The Fifth Heaven

The men in the forest recognized Xiao Chen and gathered around to tell him the news. Without a moment's hesitation, he said, "I refuse to fight that despicable alliance."

Xiao Chen hurried away from that stretch of woodland, shaking off several trackers before heading west, back to his secluded retreat.

Keke was curled up like a fluffy white ball, sound asleep among the flowers and grass. The Divine Sapling stood beside her in the thicket, its seven-colored radiance wrapping her woolly form in an air of lazy enchantment. The three skeletons were cultivating quietly in the stone cave, the lotus imprints on their foreheads gleaming brightly.

Xiao Chen did not disturb them. Alone in the open space of the valley, he began to draw and mark lines on the ground, tracing a map of the outer regions of Dragon Island. The Tyrant Dragon's territory, Evil Dragon Beach, the Snake-Elephant Dragon Valley — these were all domains where ferocious dragons could not be provoked.

Then he added the Death Swamp, within which dwelled an Undying King, far beyond his ability to challenge. Next, he added Treefolk Valley, where the ancient Tree-Man in the depths had already metamorphosed into human form — a being whose strength rivaled the savage dragons, not to be provoked either.

These were the forbidden zones on the island's periphery that one could not touch. And the dozens of alliances were distributed among these regions, none venturing into the island's depths.

For a long time, Xiao Chen sat in silent contemplation. Dragon Island, fraught with danger and challenge, was also filled with opportunities!

Perhaps he should press deeper into the island; he might even obtain a dragon egg. Perhaps he should form an alliance and recruit a group of experts. Perhaps...

He retrieved the Life Dew Crystal he had hidden in the valley. Radiant life light swirled in his palm — the crystalline dewdrop, translucent and shimmering, condensed boundless life essence. He had originally kept it as a last resort, to be consumed when grievously wounded for its life-saving effect. But now he felt he should merge it into his body as soon as possible, to raise his strength.

On Dragon Island, full of perils, strength was the foundation!

The crystalline Life Dew, held in Xiao Chen's palm, dissolved into a curtain of brilliant light that enveloped him as he activated his profound art. Stream after stream of dazzling life light surged into his body.

This was the purest life essence, utterly without impurity, merging with his body like water blending with milk.

From afar, a blaze of divine radiance swallowed his figure; the dazzling light sent powerful ripples of spiritual energy rolling through the valley. Keke, awakened, bounded over curiously and circled around Xiao Chen. The three skeletons emerged from the distant stone cave and drew near to observe the man shrouded in splendor.

From sunset until the sky filled with countless stars, and then on into midnight, Xiao Chen's body remained enveloped in bright radiance. Keke yawned repeatedly, then curled her plump body back into the flowers and grass, falling into another sweet dream. The three skeletons sat nearby, cultivating in silence, serving as his guardians.

Not until the deep hours of the night did the divine light outside Xiao Chen's body fully subside. Starlight shone brilliantly; moonlight was hazy, like water.

The vast life essence had once again been stripped away, most of it converging into his left Shoulder-Well acupoint. At first, he had absorbed slowly and tentatively, sensing the life essence flowing into his flesh and organs. Only then did he begin to drive his profound art at full power, absorbing the Life Dew Crystal's essence.

But soon the art's rotation grew faster and faster, beyond his control. The left Shoulder-Well acupoint became like a bottomless pit, autonomously stripping the immense life essence. In the end, most of the life energy gathered into that acupoint, condensing into a brilliant light point — the left Shoulder-Well acupoint was divinely transformed!

One could only say that the Qi-Refining technique on the ancient divine stele was too mysterious and overbearing!

Nevertheless, a portion of the vast life essence still surged into Xiao Chen's flesh and blood. He clearly felt his cultivation rise. His skin sparkled with a gemlike luster; his body seemed to have been tempered — every inch of flesh held immense power, and his frame felt considerably lighter.

Xiao Chen waved his hand casually, and a beam of dazzling light shot into the sky, as if trying to link with the starlight above. The piercing sword-light blazed brilliantly in the night sky. He knew he had broken through to the Fifth Heavenly Tier of Mortal-Shedding! He had taken a major step forward on the path of cultivation.

Slowly, Xiao Chen calmed down. This was a night of harvest. Apart from elevating his cultivation to the fifth heaven, four acupoints had been divinized: the Shangqiu acupoints on his left and right feet, the Central Court acupoint in his chest, and the left Shoulder-Well acupoint. He looked forward to divinizing more.

With his cultivation at the Fifth Mortal-Shedding Heaven and his life essence abundant, Xiao Chen was filled with powerful confidence. On this island of peril, only strength could make one fearless!

The morning sunlight was gentle. Keke, fully rested, woke early and rolled among the flowers, her snow-white fur shimmering with a faint glow, her large bright eyes full of spirit.

But when the aroma of roasted meat began to drift through the valley, Keke put on a pitiful look. She touched her round little belly with her tiny paws and stared longingly at Xiao Chen, who was enjoying breakfast nearby, almost drooling. In anguish, she covered her bright eyes with her paws and buried herself in the flowers, refusing to look at the golden, glistening delicacy that tempted her so.

"Keke, come over. Have a little," Xiao Chen said, amused, deliberately teasing her.

"Ya-ya ya-ya!" Keke waved her snowy paws in a fierce protest.

Xiao Chen smiled. This little creature was truly delightful.

The three skeletons were cultivating in the stone cave not far away. Since their recent breakthrough, they seemed to have touched the true essence of cultivation. The lotus imprints on their forehead bones blazed with splendor, drawing the essence of heaven and earth toward them.

After breakfast, Xiao Chen left the valley and set out alone once more.

Passing through layer upon layer of primeval forest, he arrived again at the Dharma Alliance. On the picturesque mountain slopes, wooden huts, morning sun, flowers, dew — all was harmonious.

But when he saw the two young monks enjoying roasted lamb legs, the feeling vanished at once.

Seeing Xiao Chen's astonished look, Yizhen and Yichi burst out laughing. Yizhen said, "The World of Immortality is different from the Mortal World. You must have sensed it already — though we are monks, we are no different from ordinary people in everything. In the World of Immortality, cultivation is emphasized, doctrine is slighted."

Xiao Chen nodded and smiled wordlessly.

The two young monks washed the grease from their hands in the gurgling stream, instantly regaining an air of transcendence. There was no pretense about them; everything seemed to come from the heart — eating meat without restraint, speaking of doctrine as void without taboo. Perhaps this in itself represented a kind of Zen.