Physical enlightenment begins with Xingyi Quan

Chapter 92 Humiliation (Please subscribe!)

Lingmu Academy, a secluded meditation room.

Chen Jianghe sat cross-legged on the couch, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and deep.

After six months of seclusion, his sharp edge had become even more restrained. Sitting there now, he was like a withered tree, devoid of life.

Only deep within the dantian, a wisp of pure and refined energy slowly circulates, each cycle drawing the body's qi and blood to resonate in unison.

That was a sign that the second level of the "Dead Tree Comes Back to Life" technique, "No Leakage," was about to be completed.

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

[Current Skill: Withered Tree Rejuvenates (90% Flawless)]

Chen Jianghe slowly opened his eyes.

In the past six months, he has cultivated the second level of the "Dead Tree Comes Back to Spring" technique to 90%, only one step away from the moment when the Qi will be generated naturally, which will be the beginning of the Qi cultivation.

Over the past six months, he has visited the armory several times, scouring all the medical texts for information on "backlash of internal energy" and...

The record of "bone-corroding poison" is still only a few scattered lines: "This injury is difficult to treat and requires rare and precious medicines to nourish the meridians."

"Those who commit this poison will have their foundations destroyed, and this cannot be reversed without a change of fortune."

That's all.

Chen Jianghe closed his eyes.

Master is still lying on that bed in Yilin County, in a coma.

Every two weeks, Su Derong would send someone a letter, which always contained the same few sentences: "Master Li's pulse is stable, but he is still in a coma," "Doctor Qin said he needs to rest patiently," and "Don't worry, junior brother."

Don't worry about it.

How can we not recite it?

Chen Jianghe clenched his fists.

He needs greater strength and a higher status to access those "rare and precious medicines" and to find that "great opportunity".

Gangjin (罡劲).

Only by stepping into the Gang Jin realm can one truly enter the inner sanctum of the Xingyi School and be qualified to enter the third level of the Martial Armory.

Just as he was about to continue his seclusion, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the courtyard gate.

The sound shouldn't have reached this place, as it was separated by the courtyard wall and the bamboo grove.

But the speaker seemed to have deliberately raised his voice, each word clearly carried into the quiet room.

"—Do you know Chen Jianghe?"

"I know him, he's from Lingmu Academy. He single-handedly took down the Caoshui Gang at the Caohe Ferry. I heard he's pretty good."

"Impressive? Hey, do you know who his master is?"

"Who?"

"Li Chengyue".

"Li Chengyue? That name... sounds familiar..."

"A genius from the Golden Pivot Academy twenty years ago, he broke through the Gang Realm at twenty-two and touched the threshold of True Essence at thirty. Impressive, right?"

'

"Then how come I've never heard of this person?"

"Because he's crippled."

The voice paused, then turned undisguisedly mocking: "Twenty years ago, he took on a mission, fell into an ambush, his junior brother died in battle, and he himself was poisoned, his foundation in internal energy was completely destroyed, and he slunk out of the Xingyi Sect, ending up in a run-down place like Yilin County where he opened a martial arts school. A prodigy? He was nothing but a piece of trash."

Hahahaha

A burst of unrestrained laughter.

"Since Chen Jianghe is that good-for-nothing's disciple, he's probably nothing special. The Caoshui Gang? Just a bunch of rabble. Even a peak-level expert from our Golden Pivot Academy could handle them. What's there to brag about?"

"Exactly! Someone from Lingmu Academy, practicing medicine and hidden weapons, what right does he have to wield the spears of our Jinshu Academy? The Tianshu Breaking Formation Spear is a waste in his hands!"

Chen Jianghe slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were calm.

But beneath that calm, a cold glint was hidden.

His master was the most untouchable taboo in his heart.

He can tolerate others' contempt for him, he can tolerate their difficulties, and he can tolerate their ridicule.

But not my master.

During that ambush, the master protected his junior brother and fought his way out of the encirclement, but he himself was poisoned, which destroyed his foundation, and he remained silent for twenty years.

