Chapter 315: Chapter 159: Extreme Realm (3)

"That Chen Qing... even being generous, how many years has it been since he joined a Major Sect with you? Four years! In just four years, for a disciple from a County-level Martial Arts Institute, reaching Great Success in the Transmutation Force Realm would be impressive enough! How could he possibly leap to the level of an expert on par with a Sect Leader Candidate? There’s the limitation of his Root Bone. The threshold to the Embracing Pill Force realm isn’t so easy to cross."

Li Yuan said with certainty, "It must be someone with the same name! In a world this big, there have to be hundreds, if not thousands, of people named Chen Qing. Xiaoyu, don’t let your imagination run wild. A person of that caliber is far too removed from our world."

After hearing her uncle’s analysis, Zhou Yu had to admit that her earlier thought was indeed outlandish, even laughable.

The Yunlin Five Heroes were geniuses on par with a Sect Leader Candidate of the Haisa Sect. Their status was so revered that even an Inner Sect Steward like her uncle would have to greet them with a respectful bow, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

’Junior Brother Chen... How could it be possible?’

Zhou Yu sighed softly, her voice trailing off. "I guess I got carried away. It’s just that I suddenly heard the name... I wonder how Junior Brother Chen is doing now at the Wutai Sect."

Seeing his niece’s crestfallen expression, Li Yuan’s tone softened. "You don’t need to worry about him. Just being able to join the Wutai Sect was a great fortune for him. Given his Root Bone and temperament, he has probably reached Great Success in the Transmutation Force Realm by now and might be striving to break through to Embracing Pill Force. Even if he faces some setbacks, as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Wutai Sect, he won’t have to worry about food or clothing. Living a peaceful life is guaranteed. It’s a completely different world from his days in Gaolin County."

"Mm."

Zhou Yu gave a soft nod. Her eyes drifted to the sky outside, watching the clouds gather and scatter, but her mind had already wandered far away.

...

In the following days, Chen Qing calmed his mind and began to cultivate, solidifying his foundation.

At night, he would cultivate his Heart Methods, refining and absorbing the thirty drops of Centennial Earth Core Milk to nourish and strengthen the four True Qi of Metal, Water, Fire, and Earth, striving to have them catch up to the progress of his Cyan Wood True Qi as quickly as possible.

During the day, he would practice the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear and the Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique, while also not forgetting to polish his Eight Extremes Vajra Body. The potential of this Superior Hard Skill was far from fully tapped.

The days passed, one after another, peaceful and fulfilling.

The weeping willows by Dingbo Lake grew lush and green, and the breeze off the water gradually carried the warmth of summer.

「In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.」

By Dingbo Lake, within the small courtyard where Chen Qing lived alone, the air was tense, and a faint sound of wind and thunder could be heard.

Chen Qing held the Cloud-Coiling Spear, his figure standing firm like a mountain. The tip of the spear trembled slightly, stirring the surrounding air, causing fallen leaves to float and circle around him.

He had cultivated the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear to the peak of Perfection, just one final step away from comprehending the profound and mysterious ’Momentum’.

At this moment, his Heart and Spirit were completely immersed in the Spear Technique.

’A mountain isn’t just about weight. It’s about majesty, substance, and a sense of eternal permanence...’

Thoughts raced through his mind as the spear in his hand moved in concert. At times, it was like a solitary peak standing tall; at others, like a continuous mountain range. The wind from the spear stirred up the dust on the ground, only to fall silent the next moment, as if all its power was being held back within the spear’s shaft, contained and unreleased.

An unknown amount of time passed. Perhaps it was an instant, perhaps an eternity.

Chen Qing’s eyes snapped open, a sharp glint bursting forth like lightning streaking across the night sky!

WENG—!

The Cloud-Coiling Spear emitted a low but deeply penetrating hum. It was no longer the clash of metal, but a rumble that seemed to emanate from the depths of the earth!

