Cultivation starts from simplifying the exercises

Chapter 2116 Bluffing
Initially, this aggregation was loose, with tiny distances between the lattice fragments.

But soon, catalyzed by the invisible power of the spatial grid and attracted by the mutual attraction of the same rule-based aura contained within the fragments, the speed of aggregation began to gradually accelerate.

Extremely fine energy threads began to form between the fragments, linking them together.

The light began to intertwine and merge, no longer chaotic, but gradually tending towards a unified, yet more profound and restrained, hazy, chaotic luster.

A mysterious and profound change was faintly emerging from these automatically converging fragments of the rank. It was the condensation of the nascent form of rules, the sublimation of the essence of the rank, and the embryo of the rank's spiritual material.

"It will take some more time."

Chen Fei made a mental estimate, then shifted his gaze from the spatial compartment back to the outside world, vigilantly guarding Cao Feiyu who was healing, as well as any possible disturbances around them.

"Junior brother."

A soothing voice, relieved of fatigue, drew Chen Fei's attention away from the surrounding vigilance.

He turned his head and saw that Cao Feiyu had opened her eyes at some point and was quietly looking at him. The long sword on her lap was already sheathed and placed horizontally beside her.

The paleness on her face had mostly faded, restoring its former radiance, though a trace of weariness from the fierce battle still lingered between her brows.

Although his aura was no longer as sharp and imposing as it had been at its peak, it was now steady and long, indicating that his injuries were no longer a major concern and that his depleted essence had been largely restored.

"Senior sister, how are your injuries?" Chen Fei asked with concern.

"I'm fine now." Cao Feiyu smiled gently, indicating that she was in good condition.

Before coming to this ancient celestial ruin, she had made thorough preparations, carrying with her numerous healing elixirs and rare spiritual materials bestowed upon her by her sect and accumulated by herself.

The Dan Chen Sect is unparalleled in alchemy within the Yan Yang Immortal Dynasty, and the medicines it prepares are naturally exceptionally effective. In addition, the injuries she suffered were mostly caused by the shockwaves from the force of the attack, the strain on her meridians, and the excessive depletion of her vital energy, and did not damage her fundamental health.

Therefore, with the aid of this top-grade elixir, his severe injuries stabilized in a short time, and he recovered most of his combat strength. This speed of recovery is enough to demonstrate the depth of his foundation and the abundance of his resources.

Cao Feiyu's gaze fell on Chen Fei's face, with a hint of inquiry and an undisguised curiosity. She said softly, "Junior brother, during the fierce battle just now, how exactly were you able to see through the flaws in that vengeful demon so accurately?"
He could even predict the exact points in his power flow and the instability of his power after temporarily raising his realm, informing me of them without the slightest error?

Cao Feiyu had been pondering this question repeatedly during the intervals between healing and recuperating.

Chen Fei's previous display of skill in array formations and ability to break illusions had already impressed her, but his almost prophetic insight into flaws was simply divine assistance, completely exceeding her understanding of early-stage Tai Cang Realm cultivators.

This cannot be explained simply by having excellent eyesight.

Cao Feiyu asked Chen Fei this question not only because of her strong curiosity, but also because of practical considerations.

They are now in the perilous ruins of the ancient Heavenly Court. Although they just joined forces to kill a powerful enemy, proving the power of their teamwork, danger is everywhere and may come in any unexpected way.

One wrong move and the whole game is lost, leading to death and annihilation.

If they can figure out the principles and limitations of Chen Fei's amazing ability, then when they explore the ruins again, whether they encounter powerful vengeful demons or face other unknown dangers, they will be able to better formulate strategies and maximize the effectiveness of Chen Fei's ability.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Understanding the limits of your allies' abilities is just as important as understanding the weaknesses of your enemies.

Just like when facing Ke Muqing, a terrifying vengeful demon whose strength had surged to the late stage of the Tai Cang Realm, if Cao Feiyu had known beforehand that Chen Fei possessed such insightful and penetrating abilities, she would not have been so panicked at the beginning, and might even have devised a more aggressive tactic from the start.

Therefore, Cao Feiyu's question was not only to satisfy her curiosity, but also to help the two of them better survive, explore, and even compete for opportunities in the ruins.

Cao Feiyu's gaze was clear and honest as she awaited Chen Fei's answer.

