A massive surge of energy flowed through Su Chen's limbs and bones, eventually rushing into his dantian and Qi Sea.
Crack!
As if a divine thunderbolt had struck, a fierce divine radiance permeated the void, and a strand of innate aura was born from the Qi Sea. With a profound and powerful sensation, it surged into Su Chen's heart.
The Qi Sea was opened, impurities sank, and pure Qi ascended. Through refinement, it could transform into a warrior's true Qi.
Breaking through the Qi Martial Realm and opening the Qi Sea was just the beginning. The energy from the Black Jade Spirit Marrow was pure and vast. As Su Chen continued to operate the Burial Heaven Divine Technique, his dantian and Qi Sea, like a small world, slowly undulated. The energy poured in, and in an instant, a space of forty-nine yards was opened up.
Ordinary warriors breaking through the Qi Martial Realm might open a Qi Sea space of about nine yards, and those considered geniuses could achieve twenty or even thirty yards. Su Chen's forty-nine yards, however, was extraordinary, thanks to awakening the True Dragon Bloodline in the Burial Heaven Realm.
"Oh? It's still expanding!"
Feeling that his Qi Sea was still growing, Su Chen was shocked. Even with the True Dragon Bloodline, forty-nine yards was considered the limit according to ancient records.
"It must be the Burial Heaven Divine Technique!"
Su Chen realized as the Burial Heaven Divine Technique continued to operate like a storm sweeping through his dantian and Qi Sea. Streams of black mist emanated, slowly pushing the Qi Sea to expand further.
Fifty yards!
Sixty yards!
Sixty-five yards...
Su Chen's Qi Sea slowly enlarged, and when it reached a radius of ninety-nine yards, everything came to a gradual stop.
"Ninety-nine is the limit for human cultivation. It seems this is the ultimate state of the Qi Sea!"
Su Chen's eyes revealed excitement. He had read in ancient records that some ancient powerhouses had opened a ninety-nine-yard Qi Sea, considered the human limit. Now, Su Chen had achieved it.
However, just when he thought it was over, a mysterious voice echoed, "Annihilate all, bury the heavens, the Dao cannot be obstructed..."
Boom!
The Qi Sea space, which had already stopped expanding, experienced another tremendous shock. The Burial Heaven Divine Technique accelerated suddenly, tearing through the void and expanding by another yard.
"A one-hundred-yard Qi Sea. Is this the most perfect state?"
Su Chen could feel that, although the last expansion was only by one yard, his Qi Sea now had a more complete and satisfying feeling, resembling a small world even more.
"The Burial Heaven Divine Technique is indeed heaven-defying!"
Su Chen's eyes sparkled with excitement. A one-hundred-yard Qi Sea was unprecedented and extraordinary, making him unparalleled in the same realm.
"However, even with a perfect Qi Sea, future breakthroughs will become more difficult, requiring more resources. Nevertheless, I will also become stronger, possibly even invincible in the same realm!"
This was the most basic truth, but Su Chen was still filled with boundless fighting spirit. From the peak to the valley and now, nothing and no one could bring him down!
Boom!
Inside Su Chen's dantian and Qi Sea, strands of innate true Qi condensed. As Su Chen operated the Burial Heaven Divine Technique, these true Qi flowed through his meridians, becoming stronger and stronger.
Days passed unknowingly...
Creak!
Su Chen opened the door, his eyes shining brightly as he looked at the world before him, feeling a sense of being reborn.
"My cultivation has returned. Su Qingxue, wait for me. I will be back soon!"
Su Chen murmured softly to himself, his gaze becoming sharp.
In the main hall, Qingzhu and Lanxiang were comforting a woman dressed in luxurious clothes. She had a dignified demeanor, and though there were traces of time on her face, her beauty was still evident, especially in her eyes that were as gentle as water, resembling Ye Qingcheng.
The woman's name was Lin Yun, Ye Qingcheng's mother.
Initially, Lin Yun was quietly sobbing. When she saw Su Chen coming, her expression immediately turned cold, and her once gentle eyes became icy.
"Su Chen, where do you think you're going?"
Lin Yun pushed away Lanxiang's support and stood up, speaking sternly.