He didn’t make any earth-shattering thrusts, but simply held the spear with both hands and extended it forward!

This simple extension, though it seemed slow, felt as if it carried the weight of a thousand mountains!

Where the spear tip pointed, the air in front of it seemed to instantly become viscous and heavy. Dozens of feet away, an old tree began to move without any wind, its leaves and branches rustling and shaking as if being crushed by an invisible, immense force!

The fine dust on the ground rippled outwards in concentric rings from the spear tip!

An immense and heavy pressure suddenly emanated from Chen Qing, spreading out to envelop the entire courtyard!

In that moment, the spear in his hand seemed to have merged with the earth beneath his feet and the environment around him.

The spear was the mountain, and the mountain was the spear!

Wherever the spear pointed, it carried the momentum of a toppling mountain and the suppressive might of a sealed prison!

He had reached the Extreme Realm of the Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear!

"Hah!"

Chen Qing looked at the Cloud-Coiling Spear in his hand and muttered to himself, ’So this is ’Momentum’?’

He could clearly feel a suppressive aura emanating from the spear just by holding it. If used against an enemy, its power would be unfathomable.

[Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Cyan Wood Eternal Spring Technique: Fourth Layer (1211/5000)]

[Nine Revolutions Gilded Gold Technique: Third Layer (1562/3000)]

[Profound Nether True Water Technique: Third Layer (1064/3000)]

[Crimson Sun Heart-Burning Technique: Third Layer (13/3000)]

[Eight Desolates Mountain-Suppressing Technique: Third Layer (879/3000)]

[Mountain Prison-Suppression Spear: Extreme Realm]

[Floating Light and Shadow Hand: Perfection (1506/3000)]

[Eight Extremes Vajra Body: Tiger Elephant (1803/5000)]

[Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique: Shadow Stealing (296/3000)]

[Hundred Transformations Thousand Faces Manual: Great Success (384/1000)]

[Turtle Breath Stinging Dragon Skill: Great Success (455/1000)]

[Golden Cicada Transformation Technique: Great Success (131/1000)]

[Origin-Returning Breath-Sealing Art: Perfection]

[Spirit-Attracting Fishing Technique: Perfection]

...

In the past half-year, Chen Qing’s foundation had been thoroughly stabilized, and he had also opened his Ninth Orthodox Meridian.

Not only that, but he had also cultivated all four Heart Methods to the Third Layer.

The potency of the four types of True Qi circulating in his body far surpassed that of an ordinary Late-stage Embracing Pill Cultivator.

If these four Heart Methods were to advance another step to the Fourth Layer, the total amount of his True Qi would soar once again.

The reason for Chen Qing’s rapid progress, besides refining thirty drops of Centennial Earth Core Milk, was that his Root Bone had been elevated from Four Forms to Seven Forms, making his cultivation speed about twice what it was before.

Meanwhile, his Body Technique, the Startled Swan Escape Shadow Technique, had also reached the "Shadow Stealing" stage.

At this stage, not only was his speed greater than before, but he was no longer limited to pure quickness. Instead, his figure blended with light and shadow, giving him a preliminary glimpse into the mysteries of "Escape Form." When he moved, he was like a ghost or a phantom, impossible to track.

During this time, the situation in Yunlin Prefecture had been quite stable.

The Four Sects Alliance had been established. Experts from Cold Jade Valley, the Wutai Sect, the Xuanjia Sect, and Qixia Manor met regularly to share intelligence on the Demon Sect and pledge mutual aid in attack and defense.

On the surface, the forces of the Righteous Path in Yunlin had united. The crackdown on Demon Sect activities had intensified significantly. Minor factions, Water Bandits, and highwaymen affiliated with the Demon Sect suffered far greater blows than before, and the general conduct in the Jianghu had been cleaned up considerably.

Word on the street was that the Demon Sect had become much more restrained recently, seemingly intimidated by the Alliance’s might.

However, those in the upper echelons knew full well this was all just a facade.

...