Facing Cao Feiyu's clear and bright eyes, Chen Feiyu hesitated for a moment before giving a soft reply. Instead of answering immediately, he chuckled and said, "Senior Sister, do you remember what I told you before? I'm slow to progress in those orthodox cultivation methods, but I'm quite good at some of the skills that others consider unorthodox... well, I guess you could say I have decent comprehension."

Upon hearing this, Cao Feiyu frowned slightly, instantly recalling Chen Fei's previous mention of her uneven academic performance.

"You mean... the reason you were able to see through that vengeful demon's fatal flaw is because you've... grasped these unorthodox methods to an extremely high level?"

It should be noted that the power of that vengeful demon just now, especially after it forcibly increased to the late stage of the Tai Cang Realm, caused the energy within its body to surge like a raging sea, with a chaotic trajectory yet carrying a certain violent order, making it extremely complex.

As a sword cultivator in the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm, Cao Feiyu possessed keen spiritual senses and a clear sword heart. Even though she had tried her best to perceive the enemy during the fierce battle, she still failed to see through the slightest operational pattern or obvious flaw. She could only rely on her combat instincts and Chen Fei's guidance to cope.

Chen Fei, whose cultivation was clearly lower than hers, was able to see clearly during the fierce battle and transmit his voice precisely, as if he could read the lines on the palm of her hand.

"The Eternal Void Time Array Manual is extremely profound, especially emphasizing the principles of the transformation of the void and the flow of time, and even vaguely touching on the mysterious edges of the past and future, and the cause and effect.

Through studying this classic text, I have been fortunate enough to gain some insights, thus developing a slightly more acute perception than the average person of the trajectory of energy flow, subtle disharmony in spacetime, and even certain future changes based on potential and trajectory.

Chen Fei chuckled softly, not revealing the extent of his understanding, but only pointing out the profoundness and uniqueness of this array, attributing his ability to see through things partly to his mysterious perception of spacetime and energy trajectories.

"As mentioned before, the Undying True Suchness Mirror emphasizes the cultivation of divine thought and the tempering of spiritual perception. Its aim is to see the true suchness and discern the spiritual light. It has a unique insight into and the ability to break through the fluctuations of the original aura and the essence of power of living beings. The combination of the two, which mutually verify and complement each other, allowed me to barely glimpse some of the key points of the flow of the vengeful demon's power in the midst of the fierce battle."

Cao Feiyu frowned slightly. She had recommended these two techniques to Chen Fei, so she naturally knew their characteristics. However, to bring out these characteristics, one needed to comprehend the techniques to an extremely profound level.

This junior brother Chen's comprehension of unorthodox methods is a bit too exaggerated.

"And as Senior Sister also knows, the power of that vengeful demon was forcibly increased, not obtained through his own painstaking cultivation. He has the power of the late stage of the Tai Cang Realm, but he cannot control it as he pleases, which makes his flaws too obvious."

If he reached the late stage of the Tai Cang Realm through his own steady cultivation, with his power perfectly unified and under his exquisite control, then my half-baked ability to see through things would probably be of little use.”

Cao Feiyu listened quietly without interrupting.

After a moment, the thoughtful look in her eyes gradually settled, transforming into a sense of understanding and relief.

Cao Feiyu looked at Chen Fei and said, "In other words, like that vengeful demon just now, it belongs to the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm, but because of a secret technique, it forcibly controlled the power of the late-stage Tai Cang Realm, resulting in a mismatch between its power and its realm. You are very confident in seeing through its flaws?"

Chen Fei nodded and said, "I dare not say for sure. After all, the secret techniques of the world are unpredictable and there may be ways to perfectly conceal or even disguise flaws. But generally speaking, in a situation like that of the vengeful demon, I should be able to see through it with the help of those two secret techniques."

"Okay, I see."

Cao Feiyu smiled with genuine joy. "In that case, following you, Junior Brother, is probably the wisest decision I've made since entering this ruin."

Her tone was light and slightly teasing, but the approval and trust in her eyes were genuine.

With Chen Fei's abilities, the two of them working together will greatly improve their survival skills and exploration efficiency in this perilous ruin.

Hearing Cao Feiyu's praise, Chen Fei laughed and said, "Senior Sister is joking. I can't accept that. If Senior Sister were acting with a strong person like Senior Brother Wei, he could have suppressed and killed that vengeful demon with a flick of his hand. There would have been no need for such trouble."

Although Chen Fei's words contained an element of self-deprecation, they also revealed the truth: in the face of absolute strength, many techniques do indeed appear pale in comparison.

