Eternal Tale

Chapter 223: The Opportunity to Break Through to Deity Transformation Stage

"Your race being hunted down is no coincidence. They want to wipe you out entirely..."

Chen Xun's voice carried a dark smile, with half of his face shrouded in shadow. "Xiao Chi, you’re definitely marked for death. They’ve likely been watching you, just waiting for the right moment to collect their prize!"

"Ah!!! Brother Ox, save me!"

"Moo~~!"

Both the lion and the bull shuddered, their skin crawling as they stood up and hugged each other tightly. Chen Xun's eerie expression was terrifying; he couldn’t possibly be a good person.

A massive cloud passed overhead, and the entire flying boat was bathed in light once more. Chen Xun’s face returned to its usual bright smile.

"Breaking through the limits of divine sense could lead to rapid progression in cultivation?" Chen Xun raised an eyebrow, watching Xiao Chi’s divine sense with his spiritual perception. "To reach Deity Transformation, one would need to primarily cultivate divine sense, right?"

The Extinguishing Spirit Stones they had could only strengthen the Extinguishing Spirit Force, not divine sense, as they lacked the innate qualities to do so.

"Exactly, Brother Xun. Back then, I had to use divine sense to materialize objects and steal things to survive. It's widely accepted among both humans and spiritual beasts that the easiest way to reach Deity Transformation is to push the limits of divine sense," Xiao Chi explained, his voice filled with knowledge passed down through his bloodline. "But the Heart Demon Tribulation becomes even more terrifying."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xun and the black bull grew more alert, realizing that the true danger of the Nascent Soul stage came with the Heart Tribulation, a trap designed to test one's limits of memory and resolve. The path of cultivation was truly filled with bloodshed, with countless souls lost along the way, and no shortcuts existed when it came to breaking through.

The black bull’s eyes widened in surprise, fascinated by the newfound knowledge. Xiao Chi really did understand quite a bit.

"Hahahaha..."

Chen Xun suddenly burst into laughter. "I recall that we were only at the edge of the Heaven’s End Plains, and the strongest creatures we saw were only Foundation Establishment beasts."

"Hehe, yes," Xiao Chi said with an awkward smile. "That area is where I wandered—there aren’t many Nascent Soul beasts that have claimed territories there."

"It seems that your experiences and circumstances have led us to meet by destiny, not coincidence."

Chen Xun sat down cross-legged, his tone gentle like a spring breeze. "This is fate, inescapable. I follow my instincts, and Xiao Chi, I see great potential in you."

As he finished speaking, a transcendent aura slowly rose from Chen Xun’s body, leaving Xiao Chi dumbfounded.

The black bull, still preparing incense burners to honor his elder brother, paused to gaze in awe at Chen Xun’s aura.

"Moo?"

"Brother Xun?"

"Xiao Chi, how do you increase your cultivation?" Chen Xun asked seriously, knowing that spiritual beasts and humans cultivated differently. The black bull was an exception, after all. "Reaching the Nascent Soul stage isn’t easy."

"Well..." Xiao Chi hesitated, his expression turning shifty. "Brother Xun, I steal spirit herbs sometimes, and occasionally I can absorb some spirit stones."

"Moo!" The black bull was overjoyed at hearing this. It was excellent at growing spirit herbs and even developing new strains.

Xiao Chi glanced at the black bull, confused by its strange look. He had indeed stolen from the homes of other spiritual beasts during their battles.

"Do you know the key to a successful heist in the cultivation world?" Chen Xun asked with a smug expression, his hands clasped behind his back as he explained, "Old Bull sets up the formation, I keep watch, Xiao Chi steals, and Xiao He steers the boat for a quick getaway!"

"Moo~~~"

"Roar~~~"

The Flameglow Ancient Lion was hit with a revelation. No wonder the formation was the black bull’s handiwork. "Brother Xun, but isn't robbing others a bit risky? It could offend many cultivators."

"Of course. Such things require careful planning, no room for carelessness."

Chen Xun nodded approvingly, then gave the black bull a pat. "Old Bull, why don’t you tell Xiao Chi about some of our past adventures?"

