74: Leng Qingqiu in a sorry state

The air in the courtyard seemed to be instantly drained away, replaced by a bone-chilling cold.

It was not an attack, but rather an aura emanating naturally from the Origin of life, like ten-thousand-year-old black ice.

Leng Qingqiu had arrived!

Compared to six years ago, she still possessed that peerless appearance, with skin like ice and bones like jade, resembling a Fairy of the Mirror Moon Palace; time had left no traces on her face.

But if one looked closely, one could see deep within her ice-blue eyes, a flame of stubbornness and unwillingness more intense than ever before!

Six years of time had not worn down her obsession to not lose to others; instead, it was like magma continuously building pressure beneath a layer of ice!

Today, she did not wear her signature Ice Phoenix long dress, but rather a simple, moon-white Daoist robe. It lacked some of her usual grace, but added a touch of otherworldliness and... a desperate determination!

Her gaze was like two ice awls, instantly pinning Chen Jun, who was still unsettled from Qing Lin's 'twilight romance proposal,' to the spot.

Chen Jun felt his hair stand on end under her gaze, and his just-relaxed nerves instantly tightened to the limit!

She was here!

She had actually come!

This old woman was truly still not giving up!

...

'Leng... Aunt Leng Senior.' Chen Jun hurriedly stood up.

The 'weak' expression on his face almost broke, but he managed to squeeze out a hint of 'surprise' and 'panic,' 'You... why are you here?! Please, come in...'

Lin Wei also felt this unusual chill and pressure. Although she was already at the War God Peak, she still felt her breathing stifled in front of an old-school Stellar-level Expert like Leng Qingqiu.

She hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully: 'Senior Leng Qingqiu.'

Leng Qingqiu's gaze swept over Lin Wei, and she nodded slightly as a greeting, but her attention remained focused on Chen Jun.

She moved with light lotus steps into the living room; every step seemed to tread on ice, carrying a cold rhythm.

She did not sit down, but stood directly in front of Chen Jun, looking down at him...

'Six years, and you have nourished this shell to be even more 'vibrant',' Leng Qingqiu said, her voice cold and clear like jade chimes colliding, carrying a hint of imperceptible... inquiry and mockery.

She was referring to the rosy complexion Chen Jun had built up with massive resources.

Chen Jun's heart sank, and he thought to himself, Not good, this opening line was quite aggressive!

He quickly followed her lead, putting on a 'helpless' bitter smile: 'Senior is joking. It is merely looking strong on the outside while being weak on the inside, just lingering on; I am only surviving by relying on external objects to keep a breath in me...'

'Looking strong on the outside while being weak on the inside? Lingering on?' Leng Qingqiu's ice-blue eyes narrowed slightly...

It was as if she wanted to pierce through Chen Jun's disguise and look directly into the deepest part of his Origin of life, 'I don't think so! Your vitality is so vigorous, your blood and Qi so full, and your Physical Body so strong that even a high-level warrior might not be your match!'

Cold sweat almost broke out on Chen Jun's back; this old woman's insight was too sharp!

He forced himself to stay calm and continued acting: 'Senior flatters me; it's all just false fire; it cannot be taken seriously...'

'False fire that can burn for six years without extinguishing? Chen Jun, do you take me for some ignorant fool?' Leng Qingqiu's tone suddenly turned cold.

Then, with an unquestionable majesty, 'Six years ago, in the Mirror Moon Palace, we tried dozens of times to no avail, and I had my doubts. The way your Origin of life was depleted was strange; it was by no means the sign of ordinary Lifespan exhaustion! It was more like a... deeper level of 'lockdown'!'

Chen Jun's heart shook violently!

Damn!

Her insight is truly sharp!

No, wait, she just suspected the wrong direction!

Leng Qingqiu stepped closer, the cold air around her intensifying, almost freezing the space: 'For these six years, I have read through ancient books and deduced all kinds of possibilities, and finally, I have reached a conclusion! Your crux may not be simply the exhaustion of Lifespan, but the shackles of a Mortal Body! It is this shell with F-grade Aptitude that restricts the true form of your Origin of life! It is like a rusted, locked cage, completely sealing away your potential! The so-called consumption of Lifespan may just be the price required for this cage to operate!'

Her voice carried the excitement of discovering the truth: 'If this deduction is true, then as long as we break these shackles of the Mortal Body and help you enter the door of Cultivation, even if it is only the lowest Warrior Rank, your Lifespan can increase to two hundred years! By then, your Origin of life may regain true vitality! The... unfinished business between us might not be without a turning point!'

