Chapter 76: Why Are You Running?

## Chapter 76: Why Do You Flee?

No sooner had he stepped through the threshold than Ye Chen's gaze fell upon Xu Fu, seated beside Chu Xuan'er.

"How is she...?" A ripple of surprise passed through Ye Chen. Instinctively, he spun on his heel and fled.

Yet, after but two steps, he felt a potent, irresistible force seize his form, drawing him back with considerable might. The hand that wrought this was, naturally, Chu Xuan'er's.

Dragging Ye Chen back, Chu Xuan'er fixed him with a radiant smile. "Little fellow, do I appear so terrifying?"

"N-not terrifying," Ye Chen stammered, offering an awkward grin.

"Then why do you flee at the sight of me? You did it last time, and again now." Chu Xuan'er's limpid, beautiful eyes flickered with curiosity. The sight of Ye Chen bolting upon seeing her filled her with an inexplicable bewilderment.

"How so, Junior Sister? You've met him?" At his side, Xu Fu expressed a degree of surprise.

"I saw him once in the back mountains. He fled then, too, when he saw me."

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu's brows arched. He turned to Ye Chen. "Ye Chen, have you perhaps committed some transgression?"

"No," Ye Chen's head shook like a rattle-drum.

"Then why do you flee?"

"Are you Ye Chen?" Before Ye Chen could offer a reply, Chu Xuan'er spoke. Clearly, she had not yet recognized the youth standing before her.

"Does Junior Sister know him?" Xu Fu was surprised anew.

"It would be difficult not to!" Chu Xuan'er stretched languidly. "Crippling over ten True Disciples from the Ren Yang and Di Yang peaks on the Wind and Cloud Stage... this matter has spread even to the Inner Sect."

At this, Ye Chen gave a dry cough, unconsciously touching the tip of his nose. He felt that he, this mere Probationary Disciple, had already become quite the celebrity within the Heng Yue Sect. Since arriving at Heng Yue, his series of remarkable feats had made obscurity nigh impossible!

"Little fellow, are you interested in becoming my disciple?" Chu Xuan'er spoke with a light smile, her gaze fixed upon Ye Chen.

Ye Chen was taken aback, clearly not having anticipated such a proposition from Chu Xuan'er. To accept or not? That was indeed a question. Though he was certain that the woman before him was not the same as the one he had encountered in the demon beast forest that day, becoming her disciple filled him with a strange premonition, a feeling that he would inexplicably be stabbed in his sleep.

"Is this even a matter requiring thought?" Seeing Ye Chen remain silent, Xu Fu, who had been sitting still, stepped forward and delivered a kick.

"Have you given it good consideration?" Chu Xuan'er watched Ye Chen with interest.

"Elder, do I need to follow you to the Inner Sect now?" Ye Chen tentatively inquired, looking at Chu Xuan'er.

"Naturally, there will be a test. If you can enter the Inner Sect, then you will be deemed qualified."

"Understood."

"Then it is decided." Chu Xuan'er had already risen. Her lotus steps drifted towards the exit. Just as she stepped out of the Spirit Pill Pavilion, she turned back, offering a captivating smile. "If you can enter the Inner Sect, I shall consider imparting a secret technique to you!"

That captivating smile caused Ye Chen to fall into a momentary daze.

From that night onward, Chu Ling'er's figure had lingered in his mind. That night of spring had long since etched that graceful shadow onto his heart. She was so beautiful, like a celestial being, pure and flawless. Now, faced with a woman who looked exactly like her, he felt a sense of being in a dream. Perhaps too lost in thought, he apparently failed to notice he was rooted to the spot.

"Everyone has left, and you are still staring." Xu Fu stepped forward and delivered another kick, jolting Ye Chen back to reality from his daze.

Ye Chen let out a dry cough, unconsciously touching the tip of his nose.

"Work." Xu Fu dragged Ye Chen directly towards the inner hall.

Upon entering the inner hall, Ye Chen immediately beheld a pill furnace standing three *zhang* high. Engraved upon its front, back, left, and right were the Azure Dragon, Phoenix, White Tiger, and Black Tortoise respectively. Besides these, numerous intricate patterns adorned the furnace. He had seen pill furnaces before, but never one of such immense size. Merely looking upon it instilled a sense of immense pressure.

Furthermore, he felt waves of heat surging from beneath the ground. No need to ask, it was the earth fire.

