Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit
Chapter 140 - 111: Meeting Qingshan again! 【Congratulations ’Q Wood’ for becoming the Alliance Hierarch!】

Chapter 140: Chapter 111: Meeting Qingshan again! 【Congratulations ’Q Wood’ for becoming the Alliance Hierarch!】

One year later.

Shamen Island.

"Hoo!"

Chen Jichuan completed his cultivation, let out a long breath, and opened his eyes.

A year had passed, and Chen Jichuan’s appearance hadn’t changed, but a strand of white hair now hung down from his forehead, adding a sense of weariness.

"Evil techniques are, after all, evil techniques."

Chen Jichuan sighed lightly.

He gently stroked the strand of white hair, his thoughts drifting back to the battle against Zhang Zhihe a year ago.

On that day, although he successfully cursed Zhang Zhihe to death, he himself suffered heavy losses to his Primordial Qi. Flying across Three Realms Pass on an eagle to reach Shamen Island, it had now been a year, and despite intermittent recovery efforts spanning half a year, he had yet to fully heal.

Not just that.

But in one night, a strand of his hair had turned white.

Chen Jichuan could feel that his lifespan had seemingly been sliced away inexplicably. He didn’t know how many years this technique had shaved off his life.

"This spell must not be used casually!"

Chen Jichuan shook his head.

A human’s lifespan is finite.

For cultivators, it’s even more precious. Even losing one or two years could often mean the critical difference, causing cultivation breakthroughs to fail and leading to untimely regret.

In this lifetime, Chen Jichuan was determined to reach Qi Refinement, striving to reach higher levels and successfully condense the Dao Fruit.

Being able to live one more year might save him plenty of time and tens of thousands of Source Power.

He silently resolved in his heart to avoid using evil techniques in the future.

Shifting his thoughts.

He laughed out loud.

Although the battle where he cursed Zhang Zhihe brought significant lifespan loss and injuries to his Primordial Qi, which hadn’t yet recovered, fortunately, the gains were considerable.

"Corpse Control Technique."

"Elephant Armor Skill."

"Overlord Armor."

These three cultivation techniques were Chen Jichuan’s greatest rewards.

Among them, the "Corpse Control Technique" was profound and obscure; it wasn’t something he could comprehend anytime soon, let alone cultivate—best to leave it aside for now.

However, the "Elephant Armor Skill" and "Overlord Armor" were both cross-training techniques.

Unlike the ’Chen’s 72 Skills,’ these techniques were fundamentally Inner Strength cultivation methods. But they focused more on dispersing cultivated inner breath and Inner Strength throughout the body, combining it with external forces to enhance defense and resilience.

Ultimately, they aimed to achieve the realm of being ’impervious to blades and spears, resistant to water and fire, and possessing extraordinary strength.’

Originally developed as supplementary cross-training techniques for the "Corpse Control Technique," ordinary cultivators could still practice them. For example, Zhang Zhihe had cultivated the "Overlord Armor," making his physical body exceptionally strong.

What was apparent on the surface was merely his corpse-refining ability.

But if anyone tried to bypass his corpses to strike directly at Zhang Zhihe’s body, the physique refined through the "Overlord Armor" would undoubtedly leave them shocked, perhaps even dead.

Under such circumstances.

Zhang Zhihe should have had dual-layered insurance, making him invincible.

Unfortunately.

He encountered Chen Jichuan. The curse rendered him powerless to exploit his skills, ultimately dying in frustration, leaving all his possessions to Chen Jichuan.

Of course.

As remarkable as "Elephant Armor Skill" and "Overlord Armor" were, they had their shortcomings.

"These two cultivation techniques are too crude, refining the body to be tough but sacrificing agility. The dark strength and transforming strength cultivated from Chen’s 72 Skills appear ferocious but are actually a blend of hardness and softness, achieving balance between the two."

"The two techniques clash, making it difficult to practice them simultaneously."

Chen Jichuan, a seasoned practitioner of external techniques, saw at a glance both the strengths and weaknesses of these two cross-training techniques. Although he couldn’t cultivate them jointly, the concept of nourishing the body, muscles, and bones through Inner Strength and the insights within the "Elephant Armor Skill" and "Overlord Armor" could still be integrated into "Chen’s 72 Skills."

