137: Chapter 137 This isn't a battle of magic, it's pile driving!

The night was as dark as ink, and inside Shafeng Cave, the sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling filled the air.

Violent black gale winds echoed between the narrow stone walls, like countless dull blades scraping back and forth.

If an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator were here, their consciousness would be eroded by the Evil Qi within half an hour; at best, they would suffer Qi Deviation, and at worst, their Meridians would be shattered.

Gu Yan lay on the bare stone bed, sleeping soundly.

Those strands of Evil Qi, capable of freezing and cracking metal and stone, drilled into his pores, yet caused no damage. Instead, they flowed like gentle streams beneath his skin, eventually merging into his Dantian.

[Ding! Absorbing high-concentration Earth Vein Evil Qi... Converting.]

[Physical Body strength +1.]

[Physical Body strength +1.]

[Bloodline purity increased slightly.]

The System notification sounds were like a lullaby. Accompanied by the rhythm of Gu Yan's long, steady breathing, each chime caused a faint, dim stream of light to flash across his bronze-colored skin.

This was hardly a punishment; it was clearly like soaking in a free medicinal bath.

Early morning.

When the first ray of sunlight failed to pierce through the black fog at the cave entrance, a harsh Sound Transmission Talisman interrupted Gu Yan's "morning exercise."

"Guest Elder Gu, the Hour of the Dragon has arrived. The 'Welcome Meeting' at the martial arts arena is about to begin; please do not be late."

Gu Yan opened his eyes and casually crushed the still-chattering Sound Transmission Talisman.

He stood up, his bones popping with a series of cracks. After a night of tempering by the Evil Qi, he felt as if his body had been reforged; every muscle was brimming with power, eager to be unleashed.

"Welcome Meeting?"

Gu Yan brushed the non-existent dust from his hem and strode out of his Immortal Cave.

Since someone had offered up their face, wouldn't it be impolite not to slap it until it swelled?

...

The martial arts arena of the Law Enforcement Hall was already bustling with people.

Hundreds of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples in black robes formed a circle, and the whispering ceased the moment Gu Yan's figure appeared.

In the center of the arena stood a thin, middle-aged Daoist. He held a lightning-struck wooden sword, his eye sockets were deeply sunken, and crackling sparks of electricity swirled around him.

Chen Yuan, a senior deacon of the Law Enforcement Hall, with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivation, was quite famous in the inner sect for his "Five Thunders Orthodox Method." He was also the direct superior of Wang De, whom Gu Yan had crippled yesterday.

"Guest Elder Gu."

Chen Yuan cupped his hands with a mocking smile, his voice thin and shrill: "By the rules of the Law Enforcement Hall, newly appointed Elders must 'spar' with their colleagues to prove their strength. This humble Daoist is untalented, but I am willing to serve as this touchstone."

Although he called it sparring, the wooden sword in his hand had already locked onto Gu Yan's Qi, and the lightning at the tip flickered, the killing intent almost overflowing.

The surrounding Disciples exchanged glances.

"Deacon Chen is notoriously ruthless; I fear this newcomer will be carried out on a stretcher."

"Who told him to cripple Wang De yesterday? You must consider the owner before beating the dog; this is about venting anger for the Lin family."

Gu Yan walked to the center of the arena and stood still.

He did not summon any Magic Treasure, nor did he adopt a defensive stance, simply letting his hands hang loosely at his sides, like an idler out for a stroll after a meal.

"A touchstone?"

Gu Yan glanced at the wooden sword in Chen Yuan's hand, his tone indifferent: "I hope your stone is hard enough; don't shatter at the slightest touch."

"Arrogant!"

Chen Yuan's expression darkened instantly, and he stomped hard on the ground.

Boom!

Lightning flashed.

He transformed into a streak of lightning, instantly closing to within three zhang of Gu Yan. The wooden sword in his hand drew upon heavenly thunder, and a purple bolt of lightning as thick as a water bucket struck down directly at his head!

"Five Thunders Striking the Crown!"

This strike did not hold back in the slightest; the momentum was massive, and the air was filled with a burnt smell.

The watching Disciples retreated one after another, fearing they would be caught in the aftermath.

However, Gu Yan, who was at the center of the lightning, actually—

Did not move.

He neither dodged nor avoided it, not even activating his protective True Qi, just tilting his head back and allowing the lightning to strike his forehead.

Rumble!

Blinding lightning instantly swallowed Gu Yan's figure. Dust rose everywhere, and the ground was blasted into a charred crater.

"Hmph, courting death."

Chen Yuan stood with his sword retracted, the sneer on his lips not yet fully spread before he froze completely.

The dust settled.

Gu Yan stood at the bottom of the crater, still maintaining his original posture. Except for his hair bun being blown apart and his long hair hanging down, making him look somewhat wild, not even a patch of skin on his entire body was broken.