However, when Cao Feiyu heard Chen Fei mention Wei Zhongqian, she smiled and shook her head. Her eyes were clear and her tone was calm but firm: "Junior brother, you are mistaken. If you were to travel with Senior Brother Wei, you could indeed easily kill the vengeful demon you just encountered."

But then, what could I possibly do on this trip? Aside from providing support from the sidelines or handling minor tasks, I'd probably just be a burden most of the time.

She paused, gazing at the desolate ruins in the distance, her voice low but clear: "This is not what I wanted."

Chen Fei paused slightly after hearing Cao Feiyu's words, then smiled and nodded, saying, "I understand what you mean, Senior Sister." He then changed the subject, asking with concern, "Senior Sister, are you continuing your meditation, or..."

Cao Feiyu flexed her wrists, feeling the renewed flow of sword energy within her body and the near-healed internal organs. She smiled confidently, "Although I haven't reached my peak, it's more than enough to handle ordinary battles. Junior brother, have you made any discoveries?"

Chen Fei nodded, raised his hand and pointed to the northeast of the lake, where a group of dilapidated palaces with faint energy fluctuations were visible. He said in a low voice, "I just used my divine sense to investigate and sensed the presence of a vengeful demon over there. The energy reaction is not strong. If Senior Sister is alright, we may go and investigate."

Upon hearing this, Cao Feiyu's eyes flashed with a fighting spirit, and she decisively said, "Let's go!"

Without further delay, Chen Fei took the lead, transforming into a streak of bluish-gray light, skimming the shadows of the ground and ruins, and silently flying towards the indicated direction.

Cao Feiyu's silver-white sword flashed slightly as she suppressed her aura to the minimum, following behind at a leisurely pace.

The distance of tens of thousands of miles was covered in just a short time.

They did not approach the center of the energy fluctuations rashly. Instead, they quietly stopped behind a tall, broken wall, concealing all their presence as if they had merged into the shadows.

Chen Fei activated the Undying True Light Mirror with all his might, condensing his divine sense into a line and probing forward.

Ahead lay a palace complex even more dilapidated than before, with a relatively intact large square at its center. The square's surface was paved with some kind of dark golden metal, now riddled with cracks.

At this moment, the square was filled with the sounds of intense battle explosions, the roar of colliding energy, and the furious shouts and screams.

Three figures were locked in fierce combat. One of them was a vengeful demon whose figure was elusive and whose body was shrouded in constantly twisting and changing mist.

This vengeful demon's form was not as solid as Ke Muqing's; instead, it was somewhat illusory, sometimes transforming into a hideous ghost face, and sometimes into a twisted human figure. Its attack method was not a pure physical attack, but rather it stirred up the surrounding gray-white mist, forming a strange mental impact and energy erosion that was difficult to defend against.

His aura was clearly that of someone in the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm, and he was particularly skilled in mental illusion techniques.

The two demonic cultivators were the ones fighting this vengeful demon.

One was tall and the other short. The tall one was as thin as a bamboo pole, wielding a pair of jet-black bone claws with a fierce, pungent stench and poisonous aura. The short one was as muscular as a bear, holding a skull-shaped hammer the size of a door panel, which he swung with a terrifying howl, its power immense.

Both were at the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm, and they were ruthless and coordinated perfectly.

However, the battle situation has now turned one-sided. The one gaining the upper hand is the vengeful demon, which is not known for its strength.

The vengeful demon moved erratically across the plaza, its greyish-white mist spreading across a large area, creating numerous illusions. Relying on this strange and unpredictable illusionary power, the vengeful demon suppressed two powerful mid-stage Tai Cang Realm demon cultivators.

Despite possessing considerable cultivation and ruthless techniques, the two demonic cultivators were like insects caught in a spider's web, unable to unleash their full power. Most of their attacks landed on empty space or illusions, while they were left in a sorry state by the elusive and real attacks and mental erosion of the vengeful demon.

In the center of the square, the elusive demon suddenly paused. It did not stop its relentless illusionary attacks and mental assaults on the two demon cultivators, but the two eerie green soul flames shrouded in mist abruptly turned towards the broken wall where Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu were hiding.

"We'll keep to ourselves!" A hoarse, dry voice, like the repeated murmurs of countless people in their dreams, rang directly in Chen Fei and Cao Feiyu's ears.

"You cultivators are mortal enemies with these demonic cultivators. What business is it of yours that I am killing demonic cultivators here? Retreat at once and do not meddle in my affairs. Otherwise... Hmph!"

