Over twenty days passed.

  Xiao Lingchen was fully focused on refining the Supreme Sword Bone.

  During this time, Ning Huanhuan and Yun Zhanyi contacted him more than once.

  Xiao Lingchen knew they probably missed him.

  Considering that this trip down the mountain might take a while, he decided to satisfy them first.

  Xiao Lingchen concealed his presence and went directly to Small Bamboo Peak, finding Ning Huanhuan's Cave Abode.

  Now that Xiao Lingchen had reached the Breaking Illusions Realm, his strength ranked among the top in the entire Supreme Mystical Sect.

  Thus, after hiding his presence, hardly anyone could detect him.

  Soon enough, Xiao Lingchen found Ning Huanhuan's Cave Abode.

  At that moment, Ning Huanhuan was meditating and cultivating inside.

  "Mm..."

  Suddenly, Ning Huanhuan's eyes widened as something black was stuffed into her mouth.

  Instinctively, she wanted to push it away.

  But then Xiao Lingchen's voice came to her ears:

  "Don't move, this is an Immortal Cane grown in fertile soil."

  "It's sweet and delicious, calming and soothing, with great benefits if eaten!"

  Ning Huanhuan shot Xiao Lingchen a fierce look.

  But soon, she happily enjoyed the treat Xiao Lingchen fed her.

  After eating and drinking to her heart's content, Ning Huanhuan nestled in Xiao Lingchen's arms and suddenly took out a Storage Ring, handing it to him.

  Xiao Lingchen looked puzzled.

  Ning Huanhuan explained:

  "Did you forget?"

  "I promised you before, if you help me become stronger, I would give you all the resources taken from me and half of the rewards bestowed by Master."

  "I'm a person of my word."

  Xiao Lingchen chuckled and accepted the Storage Ring without hesitation.

  A quick glance revealed that it contained quite a lot.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  ...

  After spending half a day in Ning Huanhuan's Cave Abode, Xiao Lingchen bid her farewell.

  Then he headed to Yun Zhanyi's Cave Abode.

  As the Senior Sister of Small Bamboo Peak, Yun Zhanyi's Cave Abode was relatively easy to find.

  When he arrived, Yun Zhanyi was cooking in front of the stove.

  This scene surprised Xiao Lingchen.

  At their level, cultivators could practice Inedia, going without food for years without any issues.

  Moreover, with cultivation being a race against time, spending time cooking showed her passion for it.

  At that moment, Yun Zhanyi seemed like a virtuous and gentle sister-next-door to Xiao Lingchen.

  Xiao Lingchen approached,

  Yun Zhanyi was startled.

  When she turned and saw Xiao Lingchen, she couldn't help but glare at him:

  "How did you get here?"

  "You scared me to death!"

  Xiao Lingchen replied:

  "I'm about to go down the mountain, and I don't know when I'll be back, so I came to say goodbye."

  "And to see if there's anything you need help with."

  Yun Zhanyi rolled her eyes helplessly:

  "I'm living well in this Cave Abode, with no lack of food or clothing, what could I possibly need help with?"

  Xiao Lingchen asked:

  "Really nothing?"

  "If there's truly nothing, I'll be on my way."

  But then, Yun Zhanyi pulled him back.

  Yun Zhanyi shyly said:

  "Actually, there is something."

  "I've been feeling a bit unwell lately, and only you can help."

  Xiao Lingchen smiled:

  "No problem! Let me check your body."

  ...

  Xiao Lingchen didn't expect Yun Zhanyi to have learned quite a few skills.

  It delayed him for an entire day.

  It wasn't until noon the next day that Xiao Lingchen bid her farewell.

  But before he left, Yun Zhanyi called out to him again.

  "What's up?"

  "Haven't you had enough to eat?"

  Xiao Lingchen asked in confusion.

  Yun Zhanyi rolled her eyes at him:

  "Indeed, I'm not quite satisfied."

  "But that's not why I'm calling you!"

  "Let me ask you, have you refined the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect technique to perfection?"

  "Indeed."

  Xiao Lingchen admitted without hesitation:

  "Is there a problem?"

  After refining the Sword Bone yesterday, he casually learned the Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect.

  Upon mastering it, he conjured countless sword shadows, hovering over the Supreme Mystical Sect, likely seen by all its disciples.

  It was normal for Yun Zhanyi to know about it.

  "Your talent is truly extraordinary."

  Though she had already guessed, hearing Xiao Lingchen confirm it, Yun Zhanyi couldn't help but marvel.

  Then she said:

  "There's no problem."

  "It's just that I discovered another wondrous aspect of this technique."

  "Try using your Divine Powers to conjure a sword shadow."

  Though puzzled, Xiao Lingchen complied.

  However, with his current sword talent, he could easily conjure thousands of sword shadows.

  Conjuring just one was a bit challenging for him.

  Carefully, he managed to conjure a single sword shadow.

  Though it was just one, the aura it emitted surprised Yun Zhanyi.

  Then, she conjured a sword shadow too.

  She controlled it to slowly approach Xiao Lingchen's sword shadow.

  Finally, the two sword shadows merged into one.

  In an instant, Xiao Lingchen could clearly feel his sword shadow grow larger and more powerful.

  "This is..."

  Yun Zhanyi explained:

  "Yesterday, when you used Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect in the Supreme Mystical Sect, I happened to be practicing it too and noticed that the sword shadows I conjured seemed drawn to yours."

  "From this, I had a hunch."

  "Now it seems my guess was correct."

  "This Divine Power can merge sword shadows conjured by anyone, unleashing greater power!"

  Upon hearing this, Xiao Lingchen raised an eyebrow.

  Yun Zhanyi continued:

  "You know, to use Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect, the higher the sword talent of the user, the more sword shadows they can conjure, and the stronger the power!"

  "But one person's talent is ultimately limited, and so is the number of sword shadows they can conjure. However, if enough people use this Divine Power, the number of sword shadows becomes limitless, and so does the power."

  Hearing this, Xiao Lingchen's eyes lit up.

  "So, as long as enough people use Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect, even if there are ten million or a hundred million people, their sword shadows can merge with mine, unleashing the combined power of all the sword shadows?"

  Thinking of this, even Xiao Lingchen was shocked.

  Ten million, or even a hundred million people conjuring sword shadows together, what kind of power would that be?

  Unimaginable!

  Yun Zhanyi smiled:

  "Exactly."

  "So I was thinking, maybe you could find some trusted individuals with strong sword talent, or even form a faction and teach them Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Sect."

  "In time, they could all become your strength."

  Indeed.

  Both of them had thought of this.

  Xiao Lingchen nodded:

  "This is indeed a good idea. I'll form this faction in the future."

  Yun Zhanyi, holding Xiao Lingchen's hand, charmingly said:

  "Tell me, is the secret I discovered and the idea I provided great or not?"

  Xiao Lingchen noncommittally replied:

  "Of course, it's great."

  Yun Zhanyi then asked:

  "Do I get a reward?"

  Xiao Lingchen immediately took out two Immortal Fruits from his Storage Ring:

  "These are Fifth Grade Spirit Fruits, Fusion Spirit Fruits. Consuming them can purify spiritual power and enhance cultivation."

  These two Fusion Spirit Fruits were obtained from the Demon Race, and Xiao Lingchen hadn't had the chance to refine them yet.

  Looking at the Fusion Spirit Fruits in Xiao Lingchen's hand, Yun Zhanyi said with slight dissatisfaction:

  "These Spirit Fruits are indeed good, but you know that's not what I want~"

  Hearing this, Xiao Lingchen shook his head with a wry smile.

  Pawread.