Slowly, as the battle unfolded before him, Ling Chen closed his eyes. In his mind, only the image of Feng Piaoliu’s sword-wielding posture and the trajectory of his released sword qi remained.
At this moment, the Ling Tian Sword Scripture unexpectedly started to operate involuntarily within him.
The long sword at Ling Chen’s waist, and even Xu Ruoyan’s sword, began to tremble ever so slightly.
Xu Ruoyan felt her trembling Treasure Sword and turned to look at Ling Chen beside her with some surprise.
Ling Chen’s eyes were tightly shut, his mind completely focused, so much so it seemed as though he were asleep. Yet, from his body, an intermittent, sharp aura could be perceived.
The shock in Xu Ruoyan’s beautiful eyes deepened. Ling Chen’s aura at this moment was incredibly strong, giving off an unfathomable presence.
It was like a Treasure Sword, its sharpness ephemeral—sometimes apparent, sometimes retracted.
Could he have entered a state of Qi deviation?
Xu Ruoyan expressed some concern. Ling Chen’s current state was uncannily similar to Qi deviation.
Suddenly, Ling Chen opened his eyes, a smirk forming at the corner of his mouth.
"So this is the essence of External Sword Qi."
As his words fell, Ling Chen abruptly drew his long sword from its scabbard. He spun it around once, then suddenly swung it forward.
A crescent-shaped wave of sword qi, rippling with a faint pale golden light, streaked through the air before dissipating five meters away.
"Though the distance is a bit short, with more practice, there should be considerable room for improvement."
Ling Chen looked barely satisfied.
"Is this... External Sword Qi?"
Xu Ruoyan widened her eyes; even someone as composed as her was struggling to believe what she was witnessing.
A mere warrior like Ling Chen could release External Sword Qi? Wasn’t this a privilege exclusive to Martial Master Level swordsmen? How on earth did he manage that?
Just as Xu Ruoyan was about to ask, Ling Chen suddenly sat down on the ground. At this moment, due to the breakthrough in his Cultivation Technique, the Demonic Ape Blood Essence in his Dantian had begun to disperse with the flow of his True Qi.
The Ling Tian Sword Scripture had successfully advanced to its second stage, "Fetus Sword Qi." This meant Ling Chen didn’t need to reach the Martial Master Realm to emit External Sword Qi; furthermore, the Sword Qi he released was even more potent.
After all, it was sword qi condensed from Lingtian True Qi.
Currently, Ling Chen lacked the energy to revel in the joy of his Cultivation Technique’s breakthrough. The power of the Demonic Ape Blood Essence was starting to become uncontrollable, causing a violent disturbance in his Dantian.
The Violent Factors within the Essence Blood were erupting. If not controlled properly, it would undoubtedly cause a horrific backlash.
The berserk state that hadn’t manifested last time might very well occur now.
Ling Chen’s aura, originally sharp, quickly turned brutal.
Xu Ruoyan was also surprised by Ling Chen’s ever-changing aura. This man was hiding many secrets. Her fiancé-in-name was not as simple as he seemed.
To recover so quickly from a state of complete cultivation loss to his current condition, without resorting to some extraordinary means, would likely have been impossible. Moreover, employing such means must have come at a corresponding price.
The sacrifices this man had made were beyond fathomable.
If she too lost all her current support, could she reach Ling Chen’s level? And how much could she bear?
Suddenly, Xu Ruoyan’s heart, which had seemed frozen solid, softened a little.
Oh well, I can’t just sit by and do nothing.
Xu Ruoyan sighed, then walked behind Ling Chen and also sat down cross-legged. Her jade-like hands formed a seal before she placed them against Ling Chen’s back.
Instantly, a cool stream of True Qi entered Ling Chen’s body from his back.
Inside Ling Chen’s body, the Demonic Ape Blood Essence was like a raging inferno, constantly sending sparks into his meridians and throughout his body, activating the Violent Factor within him.
However, after Xu Ruoyan’s icy True Qi entered, the violent Flames within Ling Chen finally began to stabilize.
Xu Ruoyan’s True Qi seemed to possess a mind-calming effect. It was exceptionally pure, not only eliminating the violent power within Ling Chen but also seemingly capable of cleansing impurities from the soul.
"Ling Chen, chant with me."
Xu Ruoyan’s pleasant voice reached his ear.
"The five skandhas are void, the mind unhindered, neither impure nor pure..."
Ling Chen stabilized his mind and began to chant along.
The effect of this Mantra was indeed remarkable. Assisted by Xu Ruoyan herself, the originally frenzied aura stabilized within minutes.
The roiling Demonic Ape Blood Essence also settled down.
At this very moment, within Ling Chen’s Dantian, the Eighth Qi Layer had successfully condensed.
While pacifying the Demonic Ape Blood Essence, Ling Chen absorbed considerable power from it. Just like that, he ascended from the pinnacle of the Warrior Seventh Level to the Eighth Level.
To think he managed to break through his realm.
Xu Ruoyan looked at Ling Chen with a somewhat curious gaze. In such a dangerous situation, Ling Chen had still managed to find an opportunity to break through. This man was becoming increasingly inscrutable.
"Thank you for your help."
Ling Chen dusted himself off and cupped his hands towards Xu Ruoyan. "I didn’t expect that beneath your cold exterior lies such a warm heart. Quite surprising."
"Don’t be surprised. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t have stood idly by either," Xu Ruoyan waved her jade-like hand. "However, I do have a question. What was that turbulent energy inside you? With your cultivation, it should be difficult to suppress power of that magnitude. I advise you to be more careful in the future. You might not be so lucky next time."
"Thank you for your advice. I am well aware of my condition."
Ling Chen naturally knew the state of his own body. He then continued, "However, credit where it’s due, you did help me. I, Ling Chen, am not one to forget a kindness. If you have any requests, feel free to state them. As long as it’s within my capabilities, I will agree."
"Anything within your capabilities, you say?"
Xu Ruoyan’s beautiful eyes flickered. Initially, she hadn’t planned on asking for anything. But on second thought, wasn’t there a distressing matter concerning Ye Xuan that currently troubled her?
"I... I want to dissolve our betrothal."
Xu Ruoyan pondered for a moment before finally voicing her request.
Ling Chen showed no surprise. After a moment’s contemplation, he nodded. "Alright. We aren’t familiar with each other anyway. In three months, I will accompany you to the Sky Void Palace and personally request Lord Xu to dissolve our betrothal."
Ling Chen didn’t want to owe any favors. Besides, marriage was not a matter to be taken lightly. Spending a lifetime with someone incompatible would be agonizing.
Xu Ruoyan didn’t want the betrothal to entangle her, and he, Ling Chen, was even less willing to be bound by a mere piece of paper.
Xu Ruoyan was slightly taken aback by Ling Chen’s decisiveness. She had initially thought Ling Chen would vehemently object and try every means to hold onto this betrothal agreement.
After all, she was confident in her own beauty. Furthermore, her backing was the formidable Sky Void Palace. Ling Chen could easily cling to her as a pillar of support. In that scenario, she alone wouldn’t be able to convince her father, making it very difficult to dissolve the betrothal.
Yet, this fellow had agreed so readily.
Was this betrothal so unattractive?
"The battle is about to end."
Just then, Ling Chen’s voice interrupted her thoughts. The confrontation on the Martial Arts Platform was indeed nearing its end.