I Was Forced To Marry The Phoenix Empress-Chapter 149: Second Day

After the dinner was over, Yi Chen was back in his room. Sitting on the floor, he glanced at his system panel.

======Cultivation Arsenal ======

#Weapon Arts

1) Advanced Swordsmanship [Progress: 21 -> 117 / 1000]

#Cultivation Arts

1) Crimson Fire Arts [Comprehension: 70%]

2) Myriad Flying Swords [Comprehension: 33%]

3) Bursting Fire Steps [Comprehension: 53 -> 60%]

#System Items

1) 10x Comprehension Speed [Activated: 15 days left]

============ END ===========

’Today’s matches really skyrocketed my swordsmanship progress,’ Yi Chen thought with a grin as he noticed the changes in that section.

Similar changes were visible in his comprehension of the Bursting Fire Steps, as he had actively utilised it several times in today’s matches.

A few seconds later, Yi Chen’s focus shifted to his 10x Comprehension buff.

With fifteen days still left remaining, he had no intention of wasting it. So, without further ado, he took out the skill book for Bursting Fire Steps from his storage ring and started turning its pages.

’If I end up fighting tomorrow, then I’ll mostly be relying on my Bursting Fire Steps. Using this, I’ll be able to make use of my strength advantage to the fullest while dodging the opponent’s attacks.

That’s why instead of focusing my time and energy on Myriad Flying Swords, which has a slow progress rate, it’s best to focus on this one.’

Yi Chen reasoned in his mind.

Another reason why he was more interested in raising the comprehension of the Bursting Fire Steps was because of a question in his mind.

’When I reach a hundred percent will I be able to use this technique to fly in the air?’

An image of him utilising continuous bursts to tear through the air while rapidly changing his direction to wherever he desired flashed in his mind.

"I just can’t wait to experience it..." Yi Chen muttered with a grin.

He had actually experimented with this idea earlier. The first burst lifted him a meter into the air. However, to his disappointment, the second burst failed to give enough thrust to keep him in the air, and hence, he fell...right on his face.

’No, I won’t know until I try!’ Yi Chen shook the negative thoughts out of his mind the next instant and focused on understanding the Bursting Fire Steps to a much deeper level.

Night deepened, and by three in the morning, Yi Chen finally opened his eyes.

Thanks to the last few hours of continuous efforts, his comprehension percentage has increased from 60% to 71% now.

However, a sigh escaped his mouth the next instant.

’I was so excited about raising the comprehension percentage that I totally overlooked my Qi...’

[Qi pool: 0 / 330]

Unlike earlier, now that his Qi pool’s capacity had increased, it used to take him almost three hours to fill it up.

"There goes my sleep...dammit."

He cursed under his breath and, after placing spirit stones around him, started the absorption process.

It was only when it was nearing six in the morning, and the sun was about to rise, that Yi Chen opened his eyes.

Glancing outside the window and noticing the dull light of the morning, an exhausted breath left his mouth.

"I can still sleep an hour...But I fear that I won’t wake up."

With pursed lips, Yi Chen pushed his tired body off the floor and glanced at a corner.

That’s where his sword was placed.

Picking it up, he went to the courtyard and began swinging it in order to pass the remaining hour.

’At least, I can use this time effectively to further increase my swordsmanship progress...’

With that thought, he finally arrived at the courtyard and immersed himself in his training.

Swing!

Whoosh!

Slash!

.

.

.

"Where did Brother Chen go?" Qin muttered to himself as he looked inside Yi Chen’s room.

To ensure that he won’t be sleeping in late like yesterday, he had come to wake him up early. However, much to his surprise, Yi Chen wasn’t in his room.

Turning towards the entrance, which was at the end of the corridor, Qin Yao noticed that the doors were slightly open.

’Is he in the courtyard?’ With that thought, Qin Yao soon walked towards the door and opened it.

"Wow, Brother Chen! Unlike yesterday, not only did you wake up early, but you have also trained so intensely!"

Qin Yao exclaimed in admiration when he glanced at Yi Chen’s sweat-drenched appearance while he was tightly holding onto his sword.

"...yea I woke up earlier than usual today," Yi Chen answered with a forced smile.

’...If only that were the case,’ he muttered inwardly.

Wiping the drops of sweat on his forehead, the next second he said, "It’s almost time, so let’s go and freshen up."

"Uhm!" Qin Yao nodded as it was for that reason only he had been looking for Yi Chen in the first place.

After freshening up and having a filling breakfast, they finally left the residence.

Soaring Dragon Arena.

"Wow, there are so many cultivators here today...’ Yi Chen muttered as he saw the crowd that was standing just outside the building. It was more than ten times compared to that of yesterday.

"That’s only natural since everyone from the major and minor clans is here today," Feng Ning answered with a smile as they soon walked in and met with the team members who were waiting for them.

