Although Jiang Chen had focused mainly on practicing his Martial Skills these past few days, he exhausted his body’s True Essence every time he performed one.

The subsequent process of absorbing external Spiritual Qi also accelerated his absorption of the Mixed Element Golden Pill, allowing his cultivation to advance to the Half-step Heavenly Destiny Realm.

His strength had risen to a new level!

His speed was also much greater than before. The moment he left the Sword Pool, Jiang Chen’s figure transformed into a streak of Flowing Light and shot forth.

He sprinted straight from the Sword Pool toward the foot of Martial Saint Mountain.

’Looks like I need to become a True Disciple as soon as the Celestial Fate Hunting is over. Otherwise, not being able to fly every time I leave Martial Saint Mountain is just too frustrating!’ Jiang Chen thought as he sprinted, the trees on either side blurring as they flew past.

The Saint Martial Sword Sect had a rule: one was not permitted to fly on Martial Saint Mountain unless they were a True Disciple.

To leave the Saint Martial Sword Sect, one had to first reach the foot of the mountain before taking to the sky. This wasted a great deal of time and was extremely inconvenient.

At his current speed, Jiang Chen reached the foot of the mountain in less than the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn. He then soared into the air, his body shooting toward the Celestial Vault like a speeding arrow.

Almost at the same instant Jiang Chen departed, a masked figure in black appeared where he had just been. A pair of ice-cold eyes scanned the area before locking onto the direction Jiang Chen had taken. A cold glint flashed in the figure’s eyes. "This kid is fast," he muttered. "Heh heh heh... I’ve been searching high and low, and now you just fall right into my lap. I thought you’d stay inside the Sword Sect, making it difficult for me to act. But you left on your own. Heaven itself is helping me!"

WHOOSH!

The figure in black also shot into the sky, chasing after Jiang Chen.

However...

The further he chased, the uglier the man’s expression became. "Fuck, how is he so fast? Looks like he’s heading for the Imperial Capital... This place is on the main path back to the Sword Sect. I’ll just wait here for you to walk right into my trap!"

...

「Imperial Capital.」

The city was as bustling as ever. The moment he returned to the Imperial Capital, Jiang Chen headed straight for Cui Zheng’s residence.

However, he learned that Cui Zheng and Kumu were still in seclusion, attempting to break through to Tier Three.

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but shake his head. ’Do these two really need to spend so much time breaking through to Tier Three?’

If any other Artifact Refiner or Alchemy Master heard that, they would have likely gone mad with rage!

Tier Three!

Although it was only one step above Tier Two Advanced, the difference between them was as vast as heaven and earth.

First of all...

Tier One and Tier Two Artifact Refiners and Alchemy Masters, while respected, were still considered minor figures in the eyes of truly powerful experts. Only by advancing to Tier Three—the Grandmaster Level—could they command the respect of the world’s major players.

Grandmaster Refiners and Alchemy Masters were at the apex of their professions in the entire Saint Martial Dynasty.

An ordinary Artifact Refiner or Alchemy Master would need to spend several years preparing just to attempt the breakthrough from Tier Two Advanced to the Tier Three Junior realm. A monster like Jiang Chen, who could break through with ease as long as his Divine Thought Power reached a sufficient level, was exceedingly rare.

Or perhaps...

On this entire continent, he might just be the only one.

’I’ll leave them be for now then.’

Jiang Chen thought to himself. He had originally wanted Kumu to take him to the Artifact Refiner Guild, but that now seemed impossible. He turned to the guard and asked, "Where are Qingyi and Little White?"

"Miss Qingyi and Little White are in the residence!" the guard said quickly.

"Okay!"

Jiang Chen nodded and entered the residence.

The two guards exchanged a look. They only felt a gust of wind before Jiang Chen’s figure vanished. Both gasped in shock. "Am I imagining things, or is Young Master Jiang’s strength getting even more terrifying?"

