Immortal and Martial Dual Cultivation

Chapter 1617 (Raw 1599): Crisis Paused

The strong and horrifying black-clad arhat was in the middle of a solid encirclement by the experts from the three sects.

Barring any surprises, even if the black-clad arhat managed to escape by luck, severe injuries would be unavoidable. He could not possibly chase after Xiao Chen for the time being.

However, Xiao Chen could not feel happy at all. Instead, his heart turned heavy and his expression complicated.

Clearly, the Black Lotus Church would not have sent just one person after him. This person should be only one of the members of a large army hunting him.

Furthermore, this was just an early-stage Major Primal Core cultivator, and he was already this strong.

Was the Black Lotus Church really that horrifying?

How did Xiao Chen offend such a strong enemy? Could it be that it was as the Thunder Sovereign had said before he died, leaving the Kunlun Realm was equivalent to death?

Why was the Black Lotus Church after him?

"Big Brother, where did your reinforcement come from? How is he so strong?" Xiao Suo asked with a smile. Now that they reached the city's west side, Xiao Suo relaxed.

Xiao Chen retorted indifferently, "Since when did I say that the black-clad monk is my reinforcement?"

"He is not?"

The Jiao Snake, Senior Liu, Fei`er, and Luo Nan stopped when they heard this; all of them looked at Xiao Chen, startled.

Xiao Chen showed a bitter smile. Could it be that these people also think that the black-clad monk is my reinforcement?

Although the answer was not encouraging, Xiao Chen still revealed the truth: that black-clad arhat was not only not his reinforcement but was also his greatest enemy.

"Hahaha! Little Brother Xiao Chen, you are truly very fortunate. Even with that, you still managed to escape," Senior Liu laughed loudly after being stunned for a moment from hearing what Xiao Chen said.

Xiao Suo was also shocked. "This is really coincidental. To think that the two groups even fought each other! That monk is really stupid, so arrogant that he could not be bothered to explain to the other group of people. He thought that he could forcibly capture Big Brother by himself."

Xiao Chen shook his head but could not laugh. His movements were already exposed; it would only become more problematic after this.

"Xiao Chen, if I did not see wrong, that monk should be one of the Black Lotus Church's seventy-two arhats. How did you offend such a powerful existence?" the Jiao Snake asked Xiao Chen, feeling puzzled.

Xiao Chen had no way to explain this. He could only do his best to clarify the rough situation. "I have many suspicions about the exact reason. Perhaps I can find out only by capturing a person high up in the Black Lotus Church and interrogating him."

Senior Liu smiled awkwardly. "That is probably going to be difficult. The black-clad arhat that just appeared is merely one of seventy-two. Above the arhats are the four Protectors. After them, there is the Black Lotus Church's mysterious Sect Venerate.

"You will have to capture at least one of the four Protectors to have a chance of finding out what is happening. However, all of them in the Cloud Sea Realm."

Xiao Chen frowned and said, "I do not intend to at the moment. Right now, I only want to grow stronger quickly. Senior Liu seems to understand the Black Lotus Church very well."

Senior Liu nodded his head slightly. Then, he said softly, "I understand a little. This Black Lotus Church was very powerful many years ago. I heard that at their peak, they were a Rank 7 sect, about to rival the three holy lands of the Buddhist sects. However, they went into decline later, suppressed by the Buddhist sects until reaching where they are now.

"Although they are a Rank 3 sect now, the Black Lotus Church is no weaker than a Rank 4 sect. Ordinary Rank 3 sects would be too weak before them. This is also why that black-clad arhat is so strong."

Sects were divided into seven ranks, from the weakest Rank 1 to the strongest Rank 7. Rank 7 was considered the peak.

Xiao Chen had not expected this Black Lotus Church to have actually been a Rank 7 sect long ago.

The black-clad arhat could be so strong mainly because of his sect accumulations. The Cultivation Technique and Martial Technique he practiced were much stronger than those of Rank 2 sect Elders.

With the same cultivation, a Primal Core Venerate of a Rank 1 sect would be much weaker than a Primal Core Venerate of a Rank 2 or Rank 3 sect.

"This sect is exceedingly mysterious. Even three days would not be sufficient to tell you everything about it. You need to leave Purple Sun City quickly," Senior Liu said seriously.

Xiao Chen nodded and said, "I know. Let's go to the Pirate Alliance first, then."

The Pirate Alliance functioned as neutral territory. As long as Xiao Chen entered it, the three Rank 2 sects would definitely not dare to charge in. However, once he came out, the Pirate Alliance would not care.

Clearly, what happened at Idle Cloud Restaurant had already spread to the city's west side. Along the way, many people looked at Xiao Chen with shocked expressions. Some gazes even contained ill intent.