Such a person should not be insulted like this.

Chen Jianghe got up, put on his outer robe, and went out the door.

Outside the courtyard gate, five figures stood at the edge of the bamboo forest.

The leader was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a stern face, and dressed in the Jinshu Academy's tight-fitting clothes.

Behind him stood four people, all dressed in the attire of the Golden Pivot Academy, each possessing a powerful aura, all at the peak of the Transformation Realm.

The leader was in the middle of a lively conversation when he suddenly saw Chen Jianghe push open the door and come out. He was slightly taken aback, then a smile appeared on his lips.

"Oh, isn't this Junior Brother Chen? What's wrong? Were you disturbed during your seclusion? Please forgive us, we were speaking a bit too loudly."

He clasped his hands in a perfunctory manner, his eyes full of provocation.

Chen Jianghe looked at him and slowly asked, "Who are you?"

"Me?" The man smiled. "Zhao Kun from the Golden Pivot Academy. Peak of the Transformation Realm, five years into my apprenticeship. Junior Brother Chen should have heard of me, right?"

Chen Jianghe did not answer.

Zhao Kun.

He had indeed heard of that name before.

Sun Yuhai's personal disciple, a top performer among the Transformation Realm generation at the Golden Pivot Academy, is said to be on track to reach the Gang Realm within three to five years.

"Junior Brother Chen," Zhao Kun stepped forward with a beaming smile, "we were chatting just now and mentioned your master, Li Chengyue. We called him a good-for-nothing. You don't mind, do you? We were just telling the truth. A genius from twenty years ago, now he's just a nobody running a martial arts school in a small county town—what's he called again? Right, a down-and-out."

His four disciples behind him burst into laughter again.

Chen Jianghe remained motionless.

He simply looked at Zhao Kun, his gaze strangely calm.

"Are you done talking?" he asked.

Zhao Kun was taken aback: "What?"

"If you've finished speaking, then get out." Chen Jianghe turned and walked into the courtyard.

Zhao Kun's expression changed.

He hadn't expected Chen Jianghe to be so calm. According to his plan, Chen Jianghe should have been furious, should have taken action, and should have been given a legitimate opportunity to "spar".

At that time, he could trample this Lingmu Academy disciple, who was favored by the academy master, under his feet in front of everyone, and let everyone see that the spear technique of Jinshu Academy is not something that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can learn.

But Chen Jianghe actually turned around and left?

"Stop!" Zhao Kun shouted sternly.

Chen Jianghe kept moving.

Zhao Kun's face turned ashen, and he was about to give chase.

Chen Jianghe suddenly stopped.

He didn't turn around, but merely tilted his head slightly: "The Martial Arts Platform. One hour from now. All five of you, come up together."

Zhao Kun was stunned.

The four disciples behind him were also stunned.

Attack together?

How could someone from Lingmu Academy dare to challenge five peak-level Transformation Realm experts from Jinshu Academy?

"Alright!" Zhao Kun snapped out of his daze, a sinister smile spreading across his face. "Junior Brother Chen, you have quite the nerve! So be it! One hour from now, at the Martial Arts Arena, five of us from the Golden Pivot Academy, all at the peak of the Transformation Realm, will experience Junior Brother Chen's superior skills!"

Chen Jianghe did not answer.

He pushed open the door and entered the courtyard, then closed the gate.

Zhao Kun sneered and waved to the four people behind him: "Go! Go back and prepare! Let this piece of trash from Lingmu Academy know what the spear technique of Jinshu Academy is like!"

In the quiet room, Chen Jianghe closed his eyes and regulated his breathing for a moment.

Then, he opened his eyes and took the Dingyuan Spear from the wall.

The gun barrel was icy cold, and the tip gleamed like a star.

He raised his hand and gently stroked the gun barrel.

He suddenly remembered what Liu Shuling had said to him that day at Liwu Cliff: "If you are defeated by a disciple of the Transformation Realm of the Golden Pivot Academy, I will have no face to stand up for you."

