Chapter 144 - 143: Who Can Match Me?

Chapter 144: Chapter 143: Who Can Match Me?

An unknown amount of time passed. It could have been several hours, or it could have been an entire night.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Chen Yue slowly opened his eyes.

A brilliant gleam flashed in his eyes before retracting, leaving them deep and serene. He didn’t rise immediately, instead choosing to quietly perceive the earth-shattering changes within his body.

Power. It surged like never before, like an ancient behemoth stirring from its slumber, its presence coiled in his limbs and torso, his muscles and bones, and even deep within his marrow.

His Qi Blood rushed like a great river flowing through a wide, sturdy bed. Each beat of his heart seemed to drive a tide of Qi Blood throughout his entire body.

His Qi Force was as dense as mercury, circulating freely at his command. Power erupted at the slightest thought, completely unhindered.

He felt a profound, warm density emanating from deep within his skeleton, as if every bone had been forged into tempered steel, yet still pulsed with vibrant life.

His skin was tough, suffused with a subtle sheen. An ordinary blade would now struggle to even scratch him.

’So this is the Marrow Refining Realm...’ A slight smile touched Chen Yue’s lips as a sense of satisfying, natural accomplishment filled his heart.

In the Martial Dao, the more profound and solid one’s foundation, the greater the gains upon breaking through to a new realm.

It was like building a high tower: the deeper and wider the foundation, the taller and more stable the structure, and the more astonishing the weight it could bear.

With a top-tier Body Refining Divine Skill like the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield, augmented by his Copper Skin Iron Bones Talent, his Physique and the toughness of his muscles and bones had already far surpassed his peers back in the Bone Forging Realm.

Now, having broken through to the Marrow Refining Realm, this deep accumulation resulted in an explosive release of potential. The gains he reaped naturally far surpassed those of an ordinary disciple.

Within the Panshi Sect, whether among those in the Bone Forging Realm or the Marrow Refining Realm, Chen Yue had yet to meet anyone whose foundational Physique could pose a threat to him.

He gently rolled his neck, producing a series of crisp cracks that sounded like jade striking gold.

Chen Yue rose to his full height, his posture as straight as a pine tree. The simple act of standing stirred a subtle gust of air, gently pushing aside the fine dust on the floor of the Quiet Chamber.

With a mere thought, and no discernible movement, his figure vanished from the room like a wisp of smoke.

The next instant, he stood perfectly still in the center of the courtyard.

Moonlight, like liquid silver, poured down over him, casting a sharp, straight shadow on the ground.

Chen Yue hadn’t used the Soaring Void Thousand Layer Step. That was simply the fundamental leap in his mobility, a result of the massive boost to his physical strength, reaction speed, and coordination.

Coming to a standstill, Chen Yue slowly sank his waist and settled his hips, assuming a basic fist-fighting stance.

He didn’t use the Vigorous Palm Force of the Great Vajra Palm, nor did he circulate the vast Qi Blood of the Tiger Roar Golden Bell Shield.

Inhale, twist the waist, rotate the hips, extend the shoulder, and punch!

The motion wasn’t fast—in fact, it was almost slow—but every detail was filled with a powerful grace.

His fist parted the air, not with a sharp whistle, but with a low hum, like a heavy mallet striking a war drum.

In the path of his fist, the air seemed to be compressed and pushed aside by an invisible force, forming a ripple visible to the naked eye.

His fist stopped abruptly just before full extension. Though his knuckles were still several feet from a nearby bowl-thick tree trunk, a shallow, fist-shaped indentation silently appeared on its rough bark.

He hadn’t released any Gang Qi; it was purely a display of his punch’s focused force and his microscopic control over his power.

Back in Youlin County, Chen Yue had needed to use the Great Vajra Palm to accomplish a similar feat. Now, he could do it with an ordinary punch.

Chen Yue slowly retracted his fist, the amusement in his eyes deepening, sparkling like starlight.

Pure, domineering physical strength. And this strength was under his complete command, as easy to direct as his own limbs, unleashed and retracted at will.

It wasn’t just his strength. His speed, explosive power, endurance, Five Senses Spiritual Perception, and even his control over his Qi Blood Qi Force—everything had undergone a comprehensive upgrade with this breakthrough!

’No wonder they say the Cultivation Realm is the foundation of the Martial Dao.’

Chen Yue looked up at the bright moon. ’When your foundation is strong enough, your every move carries immense might. Even the simplest straight punch or the most basic footwork can unleash astonishing destructive force.’

’Of course, if you build upon that foundation by cultivating exquisite forms and Martial Techniques, it would be like adding wings to a tiger, allowing you to bring this power to its absolute peak.’

Reining in his thoughts, Chen Yue returned to the Quiet Chamber and sat down cross-legged.

He wasn’t in a hurry to test the effects of the Heart-Burning Record in his new realm. Instead, he slowly began to circulate the Heart Method for the Fifth Layer of the Vast Heart Rock Skill.

His body needed time to adapt to this new realm. He had to learn to control his explosive new strength. And while the circulation paths of his Qi Force hadn’t changed drastically, he needed to carefully attune himself to its new intensity, its speed, and its connection to his revitalized marrow.

A vast and steady Qi Force flowed slowly through his meridians. It brought a warm, powerful nourishment wherever it passed, allowing Chen Yue to gain ever more precise and subtle control over his newfound strength.

...

「The next morning, at the first light of dawn.」

Chen Yue arrived at the Hundred Herbs Pavilion as usual. After a night of consolidation, he had completely stabilized his cultivation at the initial stage of the Marrow Refining Realm, his aura now rounded and withdrawn.

