Zhi Guan’s group had fled in time while his Master and the others were looking for them, the time when they would come to blows with the demonic practitioners imminent. Meanwhile, Mei Chao Bing was still in the southern chasm, transferring the energy he siphoned from that person beneath the array to Lei Chen.

Just then, enough energy had once again been gathered, breaking through the threshold that separated the Golden Core stage from the Nascent Soul stage, allowing the other person to break through. Mei Chao Bing immediately stopped transferring the energy, instead leaning back and closing his eyes so as to regain some of his own energy. In this case, it wasn’t spiritual energy though. He simply felt exhausted.

He had thought he might get used to the feeling of the twisted energy he was converting bit by bit but … nothing of the like had happened. It still made his skin crawl even after such a long time. He had to admit that this was actually helping his own cultivation though.

He hadn’t noticed at first but, actually, converting energy seemed to have a big effect. In the past, the energy he took in had been the same regular spiritual energy that developed in the world over time, without anybody needing to do anything about it. Even if it wasn’t that, what he came in contact with apart from that should at most be some elemental energy that had somehow manifested or maybe the dimensional energy they had discovered thanks to Yun Bei Fen’s third senior martial brother.

Those types of energy were likely very similar to whatever he was able to transform them into but the one he interacted with right now wasn’t for sure. And it seemed that the process of transforming was just as much part of cultivation for him as taking in the energy itself. As long as it was easily done, it was as if taking in a minuscule amount of energy: The difference could hardly be felt at the stage he was in. If the process was arduous like it was when dealing with the twisted energy, it made a big difference though, actually propelling his level forward at a noticeable level.

At the time when he realized this, Mei Chao Bing couldn’t help but wonder whether this would give him a chance to actually win this currently much too one-sided fight. After all, he was already in the Nascent Soul stage. While he had only been in the early stage at first, he was now in the middle stage and that was after merely processing the little energy it took to bring Lei Chen up from the Foundation Building stage to the beginning of the Nascent Soul stage. In comparison to that, if he were to help Lei Chen achieve a higher level, his own level should jump up correspondingly, maybe allowing him to reach the Demigod stage just like his Master had.

The idea was dizzying. It should be impossible to reach the next level this fast, this … easy. Of course, if he had any choice, he wouldn’t want to do it this way. A hastily achieved level often wasn’t stable enough and the process was hair-raising if he was honest. He’d rather take more time and not have to go through this. But … if it allowed him to defeat his Master and save Fen’er, it would be worth it.

Unfortunately, as soon as the thought came up, reality came crashing down just as fast. Lei Chen had just been promoted to the Nascent Soul stage, not lagging too far behind him. Even if he managed to grasp the opportunity and reach the Demigod stage while helping him advance further, Lei Chen’s level would also rise accordingly. In the end, Mei Chao Bing would have to deal with two people in the Demigod stage and one of them wouldn’t have been recently promoted but would already be experienced in wielding that power. In other words: He still wouldn’t be good enough to win against his Master.

Maybe he could fight against Lei Chen on even foot because they would both be recently promoted, with a possibly unstable cultivation base. But still, that would be the extent of his ability. His Master would still be impossible to defeat and both of them together … no, there would be even less of a chance for that to happen. Not to mention that they still had that crystal where they had imprisoned Yun Bei Fen’s soul. Before getting that one back, there was simply no way to even start a fight, no matter the odds.

Mei Chao Bing didn’t move for a long time after Lei Chen broke through. For one, he indeed needed another break, and two, he was still hoping to delay some time. No matter how badly things looked right now, they could also get better. The inspiration he had received earlier that allowed him to realize that he could maybe break through at the end of this, brought another insight with it: He could also help people on his own side to reach the next level.

Hadn’t he tried that with Da Hei before? The midnight wolf was already at the upper end of the Nascent Soul stage and could also promote to the Demigod stage at any time. He currently wasn’t in the chasm with them and yes, this indeed didn’t matter until he held the crystal in his hands but … if he could get Yun Bei Fen’s soul back, then maybe this was something to work toward.

Anyway, his Master likely wanted to ascend and for one reason or another, he intended to take Lei Chen with him when he did. This would mean that the righteous faction wouldn’t have to face the demonic faction in a near-invincible stage but could fight on more or less even ground. But … he could actually change that and give their people an advantage they hadn’t had before. While this shouldn’t be done indiscriminately as his Master’s case showed, if he helped promote those who could be trusted with the information of his special constitution like Elder Baili and his disciples or the four guardians, then the future of their world could be changed.

And if — only if — the stars aligned just right, maybe he could actually find a way to defeat his Master after all. He just had to hold out and keep looking for opportunities. Anyway, it seemed that his constitution could provide him with opportunities he hadn’t realized before.