Chapter 51 - 51 Groundhog
Chapter 51: Groundhog
On the tenth day of the seventh lunar month, the start of autumn.
It was suitable for travel, moving into a new house, and breaking ground.
In the morning during the Chen hour, the bell of Fixed Sun resounded through both the inner and outer mountain gates.
The Cloud Sun Sect suddenly dispatched five flying warships and a hundred Purple Mansion Superiors, led by Mu Qingqiu, to embark on an expedition to the Outer Domain.
In addition, thousands of elite Qi Cultivators accompanied them.
The entire Cloud Sun Sect had only seven magical treasure flying warships, two hundred Superiors, and three Golden Cores.
Mu Qingqiu, known as the “First Sword of Heaven Cloud,” had unrivaled combat strength within the Sect.
Thus, it could be said that they were deploying half of Cloud Sun Sect’s strength!
Since the Cloud Sun Sect made no attempt to conceal their movements, news quickly spread throughout the entire Sect and surrounding areas.
Countless people were thrown into a state of panic and terror.
At home, Wang Chen was practicing the Five Elements Skill, striving to break through to the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation.
Three days later, news arrived that under Mu Qingqiu’s command, the army had traveled eight thousand miles in the Outer Domain, breaking through four strongholds of the Grey Eye Thieves, destroying two sacrificial temples, and slaughtering tens of thousands of Evil God Followers.
Moreover, Mu Qingqiu personally took action and slew a Golden Core Evil Cultivator!
This battle was touted as Cloud Sun Sect’s most glorious victory since they wiped out the Three-Eyed Divine Church.
Through it, Cloud Sun Sect upheld its honor as the preeminent sect of Heaven Cloud.
When the news of the great victory returned to the Sect,
Cloud Mountain City was as lit up as fireworks, illuminating the night sky.
It was even more lively than during New Year celebrations.
…
Wang Chen was at home diligently practicing the Vajra Fist, striving to reach the Minor Achievement Realm.
Five days later, the expeditionary army triumphantly returned.
Ji Guantao, the Sect Leader and a high-tier Golden Core True Person of Cloud Sun Sect, emerged from seclusion and went out to meet them a hundred miles outside the Sect gate.
He also announced a seven-day grand celebration, waiving the entry fee for Loose Cultivators into the city.
Cloud Mountain City was nearly bursting from the influx of people crowding in.
The female cultivators of Hehuan Sect announced a promotional discount, with the all-night fee of twenty Low Spirit now only costing ten Low Spirit.
The threshold of Numerous Fragrances Pavilion was worn down by the foot traffic.
At home, Wang Chen was practicing the Heavenly Dragon Vajra Method, striving to break through to the Jade Bone Realm.
Half a month later, five fully staffed Reclamation Camps left the Sect gates and entered the Outer Domain to expand and claim territory for Cloud Sun Sect.
Just six days passed before one Reclamation Camp discovered a large Purple Copper Mine.
The Sect Leader of Cloud Sun Sect issued an edict to richly reward the Reclamation Cultivators.
Among them, a Qi Cultivator who had rendered great service was promoted to an Inner Sect Direct Disciple!
As the news spread, the remaining spots in the other Reclamation Camps became incredibly sought after,
Attracting countless Outer Sect Cultivators eagerly vying for them.
Wang Chen was at home working hard to increase his skill proficiency.
Crack!
Accompanied by a crisp sound, a rock harder than metal shattered into pieces in Wang Chen’s hands.
He let out a long breath as his swollen right arm quickly returned to its normal size.
[Mudstone Technique·Experience+1]
[Mighty Strength Technique (Mastery Level): 199/200]
[Mudstone Technique (Minor Achievement): 299/300]
Over the past month, aside from taking care of the Spirit Fields, Wang Chen’s outings were few and far between.
He spent most of his time at home.
No matter how tumultuous the outside world, he immersed himself in cultivation.
Without using any bonus points.
Wang Chen brought his Spiritual Perception Technique, Object-Controlling Technique, Fire Crow Technique, and Cleansing Technique up to the Mastery Level.
The Mudstone Technique had even reached Minor Achievement completion!
It’s worth mentioning that.
In the process of advancing the Mudstone Technique from Mastery to Minor Achievement, Wang Chen didn’t use any points either.
He solely relied on effort and perseverance to break through the bottleneck!