Chen Jun listened, dumbfounded!

This ability to imagine... it had simply broken through the sky!

Guessing 'Mortal Body shackles' from 'lockdown'?

And dragging in 'potential sealing'?

Although the direction was completely wrong, the logic actually sounded quite plausible?!

Lin Wei, standing to the side, listened with wide eyes, her breathing becoming rapid!

Break the shackles of the Mortal Body?!

Lifespan increased to two hundred years?!

This... doesn't this mean Brother Jun could still be saved?!

Even if it was just living fifty more years, that was a huge hope!

'Leng... Senior Leng! Are... are you telling the truth?!' Lin Wei's voice trembled with excitement!

She grabbed Chen Jun's arm, her eyes bursting with unprecedented radiance, 'Brother Jun! Did you hear that? Senior Leng says there is a way!'

Chen Jun looked at his wife's hopeful eyes, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Of course, he knew this was nonsense...

but... what if?

What if, without 'Multiple Benefits,' his trashy Aptitude could actually change a little?

Even if it just made his body stronger, that would be good!

Just try it!

It wouldn't cost him anything!

At most, he would be disappointed for a second and just get stronger later!

The acting instincts honed over these six years went online...

His face also timely revealed a complex expression mixed with 'disbelief,' 'a faint glimmer of hope,' and 'fear of being disappointed again,' and he asked with a dry voice: 'Leng... Aunt Leng Senior, are... are you really sure? My Aptitude... even the Federation's top technology...'

'Technology is useless, but that does not mean the power of Law is useless!' Leng Qingqiu interrupted him decisively, her eyes flashing with confident light, 'I have not wasted these six years! Besides reading ancient books, I have traveled across several ancient planets, searching for several rare treasures, all of which are highly effective for breaking through Aptitude barriers! Combined with my unique 'Ice Extreme Life-Death' secret technique, to forcibly pry open the silent potential within your body, there is at least... a 99.999% chance of success!'

99.999% chance?!

That was a terrifyingly high probability!

Hearing this, the fire of hope in Lin Wei's eyes burned even brighter as she gripped Chen Jun's hand: 'Brother Jun! No matter what, we must try! I don't care at all... about you and the Venerable completing... completing the unfinished business...!'

Chen Jun was also piqued with real interest by Leng Qingqiu's determined attitude.

He took a deep breath, as if having made up his mind, and nodded heavily: 'Okay! Since Aunt Leng Senior has this intention, Chen... is willing to give it a try! Regardless of success or failure, I am deeply grateful!'

Seeing Chen Jun agree, a barely perceptible softening finally appeared on Leng Qingqiu's icy face.

She flicked her sleeve, and several jade boxes and stone caskets of different shapes, all emitting astonishing energy fluctuations, appeared out of thin air, hovering in the air.

'This is the 'Barrier-Breaking Star Core,' taken from the core of a star that annihilated just after birth. It contains the purest power of creation and destruction, and can cleanse the Physical Body of Impurities and impact Aptitude barriers!'

'This is the 'Ten-Thousand-Year Hollow Green Stone Milk,' formed by the condensation of earth pulse essence over ten thousand years. It is gentle yet majestic, capable of nourishing Meridians and providing a continuous stream of energy for the impact!'

'This is the 'Nine-Turn Dragon-Transforming Grass,' rumored to have been stained with the aura of a true Dragon; its medicinal properties are domineering, capable of stimulating the potential in the deepest part of life!'

...

With every name announced, Lin Wei's eyes grew brighter!

These were all wonders that only existed in legends!

Any one of them, if leaked out, would be enough to cause a bloodbath!

Leng Qingqiu had truly spared no expense for this attempt!

Chen Jun also clicked his tongue inwardly. This old woman... her family background is truly wealthy!

To 'not lose to others,' she really went all out again!

'Find a quiet room, and do not be disturbed,' Leng Qingqiu instructed, her tone returning to its usual coldness and unquestionable nature.

Lin Wei hurriedly said: 'The mansion has a dedicated Cultivation quiet room, fully equipped! All are top-tier defensive devices; I will go prepare it right away!' She almost ran to make the arrangements, as if she saw the final glimmer of hope to save her husband's life!

A moment later, Chen Jun, Leng Qingqiu, and Lin Wei entered a quiet room filled with powerful isolation devices.

Leng Qingqiu personally checked the devices, and after confirming everything was correct, she had Chen Jun sit cross-legged on the prayer mat in the center of the quiet room.

'Relax your mind, guide the medicinal power, and no matter what happens, you must endure!' Leng Qingqiu's voice was cold, but her eyes were exceptionally focused.

