47: Above the marrow

After memorizing the entire Divine Statue Skill, Gu Chang began attempting to Cultivate in the Reincarnation World.

Doing so was the safest and most time-efficient, as he feared the Divine Statue Skill might conflict with the Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill.

At the valley encampment, Gu Chang began to Cultivate according to the Divine Statue Skill from his memory.

For him, there was basically no Bottleneck with the Bronze Statue Skill; he succeeded simply by circulating his Internal Energy once through his body according to the Cultivation Technique's description.

Ultimately, it was because his Breakthrough was strong enough; the Body Refining process required by the Bronze Statue Skill was unnecessary for him.

Next was the Iron Statue Skill, which was slightly more troublesome.

The Iron Statue Skill, unlike the Iron Skin stage which focuses on refining the skin, Tempering the entire body, making it more complete overall. This was also not an issue for Gu Chang, as he had already undergone Marrow Refining.

Thus, after simple adjustments, he also Cultivated the Iron Statue Skill to the Perfection Realm.

The third stage was the Gold Statue Skill, representing the true meaning of indomitable Vajra. Once Cultivated, the entire body would have no obvious weak points, the physique would be as hard as Vajra, and the Aura would be unwavering. This stage not only required a sufficiently strong physique but, more crucially, also required understanding that special martial Dao will.

This would eventually allow one's essence, Qi, and spirit to achieve a high degree of Fusion, ultimately forming a Vajra body, complete and flawless.

To solve the problem of the martial Dao will, Gu Chang spent nearly ten days in the Reincarnation World.

After ten days, he finally understood its true meaning and completely Cultivated the Gold Statue Skill, his control over his body slightly advancing to a higher level.

Though it was only a slight improvement, it was already quite remarkable!

One must know that after Gu Chang's Marrow Refining, his strength was equivalent to an Innate Expert, and now, having Cultivated the Gold Statue Skill, a First-rate Expert Cultivation Technique, his strength had increased again. Such a feat would be considered incredible anywhere!

After Marrow Refining, the further one progresses, the more difficult it becomes; often, every slight improvement is highly significant.

After all, most things in the world are difficult when trying to advance further from a high point!

However, after successfully Cultivating the Gold Statue Skill, Gu Chang was at a loss when facing the Divine Statue Skill.

The Divine Statue Skill not only required Internal Energy to clear all the Meridians throughout the body but, more importantly, to condense the entire body's essence, Qi, and spirit, reshaping them into martial Dao Divine Intent, finally achieving a Divine Statue and opening the Heaven and Earth Divine Bridge!

This step alone had stumped countless heroes throughout history, and Gu Chang at least didn't believe his talent would allow him to Breakthrough this step in a short time.

"So, next, I'm afraid I'll still need to constantly try through painstaking effort, and at the same time, combine it with actual combat to Breakthrough to the Innate Realm!"

After more than ten days of further attempts, Gu Chang finally understood this point.

So he immediately stopped his original Cultivation method and chose to leave the valley encampment for Da Wu Mountain to find suitable opponents for life-and-death battles.

"Hmph!"

"Kill!"

"Boom!"

"Pfft! Crack!"

"Cough, cough, cough, you win!"

In Yunshan City, Gu Chang's old opponent, Yan Zhiliang, looked at the long spear piercing his chest, coughed up some blood, and then said this to Gu Chang, who was not significantly injured.

"Yes, I won!"

Gu Chang nodded slightly at his reply, then pulled out the long spear and turned to leave.

Watching him depart, none of the surrounding soldiers dared to stop him. After all, their strongest general, Yan Zhiliang, had been defeated by the opponent in a few moves; for them to go up would be meaningless except to die.

"After his Marrow Refining Major Achievement, he was no longer my opponent. Now that I've also Cultivated the Gold Statue Skill, I have a more precise mastery of my own strength, making him even less of a match for me."

"Next, I should look for martial artists who have achieved Marrow Refining Major Achievement or are even stronger. But where would such individuals be?"

After leaving Yunshan City, Gu Chang's gaze suddenly turned towards the distant provincial capital. He knew that the Xuan King would certainly have experts protecting him closely; perhaps they would be suitable opponents?

Thinking this, Gu Chang immediately set off. That very night, he stealthily entered the palace where the Xuan King resided.

In fact, he hadn't particularly hidden his tracks along the way; it was just that his speed was too fast, and his movements too light for ordinary soldiers and guards to detect him.

"Who goes there! Intruders into the royal palace die!"

However, as soon as Gu Chang arrived in this royal palace, he was immediately discovered by the martial artists hidden within.

