165: Chapter 165 The Fifth Life, The Blazing Sun Illuminates the Martial Path (113)

The three jade talismans all sank like stones into the sea, without any response.

Chu Shi put away the jade talismans and shook his head helplessly.

It seemed that among this batch of disciples, he was ultimately the only one who had successfully broken through to the Copper Bone Realm.

This journey would have to be taken alone.

During these three months, he had not been in seclusion the entire time.

He had gone down the mountain a few times in between to purchase some cultivation and living supplies, and had also inquired about quite a bit of news.

Especially a month ago, concerning the competition for spots in the Temporal Secret Realm opened by the Great Sun Holy Land; although he did not go to watch it in person, he had heard a general overview from the Inner Sect Disciples he was familiar with.

This time, the Great Sun Holy Land had selected a total of twenty spots.

They were all disciples from the previous batch, or even the batch before that, with the lowest cultivation base being the mid-stage of the Copper Bone Realm, and several had already touched the threshold of the late stage.

As for the peak of the Copper Bone Realm, there was not a single one.

After all, the greatest function of the Temporal Secret Realm was to accelerate physical transformation and assist cultivators in tempering their Copper Bone.

The division of the Copper Bone Realm was originally based on the parts of the skeleton.

The early stage tempered the sixty-four bones of the upper limbs, the mid-stage tempered the sixty-two bones of the lower limbs, the late stage tempered the twenty-five bones of the rib cage, and the final peak stage involved the most difficult twenty-nine bones of the skull and auditory ossicles. Every step was a new realm; the further one went, the more difficult it became.

Cultivators at the peak of the Copper Bone Realm had already tempered most of their skeleton, so there was simply no need to waste two years going in.

Moreover, the Holy Land would not allow such a waste of spots to happen.

And his spot was not among these twenty people.

It was Peak Master Lieyang, his master, who had paid a huge price to secure it additionally from the Four Seasons Holy Land.

Chu Shi thought to himself, his footsteps not stopping, and before he knew it, he had ascended to the peak of Lieyang Peak.

The sky was still early, and the morning light dyed the entire plaza in a warm golden hue.

In the center of the plaza, a massive black flying boat was docked. The hull was covered in intricate golden runes, and the prow was carved with a three-legged Golden Crow about to spread its wings, looking majestic and imposing.

Apart from the flying boat, there were only a few people on the plaza.

Chu Shi happened to know one of them; it was Ling Chen from Qingyang Peak.

He was wearing the purple robes of a Core Disciple and standing in the shadow of the flying boat. His aura was much stronger than the last time they met, and he had already stepped into the Copper Bone Realm.

It was just that the aura seemed slightly floating and the foundation was unstable, obviously having broken through only a few days ago.

Chu Shi raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Not bad, I hadn't expected there to be another person in my batch of disciples to reach the Copper Bone Realm."

However, he did not remember Ling Chen participating in the competition for spots.

But, upon second thought, Chu Shi understood.

Although Ling Chen had only climbed to the eighth level of the Heavenly Staircase during the entrance trial, he possessed an Earth-grade root bone that was even higher than his own, and he also had the Azure Flame Body, which was naturally suited for Qingyang Peak.

It was reasonable that the Peak Master of Qingyang Peak would be willing to pay a price to secure an additional spot for him.

Ling Chen also saw Chu Shi, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes, and then he walked over and nodded slightly: "Senior Brother Chu."

"Junior Brother Ling." Chu Shi also returned the greeting.

The two exchanged simple greetings and then fell into silence. After all, during the entrance trial, they had been competitors, and their relationship could not be called good.

Chu Shi's gaze landed on another man beside the flying boat.

This man looked to be about thirty years old, also wearing the purple robes representing the status of a Core Disciple, with the emblem of Lieyang Peak embroidered on his chest.

But his temperament was completely different from the average disciple of Lieyang Peak.

There was no such grand, explosive, or aggressive fiery aura; instead, he was gentle and elegant, carrying an air of scholarly refinement.

He was leaning against the railing of the flying boat, engrossed in a scroll of a book in his hand.

