novelraw Chapter 352: Two and a Half Years
Chapter 352: Two and a Half Years
Afterwards.
Mo Yuan immediately began making arrangements.
He personally took Su Zhan and left the underground space, returning to the City Lord's Residence above ground.
Without delay, he directly ordered someone to arrange an independent residence for Su Zhan within the core area of the City Lord's Residence.
It was a small building with a private courtyard, a cultivation meditation room, and the highest level of security measures.
The environment was serene and secluded, far surpassing the Listening Bamboo Pavilion of the Dragon Rise Society.
This was not just a place to live; it was a symbol of status and position.
Immediately after, on that very day, a City Lord's Decree personally signed by Mo Yuan was rapidly disseminated to the ears of all influential faction leaders in Black City through the City Lord's Residence's internal channels, and it was publicly announced within a certain scope:
"Effective immediately, Chen Qing is appointed as the highest-rank guest elder of the City Lord's Residence, enjoying all corresponding authority and resource allocations. His treatment and status are equivalent to those of Ocean Realm, Calamity-level powerholders within the City Lord's Residence!"
This decree once again caused a city-wide uproar."Highest-rank guest elder?! Treatment equivalent to an Ocean Realm powerhouse?"
"This... this rise is too fast. Even if he was the Grand Competition champion, this is..."
"How highly does the City Lord regard him!"
"It seems this Chen Qing has truly ascended to the heavens in a single step. From now on, in Black City, he absolutely must not be provoked!"
"Treatment equivalent to an Ocean Realm powerhouse... that means he can practically walk sideways in Black City, and his resources are inexhaustible."
When Long Shouzhuo heard this news, he was ecstatic.
Chen Qing was vouched for by his Dragon Rise Society. Now that his status had risen so dramatically, the Dragon Rise Society would naturally benefit as well.
He immediately issued an order: from now on, everyone in the Dragon Rise Society must treat Chen Qing as they would treat him personally.
As for the Ghost Fiend Sect and the Giant Sun Gang, they were as grief-stricken as if they had lost their parents, their hearts utterly cold.
With Chen Qing receiving such favor from the City Lord, their hopes for revenge became even more distant, and they had to constantly worry about whether the other party might use the City Lord's Residence's power to settle accounts with them.
Su Zhan understood clearly in his heart that this was an investment valuing his potential.
He came before Mo Yuan, performed a solemn bow, and said with sincere gratitude, "City Lord Mo's recognition and kindness, this junior will keep in mind forever. I am immensely grateful! I will definitely live up to your high expectations."
This gratitude came from the heart.
With the City Lord's Residence as a banner and the resources provided, he could not only safely improve his strength, but many of his actions would also become much more convenient.
Mo Yuan nodded with satisfaction. "No need for such formalities. This is what you deserve. Make good use of the resources I've given you and improve your strength as quickly as possible. I look forward to the day you truly grow up."
After everything was arranged, Su Zhan moved into that small building that belonged to him.
The path to becoming stronger had finally entered the fast lane.
...
Time passed swiftly.
Two and a half years quietly slipped away amidst Black City's day-to-day clamor.
City Lord's Residence.
Within that secret space located three thousand meters underground.
"Boom!"
A dull explosive sound rang out.
A Mist Creature with strength roughly at Special-risk third stage, shaped like a giant ape, let out a resentful howl under the incineration of the Flame of Destruction, its massive body turning to ashes.
Su Zhan slowly exhaled a mouthful of turbid air, the surging aura around his body gradually receding.
He was now a twenty-four-year-old young man.
The abundant and vast power within his body had already reached a certain critical point.
Special-risk peak!
A faint sound of footsteps broke the silence.
Mo Yuan's figure appeared at the edge at some unknown time. Looking at Su Zhan in the arena, whose aura was perfectly unified, he couldn't hide the astonishment in his eyes. "Special-risk peak?"
Su Zhan turned and gave a slight nod.
Mo Yuan walked forward, carefully sensing for a moment, then couldn't help but shake his head and let out a long sigh.
"Two and a half years, from Special-risk first stage to tenth stage peak... a full nine minor stages.
Chen Qing, do you know, if your cultivation speed were to spread, how many people would it scare to death?"
Without waiting for Su Zhan to answer, he continued on his own.
"The Five Great Academies of Daxia, aren't they considered top-tier?
Their precious darlings who are praised to the skies, at the Tide Realm stage, taking a small step forward on average takes three to four months.
Only 50% of them can reach the Abyss Realm before the age of twenty-five.
Even if these geniuses are lucky enough to enter the Abyss Realm, the road ahead is even more difficult than ascending to heaven.
In the Abyss Realm, improving by one stage often takes seven or eight months, or even a year.
Only 50% of them can reach the peak of the Abyss Realm before the age of thirty-four.
As for the Ocean Realm?
That's not something that can be achieved just by burying your head in hard cultivation.
Only those possessing an SSS-grade Life Soul have a 100% chance.
Talent, effort, mentality, resources, luck... you can't lack a single one!
Out of a hundred Abyss Realm peak individuals, only twenty ultimately cross over; the remaining eighty stay at the Abyss Realm peak for their entire lives.
This is true for Awakened individuals, and for us Aberrants, it's the same."
After finishing, his gaze fell back on Su Zhan.
"And you, twenty-four years old, Special-risk peak.
Twenty-seven months, breaking through nine consecutive stages.
Heh... if people outside were fortunate enough to know, probably no one would believe it. They'd just think someone was crazy and talking nonsense."
Su Zhan listened quietly to Mo Yuan's deeply informative lament.
These comparisons allowed him to clearly recognize the heaven-defying nature of his own path.
Su Zhan clasped his fists. "It was merely luck. If not for the City Lord providing this place, I would have had absolutely no possibility of progressing so smoothly."
"No need for modesty. This is what your own ability deserves. I merely provided the soil. What kind of towering tree grows from it depends entirely on you."
Mo Yuan waved his hand. "However, the step from Special-risk to Calamity-level is a crucial threshold, especially for you. The accumulation required is probably far beyond that of ordinary people.
What are your plans next? Continue hunting here? The strength of the Mist Creatures here is already of limited help to your current level."
Su Zhan remained silent for a moment, then said, "I'll stay for a while longer, think about it more."
"Alright."
Mo Yuan didn't press further, instead saying, "However, since you've reached Special-risk peak today, and this is an important breakthrough since you've been in Black City for so long, I'll hold a celebration banquet for you."
Su Zhan instinctively declined politely. "City Lord, there's no need for such trouble."
But Mo Yuan's attitude was firm. "This matter is settled. Go back and prepare properly. At that time, the other highest-rank guest elders of the City Lord's Residence will also be present. You should converse well with them."
Hearing this, Su Zhan immediately understood in his heart.
Mo Yuan had indeed sensed his intention to leave soon.
The highest-rank guest elders of the City Lord's Residence, aside from him as a special exception, were all genuine Ocean Realm or Calamity-level powerholders.
Mo Yuan's move was clearly to introduce this important network of connections to him before he left, paving the way for his future travels outside.
This thoughtful gesture moved Su Zhan greatly.
He looked at Mo Yuan and asked the key question. "City Lord, your control over Mist incidents is so strong. I wonder, can you summon Calamity-level Mist Creatures?"
This was his biggest current dilemma.
To break through to the Calamity-level, he must absorb the Life Essence of a Mist Creature of the same level.
But with his Special-risk peak strength, facing a Calamity-level alone would only result in being mercilessly crushed.
To advance, he either needed to rely on luck to pick up the pieces, or he needed the help of a powerful individual.