69: Chapter 69 Special Feature: Hibernation

At this moment, the Heaven-Defying nature of the panel manifested itself.

Originally, those violent and harmful medicinal Impurities were directly filtered and converted under the System's judgment.

[High-intensity energy intake detected... Adjusting adaptability... 100% absorption.]

There was no diarrhea, and no gastrointestinal perforation.

That surge of heat became as well-behaved as a kitten, completely tamed and converted into pure Qi and blood, frantically filling his entire body.

Chen Mo could clearly feel his skin burning and his muscles trembling slightly; every breath he took sounded like a bellows being pulled.

"It's working!"

Chen Mo was ecstatic.

The combination of Purple Leaf Root and bone strengthening powder was actually more than three times more effective than bone strengthening powder alone!

Moreover, because of the System's "100% adaptability," he didn't have to worry about side effects at all. This meant that in the future, he could specifically seek out these violent "poisons" that others dared not eat to Cultivate; it would save money and yield even better results.

This was a shortcut.

A life-burning shortcut that belonged only to him.

Once the medicinal power was fully absorbed, Chen Mo did not stop.

He sat cross-legged on the bed, adjusted his breathing, and began to Cultivate the Turtle Breathing Technique.

This was his fundamental method.

He had been stuck at the Mastery Bottleneck for a long time. Today, after the life-and-death stimulation of that alley fight and the flushing of that potent medicine just now, that final barrier finally loosened.

Inhale—

Chen Mo held this single breath for a full three minutes.

The airflow entered his lungs through his nasal cavity and then sank into his Dantian, as if traversing a long labyrinth within his body.

Exhale—

His breath was as thin as silk, continuous and unending.

His heartbeat began to slow down.

Thump... Thump... Thump...

It dropped from sixty beats per minute to thirty, then ten, and finally, it was almost imperceptible.

His entire being seemed to turn into a stone or a piece of withered wood, without body temperature or breath.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Suddenly, there was a "buzz" in Chen Mo's mind.

It was like a great bell being struck.

That profound and mysterious feeling instantly became clear.

On the panel, the data began to jump frantically.

[Name: Chen Mo]

[Age: 16]

[Lifespan: 67 → 99]

[potential points: 18.5 → 50.5]

[Mastered Martial Arts:]

Five Animal Frolics (Perfection 100%)

Returning Origin Strength (Entry 45%)

Military Saber Technique (Unnamed) (Mastery 12%)

Turtle Breathing Technique (Perfection 100%)

[Trait Obtained: Dormancy (Derived trait from Turtle Breathing Technique Perfection. When actively activated, heartbeat, body temperature, and breath are completely concealed, reducing presence to the minimum; undetectable by those less than two major Realms higher. Passive effect: Sleep quality improved tenfold; full energy can be restored in just four hours.)]

Chen Mo snapped his eyes open.

In that instant, the air in the room seemed to stagnate for a moment.

99 years old!

Reaching Perfection in the Turtle Breathing Technique had directly added 32 years to his lifespan!

Even more terrifying were the potential points.

50.5!

If the previous 18.5 only made him a talent slightly stronger than an average person, then the current 50.5 made him an absolute Prodigy, one in ten thousand.

Chen Mo stood up.

Crack, crack.

The joints all over his body emitted a series of crisp sounds like popping beans.

He looked down at his hands.

His skin had become finer, but when he pinched it hard with his fingernails, it didn't even leave a white mark. That sense of toughness was like being wrapped in an invisible layer of rubber.

Previously, after practicing his arts, he always felt physically drained and had to lean against a wall to recover for a long time.

Now?

He was so full of energy he wanted to go outside and run a marathon or find a bull to fight.

"Is this the change brought about by the increase in potential?"

Chen Mo clenched his fist, and the air in his palm was squeezed until it exploded with a muffled bang.

Not just his body, but even his five senses had sharpened several times over. He could even hear Blacksmith Zhang's thunderous snoring in the neighboring yard and the faint sound of crickets rubbing their wings in the corner.

"Returning Origin Strength at Entry 45%..."

Chen Mo glanced at the progress bar.

That bowl of medicine just now, combined with the surge in potential points, had caused the progress of Returning Origin Strength to skyrocket like a rocket.

"Qi and blood are overflowing, and the skin is as tough as iron."

Chen Mo touched his arm. "The first stage of the Body Tempering Realm, 'Skin Refining,' is completely at Perfection, one could even say it's overflowing. Next is 'Muscle Tempering.'"

Muscle Tempering required refining Qi and blood into the muscle fibers, making the muscles twist together like steel wires to multiply explosive power.

Normally, when people reached this step, they had to work slowly and cautiously for fear of damaging the muscle texture.

But Chen Mo felt he could charge through it right now.

However...

He glanced out the window; it wasn't dawn yet.

"No rush."

Chen Mo took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately Breakthrough.

Be pragmatic.

Be cautious.

This was his creed for survival. Although his potential points were now off the charts, he couldn't let his mindset drift.

"Breaking through a stage is a major event; I must adjust my state to its best."

Chen Mo turned around and boiled water again.

This time it wasn't for a medicinal bath, but to cleanse himself.

He took a very meticulous bath, washing away the smell of medicine, sweat, and the bloody scent of killing.

He changed into a clean set of hemp clothes and combed his hair meticulously.

Then, he cooked himself a bowl of white porridge, paired it with two salted duck eggs, and ate slowly and methodically.

Full, hydrated, and clean.

His mind was free of distractions.

Chen Mo sat cross-legged on the bed and lit a stick of soothing incense.

The smoke curled upward.

He closed his eyes and activated his newly acquired trait—[Dormancy].

Instantly, the sound of breathing in the room vanished.

Chen Mo on the bed seemed to disappear from this world, leaving only a faint shadow.

He was waiting.

Waiting for his Qi and blood to settle at the most perfect point, and then, he would break through in one go.

...

As the sun began to set in the west, Chen Mo pushed open the courtyard gate.

Outside the door was not an empty alley, but a wall of people.

The originally quiet and dilapidated alley entrance was now occupied by three carriages and two litters. Several middle-aged men in silk robes were gathered together smoking pipes; when they saw the door open, they swarmed forward like cats smelling fish.

"Head Constable Chen! Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Lord Chen, on the occasion of your promotion, I, Zhao Dezhu, have specifically come to ask for a celebratory drink!"

"This is a small token from Li's Shop in the south of the city, a trifle to add to your tea money, my Lord."

Chen Mo swept a glance over them.

They were all prominent local gentry from West City. Usually, these people held their heads high and would cover their noses when passing through this slum, fearing they would be tainted by the air of poverty. Today, however, every one of them was smiling like a Maitreya Buddha, not even minding that the mud on the ground dirtied their expensive cloth shoes.

This was the power of authority.

Chen Mo didn't put on airs, nor did he act aloof.

In this world, if an official didn't accept gifts, it was called being "inhumane," which instead made people uneasy, thinking you were planning something big. Only when you accepted did everyone feel at ease; it was called "knowing the rules."

"You are all too kind," Chen Mo said, cupping his hands with a flawless smile. "Leave the items; I have matters to attend to and won't keep you. In the future, I will still have to rely on everyone's care in this West City area."

"Not at all! You flatter us, my Lord!"

The several gentlemen breathed a sigh of relief, piled the gift boxes at the door, and left with a thousand thanks.