86: Going further

In the riverbed Immortal Cave, radiance flowed.

Chen Linsheng sat cross-legged in a massive bathtub. The crimson medicinal liquid tumbled and boiled, and threads of pure medicinal power, like countless tiny spirit snakes, vied to drill into his pores, penetrating his muscles, fascia, and even deeper into his bones.

The two forces of extreme heat and extreme cold intertwined and collided within his body, bringing intense pain akin to tearing and recasting.

His skin was at times as red as a branding iron, and at others covered in a thin layer of white frost. The sound of blood and Qi rushing through his entire body was like a roaring great river.

He kept his spiritual terrace clear and operated the Hunyuan True Body, his Foundation technique, at full power. Like a steady helmsman, he guided the raging torrent of medicinal power, following the unique vibration method recorded in the fragments of the Hundred Refinements Steel Body to begin tempering his bones and muscles.

"Buzz... Buzz..."

Subtle and dense vibrations emanated from deep within his bones, as if countless invisible small hammers were repeatedly striking them.

Every vibration was accompanied by the deepening of medicinal power and the expulsion of Impurities. His bones were becoming denser and tougher at a slow but steady pace.

Under the nourishment of the medicinal power and the stimulation of the vibrations, his fascia also knotted and strengthened like old vines.

Simultaneously, the fragmented method of the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique operated spontaneously, drawing the pure water Spiritual Qi within the Immortal Cave to mix with the medicinal power, seeping into the depths of his bone marrow in threads.

A Soul-deep itch and cool sensation followed, as if parched earth had been moistened by sweet rain. The source of his blood and Qi was being quietly widened and purified.

This was a process where pain and gains coexisted. His mind was highly concentrated; he had to endure inhuman pain while precisely controlling the operation of multiple Cultivation Techniques, which was an immense drain on his Mental Energy.

Time lost its meaning during cultivation.

When hungry, he would consume a small piece of the crimson blood flesh paste he had set aside.

When thirsty, he would drink a few gulps of spiritual spring water.

He was completely immersed in the wonderful sensation of his Physical Body constantly growing stronger, forgetting everything in the outside world... While Chen Linsheng was focused on his cultivation, deep within the Black Mountain Gang headquarters in the east of Qinghe County.

Inside a heavily guarded secret room with flickering lamplight, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.

Zhang Zhifeng, the leader of the Black Mountain Gang and a Jiaojin Realm expert who commanded the underground world of Qinghe County, now had a face full of tension and suspicion.

He stared intently at the figure sitting cross-legged on the bed, whose face was as pale as paper. He couldn't help but lower his voice, shouting with a hint of disbelief: "Wei Jingtong! How... how did you get such heavy injuries?"

It was no wonder he lost his composure.

He knew the background and strength of this Envoy of the White Lotus Sect very well.

Wei Jingtong was an Envoy of the White Lotus Sect on the surface, but he actually hailed from the Wei Family—a martial arts clan in Jiangnan!

Although he later faked his death to join the White Lotus Sect, he had not lost his pure Wei Family martial arts. In particular, the Spirit Rank High Grade White Crane Wind and Cloud Song was a top-tier Movement Technique in the world. When executed, it was like a white crane soaring through the sky, accompanied by wind and clouds, making it incredibly swift.

Wei Jingtong himself was in the Flesh Refining Realm, but as far as Zhang Zhifeng knew, over ninety percent of the muscles throughout his body had been tempered to Perfection. His Foundation was extremely solid, and with the addition of the White Lotus Sect's eerie secret techniques, an ordinary Flood Dragon Tendon Realm, Initial Stage Martial Artist might not even be his match.

More importantly, with the White Crane Wind and Cloud Song, if Wei Jingtong wanted to flee for his life, even if Zhang Zhifeng went all out, he would have almost no certainty of stopping him.

Yet now, this envoy who specialized in survival and assassination had returned so pathetically and heavily injured!

Wei Jingtong on the bed suddenly snapped his eyes open and spat out another mouthful of dark red blood, which was even mixed with threads of black Qi, emitting an ominous aura.

His aura was withered, but his eyes still carried a hint of ruthlessness and exasperation.

"Cough, cough... I ran into that damned Evil Daoist!"

"The Evil Daoist?!" Zhang Zhifeng's face changed drastically, his voice rising several notches.

That was an Iron Bone Realm Devil Head who was wanted by the Government and had been personally wounded by a lord from the Star Gazing Platform! Even if heavily injured, he was still a fourth-Realm Martial Artist, a being whose life level had undergone a transformation!

"You... how could you provoke him?!"

Zhang Zhifeng's voice carried a hint of trembling, containing both fear and a trace of blame.

If this led to a full-scale encirclement by the Government or retaliation from that Evil Daoist, how could his Black Mountain Gang survive?