Opening the furnace, starting the fire, warming the cauldron, adding the ingredients... the steps of Alchemy were already ingrained in his very being. Today, however, as he began to control the flames and sense the medicinal properties, he immediately noticed a difference.

Breaking through to the Marrow Refining Realm didn’t just strengthen his Physique; the acuity of his Heart Spirit and his Perception Ability had risen in tandem.

Every flicker of the fire, the most subtle reactions as the medicinal ingredients fused within the furnace, the faint fluctuations as the Elixir Liquid swirled...

Everything was clearer than ever before, more tangible.

He could even faintly hear the elusive rhythm of the Elixir gradually taking shape within the flames.

The calmer his mind, the steadier his hands.

Four batches of Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills were completed one after another in a state of effortless perfection.

When the final batch achieved Pill Formation and he lifted the cauldron lid, a flicker of surprise passed through even Chen Yue’s own eyes.

From four batches of Elixirs, every single one had yielded two pills!

Eight top-quality, richly fragrant Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills lay quietly on the Warm Jade Plate, exuding an alluring luster.

Eight pills from four batches—a one hundred percent dual-Pill Formation rate. This meant his skill in refining the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill had now stabilized at an extremely high level.

The next step would be to attempt a batch of three pills.

Inside the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, the expressions of the disciples who had been watching Chen Yue’s Alchemy process today had gradually shifted from initial shock and envy to a state of near-numb resignation.

In fact, many no longer wanted—or rather, no longer dared—to watch Chen Yue perform Alchemy anymore.

Watching a newcomer who had just reached the Entry Level advance so triumphantly on the Alchemy Dao at a speed they couldn’t comprehend... the blow to their morale was simply too great. It was too disruptive to their own mental states.

Many Dan Peak disciples had experienced multiple cauldron explosions during Alchemy recently, something that rarely happened before.

However, a few of the more perceptive disciples vaguely sensed that something about Chen Yue was different today.

They couldn’t pinpoint what it was, only that the aura around him felt more profound and stable.

But their own Martial Arts Cultivation was too limited for them to see clearly.

In the distance, Zhao Weiyuan, who had been resting with his eyes closed, had felt his brow twitch almost imperceptibly the moment Chen Yue stepped into the Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

Instead of exchanging most of the Elixirs for Contribution Points as he usually did, Chen Yue placed all eight Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills into his Storage Ring.

At the same time, he used his previously accumulated Contribution Points to redeem five Bone Marrow Cleansing and Body Refining Pills.

Now that he had reached a new realm, his body’s tolerance for Elixirs and its absorption efficiency might have changed. He needed to re-test his daily limit for absorbing them, especially the Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pill, as it directly impacted his cultivation efficiency.

Leaving the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, Chen Yue didn’t head directly back to his courtyard, instead turning onto another mountain path.

A major event like a realm breakthrough was something he should, by all rights, report to his master.

Deep within Panshi Peak, Meng Yu Jin’s courtyard remained as quaint and serene as ever.

In the courtyard, an old tree stood tall, its branches forming a lush canopy that cast dappled shadows below. By the stone table, Meng Yu Jin sat across from her disciple, Liu Wenying.

Liu Wenying wore a set of pale yellow martial arts robes today, which made her skin seem fairer than snow and her eyes appear exceptionally bright.

As if presenting a treasure, she pushed an oil-paper package in front of Meng Yu Jin and carefully unwrapped it. Inside were round, sesame-sprinkled pastries, and a warm, fragrant aroma of flaky dough, sesame, and faint sweetness immediately filled the air.

"Master, hurry and try one!"

Liu Wenying’s eyes sparkled as she pointed at the pastries.

"I made a special trip to the Prefecture City to buy these from Fucheng Crispy Fragrance Record—it’s your favorite place! They just came out of the oven, so they’re still warm! Is the taste still as good as you remember?"

Looking at her disciple’s expectant and eager-to-please expression, Meng Yu Jin’s stern face couldn’t help but break into a gentle smile.

She reached out with two fingers, picked up a pastry that was still warm, brought it to her lips, and took a small bite.

A soft crunch sounded as she bit through. The outer layer was crisp and delicious, while the inside was distinctly layered, soft, and sweet, mixed with the toasted aroma of sesame seeds. It was the exact flavor she remembered.

Meng Yu Jin savored it slowly, a flicker of nostalgia in her eyes. She then nodded, the smile on her face growing more genuine.

"Mm, crisp and sweet, and baked to perfection. The taste hasn’t changed one bit. How thoughtful of you to remember and make such a trip."

Seeing her master’s enjoyment, Liu Wenying beamed. She picked up a piece for herself, took a large, gleeful bite, and mumbled with her mouth full,

"Hehe, I’m glad you like it, Master! I have a great memory! I was passing by Fucheng Crispy Fragrance Record and the smell just stopped me in my tracks. I figured you must be craving it too."

Meng Yu Jin picked up the warm, clear tea from the stone table and took a sip to rinse away the sweetness. Her gaze fell upon Liu Wenying, her tone casual but tinged with concern.

"You certainly haven’t forgotten your snacks. How has your Cultivation been recently? Have you made any progress with the bottleneck of the Fourth Layer of the Panshi Skill? The Martial Dao is like rowing a boat upstream; you can’t afford to slack off."

Hearing this, Liu Wenying immediately straightened her posture, swallowed the pastry in her mouth, and lifted her chin with a hint of pride.

"Don’t you worry, Master! I’ve been working very hard lately, not slacking off one bit! I’ve been seriously meditating to cultivate my qi and practicing my Martial Techniques every single day!"

She paused, then lowered her voice and mumbled, a little embarrassed but also defiant, "Especially with my junior brother catching up so fast. I really don’t want him to actually surpass me. How embarrassing would that be!"