Su Chen frowned. Although he knew that this mother-in-law of his didn't like him, he still maintained a semblance of courtesy. He arched his hand and said, "Greetings, Mother-in-law, I plan to go out and take a look."
He had already broken through the Qi Martial Realm, and the need for cultivation resources had become even greater. Su Chen wanted to explore the Great Wilderness Mountains, searching for precious treasures.
Lanxiang quickly gestured to Su Chen, indicating that he should leave.
"Su Chen, repeatedly causing trouble. Do you think you haven't caused enough trouble for Qingcheng? If it weren't for Qingcheng covering for you, you would have been beaten to death long ago. Yet, you still act as if nothing happened, idling around and causing trouble everywhere?"
Lin Yun's emotions became even more intense as she pointed at Su Chen. "I won't allow you to go. Absolutely not!"
"What do you mean, Mother-in-law? How have I caused trouble for Qingcheng?" Su Chen's brow furrowed, and his expression turned cold. Even though he didn't want to be entangled with this mother-in-law who clearly disliked him, he couldn't let himself be restricted in his actions.
"Don't pretend to be innocent! Ever since Qingcheng brought you into the Ye family, you first crippled Ye Ling and Zhang Kun, then injured Zhang Lin on the street... behaving so recklessly! If it weren't for Qingcheng cleaning up after you, you would have been chopped up and fed to the dogs long ago. Yet, you still act as if nothing happened, idling around and causing trouble everywhere?"
When she reached this point, Lin Yun's emotions became more intense. She pointed at Su Chen and said with great agitation, "I won't allow you to go. Absolutely not!"
"Does Mother-in-law mean that when Ye Ling and Zhang Kun helped Zhang Lin insult Qingcheng, I should have stood
"Moreover, is it true that Ye Qingcheng used the clan's treasure, the Town Clan Sacred Medicine, to exchange for my life from the Su family?" Su Chen found it difficult to believe.
There was a hint of hesitation in Qing Zhu's eyes, but she finally said, "Miss did not want us to tell you about this, but Madam was right! In order to save you, Miss spared no effort, using the Town Clan Sacred Medicine Seven Leaves Purple Ginseng and countless spirit stones to persuade the Su family to let you marry into the Ye family."
"So it's like that?" Su Chen's heart trembled slightly.
He became even more curious. Why would Ye Qingcheng pay such a high price just to save him?
He also understood now why Su Qingxue and the others, who had a cruel and ruthless nature, didn't kill him. It was all because of this.
"Let's go!" Su Chen said in a deep voice.
"Master, it's better not to go out easily now. Besides, the Great Wilderness Mountain Range is extremely dangerous..." Qing Zhu hurriedly advised.
"Take me to the clan meeting!" Su Chen looked at Qing Zhu and then walked out.
Regardless of Ye Qingcheng's motives, she had saved his life.
Moreover, it was obvious that the Zhang family's actions were directed at him, and he couldn't let Ye Qingcheng take the blame for him.
Qing Zhu was stunned for a moment. She had never seen such a sharp gaze. It was like an ancient fierce beast about to erupt, and even she, at the eighth level of the Qi Martial Realm, was overwhelmed.
"Master seems to be different from before," she murmured in her heart, quickly following him.
---
Ye Family Hall.
"Just last month, the family's business shrunk by half, and in just a few days this month, the income is not even one percent of the usual. At this rate, it won't be long before our Ye family has to close down, letting the Zhang family dominate North Wild City!"
"Ye Qingcheng, is this how you manage the family's business? Indeed, a woman can't handle family affairs. I really don't know what the old master was thinking."
"Sigh! She's just a girl, even though she's a bit clever, she can't withstand the storms and can't control the overall situation!"
"Moreover, she can't cultivate. How can a mortal who can't cultivate be worthy of the position of our Ye family's young patriarch?"
"..."
The various high-level members of the family filled the hall on both sides, staring at Ye Qingcheng with stern, angry, and questioning eyes. The atmosphere was extremely oppressive and heavy.
Ye Qingcheng stood alone in the center of the hall, enduring accusations, questioning, and sarcastic remarks from all directions. Her delicate and slender figure appeared extremely fragile.