Dashing Student Chapter 1416 1416: Ghost City Fengdu

Silken threads, extending from an unseen origin into the void and then weaving a cocoon, drew spiritual energy from Spirit Stones, a process where the Space Power remained unbroken.

Chen Nan's ingenious plan had succeeded; he could utilize Spirit Stones as a primary energy source to construct a miniature Cultivation Room, compressing time tenfold to grant him an extraordinary amount of cultivation time.

His Divine Sense probed the area outside the Immortal Palace Space, confirming the Divine Calculator was still recovering. With a relaxed chuckle, he decided, "Then I shall cultivate for a while longer."

From his Blood Gourd, he decanted a Demon Spirit Pill, meticulously refined from the remains of Great Demons of the Ape Clan he had previously gathered. This pill proved to be of immense assistance in his pursuit of cultivating the "Demon Ape Form."

Indeed, as soon as he ingested the Demon Spirit Pill, his entire being became enveloped in a pulsating, blood-colored aura. He then commenced a series of peculiar movements, each executed with a distinct and unusual rhythm.

Cracking sounds emanated from every joint and fiber of his body, a testament to his form being stretched to its absolute limit, teetering on the brink of disintegration yet miraculously holding firm.

Under the potent nourishment of the Demon Spirit Pill, both his flesh and bone underwent gradual yet significant improvements, propelling the cultivation progress of his "Demon Ape Form" forward at a remarkable pace.

Time lost all meaning as Chen Nan remained deeply immersed in his cultivation. He held a peculiar stance, akin to a colossal ape supporting the heavens, utterly unmoving.

Suddenly, a potent demonic aura exploded from his body, surging upwards like a tempestuous dark mist. Manifesting in the void behind him, a spectral image of a gigantic ape appeared, unleashing a roar that shook the very foundations of existence!

Immediately following this, his physique began to expand—one zhang, then two, then three… growing to immense proportions. His muscles swelled, seemingly imbued with an earth-shattering destructive force.

Chen Nan's eyes snapped open, a piercing gleam flashing within their depths. He expelled a long, heavy exhalation. The immense power coursing through him rapidly receded, and his physical form gradually reverted to its normal size.

"'Demon Ape Form'—Great Success!"

He clenched his fists, marveling at the surging power within him, and a grin spread across his face. After such an extended period of dedicated cultivation, he had finally achieved the Great Achievement Realm for the "Demon Ape Form."

He was now merely a single step away from reaching the Perfect Realm, poised to fully command the formidable capabilities of the Demon Ape.

Despite the profoundly satisfying cultivation results, a pang of regret struck Chen Nan as he observed the pile of dust on the ground. These were, after all, Spirit Stones that had been utterly depleted.

And not just any Spirit Stones, but top-grade ones!

By a rough estimation, this cultivation session, solely to sustain the Time Domain, had consumed a staggering hundred thousand top-grade Spirit Stones, which provided him with ten months of cultivation time. This marked his longest period of secluded cultivation to date.

Externally, merely a month had elapsed. The potency of the Time Domain was undeniably formidable, yet its resource expenditure was equally colossal.

Without Chen Nan's considerable fortune, sustaining such an exorbitant cost would be utterly impossible. Even for him, this consumption necessitated a renewed search for more Spirit Stones.

Chen Nan resumed his cross-legged position and retrieved the Blood Gourd, pouring out another Demon Spirit Pill. This particular pill exhibited distinct characteristics, featuring a silver pattern on its surface and radiating a majestic demonic energy.

The provenance of this Demon Spirit Pill was equally exceptional; it had been refined from the remains of an Ape Clan Demon King, making it the sole Demon King Level Demon Spirit Pill in his possession.

"Upon refining this Demon Spirit Pill, the 'Demon Ape Form' should attain perfection," Chen Nan murmured to himself, though he hesitated to consume it immediately.

His Divine Sense had detected that the Divine Calculator had recently awakened and was now actively searching for him, accompanied by a torrent of complaints and accusations of disloyalty.