Chen Jianghe's lips curled up slightly, revealing a very faint smile.

He picked up the Dingyuan Spear, pushed open the door, and went out.

After taking three steps, he suddenly remembered something and looked at himself in the sunlight.

Then, he turned around and walked towards Liwu Cliff.

Liwu Cliff.

Liu Shuling was practicing her boxing when she saw Chen Jianghe approaching with a spear, and she raised an eyebrow slightly.

"You've emerged from quarantine?"

"Hmm." Chen Jianghe clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Senior Sister, I have a request."

Liu Shuling stopped what she was doing and looked at him: "Speak."

"One hour later, at the Jinshu Academy's Martial Arts Arena, this disciple will spar with five peak Transformation Realm experts from the Jinshu Academy. I would like to ask Senior Sister to be a witness."

Liu Shuling's pupils contracted slightly.

She stared at Chen Jianghe for a moment, then suddenly smiled. The smile was hearty, carrying a hint of admiration and anticipation.

"Five peak-stage Transformation Realm experts?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Are you confident?"

Chen Jianghe remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "This disciple does not know."

Liu Shuling's smile deepened: "I wonder if you dare to accept the challenge?"

Chen Jianghe looked at her calmly: "They have insulted my teacher."

Liu Shuling nodded.

She walked to the side, picked up her outer robe and put it on, then clapped her hands: "Let's go."

"Senior sister?"

"Let's go." Liu Shuling strode down the cliff. "I said before that I wouldn't fight against opponents of the same level. But if any old geezer has any ill intentions, I don't mind showing them that the people of Lingmu Academy are not to be bullied by just anyone."

Chen Jianghe stared at the imposing figure from behind, slightly taken aback.

Then, he picked up his gun and followed.

Golden Pivot Academy, Martial Arts Platform.

This is a three-foot-high, ten-zhang-square-meter bluestone arena located in front of the main hall of the Golden Pivot Academy, where disciples of the Golden Pivot Academy exchange skills and compete.

At this moment, nearly a hundred people had gathered around the arena.

The majority of the crowd consisted of disciples from the Golden Pivot Academy, but there were also disciples from the other four academies who had rushed over upon hearing the news. They gathered on the periphery of the crowd, whispering and discussing amongst themselves.

"Have you heard? Chen Jianghe from Lingmu Academy is going to challenge five peak-level Transformation Realm experts from Jinshu Academy all by himself!"

"One person taking on five? Are you crazy?"

"Hey, they've picked the gang leader from the Canal Road, they're pretty arrogant."

"The Caoshui Gang? A bunch of rabble. How can they compare to the peak-stage Transformation Realm experts of our Golden Pivot Academy?"

"Exactly! Senior Brother Zhao Kun has been practicing for five years, and his spear technique has reached a state of perfection, just one step away from mastering the罡劲 (Gang Jin) technique. The other four senior brothers are also among the best of the peak化劲 (Hua Jin) level. Five against one? Isn't that just bullying them?"

"Bullying someone? He's the one who said 'let's all come at him,' so who can you blame?"

Chen Jianghe arrived with a gun.

He walked slowly, and with each step he took, his aura became more solid.

When he reached the edge of the ring, he stood tall and imposing, exuding an aura of authority.

The crowd automatically parted to make way.

Chen Jianghe stepped onto the ring.

On the opposite side of the arena, five figures stood side by side.

Zhao Kun is in the center, holding a bright silver spear with a snow-white tassel.

On the left are two men: one is sturdy and carries a heavy gun, while the other is tall and lean and wields a double-pointed spear.

On the right are two men: one with a sinister face and a spear tip gleaming with a cold, blue light, and the other silent and taciturn with a spear as black as ink.

The five spears each possess a unique aura, all representing the pinnacle of the Transformation Realm.

"Junior Brother Chen," Zhao Kun spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly carrying throughout the entire arena, "we have no grudges against each other, this is just a friendly spar, let's stop here. If Junior Brother admits defeat, we will not make things difficult for you."

