Led by Yuwen Xunyi, Jiang Chen, the Black Emperor, Bai Ling, Prince Gong, and the Tower Guardian Elder arrived at Yuwen Xunyi’s residence.

As a Nine-star Core Disciple who stood at the pinnacle of the Outer Sect Disciples, he had his own private residence.

The entire villa was massive.

There was a spacious garden in the back, and Yuwen Xunyi led Jiang Chen and the others there, immediately ordering for food and wine to be prepared.

One had to admit, the Royal Family certainly knew how to live in style!

Yuwen Xunyi’s villa was staffed with Imperial Chefs, and soon, an array of delectable dishes and fine wines were served.

Yuwen Xunyi smiled at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, you’re now the number one Outer Sect Disciple. Say a few words!" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"A few words?"

Jiang Chen was taken aback. Seeing everyone looking at him with smiles, he grinned, picked up a wine jug, and took a long, deep drink. After downing more than half of it, he let out a boozy breath and said, "I don’t have any grand thoughts. Just want to eat and drink to my heart’s content!"

"Hahaha, I love that straightforward nature of yours! Let’s drink!"

"Drink up!"

Everyone began to drink without holding back.

After several rounds of drinks and multiple courses of food...

Everyone’s pace of drinking slowed. This was, after all, no ordinary alcohol, but imperial wine from the Royal Family, potent enough to inebriate even a True Martial Realm Powerhouse.

Prince Gong was the first to rise. He glanced at the others and chuckled. "You young people are so full of vigorous Essence, Qi, and Spirit. With an old man like me around, you probably can’t let loose completely. I’ll finish this bowl and take my leave."

Before he even finished speaking, Prince Gong had already drained his bowl of wine.

The Tower Guardian Elder also chuckled and drank a bowl. "I expect you’ll all be heading to the Scripture Pavilion tomorrow to study Secret Manuals. That’ll keep these old bones of mine busy! I’ll be on my way as well."

"Farewell, Your Highness, Elder!"

They all said in unison.

Once Prince Gong and the Tower Guardian Elder had left, Yuwen Xunyi let out a long sigh of relief. "My Imperial Uncle is finally gone... Jiang Chen, come on, let’s keep drinking!"

The Black Emperor, hugging a wine jug taller than he was, hollered, "Don’t forget me!"

"Little Black, you’ve already had three jugs, and you want more? Aren’t you afraid your little belly will pop?" Yuwen Xunyi said, his eyes wide as he stared at the Black Emperor’s round, bulging stomach.

The Black Emperor squinted, letting out a thick cloud of alcoholic breath. "Heh, what’s a little wine like this? To this Emperor, this is just like drinking water. Yuwen Boy, you dare try to drink me under the table?"

"You think I’m afraid of you? Bring it on! Drink!"

With eyes wide, Yuwen Xunyi started a drinking competition with the Black Emperor.

Watching from the side, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but roll his eyes, completely speechless. He turned to Bai Ling, whose pretty face was flushed from the wine. "Senior Sister..."

"Hmm? You want to drink with me?" Bai Ling glared, then took two big gulps straight from the jug. "Come on, drink!"

Jiang Chen: "..."

He rubbed his nose awkwardly and gave a wry smile. "I just wanted to ask what exactly the Sword Pool is, and what purpose it serves."

"Oh? Is that what this is about..."

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Bai Ling’s face. She cleared her throat and explained, "The Sword Pool is a Cultivation Holy Land located in the Inner Sect. Legend says it was formed from the convergence of a Spirit Vein that our founding ancestor discovered. It’s called the Sword Pool because it’s anchored by his Divine Soldier, the Celestial Martial Saint Sword. Cultivating inside for a single day is equivalent to a month in the outside world. Moreover, because it’s filled with the boundless Sword Intent left behind by our founder, it also helps one comprehend the True Martial Dao."