*Buzz!*

At this moment, the True Fire within his body seemed to sense the underground True Fire, and it actually trembled once. This tremor was significant; it directly startled the surging earth fire back.

"Control your True Fire. Do not let it devour the earth fire," Xu Fu said, giving Ye Chen a stern look.

"True Fire can devour earth fire?" Ye Chen was somewhat surprised.

"Both are flames, of the same kind. Of course, they can devour each other."

"This is the first I've heard of it," Ye Chen muttered. In his heart, he had already warned the True Fire in his Dan Sea. Otherwise, if it truly devoured the earth fire, Xu Fu would surely strangle him.

"Place your hand on the pill furnace. I will test the level of your soul force," Xu Fu instructed.

"Soul force level?" Ye Chen was stunned. Even though he had been specializing in information gathering before, this was the first time he had heard that the soul was divided into levels.

Though curious, he still gently placed his hand on the pill furnace. It seemed this furnace was not only used for refining pills but also possessed the ability to test one's soul force level.

*Buzz!*

The moment he placed his hand upon it, the pill furnace buzzed and trembled. Subsequently, a ray of spiritual light shot out from the top of the furnace, gathering in mid-air to form a mysterious character: "Spirit."

"It's actually Spirit Level." Upon seeing the character "Spirit," Xu Fu stroked his beard, his tone tinged with surprise.

Ye Chen withdrew his hand and looked at Xu Fu with curiosity, asking, "Elder, how is soul force divided into levels?"

"Soul force is divided into five levels: Human Level, Spirit Level, Profound Level, Earth Level, and Heaven Level," Xu Fu explained unhurriedly, knowing Ye Chen's lack of understanding in this matter. "The five levels of soul force correspond to the five major realms of cultivators: Human Level corresponds to the Qi Condensation Realm, Spirit Level corresponds to the Human Origin Realm, Profound Level corresponds to the True Yang Realm, Earth Level corresponds to the Spirit Void Realm, and Heaven Level corresponds to the Empty Nether Realm. Generally speaking, the level of soul force is the same as one's cultivation level. However, your soul force is actually one level higher than your cultivation."

Having said this, Xu Fu did not forget to turn his head and look at Ye Chen, asking, "Have you perhaps taken nourishing soul pills?"

Hearing this, Ye Chen lightly shook his head.

"Then it is strange." Xu Fu stroked his beard, his gaze filled with confusion.

"Elder, is there a difference?"

"Of course there is a difference. The soul is mysterious and profound, full of endless possibilities. Those with high soul force possess comprehension far exceeding ordinary individuals. When condensing the Primordial Spirit, they have an innate advantage."

"What is the Primordial Spirit?" Ye Chen looked at Xu Fu with shining eyes.

Hearing this, Xu Fu inhaled deeply, his eyes filled with reverence and longing. "The so-called Primordial Spirit is one level higher than the soul, just as spiritual power is one level higher than True Qi. Generally speaking, only cultivators who reach the Heavenly Silence Realm possess the qualification to condense the Primordial Spirit. With the Primordial Spirit, one's Primordial Spirit can leave the body, separating from the physical form. As long as the Primordial Spirit is not destroyed, the physical body will not perish, much like this principle."

Ye Chen rubbed his chin. "So, you're saying that cultivators below the Heavenly Silence Realm are unable to condense the Primordial Spirit?"

"Nothing is absolute." Xu Fu opened his mouth and said, "In the vast world, nothing is impossible. There are indeed individuals who can condense the Primordial Spirit in the Spirit Void Realm, but their numbers are so rare they are almost non-existent."

Having said this, Xu Fu paused for a moment before continuing, "Of course, this heaven and earth also does not lack anomalies. I once read a secret account in an ancient book which mentioned a mysterious and ancient race. They are innately born with the Primordial Spirit."

"What race is that? So formidable."

"The Spirit Race."

"The Spirit... Spirit Race." Ye Chen was shocked. Another formidable ancient race of the Nine Races! He had truly gained knowledge today. Xu Fu's experience far surpassed his expectations.

His soul force being one level higher than his cultivation... Perhaps he truly could condense the Primordial Spirit before reaching the Heavenly Silence Realm. Xu Fu stroked his beard, looking at Ye Chen with a meaningful gaze.

"That sounds good," Ye Chen grinned sheepishly.

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