His words were eloquent, but the coldness in his eyes betrayed his true thoughts.

Somewhere in the audience, Sun Yuhai stood with his hands behind his back, his face ashen.

His eyes met Chen Jianghe's briefly in mid-air, and his lips twitched slightly, revealing a faint, malicious smile.

It's as if it's saying: Once you're here, you're not going anywhere.

Chen Jianghe withdrew his gaze.

He slowly drew his Dingyuan Spear, the tip pointing diagonally at the ground.

"Enough talk. Let's attack together."

On stage, Zhao Kun laughed angrily, "Fine! Fine! Since you're courting death, don't blame us for ganging up on you!"

He suddenly waved his hand: "Go!"

The four people behind him leaped out at once!

Zhao Kun took the lead, his spear flashing like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Chen Jianghe's throat!

The two men behind him flanked him, blocking Chen Jianghe's escape route!

The last two then circled around behind Chen Jianghe, and four spears thrust at him simultaneously from different angles!

Five shots fired simultaneously, sealing off all escape routes!

The audience held their breath.

This attack, if it were an ordinary peak-level cultivator, would surely have killed them!

Chen Jianghe made a move.

He did not back down.

The Dingyuan Spear suddenly sprang up, its shaft spinning horizontally like an iron chain across the river!

"clang-!!!"

The five spears struck the Dingyuan spear almost simultaneously, sparks flying everywhere!

The immense impact made the four men's hands go numb, and they almost dropped their spears!

Chen Jianghe remained unmoved.

His arms were bulging with muscles and veins, and he withstood the blow!

"How is this possible?!" A disciple of the Golden Pivot Academy exclaimed in shock.

They were all at the peak of the Transformation Realm. When the five of them joined forces, even a half-step Gang Realm expert would have to temporarily retreat!

But Chen Jianghe actually took it head-on!

Chen Jianghe didn't give them time to be shocked.

The Dingyuan Spear suddenly trembled, knocking all five spears away!

The next instant, the spear shot out like a dragon!

The gun, heavy as a mountain, crashed down upon him!

Zhao Kun was the first to be attacked, and he parried with his spear.

"clang--!"

His arms trembled violently, his tiger's mouth split open, and he was knocked to one knee, causing the bluestone tabletop to crack!

Before he could get up, Chen Jianghe fired his second shot!

The spear tip struck Zhao Kun's chest with the force of a thunderbolt!

Zhao Kun was terrified and dodged to the side with all his might!

The tip of the spear grazed his ribs, tearing open a bloody wound!

"Help me!" Zhao Kun screamed hoarsely.

The four of them then seemed to wake from a dream and launched a simultaneous attack!

Chen Jianghe sheathed his gun, twisted his body, and swept the butt of his gun horizontally!

"Bang!"

One man's gun was knocked away, and he staggered backward!

Chen Jianghe pressed forward, his spear tip striking repeatedly!

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

Three spears bloomed simultaneously, each piercing the throat of one of the three men!

The three men retreated in horror, the spear tips barely grazing their throats, breaking out in a cold sweat!

From the moment Chen Jianghe made his move until now, only ten breaths have passed.

Of the five peak-level experts, one was injured and the other four retreated.

Silence reigned below the Sharpening Platform.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, looking at the scene in disbelief.

Those were five peak-stage Transformation Realm experts!

Under Chen Jianghe's gun, they were as vulnerable as children!

"How can this kid's marksmanship be so terrifying?" someone murmured.

"The Heavenly Pivot Formation-Breaking Spear—how long did he practice it?"

"Three months? Or six months?"

"Bullshit! I've practiced for five years and I still haven't reached that level!"

Amidst the gasps of shock, Zhao Kun clutched the wound beneath his ribs, his face deathly pale.

He looked at Chen Jianghe, his eyes filled with fear.

"You—you—"

"Shut up."

Chen Jianghe interrupted him, pointing the gun at the remaining four people.

"Again."

The four men exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with determination.

