Chapter 195 - 187: You Want to Die? I’ll Grant You That

Chapter 195: Chapter 187: You Want to Die? I’ll Grant You That

Liu Zhengyi’s smile faded as he began to seriously teach Chen Yue how to cultivate the Burning Pill Technique.

He first dipped his finger in some tea on the stone table and drew a simple diagram of the Heart Method’s circulation, marking several key acupoints and the paths for Inner Strength to flow.

Then he broke down each step of the diagram, explaining them one by one. He repeatedly emphasized the key points of each part and even brought up a few problems he had encountered during his own cultivation and the corresponding methods for adjustment.

Chen Yue stood to the side, listening attentively, his gaze constantly following Liu Zhengyi’s movements.

He discovered that many of the concepts behind the Burning Pill Technique were indeed very similar to the Heart-Burning Record. Both used the burning of one’s Heart Spirit to gain additional power to circulate Inner Strength.

But unlike the Heart-Burning Record, the Burning Pill Technique burned very little Heart Spirit—less than half of what the Heart-Burning Record did. Most of the burden was shifted onto one’s Qi Blood.

By actively mobilizing Qi Blood and using a specific method of circulation through the meridians, it converted the Life Force contained within the Qi Blood into a driving force for Refining Medicinal Power. This accelerated the absorption speed of Elixirs without damaging the Heart Spirit.

This was clearly something Liu Zhengyi had created based on his own circumstances. His Physique and foundation were so robust that he wasn’t afraid of burning some of his Qi Blood.

As for his Heart Spirit, however, he was unwilling to consume too much of it. Once the Heart Spirit was damaged, it recovered far more slowly than Qi Blood.

This was a calculated trade-off, placing the greatest risk in the area he needed to worry about the least.

Half an hour later, Liu Zhengyi finally finished explaining the entirety of the Burning Pill Technique.

He let out a long breath, picked up the now-lukewarm tea from the table, and drained it in one gulp. Then he set the cup down, his gaze falling on Chen Yue.

"Have you learned it? Do you have any questions?"

Chen Yue thought for a moment, quickly running through everything Liu Zhengyi had just explained in his mind.

He looked up and shook his head. "No questions for now. Thank you, Elder Liu!"

’Thinking about it, this Burning Pill Technique is actually a lot like an alternative Life-or-Death Secret Technique,’ he thought. ’It burns Qi Blood and draws upon the Heart Spirit.’

Liu Zhengyi nodded and took a thin, hand-copied book from his Storage Ring. The cover had the three words "Burning Pill Technique" written on it in ink, the characters neat and powerful.

He handed the book to Chen Yue. "This is the Secret Manual for the Burning Pill Technique that I wrote myself. I thought I’d be the only one to ever use it, but I never expected to find a successor.

From now on, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come find me anytime. I’m usually in this courtyard, practicing my techniques during the day and meditating at night."

Chen Yue accepted the Secret Manual with both hands, tucked it away solemnly, and cupped his fists in thanks again. "Thank you for teaching me this technique, Elder Liu. This disciple will certainly cultivate it diligently and not disappoint your high hopes."

Liu Zhengyi smiled and waved his hand. He was about to say more, but just a moment before he could speak, his expression suddenly shifted.

He looked up at the sky, his eyes reflecting a dark shadow that was rapidly growing larger.

Mo Ciqiu was the second to notice something amiss. Her gaze also lifted to the black dot in the sky, her brow twitching slightly as if trying to identify the newcomer’s identity and aura.

Then her expression shifted from its earlier relaxed and casual state to one of more seriousness.

Meng Yu Jin was the third to notice, but she was only half a beat behind in spotting the abnormality. She looked up at the sky, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Seeing the strange reactions from the three, Chen Yue also turned to look at the sky behind him, where a black dot was steadily growing larger.

In the next instant, a figure plummeted from the sky.

The moment he was about to touch the ground, a wave of air erupted from him as the epicenter, sweeping out in all directions and forcing the green bamboo in the courtyard to bend low.