"Normally, if Inner Sect Disciples want to cultivate in the Sword Pool, they have to pay one hundred thousand Contribution Points each time. We have Sword Pool Tokens, and each token lets you cultivate inside for one day!"

At this, Bai Ling looked at Jiang Chen with a hint of jealousy. "You lucky brat. In past years, the top genius only got three opportunities to use the Sword Pool. This time, the Celestial Alliance was so sure Li Yunlong would take first place that they increased the reward to ten. You really hit the jackpot!"

Jiang Chen’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

One hundred thousand Contribution Points for a single session!

’I have ten chances to cultivate in the Sword Pool. That’s a whopping one million Contribution Points, which is equivalent to one hundred million Lower-Grade Spirit Crystals!’

To put that in perspective...

’When I unlocked the First Stage of the seal on the Identity Token that Master Qii Daotian gave me, it only had one million Contribution Points.’

Beyond his excitement, Jiang Chen grew more intrigued by the Sword Pool’s cultivation-enhancing effects. ’One day of cultivation is equal to a month of hard training outside. And it even increases the chances of comprehending the True Martial Dao... The Celestial Fate Hunting is in a month, and even the Inner Sect experts will be participating. The Celestial Alliance will definitely come after me. On top of that, Jiang Ziyou didn’t even show up for the Outer Sect grand competition; there’s something suspicious about that. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Sword Pool and train hard for ten days. It would be best if I can break through directly to the Heavenly Destiny Realm.’

’Only by reaching the Heavenly Destiny Realm will I have enough strength to deal with the Celestial Alliance’s experts from the Inner Sect during the Celestial Fate Hunting!’

Jiang Chen clenched his fists, a sharp glint in his eyes.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, as the sky began to lighten, Jiang Chen and the others headed for the Inner Sect’s Sword Pool.

Led by Yuwen Xunyi and Bai Ling, Jiang Chen soon arrived at the Sword Pool. It was a restricted area, guarded by two Inner Sect Elders at the Heavenly Destiny Realm Seventh Stage.

Bai Ling spoke respectfully. "Elder Zou, Elder Zhang, this disciple, Bai Ling, wishes to enter the Sword Pool to cultivate!"

As she spoke, she presented her Sword Pool Tokens.

"Hmm, two Sword Pool Tokens. Are you using them both at once?" asked Elder Zhang on the left, his tone flat.

"Yes!" Bai Ling nodded.

"Go on in."

Elder Zhang took the tokens and allowed Bai Ling to enter. "You can go to Sword Pool Number 36."

"Understood!"

Bai Ling cupped her fists in a salute and looked at Jiang Chen. "Junior Brother Jiang, I’ll head in first!"

"Good luck, Senior Sister!"

Jiang Chen gave an encouraging fist pump.

Yuwen Xunyi presented four Sword Pool Tokens. "Elders, this disciple, Yuwen Xunyi, wishes to cultivate for four days."

"Ah, it’s Prince Xunyi. You’re about to break through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm, aren’t you? Have you decided which Hall you’ll join after entering the Inner Sect?" Elder Zou asked with a smile.

Yuwen Xunyi cupped his fists. "My Imperial Brother has already arranged for me to join the Second Hall once I am promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple."

"Oh? So it was an order from His Highness the Crown Prince!" Elder Zou paused in surprise, then nodded and let Yuwen Xunyi pass into the Sword Pool area. "You can take Sword Pool Number 46. It’s empty right now."

"Thank you, Elder!"

Yuwen Xunyi cupped his fists toward the two elders, then winked at Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, I’m confident I can break through to the Heavenly Destiny Realm in four days. Don’t let me get too far ahead of you!"

"I’ll be waiting," Jiang Chen replied with a smile.

After watching Yuwen Xunyi enter the Sword Pool, Jiang Chen finally stepped forward.

The smiles on the two elders’ faces gradually vanished. They squinted, sizing up Jiang Chen with expressions of cold indifference.

