49: Successful breakthrough

As his consciousness returned, Gu Chang still clearly remembered the feeling of burning everything to condense his Martial Dao Divine Will.

This was also his greatest gain this time; apart from this, he gained nothing else.

After all, both Cultivation Techniques were burned to ashes by him in the end, so even if he wanted to exchange them, he wouldn't get anything.

"The foundation is not solid enough, mainly in terms of physique, Qi and blood, and Internal Energy. Next, I still need to continuously temper my body, strengthen my Qi and blood and Internal Energy. Only after I can no longer improve will I start trying to Breakthrough!"

The greatest benefit of the Reincarnation World was that Gu Chang could make mistakes without any reservations. As long as he had enough Reincarnation Points, even if he died a hundred times, it would be worth it if he could achieve his goal!

However, it was already dawn. Gu Chang still followed his old habits of maintaining normal activities and practicing martial arts during the day.

Inside the Divine Image Sect, the female Disciple Xie Wanling had already gotten up early to practice martial arts.

Honestly, a horizontal Cultivation Technique like Divine Statue Skill was clearly much more difficult for women. To Breakthrough to the First-rate Expert Realm, one needed to put in much more effort than ordinary people could imagine.

The fact that she could become a second-rate expert at such a young age, relying on her own talent and hard work, was enough to prove her extraordinary nature.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

At this moment, Xie Wanling was tempering her body and absorbing medicinal power to strengthen her physique within the Divine Image Sect's specially made medicinal sandbag array.

"This child has always been resolute. If she were a man, the Divine Image Sect might not have lost its chance to rise again!"

"It's a pity that Heaven is blind; she was only sent to me a few years ago."

Yue Buzhou, the Sect Leader of the Divine Image Sect, stood beside Gu Chang, watching Xie Wanling practice martial arts, sighing endlessly.

"Her talent is indeed good, but your Divine Image Sect's secret medicine consumption is too high. An ordinary family would go bankrupt just to buy one set, and over time, even a landlord couldn't afford it."

Gu Chang nodded slightly and also complained to him. He had seen the secret medicine for Divine Statue Skill, and he could only say that its consumption was even greater than that of Xuanbing Blood Fiend Skill!

Moreover, the different stages of Bronze Statue Skill, Iron Statue Skill, Gold Statue Skill, and Divine Statue Skill required medicinal materials of vastly different ages.

After reaching Gold Statue Skill, the required medicinal materials often needed to be decades old, while Divine Statue Skill required medicinal materials over a hundred years old.

Even if these medicinal materials existed now, they were incredibly rare. How could they be used in large quantities like consumables?

From this perspective alone, the decline of the Divine Image Sect was absolutely natural.

"Alas, back then, the Divine Image Sect had thousands of acres of fertile land dedicated to cultivating various medicinal materials, but now..."

Yue Buzhou's expression also dimmed upon hearing this. He couldn't help but think of the Divine Image Sect's glorious past, but now, it was too late to say anything.

"Never mind. After she finishes her training, have her come find me!"

Seeing his appearance, Gu Chang didn't want to strike him down further, lest he choke and Gu Chang cause trouble for himself for no reason.

"Yes, as Senior commands!"

Yue Buzhou didn't ask further and agreed directly. As a smart person, he knew what to do and what not to do.

After speaking, Gu Chang left on his own and returned to his houseboat by the Wu River.

Then he started a fire to boil snake soup. This kind of greatly nourishing Qi and blood item was good for him and other Martial Artists.

Since he had already agreed to the other party, he naturally had to try his best to fulfill his promise.

"Gurgle~"

Time passed, and the aroma of the snake soup spread. Xie Wanling's figure quietly appeared on the shore, but this woman did not board the boat rashly; instead, she waited silently.

"Your talent is good, and your comprehension of Divine Statue Skill is not an issue. The only flaw is that as a woman, your Qi and blood are not abundant enough."

"From now on, you will come here at this time every day to drink a bowl of meat soup, and then immediately refine its benefits. If all goes well, you will definitely be able to Breakthrough to the Gold Statue Body Realm within a month."

When the snake soup was ready, Gu Chang's figure quietly appeared. He then handed her a bowl of snake soup and instructed her.

"Yes, Xie Wanling thanks Senior for your guidance!"

The other party respectfully agreed, then took the snake soup and drank it mouthful by mouthful.