This was also the first spell skill that he brought from Mastery to Minor Achievement without expending any Human Virtue points.
Wang Chen had initially planned to rely entirely on adding points to make the breakthrough from Mastery Level to Minor Achievement and from Minor Achievement to Great Achievement.
As a result, he set a new personal record.
This made Wang Chen fully realize the importance of hard work!
But for the jump from Minor Achievement to Great Achievement, he didn’t want to persist anymore.
Straight to adding points!
Human Virtue (Breaking Threshold): 38
Mudstone Technique (Great Achievement): 0/400
Add points again!
Human Virtue (Breaking Threshold): 37
Mighty Strength Technique (Minor Achievement): 0/300
Looking at the refreshed data on the immortal cultivation panel, Wang Chen couldn’t help but clench his fists.
The Mighty Strength Technique came as a byproduct while practicing the Mudstone Technique.
This spell was originally somewhat superfluous and rarely used.
But ever since he mastered the Vajra Fist.
Wang Chen found that with the boost from the Mighty Strength Technique, the power of Vajra Fist greatly increased.
So, he decisively reached the Minor Achievement level.
The elevation of each spell and skill realm undoubtedly greatly enhanced his combat power.
This month’s efforts were incredibly worthwhile!
Squeezing his arms, which had grown a bit more robust, Wang Chen pulled out a blueprint from his Storage Bag.
This was the “Doomsday Bunker” blueprint he had drawn in his spare time.
Now that the Mudstone Technique had reached Great Achievement, the original bunker construction plan was immediately put on the agenda.
Although Wang Chen rarely left the house during this time,
by visiting Old Master Sun, he kept well-informed.
Currently, the situation at the Cloud Sun Sect was like a fire flourishing in oil, with a momentum as strong as midday sun.
The neighbors were all talking about victories brought by Golden Core True Persons, discussing the Three Halls Reserve Camp, and the Reclamation Camp.
Everyone envied the cultivators who joined those two camps.
They were jealous of the Qi Cultivator who found a large vein of purple copper and sky-rocketed to success.
They completely forgot about the catastrophes caused by Earth Rhinoceros Beetles and Grey Eye Thieves more than a month ago, as well as the pain brought by the three to five mu less harvest and the rising grain prices.
Quite a few people even mocked those Loose Cultivators from the Outer Domain who flocked here to avoid the city entrance fees.
Feeling superior for being part of the Sect, they couldn’t help but be smug.
However, Wang Chen did not forget.
He didn’t indulge in pride, didn’t feel fortunate, nor did he lose his vigilance!
No delay; he got straight to it.
The entrance to the bunker was set up in Wang Chen’s bedroom.
He first moved the bed away, then pried up the blue bricks laid on the ground.
As an escape and survival route, the entrance to the bunker was crucial; it had to be sufficiently hidden and convenient.
Wang Chen planned to make a flip board linked with the bed board through a mechanism.
When resting or sleeping, if he sensed danger, he could immediately trigger the control lever at the head of the bed, and his whole body would roll directly into the tunnel, escaping as quickly as possible.
This design was inspired by Louis Cha’s martial arts masterpiece, “The Deer and the Cauldron.”
Of course, Wang Chen wouldn’t be hiding an Empress Dowager underneath.
After all the floor tiles were pried up, he took out the excavation tools custom-made in town.
And began to dig down!
At this time, the Mighty Strength Technique, which Wang Chen had advanced to the Minor Achievement Realm, came into play.
With the boost from this spell, he swung his hoe as fast as a miniature excavator.
The excavated earth was first collected by Wang Chen into his now-empty Storage Bag.
Once the Storage Bag was full, he would take it outside and pile it up against the wall.
Wang Chen planned to reinforce and raise all four walls of the courtyard after the bunker was completed.
Although relying on walls might not stop demons and evil wraiths, even if they could only serve a minuscule purpose, to buy him a moment to react, it would be entirely worth it!
After dumping the earth, he returned to the bedroom to continue digging.
After digging to an average depth of three feet,
Wang Chen would use the Great Achievement level Mudstone Technique to reinforce the walls of the tunnel.
One day, two days, three days…
Wang Chen was like a tiny mole,
Perseveringly digging day after day within his little domain.
The first update is here, asking for your support with recommendation tickets, thank you!