Chapter 48 Fifth Realm, Opening the Meridians

[Host: Yan Chu]

[Cultivation: Fourth Realm Qi Sea Peak]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine Yang Divine Art (Fourth Level 12350/16000), Thirteen Protectors Hardened Golden Bell Shield (Third Layer 6200/7500)]

[Martial Skill: Golden Goose Skill (Soaring Upward 40/4000), Great Demon Subduing Fist (Major Achievement 830/2600), Wood Burning Saber Technique (Major Achievement 1800/2500), Shifting Stars (Qi Shifting Stars 320/4000), Formless Tribulation Finger (Minor Achievement 130/1200)]

[Experience Points: 5340]

"Over five thousand experience points. If I add them all to the Nine Yang Divine Art, I should be able to break through to the Fifth Realm, right?"

However, if he did that, while he would have the cultivation of the Fifth Realm, his combat methods certainly wouldn't compare to those veterans who had been immersed in the Meridian Connecting Realm for a long time.

At most, he would only be considered an ordinary Fifth Realm; he would be far from invincible.

"Whatever, cultivation strength is most important!"

He would raise his cultivation first, then earn more experience to improve his Martial Skills later.

"Add all experience points to the Nine Yang Divine Art!"

The panel flickered, and the experience points dropped to zero.

Boom!

A massive roar erupted from within Yan Chu's body, and the Qi Sea surged with heaven-shaking waves.

This time, the change came faster and more violently than ever before.

He had been sitting cross-legged on a large green stone, which suddenly shattered into fine powder and scattered with the wind.

But Yan Chu did not fall to the ground because of it.

An incredibly dense surge of True Qi lifted him up, suspending him three feet in the air.

Boom, crackle!

The violent Nine Yang True Qi was like a dragon, brashly forcing open the Lung Meridian of Hand-Taiyin and then the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming. With these two primary Meridians connected, the True Qi left his body, burning on his skin like pale gold flames, exuding an aura of pure yang and righteousness.

Shua!

Yan Chu snapped his eyes open, his senses sharp and clear.

Above him, a colorful venomous snake hung upside down from a branch, lowering its body to bite his neck.

Bang!

Yan Chu struck out with a simple, unadorned palm.

The vast True Qi vaporized the venomous snake instantly and hit the tree, causing the entire tree to ignite and burst into a raging fire.

He waved his sleeve again.

A gust of wind swept through, and the burning flames were extinguished immediately, leaving only a charred trunk.

"Good! Finally the Fifth Realm!"

[Cultivation: Fifth Realm Meridian Connecting Early Stage]

[Cultivation Technique: Nine Yang Divine Art (Fifth Level 1690/32000)]

All things considered, it had been less than two months since his System activated, and he had already reached the Fifth Realm.

Furthermore, compared to those who cultivated on their own, his Foundation was much deeper, with no sense of instability.

*Sniff*

At that moment, a thick stench filled his nostrils.

Yan Chu looked down and saw his body covered in a layer of black grime; this was the result of Marrow Cleansing brought about by his massive Breakthrough.

Conveniently, there was a large river nearby.

He stripped naked and jumped into the water to start washing...

...

Jinshan Town was a small town in Longhua Prefecture, home to only a few hundred households.

Jinli Inn was the only inn in Jinshan Town.

It served as both an inn and a restaurant, providing a place for traveling merchants and Jianghu people to rest and eat.

Usually, Jinli Inn was quite quiet, as it was just a small town and not located on any major trade route.

Today, however, there were quite a few people; five of the seven tables in the shop were occupied.

Despite the crowd, the atmosphere was somber.

The customers ordered food and wine and simply kept their heads down to eat and drink, unlike the usual rowdiness.

Da-da-da!

Just then, the sound of galloping hooves echoed outside.

"Whoa..."

Several people reined in their horses and walked inside amidst a clamor.

"Damn it! This weather is too hot! Let's get inside to rest and have a couple of bowls of wine to quench our thirst!"

"We're still over twenty li from the Zhang family. We'll wait until the sun goes down and it cools off before hitting the road again!"

Four burly men appeared in the inn's lobby.

Seeing the Jianghu travelers in the lobby, they frowned and lowered their voices slightly.

