100: Zuqiao

Breaking through from the Spirit Transformation Realm to the Mysterious Method Realm in two months, such an astonishing feat, let alone a secret technique created by the Third Elder, even an Immortal's secret technique couldn't achieve it.

Taking a step back, even if the Third Elder secretly found some heavenly materials and earthly treasures for Lu Chen, it might not be useful. This is because starting from the Penetrating Aperture Realm, Breakthroughs are linked to the comprehension of the true meaning of heaven and earth. If the comprehension of the true meaning is insufficient, the final result of a forced Breakthrough is the loss of control of one's aura, which can lead to a regression in cultivation in minor cases, and damage to the soul or even death in severe cases.

This is an iron rule in the cultivation world, and also a limitation of the human body.

Everyone present was a Senior who had cultivated for over a thousand years, so they naturally knew a great deal about this. They didn't believe a single word of the Third Elder's boast.

If you can let Lu Chen break through from Spirit Transformation to Mysterious Method within two months, I'll lend you my head to kick around like a ball!

In the depths of the eyes of the Fourth Elder of Zhubing Peak and the Sixth Elder of Danxia Peak, there was a flicker of eagerness. The Third Elder was being cornered!

He even put up one hundred thousand Merit Points for the gamble, how could they not get in on this?

Who wouldn't be tempted by Merit Points they could get for free!

Moreover, even if they lost, it would only be twenty thousand Merit Points, but if they won, it would be one hundred thousand!

Gambling twenty thousand for one hundred thousand, and the chance of winning was ridiculously high. How could they lose?

Thus, the Fourth Elder of Zhubing Peak cleared his throat and slowly spoke: "Senior apprentice-brother! This gamble, Junior Brother is also quite interested..."

Before he finished speaking, the Third Elder had already glared at him: "Old Four, you don't believe this old man either?"

Just as the Fourth Elder was about to 'argue', the Third Elder didn't give him the chance: "Good, this gamble, no matter who comes, this old man will accept it. I want to show you all this old man's capability."

The Fourth Elder beamed: "Then count this old man in."

The Sixth Elder, who had long been eager to try, spoke in time: "This old man will also join in the fun."

The Fourth Elder had already done the offending deed, so the Third Elder didn't care about the Sixth Elder who joined later.

The main reason was that the Fifth Elder failed to snatch Lu Chen as a Disciple from the Third Elder, and was still holding a grudge. He was the main force in confronting the Third Elder. Even if the Third Elder's temper flared up, the Fifth Elder would be the first to suffer.

As for the Third Elder going back on his word or reneging on the debt afterwards, that was even more impossible. The Peak Lords of the six peaks were all present. Although the Third Elder was black-hearted, he still cared about Face. Several hundred thousand Merit Points, he could always scrape and squeeze them out. At worst, he could use treasures to compensate!

The Second Elder watched with envy, and was about to speak to join in the fun, but suddenly stopped: Could Old Three, that black-hearted fellow, really do something like 'giving away' Merit Points?

Impossible, absolutely impossible!

Although he didn't know what scheme the Third Elder was concocting, the Second Elder decided to play it safe.

"This old man won't join in this excitement!" The Second Elder chuckled and chose to watch the show from the sidelines.

The Grand Elder squinted at the Third Elder for a long time, and finally smiled meaningfully: "This old man is not fond of gambling in his life."

Old Four, Old Five, and Old Six are also crazy. How black-hearted Old Three is, after so many years, don't you still know?

Trying to gain benefits from him is probably a pipe dream.

Look at how three hundred years ago, Old Three suffered a Sword Intent injury from that Sword Granny, and he said he wouldn't be able to hold on and would die. As a result, Old Three is still alive and well to this day. On the contrary, that Sword Granny who injured Old Three was blasted into dust by the Third Elder when she ambushed the Dongming Sect's flying ship a while ago. Look at Old Three again, hey, he's still in this half-dead state. Can he die?

It would be strange if he could die. The Grand Elder even suspected that Old Three had already broken through to the Yang God Realm long ago, but had been hiding his strength, not knowing what evil he was brewing. As for what Sword Intent injury or death? Bullshit, whoever believes it is a fool.

Haven't you seen how many benefits Old Three has snatched from them using this excuse over the past three hundred years, and he's still using it now!

Lu Chen was snatched away by Old Three using this excuse.

