Entering the Quiet Chamber, Chen Qing sat cross-legged and adjusted his body and mind until he reached a state of pure clarity.

He took out the Bone Transformation Pill and, without further hesitation, tilted his head back and swallowed it.

The pill melted the instant it entered his mouth, transforming into an indescribable flood of energy that surged through his limbs and into every corner of his body.

At first, it was a gentle warmth, like soaking in a hot spring, nourishing every inch of his flesh and bone.

But only a moment later, that warmth suddenly turned violent!

It felt as if countless tiny, scalding-hot, spiked torrents were surging, scouring, and piercing through the depths of his meridians and bone marrow!

Reforming one’s tendons and bones was an extremely painful process.

The excruciating pain didn’t come from his skin or flesh, but from the very depths of his bone marrow.

It felt as though countless microscopic chisels were frantically hammering away, reshaping the very foundation of his skeleton.

Each strike brought a soul-deep ache, numbness, bloating, and pain, accompanied by a chilling CRACKLE that echoed within his body.

His qi and blood churned violently, like boiling magma battering the walls of his meridians and bringing a searing, tearing sensation.

He gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead as beads of sweat instantly drenched his robes.

He pushed the Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique, the Profound Nether True Water Technique, and the Nine Revolutions Gilded Gold Technique to their absolute limits. The potent Three-Colored True Qi formed a resilient, protective network within him, desperately shielding the vital points around his heart.

At the same time, he did his utmost to guide the pill’s medicinal power, preventing it from spiraling out of control.

Heeding Jiang Bohong’s advice, he took out and consumed several auxiliary elixirs designed to harmonize qi and blood and for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence. They dissolved into cool, gentle streams of energy that helped neutralize the excruciating, marrow-rending pain.

Time dripped by. Every breath was an eternity of torment in Purgatory.

Chen Qing’s consciousness drifted in and out on the waves of excruciating pain, held together only by his unyielding willpower.

He could clearly feel the structure of his bones undergoing a profound transformation under the scouring of the pill’s power.

An unknown amount of time passed—perhaps one hour, perhaps several.

The overwhelming pain, enough to break a person’s mind, slowly receded like the tide, replaced by an indescribable sense of lightness and clarity.

Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes and let out a long, turbid breath.

The breath carried faint, grayish-black impurities that slowly dissipated in the air.

He carefully savored the changes in his body, which felt as light as if it had been freed from invisible shackles.

"So this is... what a Six Forms Root Bone feels like?"

Chen Qing murmured to himself, a look of sincere joy on his face.

The improvement to his Root Bone had significantly increased his Cultivation speed.

With his current Root Bone, if he spent most of his time each month cultivating in the Langya Pavilion, he could probably reach the Late-stage Embracing Pill Force within a year.

Now that Chen Qing’s Cultivation had reached the Embracing Pill Force, as long as he didn’t run into an Astral Force master, he was essentially out of danger.

’Among the Inner Sect Disciples of the Wutai Sect, a Six Forms Root Bone isn’t considered low at all.’

Chen Qing clenched his fist. ’Although I can’t compare to natural-born prodigies like Nie Shanshan and Yan Yaoyang, who have Seven Forms Root Bones or even better, this is enough to be considered a true young talent.’

’These two hundred thousand taels of silver were well spent!’

’Strength is the only true foundation!’

Chen Qing’s goal was crystal clear. ’I still haven’t mastered the Li Fire and Kun Earth energies. Now that my Root Bone has improved, my cultivation speed should be much faster. I’ll master these two Heart Methods as soon as I have the time.’

Only with enough strength would he be qualified to seek out the final scripture of the *True Insights of Primordial Five Elements True Astral*.

Besides, the Demon Sect lurking in the shadows was like a venomous snake, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

No one knew when they would suddenly make their move and unleash a bloodbath.

.....

Deep within Lake Heart Island, in a secluded cove nearly impossible for an ordinary disciple to find.

The waters of Dingbo Lake seemed exceptionally deep here, reflecting the lush, ancient trees on both banks.

He Yuzhou, Sect Leader of the Wutai Sect, sat cross-legged on a large, green stone, holding a seemingly ordinary bamboo fishing rod. Its tip hung motionless above the water’s surface.

His presence merged with the surroundings, making him seem like an immutable, ancient reef.

The water rippled without a sound. A figure appeared, as if condensing from the mist, and silently took a seat on a slightly smaller green stone beside He Yuzhou.

The newcomer also held a fishing rod. He was tall and slender, dressed in a plain white robe.

At first glance, his face was utterly unremarkable—the kind that would be instantly forgotten in a crowd.

Strangely, however, the moment one looked away and tried to recall his face, the memory was like a handful of sand. All the details would instantly blur and slip away, leaving no distinct impression.

He Yuzhou didn’t turn his head, his gaze remaining fixed on his bobber.

"The day before yesterday, during the celebration, the lake’s center shook and a pillar of water shot into the sky. It was quite a disturbance. Was the Demon Sect behind it?"

The man in white also gazed at the water, casting his line with a natural, fluid motion.

"I don’t think so. I haven’t received any intelligence about movements or plans related to that."

He Yuzhou fell silent for a moment. The tip of his rod remained perfectly still, the undercurrents apparently failing to disturb the fish he was waiting for. "What about Heart Devourer? Is he... not in Yunlin right now?"

The man in white replied, "He isn’t. But the plans he set in motion before he left are nearly complete. By my calculations... he’ll be back soon."

He Yuzhou’s fingers, gripping the fishing rod, tightened imperceptibly before relaxing again.

"Mm."

He acknowledged, then said, "Leng Qianqiu of Cold Jade Valley has come out of seclusion."

The man in white’s casting motion faltered for a fraction of a second. He was silent for several breaths before speaking slowly.

"Leng Qianqiu... is out of seclusion?"

’For Cold Jade Valley’s Stabilizing Needle to emerge from seclusion so quietly, without any public announcement... What is he planning?’

’Is it because of pressure from the Demon Sect? Or... is there another scheme afoot?’

Silence fell between them once more, broken only by the rustle of the wind through the treetops and the soft lapping of lake water against the rocky shore.

After the time it would take to drink half a cup of tea, the man in white gave his wrist a slight flick. The line traced a nearly invisible silver arc through the air as he deftly reeled in his rod.

He stood up to leave.

"Your identity."

He Yuzhou looked at the man. "It must not be exposed, under any circumstances."

"I know."

As soon as the words were out, his figure vanished behind the dense trees as if he had never been there at all.

He Yuzhou remained seated on the green stone, seemingly oblivious to the other man’s departure.

’The Earth’s Core Milk Spring is the very lifeblood of the Sect, its highest priority... There can be no mistakes. None at all...’

......