As the four were about to pick an empty seat, a person wearing a bamboo hat at one of the tables looked up:

“Is that the Four Yu Brothers before me?”

The leader, Yu Tianfang, looked over. "Indeed! And who might you be, Your Excellency?"

The man took off his hat and smiled. "Brother Yu, don't you recognize me?"

“Brother He!?”

Yu Tianfang's tone was filled with pleasant surprise.

This man was named He Yan, a Disciple of the Sword Forging Manor. He had met the four brothers two years ago while traveling the Jianghu, and they had formed a deep friendship.

“Big Brother Yu, why don't you join us at our table?”

“Haha! Alright! I can't refuse such hospitality!”

Yu Tianfang laughed heartily, pulled over an empty table nearby, and pushed it together with He Yan's.

After the four brothers sat down, they all exchanged greetings with He Yan.

He Yan pointed to his companion, a charming and lovely young girl, and said, "This is my Junior Sister, Shi Lin."

“Lin'er, these are the Four Yu Brothers I often mention to you.”

“Shi Lin greets you, brothers!”

Shi Lin had long heard her Senior Brother talk about these Four Yu Brothers.

The four were from the Yu Family Fort in Rongyuan County. They were chivalrous and loved to stand up against injustice, and He Yan had nothing but praise for them.

“Miss Shi is too polite!”

“Greetings, Miss Shi...”

Facing this beautiful girl, the four burly men couldn't help but set aside their usual rough habits and sat up straight.

“Waiter! Bring four more sets of bowls and chopsticks, and serve your best wine and food!”

“Coming right up!”

Before long, the waiter brought up the food and wine, filling the entire table.

“Everyone, are you also here because of the matter regarding Member Zhang's family?”

He Yan set down his wine cup and asked.

“Of course!”

Yu Tianfang sighed and said, "Senior Zhang's family of over two hundred people was wiped out in a single night. Such a major event has already spread throughout the entire Longhua Prefecture."

“As part of the Longhua Prefecture Martial Forest, how could our Yu Family Fort stand by and watch? Therefore, we are here on the orders of the Fort Master to offer our condolences and assist in investigating the killer to bring justice for Senior Zhang!”

The "Senior Zhang" he spoke of was the famous Longhua Prefecture veteran, Zhang Siyuan.

Not only did he have a Fourth Realm cultivation, but he also had a wide circle of friends; many Jianghu juniors had received his guidance, and he enjoyed a significant reputation in Longhua Prefecture.

Unfortunately, a day ago, everyone in the Zhang family, including servants and guards—totaling over two hundred people—had died a tragic death.

This tragedy instantly shocked the entire Longhua Prefecture Martial Forest.

Even the matter concerning Yan Chu was overshadowed.

As Yu Tianfang finished speaking, a middle-aged man in black at another table suddenly slammed his wine cup onto the table with a loud thwack and sneered.

“Investigate the killer? Bring justice?”

“How much ability does your Yu Family Fort have? Be careful, or you might be exterminated tomorrow. I advise you to mind your own business!”

“What did you say!?”

The second of the Four Yu Brothers had a fiery temper and was about to stand up to argue, but Yu Tianfang held him back.

He could tell that although the other party's tone was aggressive, they didn't have bad intentions and were actually warning them.

But he still shook his head and said, "There is justice in the Jianghu. Although my Yu Family Fort is small and our voice is weak, we will never stand by when we encounter injustice!"

“Big Brother Yu is truly noble! Your little sister toasts you!”

Hearing Yu Tianfang's words, Shi Lin raised her cup with a look of admiration.

“Miss Shi praises me too much!”

Yu Tianfang's old face flushed slightly as he hurriedly raised his cup and drained it.

He Yan then looked at the man who had interjected and asked, "From your words, friend, it seems you already know who the killer is?"

The man remained silent.

A guest at another table interjected, "The three of us, siblings, just came from the Zhang residence this morning. Over two hundred people were laid out neatly in the courtyard, all of them drained of their essence and blood, reduced to skin and bones."

“Even Senior Zhang was the same. His corpse was like that of an eight-year-old child, his hair withered, and his skin clinging tightly to his bones. If not for his face, no one would have recognized him!”

“Drained of essence and blood?!”

He Yan's expression changed. "This kind of method is..."