They knew that if they lost today, the Golden Privy Academy would lose all face!

"Let's go together! Let's fight!"

The four roared simultaneously, and their guns charged again!

In this attack, the four of them held nothing back, unleashing all the skills they had learned in their lives!

The four spears, like four angry dragons, simultaneously thrust at Chen Jianghe from four directions!

The spear's edge pierced the air with a piercing whistle!

Even a half-step Gang Jin wouldn't dare to take this attack head-on!

A cold glint flashed in Chen Jianghe's eyes.

He did not back down.

He held the Dingyuan Spear horizontally in front of him, and his blood and qi surged all over his body!

The gun trembled violently, and its beam surged three feet higher!

He shot off like an arrow, charging straight toward the person in front of him!

The man's pupils constricted, and he thrust out a spear with all his might!

"clang--!"

The two guns clashed, and the man's spear slipped from his hand. He was thrown backward by the shock and crashed heavily off the stage!

Chen Jianghe didn't stop walking; he turned his gun around!

The spear tip transformed into countless cold stars, engulfing the remaining three!

The three men fought desperately to block, but they couldn't withstand the torrential onslaught!

"Ding ding ding ding ding—!"

The sound of metal clashing was as dense as a sudden rainstorm!

Three breaths later, the three spears flew out of his hands and stuck on the edge of the Sharpening Platform!

The three men clutched their blood-soaked tiger's mouths, their faces ashen.

All five peak-level experts were defeated.

A deathly silence fell over the area below the Sharpening Platform.

Everyone stared blankly at the figure in blue standing on the stage, gun in hand, speechless.

Chen Jianghe holstered his gun and stood there.

His clothes were stained with blood, some of it his own, but mostly from the five members of the Golden Privy Council.

The wound on his chest was still bleeding; it was left by a disciple of the Golden Pivot Academy who had fought back in his dying moments.

But he stood there, his back straight, like a long spear driven into a blue stone.

His gaze passed over the five people and landed again on a certain spot below the stage.

Sun Yuhai remained standing with his hands behind his back, his face ashen and grim.

In those cloudy old eyes, there was now a surge of shock, anger, resentment, and a trace of fear.

He never expected that this junior with the Five Elements Root would become so strong after half a year of seclusion.

Five peak-stage Transformation Realm experts were all defeated within thirty breaths.

"How dare you!" Sun Yuhai's voice was icy. "You trespassed into my Golden Pivot Academy and seriously injured a fellow disciple. According to the sect rules, your cultivation should be abolished and you should be expelled from the sect!"

Chen Jianghe looked at him, his expression unchanged.

"Elder Sun," he spoke, his voice low, "your disciple insulted our late master on the mountain path, using extremely foul language. What's wrong with me cleaning up the mess for the Golden Pivot Academy?"

Sun Yuhai paused.

He certainly knew what those disciples were doing.

This was at his behest.

But he never expected that Chen Jianghe would dare to make a move directly, and with such ruthlessness!

"Insolence!" Sun Yuhai roared. "How my disciples from the Golden Pivot Academy speak and act is none of your business, the Lingmu Academy's business! Today you injured five of my people, which is an act of contempt for the Golden Pivot Academy! Guards, seize them!"

The seven or eight disciples behind him exchanged glances and were about to step forward.

Chen Jianghe gripped his spear tightly.

His gaze swept over the disciples and then landed on Sun Yuhai's face.

"Elder Sun," he spoke slowly, "if you wish to fight, this disciple will oblige. However—"

'

He paused, then said, slowly and deliberately, "Are you sure you want to bully the weak in front of everyone?"

Sun Yuhai's pupils contracted slightly.

Of course, he wanted to cripple this kid himself.

But in full view of everyone, he, an elder of the Golden Pivot Academy, attacked a disciple of the Lingmu Academy—

If word gets out, where will the Golden Privy Council put its face?

More importantly, there's Shen Hao on his side—

Just as he was hesitating, a cheerful female voice suddenly came from below the mountain path: "Elder Sun, what great prestige you have!"

