In the days that followed, Sha Chen focused on his physical body, and secondarily on his mana.
The advancent of his mana had already reached a bottleneck; without good fortune or accumulation over ti, it would be difficult to make further progress.
Yet his physical body had already made a breakthrough, and with an ample supply of the Ignorant Willow Trees, he had enough to use for his improvent.
Moreover, Sha Chen noticed that as his physical body improved, the advancent of his mana would follow more swiftly.
Primarily, this was because when the physical body was enhanced, the Da Luo Dharmakaya was further developed, enabling it to contain more mana, and consequently, his innate potential would also be sowhat unlocked.
Accordingly, his mana would naturally rise, and future cultivation would yield twice the result with half the effort.
So Sha Chen began to cultivate day and night, honing his physical body for a ti. He refined a large number of Immortal Pills to strengthen it, nearly stripping the Ignorant Willow Trees bare.
Several tis the Ignorant Willow Trees wanted to flee, but it was only after much persuasion from Sha Chen that he managed to soothe them, promising to find them better spiritual water for irrigation.
Only then did the Ignorant Willow Trees begrudgingly acquiesce, although they also limited Sha Chen’s harvesting.
However, he had already harvested a large quantity of willow leaves, and Sha Chen had prepared enough Immortal Pills to last him for a year and a half.
For the ti being, it was sufficient. When more was needed, he would use both persuasion and pressure—after all, he wouldn’t be held back by a single tree.
Sha Chen’s cultivation was not just about ingesting pills but also about tempering his body with the Imperial Gods’ Thunder and refining it with the Samadhi True Fire, both of which also served to temper his body.
Yet these two thods were thousands of tis more painful than just practicing the True Dragon Body Forging Technique. Only soone like Sha Chen, who desperately sought power, could endure it; most people simply couldn’t bear it.
But those who endured would gain extraordinary strength.
Sha Chen’s body also expanded at a visible rate, growing more majestic and robust, with muscles like raging beasts clinging to his skeleton.
His aura underwent massive changes as well; with cultivation, he grew to a size akin to a giant’s.
About a year had passed, and it had been a little over two years since the heavenly soldiers and generals had surrounded Flowing Sand River.
Sha Chen’s cultivation had not halted. During this ti, the frequency of the heavenly soldiers and generals’ clamor had diminished.
This was mainly because the last ti Sha Chen acted, he was utterly ruthless, wounding the Mighty Miracle God and Hengha Generals so badly that they were bedridden to this day.
However, they were secretly relieved that he had not dealt them a killing blow.
But their defeat had also demoralized the Heavenly Court’s forces, and the number of tis Li Jing sent his n to shout challenges had greatly reduced.
Only the surveillance on Flowing Sand River had intensified, and Li Jing’s patience was gradually wearing thin.
He had never spent so long dealing with soone before. If he didn’t return to the Heavenly Court soon, the Jade Emperor might even forget he had such a minister.
But to return without any achievent would turn him into a laughingstock.
Sohow, he had to make a significant accomplishnt; otherwise, his reputation as King Li, Pagoda-carrying Heavenly King, would beco a joke in the Three Realms.
This was internal distress and external hardship, and Li Jing’s hair had turned white with worry.
Therefore, he once again summoned his n to inquire about many matters concerning Sha Chen.
General Fish Spear was kneeling on the ground, responding to Li Jing’s inquiries when news arrived from outside.
It was a ssage from Li Jing’s ally at the court, Barefoot Immortal.
Li Jing took the docunt and opened it. A phantasmal image of Barefoot Immortal appeared, bowing slightly towards him.
Li Jing returned the gesture, saying, "Barefoot Immortal, what brings you to send a ssage to at this ti? Has sothing happened?"
Barefoot Immortal’s expression was grave as he said, "King Li, I have bad news. Lu Xiong and Luo Xuan have lodged complaints against you with the Jade Emperor."
Li Jing’s face changed dramatically. "Why would they accuse ?"
