C15 Ye Xiao

As soon as the Spirit-transformation Pill dissolved in his mouth, it became a scorching torrent that flooded into Chen Chu's body, coursing through his meridians and charging directly toward his Dantian. The pill's potent medicinal power transformed into robust Genuine Qi, swelling his meridians painfully.

Among Third-Grade Pills, the Spirit-transformation Pill was top-tier, especially after being refined in the Refining Treasure Cauldron, which enhanced its effectiveness by more than ten percent. It significantly boosted the prowess of those at the Qi Refinement Stage, sometimes even catapulting them two or three levels. Such feats were achievable primarily by fourth-grade alchemists, as the pill couldn't be mass-produced, making it a rare and valuable commodity. A few years back, one such pill graced the auction block in Wanbei City, fetching a handsome sum of 12,000 gold coins.

With his eyes shut, Chen Chu focused on harnessing the Genuine Qi within him to assimilate the pill's medicinal power. The swirling tri-colored essence gradually morphed into pure white Genuine Qi, steadily enlarging the Qi Sea within his Dantian.

Breaths so faint they were nearly imperceptible, Chen Chu remained in tranquil meditation atop the stone, as the ambient Spiritual Qi from the surrounding bamboo forest coalesced towards him. With each passing moment, his strength rose imperceptibly yet steadily.

Internally, he recited the intricate inscriptions of the Creation Body Refining Spell, invoking its arcane power. Golden light wove through his veins, orchestrating the dance of the tri-colored medicinal essence throughout his body. With each cycle of Qi Circulation, the transformation into white Genuine Qi was visible to the eye, delightfully swift in its progression.

As time ebbed away, Chen Chu's Qi Sea burgeoned until, in an instant, he perceived an indescribably profound sensation. Stabilizing his spirit, he directed the now-purified Genuine Qi into a swift surge towards his Qi Sea. Accompanied by a faint thud, a dazzling light burst forth, radiating outwards in a brilliant display.

Chen Chu's heart raced as he engaged his cultivation technique with urgency. A golden aura swiftly encircled him, forming a pattern that contained the explosive Genuine Qi. With a sudden inward pull, it constricted with precision.

Chen Chu's breath halted abruptly, and he slowly exhaled a wisp of faint black mist. His aura soared dramatically.

Fifth level of the Qi Refinement Stage...

Sixth level...

Seventh level!

Feeling the Qi Sea spiraling out of his control, Chen Chu's expression shifted drastically.

If the Qi Sea escaped his grasp, the Genuine Qi within him would scatter aimlessly, potentially shattering his meridians and endangering his life.

He had sorely underestimated the Refining Treasure Cauldron's enhancement capabilities. The potency of the Spirit-transformation Pill was on par with some Fourth-Grade Pills.

"Damn it!"

This swift surge in power was bound to wreak havoc on Chen Chu's body, undermining his foundation and making future martial arts cultivation exceedingly difficult.

The ballooning sensation in his Dantian had Chen Chu wincing in agony, leaving him no choice but to grit his teeth and channel the Creation Body Refining Spell.

Golden light poured continuously from his meridians, rushing towards the burgeoning whirlpool, as two formidable energies clashed in a fierce struggle for dominance.

Soon, the enigmatic golden energy quelled the whirlpool, and Chen Chu's burgeoning aura found its equilibrium.

As the acute pain subsided, Chen Chu, panting heavily, eyed the formidable whirlpool—now rivaling the eighth level of the Qi Refinement Stage—and contemplated deeply.

The joy of a four-level leap in power was undeniable, yet the drawbacks were glaringly apparent: his Genuine Qi was unstable, severely limiting his future prospects. Without reaching the War God Stage, vengeance was but a distant dream.

Unwilling to sacrifice his future for a fleeting advantage, Chen Chu once again invoked the Creation Body Refining Spell, compressing the whirlpool with all his might. A howling echoed through his Qi Sea as the liquid-like Genuine Qi resisted fiercely, but against the relentless force of the Creation Body Refining Spell, it was futile. The whirlpool, once the size of a palm, was mercilessly reduced to half its original volume.

Chen Chu's aura, which had soared to match the eighth level of the Qi Refinement Stage, plummeted, settling back to the strength of the sixth level.

After circulating his Genuine Qi for another complete cycle, Chen Chu opened his eyes, content with his practice.

With the powerful surge of Genuine Qi within him, Chen Chu felt assured that he could handle a warrior at the eighth level of the Qi Refinement Stage without resorting to the Netherworld Finger technique.

Noticing there was still time before day's end, Chen Chu retrieved a yellowed book from his chest—a tome he had borrowed from Tang Zhong's collection. His recent endeavors in refining had left little opportunity for study.

The King Kong Hand, a Yellow Rank martial skill of intermediate level, boasted formidable lethality among its peers. Centered around brute force, it could be mastered to the extent of cleaving mountains and shattering ridges.

Chen Chu had always preferred not to engage in direct confrontation with his adversaries. In combat, he found it more effective to use finesse to neutralize an opponent's assault before delivering a thunderous counterstrike.

Yet, as most martial skills on the first floor of the Martial Arts Hall required the use of weapons, Chen Chu had to settle for less.

Given the enhancement his physique had received from the Creation Body Refining Spell, he believed that the King Kong Hand would not fall short of a high-level Yellow Rank martial skill in his hands.

Chen Chu trained in the bamboo forest until twilight, while the secluded back mountain echoed with the sounds of his forceful strikes.

Before him, a bamboo stalk three inches thick bore the marks of his palms, a testament to the intensity of his practice.

Inspecting his reddened palms, Chen Chu nodded in approval. His right palm, reinforced by Genuine Qi, was as tough as stone, impervious to the sharp bamboo splinters that could only leave a white line across his skin.

In just one afternoon, Chen Chu had honed the King Kong Hand to a level of minor proficiency, each slap carrying the weight of several hundred kilos. A blow from him could easily result in broken bones and internal injuries.

For the average practitioner, such progress would take at least a week, but Chen Chu's extraordinary physical conditioning from the Creation Body Refining Spell had accelerated his advancement.

As night fell, Chen Chu made his way back to his humble abode.

Meanwhile, in a well-lit corner of Wanbei City, two of the city's most prominent figures were meeting in secret.

In the Jin Family's council hall, the lights shone brightly, illuminating the late-night discussions as if it were daytime.

The walls around them were embedded with pearls that glowed with a soft white light in the darkness. The door was securely closed, and inside, over a dozen individuals were seated, deep in conversation.

"Patriarch Ye, what brings you here in the dead of night?" Jin Shengang welcomed Ye Family's Patriarch, Ye Xiao, to a seat, engaging in small talk as he poured wine.

Ye Xiao had a rugged appearance, with bronze skin and a ring of black beard around his chin. Not yet forty, his voice boomed like a great bell.

"Patriarch Jin, let's not play coy. I've come to clarify just one matter."

With that, Ye Xiao lifted his cup, downing the wine in one swift motion before speaking his mind.

Jin Shengang offered a knowing smile, his gaze briefly resting on the seven or eight formidable warriors accompanying Ye Xiao, a flicker of solemnity crossing his expression.

Each of these warriors possessed strength beyond the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage, with two among them having attained the third level of the Genuine Essence Stage. Their family's resources were evidently on par with the Jin Family's.