She first flicked that drop of 'Ten-Thousand-Year Hollow Green Stone Milk' into Chen Jun's mouth.

As the stone milk entered his throat, it immediately turned into a gentle yet vast torrent, surging into his limbs and bones!

Chen Jun felt a warmth spreading through his entire body, as if he were soaking in a hot spring; every single cell was cheering with joy!

This feeling... was far more effective than any of the supplements he had eaten before!

Immediately after, Leng Qingqiu formed a seal with her jade hands, channeling the 'Star Core of Breaking Barriers'!

The star core suddenly flared, emitting a terrifying wave of energy that intertwined destruction and creation, transforming into a subtle yet incredibly sharp stream of energy that lunged straight toward Chen Jun's Dantian!

"Urgh!" Chen Jun let out a muffled groan, feeling as if he had been stabbed by a red-hot iron rod; a sharp pain surged through him! Yet, he could feel that this force was indeed attempting to strike against some invisible barrier.

Leng Qingqiu's gaze was sharp as she intently watched Chen Jun's reaction, simultaneously channeling the medicinal power of auxiliary treasures like the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Grass' into Chen Jun's body!

For a moment, energy surged within the quiet room, and brilliant light flowed everywhere!

Chen Jun's body seemed to have become a battlefield, where the immense external medicinal power and Leng Qingqiu's power of Law were frantically battering that invisible 'Mortal Body' shackles!

Lin Wei stood by nervously, her hands tightly clenched, her nails digging almost into her flesh, as she prayed frantically in her heart.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Fine beads of sweat began to seep from Chen Jun's body, and his complexion shifted between flushed and pale.

He could clearly feel that those energies were indeed causing drastic changes within his body; his muscles, bones, and Meridians all seemed to be undergoing reinforcement!

A sense of strength welled up within him!

Is it working?!

Could it be that Leng Qingqiu actually guessed right?!

Even Leng Qingqiu saw a flash of joy in her eyes!

Chen Jun's physical reaction was far more intense than she had anticipated!

This indicated that her deduction was very likely correct!

However, just when everyone thought they were about to witness a miracle—

A sudden change occurred!

When those energies attempted to penetrate the core of his life's Origin and touch the so-called 'Aptitude' barrier, they were like clay oxen entering the sea, vanishing instantly without a trace!

They weren't absorbed, nor were they resisted; they just... vanished into thin air?!

It was as if there were an invisible, absolute black hole inside Chen Jun, specifically designed to devour any power attempting to alter his fundamental Aptitude!

"Hmm?!" Leng Qingqiu's expression changed abruptly, and she increased her energy output! "Break... for this Venerable One!"

An even stronger power of Ice Law, mixed with the medicinal power of rare treasures, surged toward Chen Jun like a raging storm!

The result... was still...

Still like a stone sinking into the sea!

No trace at all!

The manifestation of the F-rank Aptitude within Chen Jun remained completely unmoved!

It was like the hardest foundation stone; no matter how the wind blew or the waves crashed, it remained unshakable...!

The energy fluctuations in the quiet room gradually subsided.

Chen Jun felt that his body was indeed much stronger; his blood and Qi were vigorous, his energy was abundant, and he even had the feeling that he could punch and destroy a Blue Star aircraft carrier...

But when he introspected his consciousness, the words [Aptitude: Mortal Body] on the system interface remained cold and glaring.

He sighed in his heart.

As expected... it still didn't work.

What the System locked was an iron rule at the level of the Universe's Laws; it was simply not something that could be shaken by these 'Mortal' methods.

Hope was shattered, but... it was also within expectations.

He even felt like laughing; Aunt Leng's move was equivalent to giving him a top-tier Body Tempering for free!

A huge profit, no loss!

Meanwhile, Leng Qingqiu stood frozen in place, her expression shifting from initial shock to disbelief, and finally into a deathly... despair!

The rare treasures she had exhausted her efforts to find over six years, paying a huge price to obtain... actually... actually had no effect at all?!?

"Impossible... This is impossible...!" she muttered to herself, her icy blue eyes filled with bewilderment and collapse. "The ancient records... the deduction of the Law... it clearly... why would it...?!"

Lin Wei looked at Leng Qingqiu's dejected appearance, then at her husband, who looked healthier but whose Aptitude clearly remained unchanged. The hope in her heart was extinguished as if doused by cold water, and a massive sense of loss swept over her.

But immediately after, she felt a strong sense of sympathy for Leng Qingqiu...

Senior Leng... She only spared no cost to save Brother Jun... Now that hope is shattered, how sad must she be...?

