When Chen Mo woke up from his unconscious state, a faint ray of morning sunlight filtered through the window, landing on his face.
Slowly opening his eyes and wiggling his fingers, the expected intense pain did not come. Instead, a sense of fullness and strength flowed through his body.
The comfortable feeling of fullness made him instinctively stretch out in a "big" shape, letting out a long yawn. However, as the blanket slipped off his body, he caught a faint lingering fragrance on it.
Chen Mo jolted as if struck by a sudden realization, sitting up abruptly and slapping his forehead.
"What exactly happened last night?"
Memories flooded back. He recalled that two bottles of Amethyst Origin were not enough to awaken a single particle, so he drank another one. But three bottles turned out to be too much.
He had only refined half of the third bottle, and the remaining energy wreaked havoc in his body. With his Battle Qi completely depleted, his body couldn't withstand it, and he passed out.
What happened after that, he had no idea.
Yet, his subconscious hinted that the events that followed were something he would savor endlessly.
"Was it her?" A graceful and elegant figure suddenly appeared in Chen Mo's mind.
"Sigh, it's a pity the system doesn't have a recording function. If it did, replaying it would definitely reveal what happened last night." A sense of melancholy slowly crept onto Chen Mo's face.
"Never mind, I'll find a place to test my current strength first."
Meanwhile.
"Sect Leader, there's no need to say more. The top five is the Council of Elders' final concession. Moreover, you agreed to this condition yesterday afternoon," Yun Leng said, looking up at Yun Yun, who had once again convened the Council of Elders on the steps.
The white-robed elders beside Yun Leng nodded in agreement.
"Grand Elder, you need to understand one thing. I'm not discussing this with you; I'm merely informing you," Yun Yun stated firmly.
"Sect Leader, you must not act unilaterally. The Council of Elders was left by the previous Sect Leader. Any major matters concerning the Yunlan Sect must be decided by the Council."
"Moreover," Yun Leng suddenly said coldly, "didn't the Sect Leader say that Chen Mo, at just sixteen years old, has already reached the One-Star Battle Master level?"
"If that's the case, with such high talent, he wouldn't be far behind the Young Sect Leader. Why is the Sect Leader so concerned? Unless what you said isn't true?"
"It is true. However, Yan Ran has already reached the Seven-Star Battle Master level, and there are quite a few Inner Sanctum disciples at the Four-Star and Five-Star levels among the younger generation. Chen Mo has just arrived, and asking him to compete for the top five among the younger Inner Sanctum disciples seems a bit too hasty, don't you think?"
"Then what does the Sect Leader propose?"
"The Outer Sanctum."
"No, Sect Leader, you must understand. This decision concerns your personal disciple. Once he becomes one, he will represent the face of the Yunlan Sect. In the future, he will even have the right to compete for the position of Sect Leader."
This was the first time Yun Leng felt the Sect Leader's resolute attitude, and he was also surprised. Just what kind of background did Chen Mo have?
The other elders were also earnestly trying to persuade her.
However, after what happened last night, Yun Yun had made up her mind. This meeting would settle the matter once and for all.
...
The back mountain of the Yunlan Sect.
In fantasy novels, whether it's a family, a sect, or even a top-tier sacred land, there is always a back mountain.
The Yunlan Sect was no exception.
Chen Mo asked the maid who attended to Yun Yun where he could find a quiet place for cultivation. The maid told him the location and the general route.
Everything went smoothly, without any of the clichéd scenarios from other novels, such as taking the wrong path or encountering someone looking for trouble.
Apart from attracting frequent glances from female disciples due to his good looks, Chen Mo arrived at the back mountain without any issues.
The so-called back mountain was actually the side peaks of Yunlan Mountain. There were many side peaks connected to Yunlan Mountain, hence they were collectively referred to as the back mountain.
On an unnamed peak.
Here, the mist swirled, and the atmosphere was peaceful and serene, giving off a faintly immortal aura.
Chen Mo stood on a large boulder and began his training.
"Using Qi to guide the spirit..."
Utilizing the abundant Battle Qi within his body, Chen Mo silently recited the Cultivation Method's mantra, practicing each move meticulously. His body turned into a shadow, appearing in all directions, and the Qi Vortex inside him spun faster and faster.
"Nethergod Spear."
Chen Mo extended his right hand, and a spear about ten feet long, condensed from Nethergod Power, appeared before him.
He could clearly see the changes in the spear. It was no longer semi-illusory but was transforming into something more substantial.
Most importantly, the tip of the spear, where lightning snakes flickered, was surrounded by a faint Purple Flame.
"This must be the Purple Flame of the Amethyst Winged Lion King. If that's the case, I should have a Fire Seed within me as well."
Staring intently at the Purple Flame, Chen Mo's heart suddenly stirred. He slightly clenched his left hand and then suddenly opened it, softly uttering, "Come out."
As Chen Mo spoke, a small purple flame slowly emerged from his palm.
"So beautiful, now let's test its power."
He threw the flame from his left hand toward the spear in his right.
With a loud "boom," the spear was enveloped in the Purple Flame. Swinging his arms, Chen Mo thrust the spear forward, combining it with the explosive power of the two Giant Elephant Strengths within him. Instantly, a stream of air gathered on the spear, faintly forming the shadow of a giant elephant.
"Roar!"
As the elephant let out a roar, the spear struck a large boulder not far away. With a loud "bang," the boulder instantly shattered, and stone fragments flew everywhere.
The spot where the spear tip made contact even turned into fine powder.
A fierce wind howled past, rustling the leaves around.
Even the insects that had been chirping incessantly fell silent as if sensing the threat of death when the aura of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength within Chen Mo awakened.
"The power is decent, but it's still not enough."
Chen Mo glanced at the mess he had created around him and frowned slightly. Although he had grasped a bit of the Divine Elephant Suppressing Prison Strength, it was far from the Hell-Suppressing Might described in the Cultivation Method.
It was still missing something.
"Again!"
"Boom!"
"Not good enough, again!"
"Boom!"
"Still not enough, again!"
"Again!"
"..."
After practicing for who knows how long, Chen Mo only stopped when his Battle Qi was completely depleted and the sun had disappeared. He collapsed, utterly exhausted.
"Why is it always just a little bit off? Do I really have to get struck by lightning?"
"No way, I'm not that desperate."
"Maybe I should go back and ask Sister Yun Yun when it's going to thunder."
"Yeah, just casually ask."
...
Inside the palace.
"Rain?"
"Yes, and if there could be wind and lightning, that would be even better."
"What are you planning?"
"What do you want? Just asking casually."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"It won't rain anytime soon."
"No way!" Chen Mo's expression changed. What should he do?
Yun Yun didn't pay much attention to Chen Mo's expression but instead looked somewhat excited as she said, "I have some good news for you."
"What is it?"
"For this Sect Competition, you only need to make it into the top ten among the younger generation of Inner Sanctum disciples."
"Σ(д;)"
(End of chapter)