"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

A tall figure strode up the mountain path.

Liu Shuling.

She was still dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, her arms bare, her muscles sculpted like bronze and iron in the sunlight.

Liu Shuling walked to Chen Jianghe's side, her gaze sweeping over Sun Yuhai and then over the group of Golden Pivot Academy disciples behind him. She grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "What, Elder Sun, are you trying to bully the weak with numbers? Or are you trying to bully the young with your superior strength? Why don't we have a little spar first and let the younger generation watch the show?"

Sun Yuhai's face turned ashen.

Liu Shuling has mastered the Gang Jin technique; if they were to fight, he might not be her match.

Moreover, this woman is notoriously protective of her own; if a fight breaks out, she would definitely be willing to kill.

"Liu Shuling!" Sun Yuhai gritted his teeth, "Your Lingmu Academy disciple trespassed into my Jinshu Academy, seriously injuring five of my disciples, and you still dare to protect her?"

Liu Shuling said "Oh," turned back to look at Sun Yuhai, and spread her hands, saying, "What's wrong with covering it up? Besides, it was your Jinshu Academy people who were the first to speak ill of others, so they deserved to be beaten."

Sun Yuhai trembled with rage: "You—!"

Just then, a deep voice came from above the mountain path: "Enough."

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and quickly made way for them.

Shen Hao strode over.

He was dressed in a dark blue robe, his face was solemn, and his gaze passed over the mess on the ground and landed on the blue-clad figure standing with a gun.

Chen Jianghe looked at him, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "Chen Jianghe, a disciple of Lingmu Academy, greets Academy Master Shen."

Shen Hao remained silent.

His gaze lingered on Chen Jianghe for a moment, then swept over the five disheveled disciples of the Golden Pivot Academy, and finally landed on Sun Yuhai below the stage.

Elder Sun.

He spoke, his voice carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Do you know your crime?"

Sun Yuhai's expression changed drastically.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was rendered speechless by a glare from Shen Hao.

"Instructing disciples to insult their fellow disciples and teachers is one of them."

"

"Instigating disciples to surround and kill fellow disciples, this is the second point."

"The third point is that they do not repent after defeat and still harbor resentment."

Shen Hao spoke slowly and deliberately, and with each word, Sun Yuhai's face paled a little more.

"The three crimes are punished together; he is to be confined for three years and reflect on his actions in seclusion."

Sun Yuhai trembled violently.

"Master! I—"

"Shut up," Shen Hao interrupted him. "Considering your age and that this is your first offense, I'll be lenient. If you dare say another word, your cultivation will be crippled, and you'll be expelled from the sect!"

Sun Yuhai's face turned pale, and he finally lowered his head.

Two disciples from the Golden Pivot Academy stepped forward and carried him away.

Shen Hao then turned to Chen Jianghe.

He looked at him, his gaze extremely complex.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke: "You're very good."

These three simple words left everyone present looking at each other in bewilderment.

The academy master of Jinshu Academy, a True Yuan Realm expert, actually praised a disciple of Lingmu Academy in public.

Chen Jianghe remained expressionless and clasped his hands in a fist salute again: "Master, you flatter me. I humbly request that you fulfill your promise from that day."

Shen Hao was taken aback, then gave a wry smile.

"Don't worry, I, Shen Hao, keep my word." He took out a roll of ancient animal hide from his bosom and tossed it to Chen Jianghe. "This is the True Explanation of the Heavenly Pivot Breaking Formation Spear Intent, which contains the cultivation insights of successive Golden Pivot Academy Masters. Now that you have achieved minor success, you can use this to comprehend the spear intent."

Chen Jianghe took it and solemnly put it into his pocket.

"Thank you, Headmaster."

Shen Hao waved his hand and turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back.

"Chen Jianghe".

"Disciple is here."

Shen Hao looked at him, his gaze filled with an indescribable emotion: "If your master wakes up, please give him my regards."

After saying that, he strode away and never looked back.

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