Faced with the sudden mental transmission and warning from the vengeful demon, Cao Feiyu did not respond immediately. Instead, she turned her head slightly and looked at Chen Fei beside her with a questioning look in her eyes.

At this moment, she had handed over the decision-making power for the battle to her junior brother.

Upon hearing what the vengeful demon said, Chen Fei smiled faintly.

"Please wait a moment, senior sister."

Chen Fei transmitted his thoughts, and immediately, a beam of light shot out silently, instantly enveloping the area in the center of the square, which was filled with gray-white illusionary mist and where a fierce battle was raging.

The mirror light swept across, producing no earth-shattering sound or the roar of colliding energy. However, in Cao Feiyu's perception and vision, the scene before her underwent a complete transformation.

The ever-changing gray-white mist that filled the square quickly became thin and transparent, and the various illusions contained within it vanished silently like a popped soap bubble.

The two mid-stage Tai Cang Realm demon cultivators, who appeared to be fiercely fighting the vengeful demon, had their figures violently distorted and blurred under the mirror light. Then, like a reflection in water being scattered by a pebble, they completely disintegrated, turning into wisps of pure resentment and illusionary energy that merged into the surrounding thin mist.

Where is there any demonic cultivator? From beginning to end, it was only the Vengeful Demon who directed and acted out the whole thing.

As the illusion dissipated, the true form of the vengeful demon was fully revealed.

He was no longer as elusive as he had been perceived before; his figure was noticeably more solid, and his aura had rapidly declined, dropping from the mid-stage of the Tai Cang Realm to the peak of the early stage of the Tai Cang Realm.

He was currently in a spellcasting posture, hovering in mid-air, his eerie green eyes filled with astonishment, panic, and the shame and anger of being exposed.

The so-called one-against-two, suppression of two mid-stage Tai Cang Realm demon cultivators, and the so-called fierce battle were all just realistic illusions created by this vengeful demon using its superb illusionary abilities.

"escape!"

Without a second thought, the vengeful demon's illusory form trembled violently, simultaneously stirring up the surrounding gray-white mist in an attempt to conceal itself and buy itself a chance to escape.

However, he was fast, but someone was faster than him.

"Clang!"

A clear, melodious sword cry, like the cry of a phoenix from the heavens, suddenly resounded throughout the plaza shrouded in illusion.

A dazzling silver sword light, moving at a speed beyond the limits of visual perception, arrived first and intercepted the retreating demon's path.

Fleeting glimpses!

Cao Feiyu shouted, giving the vengeful demon no chance to use its abilities, and immediately launched a fierce and swift killing move.

With a swift movement, she transformed into dozens of sword shadows, simultaneously attacking the panicked demon from all directions. Each sword shadow carried a chilling sword intent, the sword light raining down, covering the sky and completely sealing off all the demon's space to dodge.

In its haste, the vengeful demon could only frantically manipulate the surrounding gray-white mist, attempting to condense it into a shield, while simultaneously emitting a piercing mental shriek to interfere with Cao Feiyu.

However, before Cao Feiyu's descending sword energy, these hastily formed mist shields were like paper, easily torn apart by the sword light. The mental shrieks were also easily resisted by Cao Feiyu's sword heart, with negligible impact.

"No!"

At the critical moment of life and death, the vengeful demon let out a desperate roar, frantically drawing upon the surrounding chaotic and corrosive power.

His illusory body swelled and twisted violently, the surrounding gray-white mist was stained with a dark red, and his aura instantly broke through the shackles of the early stage of the Tai Cang Realm, reaching the level of the middle stage of the Tai Cang Realm.

However, this forcibly borrowed power, just like Ke Muqing's previous one, was full of instability. Twisted dark red patterns appeared on his body surface, and although his aura was powerful, it was chaotic and his flaws were more numerous and obvious than before.

"Senior sister, three inches below your left rib, the point where the core of the soul fire and the power of erosion meet." Chen Fei's calm voice transmission rang in her mind at just the right moment.

Cao Feiyu's swordplay did not falter at all; in fact, it became even more ferocious.

She completely ignored the seemingly terrifying pressure and ferocious attacks of the vengeful demon, her sword light surging like a reversed Milky Way, precisely targeting the flaw Chen Fei had pointed out.

"puff!"

With a soft sound, the sword light pierced through without any hindrance, and the violent aura around the demon suddenly stopped, causing the power that had just been raised to leak out and backfire wildly.