The surrounding deputy generals exchanged worried glances, equally nervous.
Barefoot Immortal said, "They accused you of abusing power for personal gain, seeking personal revenge, and neglecting your duties. They claim that in dealing with Sha Chen, you have been completely unprincipled, even allowing your son to collude with demons to attack the Heavenly Court’s demoted generals."
With that, Barefoot Immortal said no more.
Li Jing’s face grew increasingly ugly. "Nonsense, sheer nonsense! I have always been upright and just, never abusing power for personal gain or seeking revenge, let alone neglecting my duties."
"Those two old scoundrels have dared to slander behind my back; it’s despicable! Immortal, how did His Majesty the Jade Emperor react?"
Barefoot Immortal replied, "His Majesty the Jade Emperor is very angry."
After finishing, his image faded away.
Li Jing stood frozen, his face ashen and his gaze ominously dark; the assembled officers didn’t dare to make a sound.
Li Jing commanded, "General Fish Spear, go back to Yunlou Palace imdiately. Tell my wife to use her connections, to have the immortals jointly condemn Lu Xiong and Luo Xuan for slandering ."
General Fish Spear didn’t dare to delay and swiftly departed to deliver the ssage.
Li Jing, still anxious and looking unwell, even considered summoning Lu Xiong and Luo Xuan.
These two figures, who were normally at odds, had joined forces against him. How detestable.
Li Jing declared, "Once I return, I will certainly make them regret it. What right do these remnants of the Sect of Interpretation have to be compared with ?"
He snorted coldly, then summoned another deputy general, Jin Douxian.
He asked, "Tell , Jin Douxian, how is the investigation regarding the Jade Emperor’s emissary going? Have you found the perpetrator?"
Jin Douxian hurriedly said, "Reporting to the Great Marshal, my fellow officers and I went to negotiate with the people from The Mysterious Altar Departnt, but they refused to disclose any information."
Li Jing said angrily, "What does Zhao Gongming want? Is he planning to rebel? Such a major issue, yet he still shrouds it in secrecy."
However, he could only curse to feel better. Zhao Gongming’s strength was imnse, even above Wang Lingguan, and his status in the Heavenly Court was very special and powerful.
The Mysterious Altar Departnt he controlled was also extrely fearso, with a status above his own, leaving him no room to interfere.
Thus, he was helpless.
Li Jing asked, "What about the matter with the spider demon?"
If he couldn’t ask about the emissary’s matter, surely he could ask about the spider demon, right?!
Jin Douxian answered, "Reporting to the Great Marshal, ever since the spider demon kidnapped General Li Xiong, she has disappeared without a trace. General Li Xiong has also not been seen; he has more likely t a grim fate than found fortune."
Li Jing snorted coldly, "Impossible, they wouldn’t dare."
Then he said, "Couldn’t you find them after all this ti? You’re all too useless! And so is Zhao Gongming’s Mysterious Altar Departnt."
Jin Douxian did not dare to make a sound.
Li Jing then asked, "How is my son’s pursuit of the Black Bear spirit going?"
As soon as these words were spoken, soone could be heard loudly calling from outside, saying that Bodhisattva Hongfa had returned.
Li Jing and the others hurried out to check and indeed saw an imposing figure returning, though slightly injured and looking sowhat disheveled.
The streak of golden light landed before Li Jing and the others. The figure’s eyes flickered, but to Li Jing and his n, it looked more like anger and panic.
Li Jing hurriedly said, "My son, how were you injured? The re Black Bear spirit is nothing but a trivial Bear King demon. How could it have hard you?"
Jinzha said, "Father, that Black Bear spirit indeed could not injure , but he conspired with others and launched a surprise attack on , causing to sustain grave injuries and my cultivation base to diminish. I fear that if I don’t recover from these injuries, it will be difficult to return to my peak."
Li Jing examined him. Jinzha’s cultivation had indeed fallen from the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, which left him both shocked and enraged.