It's just that the Grand Elder had no evidence to prove it, otherwise he would have exposed Old Three long ago.

The Third Elder swept his gaze and took in the expressions of the Second Elder and the Grand Elder, then sighed regretfully: "As expected, I couldn't trick these two old foxes. Old Four, Old Five, and Old Six are more honest."

But it's not bad. The three Elders combined will lose sixty thousand Merit Points to him. Besides giving Lu Chen twenty Dao Embryo Realm Monster Corpses for twenty thousand Merit Points, the Third Elder himself can still earn forty thousand Merit Points.

'Should I, later, explain to my good Disciple, little Lu, that when this old man held up two fingers, he meant two Dao Embryo Realm Monster Corpses?'

In this way, he could earn fifty-eight thousand Merit Points!

'Forget it, that kid has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. Don't let him accidentally reveal it and ruin this old man's good plan!'

Thoughts raced through the Third Elder's mind, and he finally dismissed the idea of tricking even his own Disciple.

His own Disciple, how could he trick him?

Of course not, the Third Elder is not that kind of person!

...

Doujian Peak, within the Inner Sect Disciple courtyard.

Lu Chen sat cross-legged, his aura constantly surging and rising, like waves one after another, as if impacting an invisible, unseen restriction.

This was indeed the case. Lu Chen was impacting the Penetrating Aperture Realm, but he wasn't consuming 'tongming flower', but Qing Yang Pill!

Previously, he had exchanged for two Qing Yang Pills for cultivation, preparing to break through to Penetrating Aperture in one go, but it was delayed due to the opening of the Ancient Demon Remnant Tomb. So, on the first day back at Doujian Peak, he took the pill.

tongming flower was after all a heavenly material and earthly treasure that could help one achieve the Yang God, using it to break through to Penetrating Aperture was truly a waste of valuable resources. Lu Chen naturally wouldn't be so wasteful, good steel should be used on the edge of the blade.

"With my current Body Refinement physique, which is almost touching the Dao Embryo Realm, the medicinal power of this Qing Yang Pill, and the surge of spiritual energy when breaking through to Penetrating Aperture, can no longer shake me in the slightest." Lu Chen's heart was as calm as an ancient well, clear and empty, silently feeling all the changes during the Breakthrough.

He found that a strong physique also had a great help in Qi cultivation. Not only was it faster to extract spiritual energy from spiritual stones, but it was also faster to absorb the power of pills.

Moreover, even if he activated his Cultivation Technique, accelerated its operation, and all external forces such as medicinal power and spiritual stones exploded within his body, his powerful physique would not be unable to bear it at all.

Furthermore, Lu Chen also had the Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin to assist him, constantly protecting his soul, preventing inner demons from arising, making his cultivation smoother.

"Perhaps, breaking through to Mysterious Method in two months is still being conservative!"

Judging by his current progress, breaking through to the Mysterious Method Realm in a month and a half might even leave him with some extra time.

"Crack!" At a certain moment, an invisible restriction within Lu Chen's body seemed to break, causing the spiritual energy within him to instantly surge and churn.

"Penetrating Aperture Realm, achieved!" Lu Chen murmured in his heart, still without any ripples, it was within his expectations.

Moreover, his Body Refinement cultivation was already climbing towards the Dao Embryo Realm, so breaking through to the Penetrating Aperture Realm in Qi cultivation naturally caused no ripples.

However, Qi cultivation and Body Refinement are ultimately different.

What is Penetrating Aperture?

A person has three hundred and sixty-five apertures. With each aperture opened, the spiritual energy will surge by a section. When all three hundred and sixty-five apertures are opened and filled with spiritual energy, it is Penetrating Aperture Consummation, and one's Lifespan can reach three hundred years.

When first entering the Penetrating Aperture Realm, all cultivators break through the 'Ancestral Aperture', because a person's soul resides within the Ancestral Aperture.

Only by breaking open the Ancestral Aperture can one see and strengthen their soul.

It was also at the moment the Ancestral Aperture was broken open that Lu Chen saw his own soul within the Ancestral Aperture. It was a solidified figure, identical to Lu Chen, with streams of light of varying sizes Entanglement around it, in yellow, red, gold, black, and white, a total of five streams of light.

Among them, the yellow light was the most vibrant, and the white light was the smallest.

"This is..."

"The true meaning I have comprehended!"

Lu Chen suddenly understood: "So that's it!"