Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1155 - 344: [No Way?]_3

The usefulness, well, it can’t exactly be called non-existent, but truthfully, it’s just that.

East Sea listened attentively, his expression remaining largely unchanged, save for a flicker of a detached smile in his eyes.

However, what Chen Yan vocalized next was what truly caused East Sea’s countenance to shift.

"Whether the external sects and clans lent their backing to the Ghost Race has never been the pivotal factor in the Ghost Race's established presence in the Southern Border, nor their capacity to contend with the Demon Race!

The reason is... when the Ghost Race was initially founded, its rise to power wasn't solely dependent on the endorsement from the sects and clans of the Domain Realm!

External endorsements and what's termed 'external aid' have invariably served to improve an existing good situation, not to rescue one in dire straits.

Only when you possess sufficient fortitude, when you are strong enough, will external assistance be willing to become your support, eager to bolster your standing.

Should you be weak, even with the most cunning tactics, external aid will shy away.

This is because the so-called 'external aid,' irrespective of the intricate calculations or the pursuit of interests, is merely superficial; the fundamental truth is singular:

External aid invariably sides with the victor!

Unless you exhibit unyielding strength, unless you project the potential to emerge victorious, only then will individuals be inclined to assist and invest in you.

Otherwise, any minor stratagem is simply an exercise in futility."

As these pronouncements were made, East Sea's expression gradually turned grave, and from that seriousness, it slowly transitioned into contemplation.

"...No wonder the ancestor holds you in such high regard; you truly possess a degree of discernment, young one." East Sea let out a sigh. "But it's a pity, a profound pity, that Luo Xiuqing, despite her perceived cleverness, never grasped this crucial point.

The Ghost Race languished in weakness for decades precisely because the ancestor was absent.

Upon the ancestor's triumphant return, the Ghost Race lacked nothing; all it needed was to project a sufficiently formidable presence to regain the allegiance of the Domain Realm's sects and clans.

After all, the Demon Race is an alien entity! We Ghosts, while distinct from the sects and clans beyond, are fundamentally human in race.

As long as the Ghost Race demonstrated robust strength and an unwavering resolve to confront the Demon Race, bolstered by the backing of a Saint, the sects and clans of the Domain Realm would naturally gravitate towards our cause.

The Ghost Race has endured in the Southern Border for millennia; our past successes stem from our ability to win and our inherent capacity to be victors.

This, Luo Xiuqing fails to perceive due to her limited perspective and narrow vision."

Chen Yan offered a wry smile. "One cannot simply state that Chief Luo... that Luo was mistaken. It is merely that her timing was misaligned.

Her methods carry their own logic, but when applied during a period of existential crisis for the Ghost Race, they proved insufficient.

What the Ghost Race required at this juncture was an individual willing to take a significant risk, to overturn decades of decline in a single stroke, and to project an image of unassailable strength to the sects and clans of the Domain Realm. That was the critical element."

"Hmm, listening to you, do you also believe Guen's recent actions were, in fact, correct?"

This time, Chen Yan paused for a moment before replying slowly, "I can only posit that Guen's course of action might be more fitting for the current state of the Ghost Race. However, perhaps the outcome may not necessarily prove overwhelmingly favorable either.

Ultimately... whether in the grand conflicts or internal strifes of the Domain Realm, the decisive factor is never the mortals on the ground, but rather the Saints who preside in the celestial realms.

Yet, from a strategic standpoint, Guen's approach is impeccable."

·

Following the purge of Luo Xiuqing's faction, the matter of intercepting the flying boat and implicating the Demon Race was naturally abandoned. Certain items seized during the interception were consequently acquired by East Sea.

These spoils were not suitable for deposition into the Ghost Race's treasury, given the clandestine nature of the operation.

Therefore, East Sea opted to bestow these 'ill-gotten gains' upon Chen Yan.

"These items, do not use them openly here, hmm... reserve them for 'when you return home.' As long as they are not used within these confines, no one will be the wiser, nor will any trouble arise."

East Sea conveyed this with a knowing wink to Chen Yan, who understood the implication perfectly.

·

That evening, Chen Yan took up residence in the same room he had previously occupied on the third floor.

Zhan Li personally oversaw the arrangements, ensuring Chen Yan was attended to, provided with exquisite meals, and even had a bathtub prepared to his specifications for a much-needed soak.