Bai Ling and Yuwen Xunyi both had powerful backgrounds, so naturally, the two elders were far more cordial to them.

As for Jiang Chen...

They didn’t afford him the same courtesy.

Jiang Chen rubbed his nose. "Elders, this disciple, Jiang Chen, wishes to enter the Sword Pool to cultivate."

"For how many days?" Elder Zhang asked curtly.

"Ten days."

Jiang Chen replied, taking out ten Sword Pool Tokens.

"Hmm?"

"So you’re this year’s top Outer Sect Disciple? The one who killed Li Yunlong?"

Both elders let out a soft gasp, their eyes fixed intently on Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen nodded. "That’s me."

A smile spread across Elder Zou’s face. "Jiang Chen, I can see your cultivation is also on the verge of the Heavenly Destiny Realm. Have you decided which Hall you’ll join?"

Elder Zhang’s face darkened. He said coolly, "Elder Zou, this Jiang Chen is an enemy of the Celestial Alliance."

Elder Zou froze, a hint of hesitation on his face.

Jiang Chen sighed internally. ’The Celestial Alliance’s influence is overwhelming; even Inner Sect Elders are wary of them.’ He couldn’t help but speak up. "Elder Zou, this disciple has already promised Senior Sister Bai that I will join the Tenth Hall after I’m promoted to an Inner Sect Disciple."

"The Tenth Hall? Ah, very well then." Elder Zou nodded and said no more.

Beside him, Elder Zhang merely sneered without a word.

Seeing that both elders were now ignoring him, Jiang Chen was speechless. "Elders, this disciple would like to enter the Sword Pool to cultivate!"

Elder Zou opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Elder Zhang. "The Sword Pool is full. You can go back now."

"Full?"

Jiang Chen froze. Seeing the smug sneer on Elder Zhang’s face, he instantly understood. ’This elder is deliberately making things difficult for me.’ He snorted coldly. "It wasn’t full a moment ago, and I doubt it’ll be full a moment from now, but it just so happens to be full the second I arrive. Do you take me for a three-year-old you can fool? I’ll report this to the Law Enforcement Hall right now and have the Law Enforcement Elder come and see for himself whether the Sword Pool is truly full. If it is, I’ll apologize. But if it isn’t, then you’re abusing your authority for personal reasons. I’d like to see just how the Law Enforcement Hall will punish you!"

"You... You..."

Elder Zhang was so enraged he was sputtering, his beard trembling.

He was a guardian of the Sword Pool; even Inner Sect Disciples had to treat him with the utmost respect. He had only intended to casually teach Jiang Chen a small lesson.

He never expected Jiang Chen to have such an explosive temper.

The boy was threatening to take this straight to the Law Enforcement Hall.

While he wasn’t truly afraid of the Law Enforcement Hall, if this incident blew up, his cushy post as a Sword Pool guardian would be at risk.

’But bow my head to Jiang Chen?’

Elder Zhang couldn’t bring himself to suffer such a loss of face!

Seeing the situation, Elder Zou on the side gave a wry smile and stepped in as the peacemaker. "Alright, alright, Jiang Chen, no need to get so worked up. Elder Zhang just misremembered for a moment. There’s still one spot left, Sword Pool Number 78. You can go in."

"My thanks, Elder Zou!"

Jiang Chen nodded, handed the Sword Pool Tokens to Elder Zou, and strode toward the Sword Pool’s entrance. He paused at the threshold, looking back at the livid Elder Zhang. "Elder Zhang, if your mind is getting fuzzy in your old age, you really shouldn’t be hogging such an important position. Maybe go home and eat some walnuts. They’re good for the brain!"

"You insolent whelp! I’ll die of rage...!"

Elder Zhang was absolutely seething.

But Jiang Chen just whistled a jaunty tune and walked right into the Sword Pool...

[Third Chapter of the day! Little Tian is getting to work on the fourth!]