Before him lay ten thousand-yuan bills—the Fine Rain Gang Leader's apology gift for Chen Zong.
"What remarkable restraint," Chen Zong muttered to himself, carefully stowing the bills. "We must keep an eye on this man." He had slaughtered the gang's members and their only son, yet instead of retaliation, they offered an apology and a full ten thousand yuan. The gang leader's heart must be bleeding.
But there was nothing to be done about it. The Fine Rain Gang was a mere minnow compared to the Chen Clan. Any hint of retaliation would give the Chen Clan the excuse they needed to crush them.
"With this, I'll have over eleven thousand White Jade Coins," Chen Zong thought. He had set himself a third goal: to accumulate one million Jade Coins, ideally two million.
Inside the small courtyard, everything had been restored to its original state from Chen Chuyun's time, making it convenient for Chen Zong to train.
Clad only in shorts, Chen Zong's body was covered in a layer of black medicinal paste that shimmered under the sunlight as he practiced the first three forms of the Body Tempering Art.
He had long mastered these forms. As his limbs and torso moved, the black paste seeped into his skin. Chen Zong felt a chill, as if his skin were covered in frost, which gradually gave way to heat, like soaking in hot water.
This was the Ice-Fire Tempering Membrane Ointment. The Medicinal Formula provided detailed instructions for its preparation. After several attempts, Chen Zong successfully brewed it in a Bronze Medicinal Cauldron over three days and nights.
The application method was simple: spread the paste evenly over the skin, then absorb it through practicing the Body Tempering Art.
After nine cycles of alternating cold and heat, Chen Zong repeated the first three forms of the Body Tempering Art nine times. The black paste on his skin was fully absorbed, leaving behind a thin layer of powder that sifted off.
After washing away the powder, Chen Zong's skin appeared more lustrous than ever, seemingly tougher and more resilient, with a tautness like cowhide.
"The effect is striking," Chen Zong said with delight.
Chen Zong applied the Ice-Fire Tempering Membrane Ointment once a day for ten days. By the time the ointment was depleted, his skin had become noticeably firmer and more resilient, with even his muscles and bones feeling slightly strengthened. When practicing the second layer of the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique, the faint stinging sensation during Qi Blood circulation had completely vanished.
"I need to acquire another set of medicinal ingredients," Chen Zong thought. He took his money and headed to the Cauldron Heaven Pavilion again. This time, there was no discount; a single set of ingredients cost 8,250 White Jade Coins, which he rounded down to 8,200 White Jade Coins.
"8,200 White Jade Coins for ten days of practice. How many sets will he need to complete the first layer of the Body Tempering Art?" The thought made his head spin.
He had already spent a million White Jade Coins on a single Nine Revolutions Blood Return Pill. But to rapidly advance his cultivation base and strength, he would need to consume vast resources. The Chen Clan wouldn't provide such wealth, so he'd have to acquire it himself.
"Only by reaching a higher cultivation base and becoming stronger can I earn more Jade Coins," Chen Zong said to himself with a deep breath.
He pondered the value of medicinal herbs: a normal Grade Five herb was worth 800 White Jade Coins, a Grade Six herb twice that at 1,600 White Jade Coins, and a Grade Seven herb double again at 3,200 White Jade Coins. By that logic, a Grade Eight herb would be worth 6,400 White Jade Coins, and a Grade Nine herb would cost 12,800 White Jade Coins.
If one could find a hundred-year-old Precious Medicine, its value would skyrocket tenfold.
All of this required sufficient strength to qualify for such rewards.
When the second portion of Ice-Fire Tempering Membrane Ointment was depleted, Chen Zong picked up a wooden rod and struck himself with thirty percent of his strength. He could clearly feel resistance the moment the rod hit his skin, as if a force were springing from his skin to repel the blow.
It was like hitting rubber, though not quite that extreme—still, his skin was far tougher than before.
Tempering the skin membrane, making it resilient, undoubtedly enhanced his ability to withstand attacks, especially those from fists or blunt instruments. If he could cultivate the first layer of Copper Skin, he might even be able to resist ordinary swords and sharp weapons.
This remarkable progress further fueled Chen Zong's motivation. He couldn't help but imagine how formidable his physique would become if he could cultivate the Body Tempering Art to the third layer of Iron Bones. And if he could reach the fourth layer, it wouldn't just be about enhancing physical defense; it would be about breaking through the limits of the human body, gaining the potential for further advancement, much like a demon beast.
Every day, in addition to cultivating the Body Tempering Art, Chen Zong didn't neglect his other training.
Sword techniques were a must, and he continued to refine the Three-Word Formula of Speed, Precision, and Stability. He had also gone to the Forging Hall to have a new pair of Heavy Iron vambraces forged. Perhaps due to his previous experience or his improved control over his own strength, these new vambraces were even more robust and weighed a full 150 pounds each.
Initially, Chen Zong found it very uncomfortable to wear them, considering his arm strength was still only 1,000 catties. But over time, he gradually grew accustomed to them.
His first layer of the Dividing Light Sword Technique had reached the Perfection Realm, but he had no insight into advancing to the Subtlety Realm. The second layer, Dividing Light No Shadow, had reached the peak of Great Perfection, but he didn't know when he would be able to break through to the Perfection Realm.
The Willow Sweep Sword Technique, Eagle Strike Sword Technique, Lightning Flash Sword Technique, and True Sword Eight Forms were all in the Subtlety Realm. As for the True Secret Realm, he still had no clue how to approach it, even though he had already cultivated the True Secret Realm of the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique.
