Shixian remained silent.
The powerful Sword Intent cut into Chen Pingping's body but vanished as if a stone dropped into the ocean, not causing the slightest ripple.
He's not fighting back?
Chen Shixian activated her phenomenon, Rising Moon Above the Sea. A divine radiance burst forth instantly, bathing her in an almost holy light. She spoke indifferently, "Fight back!"
Yet, such a powerful attack still failed to provoke Chen Pingping into action. He seemed somewhat flustered, but his posture remained steady.
Chen Shixian intensified her attack.
Chen Pingping finally couldn't bear it any longer. He spat out a large mouthful of blood, his face turning ashen.
Only then did Chen Shixian cease her assault, and all the phenomena dissipated. She stared intently at Chen Pingping. "Why didn't you fight back?"
"Miss Chen, I'm just a mortal; I don't understand cultivation!" Chen Pingping said weakly. "If you want that chicken, you can take it! There's no need for this... Or, how about I stew it tonight, and we can have soup together?"
Although he had suffered grievous injuries, she saw not a hint of panic in him. Is he really just a mortal?
「Outside the door.」
Seeing Guang Xiaoyu's displeased expression, Shi Yi couldn't help asking, "What realm are you at now?"
"Breaking Sun Ninth Heaven!" she declared, casting a pointed, sideways glance towards the house.
Strangely, despite such a huge commotion inside the house moments ago, they, standing outside, hadn't sensed the slightest thing.
Shi Yi was stunned for a moment. "Ninth Heaven?"
Wasn't she at the Fifth Heaven last time? How long has it been?
Just then, Chen Shixian pushed the door open and stepped out. She glanced at the heavy snow outside and the two people, a thoughtful expression on her face. She felt a nagging sense that something was amiss.
"Senior Brother! What's wrong?" Guang Xiaoyu cried out, running inside, only to see the injured Chen Pingping. She was instantly furious. "Did she do this?"
Damn it! That damn Divine Body! My Senior Brother! You dare to touch *my* Senior Brother?
Guang Xiaoyu clenched her fists, wanting to chase after Chen Shixian, but Chen Pingping stopped her. He gave a weak smile. "It's nothing. When Chen Shixian attacked just now, I managed to capture her Sword Intent."
Tears welled up in Guang Xiaoyu's eyes.
To help her defeat the Divine Body, Senior Brother actually used himself to experience the Divine Body's Sword Dao attacks! That infuriating Senior Brother! A mere mortal, yet he worries so much about others. And you, Divine Body! How dare you strike *my* Senior Brother? Are you prepared to endure this Emperor's wrath?
"Rising Moon Above the Sea... this is a very ancient Divine Body phenomenon. Relying solely on this to determine the Divine Body's specific constitution might be difficult... However, she displayed the exclusive Sword Dao of a Divine Body, so I've figured it out," Chen Pingping said with a smile. "The Moon God body."
Shi Yi, who had followed him in, exclaimed in surprise, "One of the top ten ancient divine bodies?"
"Indeed," Chen Pingping said. "The Moon God body is acclaimed as one of the top ten ancient divine bodies. This type of Divine Body is terrifyingly powerful. If its phenomenon is cultivated to the extreme, it's nearly unbeatable, and its Moon Sword Dao even more so. The terrifying technique you mentioned earlier that the Divine Body cultivates must be that one."
"Which one?" Shi Yi asked subconsciously.
"Moon illusion," Chen Pingping stated.
It's a form of cultivation akin to a contract. It involves combining the soul of a beast with one's own Divine Soul. They complement each other; the higher the beast's level, the stronger the assistance, and consequently, the greater the power obtained. If one could obtain a Spiritual Beast, then when Moon illusion is used, they would be invincible among peers.
Shi Yi's mouth fell open slightly. "Does that mean she'll be unbeatable among the younger generation?"
"Not necessarily!" Chen Pingping said. "So-called invincibility must be based on widespread acknowledgment, not just one's own perceived strength. Among the younger generation, as long as there's even one person who doesn't acknowledge her, she isn't truly invincible. If Junior Sister's determination remains unbroken, she too can defeat the Divine Body."
Shi Yi rolled his eyes.
"I've heard of this constitution," Guang Xiaoyu said, sounding depressed.
In the hundreds of thousands of years she had lived, she had once encountered a Moon God body. That person was extremely arrogant, insufferably so, and hadn't even given her a chance to fight. He even said she wasn't qualified. If Chen Shixian truly is a Moon God body, then this challenge is deeply concerning!
"Brother Shi Yi, please step outside." After Shi Yi left, Chen Pingping said, "The Moon God body wants to kill me. I sensed that killing intention. Although it vanished as quickly as it appeared, she didn't make a move, probably because she's wary of something."
"She wants to kill you?" Guang Xiaoyu's face flushed with anger.
"Calm down. You mustn't act rashly," Chen Pingping said. "With your current strength and condition, the chances of defeating the Divine Body aren't high. So... I'm going to start the third phase of your training."
...
These words sounded strange. Senior Brother is just a mortal, an ordinary person who doesn't understand cultivation.
But he kept setting up training plans for her, one after another. Guang Xiaoyu was bewildered. This Emperor has lived for hundreds of thousands of years and has never encountered anything like this!
Yet, she felt a strange sense of anticipation. She was so nervous. What exactly is Senior Brother's third phase of training?
"Is the wooden sword still around?"
"It is!"
"Use it to defeat Hei," Chen Pingping said.
...
Guang Xiaoyu was speechless. Hei? The dog? What kind of Great Emperor joke is this?
But Chen Pingping offered no explanation.
Resigned, she could only pick up the dopey-looking little Hei and head outside. She then stared intently at it. "You're a dog, right?"
WOOF WOOF!
Hei responded.
"You're not a Spiritual Beast, right?"
WOOF WOOF...
"Senior Brother wants me to fight you. I think Senior Brother wants to kill you," Guang Xiaoyu said, suspicious. "Did you provoke Senior Brother?"
Nearby, Lao Huang, the old yellow ox, let out a low moo, watching the scene with great interest.
In the next instant, Hei the dog spat out a beam of Sword Qi.
Guang Xiaoyu was dumbstruck.
Lao Huang quickly projected an energy field to isolate the area from the outside world.
The nearby Earth Chicken, witnessing this, was instantly stunned. It had guessed Lao Huang had an extraordinary background, but it never imagined that the ordinarily dopey little mutt... would actually, damn it all, spit out a beam of Sword Qi! AAAH! My worldview has shattered!
Guang Xiaoyu's eyes widened in shock. She didn't react in time and was struck across the shoulder by the Sword Qi.