Sensing Chu Shi's gaze, he raised his head, revealed a gentle smile, and took the initiative to walk over.

"This must be Junior Brother Chu Shi, right?"

The man's voice was clear and gentle, giving one a feeling like a spring breeze.

"Indeed, you are a person of talent. Just two days ago, I heard Junior Brother Shen Yan talking about you."

"He said that your insights on the breakthrough to the completion of the Iron Skin Realm enlightened him and benefited him greatly; he kept talking about finding an opportunity to thank you in person."

Chu Shi was slightly stunned, then realized: "Senior Brother Shen Yan? Then, Senior Brother, you are..."

"My name is Feng Xizhao. Like Shen Yan, I am a disciple under Elder Zhang." Feng Xizhao smiled and spread his hands, looking helpless.

"Originally, this had nothing to do with me, but I was dragooned by the teacher to guard the flying boat and, incidentally, to receive you little ancestors who are going to the Four Seasons Holy Land."

His tone was humorous, immediately diluting the sense of unfamiliarity between them.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Feng." Chu Shi bowed and saluted.

Ling Chen also followed with a salute.

Feng Xizhao waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for such formalities.

Subsequently, the three of them chatted casually on the plaza, bathed in the morning light.

Feng Xizhao was easygoing and knowledgeable; when chatting about the various anecdotes of the Holy Land, he spoke with ease, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed.

As they chatted, the topic naturally turned to the upcoming Temporal Secret Realm.

"Speaking of this Temporal Secret Realm, you two must pay attention." Feng Xizhao put away his joking expression, and his tone became more serious.

"This secret realm is a fundamental and important place for the Four Seasons Holy Land; the rules are strict and the carrying capacity is limited. Each time it opens, at most one hundred people can enter."

Chu Shi and Ling Chen both listened attentively.

"The allocation of spots has always been fixed." Feng Xizhao stretched out his fingers and counted them one by one.

"Twenty people for the Great Sun Holy Land, twenty for the Tianwu Dynasty, fifteen for the Ice and Snow Holy Land, and then five spots left for the wandering cultivators of the world to compete for."

"The remaining forty spots are naturally for the Four Seasons Holy Land itself."

Speaking of this, he looked at Chu Shi and Ling Chen with deep meaning, paused, and continued:

"You two are additional spots; after entering, keep a low profile and don't cause trouble."

"Especially, do not conflict with the native disciples of the Four Seasons Holy Land. In the secret realm, they have the full advantage of the terrain."

Chu Shi and Ling Chen both nodded, indicating that they understood.

"In addition, regarding cultivation resources, you don't need to worry too much." Feng Xizhao continued.

"The basic cultivation resources for the two years in the secret realm will be jointly provided by the Tianwu Dynasty and our three Holy Lands."

"Pills, cultivation techniques, and ordinary tempering materials are all available. As long as you can use them, use them to your heart's content; no one will care."

Ling Chen's eyes lit up, obviously somewhat surprised.

Chu Shi, however, felt a stir in his heart, hearing the turning point in his words.

Sure enough, Feng Xizhao changed the subject: "However, there is one thing that you need to prepare yourselves."

"What thing?" Chu Shi asked quickly.

"Pure Gold." Feng Xizhao's tone became serious.

"The Pure Gold required for tempering secret bones must be brought in sufficient quantity by yourselves."

"Pure Gold is extremely precious and not easy to refine. Furthermore, the tempering formulas for the secret bones of each family are top secrets and can absolutely not be provided by outsiders."

"After you go in, even if you poke a hole in the sky, no one will give you a drop of Pure Gold."

As his words fell.

The expression on Chu Shi's face froze instantly.

"Pure Gold?"

He suddenly recalled that from the time his master told him he was going to the Temporal Secret Realm to these three months of secluded cultivation, from beginning to end, no one had ever mentioned to him that he needed to prepare Pure Gold.

His master did not mention it.

Elder Zhang did not mention it either.

His storage bag was filled with pills to accelerate tempering, talismans, healing medicine, and various strange refining materials, as well as personal sundries packed from the Tingyang Courtyard.

The only thing missing was Pure Gold.