With a mental command, Chen Nan egressed the Immortal Palace Space. He then casually emerged from a secluded spot. Upon sighting him, the Divine Calculator propelled himself forward with the speed of an arrow.

"Where in the blazes did you disappear to? I genuinely thought you had already departed!" The Divine Calculator lightly struck Chen Nan's chest, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"Just took a brief stroll," Chen Nan replied with a smile, electing not to reveal the secret of the Immortal Palace Space. "How fares your recovery?"

The Divine Calculator puffed out his chest with pride. "A trifling injury. This Daoist barely gave it a second thought."

"Did you happen to discover anything of significance in the vicinity?"

"Absolutely nothing. Other than us, no living beings were found. We still need to make our way into that city." Chen Nan cast his gaze toward the colossal city in the distance.

The Divine Calculator felt a mix of apprehension and intense excitement. Upon reaching the bottom of the Heavenly Cutting Abyss, a deep curiosity about this city had already taken root within him.

After all, he was extremely eager to understand what kind of beings could possibly dwell beneath the perpetual darkness of the Heavenly Cutting Abyss.

Following a brief period of preparation, the duo embarked on their journey towards the immense city. Within a mere fifteen minutes, they stood before its gates. The entrance was vast, and emblazoned above it were three imposing characters: "Fengdu City."

"Damn it, could this truly be Hell? Have we already passed away?" The Divine Calculator stared, his eyes nearly bulging out, at the characters adorning the gate.

While no one had ever personally witnessed Hell or the cycle of Reincarnation, and such concepts were relegated to legend, Fengdu City was renowned as the legendary Ghost City!

Chen Nan playfully struck the Divine Calculator across the face, inquiring, "Does that hurt?"

"Of course, it does, you fool!" The Divine Calculator clutched his cheek. "How about I return the favor and we see?"

"Then it proves we are still alive," Chen Nan stated with utmost seriousness.

The Divine Calculator nodded in agreement but quickly regained his senses. "Why don't you hit yourself then? No, no, let this Daoist get a hit in. I promise not to use my full strength!"

Noticing that the Divine Calculator had subtly conjured his Compass and was about to infuse power into his arm, Chen Nan, aware of his companion's penchant for trickery, promptly began walking towards the city.

As they approached the gate, the colossal doors creaked open. However, the spectacle that greeted them left both men utterly astonished; it was profoundly different from their prior imaginings.

Dwellings within the city were arranged with striking order. The citizens traversing the streets were clad in simple attire, their speech and conduct indistinguishable from those dwelling outside the Heavenly Cutting Abyss. Moreover, merchants were actively hawking their wares by the roadside, and a cacophony of sounds assailed their ears.

On the surface, it appeared to be just another thriving metropolis, with its inhabitants undoubtedly being ordinary humans. While these individuals displayed no discernible Mana fluctuations, each one emanated a palpable aura of dense Yin Energy.

"This… how can there be such a multitude of people at the very bottom of the Heavenly Cutting Abyss?" The Divine Calculator's eyes widened in disbelief, his heart brimming with bewilderment.

Chen Nan responded with a shake of his head, "I'm uncertain. Perhaps they have always resided here."

"Impossible! Observe the ghostly aura surrounding them; they must be specters!" The Divine Calculator exclaimed, pointing towards the people on the street.

"You are a cultivator, yet you fear ghosts?" Chen Nan let out a soft chuckle. "Besides, this might not even be solely attributed to them. I've already observed that even the very rocks here are permeated with Yin Energy."

"Living in such an environment, it would be peculiar if they didn't carry an aura of Yin Energy. I simply cannot fathom how these mortals manage to subsist amidst such pervasive Yin Energy."

As their conversation continued, a gaunt man suddenly emerged from the side. His vacant eyes fixed upon them, and a slow smile began to unfurl across his face.

"Welcome, travelers from beyond!"