Absorbing and incorporating them.

The unique skills of the Chen Sect would undoubtedly improve, and the pathway beyond transforming strength would become significantly clearer.

"Once I fully comprehend them, I will be ready to elevate my transforming strength to the Tenth Layer!"

Chen Jichuan felt elated.

Compared to Magic Artifacts, talismans, or Pills, cultivation techniques and training insights were decidedly more beneficial to him. Not only could they be applied within this realm to grow his strength, but they would also remain useful in reality and in the future Dao Fruit World.

Tangible assets are not carried into life nor taken into death.

In contrast.

Chen Jichuan clearly valued cultivation techniques and other intangible assets far more.

"Wealth has a price."

"Knowledge is priceless."

Chen Jichuan consoled himself.

During this battle against Zhang Zhihe, a Qi Refining Immortal Master who was impoverished to the point of being contemptible.

After fleeing from the Mysterious Nether Sea in disgrace, not only had Zhang Zhihe’s refined corpses collapsed, but his handy Magic Artifacts were destroyed. His talismans were used up, and he hardly had any Pills left.

His destitution was pitiful.

Luckily, the three cultivation techniques were salvaged; otherwise, Chen Jichuan might have coughed up blood in anger.

Laughing inwardly.

Chen Jichuan took out a Jade Scroll and placed it on his brow, continuing to study the "Corpse Control Technique."

...

"Master."

"The Qingshan has docked."

While Chen Jichuan was musing over the "Corpse Control Technique," a tall man eight feet in stature suddenly walked in from outside and enthusiastically reported to Chen Jichuan.

The visitor was none other than ’Bian Cheng’ from the Echo Valley Thirteen Grand Protectors whom Chen Jichuan saved after cursing Zhang Zhihe to death.

The "Corpse Control Technique" was profound.

Within it lay techniques such as the "Heavenly Sound Skill," "Control God Skill," and "Enchanting Soul Technique," capable of captivating souls, controlling hearts, and making others willingly submit, not only eliminating resistance but actively aiding the caster in their refinement.

During the refinement process.

Life force gradually dissipates, and the soul breaks apart, dispersing into the entire body and sealing it.

Until no vitality remains, the body becomes rock-solid, driven solely by instinct and completely obeying the caster’s commands.

Corpse refinement is then complete.

The hardship of this process is indescribable to outsiders.

Zhang Zhihe had painstakingly refined his corpses for half a year but still lacked the final touch, failing to fully refine ’Bian, Kang, Meng, Huang.’ Among them, Meng and Huang were ill-fated and ended up being torn to pieces, but Bian and Kang remained intact with a faint trace of vitality.

After rescuing them, Chen Jichuan employed a "Soul Retrieval and Reunion to Body Technique," restoring their scattered three souls and seven spirits, stabilizing their souls and spirits.

Later, he supplemented their recovery with Pills, and after a year of conditioning, they were finally restored to full health.

Now, they were more vigorous than ever, even more spirited than Chen Jichuan.

Surviving this calamity, and being brought by their master to Shamen Island for an overseas cultivation expedition, Bian Cheng had been elated for quite some time. Today, with the arrival of the so-called ’Qingshan,’ signaling imminent departure, he was bursting with excitement.

"At last, it’s here."

Upon hearing the news, Chen Jichuan’s face lit up with a slight smile.

There were few voyages from the Mysterious Nether Sea to Shamen Island, only two or three a year. Because of the Zhang Zhihe incident, Chen Jichuan had missed last year’s Qingshan voyage.

Although two other voyages had occurred since then, they weren’t aboard the Qingshan.

He didn’t trust their origins.

Facing tens of thousands of miles and a six-month journey, Chen Jichuan dared not board strangers’ ships rashly.

Moreover, with injuries to himself, Bian Cheng, and Kang Jiuhua, he opted to remain on Shamen Island for a year, finally awaiting the Qingshan’s arrival.

"Go notify the others to prepare for boarding!"

Chen Jichuan wasted no time, giving instructions to Bian Cheng.

Another year had passed.

