Feng Chen was already at the Peak Of Three Elements Divine Realm which meant that he was just a step away from Nascent Soul Realm.
Though the two realms are just separated by one realm, there was a vast difference between the Nascent Soul Realm and the Three Elements Divine Realm.
While there were thousands of people in the Three Elements Divine Realm, people in the Nascent Soul Realm were only a handful.
If one were to reach Nascent Soul Realm, he/she could be considered one of the strongest individuals in Azure Sky Empire. Even the Imperial Family has to give some face to such individuals.
Feng Chen returned to his room, contemplating the purchase of a formation from the System to keep his cultivation hidden.
He was wary of potential spies sent by his enemies and knew he needed to hide his true strength to avoid drawing the attention of even more powerful enemies.
After browsing through the System store, he found what he was looking for: the "Heavenly Veil Formation."
Heavenly Veil Formation:
Grade: 5
Function: Enhances cultivation speed by 50%, conceals all activities within the formation, and provides a barrier against external detection.
Cost: 50,000 System Points
Feng Chen didn't hesitate and immediately brought it. The cost was significant, but the benefits were too great to ignore.
He confirmed the purchase and decided right away to set up the formation. A surge of energy enveloped him as the formation was integrated into his room.
He immediately felt the change. The air inside the room became richer with spiritual energy, and a faint, shimmering barrier formed around the space, making it impossible for anyone to sense what was happening inside.
Feng Chen smiled, satisfied with his investment.
"Alright! Now, I can cultivate without any worries."
Sitting cross-legged in the center of the room, Feng Chen began his cultivation. The enhanced energy flow was palpable.
His breathing synchronized with the rhythmic pulse of the formation, and he could feel his cultivation base stabilizing and strengthening.
The gap between the Three Elements Divine Realm and the Nascent Soul Realm seemed a little less daunting now.
After cultivating for many hours, Feng Chen felt exhausted, yet his spirits were high with excitement.
"It's time to use this," he said, taking out a vial of Pure Essence Fluid.
This was the first gift that System gave him as a newbie.
Feng Chen uncorked the vial, the clear, shimmering liquid inside catching the faint light of the room.
As he held it up, the vial seemed to hum with a subtle energy, a testament to its powerful nature.
"This Pure Essence Fluid is exactly what I need," he murmured, his voice filled with anticipation.
With a deep breath, Feng Chen brought the vial to his lips and drank the fluid in one smooth motion.
Instantly, a warm sensation spread through his body, invigorating every fiber of his being.
The liquid was like a torrent of pure, spiritual essence, flowing through his meridians and dantian with incredible speed.
Previously, Feng Chen hadn't even heard about Pure Essence Fluid, but through the System, he knew of its effects.
First and foremost, it accelerated his cultivation speed, infusing his body with concentrated spiritual energy that would typically take weeks or even months to accumulate.
Every breath he took now felt richer, laden with the essence of the world itself.
As the fluid worked its magic, it began to purify his meridians and dantian, clearing out any residual impurities and smoothing the flow of energy within him.
The once-faint blockages in his energy pathways dissolved, making his cultivation more efficient and effective. It was as though his entire system had been cleaned and refreshed.
The restoration of vital energy was also one of its features. The exhaustion from hours of cultivating melted away, replaced by a renewed vigor.
Feng Chen could feel his strength being replenished, his stamina restored to its peak.
Most significantly, the Pure Essence Fluid was aiding in his breakthrough.
As his energy surged and the impurities were expelled, the barriers between his current realm and the Nascent Soul Realm seemed to thin.
The fluid provided the final push he needed to transcend his limitations and advance to the next level.
Feng Chen's physique also benefited from the fluid's effects. His muscles felt more robust, his senses sharper, and his endurance heightened.
The Pure Essence Fluid was not just a temporary boost but a long-lasting enhancement to his overall capabilities.
As the vial emptied, Feng Chen's aura began to glow with a brilliant light. The energy within him surged and stabilized, marking a significant step forward in his cultivation journey.
His eyes closed as he focused inward, feeling the profound changes coursing through his meridians and dantian.
With a determined expression, he whispered to himself, "It's time. This breakthrough is within reach."
He gathered the concentrated energy and directed it towards the threshold separating the Three Elements Divine Realm from the Nascent Soul Realm.
His aura flared, enveloping him in a radiant light as he pushed against the barriers that had held him back.
"The gap between realms will no longer stand in my way," he said with resolve. "I am ready to step into the Nascent Soul Realm."
As the energy surged, Feng Chen's presence became overwhelming, the room illuminated by the brilliance of his aura.
Fortunately, Feng Chen had the foresight to prepare the Heavenly Veil Formation; otherwise, the entire Misty Vale City might have sensed the overwhelming aura he was emitting.
The barrier of the Three Elements Divine Realm began to crack under pressure, the resistance melting away as Feng Chen's energy surged through.
He could feel the transformation beginning—his very essence aligning with the core of the Nascent Soul Realm.
With a final, decisive push, Feng Chen released the accumulated energy, and the last vestiges of the barrier gave way.
The sensation was like breaking through a dense fog into clear, open skies. As the barriers fell away, Feng Chen's entire being surged with vibrant energy, his aura exploding in a dazzling display of light and power.
His eyes snapped open, glowing with an intense brilliance, and a deep, resonant energy thrummed through him. The room vibrated with the newfound strength emanating from his body.
With a voice that echoed like a thunderclap, he declared, "I am Feng Chen of the Nascent Soul Realm!"
*******
"Hey, Fu Zhen! Did you hear what happened at Feng Clan's banquet yesterday?"
"What? Did a war break out between the Feng Clan and the other Major Families?"
"No! But there was something much more interesting. Mystic Flame Sect had come to Feng Clan."
"Mystic Flame Sect!? The number one sect of our empire?"
"Not only that, Mystic Flame Sect's little sect leader actually announced that she was engaged to Feng Chen's younger brother, Feng Yun."
"What? How can this be possible? Trash marrying a phoenix! It is impossible."
"Indeed! Miss Ling didn't want to marry that trash and had come to break off the marriage."
"Whew! How could that trash deserve Miss Ling? It was the right decision."
"However, it was Feng Yun who divorced Miss Ling and made a three-year promise that he would beat her at Dragon and Phoenix Competition."
"How could Feng Yun be worthy of competing at the Dragon and Phoenix Competition? Humph! He might not even survive Mystic Flame Sect retaliation for divorcing."
"That's where you are wrong. Feng's clan leader had beaten Elder Zhou who wanted to attack Feng Yun and had also forced Mystic Flame Sect to leave."
"Really? Is Feng's Clan Leader so powerful?"
…
News of the Mystic Flame Sect's visit and the shocking turn of events at the Feng Clan's banquet spread like wildfire.
The city buzzed with excitement and speculation, each new piece of gossip feeding into the growing frenzy.
The buzz was so intense that neighboring cities quickly caught wind of it. Such news involving the Mystic Flame Sect couldn't be contained and was likely to reach nearly every corner of the Azure Sky Empire due to their influence.
This widespread attention made Elder Zhou's defeat particularly humiliating for the Mystic Flame Sect.
The once invincible Mystic Flame Sect had one of their elders beaten up by some remote area's unknown Clan Leader.