He asked in a mix of shock and anger, "Who exactly ambushed you, causing your cultivation to fall to the Greater Primordial Golden Immortal realm?"
Jinzha said, "It was the Nine-headed Worm. They are in cahoots with the Black Bear spirit. The Black Bear spirit lured overseas, and then they ambushed together."
Li Jing was shocked and began to recall so rumors.
He suddenly realized and muttered, "So that’s how it is. There was a rumor before that on Luanshi Island, the Nine-headed Worm had captured both the Black Bear spirit and Tianpeng. I never thought it was false, nothing but a play they staged. In truth, the Black Bear spirit had long since sided with the Nine-headed Worm, and they joined forces to ambush you."
Jinzha nodded. "Yes, Father, you are wise."
Li Jing suddenly said, "No, that’s not right."
Jinzha felt a tremor in his heart. "What’s not right?"
Li Jing said, "The Nine-headed Worm is far more powerful than you. If he wanted to deal with you, he shouldn’t have let you return alive. And what about your brother, and the Four Sky Kings and the others?"
Jinzha said bitterly, "Reporting to Father, my cultivation is above theirs. I was overeager for rit and advanced recklessly, which led to my separation from my second brother and the others."
"As for the Nine-headed Worm, although he is still stronger than , he dared not overtly attack . Hence, he resorted to a sneak attack, aiming to kill in one strike. Fortunately, I had so ans to narrowly escape."
Simultaneously, he took out the Dragon Piling, with thirty-six fire dragons clinging to it, lifelike, as if about to fly out.
The assembled officers’ eyes sparkled upon seeing it.
Li Jing exclaid joyously, "You recovered the Magical Tool?"
Jinzha said, "Father, that Magical Tool was stolen by the Black Bear spirit. He truly is detestable. As I got close, I summoned it back. The fact that I could escape at all was due to its power, which allowed to flee."
Li Jing nodded repeatedly. Jinzha was too heavily injured; otherwise, he would have inquired further.
He quickly had Jinzha rest and arranged for a massive quantity of Elixirs to be brought, telling Jinzha to consu them to treat his injuries.
As Jinzha was about to excuse himself, he added, "Oh, one more thing, Father. The reason I could escape from the Nine-headed Worm’s grasp was because I encountered my third brother’s master, Immortal Taiyi. He was traveling overseas in search of Spiritual dicine for my third brother when he happened upon my crisis and lent a hand."
He smiled and said, "Should Immortal Taiyi visit our ho one day, please ensure Father thanks him properly."
Upon hearing this, the doubts in Li Jing’s mind completely vanished.
Initially, he found it strange. With such serious injuries, Jinzha couldn’t possibly have escaped from the Nine-headed Worm, especially overseas.
As it turned out, Immortal Taiyi happened to be overseas and was indeed in search of an Elixir for Nezha, presumably preparing for Nezha’s breakthrough.
Li Jing said with a smile, "Rest assured, I will be sure to thank him properly. Now go and rest."
Luo Xuan and Lu Xiong also arrived. Seeing that Jinzha was alright, they simply chuckled and turned to leave.
Li Jing watched, gritting his teeth with resentnt—were these two old scoundrels hoping to see his son’s corpse before they would be satisfied?
In the evening, after Jinzha finished his healing, he took the initiative to find Li Jing, planning to explain the detailed events of the incident.
Li Jing, however, indicated for him to get so good rest, suggesting that it could wait until another day.
Watching Jinzha leave, Li Jing finally put his mind at ease.
Jinzha had felt sowhat odd to him today, and he had planned to test him further tonight.
But Jinzha proactively ca to him and clarified the detailed events, which eliminated any suspicion he had held.
He, therefore, did not want to waste Jinzha’s ti and urged him to focus on recovery.
As ’Jinzha’ turned to leave, he too felt apprehensive inside. Master is remarkable! Is this what he ans by psychological warfare? Li Jing is being completely played by Master!
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