Chapter 110: Once Proven, Forever Proven

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Once Proven, Forever Proven

’I’m new here. It would be safer to observe for a few more days,’ Chen Yue pondered.

Although from what he’d seen of Zhao Weiyuan, Yao Jin, and the other disciples of Dan Peak, the Panshi Sect’s atmosphere seemed decent and its Sect Rules were quite strict.

But having lived through the incident at the Chen Mansion, Chen Yue knew all too well how treacherous people’s hearts could be. There was no harm in being cautious.

’Maybe I’m being a little too cautious...’

Chen Yue chuckled self-deprecatingly, but it was always better to be safe than sorry. In any case, he still had a supply of Dan Yang Pills on hand, enough to support his cultivation for some time.

Having reached Perfection in the First Three Layers of the Vast Rock Skill, his cultivation speed was already incredibly fast. Spending a few days on observation wouldn’t affect his overall progress.

With his decision made, Chen Yue put the matter out of his mind. He calmed his Heart Spirit and began his daily cultivation.

Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, Great Vajra Palm, Heart Nourishing Technique... He cycled through the various Cultivation Techniques, solidifying every step on his path to the peak of the Bone Forging Realm.

...

「Nine days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Over these nine days, Chen Yue’s routine was so regular it was almost rigid.

Every morning, he would head to the Hundred Herbs Pavilion on time to exchange for three sets of ingredients for the Solid Essence Pill, which he would then reliably refine into three cauldrons of pills.

Of course, with Chen Yue controlling the process, he didn’t produce four pills per cauldron every single time, but he absolutely ensured a yield of three.

’My system panel guarantees a perfect outcome, but normal alchemy is supposed to have fluctuations. There’s no need to produce exactly four pills every time.’

After finishing his Alchemy, Chen Yue would return to his small courtyard, consume the Elixirs, and immerse himself in cultivation, free from all distractions.

His stability and efficiency had already become known among a small circle of Dan Peak’s outer disciples, and many of them had come to remember his name.

Yao Jin’s attitude toward Chen Yue grew even friendlier, and they would occasionally exchange insights on Alchemy.

During this time, Chen Yue also found an opportunity to leave the Panshi Sect and visit Celestial State Prefecture City to meet with Shen Dujiang, Hu Shaoyu, and Lin Quan, who had already settled in.

Shen Dujiang and the others had rented a small, two-courtyard home in a relatively quiet alley within the city. While not spacious, its main advantage was that it was clean and tidy—enough for the three of them to live in for the time being, and far cheaper than an inn.

After their reunion, Chen Yue asked the three of them about their plans for the future.

He relayed to Lin Quan what he had learned from Yao Jin. For an experienced, elderly Pill Master like him who knew no Martial Arts, Dan Peak would technically accept him. However, it was recommended that he work at one of the various pharmacies or clinics that the Panshi Sect operated within Celestial State Prefecture City instead.

There, he could still serve the Sect and earn compensation, but the environment would be relatively free, and he wouldn’t be bound by the Sect’s many rules.

"At my age, I have no expectations of achieving anything in the Martial Dao. Working at one of the Panshi Sect’s pharmacies suits me perfectly. For one, it’s true that I’d have more freedom. For another, those Contribution Points are of little use to an old man like me who knows no Martial Arts."

"I’d much rather earn some actual silver coins at the pharmacy and live out my days in peace. Besides, life in the city is quite pleasant."

This was what Lin Quan told Chen Yue.

Shen Dujiang smiled and said, "If Master Lin is going to the pharmacy, Hu and I can go with him and find work as guards there. We’ve only just arrived in Celestial State Prefecture and don’t know the area or anyone in it. Having such a stable place to land is already an excellent option. As for the future, if other opportunities or ideas come up, it won’t be too late to make new plans then."

While he was in the city, Chen Yue also visited a pharmacy to restock his supply of Bone-Enhancing Pills and other Elixirs.

His income of Contribution Points was now stable, but his time was far more precious. Continuing to spend large amounts of it personally refining these lower-level Elixirs seemed rather inefficient.

Back in Youlin County, resources had been scarce, leaving him no other choice.

Now that he had the means, Chen Yue would much rather spend that time cultivating his techniques and researching more profound Pill Formulas.

...

Early morning, as the sky began to brighten.

Chen Yue finished his routine morning cultivation, changed into the robes of a Panshi Sect’s Outer Disciple, and hung his Identity Token from his waist.

Today was the monthly group instruction day set by Martial Uncle Meng Yu Jin.

He arrived about half an hour early outside the elegant little courtyard where Meng Yu Jin resided.

In the open space before the courtyard gate, over twenty disciples had already gathered.

There were both men and women, mostly between twenty and thirty years of age. Their Cultivation ranged from the Refined Flesh Realm to the Bone Forging Realm. All were dressed in the robes of Outer Disciples, standing in small groups and conversing in low voices.

When Chen Yue’s unfamiliar face appeared at the end of the path and he began to walk over, the somewhat noisy chatter died down.

More than twenty pairs of eyes turned in unison to land on Chen Yue, their gazes filled with curiosity and a hint of aloofness.

Chen Yue’s expression remained calm, as if he hadn’t noticed the stares directed his way.

He found a spot at the edge of the crowd, lowered his gaze slightly, and waited quietly for the cold-natured Martial Uncle Meng to appear.

Half an hour slipped by. When the courtyard gate finally opened from the inside with a CREAK, the twenty-odd Outer Disciples, who had been conversing in low voices, fell silent in an instant. They all straightened up, their eyes fixed on the entrance.

Meng Yu Jin’s figure appeared in the doorway. She was dressed in a simple, elegant, light-blue long dress, just as before. Her long hair was tied back simply, her expression was cold, and her eyes were impassive.

