Chapter 99: Chapter 95: Power Realm Level 3

Liuhe Sect, Underground Training Chamber.

The training chamber wasn’t large. Its walls and floor were constructed from grayish-white stone. Despite being underground, it had good ventilation and lighting, making it possible to see the room’s interior clearly without a lamp.

"Let’s begin!"

Zhu Huaishan said, pointing to the open space in the center. He then retreated to the wall.

"Yes!"

Zhao Lin drew in his chest and gathered his qi. He suddenly took a step forward, twisted his body to the left, and swung his right arm up in an arc, raising it to strike fiercely with his elbow as if it were a fist.

The opening move of the Six Harmonies Fist: Tiger Embraces Head.

He let out a sharp cry: "Hah!"

His body was already on the verge of a breakthrough, like a vessel filled to the point of overflowing. He only needed to circulate his Qi and Blood at full power to naturally charge through the barrier.

After completing one set of the Six Harmonies Fist, he continued with a second, then a third...

Zhao Lin felt his entire body heat up. An immense tension arose from the fascia and tendons throughout his limbs, pulling them back. He countered with an even greater force, pushing in the opposite direction.

The two forces warred within his body, pulling and tearing at each other, and soon the sound of his tendons ringing arose.

THWANG THWANG THWANG... CRACK CRACK CRACK...

At first, it was merely the low, muffled thrum of a bowstring. Then, it sharpened into the crisp crack of a whip.

In the end, the sounds layered, echoing thunderously like waves crashing against the shore, like the roars of tigers and the cries of apes.

Zhu Huaishan watched Zhao Lin with a complex expression. He had undergone tendon refinement himself and had witnessed others do so many times, but he had never seen such a magnificent display.

’What incredibly resilient tendons!’

He mused silently, ’As your master, I’m truly curious... just how far will you be able to go?’

After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Zhao Lin’s five senses suddenly sharpened.

The fine dust motes floating in the air, the ants crawling back and forth on the floor in the corner, the faintly damp scent of earth in his nostrils...

Every perception was incomparably clear.

Immediately following this, a piercing whistle, sharp enough to pierce clouds and shatter stone, emanated from his body.

TWWAAANG...

’Success!’

Zhao Lin’s whole body trembled. He slowly completed the Six Harmonies Fist set, savoring the changes brought by the breakthrough.

The improvements were all-encompassing: strength, speed, endurance, agility, flexibility...

And his hearing.

The training chamber was too small for him to hear distant sounds, but he could clearly sense that the "precision" of his echolocation had improved dramatically.

With his back to Zhu Huaishan, he could vibrate his throat at a high frequency, and by interpreting the returning ultrasonic waves, he could accurately judge changes in facial expression, deducing whether the person was laughing or crying.

"The phenomena of tendon refinement are divided into nine grades, and the whistling arrow sound is the highest of the high."

Zhu Huaishan walked over, beaming. "If this were the Xingyun Sect, with a performance like today’s, you could directly enter the inner court and become a core disciple."

"It is all thanks to Master’s excellent guidance." Zhao Lin offered his master a bit of flattery.

Zhu Huaishan was quite pleased by this. He laughed heartily and, stroking his beard, said, "For the next two days, just focus on consolidating your cultivation. Once your body adapts to this new realm, we can consider having you take the Moisturizing Pill."

"As for the matter of your successful tendon refinement..."

"Don’t worry, Master. I will not tell a soul."

...

"Brother Zhao, you seem a little different today."

That evening, when Zhao Lin returned to the constables’ quarters, Liang Song spoke up the moment he saw him.

Although Zhao Lin was the chief constable and Liang Song was just a regular constable, neither of them cared about their difference in rank, addressing each other in private just as they always had.

Zhao Lin’s heart tightened. "How so?"

"I can’t quite put my finger on it."

Liang Song scratched his hair. "You’re walking with more power, like you’re creating a breeze. Your whole energy and spirit are different."

"Well, that’s a good thing. They say heaven has three treasures—the sun, moon, and stars—while a person has their own three treasures—essence, energy, and spirit."

Zhao Lin relaxed and joked.