"I heard Young Master Jiang went to the Saint Martial Sword Sect a while back. His strength must have soared while he was at the Sword Sect!"

"The Saint Martial Sword Sect? That’s a Martial Arts Holy Land! I’m so jealous of Young Master Jiang..."

Jiang Chen, however, didn’t hear their conversation. He soon arrived at the separate courtyard where Xiao Qingyi was staying.

But today, there was no sound of a zither.

But through the courtyard gate, Jiang Chen heard a voice he had longed to hear. "Little White, do you think Brother Jiang Chen is doing well at the Saint Martial Sword Sect? What if he doesn’t like the food? I heard he has enemies there... I’m so worried something might happen to him... It’s been so many months, and there hasn’t been any news at all."

"Sister Qingyi, don’t worry! The Boss is an invincible genius. Those people should be thanking Amitabha Buddha that he isn’t causing trouble for them!" Little White replied lazily. It was lying on the ground, a pair of furry paws clutching a roasted trotter that it was chewing with great relish.

"All you know is eating. Just look at you, you’ve gotten so fat!" Xiao Qingyi rolled her eyes and gently poked Little White’s head with a slender finger, sighing helplessly.

Little White looked up innocently. "If I don’t eat it, how can I do justice to this delicious roasted meat?"

"..."

Xiao Qingyi shook her head helplessly. She cupped her chin in her hands, her bright, dark eyes staring blankly ahead.

Suddenly...

Xiao Qingyi’s body suddenly trembled. She shot up from her seat with such grace that she didn’t even notice she had knocked over the tea on the table in front of her. Her lovely face was filled with utter astonishment and joy.

A hundred emotions, including self-reproach and guilt, washed over Jiang Chen.

Ever since he had brought Xiao Qingyi from the Hundred Beasts Mountains and Rivers, he had been so busy with his cultivation that he hadn’t even found the time to show her around the Imperial Capital.

Seeing the joy overflowing on the young woman’s face...

A gentle smile graced Jiang Chen’s lips. He opened his arms and called out softly, "Qingyi, I’m back!"

"Brother Jiang Chen..."

Xiao Qingyi let out a soft cry. She took a graceful step, yet each one covered more than ten meters. In just two steps, she was before him. Like a swallow returning to its nest, her soft body plunged into his embrace. Her slender arms wrapped tightly, so tightly, around his waist, as if afraid he would vanish the moment she let go.

A low whisper sounded in Jiang Chen’s ear. "Brother Jiang Chen, this isn’t a dream, is it? I’ve been dreaming so often that you came back, but every time I open my eyes, I find out it was just a dream. I’m almost afraid to open them now!"

The young woman’s voice was gentle, with no trace of blame in her words.

But they pierced Jiang Chen’s heart like a knife.

For the sake of his cultivation, he truly had neglected too many things.

He gently patted Xiao Qingyi’s smooth back, feeling the warmth of her soft body in his arms. An image surfaced in his mind: for the past few months, for more than a hundred days and nights, she had been waiting for him in this courtyard every single day.

Her bright eyes, full of anticipation, would be fixed on the gate, just hoping his figure would appear.

Waiting every single day.

Tirelessly.

Jiang Chen couldn’t help but think of the saying—"Companionship is the most enduring confession of love."

He cupped the young woman’s delicate chin in his hands. Their eyes met. Jiang Chen’s voice was a little hoarse. "Qingyi, I’m sor—"

Before he could finish, her slender fingers pressed against his lips, silencing him.

Xiao Qingyi gently shook her head. "Brother Jiang Chen, please, don’t say you’re sorry. Even if it’s ten years, a hundred years, a thousand years... as long as you don’t abandon me, I will wait for you! Without regret or complaint!"

A tremor ran through Jiang Chen.

A hundred years, a thousand years...

Without regret or complaint!

Those four words were like the world’s most potent aphrodisiac, causing Jiang Chen’s breath to quicken. Their four lips, like magnets, drew closer and closer until they pressed deeply against each other...