Chapter 556

Chapter 556: Listening to the Waves Manor

Cao Hóng Zhì is the chief disciple under Changhe Zhenren.

Although he is not the strongest nor the most talented among all of Changhe Zhenren’s disciples, he has earned Changhe Zhenren’s deep trust over the years.

For ten years, he has failed to condense a Golden Core, and his Dao path seems quite bleak.

However, this high-level Purple Palace cultivator not only represents Changhe Zhenren in managing important affairs of the Changhe lineage but also oversees and cares for his fellow brothers and sisters.

It is worth noting that due to a tradition of traveling the world and training in the lower realms, very few disciples remain on the island, which is why Wang Chen currently sees only this senior brother, Cao Hóng Zhì.

The manor allocated to Wang Chen is called Listening to the Waves Manor.

This manor is located just fifty miles from Wang Ye City, which is not far at all for a Purple Palace cultivator. Yet, it is far from the hustle and bustle of the immortal city, making its location quite advantageous.

Most importantly, it is built on a coastal cliff, offering daily views of the rising sun, the setting moon, and the ebb and flow of tides. Although the manor is not large, it is well-equipped and elegantly arranged.

The spiritual energy here is abundant!

Wang Chen immediately took a liking to it.

He had lived in a few other manors before, but none could compare to Listening to the Waves Manor!

“Senior Brother, you are very thoughtful.”

Cao Hóng Zhì smiled upon hearing this, “I’m glad you like it.”

He hesitated for a moment before adding, “But there is a problem.”

Wang Chen was curious, “What problem?”

“Alas.”

Cao Hóng Zhì sighed, “The previous owner of Listening to the Waves Manor was Master’s seventeenth disciple, Zhao Wuji. He went missing three years ago while exploring small worlds, and the sect’s soul lamp extinguished, which is why this manor became vacant.”

“Junior Brother Wuji has a partner who has always wanted Listening to the Waves Manor, but she is a disciple of Xuan Yuan true master. How could our Master allow her to stay on our island!”

Wang Chen suddenly realized, “Are you worried this Xuan Yuan disciple might cause trouble for me?”

“Not might,”

Cao Hóng Zhì said with a bitter smile. “She has already stated she would definitely trouble you, and I just remembered this matter. However, as long as you are on the island, she won’t be able to do anything to you.”

“Then I won’t worry about it.”

Wang Chen declared firmly, “I want to stay at Listening to the Waves Manor!”

It’s not that Wang Chen enjoyed trouble; rather, he believed that if he hesitated to live in Listening to the Waves Manor out of fear of someone causing him trouble, it would surely result in losing points in front of this Senior Brother and even in front of Changhe Zhenren.

Although Cao Hóng Zhì did not say it outright, he hinted that there was a conflict between Changhe Zhenren and Xuan Yuan true master.

In such a situation, being afraid of the other disciple would only bring shame to his own Master, right?

Wang Chen suspected that Cao Hóng Zhì giving the manor to him was a test for entering the veins!

“Indeed.”

Cao Hóng Zhì showed a satisfied smile, “That’s the spirit! We, the disciples of Changhe, can bow to any peer, but we absolutely will not lower ourselves to the Xuan Yuan lineage!”

Wang Chen bowed respectfully, “Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother.”

Cao Hóng Zhì waved his hand, “It’s only right.”

He took out a shimmering jade token and handed it to Wang Chen. “This is the Listening to the Waves Order, which controls all the formations in the manor. It also serves as proof of the manor’s ownership, so be sure not to lose it.”

“Understood.”

Wang Chen carefully tucked the jade token away.

“Little junior brother, I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t be able to accompany you further.”

Cao Hóng Zhì added, “If you have any questions or run into any trouble, don’t hesitate to seek me out. I spend most of my time in the Dao Palace on Boat Leaf Peak, and you can also send me a talisman if needed.”

“Once Master exits the hidden chamber, you can come to the Dao Palace to listen to his teachings!”

After seeing off Cao Hóng Zhì, Wang Chen, holding the Listening to the Waves Order, took a stroll around the manor that now belonged to him.

The Listening to the Waves Manor had been vacant for three to four years, yet it was spotless and appeared as good as new, with no signs of long-term neglect. The only exception was the large tree in the courtyard, its branches overgrown and clearly in need of trimming.

The rooms were fully furnished, and the protective formations were operating at minimal capacity, keeping the place free of pests and filth. The atmosphere inside was refreshing and invigorating.

However, the vast manor lacked even a single servant or maid, leaving it feeling eerily empty and quiet.

Wang Chen decided to release his puppet servant.

It had been a gift from Yun Feifei.

Originally, Wang Chen had two puppets, but one Dao soldier had been destroyed in battle.

Carrying a significant secret, he preferred not to hire human servants and instead planned to acquire more puppets to staff the manor.

After thoroughly exploring the manor, Wang Chen grew even more pleased with the Listening to the Waves Manor.

He decided to settle in that very day.

The next morning, Wang Chen awoke to the sound of crashing waves.

The West Sea stretched endlessly, and though it was technically a vast lake, its tides rose and fell like an ocean, with majestic waves pounding the shore.

To the east of the Listening to the Waves Manor stood a steep cliff, and nearby rose a solitary peak.

After being attended to by his puppet servant, Wang Chen freshened up and then soared into the sky on a sword light, leaving the manor and landing atop the solitary peak.

This rugged peak paled in comparison to Boat Leaf Peak; its summit appeared to have been flattened, just large enough for one person to sit cross-legged.

Wang Chen took out a cushion and sat down, facing east.

In the next moment, a golden sun emerged from the distant sea of clouds, casting countless rays of light that illuminated the West Sea.

Wang Chen immediately held his breath and swallowed the spirit pill he had been keeping beneath his tongue.

Then, he absorbed a wisp of Purple Qi!

Before entering the Underworld Realm, he had been gifted a strand of Purple Qi by Changhe Zhenren.

During his time at the Wei Hall, he had relied on this Purple Qi for his daily cultivation.

Now that he was back in the Mountain-Sea Realm, such a “luxury” was no longer sustainable.

After all, Purple Qi was of immense value.

Wang Chen focused his mind and activated the Preheaven Five Element Technique, allowing an invisible energy to circulate endlessly within his body.

Soon, he entered a state of forgetting both self and the world.

Suddenly, a message appeared before his eyes.

【Preheaven Five Element Technique · Experience +1】

Wang Chen snapped out of his trance, feeling an overwhelming sense of refreshment and lightness, as if he were floating like an immortal.

He opened his Cultivation Panel and checked the experience points for his primary technique, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Based on his current progress, in just another month, Wang Chen would be ready to break through to the fifth layer of the Purple Palace!

He rose to his feet, flicked his sleeve, and summoned the Yaoguang flying sword.

He then flew toward the immortal city in the western sea.

Upon arrival, his first stop was the Sect Management Department in the main hall of the sect to complete the formalities for entering the veins.

As a disciple of the Changhe lineage, Wang Chen’s rank within the sect’s hierarchy had to be elevated, and his soul lamp needed to be relocated to a higher position.

“Congratulations, fellow traveler!”

The steward of the Sect Management Department said with a smile after finalizing Wang Chen’s paperwork, “Entering the veins and rising in rank means the Great Dao is within your grasp!”

Though the steward held a higher status and cultivation level than Wang Chen, his tone was unusually warm and friendly.

This was the most immediate change that joining the Changhe Sect had brought to Wang Chen!

In terms of status alone, as a direct disciple of a Golden Core cultivator, Wang Chen now stood above nearly all of his peers.