Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 167 Tempering (Please subscribe, godfathers!)

Deep within the Qingyan Mountains lies a pool of volcanic magma.

Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on the rock that was scorching hot from the lava, no more than three feet away from the rolling lava.

He did not use his protective aura.

He activated his Golden Marrow Body to its fullest extent, golden light flowing beneath his skin as the intense heat, enough to char an ordinary martial artist, licked at his flesh.

The sweat evaporates as soon as it seeps out, condensing into a thin layer of salt frost on the skin.

With each breath, I inhaled scalding hot air, as if it were setting my lungs ablaze.

He opened his right palm, and the Fire Element Crystal lay quietly in his palm.

The fist-sized crystal was entirely crimson red, with flowing fire-like patterns inside, as if a flame that would never be extinguished was sealed within it.

Even at the edge of this magma pool, the scorching heat emanating from the Fire Element Crystal was still clearly discernible; it was a purer form of fire energy, completely different from earth fire.

Chen Jianghe closed his eyes and focused his mind on his dantian.

Within his dantian, five colors of light—gold, blue, red, yellow, and indigo—rotated in a ring.

The crimson light was the faintest among them, and compared to the other four, fire attribute was always his weakest link.

That day in Wild Wolf Valley, when he fought Tu Lie head-on, the reason he was sent flying by a single palm strike from a True Yuan Realm cultivator was not only due to the difference in cultivation levels, but more importantly, because his fire attribute foundation was unstable, and the Five Colors Cycle experienced a slight stagnation at the crucial moment.

That slight hesitation almost cost him his life.

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath and activated the "Nine Heavens Fiery Prison Technique".

The Fire Crystal suddenly lit up!

A surge of immense fire-attribute energy flowed from his palm, rushing straight to his dantian along his meridians!

The energy was intense and violent, like a fire dragon that had been imprisoned for a hundred years, tearing everything in its path!

Chen Jianghe shuddered, and the veins on his forehead bulged!

The essence of Fire Element Crystal, condensed over a century, is far superior to ordinary elixirs.

Wherever the energy passes, the meridians are scorched and sizzle, as if molten iron is flowing through the blood vessels.

Even with his strong, golden marrow body, he was in so much pain that he almost cried out.

But he gritted his teeth and remained motionless.

The intense heat of the magma pool scorched him from the outside, while the energy of the fire elemental crystal burned him from the inside. Under this combined attack, the fire attribute power within his body began to surge wildly.

The crimson light grew stronger and stronger in his dantian, like the rising sun, dimming the other four colors.

When the Nine Heavens Fiery Prison Technique was pushed to its limit, he guided that violent energy to repeatedly cleanse his meridians, temper his flesh and blood, and condense his inner energy.

With each cycle, the fire element solidifies further, and the crimson light becomes even purer.

The skin cracked, and fresh blood seeped out. The blood was baked into scabs by the high temperature, and then the scabs cracked again and seeped out again.

The cycle repeats endlessly, like being slowly sliced ​​to death.

But Chen Jianghe's mind remained clear as still water.

The sea of ​​consciousness tempered by the Wind Spirit Jade Hammer played a tremendous role at this moment.

Those tearing pains were peeled away and isolated layer by layer, transforming into simple perception rather than torment.

He could clearly perceive how the energy of the Fire Element Crystal was integrated into his meridians, how it merged with the fire-attribute force in his dantian, and how it gradually pushed that crimson light to the same height as the other four gates.

Chi Huo squatted three zhang away, his small body taut and straight.

Its scarlet golden eyes were fixed on the Fire Element Crystal in Chen Jianghe's palm, its gaze full of covetousness, yet it dared not approach it even a fraction of a second.

It knew that the thing was important to its owner and should not be disturbed.

But the aura emanating from the Fire Crystal was simply too tempting.

That was the purest fire-attribute energy in the world, which was like honey to a bear for a demon beast like Crimson Fire, whose bloodline was endowed with fire-attribute talent.