Over the next two days, Zhao Lin continued to practice his martial arts in the front courtyard.

However, he was no longer tempering his sinews and bones. Instead, he focused his energy on the breathing techniques of the Six-Syllable Mantra, as well as his fist and staff forms.

Zhu Huaishan had taught him a Cultivation Technique called the "Sea Return Skill."

This was a qi-cultivating technique, its name evoking the image of a river flowing a thousand miles to return to the great sea.

Zhu Huaishan had told him to familiarize himself with it, as after taking the Moisturizing Pill, the Sea Return Skill would be the key to unlocking the gate to the Qi Realm.

Zhao Lin was greatly looking forward to finally possessing this thing called "qi."

The Power Realm was, in essence, still within the scope of strengthening the physical body. Only by entering the Qi Realm could one be considered to have truly stepped through the threshold of the martial path.

’In the Power Realm, I can be considered invincible among those at the same level. I hope the same will be true after I enter the Qi Realm.’

...

The Hongyang River, on the border of Ying Province and Wu Province.

During autumn and winter, the current was sluggish, and the pebbles, sand, and silt on the riverbed were clearly visible through the water.

"Across this river lies Ying Province."

A lean, sharp-featured, white-robed old man stood by the river’s edge, his hands clasped behind his back. He spoke slowly to the youth beside him.

The youth was about fifteen or sixteen years old. A Long Sword hung from his waist, and he was dressed in practical martial attire, but a hint of worry clouded his features.

"Grandfather, do you think they’ll be willing to part with the Moisturizing Pill?"

The white-robed old man chuckled. "Why wouldn’t he? I’ve already made inquiries. The young man who obtained the Moisturizing Pill is named Zhao Lin. He’s not yet twenty and has only just completed his bone refinement."

"Qinghe County is a small place. It’s impressive that he’s even reached this stage, but it will take him at least two or three years before he’s ready for tendon refinement."

"The Moisturizing Pill is completely useless to him right now."

The youth grunted in acknowledgment. "But it’s human nature, isn’t it? Even if you can’t use something yourself, you wouldn’t just give it away."

The white-robed old man smiled. "True enough. That’s why I’ve prepared some terms that should be more than enough to tempt them."

"As long as he’s willing to part with the Moisturizing Pill, I’ll promise him a spot in the outer court. If he’s short-sighted and doesn’t want to come to Yan Province, then I’ll supply him with two years’ worth of Jindou Pills to aid his tendon refinement, free of charge."

"His master, Zhu Huaishan, also came from our Xingyun Sect. He only has the formula for the Vajra Pill, which is far less effective than the Jindou Pill."

"Either way, it’s a good deal for them. Don’t you agree?"

The youth thought for a moment before saying, "Grandfather, I just tried to put myself in his shoes. If I were Zhao Lin, I’m afraid..."

"Afraid of what? Speak your mind!"

"I would still want the Moisturizing Pill. The terms you’re offering are for immediate gain—sweet now, bitter later. Keeping the Moisturizing Pill is bitter now, sweet later. If it were me, I’d choose the latter."

The white-robed old man nodded slightly. "If he truly has your foresight, then I’ll add another condition: I will return a Moisturizing Pill to him next year or the year after."

"In truth, this Moisturizing Pill should have been yours. The sect prepared six of them for the end of the year, and you were sixth in line. Who would have thought a bounty from years ago would suddenly be claimed?"

"And Elder Fan... it’s true he is just and impartial, but sometimes he’s far too rigid. To insist on honoring an old debt from decades ago?"

The youth sighed softly. "Grandfather, when we get there, let’s try to negotiate in good faith. If he really doesn’t agree, please don’t use force."

"At most, I’ll just have to wait another half a year or a year. I’ll definitely be first in line for the next Moisturizing Pill."

The corner of the white-robed old man’s mouth twitched. "You... you understand everything, but you’re just too soft-hearted."

"He’s just some kid from a county seat. How can he compare to you?"

"Even though the sect promised to give you priority for a Moisturizing Pill mid-year, a six-month delay is still a delay. It’s unnecessary!"