The True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique remained at the second layer.
Regardless, Chen Zong could feel progress in every aspect, no matter how slight, except for the True Secret... Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword, which showed no progress whatsoever, as if he had reached a limit.
Chen Zong understood that the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword could still be refined and improved; it was far from reaching its limit. However, his understanding of the True Secret Realm remained woefully inadequate, forcing him to feel his way forward step by step, like crossing a river by feeling for stones.
"If I could enter the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy, I might be able to find information about the True Secret Realm," Chen Zong thought.
At least earning one million White Jade Coins and entering the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy—these were his short-term goals.
He was steadily advancing toward these goals, taking each step with unwavering determination.
At the Forging Hall, Chen Zong had informed Elder Lie that he would no longer be visiting due to time constraints.
If he could have forged a Precious Iron Grade weapon quickly at the Forging Hall, Chen Zong would have gladly invested more time there. Unfortunately, even Elder Lie himself could only forge Precious Iron Grade weapons, and the process—from preparing the Precious Iron ingots to completing the weapon—was time-consuming and far from guaranteed to succeed.
Elder Lie was naturally reluctant, even throwing a fit, but Chen Zong remained resolute. He couldn't alter his established goals or cultivation plan, especially with time running out.
Time flew by, and before Chen Zong knew it, it had been quite some time since he returned to the Clan Hall.
During his breaks from cultivation, Chen Zong would often visit Chen Yiming in the Outer Hall. Yiming's cultivation progress was steady; he had already begun his third Blood Qi Tempering and was wondering if he could reach the fourth.
April 17th, True Martial Era 396.
Having completed the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique, Chen Zong shook his head as he sensed the strength of his Qi Blood Power.
"In half a month, the Wind Martial City's Battle of Heroes will take place. I'm afraid my cultivation base won't reach the Sixth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm by then." Chen Zong frowned slightly.
Previously, he hadn't been in such a hurry. But now, with his goal of earning a million White Jade Coins in mind, both his cultivation and combat strength needed to improve rapidly. Enrolling in the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy was clearly the most direct path to achieving this.
"I wonder if I can participate in the Battle of Heroes with only a Fifth Layer Qi Blood Realm cultivation base?" Chen Zong suddenly thought. Chen Chuyun had told him that he needed to reach the Sixth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm before turning eighteen to participate, but he hadn't specified anything else. Chen Zong wondered if this was a strict rule or if Chuyun had simply underestimated him.
"I'll ask an elder," Chen Zong decided. He immediately left his courtyard residence and headed towards the Main Hall.
Fortunately, Elder Li was presiding over the Main Hall.
"What do you want, boy?" Elder Li asked bluntly.
"Elder Li, I'd like to ask about the requirements to participate in Wind Martial City's Battle of Heroes," Chen Zong said with a smile. After bowing respectfully, he sat down beside the elder without hesitation.
"You actually want to participate in the Battle of Heroes?" Elder Li's eyes widened as he looked Chen Zong up and down. "Your cultivation base is still at the Fifth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm, isn't it?"
"That's correct, but my actual strength surpasses the Sixth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm," Chen Zong replied confidently.
"That much is true," Elder Li nodded. He was already aware of Chen Zong's victories over Chen He and Chen Xia. "The rule is that anyone who reaches the Sixth Layer of the Qi Blood Realm before turning eighteen can participate. If you want to join, you may."
"In that case, I will participate," Chen Zong declared firmly.
"Being admitted to the Seven Luminaries Martial Academy would indeed be a fortunate opportunity," Elder Li said. "Whether in terms of cultivation environment or resources, the academy far surpasses the Three Great Clans and Five Great Clans of Wind Martial City. If you can enter, your cultivation progress will undoubtedly accelerate. Since you wish to participate, the family will submit your name for registration in a few days."
Family members typically registered directly through their clan, which was the most straightforward method.
"What's there to thank?" Elder Li waved his hand dismissively. "Your talent is exceptional, and your potential is remarkable. I believe you would excel anywhere, whether it's Wind Martial City or any other Martial City. While our Chen Clan is one of the Five Great Clans in Wind Martial City, we're still relatively insignificant on the broader Eastern Continent."
Chen Zong listened quietly, sensing that Elder Li had more to say.
"Our ancestors have strived generation after generation to establish our clan within the Supreme Martial Main City. Alas, despite centuries of effort, our wish remains unfulfilled," Elder Li said with a sigh.
Each of the Eastern Continent's Five Great Main Cities was dominated by powerful factions. However, the limited land and resources meant that any new faction's entry required another's exit—a brutal reality.
"Perhaps one day, when some of you younger generation reach the True Martial Realm, our clan might finally have a chance to settle in the Supreme Martial Main City," Elder Li said with a smile, patting Chen Zong on the shoulder. "Young man, I have high hopes for you. If anyone in the Chen Clan is likely to reach the True Martial Realm, it's you."
"Elder, you truly overestimate me," Chen Zong replied with a smile. Truthfully, the True Martial Realm still seemed distant to him. Whether he could ever reach it remained uncertain. Yet uncertainty didn't breed fear; instead, it ignited his determination.
The True Martial Realm might be far off, but he would strive for it relentlessly. Not for anything else, but because standing at greater heights allowed one to behold more of the world's mysteries and splendor.