Chapter 85: A Surge in Power

“Let’s have a real clash between true men!”
A burly doppelganger, a full head taller than Xu Chen, gazed at him with fervor.
“Come, let’s see if I can break through your turtle shell this time.”
Xu Chen became a blur, rushing toward the doppelganger.
The doppelganger stood as immovable as an iron tower, fending off Xu Chen’s attack.
But this time, Xu Chen’s force cleverly slipped through the protective aura around the burly doppelganger.
Just as this energy was about to seep through the doppelganger’s skin into his vital meridian, it was stopped by the flesh itself.
Sensing this, Xu Chen immediately switched tactics.
Moving even faster, he struck the doppelganger eighty-one times in rapid succession.
Eighty-one surges of force converged and exploded all at once.
With a resounding bang, a bloody hole burst open in the doppelganger’s chest, and Xu Chen struck with all his might.
Another surge of energy followed the wound, plunging directly into the doppelganger’s heart meridian.
The doppelganger shuddered violently as his heart meridian burst.
Even so, he managed to exchange ten more blows with Xu Chen before finally collapsing.
“You’re a real man! It’s a shame you refuse to meet me head-on,” the doppelganger said, regret in his voice, before falling.
The world shattered, and Xu Chen’s soul was dragged into an unknown realm.
When he came to himself again, he found he had possessed the body of a disciple at the Vajra Court of a Buddhist order.
He had only just entered, a mere twelve-year-old child, eyes bright with hope for the future.
“In our Heavenly Treasure Domain, our order holds one hundred and eight Vajra Lotus Seats. At present, there are ninety-eight Great Vajras, whose physical might can withstand the forces of heaven and earth.”
“In the coming centuries, another Lotus Seat will descend upon this world—these are your opportunities.”
“Work hard in your cultivation, and perhaps you may seize your share of fate.”
A host, nine feet tall, from the Vajra Court, addressed these newly inducted little Vajras.
Afterward, Xu Chen, inhabiting the young disciple, began to train methodically.
Though his talent was average, his determination was exceptional—no less than the tireless genius who mastered the Six Styles of the Sacred Ape.
With such effort, and the attention of the Vajra Court, he advanced the Ninefold Vajra Transformation to the level of unity in just four years.
The world again fractured, and Xu Chen returned.
Within the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen absorbed a flood of insights.
“The laws of that world are truly strange. Everything seems predestined by heaven and earth, governed by cause and effect.”
“How dull,” Xu Chen muttered.
Having digested his revelations in the Sacred White Space, Xu Chen’s consciousness returned.
Immediately, his blood and energy surged within.
He hurried to the training ground at home and began practicing the Ninefold Vajra Transformation.

A towering golden Vajra, ten fathoms high, appeared behind Xu Chen.
On its arms were patterns of dragons and phoenixes, and as its arms moved, faint draconic roars and phoenix cries echoed.
The moment the Vajra apparition appeared, Xu Chen was gripped by an overwhelming hunger.
“It’s here!”
He stopped training at once and opened the delivery meal the celestial crane had brought during his cultivation.
Like a starving ghost, he devoured the seventy-two dishes in no time.
“Still hungry.”
As he looked up, another delivery arrived.
He opened the spatial food box, taking out and finishing dish after dish.
The thunderhawk who had delivered the meal stared in astonishment.
Feeling a little fuller, Xu Chen glanced at the thunderhawk, who was still standing by.
“Want to join me?”
Xu Chen offered a plate of meat from the food box.
“No need. I just wanted to ask if you’d be interested in becoming an honored guest of our thunderhawk clan.”
“For just a thousand spirit coins a year, you’ll enjoy free parcel and letter delivery, plus ten express deliveries.”
“That’s a bit much—I don’t use a thousand spirit coins’ worth of regular mail a year,” Xu Chen replied between bites.
“Your deliveries will be charged at normal rates. If it’s less, we refund the difference; if it’s more, there’s no need to pay extra,” the thunderhawk answered smoothly.
Seeing the hopeful look in the thunderhawk’s eyes, Xu Chen suddenly laughed.
“Looks like you’re going to go head-to-head with the crane clan.”
“I’m in no rush. I’ll see what promotions the cranes are offering first,” Xu Chen said with a smirk.
“All right, just let me know if you decide.”
Spreading its wings, the thunderhawk soared away while Xu Chen continued eating to replenish his strength.
He could have taken some blood-nourishing pills, but found no greater joy than eating a proper meal.
He finished three full deliveries, each with the highest standard of seventy-two dishes.
Feeling his body brimming with vital energy, Xu Chen exhaled deeply.
“My blood and energy have increased by four tiger’s worth. I’ll have to seek out more foundational techniques like this one.”
Having mastered two crucial foundational blood techniques, Xu Chen felt his combat power had multiplied several times over.
“At this rate, in a year’s time my blood energy should surpass that of four dragons.”
“With that strength, I should be able to survive on the Primordial Saints’ Battlefield.”
After absorbing the insights from the Seven Celestial Transformations, Xu Chen felt an invincibility at his current cultivation.
He glanced up at the sky, saw the sun was setting, and returned to his room to enter the Sacred White Space once more.
“This time, I shouldn’t be taken out instantly, should I?”
Looking at the silver door before him, Xu Chen pushed it open and stepped inside.

In the distance, the star river sparkled, but nearby was a silent, boundless darkness.
The doppelganger, half-mad and half-depressed, hid within that darkness.
Last time, Xu Chen could at least see its silhouette; now, not even a shadow was visible.
He stamped lightly, sending out an invisible wave of force from his feet.
“Xu Chen, I envy you.”
“You so easily possess what I could never attain in a lifetime.”
The voice was ancient and cold, tinged with jealousy.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear your story,” Xu Chen said.
“My story!”
“You think this is a story?!”
A crazed figure suddenly lunged at Xu Chen.
Bang!
With just a light touch, Xu Chen was sent flying dozens of yards, as if struck by a speeding train.
“With force of five dragons, there’s no way I can win.”
The crazed figure charged at Xu Chen again.
The doppelganger suddenly swiped a claw at him.
It was as if the very air was sliced; Xu Chen dodged swiftly, but the outer side of his arm was still grazed.
“What heavy force! There’s no way to withstand it head-on.”
The doppelganger seemed to merge with the darkness, leaving Xu Chen to rely on his keen hearing to track its position.
No matter how subtle the sound or faint the ripple, the information reaching his ears always lagged by a fraction.
The doppelganger was simply too fast; each attack, Xu Chen dodged by the narrowest margin.
Bang!
Xu Chen clashed palms with the doppelganger and was sent flying like a cannonball.
Boom!
He landed heavily, the earth quaking and wild energy surging in every direction.
Xu Chen channeled his protective energy to the limit, finally dispersing the force.
“Your life is too perfect.”
“It fills me with envy—I want to destroy you!”
The doppelganger’s figure, as illusory as a dream, came at Xu Chen once more.
In the darkness, Xu Chen relied on his acute hearing to swiftly pinpoint the doppelganger’s position.