It sniffed, scratched the ground with its little paws, and finally sat down obediently, but couldn't help taking a few more breaths of the energy dissipating in the air.

The wisps of fire elemental crystal energy surged into his body, making the golden patterns under his crimson fur even more dazzling.

The ancient bloodline within it is gradually awakening and growing stronger under the nourishment of this fire-attribute energy.

For several days, Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged, motionless.

The Fire Crystal slowly shrank in his palm, and its crimson light gradually dimmed.

Meanwhile, the fire-attribute qi within his body was condensing and rising at a visible speed.

Chi Huo squatted to the side, equally motionless.

It no longer passively absorbs the dissipated energy, but instead, like Chen Jianghe, clumsily begins to operate on some kind of instinct.

The general method of breathing exercises.

That is a technique passed down deep within its bloodline, a legacy left to it by its ancient ancestors.

With each breath, a trace of the Fire Element Crystal's essence was drawn into the body, merging into the bloodline and strengthening the long-dormant power.

The golden patterns beneath its fur, which were originally faintly visible, became increasingly clear, as if someone had embroidered intricate textures on its crimson fur with gold thread.

Half a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Chen Jianghe suddenly opened his eyes!

A flash of crimson light appeared in his eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky, brilliant but fleeting.

He looked down at his palm; the Fire Crystal had turned to dust, leaving only a wisp of dark red powder that dissipated with a gust of wind.

He stood up.

Despite sitting still for half a month, my body didn't feel stiff at all; on the contrary, I felt lighter and more energetic than before.

Within his dantian, five-colored light swirled in a ring, with the crimson light advancing in unison with the other four colors, showing no sign of being inferior.

Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—the five elements are in balance.

The five forces are interconnected, mutually generating and restraining each other, yet harmoniously integrated.

The cycle was more than twice as fast as before. Each rotation brought with it an extremely powerful wave that spread along the meridians to the limbs and bones.

He clenched his right fist and threw a punch at the rock wall beside him.

The fist energy burst forth!

It was a crimson fist aura, so pure that it had no other colors, yet within that crimson, there was a faint hint of gold.

That was the product of the perfect fusion of the power of the Golden Marrow Body and the fire-attribute Qi.

"boom!"

The loud noise echoed through the cave, sending rocks flying everywhere!

Chen Jianghe withdrew his fist and looked down at his fist.

The crimson aura on his fist slowly receded, leaving his skin completely unharmed, without even a red mark.

Half a month ago, he punched the same rock wall, leaving only a fist mark about a foot deep, and had to withstand the recoil.

Today's punch was more than three times stronger, yet the recoil was completely neutralized by the Golden Marrow Body and the Five Elements Cycle, as if...

Like a clay ox sinking into the sea.

He looked down at the crimson fire.

The little creature was squatting three zhang away, staring at him expectantly with its scarlet golden eyes.

Half a month later, it had grown even bigger, from about a foot long to a foot and a half long. The golden patterns under its fur became even more dazzling, like fine lightning bolts weaving and flowing among its crimson fur.

When it saw Chen Jianghe looking at it, it immediately jumped up excitedly, kicked its short legs, and buried its head in his arms, rubbing its fluffy little head against his chest, making rapid and joyful whimpers in its throat.

Chen Jianghe reached out and caught it. It was warm to the touch and much heavier than it had been half a month ago.

He stroked its little head and then its fur. When his fingertips touched the golden patterns, he could clearly feel the intense power contained within them.

"You've grown up," he said softly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "And you've become stronger too."

Chi Huo poked his head out from his arms, nodded vigorously, then leaped down, landed on the ground and assumed a tiger-shaped fist starting stance, punching the rock wall next to the fist pit from before!

A crimson fist-shaped aura shot out, a full circle thicker than it had been half a month ago, with an intense fiery aura rushing towards you!

"Bang!"