But the figure landed without a single sound, and the ground didn’t even tremble.

This was a level of effortless control that could only be achieved after mastering one’s power to the absolute extreme.

Otherwise, with his speed and weight upon landing, he should have stamped a deep crater into the stone slabs. Instead, he had silently neutralized all the impact force within the last inch before contact.

Liu Zhengyi and the other two took a step forward in unison, cupped their fists, and bowed. "Greetings, Elder Feng!"

Chen Yue’s expression showed surprise at their words, his gaze falling upon the figure who had just descended from the sky.

’This is Elder Feng?’

Chen Yue quickly composed himself, also cupping his fists in a bow. "Greetings, Elder Feng!"

Feng Hansheng stood in the center of the courtyard. His figure wasn’t tall; one could even call it somewhat gaunt.

But as he stood there, he was like an old pine tree that had been weathered by the wind for a hundred years, exuding a calm and composure that was impossible to ignore.

His cheekbones were slightly high, and his eyes held a kind of detached focus unique to cultivators who spend years in seclusion.

Feng Hansheng glanced at Liu Zhengyi and Mo Ciqiu, then gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.

His gaze then shifted to Meng Yu Jin. Sensing the completely different aura she now possessed, a smile couldn’t help but appear on his face. "You’ve broken through to the Innate Realm? Not bad."

"It was a lucky breakthrough. I’ve made a fool of myself in front of Elder Feng," Meng Yu Jin said with a slight bow, her voice tinged with respect for a senior and a trace of humility.

Feng Hansheng frowned upon hearing this. "A breakthrough is a breakthrough. What’s all this about luck? Your personality is just a bit too soft."

As he spoke, his gaze didn’t linger on Meng Yu Jin for long. He turned, and his eyes fell upon Chen Yue, his scrutiny direct and sharp.

"You are Chen Yue?"

The emotion in Feng Hansheng’s voice was not as serene as when he had spoken to Meng Yu Jin just moments ago.

Chen Yue cupped his fists. "This disciple is Chen Yue."

Feng Hansheng nodded, the movement slight. "Your personality is quite different from your master’s. Your master is cautious, always thinking three times before acting.

But you are brash. You dare to accept any provocation, dare to answer any challenge.

What were you thinking when you faced Guan Duhai of the Liuyun Sword Sect? He’s a peak Refining Organ Realm expert, ranked eighth on the Sword Heart Ranking, while you’re only in the Marrow Refining Realm. You just agreed to the challenge just like that?"

His gaze landed on Chen Yue’s face. There was no blame, no interrogation, only a question awaiting an answer.

Chen Yue looked up at Feng Hansheng and considered his words for a moment.

"This disciple simply felt that since he was being arrogant and unreasonable and looking for death, I might as well grant his wish."

Hearing this, Feng Hansheng’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and the corners of his eyes, which drooped a little with age, lifted a fraction.

His gaze lingered on Chen Yue for longer than before, as if he were re-evaluating this young man.

"Then what is the source of your confidence? Just because you defeated a few cultivators in the Refining Organ Realm? Eighty-ninth on the Cyan Cloud Ranking and eighth on the Sword Heart Ranking are not the same position."

Mo Ciqiu, who was at the side, gestured slightly. "Elder Feng, Chen Yue takes seven Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills a day. Back when Senior Brother Liu was in the Marrow Refining Realm, he only took four a day."

Feng Hansheng was stunned by her words.

In his life, he had seen many disciples of outstanding talent and witnessed countless astonishing cultivation speeds. Yet, when Mo Ciqiu stated that number, his expression still faltered for a brief moment.

The moment was so short that if one wasn’t looking directly at him, it would have been almost unnoticeable. But the mere existence of that pause spoke volumes.

Although the Marrow Refining Realm was a stage he had left behind for over a hundred years, and he could no longer recall how many Elixirs he took daily back then, he still had a rough estimate in his mind of the maximum number of Elixirs a Marrow Refining Realm cultivator could withstand in a day.