"I am Gu Chang, here to seek guidance from the experts under the Xuan King. Please enlighten me!"

Upon hearing this roar, Gu Chang immediately understood that he had come to the right place; truly powerful experts were hidden here!

"Gu Chang? Where did this nameless junior come from?"

Immediately, a tall, imposing old man walked out from the dark royal residence buildings.

This person had a sturdy frame, full muscles, and extremely vigorous Qi and blood. Although he appeared to have white hair and beard, he showed no signs of aging; instead, he felt far stronger than a martial artist in his prime.

"Indeed, I am a nameless junior. Does one need sufficient renown to seek guidance from you?"

Gu Chang watched the opponent approach him step by step with a Dragon-like stride, feeling the constantly intensifying Aura of the opponent, yet he remained unmoved and continued to speak to him.

"Hahaha! You're a bold young man!"

"I didn't expect another promising young person to appear in this world!"

"Since you speak of seeking guidance, then come, let this old man test your capabilities!"

The old man stopped about ten feet in front of Gu Chang, then laughed heartily without a care, seemingly quite appreciative of Gu Chang.

"Then I shall offend you!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Chang instantly erupted, activating his Blood Fiend Body, causing a layer of crimson blood mist to entwine around him. He looked like a Hellish demon, and his strength rapidly increased under this stimulation.

Immediately, he swung his hundred-refined steel saber seven times simultaneously, like seven fierce tigers descending the mountain, roaring towards the opponent.

"Well done! To Cultivate this Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill to such a degree shows your extraordinary talent and that you have endured hardships unimaginable to ordinary people."

"But these tricks alone are far from enough to challenge this old man!"

Upon seeing this, the opponent was not afraid; instead, he began to offer guidance. At the same time, his Aura surged again, his entire body's Qi and blood like a blazing furnace, and a certain inexplicable oppressive Aura spread out from him.

Simultaneously, his hands became as brilliant as gold, and layers of scales adhered to his arms. Facing Gu Chang's fierce and sharp saber techniques, he transformed his hands into claws and directly met the attack!

"Clang! Ding! Clang-clang!"

"Crack!"

Only after Gu Chang retracted his saber did he realize that his hundred-refined military saber was already full of nicks, which showed just how hard the opponent's arms were.

"What martial art is this?"

Gu Chang couldn't help but frown. He realized that the opponent was definitely a powerful martial artist above the Marrow Refining Realm!

"Dragon Grasping Skill! Come, junior, continue, or are you afraid?"

The opponent did not proactively attack but calmly explained to him.

"Afraid? What a joke, when has Gu ever been afraid?"

"Clang~"

With that, Gu Chang directly threw away the nicks-filled military saber, then immediately used Vajra Fist, activating the Gold Statue Skill. His entire strength increased again, and his skin became as tough and powerful as Vajra!

His wide-open and wide-closing fist techniques instantly attacked the opponent like a barrage of cannonballs, while the old man used his pair of Dragon claws to steadily block Gu Chang's attacks.

"Good! Good! This already surpasses the scope of ordinary Marrow Refining martial artists!"

"Hahaha, this old man finds you more and more pleasing to the eye!"

He even had time to jest with Gu Chang while fighting him, clearly not using his full strength.

"Again! Wind Thunder Kick!"

"Vajra Immortal Body!"

"Blood Fiend Body!"

"Soul Shocking Roar!"

"..."

However, Gu Chang was not so relaxed. He fought more and more fiercely, becoming like a terrifying storm. Various combat techniques were unleashed wildly, and anything he touched nearby instantly shattered and was destroyed!

Yet, all these attacks, when they met the old man, were like a strong wind encountering a giant rock, completely unable to shake him!

"Boom! Bang!"

Finally, Gu Chang unleashed a fatal blow with all his might towards the opponent, but a terrifyingly powerful Aura and force enveloped Gu Chang's entire body from the opponent's claws.

At this moment, he felt as if he was facing not a living person, but a true primeval beast, a terrifying monster!

"Crack, crack, crack!"

"Bang! Pfft!"

Gu Chang's steel-like bones continuously fractured, his tough Vajra body shattered like glass, and a fierce surge of Internal Energy within him relentlessly destroyed his Meridians and internal organs.

This Internal Energy was like one vicious monster after another, destroying everything it could touch.

"Alas, I couldn't hold back this time. What a pity for a promising junior."

Looking at Gu Chang's body collapsing, the opponent couldn't help but shake his head, seemingly filled with regret. However, Gu Chang at this moment couldn't even utter a single word; his life force was being rapidly extinguished by that special Internal Energy.