Another fist-shaped crater appeared on the rock wall. Although it was not as powerful as Chen Jianghe's punch, it was not much different from a full-force strike from a peak-level Qi cultivator.

Chi Huo withdrew his fist, turned to look at Chen Jianghe, and held his head high, looking like he was saying, "I'm pretty awesome too."

Chen Jianghe couldn't help but laugh when he saw its smug little face.

He crouched down and reached out to rub its little head: "Good job. Time to go back."

Chi Huo nodded, leaped onto his shoulder, and skillfully burrowed into his clothes, leaving only his little head peeking out. He placed his tiny paws, clasped in his silver-red boxing gloves, on his collar.

Chen Jianghe turned around and strode towards the cave exit.

Behind them, the lava pool continued to churn, and the crimson light and shadow were gradually left behind, disappearing into the darkness.

Lingmuyuan, quiet room.

Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on the couch, with a century-old jar of tiger bone wine in front of him.

The earthenware wine jar, about half a person's height, bears the five powerful characters "Centennial Tiger Bone Wine" on its surface, which gleam with an antique luster under the candlelight.

Even before the seal was broken, a faint aroma of wine wafted out from the cracks in the jar's mouth. The fragrance carried the strength of tiger bone and the warmth of medicinal herbs, and smelling it made one feel a sense of warmth throughout their body.

Without hesitation, he slapped open the seal.

"Snapped!"

The red clay shattered, and the rich, mellow aroma of wine instantly filled the entire quiet room.

The aroma was strong; one breath and you felt a surge of heat rush to your lower abdomen, warming your internal organs.

Chen Jianghe picked up the wine jar with both hands, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

The liquor went down my throat like swallowing a ball of fire!

The burning sensation traveled from my throat all the way to my stomach, then exploded from my stomach, transforming into countless streams of heat that surged through my limbs and bones!

Every inch of meridian, every piece of flesh, and every bone was ignited in that instant!

The body made of golden marrow began to function instinctively.

A thunderous roar came from deep within the bones, a sign that the bone marrow was frantically absorbing the medicinal power.

Golden light emanated from the bones, illuminating the flesh, the meridians, and the internal organs.

The medicinal power of the century-old tiger bone wine transforms into countless fine streams, seeping into every inch of bone marrow and merging with the golden light.

But the drug was too potent.

This century-old vintage, refined primarily with tiger bone, possesses unparalleled medicinal potency.

An ordinary martial artist with the strength of qi would need to lie on his bed for three days and three nights to refine the essence of the drink after just one sip.

The amount that Chen Jianghe gulped down was enough for an ordinary martial artist to drink ten times over.

The violent medicinal power surged through the meridians, showing signs of spiraling out of control.

Just then, a withered hand pressed against his back.

Han Shuitian's voice came from behind, old and steady: "Keep your mind calm, I will lend you a hand."

A gentle yet profound flow of true energy surged into his palm, like a calm river, enveloping the violent medicinal power within and guiding it to flow slowly.

Without suppressing or forcibly controlling, simply guide the energy, allowing it to gradually penetrate deep into the bones along the natural flow of the meridians.

Chen Jianghe took a deep breath and steadied himself.

With his golden marrow body fully activated, the thunder deep within his bones grew louder and denser. Guided by Han Shuitian's true essence, the medicinal power of the century-old tiger bone wine no longer surged recklessly, but instead flowed like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, completely merging into his bone marrow.

The golden light grew brighter and brighter.

Three days and three nights passed in the blink of an eye.

Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on the couch, motionless.

The wine jar in front of him was empty; the last sip of tiger bone wine had been drunk last night.

Han Shuitian remained seated behind him, his withered hand pressed against his back.

For three days and three nights, it did not move an inch.

His old eyes were slightly closed, but his mind never left the increasingly powerful force within Chen Jianghe's body.

He could sense that the five elements circulation within that kid's body was undergoing some kind of qualitative change.

The first rays of morning light pierced the windowpane and entered the quiet room.