Seven Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills a day—if he heard this number associated with any other Marrow Refining Realm disciple, he would suspect he had misheard.

An image of a person suddenly flashed through Feng Hansheng’s mind, someone who was now in the Divine Forest Prefecture.

Feng Hansheng turned his head to look at Mo Ciqiu, then at Liu Zhengyi and Meng Yu Jin. Both of their expressions were completely normal, showing no hesitation or reservation about what Mo Ciqiu had said.

This meant that Chen Yue was indeed taking seven Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills a day, and without any issues.

Feng Hansheng fell into deep thought. All the questions he had prepared were swept aside by this fact of "seven Nourishing Spirit Pill Yang Pills a day."

"So you’re confident you can break through to the Refining Organ Realm within a month?" Feng Hansheng asked.

Chen Yue nodded, not avoiding the question.

Feng Hansheng fell silent again. He didn’t ask about Chen Yue’s progress with his Cultivation Technique and Martial Techniques, because he had watched the entire process of Chen Yue easily defeating Hua Guanzhi earlier that day.

"Elder Feng, I just taught him a little method for taking Elixirs more effectively. If Chen Yue cultivates it well, he should be able to break through to the Refining Organ Realm even sooner."

Liu Zhengyi spoke up at the right moment, his tone filled with confidence in the Burning Pill Technique. It was something he had created himself, and he knew its value and effects better than anyone.

Feng Hansheng glanced at Liu Zhengyi. It was no secret within the Panshi Sect that Liu Zhengyi consumed a large number of Elixirs daily.

Feng Hansheng retracted his gaze and looked back at Chen Yue. "Do you have anything else on your mind?"

Chen Yue’s gaze dropped slightly. He thought for a moment, then looked up.

"Disciple previously told my master that I wish for the duel in a month to be held within the Liuyun Sword Sect."

Hearing this, Feng Hansheng’s brow couldn’t help but twitch, and Liu Zhengyi also looked at Chen Yue with some surprise.

Mo Ciqiu’s eyes lit up slightly, and the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously. She already knew about this and was now more interested in seeing everyone else’s expressions.

To fight a Life and Death Decision inside the Liuyun Sword Sect—this wasn’t just about showing up for a duel. This was about preparing to kill Guan Duhai in front of everyone in his own sect.

If Chen Yue won, the humiliation of this battle would far exceed that of a simple Life and Death Decision, especially since Guan Duhai himself had been the one to propose it.

The corners of Feng Hansheng’s mouth tilted up slightly, the curve a little more pronounced than before.

He looked at Chen Yue, a bit more warmth in his gaze. "I said you were brash, and I wasn’t wrong at all. But this ambition of yours... I like it very much."

Feng Hansheng paused. "Kill that Guan Duhai on the spot, have him die at his own sect’s gate. I’d like to see what they can possibly say then!"

"Disciple not only intends to fight Guan Duhai, but I also plan to challenge other members of the Sword Heart Ranking at that time," Chen Yue said, looking at Feng Hansheng.

The courtyard fell silent for a moment. Liu Zhengyi’s eyes widened slightly.

’Well, I’ll be damned!’

He himself had just said he would personally go to the Liuyun Sword Sect and give Bei Sufang a beating. That sounded impressive, but at most, it would be a clash between two Innate Realm experts. Once the fight was over, the matter would be finished.

But what Chen Yue planned to do was, after killing Guan Duhai, to continue challenging the top disciples on their Sword Heart Ranking in front of everyone in the Liuyun Sword Sect.

Every one of the top ten on the Sword Heart Ranking was a chosen prodigy meticulously nurtured by the Liuyun Sword Sect. They were the face of the sect, their pride and joy.

If Chen Yue could really defeat a few of these top-ranking members of the Sword Heart Ranking, it would be like grinding the face of the Liuyun Sword Sect into the dirt.

That kind of humiliation was far more severe than just killing a single Guan Duhai.