Immortal Master Wuk Yuan was now 305 years old. Chen Jichuan didn’t know if his body could still endure. If he delayed further, there was a risk that Wuk Yuan Immortal Master would pass away before he returned to Jade Spring Island. Chen Jichuan would regret deeply if he missed paying his final respects and seeing him one last time.

No matter what, he had to witness Wuk Yuan Immortal Master’s final journey.

"Understood!"

Bian Cheng, unaware of his master’s yearning for home, was thrilled at the prospect of departure. He quickly acknowledged the order and went to inform Wun Shouyang, Zhong Dahai, Kang Jiuhua, and the other senior disciples.

Overseas cultivation.

How exhilarating!

...

Thirty-three years later, the Qingshan once again appeared.

Standing at the Shamen Island port, gazing at the enormous vessel docking there, it was somewhat unfamiliar. It wasn’t that Chen Jichuan’s memory had faded, but rather that, after thirty years of traversing seas, the original Qingshan had long since weathered away; the current ship was a brand-new sea vessel.

"Ten Spirit Stones per person."

"Two hundred passengers per voyage—one journey and return would net 4,000 Spirit Stones, more than enough to replace ten ships."

Chen Jichuan couldn’t help but wince as he boarded the Qingshan.

In the past, leaving the Mysterious Nether Sea as a solo traveler didn’t feel burdensome. But this time, besides himself, he was accompanied by eleven disciples, including Wun Shouyang, Zhong Dahai, Bian Cheng, and Kang Jiuhua—the Echo Valley "Twelve Swords" and "Thirteen Grand Protectors."

Just the cost of tickets amounted to 120 Spirit Stones.

Thankfully, Chen Jichuan had been frugal over the years and proactively arrived at Shamen Island to ’sweep out the darkness’ and claim some Spirit Stones.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible to bring all of his disciples along.

Even so.

It drained half of his resources.

"Master."

"There are many experts aboard the ship."

Wun Shouyang noticed Chen Jichuan standing on the deck, seemingly lost in thought, and spoke quietly beside him, assuming he was contemplating safety.

As the Echo Valley’s apparent leader, Wun Shouyang had encountered many experts. His year on Shamen Island had yielded a few Innate Dead Souls, but after boarding the Qingshan, he truly understood what ’masters abound’ meant.

"Most of these individuals hit bottlenecks in their mainland cultivation, unable to progress further. Hence, they set out to sea seeking opportunities and breakthroughs."

"Naturally, the ship is filled with experts."

Chen Jichuan wasn’t surprised.

The Qingshan, traveling between the Mysterious Nether Sea and Shamen Island, charged a hefty price for tickets. Ordinary civilians and Postnatal cultivators could still afford it back then, so the previous Qingshan carried regular folks and Postnatal cultivators.

But now, this route leading to the Mysterious Nether Sea was virtually devoid of ordinary people, with even Postnatal cultivators being a rare sight.

Two hundred passengers.

Nearly all were Innate experts.

Among them, top masters from various nations, such as Zheng, Zhangg, Xue, Bu, and Fan families, as well as cultivators returning from the Mysterious Nether Sea to settle mundane matters before embarking on their journey back.

Only a vessel like the Qingshan could suppress such a diverse gathering of Innate cultivators.

Rumor had it that there was a Qi Refining Immortal Master stationed aboard, backed by the Qingshan Sect of the Mysterious Nether Sea. This ensured order, as no matter how numerous or formidable the experts, none dared cause trouble onboard.

"I see."

Wun Shouyang finally understood, feeling newfound reverence for the Mysterious Nether Sea, a haven for expert masters, and yearning to witness its splendor.

Not only Wun Shouyang.

The eleven disciples boarding alongside Chen Jichuan were equally brimming with anticipation.

Standing on the deck.

They alternated between gazing at Shamen Island and the vast sea, imagining glimpses of the distant Mysterious Nether Sea.

Even renowned Grandmasters were rendered ordinary in such moments of longing.

Chen Jichuan was more composed but nonetheless eager, looking forward to reuniting with old friends upon returning to White Jade Island and Jade Spring Island.

At this moment.

"Mr. Chen."

Two delighted voices called out behind him. Recognizing the familiar tones, Chen Jichuan turned with a smile.

...