In that instant, Chen Jianghe suddenly opened his eyes!

Within the body, the five colors circulate simultaneously!

The five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are interconnected, rotating in a cycle. But this time, that cycle is no longer slow and peaceful.

The five forces, like five surging rivers, flowed wildly in the dantian, growing faster and faster, and their momentum becoming stronger and stronger!

Metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth generates metal.

With each rotation, the five forces solidify further, and the five-colored light merges more.

At first, the five colors of gold, green, red, yellow and blue could be distinguished, but as the cycle became faster and faster, the five colors gradually blurred and merged, turning into a chaotic gray light!

The gray light surged endlessly in his dantian, like the first ray of light at the beginning of time, chaotic, primordial, yet containing boundless power.

Half-step True Essence!

The long-standing chasm between the protective qi and the true essence was finally torn open.

Although he hasn't fully crossed the threshold, he's already standing on it, just one last step away.

Chen Jianghe looked down at his hands.

The gray light flowed in my palm, warm and smooth like jade, yet it also possessed an indescribable weight.

That was neither Qi nor True Essence, but a power somewhere in between, the ultimate that the peak of Qi could achieve.

He brought up the system panel:

[Destiny: Diligence is rewarded by Heaven; success is inevitable]

[Current Skill: Withered Tree Rejuvenates (Mysterious 95%)]

He was just one step away from reaching the True Essence Realm.

Behind him, Han Shuitian slowly withdrew his hand.

The three days and three nights of protecting the Dharma were also a great drain on this elderly man who was over seventy years old.

His face was paler than usual, but his heart was filled with relief.

"Good lad." He spoke, his voice filled with barely suppressed joy, "Half-step True Essence. It hasn't been long at all and you're already half-step True Essence!"

Chen Jianghe turned around and solemnly kowtowed to Han Shuitian: "This disciple thanks the academy master for protecting the Dharma."

Han Shuitian waved his hand and laughed, "What are you thanking me for? My old bones can still move, and I'll help you as much as I can. After you go to Yuzhou and join the Divine Form Sect, even if I wanted to help, I wouldn't be able to."

Chen Jianghe looked up and met his gaze: "Master, that's enough." Han Shuitian interrupted him, stood up, and walked to the window with his hands behind his back. "Half-step True Essence is just the beginning, not the end. This last step is more difficult than all the previous steps combined."

He turned around and looked at Chen Jianghe with a deep gaze: "Gu Changqing was stuck at this step back then, and could not make any progress in his life."

You have an advantage over him, but also a greater risk. With all five elements advancing simultaneously, once you break through, your foundation will be far more profound than others at the same level. But what if you fail?

He didn't finish speaking, but Chen Jianghe already understood.

If it fails, the five elements will clash, the vital energy will run rampant, and the meridians will be severed.

Gu Changqing's fate serves as a cautionary tale.

Chen Jianghe stood up, walked to the window, and stood side by side with Han Shuitian.

Outside the window, the first rays of dawn illuminate the rolling mountains, which appear and disappear in the thin mist, like a splashed ink painting.

"Master," he said slowly, "from the very first day I embarked on this path, I never considered turning back."

Han Shuitian turned to look at him.

The morning light shone on that young face, highlighting its sharply defined features.

Those eyes radiated a kind of unwavering determination that was impossible to ignore.

It's not the impetuousness of youth, but the composure etched into one's very bones after experiencing life and death.

Looking into those eyes, Han Shuitian suddenly remembered that many years ago, a young man had stood in front of him, saying similar things.

That young man's name is Li Chengyue.

Later, he got into trouble, his martial arts career ended, and he ran a martial arts school in Yilin County for twenty years.

But his disciple stands here today, walking the path he didn't finish walking back then.

Han Shuitian reached out and patted Chen Jianghe heavily on the shoulder.

"Go," Han Shuitian said. "The Divine Form Sect selection is imminent. I'm waiting to see how you navigate this path."