Wei Jingtong saw through Zhang Zhifeng's thoughts. A disdainful cold smile appeared on his pale face as he panted and said, "What are you afraid of? That old devil was wounded by the Spirit-Locking Arrow of 'Cloud Chaser' Shen Rushuang. His Foundation is damaged, and less than ten percent of his cultivation remains. This is his weakest moment! If I didn't take this chance to gamble and seize his Iron Bone Origin, would I, Wei Jingtong... cough, cough... be worthy of my status? Would I be worthy of the Holy Sect's nurturing?"

At this point, a complex look of greed mixed with lingering fear flashed in his eyes, and his tone became solemn: "It's just... I underestimated that old devil after all. As expected of someone from the Northern Ancient Ghost Nether Gate; even while heavily injured and dying, he could still manifest a bizarre 'Netherworld Soul-Erosion Curse.' It was impossible to guard against... If not for the White Crane Wind and Cloud Song being truly profound, I might have actually perished there..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but Zhang Zhifeng already understood. Wei Jingtong had tried to gain an advantage but ended up losing out. Not only did he fail to take down the Evil Daoist, but he also nearly got himself killed and was hit by the opponent's bizarre curse.

Just then, the stone door of the secret room was lightly knocked.

"Enter," Zhang Zhifeng said in a deep voice.

A member of the Black Mountain Gang walked in with his head lowered, carefully reporting, "Gang Leader, Lord Envoy, the... the people you required have been brought." Behind him followed a pair of ordinary father and son dressed in coarse cloth clothes, their faces pale with terror and trembling. They looked like farmers from outside the city, their eyes filled with confusion and fear.

A blood-red light flashed in Wei Jingtong's eyes. He seemed too lazy to even waste energy on words, directly raising his pale palm and making a grasping motion in the air!

An invisible suction force was generated instantly. The terrified father and son didn't even have time to scream before they were forcibly sucked across the air and fell into Wei Jingtong's hands.

Zhang Zhifeng's eyelid twitched slightly, but he didn't speak to stop it, merely watching with indifference.

He knew these were the "provisions" for Wei Jingtong to heal his injuries and maintain his state.

"Go out and stand guard. No one is to disturb us," Zhang Zhifeng waved his hand at the gang member.

"Yes... yes, Gang Leader." The gang member's voice trembled as he hurriedly bowed and retreated, carefully closing the stone door.

The moment the stone door shut, he vaguely heard a very brief and muffled whimpering from inside. Immediately after, a bloody scent so thick it was nauseating drifted out from the crack in the door, making him shiver violently. His face turned deathly pale, and he could barely stand.

He didn't dare stay any longer, scrambling away from that terrifying secret room.

Inside the secret room, soon only the hair-raising sound of sucking and Wei Jingtong's gradually stabilizing breathing remained... Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

Inside the riverbed Immortal Cave, the medicinal liquid in the bathtub, which was originally crimson and shimmering with spiritual light, had now become crystal clear. All the medicinal essence had been completely absorbed.

Chen Linsheng slowly opened his eyes. The light in his pupils was restrained and deep, like an ancient well or a cold pool. He exhaled a long breath of turbid Qi. This breath was as condensed as an arrow, shooting out over a foot and making a slight whistling sound in the air that lingered for a long time.

He looked down at his hands. His skin had a lustrous sheen and looked no different from usual, but with a slight clenching of his fists, he could feel the muscles beneath the skin twisted like steel wires. From deep within his bones came a sensation of solidity like a mountain, indestructible. With a slight movement, his entire frame emitted a subtle but crisp hum, like the clashing of metal.

An unprecedented sense of power filled his entire body.

He carefully inspected his interior, and a hearty, satisfied smile finally appeared on his face.

"After ten days and exhausting the medicinal power, I have finally initiated into the Hundred Refinements Steel Body!"

Not only that, but by leveraging the massive energy from this muscle-tempering medicinal bath and the deep hammering of his body upon initiating the Hundred Refinements Steel Body, the number of perfectly tempered muscles in his body had reached a staggering ninety-six! He was only four muscles away from the one hundred required for Perfection!

The Python Dragon Strength had taken another step forward within the Major Achievement stage, and the defenses of the Golden Bell Shield and Iron Clothes Art had become more seamless.

The fragments of the Jade Marrow Guiding Technique were also steadily progressing, and his blood and Qi Origin were becoming increasingly robust.

Feeling the surging power within his body that seemed ready to break through some boundary at any moment, the light in Chen Linsheng's eyes grew more determined.

"It's time... Zhang Yuchen, Black Mountain Gang... it's time to settle our accounts!"

He leaped out of the water and changed into a clean, sharp set of black martial attire. He carefully checked the fierce wind bow and the Solid Iron Long Spear once more, the coldness in his eyes gradually freezing into frost.