"Moo~~~!" The black bull snorted hot air with enthusiasm, eager to recount their stories.

Xiao Chi was momentarily stunned, unsure of what was happening.

The black bull then pulled Xiao Chi aside, opening his notebook to detail their adventures in the Eastern Kingdoms, sharing some of their experiences along the way.

Xiao Chi occasionally let out shocked roars, realizing that Brother Xun and Brother Ox truly were kindred spirits!

Buzz—

Buzz—

The giant boat swiftly cut through the sky, filled with lively chatter and laughter. The journey was marked with shared camaraderie and excitement.

"Xiao Chi, we’re heading to Da Li."

"Moo!"

Chen Xun and the black bull stood up, their auras growing more solemn.

Xiao Chi instinctively took a few steps back, his mouth dry. "Brother Xun, Brother Ox, I know."

"You didn’t mention your past experiences earlier, but if you regret coming along now… it’s too late!"

"Moo?!"

"Ah?!"

"Hahaha…"

Chen Xun let out a wild laugh, amused by Xiao Chi’s timid demeanor. "Don’t worry, as long as we have food to eat, you won’t go hungry. Let’s explore this world together."

He and the black bull had cultivated for two thousand years, meeting countless people along the way. Encountering Xiao Chi was undoubtedly fate, and with their current power, they couldn’t just stand by and watch it fall.

"Brother Xun, I really believe you now!"

"Moo?"

"Brother Ox, I can sense it. You both carry no malice or killing intent. You’re not like those cultivators who only care about personal gain."

Xiao Chi took a deep breath, his emotions stirring. "Since I’ve boarded your flying boat, I, Xiao Chi, have no regrets!"

"Well said."

"Moo~~~"

"Brother Xun, Brother Ox, may I ask something?"

"Speak."

"Moo!"

"Nascent Soul spiritual beasts will never agree to be mounts. They have too much pride and would rather die."

Xiao Chi stepped closer, sweat beading on his forehead. "Brother Xun, when you said you could have as many as you wanted, that’s an extremely dangerous statement. They would self-destruct."

"Hmm…" Chen Xun turned away, his hands behind his back as he gazed up at the sky with a profound expression. "Xiao Chi, you make a good point."

"Moo~~~" The black bull nodded, finding the reasoning quite sound. After all, many creatures in this world were unafraid of death, and strength alone didn’t determine everything.

"Brother Xun, those Nascent Soul mounts are all raised from the Foundation Establishment stage. Only then will they truly be loyal."

Xiao Chi laughed awkwardly, truly worried that his two elder brothers might try to capture Nascent Soul mounts, which would be incredibly dangerous. "Brother Xun, I’m just reminding you. I mean no offense."

"Very well."

"Brother Xun, Brother Ox, I have one more thing to say."

Xiao Chi looked around at the flying boat, noting how far they had traveled from the Heaven’s End Plains. "I still feel uneasy. Perhaps we should return to the Heaven’s End—"

Before he could finish, Chen Xun grabbed him, shouting:

"Old Bull, hit him!"

"Moo moo!"

"Ah~~~!!!"

From the massive, faintly glowing flying boat echoed the sounds of a scuffle and wails of despair. The mystical tree on the boat seemed to shine a bit brighter.

Two years later.

The boat had crossed Da Li’s frontier, not as distant from the Qian Country's cultivation world as they had thought.

Xiao Chi had grown fully accustomed to traveling with Chen Xun and the black bull, never straying far from them, terrified that they might change their minds and abandon him. By now, he knew he couldn’t survive alone in the unfamiliar surroundings.

Chen Xun even made him a protective artifact from Thousand Thread Spirit Vine, allowing him to hide from divine sense detection. Xiao Chi had been so moved that he wept with gratitude. When he wore it, a red glow flashed, blending seamlessly into his fur.

Over the past two years, Chen Xun had kept an eye on Xiao Chi. Despite knowing that they had Extinguishing Spirit Stones and spirit herbs, Xiao Chi had never asked for anything. His character was solid—he wasn’t greedy, and in many ways, he was like them.