Chen Yan had spent three years and four months within the 'time flux.' Due to the significantly slowed temporal flow in that environment, his body had not accumulated substantial grime or dirt; he had also employed cleansing spells on himself periodically.

Nevertheless, in many situations, bathing transcends mere hygiene; it is about indulging in the ambiance.

Regardless of physical cleanliness, the psychological void of not having encountered water or bathed for over three years was an experience beyond description.

For nearly two hours that night, Chen Yan luxuriated in the hot water summoned by Zhan Li and his men.

After a rigorous scrubbing that felt like shedding a layer of skin, a satisfied sigh finally escaped his lips.

At last, he felt utterly pure, both inwardly and outwardly.

Donning fresh, soft garments provided by Zhan Li, he padded barefoot across the impeccably clean floor and settled onto the plush bed, meticulously prepared by two Ghost Race maids.

The yielding bedding cradled him as if he were among the clouds, releasing a profound, soul-deep weariness within Chen Yan.

Three years and four months!

Despite the differential time flow, the duration remained the same: three years and four months. Being confined in one place for such an extended period, regardless of rest or sleep, led to an inevitable accumulation of mental tension and fatigue under that monotonous routine.

This exhaustion was not physical but a deep-seated mental weariness.

In reality, this is a common state for many individuals released from long-term imprisonment. On their first day of freedom after years behind bars, they often exude a palpable sense of exhaustion.

Only after emerging, enjoying several days of rest, and immersing themselves in an atmosphere entirely antithetical to their confinement does the fatigue gradually recede.

Consequently, even though Chen Yan was physically unburdened and possessed the robust mental fortitude and divine sense of a cultivator, he drifted into a deep, sweet sleep after his bath and change of clothes.

He slept soundly until the dawn of the next day!

Rather than awakening naturally, a persistent knocking sound roused him—without it, Chen Yan suspected he might have slumbered for another half-day.

However, it was Zhan Li who stood at the door.

Zhan Li's respectful announcement from the threshold compelled Chen Yan to relinquish his desire for further sleep.

This was due to Zhan Li's report: the Master Alchemy Stone Furnace had arrived.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Yan instantly propelled himself out of bed!

·

The esteemed Alchemy Master from the Black Wood Tribe had brought something that ignited a spark in Chen Yan's eyes.

A scroll, extending a meter in length when unfurled, presented the list of elixirs that had been delivered.

Furthermore, the medicinal ingredients were contained within a Jade Pearl.

According to Master Stone Furnace, the quantity of these elixirs was sufficient for Chen Yan to establish an alchemy workshop, sell elixirs for an entire year, or satisfy the annual elixir needs of a minor sect.

Naturally, these were elixirs commonly found and readily available in the market.

With such a skilled Alchemy Master present, Chen Yan certainly wouldn't be content with merely a consignment of ordinary concoctions.

The true prowess of an Alchemy Master is demonstrated in their capacity to brew elixirs that elude ordinary alchemists. They possess the knowledge to utilize even materials that most alchemists have never encountered in their medicinal preparations.

Fortunately, Chen Yan happened to possess certain rare substances that have seldom been seen by others.

The very first item Chen Yan presented to this Alchemy Master was the Divine Tree Juice, sourced from the Fierce Beast Race!

The moment Chen Yan produced a cup of milky-white Divine Tree Juice, Master Stone Furnace's expression underwent a subtle shift.

His plump face involuntarily twitched.

He extended a pinky finger, dipped it into the liquid, and after a brief sniff, his eyes immediately lit up with recognition!

"Divine Tree Juice from the Fierce Beast Race," he declared.

His tone remained outwardly calm: "I do recall obtaining some previously. It was brought back by snow hunters at Snow Cliff Pass, who had slain a Fierce Beast Race powerhouse on the battlefield. It is a tradition among the Fierce Beast Race to bestow Divine Tree Juice as a reward to the tribe's champions..."

At this juncture, he brought his pinky finger to his lips to taste the substance.

Then, his countenance transformed dramatically!

"How, how is this possible!!! This, this concentration?!!"

He even uttered an incomprehensible curse in the Ghost Race language, a string of exclamations that Chen Yan couldn't decipher.

Suddenly, the old man's voice escalated to a shrill pitch: "You! You! This isn't the original juice!!!"