"Sister Ning!"

"Brother Chen!"

They called to attract their attention.

Looking at her team members, who were in a much better condition compared to yesterday, a smile formed on Feng Ning’s face.

"Looks like you all rested quite a lot yesterday," she said with a smile.

"Of course, since it was Sister Ning’s instructions, how can we not listen to it!" one of the team members said in an attempt to flatter her.

"Don’t try to honey Sister Ning up Feng Duli! As she has already stated yesterday, she’s only going to choose the fittest one from us as the third participant!" a fellow team member spoke over him the next instant.

"Hah? Who said I’m not the fittest? Moreover, what’s wrong with flattering Sister Ning? She deserves all the flatter she can!" Feng Duli talked back with a righteous tone.

"Enough, you two." Feng Ning stopped them while chuckling to herself. The two of them had always had a habit of bickering with each other, and she had long grown used to it.

The next instant, she pointed towards Feng Duli and said, "You’ll be the one coming with us." 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Haha, see that?! That’s why flattering is important!" Feng Duli proudly stated to his teammate, who could only snort in annoyance.

However, he and all his other teammates had already expected this result. Among the remaining Fifth Level cultivators, Feng Duli was in the best state possible, so this result was most probably from the start.

Being familiar with Feng Duli’s nature, Feng Ning didn’t think much over his words, but still, that didn’t prevent the amused smile on her face from widening.

A few seconds later, she addressed the rest of her teammates, including Feng Min.

"The rest of you should hurry and go to the first floor. Otherwise, you’ll have to stand and watch for the entire duration.

We’ll be going inside the waiting hall now, so there’s no need for you all to accompany us."

With that said, the team members dispersed, and Feng Ning, along with Yi Chen and Feng Duli in tow, began walking towards the waiting hall.

"Brother Chen, you won’t believe me, but it’s really the truth." With a beaming expression on his face, Feng Duli said, "Actually, last night you appeared in my dream!"

"...I appeared in your dream?"

Instead of feeling flattered, Yi Chen subconsciously took a few steps away from Feng Duli.

’Why would a young, healthy man in his adulthood dream of me...could it be...’

A shiver ran down Yi Chen’s spine as he once again went through Feng Duli’s status panel.

===================

Name: Feng Duli

Age: 20 years

Strength: 80

Cultivation: Fifth Level of [Meridian Refinement Stage]

Qi Nature: Fire

Extra: A lively man

===================

Noticing that there wasn’t anything odd as was in the case of Zhou Mei’s elder sister, Yi Chen took a sigh of relief. However, doubts still remained in his mind.

"Yes, Brother Chen!" Hearing Yi Chen’s response, Feng Duli explained with enthusiasm, "Maybe it was just because of how impressed I was by your matches yesterday that I dreamt of you last night. In my dream, you had single-handedly defeated all the major clans and had made us rise to the first position!"

"Ah, so it’s like that," Yi Chen nodded in understanding, and after hearing what he was doing in the dream, he couldn’t help but chuckle, "Haha, it seems Brother Duli was truly impressed by my performance yesterday."

"Brother Duli seems to have slept a lot yesterday to have such silly dreams. I’m glad," Feng Ning, who heard this conversation, responded the next moment.

Hearing this, Feng Duli could only scratch the back of his head in embarrassment and said, "Well, it was indeed quite a wonderful sleep."

The three of them laughed the next instant simultaneously as the passage around them soon widened into a hall. They had reached the waiting hall.

Unlike yesterday, there weren’t a lot of people available here, but the majority of them were all at a much higher cultivation stage.

’So, Seventh and Eighth and Ninth Level Cultivators are also present here today...’ Yi Chen thought while glancing towards the participants from the other clans, who were mostly from the top 10 major clans.

When these clansmen noticed their entrance, they only glanced at them momentarily as if they were looking at a bug and reverted their gazes.

’So, no one came to congratulate us for securing the 20th ranking...It seems our relationship with the other major clans is not good at all. The contempt in their eyes is another issue...’

Yi Chen thought while looking around the hall.

’Well...that’s to be expected since our clan is really in a deteriorating state...especially with elders like those at the helm...’

Yi Chen couldn’t help but think of the Patriarch and the three elders from yesterday. His mood dulled a little as a result.

It was that moment that a familiar voice attracted their attention.

"What a coincidence! We meet once again, Lady Ning!" He Peng walked towards the three of them with a playful expression on his face.

"He Peng..." Feng Ning glared at him and said, "Why don’t you just go back and stand at your designated spot instead of roaming around everywhere like a dog?"

"Lady Ning’s words are sharp as usual. It seems after a year, your mouth has once again begun to crave the touch of my gentle hands..." He Peng snickered while rubbing his palms together and continued, "If Lady Ning wishes, I wouldn’t mind fulfilling that desire of yours in today’s match as well...or perhaps later, in private..."