Soon, after drinking the snake soup, Xie Wanling's entire body began to turn red, and the surging Qi and blood within her body became very restless. So, she immediately stopped caring about anything else and began to practice martial arts.

The entire process lasted for almost an hour before she felt the Qi and blood in her body begin to calm down.

"Go, rest well, and continue tomorrow!"

Gu Chang also drank the snake soup, but he did not move, instead allowing his powerful physique to absorb the immense power of Qi and blood.

"Understood!"

Xie Wanling respectfully bowed and agreed, then quickly left and returned to the Divine Image Sect.

"There's still a lot of snake meat and tiger meat left; it should be enough for a short period."

"However, the Reincarnation World is still lacking something. Next, I should take a trip to Da Wu Mountain."

Thus, Gu Chang lived a life of practicing Cultivation Technique during the day, occasionally guiding Xie Wanling, and at night, continuously tempering his body, accumulating strength, and strengthening his foundation in the Reincarnation World.

Due to the ample time in the Reincarnation World, Gu Chang constantly ventured deep into Da Wu Mountain or sought out the Refining Spirit Expert Zheng Lieya for combat.

Gradually, Gu Chang's strength became increasingly powerful. His physique, Qi and blood, and Internal Energy were all elevated to a level where they could no longer be improved.

Even his Divine Statue Skill became stronger and stronger under his continuous training. At this moment, he was only a hair's breadth away from Breaking Through to the Divine Statue Body Realm, but to reach the Refining Spirit Realm, Gu Chang still stopped.

"Hoo~ Haa~"

Inside the mountain valley encampment, Gu Chang's chest constantly rose and fell. His body was full of vigorous Qi and blood like a furnace, and the surging Internal Energy within him circulated endlessly, burning fiercely.

At the same time, a large amount of stewed barbarian beef was placed in front of him, ready for him to consume at any time.

"It's today! It's now!"

Finally, Gu Chang felt his heart surging. His entire being—spirit, body, and will—reached its Peak moment.

So, without any hesitation, he immediately began to circulate his Internal Energy to incinerate his entire body. Instantly, the vast Qi and blood within him ignited, his Vajra Body began to burn, and a scarlet, invisible flame enveloped his entire being.

"Boom! Rumble!"

Violent power spread outwards from him as the center. Grass and trees within ten feet were immediately ignited. At this moment, he looked like a human-shaped high-temperature furnace!

Internal Energy, Qi and blood, body, spirit, and will—everything he possessed was fused together at this moment.

Finally, this power condensed into a torrent of Internal Energy, like a mighty river, soaring straight into the sky!

"Boom!"

At this moment, Gu Chang could clearly feel that some barrier within his body had been broken through. The world in his eyes became clearer, more diverse, and more vivid.

It turned out that the world in his eyes had always seemed to be separated by a layer of frosted glass. Now, this layer of glass had disappeared, and the world presented before him was the true world!

However, immediately after, Gu Chang felt an unimaginable dryness. Because he perceived it so clearly, he could understand how "barren" and "dry" this world truly was.

"No wonder! No wonder it's like this!"

"No wonder Zheng Lieya said that after Breaking Through to the Refining Spirit Realm, one could no longer advance further!"

"This is the reason. This world simply does not have what Refining Spirit Martial Artists need, like fish out of water or birds without air. No matter how powerful they are, they cannot continue to advance."

Gu Chang, who had reopened his eyes, finally understood, but he only felt a slight regret in his heart.

Because, after all, he was not a person of this world. The real world had Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi that this world did not!

Understanding this point, Gu Chang immediately began to consume large amounts of barbarian beef to replenish the consumption of this Breakthrough to the Refining Spirit Realm.

In fact, to Breakthrough to the Refining Spirit Realm, his entire body's Qi and blood, flesh, and Internal Energy were almost completely consumed. At this moment, he looked like a gaunt beggar, completely lacking the demeanor of a Refining Spirit Expert.

However, as he ate hundreds of pounds of barbarian beef, his entire body began to swell again.

At this moment, his muscles were bulging, his Qi and blood were like a furnace, True Gang Internal Energy circulated within his Meridians, and the Heaven and Earth Divine Bridge had already opened, ready to draw in external Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi at any time.

That's right, Gu Chang Broke Through to the Refining Spirit Realm, and at the same time, his Divine Statue Skill also Broke Through, allowing him to officially reach the Divine Statue Body Realm.