Everyone knew that the Scarlet Blood War Banner was in Xiao Chen's hands. However, they also knew that he possessed extraordinary means, and they did not dare to make a move.

Soon, the group arrived safely at the Pirate Alliance and entered Senior Gui's room. Then, without saying a word, Xiao Chen handed the Heavenly Yang Pill's Alchemic Recipe to Senior Liu.

Senior Liu was incredibly happy when he received the Alchemic Recipe, excited beyond words.

After asking a little, Xiao Chen learned that Senior Liu had been unable to make a breakthrough in his Alchemy skills. For the past ten years, he had been seeking out various forbidden pills to temper his Alchemy skills.

Furthermore, Senior Liu had a passion for forbidden pills, a unique hobby.

That was why Senior Liu was stunned when he found out that Xiao Chen had the Alchemic Recipe for the Heavenly Yang Pill and quickly agreed to Xiao Chen's terms.

"Great, it really is the Heavenly Yang Pill. This Alchemic Recipe had been lost for many years already. Unexpectedly, it could resurface today." Senior Liu looked at Xiao Chen and said, "I'll keep this Alchemic Recipe. I'll also help you refine the Heavenly Yang Pill and, at the same time, take the opportunity to temper my Alchemy skills."

Xiao Chen was very happy to hear that. With the other party refining the Heavenly Yang Pill, the chances of success would be much higher.

"This is the Source Tracing Pill. Let your friend consume it. It isn't considered very precious. It's just that some of the ingredients are extremely hard to get. One can consume it only once in their life, so be careful."

Senior Liu took out a jade bottle and handed it to Xiao Chen. Fei`er and Luo Nan immediately revealed joyful smiles.

Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Take it first, Fei`er."

"Thank you, Big Brother Xiao Chen. Thank you, Senior Liu. Thank you, Xiao Suo." Fei`er could not contain her joy. A smile covered her somewhat babyish face.

Xiao Suo scratched his face and smiled abashedly. "Why are you thanking me? I did not do anything."

This was the first time a girl thanked him so politely, making him feel embarrassed.

Fei`er laughed while covering her mouth, "I have to thank you. Earlier, you shielded Senior Brother and me. If you had not done that, we would not have survived."

Luo Nan's hand, which held the jade bottle containing the Medicinal Pill, trembled slightly. Xiao Chen truly paid too big a price for the sake of this Medicinal Pill.

As Luo Nan looked at Xiao Chen, he found it hard to express what he wanted to say. "Big Brother Xiao Chen…"

Xiao Chen interrupted with a smile, "There is no need to say certain things. Fei`er, go bring Luo Nan somewhere to consume the Medicinal Pill. The earlier he consumes it, the better the effects."

Fei`er nodded and supported Luo Nan as they left.

"Xiao Chen, I'll go and refine the Heavenly Yang Pill now, so I'll take my leave first."

Xiao Chen nodded, sending off Senior Liu with his eyes. Then, he asked Senior Gui for a quiet room and started cultivating.

Despite sustaining severe injuries from the repeated battles at Idle Cloud Restaurant, he had gained a lot.

This series of battles was the most intense he experienced since leaving the Kunlun Realm.

This was just the start, definitely not the end.

These battles also exposed some of Xiao Chen's weaknesses. Naturally, his greatest weakness was his cultivation. If not for his heaven-defying trump cards, he would not have been able to hold his own against the early-stage Major Primal Core experts at all.

However, trump cards were known as trump cards because they should not be used frequently.

For now, there was no rush for cultivation. Once Senior Liu refined the Heavenly Yang Pill, Xiao Chen would be able to break through to the Yang Essence Stage.

With the ten-thousand-year-old Baleful Yin Energy and the Heavenly Yang Pill, his foundation in the Veritable Personage Realm would be very stable and firm.

When he condensed a Primal Core, it would definitely be startling, far surpassing that of ordinary Primal Core Venerates.

Right now, what Xiao Chen needed to do was to properly solidify the advancement of his Dao and the new comprehensions of the Fish Dragon Art.

The strengthening of these two things could greatly improve his current combat prowess.

--

In the boundless Starry Heavens, a white-clad monk holding Buddhist prayer beads stood on a lotus platform, traveling the Starry Heavens with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, this white-clad man opened his eyes, and a holy Buddhist light flashed in them, lighting up the pitch-dark surroundings.

"Someone already discovered him? Purple Sun Region, Purple Sun City…I seem to be the closest."

The white-clad monk entered deep thought. After a while, the lotus platform gave off a Buddhist light that formed a long band of light.

The lotus platform traveled at an incredible speed on the band of light, quickly zooming through the Starry Heavens and rushing towards Purple Sun City.