She walked slowly out of the gate and stopped on the steps, her calm gaze sweeping over the assembled disciples.

She didn’t take roll call, ask who was absent, or offer any sort of opening pleasantry. She simply spoke, her voice crisp and concise:

"Perform the Panshi Fist."

The Panshi Fist was the Fist Technique that accompanied the Panshi Skill.

It served as both a method for tempering one’s Physique, guiding Qi and Blood Circulation, and honing Power, as well as a practical combat style.

The Fist Technique appeared simple and direct, but it contained the very essence of the Panshi Skill’s core principles for generating and channeling Power.

With Meng Yu Jin’s profound mastery of the Panshi Skill, she could discern the depth of a disciple’s understanding of the technique and identify any flaws in their Power conversion just by watching them perform the Panshi Fist once.

This was far more direct and effective than any verbal questioning.

The twenty-odd disciples present were clearly accustomed to this procedure, as no one voiced any questions or doubts.

The moment Meng Yu Jin finished speaking, everyone immediately focused their minds, sank into their stances, and began to execute the Panshi Fist with all their might.

Instantly, the air in the open space before the courtyard filled with the WHOOSH of fists and the thud of steady, powerful footsteps.

Though their movements were not perfectly synchronized, all twenty-plus disciples practicing at once exuded the grim, fierce power characteristic of the Panshi Sect.

Some disciples’ fists were ferocious, like boulders tumbling down a mountain. Others were more reserved, their movements deliberate, their power contained but not released. Each person did their best to demonstrate their own understanding of the Panshi Fist.

Standing at the edge of the group, Chen Yue followed the general rhythm and began to practice the Fist Technique as well.

His movements were meticulous, his stance was steady, his power was explosive and clean, and his Qi and Blood Circulation was smooth and natural.

However, Chen Yue did not use his full strength. He deliberately suppressed his mastery of the Panshi Fist to about seventy percent of his true ability.

’I’m determined to become an Inner Sect Disciple, and I currently see two clear paths to that goal.’

’One is to follow the conventional route: break through to the Marrow Refining Realm, then use my raw strength to clear Panshi Lane.’

’The second is to leverage my specialty in the Alchemy Dao, concoct the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill, and use Dan Peak’s special promotion channel.’

’After careful consideration, I’ve decided to pursue both paths simultaneously, neglecting neither.’

Furthermore, Chen Yue had also been subtly gathering information within the sect about Martial Uncle Meng Yu Jin’s past and reputation.

The consensus he gathered was that this Martial Uncle Meng was indeed cold and unsociable, but she was also fair and upright in her conduct. She never showed favoritism or suppressed disciples, and her reputation within the sect was excellent.

’If I could truly gain her approval and become her direct disciple, it would be an excellent opportunity.’

’Of course, that’s all contingent on me demonstrating sufficient potential and value. Martial Uncle Meng hasn’t taken on an Outer Disciple as her personal student in many years.’

Just as Chen Yue was halfway through his performance of the Panshi Fist, he keenly sensed a calm gaze fall upon him.

Chen Yue’s heart stirred, but his movements didn’t falter in the slightest. He maintained his steady rhythm and meticulously completed the entire Fist Technique.

Only after he had finished the form, retracted his fists, and regulated his breathing did the gaze on him slowly move away.

Next, Meng Yu Jin descended the steps and began to approach each disciple one by one.

She didn’t give long-winded explanations. Instead, she extended a finger and would lightly tap or press specific meridian points or joint Acupoints on a disciple’s body.

"Your shoulder is loose. Your Power isn’t sinking through."

"Your Qi has gone astray. It hasn’t passed the Yangguan point."

"Your waist and hips are stiff. Your Power isn’t flowing."

"You’re ending the form too quickly. The residual Power hasn’t dissipated."

Though the twenty-odd disciples each performed the Fist Technique at different speeds and with their own personal habits, Meng Yu Jin was somehow able to pinpoint the subtle deviations in every person’s movements and the blockages in their flow of Power.

One after another, the disciples’ faces lit up with understanding after receiving her guidance. They would bow respectfully before retreating to the side to earnestly contemplate her words.

Finally, Meng Yu Jin came to stand before Chen Yue.

She stopped. Instead of immediately reaching out to tap and correct him as she had with the others, she simply looked at Chen Yue, her gaze tinged with scrutiny.

’She remembered Chen Yue. Nine days ago, Wang Feng had brought this new disciple to pay his respects.’

’She had only given him a cursory glance at the time and hadn’t paid him any mind.’

’In other words, this disciple had only just joined the Panshi Sect nine days ago and received the Cultivation Technique for the First Three Layers of the Panshi Skill.’

’To master a completely unfamiliar Fist Technique like the Panshi Fist to this degree in just nine days?’

Meng Yu Jin said nothing. She merely watched Chen Yue silently for a moment before turning to the other disciples, who were looking over with curiosity. In a flat tone, she said:

"You may all leave and contemplate what you have learned today. Return at this same time next month."

At her words, all twenty-odd disciples revealed expressions of shock and surprise, their gazes once again converging on Chen Yue.

’Martial Uncle Meng... didn’t correct their new junior brother on the spot? Instead, she told them to leave first? What’s going on?’

’Did this new junior brother perform so well that he didn’t need correction? Or... was there some other reason?’

But Meng Yu Jin commanded immense respect and authority. Though a thousand questions swirled in the disciples’ minds, none of them dared to voice a single one.

They could only suppress their curiosity and speculation, bow respectfully to Meng Yu Jin, and then turn to leave one after another, each lost in their own thoughts.

Soon, the open space before the courtyard was empty, save for Chen Yue, who stood motionless, and Meng Yu Jin, whose gaze remained fixed upon him.

The mountain wind rustled the bamboo leaves, and the atmosphere grew tense.