"Senior Leng..." Lin Wei stepped forward, her voice choked with emotion. "You... you have already done your best... Perhaps... this is Brother Jun's fate... We... we have all done our best..."

Leng Qingqiu snapped her head up, looking at Lin Wei, then at Chen Jun, who wore a 'calm' expression, even carrying a hint of 'I knew it would be like this.' A nameless rage, mixed with a massive sense of humiliation, rushed to her head!

Throughout her life, Qingqiu has never lost to anyone!

Why, in this matter, has she suffered such a crushing defeat?! Why has she been repeatedly thwarted?!

No! There is still a chance! Lifespan! His problem is fundamentally still his Lifespan! As long as his Lifespan is replenished, it must work!!!

She was like someone clutching at the last straw, suddenly pulling several more jade bottles from her Magic Treasure. These were all obtained through compensation from Yun Xi and her tens of thousands of years of savings. Her tone carried a near-insane obsession:

"No! The direction was wrong! It's Lifespan! The problem is simply insufficient Lifespan! These! 'Millennium Peach Essence'! 'Ten-Thousand-Year Peach Fruit'! 'Undying Grass Essence'! These are all rare treasures for extending Lifespan! Take them! Take them immediately! Once your Lifespan is replenished, your Origin will naturally recover!"

Chen Jun looked at those jade bottles, whose names alone were terrifying, and the corner of his mouth twitched... Good grief! Has she brought out her entire life savings from the bottom of her chest?!?

What a pity... My maximum Lifespan is locked tight by the System; eating any more is just a waste...

He hurriedly waved his hand: "Senior Aunt Leng! I can't! These are too precious! And... I have eaten many similar things before, and they had no effect..."

"That's because the quantity wasn't enough! The quality wasn't high enough!" Leng Qingqiu was almost growling, shoving a jade bottle into Chen Jun's hand. "Drink it! That is an order!"

Chen Jun: "..." This old woman has already lost her rationality...

Under Lin Wei's pleading gaze and Leng Qingqiu's 'order,' Chen Jun 'helplessly'... ate the several priceless treasures for extending Lifespan like candy...

The taste was good, his body felt warm... then... hmm... there was no then...

The Lifespan number on the system interface jumped happily... [Remaining Lifespan]: 63 years... +10... +10... Hmm... not even a single day increased...

However... his physical fitness seemed to have improved a bit more...

The quiet room fell into a deathly silence.

Leng Qingqiu looked at Chen Jun, whose aura had not changed, who was still a 'Mortal Body' and 'not long for this world,' and her last shred of luck was completely shattered...

She stumbled back a step, her beautiful face drained of all color, and in her icy blue eyes, the flame of obsession was completely extinguished, leaving only endless gray despair and... self-doubt...

Six years of preparation, all manner of schemes, exhausting her treasures... in exchange, it was still... all in vain?!?

I, Leng Qingqiu, have never lost to anyone in my life...! But this time... I lost a crushing defeat... lost... completely humiliated...

She took a deep look at Chen Jun; that gaze was extremely complex, containing confusion, frustration, a hint of resentment, but in the end, it all turned into a kind of resigned... dejection?

She said nothing, not even glancing at Lin Wei again, and turned abruptly, almost fleeing, transforming into a streak of icy blue light, rushing out of the quiet room and disappearing outside the manor... Her silhouette... desolate and disheveled...

Lin Wei watched the direction in which Leng Qingqiu had disappeared, tears falling once more, but this time, it was for that proud Senior who had been repeatedly struck by setbacks.

She turned and hugged Chen Jun tightly, weeping uncontrollably: "Brother Jun... Senior Leng... she meant well..."

Chen Jun held his wife, gently patting her back, but his gaze was fixed on the direction in which Leng Qingqiu had left, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

This old woman... although she is a bit stubborn and her methods were a bit extreme... but... this persistence does make one... admire her a little?

It's just a pity... she chose the wrong Dao...

He lowered his head and gave his wife in his arms a soothing smile: "It's alright, Wei Wei. Don't worry, I can still be with you for a very, very long time..."

Lin Wei nodded vigorously, not wanting to argue with her husband anymore; she understood everything! She simply buried her face in his chest, as if trying to draw the last bit of strength...

Chen Jun felt his wife's reliance and felt his physical fitness, which had increased significantly once more; deep in his consciousness, that string of numbers remained stable.

Hmm... this wave... it seems like he profited again...? And won big time!!!

He held his wife and walked out of the quiet room, the sunset's afterglow stretching their shadows long. Life had to go on...