That ordinary Guest Elder robe had turned to ashes under the lightning strike, revealing his sturdy upper body. The bronze-colored muscles were well-defined, with a few faint electric currents still lingering on them, slithering like small snakes before being completely absorbed by his skin.

"This..."

Chen Yuan's pupils contracted violently, and he subconsciously took a half-step back: "You... you are a Body Cultivator?!"

Hard-tanking the Five Thunders Orthodox Method of a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator with just his Physical Body? What kind of monster was this?

"A bit numb."

Gu Yan moved his neck, producing a crisp cracking sound. He looked at Chen Yuan, his tone somewhat disappointed: "Is this your full power? It's far worse than the wind in my cave."

[Taunt check successful! The opponent's psychological defense has developed cracks.]

[Suggestion: Stop playing around, take them out in one go.]

Gu Yan moved.

Without any flashy movement techniques, it was pure explosive power.

Bang!

The ground beneath his feet exploded, and Gu Yan's figure instantly vanished from where he stood.

Chen Yuan felt his vision blur, and a suffocating, fierce wind rushed toward his face. He tried to raise his sword to block in terror, but that large hand had already pierced through his defensive net.

Slap!

A crisp, extremely loud slapping sound echoed throughout the martial arts arena.

Chen Yuan spun like a top that had been whipped, rotating 720 degrees in the air, accompanied by a few blood-stained teeth flying out.

Boom!

He slammed heavily into a stone wall thirty zhang away, embedding himself into it, unable to be pried out.

The entire arena was dead silent.

The Law Enforcement Hall Disciples who had originally prepared to watch a joke now had their mouths wide open, their jaws nearly hitting the ground.

One move.

No, one slap.

No splendor of Spells clashing, only a crushing defeat that was simple and brutal to the extreme.

Gu Yan stood where he was, shaking his hand as if he had just swatted a fly.

He swept his gaze around; wherever his eyes landed, no one dared to meet his stare.

"Is there anyone else who wants to 'spar'?"

Gu Yan's voice echoed over the martial arts arena: "I'm in a hurry; it would be best if you all came at me together."

Silence.

Deathly silence.

Even Chen Yuan, at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, had been slapped into the wall; who would dare to go up and throw their life away?

"Since there is no one, then let's disperse."

Gu Yan took a new robe from his storage ring and draped it over himself, covering that body filled with oppressive power.

He turned and walked out, pausing slightly as he passed the stone wall where Chen Yuan was embedded.

"Oh right, that 'touchstone'."

Gu Yan pointed at the unconscious Chen Yuan in the wall and said to the surrounding dumbfounded Disciples: "Be careful when you pry him out; don't break him. After all, he is a 'colleague' who will need a few months of recovery before he can get out of bed."

After saying that, he strode away.

Not until his figure had completely disappeared did a sudden burst of suppressed exclamations erupt in the martial arts arena.

Behind the crowd.

Elder Su Ming sat on the railing of the high platform, shaking the wine gourd in his hand, watching the direction Gu Yan had left in, his eyes full of admiration.

"This kid, he's got spirit."

He tilted his head back and took a swig of wine, murmuring to himself: "The path of attaining sainthood through the Physical Body... It seems the sky over this Yunlan Sect is truly about to change."

...

Back to Shafeng Cave.

Gu Yan sat cross-legged on the stone bed, and the System interface unfolded before his eyes.

[Battle Settlement: Crushing victory.]

[Obtained Reputation: Law Enforcement Hall Notoriety (Elementary).]

[Detected that the host's current assets are extremely scarce; the System store has refreshed with 'Limited-Time Specials'.]

Gu Yan took a look at his balance.

Most of the Spirit Stones he had scavenged in Baifeng City had been left with Jin Feiyan as startup capital; his pockets were now cleaner than his face.

"The cost of living in the Yunlan Sect is high; relying solely on that meager fixed monthly salary isn't even enough to recharge the System."

Gu Yan frowned slightly.

To improve his strength quickly, he still needed to make money.

[Host, instead of thinking about how to save money, you should think about how to make money.]

[Detected that the Mission Hall has posted a high-bounty mission: Clear the accompanying Yao Beast deep within the 'Black Stone Vein'. The reward is generous, and there is a suspected special Ore deep in the vein that the System can recycle.]

"A vein?"

Gu Yan rubbed his chin.

This was a good place to go. Not only could he make money, but he could also avoid the limelight for the next few days, and by the way...

He remembered what he had seen in the intelligence reports before, about the Alchemy Pavilion that often appeared near the vein.

"I'll take it."

Gu Yan stood up, a flash of keen light in his eyes.

Making money was just a side benefit.

His real target was that "Alchemy Genius" in the Alchemy Pavilion.

After all, having money alone was useless; one also needed medicine.

And the best medicine is often in the hands of the best Alchemist.